Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is in custody.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended," Trump said in a post on Truth Social shortly after the incident.

In another post later, Trump said that "law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately," noting that "The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition."

He added that the White House Correspondents' Dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.

The U.S. Secret Service said in a post on X that it is investigating "a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area" at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department.

"The president and the first lady are safe along (with) all protectees," the statement said. "One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation."

Trump has been evacuated from the Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night.

Attendees were seen on the live broadcast ducking around their tables and taking cover. Multiple news outlets reported that gunshots were heard in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

This would mark Trump's first time attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner. 
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, holds talks with Myanmar's Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

NAY PYI TAW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, held talks with Myanmar's Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe here on Saturday.

Wang said China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Myanmar, deepen practical cooperation, support Myanmar in accelerating its development and revitalization, and advance new progress in building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.

Wang also called for joint efforts to strengthen cooperation in electricity, oil and gas, expand trade and investment, explore emerging areas of cooperation, deepen security collaboration, resolutely combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and enhance youth exchanges and training.

For his part, U Tin Maung Swe said Myanmar reaffirms its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and expressed the country's willingness to remain a trustworthy and friendly neighbor to China, maintain close high-level exchanges, and accelerate the construction of projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

Myanmar will also make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese projects and personnel in the country, and to work closely with China to resolutely combat online gambling and telecom fraud, so as to create a sound environment for bilateral cooperation, U Tin Maung Swe said. 
John Menadue, founder of the online journal Pearls and Irritations, is interviewed by Xinhua in Canberra, Australia, April 9, 2026.(Xinhua/Qi Zijian)

by Qi Zijian, Liang Youchang

SYDNEY, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Stronger business links in renewable energy, joint efforts to revive the global trading system, and expanded education exchanges are among the key factors in strengthening Australia-China ties, said John Menadue, an Australian media founder.

"I think the relationship between Australia and China is steady and improving," Menadue, founder of the online journal Pearls and Irritations, told Xinhua in a recent interview, adding that there is significant potential to further strengthen the ties.

He pointed to renewable energy as a promising area for enhanced cooperation.

"Closer business relations in renewable energy are important," he said. "Hopefully we can improve joint arrangements on renewable energy and in other areas as well."

Menadue started Pearls and Irritations in 2013, which is an Australian platform for the exchange of ideas and publishes informed analysis and commentary on issues that matter to Australians, with a focus on politics, public policy and foreign policy, among others.

Turning to broader economic issues, he said both countries share a strong interest in strengthening the global trading system. He noted that reforming and supporting global institutions such as the World Trade Organization would be beneficial to both sides.

"The international trading system is largely broken down, and Australia is a trading country like China," he said. "We both have a joint interest in improving multilateral trade."

"If we can make improvements in the international system to facilitate trade by helping to revive the World Trade Organization, that would be very important for both of our countries," he said.

Menadue was formerly secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, ambassador to Japan, secretary of immigration and CEO of Qantas.

He has visited China on several occasions, including once in 1973 alongside Gough Whitlam, who was Australia's prime minister at the time. He has long observed and closely studied China's development and foreign policy.

He emphasized the importance of expanding university exchanges as a key foundation for long-term understanding between the two countries.

"University exchanges are very important, more Australian students going to China and more Chinese students coming here," he said. "That builds a much closer relationship."

Menadue also pointed out that the future of Australia is in Asia, saying he had Asia in mind when he started Pearls and Irritations.

He reflected on how studying alongside Asian students during his university years reshaped his understanding of Asia and marked a turning point for him.

"I came from sort of country towns of South Australia, and it was White Australia everywhere then," he said.

"When I went to university, Adelaide University, I was sharing a room with three Asian students. Two were Chinese descendants, one Sri Lankan descendant," he said. "They all came from Malaysia at that time, and they changed my life."

"And most of my public life since then has been about how we can learn to live in our own region, which includes, of course, China."

He added that the presence of international students played a wider social role in transforming attitudes among younger generations in Australia during that time.

"It was the presence of Asian students at our universities that changed the attitudes of younger people, and that led on to the abolition of the White Australia policy," he said.

And the abolition of the White Australia policy was one of the key issues Menadue worked on when he was working for Gough Whitlam.

Looking ahead, he stressed that building stronger regional understanding remains an ongoing task.

"We've still got a lot more to do in building relations with the region, developing language skills and understanding the histories of the countries of the region," he said.

"We're slowly growing up and finding that our future is in our own region, Asia," he said. 
JERUSALEM, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog wants Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to reach a legal settlement in his corruption trial before the president considers granting him a pardon, Herzog's office said Sunday.

The statement came after The New York Times reported that Herzog does not plan to pardon Netanyahu soon. Instead, he prefers a process in which Netanyahu and state prosecutors try to agree on a plea deal, which could end the court case without a full trial.

A plea deal is an agreement in which a defendant admits to some wrongdoing in exchange for a lighter punishment or reduced charges.

"Herzog sees reaching an agreement between the parties in the cases of Prime Minister Netanyahu as a proper and correct solution," the president's office said.

It said Herzog believes both sides should first try to reach such an agreement outside the courtroom before he decides whether to consider Netanyahu's pardon request.

Netanyahu formally asked Herzog for a pardon in late November last year, according to Israeli media.

The Israeli leader is on trial in three corruption cases involving charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. It is the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has faced criminal charges while in office.

In one case, prosecutors say Netanyahu helped a major telecommunications businessman by supporting government decisions that benefited his company. In return, they say, Netanyahu received favorable news coverage for himself and his family from a news website owned by the same businessman.

In other cases, prosecutors say Netanyahu accepted expensive gifts, including cigars and champagne worth tens of thousands of dollars, from wealthy businessmen, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, in return for help with personal or political matters.

Netanyahu denies all the accusations. He says the cases are politically motivated and part of an effort to remove him from power.

Under Israeli law, the president has the power to grant pardons, but doing so for a sitting prime minister during an ongoing criminal trial would likely cause major political debate.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Herzog to approve Netanyahu's pardon request, calling the charges a "witch hunt" and publicly criticizing the Israeli president. 
Students interact with an AI-powered assistant known as "Qian Xiaowa" during a Chinese class at Qixi Township Central School in Kaihua County, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 17, 2026.(Xinhua)

HANGZHOU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- In a reading corner at Qixi Township Central School in Kaihua County, a mountainous area in east China's Zhejiang Province, students sit with tablet computers, absorbed in stories as soft notification chimes mix with the sound of reading aloud.

Through smart devices and mobile networks, these children interact with an AI-powered assistant known as "Qian Xiaowa," which helps them read classics and recite poems, and recommends materials tailored to their abilities and interests.

"There are so many books and picture stories on the tablet that I had never read before," said Wang Xiaoxiao, a 10-year-old fourth grader. "With a tap, I can hear standard pronunciation, whether it's English stories or Chinese texts."

This scene reflects a broader push to narrow China's urban-rural reading gap via technology.

Qixi school sits at the source of the Qiantang River, where the borders of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces meet. Most of its students are "left-behind children" raised by grandparents while their parents work elsewhere.

For years, the school's library held only a few hundred books, many of them outdated or inappropriate for young readers, said Wang Wenhui, a teacher at the school.

Change began about six months ago with a pilot program aimed at digitally empowering small rural schools across the province. Launched in November 2025, the initiative has provided smart terminals to schools with fewer than 100 students. At Qixi, pupils in grades four to six now have access to such devices.

"Digitalization mainly addresses the shortage of reading resources and the difficulty of access," Wang said. "With these tools, we can focus more on curating materials and offering personalized guidance, encouraging children to read more, read better and complete entire books. About half of the students at the school have developed a daily reading habit," she added.

Similar changes are underway elsewhere in Zhejiang and across China. In Putuo District of Zhoushan, an archipelago with more than 40 inhabited islands in Zhejiang, schools on outlying islands account for about one-third of all local primary and secondary schools and are mostly small ones with limited collections of books.

A digital platform now allows books to be borrowed and returned across libraries, with borrowed books delivered to students within two to three days.

In the southwestern mountainous province of Guizhou, meanwhile, a digital platform offers more than one million e-books, 10,000 digital journals, 36,000 video lectures and 1.5 million audiobooks. Readers in both urban and rural areas can access the same resources via computers or smartphones.

In Daguan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, the local library has introduced children's e-reading devices and digital services, offering 60,000 e-books and 4,000 periodicals free of charge.

Official data also point to rapid growth in digital reading. By the end of 2025, China had 70.56 million digital reading works, up 11.87 percent year on year, while the digital reading rate among minors reached 75.9 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier, according to a national survey.

Policy support is expected to underpin the trend further. The year 2026 marks the first year of implementation of a regulation to promote reading among the public, which took effect in February, mandating the creation of rural reading plans and promoting equal access to basic public cultural services in cities and the countryside.

The regulation designates the fourth week of April each year as national reading week, which is being observed for the first time this year.

"Digital technology means rural children are no longer cut off from quality books because of geography," said Wu Xiangyu, an expert from Zhejiang Normal University. "By leveraging digital tools, China is guaranteeing access to reading as a basic public cultural service, helping boost rural revitalization and open a wider world of knowledge to rural children." 
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is in custody in his Truth Social post.

CNN cited sources as saying that Trump and Cabinet members are safe.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended," Trump said in another post on Truth Social shortly after the incident.

Trump has been evacuated from the Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night.

Attendees were seen on the live broadcast ducking around their tables and taking cover. Multiple news outlets reported that gunshots were heard in the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

This would mark Trump's first time attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner. 
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, docks at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

SANYA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- "Is this a 'boat that treats illnesses,' just like yours?" This question was asked by a four-year-old patient from Barbados, sitting in a pediatric consultation room, after receiving a paper boat as a gift from her Chinese doctor.

When she was told yes, she leaned in and gave the paper boat a kiss.

The consultation room where the girl was treated was set up aboard a visiting Chinese naval hospital ship that was in Barbados at that time to carry out an overseas medical mission.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, on Sunday returned home after completing the 234-day overseas medical mission, the longest deployment of its kind undertaken by the Chinese navy.

Codenamed "Mission Harmony-2025," the voyage began in September 2025 and took the ship to Nauru, Fiji, Tonga, Jamaica, Barbados and Papua New Guinea, where it delivered a wide range of free medical services to local communities.

Over the course of the mission, the team handled 26,324 outpatient visits and performed 2,724 surgical operations. In addition, 17,273 diagnostic tests and examinations were carried out, while 136 patients were given inpatient care.

The crew members also conducted medical exchanges during their stays in Brazil and Chile, and took part in joint maritime exercises with the navies of Fiji, Tonga and Brazil.

"Mission Harmony" is an overseas humanitarian medical service program organized by the Chinese navy since 2010. The previous 10 missions were carried out by the hospital ship Peace Ark. The latest mission, the 11th in the series, marked the first overseas deployment of Silk Road Ark.

As China's second domestically built 10,000-ton-class standard oceangoing hospital ship, Silk Road Ark is equipped with 14 clinical departments, seven auxiliary units and eight modern operating rooms, capable of performing more than 60 types of surgeries.

The vessel is also fitted with a ship-borne rescue helicopter, enabling rapid-response emergency operations.

The medical team was composed primarily of medical personnel from the PLA Southern Theater Command, along with members from other units and the Naval Medical University.

Onboard facilities supported a wide range of services, including general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, and ophthalmology.

In Fiji, a local man sought treatment aboard the hospital ship after suffering from persistent abdominal pain. The Chinese medical team quickly arranged a colonoscopy, which confirmed a diagnosis of rectal cancer.

Chinese doctors then worked closely with local doctors and anesthesiologists to perform a complex mid-to-low rectal cancer surgery, which was successfully completed.

"Thank you, Chinese doctors!" the patient's family said in halting Chinese after the operation, expressing their gratitude.

Silk Road Ark delivered tangible benefits to the Fijian community, representing a welcome symbol of care, service and goodwill, according to Fiji's Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs Pio Tikoduadua.

In late October last year, Hurricane Melissa struck some coastal areas in Jamaica, causing casualties and significant property damage, while placing heavy strain on the country's healthcare system.

When Silk Road Ark visited the country in early December, it extended its stay and added service sites at the request of the Jamaican side, docking at three ports and providing 12 days of medical services to local residents.

This marked the first time a hospital ship under "Mission Harmony" had docked at multiple ports within a single country, as well as the longest period of medical service delivered in one country.

During its stay, the ship established a priority channel under a post-disaster medical relief plan, offering expedited services to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people with disabilities.

Sometimes, medical staff worked from early morning until late at night.

"Of course you feel physically drained. By the end of the day, your legs are numb, your back aches, and you can barely find the energy to speak," said Wu Yanru, head nurse of an operating room. "But when you see the patients' grateful smiles after surgery and hear local doctors sincerely say that 'you've been a tremendous help,' the sense of fulfillment replaces all the exhaustion."

Earlier this month, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the hospital ship has brought hope to people in the countries it visited, leaving behind many touching stories and demonstrating China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The PLA Navy on Thursday celebrated its 77th founding anniversary. Over the years, its growing strength has become an important force for regional and global stability.

"In China, paper boats carry wishes as they drift into the distance." When the interpreter relayed these words to the young patients in Barbados, the children eagerly began sharing their wishes, one after another: "I hope my grandma's leg gets better soon." "I want to become a doctor, just like you, and help treat people."

Clutching a paper boat, a five-year-old patient said earnestly: "My wish is that you come back to Barbados again next year." 

Crew members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, stand in formation as the ship docks at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, is docked at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

Crew members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, stand in formation as the ship docks at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 26, 2026 shows a welcoming ceremony held for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy hospital ship, Silk Road Ark, is docked at a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use.

This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it.
NEW DELHI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six passengers were injured early Sunday when a flight of the Swiss International Airlines had to suspend takeoff after one of its engines caught fire on one of the runways of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, the airport said.

All passengers had to be immediately evacuated.

The Delhi-Zurich flight was abandoned at around 01:08 a.m. local time. There were 232 people on board, and the injured passengers were later admitted to a local private hospital.

A full emergency was declared at Delhi Airport, said the airport's management in an official statement.

"In the early hours of this morning, a full emergency was declared at Delhi Airport involving Swiss International Airlines flight LX 147 (DEL-ZRH) on Runway 28/10," said the statement.

An online report by The Times of India quoted Swiss International Airlines as saying in a statement, "The aircraft involved is an Airbus A330 (HB-JHK). SWISS has established a task force. There were 228 passengers and 4 infants on board. The crew rejected the takeoff and, following an assessment of the situation, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft." 
In Brief: Alejandro Gallegos has been appointed as the new General Manager of Kimpton Virgilio in Mexico City, marking a significant change in the hotel's leadership.

Alejandro Gallegos - Image Credit Kimpton

Alejandro Gallegos has been named General Manager of Kimpton Virgilio, located in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City. In this position, Gallegos will oversee all aspects of the hotel's operations and will also take on an expanded leadership role supporting the upcoming launch of Kimpton Castelar in Polanco.

Gallegos has more than thirty years of experience in hotel management, including roles in Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay. His background includes hotel openings, repositionings, and operational leadership. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Hotel Alexander in Mexico City, where he led the property's launch and oversaw its recognition as a Michelin Key hotel during his tenure.

Previously, Gallegos held leadership positions at Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco & Spa in Uruguay and Grace Cafayate in Argentina, overseeing large-scale operations and managing teams. He has participated in the opening of seven hotels and the renovation of several others, including properties within the InterContinental portfolio.

Gallegos holds a bachelor's degree in Hotel Management from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Tributes have poured in for one of Indias most acclaimed photographers, Raghu Rai, who passed away in Delhi, with many remembering him for his powerful work documenting the countrys defining historical moments, social realities and everyday life with rare depth and sensitivity.

He died at the age of 83 after a two-year battle with cancer, his family said on Sunday.

The news of his death was confirmed via a post on his Instagram profile, featuring a black-and-white portrait in the style of his photography.

With deep sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of our beloved, the post read.

One of Indias foremost photographers, Rai worked as a photojournalist for over five decades, documenting key historical moments such as the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and the Bhopal disaster, as well as capturing intimate portraits of figures including Mother Teresa, Satyajit Ray, Indira Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.

Born on 18 December 1942, in undivided Indias Punjab, Rai was a civil engineer who was introduced to the medium by his brother, photographer S Paul, during a professional break. His foray into photography six decades ago was a fortunate coincidence, as his first image  a picture of a donkey looking directly into the lens  was published in The Times of London after his brother was impressed by it.

I tried to get closer, but when I was about 10 feet away, the donkey started running and the children started laughing, Rai told Guardian in an interview four decades later.

He said he chased the donkey for three hours, and later, when they both got tired, the donkey stood there so I got closer and took the shot.

The [prize] money I got was enough to live on for a month, said Rai. I thought, This is not a bad idea, man!

On Sunday, many described his passing as the end of an era as his colleagues, friends and others remembered him for his work, dedication and enthusiasm.

Politician and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor said he was deeply saddened by Rais death, calling him one of the worlds finest visual storytellers.

Recalling a personal connection from his childhood, when Rai worked with his father at The Statesman newspaper, he said the photographer was not just a global figure but the man with the gentle smile and the observant eye.

To the world, he said, Rai was an incomparable master who captured the pulsating heart and soul of India - from the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster to intimate portraits of Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi.

Raghu Rai did not just photograph India; he lived it, and through his lens, he made us feel its pulse, he added.

Orator Joy Bhattacharjya shared one of Rais photographs of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, saying India had lost its finest visual chronicler.

Rest in peace, Raghu Rai sir  nobody captured the India in which we grew up better than you. This is just one of the many stunning images you bequeathed us, he wrote.

Historian William Dalrymple, who described Rai as a friend and mentor, said he was not just Indias greatest photographer but also one of its most beloved, generous and wonderful men.

His book on Delhi was the first I ever bought about the city, and it was he who first taught me how to look at it and pin it to paper, he said. Later, he became the kindest of friends. I adored him  his warmth, energy and wild enthusiasm. Om Shanti... he will be much, much missed.

Rai was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh war and its aftermath.

His work caught the attention of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join the prestigious Magnum Photos in 1977  placing him among a select group shaping global photojournalism.

He later received the Photographer of the Year award in the United States for his photo essay Human Management of Wildlife in India, published in National Geographic. The French government conferred on him the Officier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.

Among Rais most haunting images is his photograph from the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster  a toxic gas leak that killed an estimated 22,000 people. The image shows the face of a child, partially buried in the earth, eyes closed in death. It became one of the defining visual records of the tragedy, capturing both its vast scale and intimate human cost of the deadliest industrial disaster in India.

The Press Club of India, of which Rai was a member, said he leaves behind a vast body of work spanning decades that will continue to be celebrated.

His commitment and contribution to his craft will be remembered with deep respect. At this juncture, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, it wrote.

He didnt just take pictures, he preserved the memory of our nation, said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India.

open image in gallery File: Managing Director Nikon India Hiroshi Takashina (L), veteran Indian photographer Raghu Rai (C) and general manager Marketing Nikon Corporation Toru Iwaoka (R) pose wth the newly launched Nikon D4 and D800/D800E DSLR cameras in New Delhi in 2012 ( AFP/Getty )

Over the decades, his work has been exhibited in major galleries and institutions across Europe and North America, and published in leading international magazines.

While less commercially prominent than some Western contemporaries, Rai will remain widely regarded within global photography circles as a central figure in documentary practice and as a visual chronicler of India.

Rai said in 2010 he was not proud of everything he has achieved, but its fulfilling to know one is going deeper into the layers of complexity of my country .

I like being among my own people. I merge with them. I dont carry camera bags, I dont wear stylish clothes. I have one camera with a zoom lens so I am not alarming people; no one is saying, 'Here comes a photographer!
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Saturday that he just canceled the trip of U.S. representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranian side.

"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.' Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The U.S. president also claimed that "we have all the cards, they have none," adding that "if they want to talk, all they have to do is call."

Earlier Saturday, Trump told Fox News that he had canceled his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff's planned trip to Pakistan.

In the interview, Trump claimed that it's not worth the U.S. delegation making the 18-hour flight to Pakistan when the U.S. holds all the cards in the conflict with Iran.

"We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing,'" Trump said.

Witkoff and Kushner were supposed to travel to Pakistan this weekend for the second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has concluded talks with Pakistan's leadership and left Islamabad, a Pakistani source told Xinhua on Saturday.

"Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value," Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X. "Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran."

"Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," the foreign minister added.

Islamabad's district administration on Saturday allowed all types of public and goods transport to enter the federal capital after easing heightened security measures imposed earlier this week amid expectations of a second round of Iran-U.S. peace talks. 
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Two Americans were among 19 suspected communist guerrillas who were killed in clashes with Philippine troops in a central province earlier this week, a government anti-insurgency task force said Saturday night.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict said the Americans were killed, along with 17 other suspected New Peoples Army guerrillas, in a series of clashes with army forces on 19 April in the coastal town of Toboso in Negros Occidental province.

The deadly fighting was first reported on Monday.

The task force warned Americans of Filipino descent in the United States to be wary of being lured by left-wing activist groups into joining or supporting Filipino insurgents in the Philippines in a recruitment process it described as terror-grooming.

The US and the Philippines have separately designated the New Peoples Army as a terrorist organisation.

Human rights groups, however, called for an independent investigation into the clashes, saying that civilians were killed, including a student leader from the state-run University of the Philippines, two local advocates for farmers rights and a local community journalist who wanted to show support for impoverished villagers.

We call on the international community to monitor this case closely, as it is not an isolated incident but part of a continuing pattern of International Humanitarian Law violations across the Philippine countryside, the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, a human rights group, said.

Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr, the executive director of the counterinsurgency task force, identified the two slain Americans as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem.

The US embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Torres said that all 19 people killed have been identified and their remains have been turned over to their families.

These facts point to a disturbing convergence: foreign nationals in a live combat setting, where the risks are immediate and the consequences irreversible, he said.

The presence of two American fatalities in a single encounter should prompt careful reflection on how involvement in certain activities or networks may lead to unintended exposure to dangerous environments, Torres said.

The two Americans arrived in the Philippines in March and were believed to have subsequently travelled to Negros Occidental, where they were killed on April 19, Torres said, without providing other details.

Our thoughts are with their families, who now face the burden of loss under circumstances that unfolded far from their homes, Torres said.

Military officials said the clash erupted as army troops responded to information provided by villagers about the presence of suspected rebels, and that a rebel commander with a bounty of 1 million pesos ($16,600) on his head was killed. A soldier was wounded in the fighting.

Troops seized 24 firearms at the scene of the clashes, and an unspecified number of fleeing guerrillas were captured, the task force said.

At its peak decades ago, the insurgent force had an estimated 25,000 fighters, who waged one of Asias longest-running communist rebellions.

Battle defeats, factional divisions and surrenders, however, have reduced the number of rebels to below 900, according to security officials.

Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under the previous Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations.
Stay on top of the latest political news with our View from Westminster newsletter Get the latest political headlines with our free email Get the latest political headlines with our free email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The Kings US state visit will go ahead as planned after what the White House has called the attempted assassination of president Donald Trump.

Charles and Camillas security arrangements were discussed in the wake of Saturdays violent incident at a Washington media dinner where Mr Trump, the first lady and senior figures from his administration were bundled from the room by the secret service after shots were fired.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned.

The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow [Monday].

It is understood there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip but the overall plan remains as previously outlined.

The White House Correspondents Association dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday night after an attempted attack, which saw shots fired, prompting the US President to be swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of his administration.

King Charles security was reviewed following the attack ahead of his four-day visit with Camilla on Monday.

open image in gallery The Kings US state visit will go ahead as planned in the wake of the shooting ( Getty )

In the wake of the attack, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that discussions were taking place with US colleagues to review what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday about the Kings state visit, Mr Trump said: Hes coming and were going to have a great time.

He added: Hes a great guy, and we look forward to it. Hes really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and hes brave.

Were gonna have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it.

open image in gallery King Charles and Queen Camilla will embark on their visit to Washington on Monday ( Reuters )

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention, and described him as a lone wolf whack job.

Mr Trump  who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president  vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had unified political opponents and the media.

It is understood that the King and Queen have reached out privately to the US president and first lady to express their sympathies with all those affected by the shooting and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.

The historic visit, the Kings first visit to the US as monarch, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.

The royal couple, who will begin their visit with a private tea hosted by the president and first lady, will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New Yorks Twin Towers.

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.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Britain is failing in its efforts to fight a hybrid war with Russia and is unprepared for a wider-scale global conflict, a top former government aide and senior analysts have warned.

As war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz leave the world reeling from higher oil, petrol, food and fertiliser prices, and conflict grinds on in Ukraine, fundamental planning to protect the UK is not taking place.

Fiona Hill, former director for European and Russian affairs in the National Security Council in Donald Trump's first administration, describes the UKs contingencies for dealing with present and future disruptions as not fit for purpose.

As one of the co-authors of the UKs 2025 Strategic Defence Review, Dr Hill will this week deliver a speech at the Imperial War Museum intended to galvanise Britain's response to threats against its infrastructure.

In a stark interview with The Independent, she warned: In the UK, our systems are not designed to cope with major disruptions. It is up to the leadership to come up with a plan because, at the moment, what is there is not fit for purpose.

open image in gallery Fiona Hill describes the UKs contingencies for dealing with the present and future disruptions as not fit for purpose ( Getty )

We have seen the effects of choke points in the Gulf, disruptions to transport. The NHS cannot cope with mass casualties, and we need to build up food supplies and systems to cope with disruption to imports.

We dont have archives of maps digitised and no analogue systems to use if digital systems collapse. This is an urgent national debate that needs to happen now.

With no single minister responsible for national resilience in times of crisis, Dr Hill, chancellor of Durham University, says there is no sign the government is taking action.

Her intervention comes after her co-author of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), Lord Robertson, a former secretary general of Nato, accused the government of "corrosive complacency over what he said was a failure to implement the review's 62 recommendations.

His criticisms largely focused on the political conundrum faced by the government, which is the trade-off between spending on areas such as welfare versus the need to expand military capabilities.

Britains security officials have been increasingly warning that the country has been in a form of modern war for months. We are now operating in a space between peace and war, the head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, said last year.

Russia, she said  as have the heads of the British army, navy and air force  is the principal threat.

But Vladimir Putins hybrid war is not confined to military targets alone  cyber attacks and assaults on supply lines, power grids and even food are also in the mix.

open image in gallery The Russian ship Yantar was recently spotted in UK waters ( UK MOD/Crown copyright )

There are so many soft targets around the UK its impossible to count them, says Dr Hill, highlighting that the nation has no effective system even to monitor small drones that could be weaponised to fly through the windows of the tallest buildings.

The UK is seen as largely defenceless against long-range missile attacks  or drones  and vulnerable to attacks against its military and civilian undersea communications cables, gas pipelines and electrical connections to Europe.

In the past two years, there has been a 30 per cent surge in surveillance of some of Britains most sensitive undersea strategic communications and supply lines by Russia.

The preparation moment of sabotage takes years and years, and that is what we're seeing, warns Dr Sidharth Kaushal, senior research fellow in sea power at the Royal United Services Institute.

The Royal Navy and Nato allies recently exposed the work of the Russian Akula attack submarine and two undersea spy boats surveying British cables and other critical infrastructure.

These operations have been going on for decades, led by Russias Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research, known as Gugi, and Nato has no dedicated equivalent sea spying system to match.

In the UK, other vulnerabilities include dangers such as the nations gas supplies from Norway being cut in times of war. Both Dr Hill and Dr Kaushal highlight attacks on the Langeled and Vesterled pipelines, which supply 60-80 per cent of the countrys gas.

open image in gallery British submarine hunter HMS Portland (top) tracking Akula-class attack submarine Vepr in the North Sea, northwest of Bergen, Norway ( PA )

Combined with the dangers posed by tens of thousands of cyber attacks on the UKs critical infrastructure every day, they warned the nation had little capacity to cope.

The SDR, published last June, said the UK should build national resilience to threats below and above the threshold of an armed attack through a concerted, collective effort involving  among others  industry, the finance sector, civil society, academia, education and communities.

Although some private companies build resilience into their systems, there is no national, much less compulsory, programme to survive a disaster or an attack of the kind prepared for by Norway, Sweden and Finland, Dr Hill warns.

She says the UK should devolve authority to local government to build its capacity to deal with disasters that could otherwise overwhelm the country. Ukraine has been a model for its ability to respond to a massive invasion.

Every citys mayor is responsible for coordinating emergency services. Every provincial governor is responsible for the wider management and resourcing of civilian survival in the face of relentless attacks by Russia, and works closely with the military.

In Kharkiv, mayor Ihor Terekov showed The Independent a secret bunker where all civilian emergency responses from energy to fire services worked together alongside military officers running early-warning systems so that a response could be prepared when drones and missiles were in the air  before they even landed.

No such system exists in the UK.

open image in gallery Kyiv residents shelter in a metro station ( STF/AFP/Getty )

When you factor in the global external events and the reasonable risk of kinetic war fighting in mainland Europe  if Russia decides to go all in  it becomes significantly challenging for the UK, adds Stephen Arundell, vice chair of the Emergency Planning Society, the professional body for experts in the field.

Because we've frankly not been investing in resilient matters because we've had a very long, sustained period of peace.

The UK defence review called for a whole of society response to the hybrid and future threats and attacks that the UK faces. Sir Keir Starmer has endorsed the idea and called for more work to be done in the field.

But the experts all agree that the UK is lagging far behind its European allies, and politicians are failing to make the case for more spending to train and equip local authorities and civil defence units  as well as shying away from legislation that will force the private sector to step up its own defence.

In response to the issues raised, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement: We have the resources we need to keep the United Kingdom safe from attacks, whether it's on our soil or from abroad. The UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself, and as a founding member of Nato, we benefit from the alliances collective defence capabilities, including its integrated air and missile defence systems.

This government has made air and missile defence a priority after years of underfunding. That is why last June, following the Strategic Defence Review, we announced up to 1bn in new funding to strengthen our defences and keep the UK secure. This investment also boosts the UKs contribution to Nato, ensuring we play our part in protecting our allies and ourselves.
Stay on top of the latest political news with our View from Westminster newsletter Get the latest political headlines with our free email Get the latest political headlines with our free email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Donald Trump has insisted that King Charles state visit to the United States will go ahead next week, after it emerged that his security was being reviewed following an attack on a Washington dinner attended by the president on Saturday night.

The White House Correspondents Association dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday night after a gunman attempted to storm the venue, prompting the US president to be swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of his administration.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday about the Kings state visit  which is due to take place next week  Mr Trump said: Hes coming and were going to have a great time.

He added: Hes a great guy, and we look forward to it. Hes really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and hes brave.

Were gonna have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it.

It came after a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that discussions will be taking place throughout the day with US colleagues to review what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.

Speaking about the attempted attack, chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told Sky News: As you would imagine, with His Majesty the King, this week our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.

Asked by the BBC whether further security measures will be put in place ahead of the visit, Mr Jones said: As you would imagine, the government and the Palace were in close cooperation with American counterparts in advance of the visit anyway, and further discussions will be taking place today, ahead of next week.

open image in gallery King Charles III will visit the United States next week ( Getty )

Pressed on the issue, he said: There will be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk, yes.

It is understood that the King and Queen have reached out privately to the US president and first lady to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.

Meanwhile, the prime minister, who has had an increasingly fractious relationship with the US president as a result of the UKs refusal to be dragged into the Iran war, sent a message to Mr Trump in solidarity after the incident.

The pair spoke on the phone on Sunday afternoon, a Downing Street spokesperson said, adding that the prime minister extended his best wishes to the president and first lady following the shocking scenes at last nights White House Correspondents Dinner.

He expressed his relief that the president and first lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured, the spokesperson said.

In a statement on social media, Sir Keir added: I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington overnight.

Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that [the President], the First Lady and all those attending are safe.

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention, and described him as a lone wolf whack job.

open image in gallery Donald Trump claimed the gunman was a lone wolf whack job ( Reuters )

Mr Trump  who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president  vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had unified political opponents and the media.

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.

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.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed.

As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.
Stay on top of the latest political news with our View from Westminster newsletter Get the latest political headlines with our free email Get the latest political headlines with our free email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

It would be very reasonable for the King to speak to Donald Trump about UK sovereignty of the Falkland Islands during next weeks state visit to US, the shadow home secretary has said.

A leaked internal Pentagon email suggested the US could review its backing for the UKs claim on the South Atlantic territory as revenge for Sir Keir Starmers lack of support for Donald Trumps war in Iran.

Downing Street has insisted the islands sovereignty was not in question, but the potential shift in US policy has prompted Argentina to renew calls for talks with the UK over the Falklands.

The Pentagon email set out options for Mr Trumps administration to punish Nato allies for refusing to join the US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

open image in gallery The relationship between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) and US President Donald Trump has been further strained since the outbreak of the Iran war (Leon Neal/PA) ( PA Archive )

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and invaded in 1982 before being defeated in a short but bloody war with the UK.

Chris Philp told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: The British government should do everything possible to keep those islands British, including making sure there is enough military hardware on the islands to protect them.

He added: I think it would be a reasonable point for the King to raise, of course, its up to him what he decides to discuss, but I think it would be very reasonable for the King to raise that with President Trump.

The chief secretary to the prime minister was asked on the same programme if the King would tell Mr Trump it would be a mistake to reassess Britains relationship with the Falklands.

Darren Jones responded: I obviously cant predict what His Majesty will say in a private meeting with the president, but in relation to the Falklands, the government position is very clear: the Falklands is British territory and the only people that get to decide otherwise are the islanders themselves.

The Falkland Islands government said it had complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination

open image in gallery The King and Queen are due to visit the US for a state visit with President Donald Trump on Monday (Jordan Pettitt/PA) ( PA Wire )

The row has been the latest sign of the strains in the US-UK relationship as the King and Queen prepare for their state visit on Monday.

Mr Philip also said Charless trip to the US should absolutely go ahead, despite the attempted shooting at a Washington dinner attended by the US president.

Gunshots rang out inside the hotel shortly after 8:30pm, prompting scenes of panic as Secret Service agents rushed the president and other Cabinet officials out of the ballroom, while others took cover beneath tables.

A suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, according to The New York Times, shot and injured one law enforcement officer before being detained.

Mr Jones said the Kings security would be reviewed following the shooting. He told the BBC: As you would imagine, the government and the Palace were in close cooperation with American counterparts in advance of the visit anyway, and further discussions will be taking place today, ahead of next week.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Fatima Abacassamo has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of the withdrawal of international aid by the United States and other Western nations on vulnerable pregnant women and newborn babies in Niassa, a remote and poor province far north of Mozambique.

As head of Mozambique programming for EngenderHealth, which assists pregnant women facing complications in Niassa, Abacassamo is at pains to explain how maternal health care services have nearly ground to a halt in this province.

Many women in Niassa are now reaching health facilities only when complications have already developed, Abacassamo says in an interview. A lot of pregnant women now require urgent surgical intervention, which is not always available and is far away, rather than planned care, which allows for timely preparation to save lives.

For three years, and with $6.74 million (5m) in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), EngenderHealth implemented community-based maternal services that helped identify high-risk pregnancies and map and monitor access to health facilities before the onset of labour.

But at the stroke of a pen a year ago, Donald Trump essentially shut down USAID, with other Western nations such as the UK, Germany and France also stopping funding for overseas development programs. Now, poor and vulnerable would-be mothers in Niassa and elsewhere across Mozambique have been left stranded and unable to access life-saving services and procedures.

This has seen EngenderHealth halt all activities related to maternal health service delivery in health facilities in Niassa. It has also stopped training programs for healthcare providers and community-based awareness activities.

In the province we used to serve [Niassa], pregnant women now arrive at health facilities with complications such as high blood pressure, excessive bleeding and in some instances cases where the placenta covers the cervix. These can result in death or long-term disabilities, such as prolonged labour or infertility due to uterine rupture, often caused by delayed access to appropriate surgical interventions, Abacassamo says. She adds that the lack of timely access to safe cesarean sections performed by trained medical personnel in emergency situations is a critical and worsening gap in maternal healthcare in Niassa.

open image in gallery USAID funding facilitated timely referrals for life-saving surgical treatment of pregnant women with complications at Lichinga Provincial Hospital in Niassa, Mozambique ( Supplied by EngenderHealth, Mozambique )

Abacassamo worries that delays in access to timely maternal health services, limited early detection of risk during pregnancy, and gaps in referral and preparedness systems will result in a sharp spike in maternal deaths.

Any gains that Mozambique has made in reducing maternal deaths and infant morbidities in recent years are at risk thanks to this change in the donor landscape, especially the withdrawal of funding by donor organisations, Nelida Rodrigues, the representative in Mozambique for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), tells The Independent.

Rodrigues explains that in the same province of Niassa, several mobile clinics have ceased, and community outreach programmes halted, while last-mile distribution of life-saving commodities may become inconsistent due to the withdrawal of international development aid by USAID and other organisations.

Throughout Mozambique, less than half of women (48.6 per cent) receive the recommended four or more antenatal care visits from health providers, the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) says. Only 36 per cent of women and 41 per cent of newborns in Mozambique receive a postnatal consultation within the first two days after birth.

This is despite improvements in the countrys infant mortality, which has declined from 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1997 to 24 per 1,000 live births in 2022/2023. Mozambiques maternal mortality ratio had also halved, falling from 690 per 100,000 live births in 1997 to 233 per 100,000 live births in 2022/2023, according to the WHO.

Recent reductions in funding for maternal and child health programmes are undermining the sustainability of key interventions in Mozambique. Cuts to financing for essential medicines, supply chains, and critical medical equipment are compromising the delivery, quality, and continuity of maternal and neonatal health services, posing a risk to the gains achieved in recent years, a spokesperson for WHO in Mozambique says.

open image in gallery Mobile outreach clinics by UNFPA have helped to bring key sexual reproductive health to communities in Marrupa and other poorly serviced areas in Mozambique ( UNFPA )

Maximising the impact of every dollar

Community members and coordinators with health programmes in Niassa province tell The Independent that the halting of the EngenderHealth programme had left pregnant women and new mothers stranded in many districts of the province. Meanwhile, many new mothers are still waiting for follow-up operations and treatment procedures after giving birth in the past few months.

One community member says: In villages on the banks of Niassa River, home births are still prevalent due to the distance and the need to cross Lake Niassa by boat. It could have been worse but we have matrons who were trained by EngenderHealth, and they assist with basic care, but when there are complications, it becomes a very difficult situation.

Other humanitarian organisations active in Mozambique, such as ActionAid, are also seeing funding reduced. Clotilde Noa, who works for ActionAid in Mozambique, says that this includes a shortage of medicines, a lack of equipment and materials for normal and caesarean deliveries and less anaesthesia materials.

Noa says ActionAid has been receiving requests for funding to support maternal health programs in Mozambique, mainly from local organisations and district governments.

"In addition to the withdrawal of USAID, Mozambique is prone to natural disasters and has suffered an impact on health infrastructure when there are cyclones and floods, Noa adds.

open image in gallery Aid cuts over the past year are compromising maternal healthcare delivery in countries such as Mozambique ( Mario Macilau /WHO/ Ethnovisio )

Faced with aid reductions and delays, development organisations in Mozambique are now rethinking their approach. The WHO office in Mozambique says it has now shifted focus towards sustainable approaches that improve efficiency and foster the integration of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services. This includes scaling up integrated, community-based programmes and strengthening primary health care facilities as the backbone of the health system.

It is also expanding access to family planning and reproductive health services, including contraception and counselling.

The WHO in Mozambique says it is essential to support birth spacing and prevent unintended and high-risk early pregnancies as a strategy to manage complications.

The UNFPA too is adapting its strategy to ensure sustainability of maternal health services through deeper collaboration and engagement with non-traditional donor countries, such as South Korea and Ireland, and exploring regional African collaborations.

We are also further integrating maternal health with climate resilience... to maximise the impact of every dollar, and strengthening the capacity of domestic NGOs and provincial health authorities, explained Rodrigues.

However, mobilising domestic resources for the health sector in Mozambique remains challenging, especially at a time when the countrys finances are precarious. Mozambiques economy remains susceptible to the effects of climate change, with frequent cyclones undermining growth in the dominant agricultural sector, which accounts for about 25 per cent of GDP.

For its part, EngenderHealth is seeking secure funding and is exploring partnerships to provide technical assistance to other organisations Niassa and elsewhere in the country.

Abacassamo said: If no funding is secured in the coming months, there is a possibility that the organisation may have to withdraw [from Mozambique]."
On a bleak December day in 2010, a police officer named John Mallia took his dog, Blue, down to a desolate scrubland along the coast at Gilgo Beach in Long Island. Several months earlier, a young woman named Shannan Gilbert had disappeared a few miles away; on the same night, she had made a frantic 911 call while running through a nearby neighbourhood, crying that someone is after me.

Blue would end up leading his handler to a body buried in the undergrowth  but that body did not belong to Shannan. It was another woman, 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, who had vanished in 2009, after telling a friend that she was heading out to meet up with a man. Like Shannan, Melissa had worked as an escort to earn extra money.

Over the next few days, the police found the bodies of three more missing women: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman. All of them were, like Barthelemy, physically slight, 5ft or under; all of them had also been involved in sex work before their deaths. They became known as the Gilgo Four  although the number of bodies found along Ocean Parkway would, over the coming months, later rise to 11 (nine women, one man and one toddler).

A lonely length of coastal scrub, not far from one of Long Islands plush gated communities, had become a de facto graveyard for the victims of one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. But despite media attention  much of it salacious, centring around the womens status as sex workers  and the best efforts of their families, the case seemed to go cold for the best part of a decade.

It wasnt until the early 2020s that detectives made a breakthrough, linking the crimes back to local architect Rex Heuermann through a mix of burner phone data, vehicle records and DNA testing. Heuermann maintained his innocence  until, in a shocking U-turn, he changed his plea to guilty at the start of this month. His lawyer has said it was to spare both the victims families and his own family from a long trial.

open image in gallery Relatives of the Gilgo Beach murder victims, along with attorney Gloria Allred, at a press conference earlier this month ( Getty )

He was, he admitted, responsible not only for the seven murders he had been charged with (including the Gilgo Four as well as Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack) but an eighth killing, that of Karen Vergata. Some of his crimes dated back to the Nineties. Another man, Andrew Dykes, has since been charged with the deaths of the ninth woman, Tanya Denise Jackson, and her toddler daughter Tatiana Dykes, and has pleaded not guilty. Heuermann has not been named as a suspect in the death of the unidentified man.

The confession was a development that shocked director Emma Cooper, who had spent the past few years immersed in the case while working on Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders, a four-part Amazon documentary. The series had been set to air later this year, but Heuermanns confession brought the release date forward (he is scheduled to be sentenced in June and faces multiple life sentences).

While working on the series, Cooper, who has directed and produced films for the BBC, including various Louis Theroux shows, commissioned documentaries for Channel 4 and, more recently, directed Depp v Heard for Netflix, spent time in court with the victims families. She was able, then, to see first hand how difficult it was for them to hear the case. Not having to go through a trial, she says, will be a relief for them. But, she notes, this wont necessarily give them immediate closure.

Its a double-edged sword, isnt it? she says. Its the sense that theres relief, that theres some closure, theres some justice, but equally, nothings going to change for them. Theyre just left with exactly what they will always be left with, which is a deep sense of sorrow and trauma and grief. On the one hand, theyve been spared a trial. On the other hand, theyve just got to carry on.

open image in gallery The shock confession earlier this month may bring some closure to the victims families ( Amazon Prime Video )

She describes the trauma of having so many years of not being listened to, and no one doing anything, as an amalgamation of horror for them all. And it will never go away.

For a decade, the investigation was blighted by police biases. In one harrowing news conference clip featured in the documentary, we see an official inform the media that the womens deaths were a direct result of their business as prostitutes. For British viewers, there are undeniable parallels with the so-called Yorkshire Ripper case, in which serial killer Peter Sutcliffe initially targeted sex workers in the North of England  and officers only really started paying attention when more respectable women were attacked.

On the one hand, theyve been spared a trial. On the other hand, theyve just got to carry on Emma Cooper, director of 'Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders'

Victim blaming was central to the way the case was handled, Cooper says. I think it is systemic. I think it is a huge problem, and it continues to be a problem. Perpetrators like Heuermann, she adds, count on the fact that there will be victim blaming and that crimes against sex workers will not be taken seriously. In the past, people have really judged those women, and I just felt absolutely that there should be no judgement on them at all, she says. What happened to them was horrific, but it was nothing that they brought on themselves.

She wanted her series to present a rounded portrait of the women, shaped by the people who actually knew them. I just wanted to know what they would have been doing now, she says. They would have been a great parent; they would have had this job. Most of these women were getting money to set up a business, they were getting money to support their children, they were getting money to educate themselves. They were hustlers. We have a culture where people love a hustler  make your life better, better yourself. But you cant be a sex worker? That judgement really annoyed me.

open image in gallery The victims families have fought for years to bring attention to the case  battling against prejudices towards sex workers ( Amazon Prime Video )

Allegations of corruption in the Suffolk County police force under the now-disgraced former police chief James Burke also slowed down the investigation; in 2016, Burke was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a suspect in custody and attempting to cover up the crime. It wasnt until veteran New York detective Rodney Harrison joined the case at the start of 2022, shortly after a new district attorney, Ray Tierney, had been elected, that any meaningful progress was made.

After sifting through interviews and testimonies, detectives were able to link the attacker to a distinctive Chevrolet Avalanche pick-up truck; searching vehicle registrations then led them to Heuermann. Analysis of phone calls made to the victims also placed the killer in Manhattan, near Heuermanns architecture firm. Officers even retrieved Heuermanns discarded pizza box from a bin in order to match the DNA with a hair found on a victims body.

When they later searched Heuermanns home, they found a harrowing manual for murder saved on his computer, in which he painstakingly detailed his method for killing and covering up the crime. The defendant walked among us play-acting as a normal suburban dad when all along he was targeting these women for death, Tierney said shortly after the confession. He appeared an affable oath, a dad, a simple guy, Cooper agrees. One haunting scene from the show features footage from an interview with Heuermann from a dusty corner of YouTube, in which he cheerily discussed his architecture work. The [interviewer] had filmed it and not realised that he was recording a serial killer, Cooper says.

open image in gallery Heuermann was play-acting a normal suburban dad while he carried out his murders ( Getty )

She is full of praise for Tierney, who was one of the first people to sit down for an interview with her. He was very open with me, and I really valued my time with him, she says. I thought he was a bit of a hero, and I hope that he comes across in the series as a bit of a hero. He helped her to get introductions to the victims families; so too did Gloria Allred, the legendary feminist lawyer who has represented some of them (shes a total firebrand, someone to look up to, Cooper says).

Not all of them were keen to take part initially. These women have been messed about, and people dont necessarily want to talk to me, Cooper explains. I have an amazing team of women and we spent a long time winning trust. It took several trips and lots of meetings, she adds, to make sure they felt comfortable talking about this traumatic experience.

In some of the seriess most affecting scenes, we hear some of the victims mothers talk about the strong friendship that has developed between them amid such an appalling tragedy. Its a sisterhood, isnt it? Cooper says. Its a sisterhood that you dont want, but youre very grateful to find it available to you. Their shared fight to be heard and fight for justice when no one was listening, she says, has made them fiercely protective of one another. And so they should be  they are the only people that have any idea what they are going through.

There are still question marks hanging over the case despite Heuermanns confession. Detectives have been looking into whether he might be linked to other unsolved disappearances and murder cases across the United States. And the identity of the male victim discovered on Gilgo Beach still remains unknown. I think this case is going to go on and on, unfortunately, Cooper says. But if it does mean that theres closure for some There are still families who dont know what happened to their loved ones.

Before she started filming, she says, she headed out to Gilgo Beach on a freezing January day. I just couldnt think of a more awful place for my bones to be, or a loved ones bones to be, she says. She and Adrienne Corson, an FBI agent who worked on the case and features in the documentary, went and laid flowers on the sites where the bodies were discovered. It made me really immerse myself in the fact that this could be anybody  it could be me, and it could be you.

Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders is streaming on Prime Video now
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

The suspect detained following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner is believed to have breached the outermost layer of security at the event because he was a guest of the hotel, officials said Saturday.

Security for the annual event, where Donald Trump was due to speak, is always tight when the president attends, especially given the venues history.

The Washington Hilton was the site of an attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan 45 years ago, and law enforcement argued that their multi-layered protection worked as designed. Still, the incident is sure to set off more questions about security around the president and political events in the wake of high-profile acts of political violence in recent years.

Here's what we know about the security of the correspondents' dinner.

The perimeter at the Washington Hilton

The interim police chief for Washington D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department, Jeffery Carroll, said investigators believe that the suspect was staying in the hotel, and that appears to be how he was able to enter the hotel at the time of the event.

The hotel was closed to the public beginning at 2pm Saturday in anticipation of the dinner, which began at 8pm. Outside, dozens of protesters gathered in the rain  mostly directing their criticism at the media attending the event.

Access to the hotel was restricted to hotel guests, people with tickets to the dinner itself, an invitation to one of the receptions that are held at the hotel before or after the dinner, or documents from the White House Correspondents' Association indicating affiliation with the dinner.

open image in gallery Guests evacuated after an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner ( AP )

The 2,300 guests at the event in the hotel's cavernous subterranean ballroom had to pass through several additional checks to enter the room, including showing tickets to association volunteers and hotel staff and passing through magnetometers manned by the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration.

It was not immediately released when the suspect checked into the hotel. Security camera footage released by Trump to social media shortly after the incident shows the gunman running past security officers who appear to be disassembling the metal detectors. Once the president was seated in the ballroom, additional attendees were not permitted to enter the secured area, which is why they were taking them down.

It shows that our multi-layered protection works, Secret Service director Sean Curran said. His comments were echoed by Carroll, who said the security plan for the evening was developed by the Secret Service and that security plan did work this evening.

Security measures inside the ballroom

Inside the ballroom for the dinner itself, there were further security measures.

The U.S. Secret Service maintained another perimeter around the president that included a buffer separating him and others seated at the head table from the rest of the attendees. Armored plates were hidden under the table where Trump was seated. Secret Service agents were at their posts in front of the stage and in its wings, as were heavily armed counter-assault agents ready to respond to threats. Security details for dozens of other high-profile attendees were also in the ballroom.

A spokesperson for the hotel directed questions about their security measures to the U.S. Secret Service.

Assassination attempt of Reagan at the Washington Hilton

The hotel itself has a long presidential history, and every day, people have regularly booked rooms or filled the lobby bar to watch people at an event that attracts Washington's elite and has also drawn celebrities like George Clooney and Kim Kardashian as well as hosts including Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah.

open image in gallery FBI agents are seen at the Washington Hilton after shots were fired ( AFP/Getty )

Although known for the correspondents' dinner, the hotel regularly hosts large events in the nation's capital, especially those that feature the president. It was the site of the shooting of Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr. on March 30, 1981.

Reagan was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement when Hinckley shot him with a revolver, seriously wounding him. Hinckley believed the attack would impress the actress Jodie Foster.

Security overhauls and US Secret Service training

After that incident, the hotel built extensive security modifications specifically to accommodate the president, including a secured garage designed to fit the presidential limo which leads to a dedicated elevator and staircase to ferry them to a secured suite reserved for their personal use.

The suite includes a reserved bathroom that the hotel traditionally adorns with monogrammed towels for the president for the handful of times they are in the space every year.

Because of the venue's long presidential history, the Secret Service has long used the annual event to put some agents through their paces because the venue has been extensively studied by the agency for decades.

However, since the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, many major hotels have also tightened security protocols, in some cases adopting measures such as periodic room checks or policies aimed at flagging extended privacy requests. It was not immediately clear when the person involved Saturday checked into the hotel, or whether any such measures would have had any bearing in this case.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner appeared in court Monday, where he was charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

The dinner was thrown into chaos after the suspected lone gunman, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly rushed past security and fired at least one gunshot. The suspected shooter was targeting members of the Trump administration, he wrote in a message to family members before the attack, according to court documents.

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other members of the administration were taken from the Washington Hiltons ballroom as guests scrambled for cover during the shocking incident. The suspect rushed security guards and opened fire, hitting a Secret Service agent. He was quickly subdued by officers and taken into custody.

No guests at the dinner were hurt. The event was subsequently canceled.

Allen, a 31-year-old computer engineer from California, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as well as two weapons charges.

open image in gallery This courtroom sketch depicts Cole Tomas Allen, left, the California man arrested in the shooting incident at the correspondents' dinner in Washington, seen appearing before Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh, in federal court, Monday, April 27, 2026 in Washington ( AP )

Heres what we know so far:

Who is the suspected gunman?

Allen, 31, hails from Torrance, California, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

A 2017 graduate of the highly selective California Institute of Technology, he was working as a teacher at the time of his arrest while also developing computer games. In 2019, he registered the domain name Bohrdom for a game he created and released on Steam. It is described as a skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality.

In 2025, he attained a master's degree in computer science from California State University at Dominguez Hills.

While a student at Caltech, Allen was a member of the schools Christian fellowship and the Nerf club. He was featured in a 2017 photo that was posted by the school on Facebook following his graduation. In that photo, hes holding a picture of himself as a child with a stuffed rabbit.

open image in gallery The suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents Dinner was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. A full motive has not been determined in the incident ( Donald Trump/ Truth Social )

In December 2024, a Facebook post from private tutoring service C2 Education named Allen as Teacher of the Month.

On his LinkedIn page, Allen described himself as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth. He lists his Causes on that profile as Science and Technology.

Allen previously worked as a mechanical engineer for UK Controls in South Pasadena and as a teaching assistant at Caltech. In 2016, he competed in a robotics competition at the school.

open image in gallery Shortly after the event started, shots rang out and President Donald Trump was rushed from the stage. First lady Melania Trump and multiple Cabinet members were present for the event ( Reuters )

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the assailant had been apprehended and posted a photo of the suspect on the ground at the hotel. Police said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

They seem to think hes a lone wolf, and I feel that too, Trump said at a press briefing after the event.

Allen was injured but was not shot. A Secret Service officer was shot but was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and survived, officials said.

Questions remain about how many shots Allen fired and how many officers discharged their weapons.

Allen sent an anti-Trump, anti-Christian manifesto to his family before opening fire, officials say

Allen is accused of sending a manifesto filled with anti-Trump and anti-Christian sentiments to family members before the shooting, officials told CBS News.

In his first interview since the shooting, President Trump called the manifesto anti-Christian when speaking to Fox News.

Sections from the suspect's writings were later published by the New York Post, detailing that Allen referred to himself with the monikers, the Friendly Federal Assassin and Cole coldForce.

Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. Im not the person raped in a detention camp. Im not the fisherman executed without trial, Allen allegedly wrote.

Im not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressors crimes.

Authorities were alerted to the manifesto by the suspects brother, who lives in New London, Connecticut, according to the Post.

open image in gallery U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro points at pictures showing the weapons allegedly carried by Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident in Washington at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner ( REUTERS )

The suspect, in an email to family prior to the attack, said he was targeting a range of officials in the administration that did not include the under-fire FBI Director Kash Patel, per court documents. The email allegedly listed Allens alleged targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.

Allen also laid out how he planned to stage his attack in the message, the government alleges.

In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls), hes accused of writing in the email. I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesnt come to that.

This one hits a little differently. We were all there, Patel said Monday of the attack, adding that interviews in the investigation are ongoing, and FBI teams have collected shell casings on scene.

Allen donated to Kamala Harris presidential campaign in October 2024

Allen donated $25 to then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024, a month before the presidential election, reports The Los Angeles Times.

According to FEC filings, it was his only political donation in the past 10 years. Allen was a registered voter but not a member of a political party.

Allen lived in a community surrounded by lots of retired LAPD

open image in gallery FBI tactical agents walk as they prepare to leave the investigation scene near a residence believed to be linked to Cole Allen ( AFP/Getty )

A neighbor of Allens told The LA Times,We see them every day and we just say hi and theyre very nice. Theyre peaceful people, they dont make any noise and when they see you they say hi.

Another neighbor said the residents had only moved into the home six months previously.

While another neighbor told The New York Times that the community is home to lots of retired LAPD... We were told it was super-super safe.

Local media reported a large law enforcement response at a home in Torrance believed to be associated with Allen. At one point, residents of the home could be seen talking with officers.

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, confirmed that a search warrant was executed at the suspects home. Federal agents entered the home around 10:30 pm local time.

The suspect has been described as very intelligent on the nicer, quieter side

open image in gallery FBI tactical agents talk to Torrance police officers at the investigation scene ( AFP/Getty )

The president of the Asian American Civic Trust, Dylan Wakayama, described Allen as very intelligent, proficient in biology, mathematics and science, when speaking to The Los Angeles Times.

Allen tutored high school students who were members of the AACT.

They were completely shocked when I told them that this all went down, Wakayama added. I think all of us in Torrance would be shocked if this is the man who attempted to kill the president of the United States.

How did he get a gun into the hotel?

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C, said on Monday that Allen was carrying a range of weapons, including a 12-gauge pump-action Mossberg shotgun, a .38 semi-automatic pistol as well as at least three knives and all kinds of paraphernalia.

Any suggestion that he wasn't there to do harm is absurd, Pirro said, adding that the firearms were purchased in California, alleging that Allen had committed a crime by crossing interstate lines with them.

How the suspect got the gun near the facility remains unclear.

We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there," D.C. Metro Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said shortly following the incident.

open image in gallery President Trump posted security video allegedly showing the shooting suspect running past a security checkpoint ( via REUTERS )

Pirro confirmed Monday that Allen had been staying at the Washington Hilton hotel, having made the reservation there shortly after Trump had announced his attendance at the public event on March 2. Allen had made the reservation on April 6 for three nights  from April 24 to 26.

He had traveled by train from the West Coast to Chicago on April 21, arriving there on April 23. He had arrived in the U.S. capital on April 24 and checked into the hotel at 3 p.m., after which he stayed overnight.

He is very much aware that the president and the first lady entered the ballroom at 8 p.m. and it was at 8:40 p.m. that he made a decision to rush the ballroom, Pirro said.

The president posted surveillance footage of the suspect allegedly running past the hotels security checkpoint. Trump said he did so for transparency and to highlight the speed with which agents reacted to the threat.

In his manifesto, the suspect allegedly mocked the hotels security, saying it was all focused on the perimeter of the hotel.

Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope its corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again, he wrote in part.

open image in gallery The suspect was apprehended by police before he made it to the ballroom where Trump and other officials were present ( AP )

Police said Allen has no criminal record and was not on law enforcement's radar in Washington, D.C.

A Secret Service agent was shot during the incident after the suspect sprinted through the checkpoint. He was apprehended off camera, but police say he was not shot. He was stopped before he got to the ballroom, where Trump and other cabinet members were in attendance.

Allen and the Secret Service agent who was injured were both taken to a local hospital. The agent is said to be in good spirits following the incident.

What is Allen being charged with?

open image in gallery Trump speaks from the White House after leaving the scene of the shooting ( Getty )

Allen is facing three charges: attempted presidential assassination, and two charges over allegedly transporting then firing a weapon.

Allen was arraigned on Monday in federal court at 1 p.m. local time. He did not enter a plea.

More charges are expected as the investigation continues, U.S. Attorney Pirro said Monday evening.

Allen is being held in a police jail cell around half a mile from the Hilton and will remain in federal detention until at least Thursday, when he has his next court appearance  a hearing which is scheduled for 11 a.m.

The California man could face up to life in prison if found guilty on the assassination-related charge.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Dana White struck a unique tone after calling the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting f****g awesome in comments that spread on social media.

White, the CEO of UFC, was among the thousands in attendance at the Washington Hilton hotel when authorities say 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives, attempted to storm the event.

As many, including Charlie Kirks widow, Erika, reacted in horror to the unfolding events, White, 56, took a different view.

It started to get noisy. Tables started getting flipped over, guys running with guns and they were screaming, 'Get down!'. I didn't get down. It was f*****g awesome and I literally took every minute of it in, he told USA Today.

open image in gallery Dana White pictured on the red carpet prior to attending the correspondance dinner ( Getty )

It was a pretty crazy, unique experience. We were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Nobody got tackled but guys came in looking for shooters, I thought the shooter was over by us or something.

White is a keen ally of President Donald Trump and is set to promote an MMA event on the White House lawn on June 14, the commander in chiefs birthday, as part of the United States 250th birthday celebrations.

White was a guest of Paramount Skydance, the broadcaster behind UFC, at the event. He was sitting at the head table, where President Trump, the first lady, and Karoline Leavitt were seated.

Meanwhile, the president was quick to thank the Secret Service agents who took down the suspect and said that the event would go ahead at a later date.

The response time was really incredible, and were going to reschedule. Were going to do it again, were not going to let anybody take over our society; were not going to cancel things because we cant do that. We wanted to stay tonight. I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay, but it was protocol.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump, UFC CEO Dana White and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center in Miami ( REUTERS )

In 2025, White told Piers Morgan in an interview that in the wake of the attempt on Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania, he urged the president to drop out of the race.

The incident occurred when White was flying to Italy, he said. When he landed, he called Trump, who was already home at that point. He was unfazed by the harrowing encounter, White recalled.

Why are you doing this? Stop. Stop, he said. I told him to stop so many times.

You have such a good life and you can do so many things, White recalled telling Trump at the time. He believes he believes in Godhes very religious.

Trump also told Morgan that he thinks God mustve had a plan for me. God wanted me to survive that bullet, the veteran British presenter revealed.

Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet, the FBI said in the weeks following the attack.

White agreed: He believes that to his core. That God has spared his life to be the president and do the things that hes going to do over the next four years.
BAMAKO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Defense Minister of Mali Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in the town of Kati, near the capital Bamako, carried out by armed terrorist groups, sources told Xinhua on Sunday.

According to the sources, who requested anonymity, armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks on several cities across the country on Saturday, leaving 16 people wounded. Camara's residence in Kati was also targeted, and both the minister and his second wife were killed.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the government said the attacks targeted multiple locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital, Bamako.

The wounded, including civilians and military personnel, were taken to medical facilities, and that material damage was limited, the statement added.

As of Sunday morning, the government had not issued an official statement confirming the minister's death.

The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said on Sunday that search operations against armed terrorist groups were continuing in Kidal, Kati and other parts of the country following Saturday's attacks.

In a separate statement, the army said the attacks were aimed at disrupting the country's defense system and spreading fear and chaos.

It added that alert levels had been raised nationwide, curfews imposed, large-scale patrols intensified, and checkpoints reinforced to enhance surveillance against security threats.

The General Staff reaffirmed that the Malian Armed Forces remain committed to defending the country's territorial integrity and ensuring national security.

It also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities. 
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A sobbing Erika Kirk was seen being ushered out of the Washington Hilton in the wake of the shooting that rocked the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday.

CNNs Sara Sidner posted a clip of Erika hurriedly walking from the ballroom, choking up and saying: I just want to go home.

The suspect from Saturdays incident has been named as California man Cole Tomas Allen, 31.

This shooting comes just over six months after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead while speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Utah. Shortly after his death, Erika stepped in as the CEO of the right-wing activist group. Earlier this month, she backed out of appearing alongside Vice President JD Vance at an event after receiving threats.

Photos from earlier in the night on April 25 showed a beaming Erika, pictured with Fox News personality Lawrence Jones, seated beside controversial Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Erika was a guest of Fox News at the event. The networks Bret Baier reported that he saw the former Miss Arizona crying in the back hall, as you can imagine, after the assassination of her husband.

Other witnesses said that at one point, FBI Director Kash Patel was consoling Erika.

The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. The armed man, who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held, was taken into custody and was expected in court Monday. Police believe he opened fire and acted alone, but did not say who his intended target was or describe a motive.

When youre impactful, they go after you. When youre not impactful, they leave you alone, Trump, safe and uninjured and still in his tuxedo, said at the White House two hours later. They seem to think he was a lone wolf.

open image in gallery DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard and TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk were seen seated at the same table ( The Independent )

The shooting unfolded just outside the vast subterranean ballroom holding thousands of dinner guests, disrupting minutes after it began an annual event meant to honor journalism and the First Amendment that was being especially scrutinized this year because it was the first time since Trump became president that he had attended.

Trump told reporters later that he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, though the fact that an armed man was able to rush toward the ballroom raised instant questions about security precautions at an event attended each year by senior government officials.

A video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said. The gunman was tackled to the ground and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital, police said.

Allen is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.

open image in gallery US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service after shots were fired ( AFP/Getty )

On Friday, it was reported that Erika helped arrange a White House sit-down between President Donald Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and MAHA advocates amid their recent dissatisfaction with the administration.

Erika brought the disgruntled Make America Great Again moms and others to meet with Trump this month, according to Politico.

Her intervention came as a recent poll found that almost half of the people who identify with the MAHA movement believe that Trumps administration has not done enough to meet their goals, even though they helped propel him to the White House in the 2024 presidential election.

The Associated Press contributed to his report.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Top Republicans have invoked a centuries-old moral doctrine to defend the ongoing war against Iran.

Last week, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson  first and second in the presidential line of succession  explicitly cited just war theory while speaking about the Middle East conflict.

They wielded the theory as a cudgel to castigate Pope Leo, whose staunch opposition to the weekslong war has ignited a high-profile clash between the Vatican and the White House.

But, the Republican leaders application of the doctrine  which dates back over a thousand years  is fundamentally flawed, according to experts in theology, philosophy and military strategy.

You can apply the Just War principles to this conflict  and the current U.S. operation fails against every single criteria, David Whetham, a professor of ethics and the military profession at Kings College London, told The Independent.

open image in gallery Both JD Vance and Mike Johnson have invoked just war theory  a centuries-old moral doctrine  to legitimize the Iran war. But experts say it 'fails against every single criteria' ( Getty Images )

Americans who liberated Holocaust camps

During a Turning Point USA event in Georgia last Tuesday, Vance took issue with the popes sweeping denunciation of armed conflict.

On April 10, Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, wrote on X: God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

Vance, a former atheist who converted to Catholicism in 2019, questioned how the Bishop of Rome could take such a stance and urged him to be careful when opining on theological matters.

There is more than a thousand-year tradition of just war theory, the vice president said. Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis? Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated Holocaust camps?

The next day, Johnson became the second GOP leader to cite the longstanding doctrine.

I was taken a little bit aback just honestly, frankly, by something that was said. I think [the pope] said several days back that something about those who engage in war  you know that Jesus doesnt hear their prayers or something, Johnson, a Southern Baptist, told reporters.

It is a very well settled matter of Christian theology, he added. Theres something called the just war doctrine. Theres a time to every purpose under heaven.

open image in gallery Saint Augustine, also known as Augustine of Hippo, who lived during the 4th Century AD, became one of the first advocates of just war theory ( Getty Images )

What is just war theory?

Just war theory is a framework of military ethics rooted in ancient civilizations  such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome  that has been refined over millennia by religious figures and scholars.

Though not enshrined in law, it is routinely invoked by Christian leaders and has deeply shaped wartime regulations, from the Geneva Conventions to U.S. military handbooks.

It is not easy to state what the theory states exactly, since it has evolved, Lisa Sowle Cahill, a theology professor at Boston College, told The Independent. Its two most influential expressions in the Christian tradition are Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

Certain foundational tenets, though, are widely accepted, such as jus ad bellum, which outlines conditions for initiating war. These include: a just cause, adherence to the last resort principle, a high probability of success and authorization by a competent authority.

Once conflict begins, jus in bello  or just conduct in war  governs combatants' actions, emphasizing distinction between fighters and civilians, proportionality and military necessity.

Does the Iran war pass the test?

Of the four experts who spoke with The Independent, all said that the Iran war fails to meet the criteria laid out by just war theory. The most cut-and-dry violation, they argued, was the absence of a well-defined just reason for initiating the conflict.

No clear set of causes has been enunciated by the U.S. president and none of the array stated at different times justify the U.S./Israeli unprovoked attack, Walter Dorn, a professor of Defense Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada, told The Independent.

Since the war began in late February, senior Trump officials have invoked a range of justifications, including that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S., a desire to enact regime change and a willingness to follow Israels lead.

open image in gallery The Iran war, which erupted in late February, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people in the Middle East, including 13 US service members ( AFP via Getty Images )

Maybe the main argument, at this point, is about preventing nuclear weapons. On my reading of the just war tradition, however, preventive wars are not justifiable, Andrew Fiala, a philosophy professor at Fresno State University, told The Independent.

And claiming that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon requires a lot of evidence before it could be regarded as credible, Whetham said.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, told Congress last month that Irans nuclear enrichment program was obliterated following U.S. strikes last year, appearing to contradict Trumps earlier claim that Tehran was two weeks away from manufacturing a nuclear bomb. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said on March 3 that the watchdog group had "no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb.

Other experts contended the war breached the last resort principle  citing previous indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations  and the competent authority requirement, as Congress had not authorized it.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded: President Trump initiated Operation Epic Fury to eliminate short- and long-term threats posed by the Iranian regime. Those efforts were overwhelmingly successful  Irans ballistic missiles are destroyed, their production facilities are demolished, their navy is sunk, and their proxies are weakened. There is nothing more just than protecting the safety and security of the American people and our troops abroad.

The Independent has contacted Johnsons office for comment.

open image in gallery In recent weeks, thousands of Marines and sailors have been deployed to the Middle East aboard Navy ships, some of which are enforcing a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz ( US Centcom )

Beyond the war's origins, U.S. operations in Iran also violate just war theory's core principles of wartime conduct. Experts specifically cited breaches of proportionality and the distinction between combatants and civilians.

Massive bombing has killed a disproportionate number of civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure, Cahill said.

HRANA, a U.S.-based human rights organization, reported in March that the Iran war has claimed 3,636 lives since it began, including 1,701 civilians. The same month, a preliminary investigation by the Pentagon showed the U.S. was at fault for a deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school, according to The New York Times.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 10 that the U.S. has taken extensive measures to avoid civilian casualties.

Dorn also highlighted Trumps April 8 Truth Social post, in which he wrote: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again  along with his prior threats to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if leaders rejected his demands.

Trump's threat to end civilization is one of the most blatant violations of proportionality in the history of modern warfare, Dorn said.

The Republican president defended his apocalyptic rhetoric by claiming it brought Iran to the negotiating table. Currently, a ceasefire is in place while peace talks continue.

What about past conflicts?

Putting Iran aside, numerous recent conflicts have repeatedly failed to satisfy the principles of just war theory, experts said.

Contemporary wars rarely live up to the standards, Fiala said. He did, however, cite the First Gulf War as potentially qualifying, given Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the coalition's success in expelling Iraqs forces.

World War 2 is a well-known case. But it was also mixed, he said. No doubt the Germans and Japanese were aggressive  so defensive war could be justified. But allied forces bombed cities including firebombing and atomic bombing. Those tactics would seem to violate restrictions known as jus in bello (since the deliberately targeted non-combatants).

Popular imagination oversimplifies the intricate realities of the war, he added.

Its hard for a war to satisfy the criteria  as it should be, Whetham said. They are terrible things and should always be an exception.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

MAGA ally Kari Lake is playing the blame game after she was rushed out of the White House Correspondents Dinner alongside other attendees when a gunman opened fire at the event.

Lake, the senior advisor to the United States Agency for Global Media, says she did not waste a minute in confronting CNN anchor Jake Tapper for spreading lies about President Donald Trump in the middle of their evacuation Saturday night from the Washington Hilton.

I walked out right next to Jake Tapper and looked him in the eye, Lake, 56, said on Newsmax hours after the shooting. And I said, How dare you? You have caused so much division in this country pushing lies. Were not going to call it gaslighting anymore  youve lied to the people. How dare you do that?

She wrote, in part, on X: These reporters have spent a decade spreading absolute lies about President Trump. They share some of the blame for what happened tonight. As a mother, Im exhausted by it. I couldnt stay silent and walk out pretending someone like Jake Tapper is one of the good guys.

Tapper did not return The Independents request for comment about Lakes remarks.

Kari Lake said that she confronted CNN anchor Jake Tapper while they were being evacuated from Donald Trump's Correspondents' Dinner ( Getty Images )

In addition to blaming Tapper and the mainstream media for the shooting scare, which left one Secret Service agent with noncritical injuries, Lake joined other WHCD attendees in calling out the venues lack of security ahead of the incident.

I cant believe how lax the security was at the White House correspondents dinner tonight, she posted on X. Upon entering, nobody asked to visibly INSPECT my ticket nor asked for my photo identification. All one had to do was flash what appeared to be a ticket and they were fine with that.

She went on to say: When you consider you are entering a roomful of fake news media 90% of whom hate the President you would think they would have better security...On the way out, I called-out a bunch of the disgusting Media who have been pushing hatred toward President Trump for years. They are a big part of the discord in this country.

Authorities named the suspected shooter as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California. He is in custody and set to be arraigned on Monday after being tackled to the ground while allegedly firing one of his weapons.

Lake has long criticized the mainstream media and accused outlets of bias against Trump. Last year, she attempted to fire more than 500 employees as the newly appointed head of the Voice of America news organization, in what was seen as a dismantling of the agency. However, a federal judge ruled her appointment as illegal last month and reversed the layoffs.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

MAGA warrior Kari Lake and plenty of other attendees Saturday night criticized the lack of robust security at the Washington Hilton after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner with President Donald Trump in attendance.

But Lake, the senior advisor to the United States Agency for Global Media, was not alone in questioning how a gunman could have made it so close to Trump, first lady Melania, Vice President JD Vance and nearly the entire line of succession to the U.S. presidency.

I cant believe how lax the security was at the White House correspondents dinner tonight, Lake posted on X. Upon entering, nobody asked to visibly INSPECT my ticket nor asked for my photo identification.

The tickets for the dinner, which is hosted by the White House Correspondents Association, did not have specific names. In addition, attendees only had to go through one round of magnetometers for the actual ballroom where the dinner took place, but not for the hotel building as a whole.

Authorities named the suspected shooter as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old resident of Torrance, California. He is in custody after being tackled to the ground while allegedly firing one of his weapons.

open image in gallery I cant believe how lax the security was at the White House correspondents dinner tonight, Kari Lake posted on X after the gunshots rang out. ( AP )

By contrast, to attend many of the pre-parties and after parties around DC ahead of and during the big weekend, attendees often have to be on a list, have their name checked or present a photo identification.

Similarly, Mads Campbell, CEO of Leda Health, said there was "no bag check. no real screening. no line. just thousands of people packed together, being pushed through the doors as fast as possible."

She wrote: It started the second we got there. every event weve ever been to, especially at this level, there are layers of security. bags checked, IDs checked, actual process. She said that she left early because my best friend literally turns to me and says, I think something is going to happen. And then it did

Caty Payette, a communications director for Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), echoed the sentiment.

I was there this evening and there was no security to be admitted to the lobby of the hotel, she said on X. Guests had to simply flash a ticket to a pre-event party or the dinner itself to be let into the premises, which in hindsight was alarming.

open image in gallery CNNs Wolf Blitzer was feet away as the shooter opened fire and was tackled to the ground by Secret Service ( AFP/Getty )

But reporter Carolina Lumetta had a different perspective.

I was there. I had to show my ticket in the hotel lobby, she said. Then I went downstairs a flight of stairs and went through a security mag and had my purse searched. Then we went down one more flight of stairs (where the gunman was apprehended), and entered the ballroom.

CNN reporter Wolf Blitzer, who was feet away from the shooter when he opened fire in the lobby, said that there had been additional security and noted how security threw him down and tackled him as the shooting began.

The banquet hall  where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trumps remarks  was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not immediately reenter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, a guest at the dinner, said he heard a pop and we didnt know what the hell it was. And then you heard all sorts of things clatter. Lawler said he gets death threats often and said, I think we live in a climate where everybody recognizes it's a problem, but I dont think people fully appreciate how much of a problem it really is.

Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said. The gunman was tackled to the ground and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital, police said.

Inside the ballroom, guests scurried for cover at the sound of shots while Secret Service agents, including the heavily-armed counterassault team, swarmed the stage after the incident.

Vice President JD Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Trump in place before escorting him and first lady Melania Trump from the room. Trump briefly stumbled on the way offstage, before being assisted by his security detail.

open image in gallery Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner ( Reuters )

He was held for some time in a secure presidential suite at the hotel as the president and organizers initially sought to resume the event  hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president  before Trump was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.

The shooting raises serious security concerns. Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the correspondents dinner, and security has typically been focused on the ballroom rather than the hotel at large, with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself. In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.

In 1981, a John Hinckley Jr. opened fire and almost killed President Ronald Reagan at the same hotel.

In addition, during the 2024 campaign, the president had two separate attempts on his life.

After the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024, where a gunman shot Trump, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle reasigned. Secret Service has long been plagued by scandal, such as in 2012, when Secret Service agents hired sex workers in Colombia.

In 2014, the agency received additional scrutiny when a man jumped the fence of the White House. Shortly thereafter, two drunk Secret Service agents would be investigated for drunkenly driving a government car into a White House barricade.

 with wires
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Republican lawmakers plan to turn President Donald Trumps call to create his ballroom after the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday evening into legislation.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, a freshman from Montana, said that this week, he will request unanimous consent for legislation to express support for the creation of the ballroom in the East Wing of the White House.

It is an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nations capital, including ones attended by our President, without the threat of violence and attempted assassinations, Sheehy said.

The president has made the construction of the $400m structure at the White House a top priority, despite the fact many Americans disapprove of its construction. Polling last year showed Americans were unhappy about the demolition of the East Wing of the White House for its construction.

But since the shooting on Saturday evening, when a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was hosted, Trump and his administration have made the case that the ballroom is a national security priority.

Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) anounced he would support legislation to construct President Donald Trumps proposed White House ballroom. ( Getty )

Sheehy echoed this sentiment in his statement.

A President of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety, he said. This is common sense. Lets get it done.

Sheehy is not the only Republican calling for a ballroom. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, said he would demand money for the ballroom in any major spending package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Any consideration of DHS reconciliation instructions this week & beyond should provide for construction of a secure ballroom on White House grounds  in addition to other concerns being addressed regarding ICE/CBP, SAVE America, Transgender & Abortion funding, Recon 3, & more, Roy said.

The House of Representatives plans to pass a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

It then hopes to pass a second bill that will fund those latter two agencies through the process called budget reconciliation that allows Republicans to avoid a filibuster. Roy and his contingent also want to push bans on taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care and abortions.

Trump pushed for the need for a ballroom in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House, he said on Truth Social.

The shooting came during Trumps first appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner since he became president. Police later apprehended a uspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen. He is set to be arraigned on Monday.

John Bowden contributed to this report
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

ABCs Jonathan Karl detailed a phone call from President Donald Trump on Sunday morning  just hours after the shocking White House Correspondents Dinner shooting  and said that the president, whod once derided him as a third-rate journalist, had called to check if he was OK.

Karl, a White House correspondent and former president of the White House Correspondents Association, described the conversation with the president on ABCs This Week to host George Stephanopoulos. Saturday evenings annual dinner at the Washington Hilton was disrupted by gunshots when officials say suspect Cole Allen charged through a security perimeter armed with multiple weapons.

My phone rang shortly after 7am, my landline, George, actually a number that few people call, and it was President Trump calling ... At first he was calling to see if I was OK, with what happened last night; Are you OK? Karl recalled Trump asking.

Trump also reiterated many of the things he said in his press conference last night, emphasizing the unity that he felt in that moment, that he felt at the dinner, before the shooting and certainly after, with the people who reached out to him, Karl told Stephanopoulos.

And he said absolutely, and he was quite firm about this, that dinner must be rescheduled. It must be rescheduled.

open image in gallery Jonathan Karl previously served as WHCA president ( ABC - This Week )

Karl added that during his tenure as WHCA president his team and Trumps coordinated together on what could have been Trumps first appearance at the dinner as president.

Instead, that years dinner, in 2020, was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic which forced an end to large-scale indoor gatherings. Trump instead made that history at Saturdays event, adding another layer of significance to the shocking scene that occurred at the Washington Hilton as a shooting occurred directly outside the dinner.

The ABC correspondent and hundreds of other Washington journalists and political elite were packed into the basement event space at the Washington Hilton Saturday evening when the shooting took place. It isnt completely clear who fired, but five gunshots were heard in a hallway outside of the ballroom and a man was tackled by security and arrested.

One Secret Service officer was struck by gunfire, according to officials, but was not seriously injured. No one inside the dinner was injured, but attendees ducked under tables as Secret Service whisked away the president, vice president, and other VIPs.

He knows that I was a former president of the White House Correspondents Association, and worked with him on a dinner that never actually happened back during covid. And he was saying, We've got to get this dinner back on. It has to happen, said Karl.

open image in gallery Donald Trump, still wearing his tuxedo from the White House Correspondents Dinner, gave a press conference at the White House late Saturday evening ( Reuters )

Trump has previously criticized Karl on his social media, including earlier in April when he wrote about Karls latest book: Third rate news anchor Jonathan Karl of ABC Fake News, the worst and most corrupt Network in the business, wrote another made up book about me where his stories and reporting bare no relationship to the truth.

Karl added that he spoke to Oz Pearlman, the nights featured entertainer and the first non-comedian to perform at the event in years.

He said that the thought that went through his mind was that he thought that President Trump had been shot, Karl said, describing how Pearlman was face-to-face with the president as they ducked for cover onstage. Because [Trump] had that look of shock in his eyes, and he was brought down so hard by the Secret Service and the thought that went through his head beyond that was, We're all going to die. He was absolutely terrified in that moment.

Trump was not injured, nor was anyone onstage. Secret Service agents and other security swarmed the ballroom seconds after the shots rang out, some holding rifles.

open image in gallery Secret Service agents swarmed the stage within seconds of shots ringing out Saturday evening ( Reuters )

Saturday evenings event was aimed at honoring both the White House press corps and members of the White House who interact with reporters, including the president. But the dinner itself never occurred, and the event was locked down for roughly an hour just minutes after the national anthem was sung. WHCA officials and the president initially declared that the event would go on once the lockdown was lifted, but attendees were later told to exit the hotel as several blocks around the Hilton were locked down.

Hotel guests were briefly unable to return to their rooms and crowds milled about in the DC nighttime, searching for ride shares and other transportation options. A man identified as Cole Tomas Allen of California was identified by authorities as the suspect and was seen in pictures face-down after being tackled by security at the event. Officials say he was armed with multiple weapons, including a shotgun, and was staying at the Hilton during the event.

open image in gallery ( Reuters )

On Sunday the president also declared on Truth Social that the security breach exemplified the need for the construction of his $400 million ballroom project at the White House to serve as a secure event space.

This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! Trump declared.

In remarks to reporters at a press conference, a still tuxedo-clad Trump said late Saturday evening that the dinner would be rescheduled within a month.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

President Donald Trump applauded the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting quickly after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel Saturday evening.

After being evacuated from the venue, along with other members of the administration, the president wrote on Truth Social that it was quite an evening and said he recommended the annual dinner continue as planned. Around 8:30 p.m., shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, rushed security armed with a shotgun and other weapons, authorities said. He shot one Secret Service officer before being detained. The president and other members of the Cabinet were rushed from the nearby ballroom.

I was watching to see what was happening, probably should have gotten down even faster, Trump said at a briefing shortly after the incident. Melania was very cognizant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, 'That's a bad noise.

Trump said that when the chaos unfolded, he first thought it was someone dropping a tray.

"I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray. I thought it was a tray going down," he said. "I've heard that many times, and it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away."

Its a dangerous profession, Trump said when asked if he was concerned about his personal safety.

One U.S. Secret Service agent was shot but the president said he was in great shape.

I told him we love him and respect him and he's a very proud guy," the president said.

open image in gallery Secret Service members rushed President Donald Trump from the room shortly after shots rang out at the White House Correspondents Dinner ( AP )

What happened

Shortly after the appetizers were served, dinner attendees heard several gunshots ring out.

Reporters from The Independent, who were seated at a table in the back of the ballroom, said they heard approximately five gunshots before watching agents draw their firearms. Upon realizing what was happening, guests took cover underneath tables.

Secret Service swarmed the banquet hall, yelling at the president to get out of the way and demanding that people duck.

The president and first lady were swiftly removed from the scene. One woman, who was seated at a table with reporters, began crying, saying the incident was the scariest thing she had ever experienced, according to The Independents John Bowden.

Wolf Blitzer, a long-time CNN journalist, said he saw the shooter was clearly on the ground.

open image in gallery Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was one of the Trump administration members who was rushed out of the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday evening ( Reuters )

Other members of the Trump administration who were in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They were also taken from the facility in the shootings aftermath.

The president immediately returned to the White House and spoke to the nation from the press briefing room.

Trumps appearance at this years White House Correspondents Dinner marked the first time he was attending the annual event that raises money for the White House Correspondents Association since he became president in 2016.

open image in gallery Members of the media take cover after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner. A Secret Service agent who was shot was the only reported injury ( Reuters )

Who is the shooter?

The shooting suspect was identified as a 31-year-old Cole Allen from California. He was taken to the hospital after the shooting and was charged with two federal counts, including use of a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

DC Metro Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said investigators believe Allen was a guest at the hotel.

The Secret Service established the security plan for the event and officials believed it worked to stop the gunman, Carroll said.

The suspected gunman was not shot as he was taken to the ground by officers.

One Secret Service agent was shot from close range as Allen charged the security station, but the bullet struck the agents bulletproof vest. The president said the agent was doing great and in good spirits after being shot.

The name of the injured officer has not been released.

open image in gallery Trump posted a photo of the California man accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel after he was apprehened by authorities ( Donald Trump/ Truth Social )

How did a gun get inside the premises?

The California man accused of firing shots in the hotel rushed through the security checkpoint armed with multiple firearms, the president said. Officials later said he was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

In a video posted to Truth Social, members of the Secret Service can be seen drawing their firearms after the shooter sprints through the security checkpoint.

Trump told reporters the suspect charged from 50 yards away.

What did Trump say after?

Addressing reporters shortly after the shooting, the president praised law enforcement and members of the media for responding swiftly and truthfully to the incident.

Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and well just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP, he wrote on Truth Social after the event.

The event was later canceled and Trump said it would be held at a later date.

open image in gallery Trump addressed reporters in the White House Briefing Room after the shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel, praising members of the media and the Secret Service for acting quickly ( Reuters )

Trump insisted the dramatic event would bring together most parties from all sides of the political spectrum.

There was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together, Trump said in the White House Briefing Room surrounded by FBI Director Kash Patel, Defense Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

President Donald Trump has called for unity after a suspect was arrested for attempting to storm a White House Correspondents Association dinner, armed with multiple knives and a gun.

I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our difference [sic] peacefully, he said at a press conference in the aftermath of the incident, still dressed in his tuxedo from the meal.

The incident took place at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, where the annual event was being held. Journalists and press who cover the White House and the president are invited to attend the fundraiser and awards ceremony every year.

Trump has previously not attended the dinner, which usually involves poking fun at the US administration in power, and the US leader and businessman was famously the butt of a joke at the event in 2011 made by then-president Barack Obama.

President Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift action to detain the gunman, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. He is said to have told authorities he planned on targeting the president, according to CBS.

Here is how the dramatic events unfolded.

8.35pm: Gunshots ring out as Secret Service swarms ballroom

open image in gallery A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows an armed agent climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. ( AFP/Getty )

Dinner attendees described chaotic scenes when several gunshots rang out shortly after appetizers were served at around 8:35 pm local time. Trump was expected to give a speech shortly after an awards segment following the meal.

Reporters from The Independent, who were seated at a table in the back of the hall, said they heard approximately five gunshots before watching agents draw their firearms. Guests took cover underneath tables once they realized what was happening.

Secret Service swarmed the banquet hall, yelling at the president to get out of the way and demanding that people duck as people took cover under tables.

Trump and JD Vance escorted out of room

open image in gallery President Trump was escorted out after a man opened fire with a shotgun outside the room ( Reuters )

Video shared on social media shows Secret Service members, including those wearing tactical gear and body armor, rushing President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump off the stage.

Press and journalists took cover underneath tables and one woman, who was seated at a table with reporters, began crying, saying the incident was the scariest thing she had ever experienced, according to The Independents John Bowden.

9.17pm: President says gunman has been apprehended

open image in gallery Officials detained the suspect after he tried to storm the dinner ( Reuters )

In his first comments in the aftermath of the incident, Trump shared a message on Truth Social confirming that the alleged gunman has been apprehended at around 9:17 pm.

He suggested that the dinner continue, but said he would follow law enforcement's advice.

Quite an evening in DC, Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job, he wrote. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON, but will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.

At around 9:36 pm, he said he would be leaving the hotel at the request of law enforcement.

10.29 pm: Trump shares footage of shooter storming security barrier

open image in gallery Video shared by Donald Trump shows the moment the gunman rushed past security officers ( via REUTERS )

Trump posted a video to Truth Social at 10:29 pm of a man appearing to storm the security barrier and metal detectors in the hallway outside the room where the dinner was held.

The footage shows security staff pulling out weapons to stop the individual. Allen is reported to have shot one Secret Service officer before being detained. Reporters were told that the officer was saved by his bulletproof vest.

10.30pm: News conference held from White House

open image in gallery President Donald Trump speaks at a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026 REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst ( Reuters )

A news conference was held shortly after, at around 10.30 pm, at the White House. Mr. Trump delivered his comments, still wearing the tuxedo he wore to the event, from a podium alongside FBI chief Kash Patel and acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. He called the suspect a lone wolf.

He said he thought that the sound of gunshots was initially a tray falling and argued that the Hilton hotel, where the event was being held, was not a particularly secure building. But the US leader praised enforcement officials and said his role was a dangerous profession.

I was watching to see what was happening, probably should have gotten down even faster, he said at the briefing. Melania was very cognizant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, 'That's a bad noise.

He said the gunman had charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons. He also confirmed the suspect had shot and injured one law enforcement officer, shooting him at close range, but said he survived due to a bulletproof vest.

10.50pm: Suspect named and property searched in Torrance, California

open image in gallery The suspect has been named at Cole Tomas Allen ( Reuters )

Various media outlets identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen at around 10:50 pm on Saturday. Shortly after, live pictures came in of police searching a property in Torrance, California, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

The suspect is expected to be formally charged on Monday, according to U.S. Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro.

He faces charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers using a dangerous weapon, according to the Wall Street Journal. He was reportedly undergoing a medical evaluation at a hospital on Saturday.
TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said U.S. pressure and hostile actions are undermining trust and making progress toward renewed talks more difficult.

In a Saturday phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian discussed recent political and military developments, efforts to uphold a ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic initiatives, according to a statement from his office early Sunday.

Pezeshkian said progress in resolving disputes requires a "common understanding" and proper conditions for effective dialogue. He said recent U.S. sanctions, naval restrictions, and military pressure were major obstacles to rebuilding trust.

He added that Washington cannot pursue negotiations while increasing pressure on Iran, saying such actions "disrupt the necessary atmosphere" for diplomacy.

Reiterating Iran's position, Pezeshkian said Tehran did not start the conflict and has no interest in regional instability. He said Iran would engage in talks only on the basis of mutual respect, not "threats, pressure and imposition," and insisted on its rights under international law.

He also said Iran would not enter negotiations under coercion and called for guarantees that any commitments would be upheld. He warned that U.S. military deployments in the region contradict its stated support for a political solution.

Sharif said Pakistan had received Iran's message and would use its influence to support a "lasting and honorable" resolution. He condemned U.S. and Israeli actions and said Iran could not be forced into submission, according to the Iranian statement.

He said any political settlement should ensure regional stability while respecting Iran's dignity. Sharif noted that Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, is working to maintain ceasefire communications and narrow differences between the sides, the statement said.

In a post on X, Sharif said Pakistan remains committed to serving as "an honest and sincere facilitator" and will work to advance durable peace and stability in the region.

The call followed weeks of heightened tensions after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on Feb. 28, which Iran said killed senior officials and civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and U.S. positions in the region.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8, followed by talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 that ended without agreement. A new round of negotiations had been expected in Pakistan this week, but Iran declined to attend, citing continued U.S. naval pressure and "excessive demands." 
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Reaction was mixed to the White House Correspondents Dinner plan to continue after shots were fired in the venue and President Donald Trump and others were rushed from the room

One user X commented: Now theyre talking about continuing this show? Are they crazy?

HOLY CRAP! President Trump is STORMING BACK to the stage at the WHCA Dinner after the shooter was downed, added conservative journalist Eric Daugherty. Its unclear if Trump is returning to the event.

Hes NEVER RELENTING! Our President the BEST! He makes it through everything.

Eventually, it was announced the event would be scheduled to a later date.

President Donald Trump was rushed from the room after shots fired near the White House Correspondents Dinner ( Reuters )

On Saturday night, as the medias annual event got underway, shots rang out and sent people looking for cover. A man has been arrested and charged with firearms and assault charges.

Shortly after the incident, Correspondents Association President Weija Jiang said the event would continue. This was later retracted, after White Officials said the dinner would be rescheduled for a later date that has not yet been specified.

I know everyone is going to want as many details as possible and right now we dont have them but our program is going to resume momentarily, Jiang said.

We will have more details to share momentarily but for now but please be patient.Trump is expected to give a statement on the incident shortly.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A server at the Washington Hilton described the moment she saw a suspected gunman rush toward security at the White House Correspondents Dinner where President Donald Trump and other Cabinet members were present.

Flavienne, a server at the venue, told The Independent how she was pushing a service cart into an elevator with another female employee on Saturday night when a man dressed in a suit to blend in with attendees took out a long gun and opened fire at least three times.

"The lady was behind me, she was working with me. She [was trying to] push the cart [in the elevator]...The guy passed just close to her. Just like you pass like this -- and then he pulled out the gun, the long gun. He shot that gun immediately, like three shots.

A man with short brown curly hair, identified in a picture posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, was taken into custody by law enforcement. He was identified as a 31-year-old California man named Cole Tomas Allen by law enforcement sources. A Secret Service agent was shot in the incident, but is expected to be OK. The suspect was apprehended before getting to the ballroom where Trump was on the stage. The suspect has now been detained and charged with two federal crimes.

open image in gallery A witness described the moment she saw a gunman rush security at the White House Correspondents Dinner. President Donald Trump and other officials were in attendance. ( Reuters )

Journalists and VIPs at Saturday nights even were looking forward to Donald Trumps first attendance at the annual celebration of the Washington press corps., and the performance of Oz Pearlman, the evenings headliner.

Instead, a scene of shock, confusion and panic played out only moments after the national anthem ended and color Guard filed out of the ballroom.

Five loud, unmistakable gunshots rang out from the hallway area immediately connected to the central entrance of the main ballroom. The New York Times reported that a 31-year-old California man named Cole Tomas Allen was taken into custody at the scene.

A security guard who prevented journalists from seeing the hallway where the shooting took place was unable to describe it to reporters who clustered around the exit, eager for details about the scene.

open image in gallery Law enforcement personnel detain a person after a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner. A motive has not been released in the incidnet. ( Reuters )

But Flavienne told The Independent that she was mere feet from the attacker as he passed by her and another worker, headed to the main ballroom.

"I pushed my cart, and the lady behind me tried to wait for me to push. I'm trying to help the lady to push the cart, because the cart was big and heavy. So that guy just passed. He just passed like three feet. He pulled up the cart -- that's when he shot, said Flavienne, who was visibly distraught and in shock from what shed witnessed. "I'm just feeling like [I need] to get out. Feeling too much emotion like, I'm feeling like this is one I get to saw [like] that on the movie I never, never be [seeing it] happening, right? 

They said he was dressed up like a server, another worker at the venue commented as Flavienne recounted her experience.

open image in gallery FBI agents arrive at the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. ( Reuters )

Images of the detained man depicted him shirtless, though the sequence of the events leading up to the photos werent immediately clear.

A state of confusion hung over the dinner for roughly an hour following the shooting. In the very first minutes after the gunshots rang out, VIPs including Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, FBI Director Kash Patel and Sen. John Fetterman were seen being rushed from the ballroom.

Initially, it appeared that the president and others would be returning in an attempt to make a show of bravery following the chaos. But the White House Correspondents Association president, CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jang, later informed attendees that law enforcement had directed the building be cleared.

As crowds spilled out into the D.C. streets, a light drizzle rained down on some tuxedoed and gowned attendees searching for rideshare vehicles and other means of transportation. An extended security perimeter around the Washington Hilton prevented some from reaching a nearby Metro station, and halted hotel guests seeking to return to their rooms.

The president addressed reporters from the White House briefing room only minutes after the assembled White House press corps was released from the underground ballroom of the Washington Hilton complex.

Trump confirmed to reporters that one law enforcement operative was struck by a round fired by the suspect during the attack, but was saved by the fact that he was wearing obviously a very good bulletproof vest.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

On April 26, 1986, Soviet engineers at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were conducting a safety test. Doomed by a fatal design flaw and pushed to the limit by human negligence, reactor 4 exploded amid an attempted shutdown during a routine procedure, setting off a chain of events that ultimately released radioactive material hundreds of times greater than that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Although the accident occurred north of Kyiv, Ukraine, near the border with Belarus, radioactive fallout was soon detected throughout northern and central Europe. Yet the Soviets did what they could to prevent the spread of information that would reveal the true horror of what had occurred.

For decades, researchers, political leaders and advocacy groups have worked to uncover the story of the explosion. While science has allowed us to understand the circumstances of the explosion itself, it has taken much more work to uncover the layers of mismanagement, negligence and misinformation that resulted in human suffering, ecological disaster and economic damage.

One of the problems is that many of the official Soviet records of the event, such as the KGB files, are located in Moscow and are inaccessible to all but a few Russian government agencies.

The Staci files can give us further insight into the mismanagement of Chernobyl, since the East German Stasi and the Soviet KGB were in communication on the matter ( Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images )

But there is a partial workaround: Because East Germany was a Soviet satellite state and not a full member of the Soviet Union, official documents remained in the country after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1991, after the reunification of Germany, the German government passed a law allowing for the declassification of certain files from the Stasi, East Germanys secret police and intelligence service. These files can now give us further insight into the mismanagement of Chernobyl, since the East German Stasi and the Soviet KGB were in communication on the matter.

I have spent the past three years reading Stasi files and researching the creation of misinformation in the former Eastern bloc, meeting with Stasi archivists in Berlin and viewing the original archival rooms in the former Stasi headquarters.

Looking at formerly top secret communication between the KGB and Stasi, it is clear that despite publicly insisting everything was under control, both intelligence agencies knew the explosion was absolutely devastating. They kept detailed records of hospitalizations, casualties, damaged crops, contaminated livestock and radiation levels.

But only the very top officials in East Germany and the Soviet Union had access to these numbers. The main fear for both the KGB and Stasi was not the radiation that would harm affected populations but the damage done to their respective countries reputations.

Controlling the message

Handling the press was a top priority.

In the Soviet Union, top government officials created their own briefings for the media to be published at precise dates and times. In a set of classified documents that one government official bravely saved and later published, the concreteness with which the lies were devised is apparent. It documents Mikhail Gorbachev, then-leader of the Soviet Union, saying in a Politburo meeting with top government officials: When we inform the public, we should say that the power plant was being renovated at the time, so it doesnt reflect badly on our reactor equipment.

Later in the same meeting, another senior Soviet official, Nikolai Ryzhkov, suggests that the group prepare three different press releases: one for the Soviet people, one for the satellite states and another for Europe, the U.S. and Canada.

In East Germany, the Stasi reports mirrored this messaging. Although top officials are briefed on the presence of radioactive contaminants, the formerly classified Stasi files reiterate that the public is to be told that absolutely no danger is present. East German media, controlled by the state, then disseminated this information to the public.

The problem for the East German state was that by the mid-1980s, a lot of people were able to pick up Western TV and radio signals. Many recognized that their own government wasnt telling them the truth. However, they also knew that Western media would take any chance they got to disparage the Eastern bloc. The result was that many people knew that they werent being told the truth, but they werent sure exactly what the truth was.

Much of the East German and Soviet propaganda at that time was designed to confuse and cast doubt, not necessarily to fully persuade. The idea was that enough conflicting information would tire people out.

Downplaying economic concerns

One of the Stasis major concerns following the disaster was the economic damage that was sure to affect East Germany. Once people began to learn of the radioactive fallout over much of Europe, they grew fearful of their own produce and dairy products.

Children began refusing to drink milk at school, while people frequently asked produce vendors whether their products were grown in a greenhouse or outdoors. On the whole, people stopped buying many of these products.

With an excess of these goods, the East German government needed to devise a plan to continue to make money off potentially contaminated goods. The Stasis solution was to increase export of these goods to West Germany.

In the formerly classified files, Stasi officials claim that exports would spread out the consumption of radioactive products, so that no one would consume unsafe levels of contaminated meat and produce.

About the author Lauren Cassidy is a lecturer in German and Russian studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The problem for the East Germans was that West Germany quickly amended their regulations for border crossings from East to West. Vehicles emitting certain levels of radiation were no longer allowed across the border. As a response, the lower-ranking Stasi workers were required to clean radioactive vehicles themselves. In doing so, the state was knowingly risking the health and safety of its own officials.

The East German food export plan was modeled on a similar one proposed by the Soviet government. The Soviet strategy, however, was not to export contaminated goods abroad but rather to send contaminated meat products to the majority of regions in the Soviet Union except for Moscow.

How disinformation proved an Achilles Heel

When the Stasi was founded in 1950, many of its employees genuinely believed in the East German cause.

Having witnessed the horrors of Nazi Germany, many older Stasi workers saw the East German state as the answer to creating a just and equitable society. By the 1980s, however, this sentiment had grown rare. Instead, many Stasi workers viewed their jobs as means to a decent income and privileged government treatment.

As a result, many Stasi workers had grown disillusioned and dispassionate.

It was little surprise, then, that the Stasi put up little resistance when protesters stormed their headquarters in 1990, months after the Berlin Wall fell. While there are many factors in the demise of the communist bloc, the way the East German and Soviet governments handled the aftermath of Chernobyl contributed greatly to the growing popular sentiment against each regime.

In East Germany, the disinformation campaign after the nuclear disaster only strengthened the message that the state did not have its peoples best interests in mind and that it was willing to sacrifice their health and well-being in order to maintain a certain image.
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

First came the infantry, next the missiles, then the drones.

Now, after more than four years of a bloody and grinding war in Ukraine, remote-controlled ground robots are assuming command over the battlefield.

Last Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade had regained territory exclusively using a combination of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and drones  a mission he says was a first in the war.

The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side, he went on, referring to an operation from the northeastern Kharkiv region last year, in which Ukrainian infantry occupied a position gained using the UGVs.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken of Ukraines growing UGV industry ( X/@ZelenskyyUa )

This shapeshifting conflict has transformed modern conventional warfare, most notably through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS  or drones) for reconnaissance and attack missions. But UGVs are the new future of warfare, Ukrainian commanders and engineers say  a future that has already arrived.

Ukraines 3rd Assault Brigade wants to replace around 30 per cent of its infantry with UGVs as it looks to cut down on costly troop losses on the eastern front lines, Mykola Zinkevych, callsign Makar, commander of the NC13 Strike UGV Unit that carried out the Kharkiv operation, tells The Independent.

Click here to read an investigation by world affairs editor Sam Kiley on how Russias drone warfare has been limited after access to Starlink was blocked.

The logic is simple: where the risk to a human is high, a robot should be used. Because the life of an infantryman is priceless, and robots dont bleed, he says. Were working toward a model where UGVs take on the most dangerous tasks, while infantry becomes a highly specialised force focused on what UGVs cannot perform.

Yaroslav Drobysh, callsign Zhulyk, is the operator and chief sergeant of the unit. He says growing use of UGVs has already significantly eased the burden for infantrymen, carrying out several logistical tasks and transporting large volumes of supplies and ammunition without losses.

This is a new phase of the war, Sgt Drobysh says.

open image in gallery A Tencore Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) TerMIT is driven through snow in the Kyiv region ( Getty )

Having walked the path of an assault infantryman, I know first hand the true price of every metre of our land. That is why I deeply understand the value of decisions that reduce risk to human life.

Sgt Drobyshs unit says it is the worlds first strike UGV unit, starting from scratch with no military doctrine for the use of the vehicles in modern combat. Ukraine is now a world leader in their production and use; last year, its UGV market grew by 488 per cent, according to a study by the KSE Institute, BRAVE1, and Defence Builder.

The vehicles have already been transformative to logistics on the battlefield. While a modern infantryman can carry an average of 20kg of gear over distance, logistics UGVs can transport a cargo of 200 to 600kg to frontline positions.

They deliver critical supplies, evacuate wounded troops, hold territorial positions, destroy enemy positions, carry out sabotage missions and lay mines.

Cmdr Zinkevych says the unit has carried out more than 100 strike operations using UGVs in the past few months. During these missions, weve destroyed enemy troops, shelters, command posts, and other high-value targets, he says. This is daily, systematic combat work.

open image in gallery Soldiers demonstrate how the Tencore Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) TerMIT is used for evacuation procedures ( Getty )

Although he says the vehicles have altered the course of the war, Cmdr Zinkevych has concerns about a slowdown in the pace of their development. He calls for a boost in funding, warning that slowing development is something we cannot allow.

Among the most used robotic units is the TW12.7, produced by the Ukrainian company DevDroid. It is a vehicle with a Browning machine gun mounted on top, and has been used extensively on the battlefield by the unit.

Earlier this year, Cmdr Zinkevych claimed a single TW12.7 held a position on the frontline for six weeks, moving to the forward position on the frontline to watch for any Russian movements and delivering suppressive fire, before withdrawing to a covered location in the evenings.

Oleg Fedoryshyn, head of research and design at DevDroid, says the UGV has transformed how Ukrainian troops hold positions.

Its easier to control an area for 24 hours when you are sitting in a safe zone 50km from the UGV, and you can swap with your team and another guy does it, he tells The Independent.

open image in gallery The UGVs can be piloted from dozens of kilometres away ( Getty )

The average cost of a UGV for the Ukrainian military, as sold by Devdroid, is $30,000 (22,100). This rises to $50,000 if it comes equipped with a Browning machine gun, and the price increases significantly if it is sold to any military other than Ukraines.

Mr Fedoryshyn is coy about how many robots Devdroid has produced for Ukraine, but says the figure is growing rapidly. From year to year, it's increasing and increasing a lot. It's not enough at this moment. In this year, in the next year, I think it will increase a lot.

He is also wary of revealing details of a new UGV he says is currently being trialled by military units, which has not yet been publicly unveiled.

DevDroid is in constant contact with troops on the ground about how the new robots can be improved to better meet their needs.

We try to produce UGVs that will work after one year. We just try to imagine how it changed, and how the front line changes, how the world is changing. And our product mustn't be outdated in one year, he says. Every day we talk with them about it, and they give us some improvements.

open image in gallery A Ukrainian serviceman tests an unmanned robotic ground vehicle armed with an Mk 19 grenade launcher ( AFP/Getty )

Around 10 or 15 per cent of the robots sent by Devdroid were lost in battle, he estimates. Many of these were repaired and returned to their brigades, so were lost only temporarily.

Experts warn that the growing use of robots does come with its own risks. The physical detachment between the operator and the lethal weapon raises concerns over how force is used.

Where we have an instrument that serves toward the application of force, operated from a distance, there is a risk that the threshold to use force becomes lowered ... and civilian populations are potentially at risk of bearing the brunt of the use of force, explains Professor Elke Schwarz, an expert in military technologies at Queen Mary University.

But Prof Schwarz notes that Kyiv is developing the UGV tactics out of necessity and in the context of an existential threat.

It is a certain boost for Kyivs self-reliance in the war, she adds: These are often homegrown systems, meaning that there is less reliance on external provisions, and the companies developing these UGVs can later expect to export the systems to other states.
White House: Trump has met with team over Iran proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Donald Trump has said that Iran believes it is in a State of Collapse and wants the US to open the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington considers a new peace proposal.

Iran has just informed us that they are in a State of Collapse the US president wrote.

They want us to Open the Hormuz Strait, as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!), he added.

Insiders revealed today that Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with his top national security aides on Monday, as the conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region still disrupted.

Earlier, secretary of state Marco Rubio said Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz represents an economic nuclear weapon the regime is using to hold the worlds energy hostage.

Marco Rubio told Fox News on Monday that Iran is bragging about how it can hold a fifth of the worlds oil and gas hostage.

Tehran's latest proposal would see the Strait of Hormuz opened and an end to the war, but with talks on the Iranian nuclear programme postponed.
This is the shocking moment that President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday evening.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the event after a series of shots were heard inside the Washington Hilton, where the event was taking place.

Secret Service agents got Trump and others off the stage, while guests dived for safety as the chaotic scenes unfolded inside the hotels ballroom.

Shouts of stay down could be heard as attendees hit the floor and took cover under tables.

The New York Times reported that multiple law enforcement sources had identified the suspect to the newspaper as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California.

In a Truth Social post, Trump posted a photo of a man lying down on the ground at the hotel. Police said he was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.
Food wholsale

When the fruit-and-vegetable wholesaler, which once had a turnover of 40m, was placed in voluntary liquidation, it owed more than 2m to creditors. Photo: Getty

The 12-year long liquidation of wholesaler Swan Fruits has been further delayed because of the failure of Irish Life to engage with the liquidator over a pension fund, the liquidator of the Carlow wholesaler has claimed in a new filing to the Companies Registration Office.

The failure of Irish Life to engage with me as liquidator regarding the transfer of the pension fund [is] resulting in deprivation of funds in the liquidation going forward, said liquidator and insolvency expert PJ Lynch in the filing.

The successful conclusion of the liquidation  which began in 2014  had been delayed by an ongoing criminal investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Unit.

When the fruit-and-vegetable wholesaler, which once had a turnover of 40m, was placed in voluntary liquidation, it owed more than 2m to creditors.

The update stated that unsecured creditors total over 1.4m and that secured creditors, believed to be the Revenue Commissioners, are owed over 87,000.

Asked to comment, Lynch said he was unable to bring the liquidation to its conclusion because of the impasse over the pension.

As part of his investigation, Lynch had identified a 239,000 pension fund related to Swan Fruits

In my long experience as a liquidator I have never encountered a case to go on so long, he said.

Lynch was appointed as liquidator in April 2016 and began an in-depth investigation to track down money to repay creditors.

The actions of the Directors, John Swan, Niall Swan and Alex Swan deprived creditors, both preferential and unsecured, of monies due to them, said Lynch in his update, filed last week, due to their fraudulent, reckless trading and a total lack of their fiduciary duties as directors of the Company.

In July 2024, the High Court approved Lynchs application for a five-year disqualification on holding-company directorships against John Swan, the former owner of the firm, as well as restriction orders against Swans sons, Alex and Niall.

As part of his investigation, Lynch had identified a 239,000 pension fund related to Swan Fruits. At the July 2024 hearing, the High Court ordered Irish Life to transfer the proceeds of the pension fund, and the former director of the firm had signed an order agreeing to this transfer at that time.

A spokesman for Irish Life said that it had no comment to make on the matter.

The insurance firm is understood to dispute the claim that it has not engaged with the liquidator. It has previously argued that because pension plans are constituted as trusts that this acts as an impediment.

Irish Life is also understood to believe that such a payment may breach tax legislation on the treatment of pension funds and that it is for the liquidator to deal with Revenue on the matter. The liquidator, however, has argued that tax law clearly states that it is the provider of the pension fund who should take advice from the Revenue Commissioners.
Some holders had said they were unable to access funds already added to their payments card

Irish fintech CleverCards has said that it will reissue cards to some customers who have faced restrictions on their payments cards in recent weeks.

Some customers of the fintech had said that they were unable to access funds already added to their payments card.

Customers who were attempting to add funds to their cards received a message to say CleverCards is currently migrating its platform to a leading EU-regulated payments provider.

During this migration, new orders, token delivery and token activations are temporarily paused, the message said, adding that it would provide further information on the migration in the coming days.

Central Bank of Ireland

When contacted, the company said that it had agreed a new partnership with payments giant Stripe. It said the recent difficulties faced by some of its customers had been resolved by the new partnership.

The fintech said that the technical migration to the Stripe platform was now complete and that impacted cards would be reissued.

The firm said, in response to queries from the Sunday Independent, that the move to Stripe was not connected to an instruction from the Central Bank of Lithuania to CleverCards previous card issuer that it could not do business with the Irish company.

A spokesman for CleverCards said that naturally enough it had engaged with the Central Bank of Ireland and we have been in regular and constructive dialogue with the CBI throughout.

But, he said, the company, which is not a regulated entity, could not comment on the substance of supervisory engagement.

No customer has lost money as a result of this situation, said a spokesman for CleverCards.

The issues impacted a very small subset of customers over the last two weeks and it was related to the migration of its business to the Stripe platform after its partnership agreement.

We have been engaging with the firm for a period of time, however, we cannot comment on ongoing supervisory matters, said a Central Bank of Ireland spokesperson.

One customer said they had been trying to access the funds on their CleverCard for over three weeks

Numerous customers of the popular payments card, which is used by a large number of corporate customers to pay bonuses to staff, had vented their frustration in recent weeks on review website Trustpilot.

One customer said they had been trying to access the funds on their CleverCard for over three weeks.

Initially, I was told it would take a few days due to a third-party technical issue, then told next week, then two weeks. It has now been three weeks and no communication or support, said the customer.

Starting to worry Ill never see my money. The issue is now causing financial difficulties for me and my family, they said.

Another claimed they had received a card from their employer for Christmas.

I really need to access MY cash now but have been told there are issues with a third-party provider, they wrote.

CleverCards responded to say that we are truly sorry for the frustration this has caused, we completely understand how important it is to access your funds without delay and asked the customer to email the firm.

Irish fintech CleverCard

Asked to comment by the Sunday Independent, the CleverCards spokesman denied that the situation had been ongoing for a number of months. It was a short, limited migration period affecting a very small subset of customers over the past two weeks, and our customer support teams engaged with every one of them directly through email and live chat.

The spokesman said that there had now been a resolution.

In late December CleverCards had faced difficulties when the Central Bank of Lithuania issued a binding instruction that a regulated card financial services firm based in that country was not to provide financial services to KPTRS Investments Limited including the distribution of payment cards.

KPTRS, the Irish firm which trades as CleverCards, does not have the ability to issue Mastercards itself. It relies on regulated card issuers to provide the cards, which it then markets and distributes to its customers under the CleverCards brand.

The binding instruction that was issued by the Central Bank of Lithuania to the Lithuanian card issuer was not a CleverCards matter and were entirely unrelated to CleverCards own controls or operations, said the spokesman.

The card issuer had since submitted an appeal in relation to its Central Banks findings in the Lithuanian courts

The issue arose from a periodic Bank of Lithuania supervisory inspection of one of its card-issuing infrastructure providers. The Lithuanian card issuer had advised CleverCards that the Central Bank findings related to its own local implementation and evidence of controls within its Lithuanian entity, said the CleverCards spokesman.

The card issuer had since submitted an appeal in relation to its Central Banks findings in the Lithuanian courts, he said.

Once we became aware of the [Lithuanian Central Banks] instruction, we notified the Central Bank of Ireland and accelerated our integration with Stripe that was already under way as part of our global expansion, said the spokesman.

The Stripe partnership was not related in any way to the Lithuanian situation and predated it but that CleverCards had accelerated a migration that was already in train, he said.

CleverCards has been working with Stripe for some time as part of our global expansion plan  Ireland, the UK, Europe, and shortly the US  reflecting the rapid growth in our business and the need for a globally native platform, said the spokesman.

Our entire card-issuance and money-movement infrastructure now runs on Stripe, he said, adding that the technical migration was now complete.

We are now writing to the very small subset of affected customers to reissue their cards on the Stripe platform, and that process will be completed in the coming days, he said.

A spokeswoman for Stripe confirmed the partnership deal with CleverCards but said that Stripe had no further comment.
Master baker Caryna Camerino

Caryna Camerino owns the Camerino Bakery and coffee shop in Blackrock, Co Dublin, and has a regular cooking slot on Virgin Medias Ireland AM.

The Canadian entrepreneur also owns Lovin from the Oven, which supplies wholesale baked goods to independent cafes around Dublin.

Camerino moved from Canada to Ireland in 2002 and held corporate jobs before the implosion of the Celtic Tiger prompted her to turn her baking hobby into a business.

She lives with her family near Newtownpark-based Camerino Bakery, which will host a supper club on May 11. To book your ticket (50 a head), visit Camerino.ie.

How did your upbringing shape your relationship with money?

I was 12 when my father left his job to set up his own company. He still works in his textile sales business. That set an example to me of how you can bet on yourself. And, like him, I have no plans to retire.

I grew up in Montreal, in a very comfortable and safe suburb. My siblings and I attended public schools and went on holidays every year. While money was never explicitly discussed with me, value for money was clearly a matter of pride. We wouldnt fly to Florida to visit my grandparents every Christmas  we drove 27 hours each way instead.

Was there ever a time you felt broke?

After I finished working at my first ever festival with a bakery stall (hello, Vantastival 2010!), I went travelling through Vietnam with some friends.

When I checked my emails from an internet cafe, I read a very embarrassing and heart-sinking message from GoCar  the van Id rented was returned with a full tank of the wrong fuel. Id filled the diesel tank with petrol!

In fairness, it was my mistake and all the money I made at the festival went to pay for the repairs. So you can thank me for the very clear label now shown above the fuel door on every GoCar.

What was your worst ever job?

I was working in the HR department of a construction company during the recession. My job was making people redundant.

Im still haunted when I think of one man in the meeting room, crying, and begging me: Is there nothing you can do, this close to Christmas? There was nothing I could do. I had no power. And I had to do it every day.

Thats when I started baking, as a way to relieve stress. In the end, I made myself redundant and pursued baking full time. My HR experience stands to me now, though, since I employ over 20 people between both businesses.

What was your best ever investment?

Moving Camerino Bakery from the Irish Museum of Modern Art to my own community, where I enjoy living in a tidy triangle between my house, the shop, and my sons school. Moving was expensive. The location made financial sense for the company, but my familys quality of life is what sealed the deal for me.

Would you buy property in Ireland now?

Wed love to buy a shop and live above it.

Whats your biggest financial regret?

Every time I spend money on repairing a commercial fridge that inevitably breaks again within weeks. I regret not learning my lesson the first time. Or the second time.

Do you still carry cash?

Just coins for shopping trolleys, really.

Do you have a pension?

I think I have two? I must sort that out. Anyway, I plan on working all the way to the end.

What three things would you not be able to do without if you had to tighten your belt?

My bookkeeper, anti-frizz shampoo and good quality coffee.
This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows warning signs at the entrance to the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

MINSK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- "Radioactive Contamination! No Entry!" The warning sign at the entrance to the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region, near the Ukrainian border, is impossible to miss. Its bold lettering and stark trefoil radiation symbol -- resembling a skull -- seem to fix their gaze on every visitor, discouraging any attempt to proceed.

On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout.

Recently, a Xinhua reporter visited the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus. As the iron gates of the exclusion zone creaked open, the vehicle moved slowly along a narrow village road, as if crossing a boundary between present and past. The road was scarred by years of neglect. Fallen trees lay scattered through the forest, while nameless wildflowers bloomed quietly in the marshes. The hum of the tires felt intrusive, breaking the heavy, almost unnatural silence.

"This was a school -- a place where visitors now come to take photos," said Alexey Kazakov, head of the reserve's information department. After the disaster, then-Soviet authorities evacuated all settlements within a 30-kilometer radius of the plant, including the village of Dronki, where the school once stood.

Inside the abandoned classrooms, shattered glass and crumbling plaster covered the floor. Yellowed textbooks lay open to lessons frozen in time, and dusty backpacks still waited for children who never returned. A faded slogan -- "Long Live May Day!" -- hung on the wall, a haunting reminder that the joy of the 1986 holiday was abruptly stolen by radiation. For residents of the contaminated zone, life was permanently divided into "before" and "after."

As the vehicle moved deeper into the exclusion zone, the radiation monitor's reading climbed, and its beeping warning grew increasingly urgent. "There is no completely safe place here; we are always exposed to some radiation," explained Maxim Kudin, deputy director of the reserve. However, because tourist areas are grass-covered and relatively dust-free, short visits carry limited risk.

Since 2018, about 5,000 people have visited the reserve. Scientists accompany visitors, helping them understand radiation levels, risks, and the gradual recovery of the ecosystem.

Over four decades, Belarus has worked to mitigate the disaster's impact. By 2025, it had implemented multiple national programs, significantly reducing contamination; about half of the affected agricultural land had been restored. Advances in research have also improved detection and monitoring of radioactive elements, with the reserve's laboratories ranked among the world's best in this regard.

Experimental economic activities -- including horse breeding, forestry, and beekeeping -- have been introduced into less-contaminated areas. Researchers study how radioactive elements transfer through ecosystems while ensuring strict safety controls. According to Kudin, it is possible to produce goods that meet national safety standards under controlled conditions. The goal is to develop models for safe economic use of affected land.

In the reserve, horses graze calmly, and apiaries produce several tons of honey each year, "just as sweet as anywhere else," a beekeeper noted.

From a fire watchtower, the distant outline of the Chernobyl plant is visible, its reactor encased beneath a gleaming arch. Around it, forests have returned to life.

Yet the scars of the disaster remain. Environmental healing could take centuries, and the question of how to harness nuclear energy safely continues to challenge humanity. 

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a radiation monitor in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 from a fire watchtower in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus, shows an arch shaped shelter over Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the distance, located in Ukraine. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a crane in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows an abandoned classroom in the village of Dronki in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

A staff member tests samples in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region, April 22, 2026. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

A beekeeper checks beehives in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region, April 22, 2026. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows horses in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus' southern Gomel Region. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Citizens lay flowers at the monument for the victims in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Minsk, Belarus, on April 26, 2026. On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Citizens lay flowers at the monument for the victims in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Minsk, Belarus, on April 26, 2026. On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Children lay flowers at the monument for the victims in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Minsk, Belarus, on April 26, 2026. On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Citizens lay flowers at the monument for the victims in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Minsk, Belarus, on April 26, 2026. On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Soldiers place wreaths at the monument for the victims in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Minsk, Belarus, on April 26, 2026. On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tons of highly radioactive material. Over 60,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and more than 3.2 million people were affected to varying degrees. It remains the most severe nuclear disaster in the history of civilian nuclear energy.

Belarus, itself a former Soviet republic at the time, suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)
Billionaire Luke Comer takes control of 340 acres of champion trainer Dermot Welds prime Curragh land

The portfolio includes yards, gallops and paddocks in Co Kildare is believed to be worth at least 6m

Property developer and horse trainer Luke Comer at his yard in Co Wicklow. Photo by Mark Condren

Maeve Sheehan Sun 26 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Billionaire construction magnate Luke Comer and his two sons have taken control of more than 300 acres of prime land in Co Kildare from one of Irelands most renowned racehorse trainers.
Firefighters winched a car out of a shopfront on a Dublin city centre street on Sunday afternoon.

The car had crashed through the window of the premises on James Joyce Street, off Talbot Street, on the northside.

There were two fire tenders in attendance as firefighters used a crane and to lift the SUV out of the window.

Two firefighters with steel poles guided the car as it was lifted out onto the street, which had been cordoned off, as members of the public looked on.

It is not yet known if anyone was injured in the incident.
Im not scared of you any more  how Dublin woman raped by her stepfather as a child finally got justice 30 years later

Tommy Barry was caught and jailed after 25 years on the run, finally bringing his victim some closure

From left, Christina Hayes at the age of six, and Tommy Barry

Ali Bracken Sun 26 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Christina Hayes used dolls to explain to a counsellor how her stepfather would sexually abuse her as a young child.
See pictures and video from the rescue

Dolphin rescued and brought to safety after struggling off Dublins Sandymount Strand

A dolphin has died after it got into difficulty just off Sandymount Strand in Dublin on Sunday morning.

The dolphin had got into difficulty due to lower tides, and after struggling in shallow water, it wound up stranded.

The animal was then relocated to Sandycove beach, where it was returned to deeper waters.

It was brought back to deeper waters in a joint effort involving The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit, the Dublin Zoo veterinary team and members of the public.

Confirmation of the dolphins death came on Sunday afternoon, with the cause of death yet to be determined.At approximately 9am this morning, the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit was tasked by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin to respond to a report of a dolphin stranded at Sandymount, a Department of Transport spokesperson said.

With the assistance of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and Dublin Zoos veterinary team, the dolphin was relocated to deeper water at Sandycove. Unfortunately, the animal died a short time later.

The dolphin has since been transported to the University College Dublin (UCD) Veterinary Hospital, where a postmortem examination will be carried out to determine the cause of death.

The Irish Coast Guard would like to thank the members of the public who reported the incident and those who supported the Coast Guard crews during the operation.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Sunday,April 26

The alarm was raised on Sunday morning when passersby noticed the dolphin appeared to be in distress and was struggling in the water due to lower tides.

The dolphin was taken from the shallower waters of Sandymount Strand and brought out to the nearby Sandycove beach, where it was returned to the water.

A call was placed to the IWDG live stranding hotline, and a team has gone out to the water to help the animal get back to deeper waters.

Loads of people were on Sandymount Strand this morning and could see the dolphin struggling, an eyewitness, Mary, told the Irish Independent.

There was a team from the Dolphin and Whale Group, and the plan is to bring the dolphin to deep waters.

I could see the dolphin struggling, just kind of flapping around the place, so I called the live stranding hotline.

The IWDG has been contacted for comment.
Project is expected to add about 9,000 residents to the area

Lime House, one of the new buildings at the Glass Bottle development

Locals living near the Johnny Ronan-led Glass Bottle development in Dublin have raised concerns that an increase in people living in the area will leave them short of vital services.

It has led to calls for the Luas to be extended across the Liffey to Poolbeg, and for the building of a new school.

Those living in the Dublin 4 area have questioned whether there are enough school places, public transport services, doctors and amenities to cope with the local population rising by about 9,000 once all the planned homes are delivered.

Were going to have a whole new town down here, a group representing the area around the site said. Infrastructure should have been built before housing.

The 37-acre former Nama site being developed by the Ronan-led consortium is earmarked for about 3,800 homes and a landmark hotel.

When is the school going to be built? When are the services going to be provided?

The development is a joint venture between Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE), house builder Lioncor and global investment firm Oaktree.

The first block of high-end apartments recently delivered on the site has rents staring at 2,515 a month. The building has a gym and fitness studio, co-working spaces, a bookable lounge for special events, and a rooftop terrace.

Minutes from meetings between local residents groups, the council, the Department of Housing and representatives for the developers show that locals asked about plans to enhance area amenities, and that Dublin City Council contacted Transport Minister Darragh OBrien about a proposed Luas extension. Mr OBrien referred the matter to the National Transport Authority.

The minutes also show that, while there have been discussions about the location of a proposed new school near the Glass Bottle development, there is no current plan to activate [the] school site.

Irish Glass Bottle Housing Action Group chair Patsy Doolin told the Sunday Independent the area also needs more doctors and public transport: The questions now is when is the school going to be built? When are the services going to be provided?

We have a park, but that is not going to be enough. During lockdown, this area was chock-a-block. The parks were full because people living in apartments in the area had nowhere to go but to sit out in the park with their children.

Patsy Doolin, chair of the Irish Glass Bottle Housing Action Group. Photo: Mick Carolan

Earlier this month, the Sunday Independent reported that a residents group threatened legal action to block new homes at the development from being rented or sold until a plan is in place to develop the 950 promised social and affordable housing units at the site.

Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan recently reiterated called for the Luas line to be extended to the area.

It has also been reported that RGRE lobbied for the Luas to be brought to the Poolbeg peninsula.

A spokesman for the consortium delivering the Glass Bottle development said a masterplan for the area provides for a school, creche facilities, healthcare, retail units, parks, playgrounds and other amenities to support the wider community.

He said the consortium is working closely with Dublin City Council and transport authorities to support better connectivity.

Glass Bottle is being delivered in line with the planning framework set by the city development plan, with a strong emphasis on balanced growth, placemaking and the delivery of supporting services and amenities alongside new homes, with the first retail unit expected to open later this year, he added.
70 is the new 50,' neuroscientist says

Irish GPs have been let in on some of the secrets of super-agers to improve the health of their patients and themselves.

And they were also told why 70 can be the new 50.

Neuroscientist Prof Ian Robertson, Prof Emeritus of Psychology in Trinity College, said our mindset and how we view ageing can have a profound effect on how we function as we enter our fifties and beyond.

He told the annual general meeting of the Irish College of General Practitioners in Dublin about data gained by TILDA, the Trinity College tracking survey on ageing.

It found that people who had negative expectations on ageing walked significantly slower two years later versus those who had a positive view.

It showed significant reduction in cognitive flexibility - affecting their thinking - and they had a slight decrease in social activity.

A 35 year old who has back pain sees it as reversible but a 75 year old can view it as due to their age.

He said he is not Pollyanna about ageing but a lot depends on a persons own attitude.

People who are older can think forgetting a persons name is an early sign of dementia but people in their 30s would not be bothered, he added.

"If you start worrying about your memory and thinking about your memory  it is equivalent to thinking about your feet as you walk downstairs and that produces anxiety, he said.

Anxiety affects memory biologically and psychologically, using up more memory space.

The reality is that although the prevalence of dementia in Ireland is increasing due a greater number of people living longer the incidence has not, he told the gathering of family doctors.

He said it is very important we examine our own personal view on ageing and the mental models we have.

If you are 60 years old today you are less likely to develop dementia that a counterpart twenty years ago, Prof Robertson added.

One study of 41 countries by the International Monetary Fund found the cognitive performance of a 70 year old in 2020 is the same as that of a 53 year old in 2000.

Early retirement may be the norm in countries like Italy and France but it may not be healthy, he added.

Retirees may be playing boules and sitting coffee in the piazza in Italy but their memory function can be significantly lower than 65 year olds in Florida or in Ireland.

There are two key drivers in managing getting old - effort and purpose.

He said if people are still working they must make the effort to get up and get going rather than stay in bed.

It is not all about work and it may involve making effort to help others or even sorting out a community committee they are part of.

Doing something with effort is intrinsically more rewarding than doing something without effort.

We must ensure we dont become lazy - it is too easy to become lazy, Prof Robertson said.

He added that the other driver is purpose and this is linked to effort.

We must not confuse disease with age. It is not a disease, he added.
Michael Healy-Rae urged Taoiseach to give serious consideration to landlords pleas on rent reforms

Kerry TD was lobbied over changes to rules before his resignation

Michael Healy-Rae, Independent TD and former junior minister. Photo: Getty

Conal Thomas Sun 26 Apr 2026 at 06:30







Former junior minister Michael Healy-Rae, in one of his final letters to the Taoiseach, pressed Micheal Martin to relax rules for landlords ahead of major changes to rental rules.
The Indo Daily: Gerry Hutch says karma has come for Daniel Kinahan as by-election run kicks off
US president Donald Trump takes questions from media at a press briefing at the White House, following the shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. Photo: Reuters

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the apparent assassination attempt against US President Donald Trump was "shocking, outrageous and reprehensible" as he warned there was no place for the gun in politics.

Mr Martin - speaking in Cork as he attended a Chernobyl commemoration event - was reacting to the arrest of an armed man in the Washington hotel where President Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance and other senior US Cabinet ministers were attending the Washington Correspondents dinner on Saturday night.
KABUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan law enforcement authorities have arrested 80 individuals on charges of drug trafficking following a series of coordinated operations carried out across multiple provinces, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the ministry, counter-narcotics police conducted targeted raids in several regions, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of illegal substances, including hashish, narcotic tablets, and materials used in the production of heroin.

The statement added that the arrests are part of ongoing nationwide efforts to curb drug trafficking and dismantle distribution networks.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying operations aimed at combating the production, smuggling and sale of illicit drugs across the country. 
Eoin OMalley: President Connolly goes further than Higgins with comments on immigration bill

Head of state is already engaging in more than just symbolic politics

President Catherine Connolly chats with Taoiseach Michael Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, as members of the Council of State meet at Aras an Uachtarain. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Eoin O'Malley Sun 26 Apr 2026 at 06:30

President Catherine Connolly has had a busy week. Last weekend, she took her first official trip abroad. She chose Barcelona, not Britain, as is usual. Nor did she meet with the head of state, as is usual.
Flood relief works for a housing estate in Midleton that was devastated by Storm Babet in 2023 have been delayed yet again in what the local flood protection group has called an insult to the people of East Cork.

As an interim measure before the 56m major scheme for the town gets underway, Cork County Council and the OPW are planning to build an embankment along the Owenacurra River, which burst its banks during Babet and flooded around 100 houses in the Tir Cluain housing estate.

Residents were told in February that those works would start in Q4 this year but this week the council said that they will likely not begin until spring 2027.

Caroline Leahy, secretary of the Midleton and East Cork Flood Protection Group, told the Irish Independent that council officials said it is expected that a contractor will be appointed in Q4 but apparently they need a run of dry weather to start the works. At our last meeting in February we were told works would be starting in Q4, which was already a delay from the previous meeting when works were expected to commence in June.

Planning has been approved since January and while I appreciate the design details need to be finalised and the tender process for a contractor carried out, this is an extremely disproportionate length of time for works to not be starting, she said, adding that it will be the housing estates fourth winter since Babet without flood protection.

County Engineer Brendan Meagher told a meeting of the councils Southern Division this week that it is expected that a planning application for the major flood relief scheme will be submitted in September this year. The works will include upstream storage, walls and embankments to protect the town from river and tidal flooding and arent expected to be completed until 2032 at the earliest.

He also gave an update on the Individual Property Protection (IPP) scheme being rolled out by the council and the OPW, which involves supplying property owners in Midleton with barriers to keep the water out of entrances such as doorways in the event of a flood. Mr Meagher said that 65pc or around 1,200 barriers have now been installed and 36pc of houses are fully protected.

Ms Leahy said these figures represent yet another delay in the stated deadlines. The IPP was announced by the then Minister for the OPW in October 2024 and was expected to be rolled out in early 2025, yet now in Q2 of 2026 its still only 36pc completed.

This is exactly the same issue, on repeat, that we have faced with Cork County Council and the OPW since the beginning  progress updates and timelines given that are never met and are constantly pushed out. It is becoming increasingly frustrating for people that are living with this risk on the ground and its sounding more and more like lip service than intention. It is an insult to the people of East Cork at this stage, she said.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The river pool sits in between County Galway and County Offaly. Photo by Counicllor Alan Harney.

The floating pool in Banagher along the River Shannon. Photo by Counicllor Alan Harney.

A new pool on the River Shannon, with a historic past, made its grand debut this week as temperatures begin to increase for Summer.

The official opening of the floating pool in Banagher, bordering County Galway and County Offaly, was officially opened on Thursday April 23.

Among attendees were Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke and Galway County Councillor Alan Harney.

Construction began on the project in July 2025 with a 800,000 price tag that was to be funded through community grants and fundraising.

The river pool sits in between County Galway and County Offaly. Photo by Counicllor Alan Harney.

The investment was supported through Failte Ireland and the Just Transition Fund. Cllr Harney said a special thank you to the Shannon Bank Trustees and the Just Transition Officer, Loretta Raftery in Galway County Council.

Identified as one of the towns largest attractions for tourism for the last 30 years, the pool sides aside the flowing River Shannon, features picnic areas and lounge chairs as well as a wraparound dock and dome eating shelters.

This is such a good amenity on the River Shannon. I know first-hand it gets a massive amount of use in communities from Offaly and Galway, Cllr Harney told the Irish Independent.

The next step, Cllr Harney said, is to secure postings for lifeguards throughout the warmer days.

I have secured an allocation in the Galway County Council budget for that, and I will be working with the trustees to get those in place in the coming months. I am looking forward to a fantastic summer!

Use of the pool is open to all and free of charge.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.
Sandra Rusk  President of Tralee Chamber, Fergal Brosnan  CEO of the RDI Hub, and David Pierse  Chairperson of Tralee Chamber Enterprise Group.

Tralee Chamber Alliance has officially launched its new Enterprise Supports Booklet, which is a practical and accessible guide designed to assist local businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

The launch took place at the RDI Hub, a valued long-standing member of Tralee Chamber, and was proudly sponsored by Pierse Fitzgibbon, highlighting the strong collaboration between professional services and the wider business community in supporting enterprise growth.

The idea for the booklet was originally developed by the Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber for the South East region.

Tralee Chamber has since adapted and enhanced this model to suit Kerry, acknowledging the support and collaboration of their Dungarvan and West Waterford counterparts in bringing this localised resource to life.

Developed by Tralee Chambers Enterprise Sub Committee, the booklet compiles a wide range of funding supports, advisory services, training programmes, and development opportunities available to businesses in Kerry.

It is designed as a practical, user-friendly resource for entrepreneurs at all stages  from start-up to expansion  to access the guidance and support they need to thrive.

At the launch, David Pierse said he is delighted to sponsor the booklet, which provides real, practical value to businesses in the region.

Supporting enterprise and local economic development is central to our values as a firm, and this initiative aligns strongly with our commitment to the business community in Kerry, he said.

Sandra Rusk, President of Tralee Chamber, welcomed the publication and acknowledged those who contributed to its development.

I want to thank David Pierse, the Enterprise Committee, and Emily Reen, who played a key role in delivering this project. It is a strong example of what can be achieved through collaboration and voluntary commitment within our Chamber network," she said.

Chamber CEO Colette OConnor highlighted the importance of cross-chamber learning and partnership saying it is an initiative that reflects the strength of collaboration across the chamber network.

We are very grateful to our colleagues in Dungarvan and West Waterford for sharing the original concept, which enabled us to develop a Kerry-focused resource. Working together in this way ensures we deliver practical value to businesses while learning from best practice elsewhere," she said.

The launch included a presentation outlining the booklets purpose and structure, followed by networking opportunities for attendees from across the local business community.

Tralee Chamber extended its thanks to Pierse Fitzgibbon, the Enterprise Sub Committee, and all partners involved in making the booklet a reality.

This new resource represents a significant step in supporting Kerrys entrepreneurs, offering practical guidance to help businesses navigate opportunities and thrive in an ever-changing economic landscape.
Pictured at the launch of the Versius robotic surgery system launched at St Johns Hospital Limerick was Emer Martin, CEO, St Johns Hospital. St Johns is now the first model 2 hospital in Ireland offering robotic-assisted procedures to public patients and the first hospital in Ireland to launch the Versius platform. Made possible through a 2.5 million donation from the JP McManus Pro-Am 2022, this initiative will mean reduced pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times for patients across the Mid West.
A great crowd always turns out for the May Bush celebration.

May Queens from Ballindaggin May Bush event last year - Maizie Cooney, Clodagh Codd, Kayleigh Kehoe, Sienna Burke-Farrell, Ruby Davin and Katie Furlong.

An upcoming May Bush celebration will have a special guest of honour crowned as the May Bush Queen.

The May Bush tradition is an old Irish custom observed on April 30 and May 1 to welcome summer, bring good luck, and ward off evil, often described as a summer equivalent to a Christmas tree. The tradition involves decorating a branch or small hawthorn tree (whitethorn) with flowers, ribbons, and coloured eggshells.

Through celebrated in parts of Leinster, east Munster, east Connacht and Ulster. Wexford is often regarded as one of its strongholds.

The tradition is especially strong in rural areas of the county.

Now in its ninth year, Ballindaggin was the first community in Wexford to revive this old tradition and adhere to the tradition of having the bush up on the eve of May Day - April 30.

Read more Wexford woman shares secret of her long life as she celebrates her 103rd birthday

The community event is organised by Aileen Lambert and Michael Fortune and the help of the local Ballindaggin Tidy Towns and Development Group ensures the event grows each year and brings a welcome burst of colour and sunshine to the village.

Each year, they link in with the local National School, and the procession is led by May Queens and Kings from the senior and junior classes.

This year they will have a special guest as Dote ONeill from Casteldockrell, who recently celebrated her 103 year birthday, will be given a special title of 'Wexford's Oldest May Queen'.

Dote grew up in Kilrush and as a young child was a May Queen herself and took part in May Bush events in the 1920s and 30s.

The procession music will be provided by Ballindaggin's very own St. Colman's Pipe Band and with traditional music and tunes around the May Bush provided by Deirdre Jordan and friends.

"Everyone is most welcome and please bring your own painted eggshells, flowers, and ribbons for the village May Bush and enjoy an evening of community, customs and music, said Michael.

Read more Wexford woman shares secret of her long life as she celebrates her 103rd birthday

The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 in the village.
A group of hardworking Wexford students are hoping to highlight the negative effects of social media on health and wellbeing with their innovative project.

Earlier this month, 710 students from across Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois, Clare, Carlow, Offaly, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Waterford took part in the Young Social Innovators (YSI) Speak Out Tour, presenting innovative projects aimed at tackling pressing local and national issues.

YSI is Irelands leading youth-led social innovation education programme, empowering young people to develop solutions to social, environmental, and community challenges. Since its inception in 2001, YSI has engaged thousands of young people in meaningful, action-driven initiatives that have left a lasting impact nationwide.

This particular showcase, called the Speak Out Tour, gave students the opportunity to share what their teams have been working on throughout the year through creative speeches or performances.

Each team delivered a two-minute presentation, sharing their research, action taken to tackle the social issue, lived experiences, and calls to action with a live audience and the YSI Speak Out Panel.

The students addressed themes including body image and eating habits, the environmental impact of pollution and fast fashion, and concerns around energy drink consumption among young people.

Teams also examined online gaming, gambling awareness, and discrimination.

YSI Team 'Screen Time Crime' - Meanscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy.

Community-focused projects explored gender balance in sport, the lack of town facilities for young people, and broader social inequalities. Their presentations reflected a strong awareness of both global issues and the day-to-day realities facing young people in their own communities.

This included a group of students from Meanscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy who made a big impact with their project showcase.

Entitled Screen Time Crime the students highlighted the dangers of social media using colourfully painted masks to represent countries, social media apps, and An Garda Siochana.

Sara Thompson, Marketing and Communications Manager at YSI said that they were impressed by the high standard of work displayed by the groups.

The energy and depth of discussion at the Kilkenny event highlighted the leadership potential of young people determined to make meaningful change, she said.
Stephanie Warner, Cathaoirleach Joe Sullivan, Emmanuel Ehikioya, JP Keating, Barkhad Mire and Cathaoileach Donal Kenny at the Art Exhibition in collaboration with JP Keating at Gorey Library. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

JP participated in a photography workshop with men living in the IPAS centre in Courtown.

A Wexford photographer has shared his delight after being shortlisted for a prestigious award, following his photo documentary which explores the experiences of men living in an IPAS centre in Courtown.

JP Keating has been shortlisted for the inaugural Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize, a new national award which celebrates outstanding contemporary photography made in Ireland.

Its a huge honour to be involved. There are so many great photographers working in Ireland at the moment, so to be included is really great, he said.

The shortlisted photograph for the award is of Baba Williams, a Sudanese refugee from his documentary project which showcased the lives of men living in an IPAS centre in Courtown Hotel.

Selected from over 1,300 entries, JP is among 33 photographers shortlisted across the country, whose works represents diverse and powerful responses to this years theme.

The award was announced by Photo Museum Ireland, with the prize recognising exceptional photographic work under the theme: Community  Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine  It is in each others shadow that we live.

The exhibition will be open at Photo Museum Ireland from Wednesday, April 22 until Sunday, May 24 while the winners of the Taylor Wessing Irish Photo Prize will be announced on opening night. First prize winner will be awarded 10,000, two runners-up awarded 2,500 each, and the thirty shortlisted artists will receive an exhibition honorarium award.

JP participated in a photography workshop with men living in the IPAS centre in Courtown.

Speaking further about the project, JP said he first approached the men in the IPAS centre in 2024, with the idea of documenting their lives. I began photographing the men living there around two years ago in an effort to humanise their experiences and help break down some of the barriers that can exist between them and the wider community.

From the beginning, the men have been incredibly welcoming and open to being photographed, which has allowed the work to develop naturally into a cohesive series of portraits that together tell the story of life within the hotel, JP said.

Trish Lambe, CEO and Artistic Director of Photo Museum Ireland was delighted to announce the inaugural shortlist and said it was a defining moment for contemporary photographers in Ireland.

The artists shortlisted this year reflect the depth, diversity and ambition of photographic practice across the Irish community. Their work engages powerfully with the social and political realities shaping our time, while engaging in vital international conversations about the evolving role of photography, she said.

Adam Griffiths, Partner and Head of the Dublin Office at Taylor Wessing said they are committed to nurturing artistic talent at every stage to ensure contemporary photography receives both national and international recognition.

It is our privilege to help provide this platform for voices that reflect, challenge and celebrate what it means to belong in Ireland, he added.

Stephanie Warner, Cathaoirleach Joe Sullivan, Emmanuel Ehikioya, JP Keating, Barkhad Mire and Cathaoileach Donal Kenny at the Art Exhibition in collaboration with JP Keating at Gorey Library. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

In October 2024, JP published a photo essay documentary in The Guardian UK surrounding the experiences of men living in the IPAS Centre in Courtown.

I also ran a photography workshop with a number of the residents over the course of the summer, encouraging them to photograph their own lives and experiences from their own perspective, he said.

In September 2025, an exhibition titled, Shared Space: Life at the Courtown Hotel was exhibited at Gorey library to display the work produced from JPs workshop.
Guest Cllr Catherine Walsh pictured with the dancers during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Some of the attendees pictured during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

As tradition, the dancers welcome the guests, host John Paul Hanrahan and Cllr Catherine Walsh, pictured with the group during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Cllr Catherine Walsh pictured lighting the first flame during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

The dancers escort the guests during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Guest Cllr Catherine Walsh pictured with the group during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

There was a wonderful atmosphere at Hotel Curracloe recently as the local Sri Lankan community hosted a colourful celebration to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

A vibrant cultural celebration, the event marks the beginning of a new year and is traditionally a big occasion in Sri Lanka, with people gathering together to celebrate, reflect and look forward.

This years event brought Sri Lankans from right across Ireland to Wexford for a day of traditional music, food, games and performances, all contributing to a wonderful atmosphere on the day.

We did it last year as well, said organiser and Sri Lankan Trimanna Ramesh Senvirante, who thanked all who supported the event including Dushi Disanayaka, Irosh Siriwardena and Amali, Mane and Rajeewa.

Im trying to bring the Sri Lankan people around the island to Wexford to celebrate this together. There are a couple of other events, one in Mullingar, one in Sligo, so people go wherever they can.

Guest Cllr Catherine Walsh pictured with the dancers during the celebration of the Sri Lankan New Year at Hotel Curracloe on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Mr Senvirante and his family have been here for 25 years. He is proudly an Irish citizen. His son was born in Wexford General Hospital, where he now works and his daughter is studying medicine.

There was a time when there was just a handful of Sri Lankan families living in the county. Now he estimates that there are 40 or 50.

Sri Lanka is a big tourism country, but I moved away for better prospects and to give my family a better life, having come to the country from the Middle East. I had a hard life back home, we didnt have things like a car or a washing machine, and we used a well at home.

He remembers coming to Wexford a quarter of a century ago to work in a hotel and the fact that then, there we no brown people.

Recently he took his daughter back to his home country to visit the village where he grew up. Mr Senvirante wanted his children to grow up with an awareness of where their parents came from.

As he reflects on his time in Ireland and a warm afternoon bringing people together to celebrate their heritage, he says while the drastic difference in weather may be hard to manage, Irish people are very easy to get on with.
For glowing results, try these latest must-have products

As a beauty expert, Im always wiping and swiping, testing and then sometimes investing myself in the products that earn a permanent place on my bathroom shelf. These are the ones Im reaching for right now and of course its my beauty duty to spill the Tri!

CurrentBody LED Neck & Decolletage Perfector, 399, 99, currentbody.ie

Necking It

Were all trying to fix our flipping necks and this lil beaut I invested in myself. When used for 10 minutes daily, the CurrentBody LED Neck & Decolletage Perfector (399, 99, currentbody.ie) targets wrinkles and improves plumpness in eight weeks. I bought mine on a recent trip to Terrie McEvoys gorgeous Mantra store in Kildare Village. It has three different wavelengths to target the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, so the red wavelength boosts collagen and reduces lines, the nir wavelength firms, tightens and energises the skin, and the deep nir targets the most pronounced signs of ageing. Does it work? Absolutely, but only if you use it consistently. Do not buy, use for a week and then forget all about it! (FYI: A friend of mine uses hers on her husbands head as well as its apparently great for hair health too.)

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Under Eye Setting Powder, 36, brownthomas.com

Get Set

Laura Merciers setting powder is everyones favourite, and now the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Under Eye Setting Powder (37.20, flannels.ie) has just launched and is equally fab. It comes in five colour-correcting shades for every skin tone to set, smooth and brighten with light-reflecting pearls. The fine powder has peach and pink pigments designed to colour-correct discolouration and darkness to awaken your eyes. If youve never tried an undereye setting powder, this is the one to go for  you wont be disappointed.

Glow Recipe Toner Pads, 31.05, cultbeauty.com

Go Glow

Inspired by Korean skincare, there are three types of the new Glow Recipe Toner Pads (31.05, cultbeauty.com). Whether your skin needs a detox, a glow boost or soothing recovery, these pads reset it in just five minutes. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, theyre infused with fruit-powered actives that gently exfoliate, soothe and hydrate.

I love how easy they are to use  its all in a pad you just plonk on, rub around and throw in the bin and bingo, your skin looks brilliant!

Eyra Restore Conditioner (38, eyrahair.com)

Eye Spy

Some shampoos and conditioners can be too heavy, or just not right for your hair type. So, please say hello to the new Eyra Awaken Shampoo and Restore Conditioner (38 each, eyrahair.com), which are focused on balance and lightness. Available in Fine, Medium and Thick options, its formulated by blending botanical ingredients with modern science. It contains jojoba and castor oils alongside horsetail, seaweed, marshmallow, chamomile, and nettle to make your hair soft and give it a natural shine, without weighing it down.

Dior Mattifying Invisible UV Stick, 65, brownthomas.com

Glow Forever

I am a HUGE fan of the Dior Mattifying Invisible UV Stick (65, brownthomas.com) which combines four filters for daily high SPF 50 protection against the harmful effects of UVB and UVA rays. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and a blurring powder, it mattifies, visibly refines skin texture, reduces the appearance of pores and comes in showstopping casing.

Darlo Bounce Midsize Collection, 55, heydarlo.com

Treat

Curly Sue My daughter found these Darlo rollers online and begged me to get them for her. Now we both use them as they are the easiest way to get that bouncy, just-left-the-salon finish at home with minimal effort. The Darlo Bounce Midsize Collection (55, heydarlo.com) contain 12 rollers in two sizes in a bag.

Trick

Stick with it SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and measures a sunscreens ability to protect your skin from the suns UV radiation. The thing is, your SPF is only as good as your reapplication and most of us forget that bit. The easiest trick Ive found is to swap your handbag lipstick for an SPF stick, as they glide over make-up without ruining it, mattify shine and top up your protection in seconds. Now youve no excuses.

Treatment

Lottie lushness Skin by Lottie in Malahide (skinbylottie.com) is a gorgeous new Irish beauty business, and one to book now before everyone else gets in on the action. Lottie Gannon is an aesthetician who worked at the prestigious Ailesbury Clinic and has a deep passion for skin health. Youll be glowing after one of her targeted facials or microneedling treatments (from 100), and if you want to get her expert hands on your face, book a consultation to build a treatment plan.
BAMAKO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Fresh fighting was reported on Sunday in the Kidal region of northern Mali, a Malian security source told Xinhua.

The source said gunfire was heard again in the city, adding that details on casualties or damage were not immediately available.

The Malian army has not yet issued a statement on the reported fighting.

Mali's transitional government said on Saturday evening that armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks earlier in the day on several cities across the country, leaving 16 people wounded.

According to a government statement, the attacks targeted multiple locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital, Bamako. 
A social media influencer has died six days after she was hit by a car outside a nightclub in central London.

Klaudia Zakrzewska, 32, from Essex, was injured in Argyll Street, Soho, at around 4.30am on Sunday April 19 and was pronounced dead on Saturday.

Former X Factor finalist Gabrielle Carrington, 29, appeared in court on Tuesday accused of trying to kill Ms Zakrzewska, a TikTok and Instagram influencer known by the name of Klaudiaglam, outside the Inca nightclub.

Klaudia Zakrzewska. Photo: Instagram

Today's News in 90 Seconds - Sunday,April 26

The attempted murder charge will be increased to murder after Ms Zakrzewskas death, the Metropolitan Police said on Saturday.

Carrington, of Broadfield Road, Manchester, is also accused of dangerous driving, being nearly twice the drink-drive limit and causing injuries to two other people  a third woman and a security guard  who were also hit by her Mercedes.

Gabrielle Carrington

A 58-year-old man suffered life-changing injuries after being hit by the car.

She made it to the X Factor live finals in 2013 as one of the three members of Miss Dynamix and now has more than 365,000 followers on Instagram under the handle RIELLEUK.

Carrington  described in court as social media influencer who makes regular trips to the United Arab Emirates  made a heart sign with her hands towards friends and family in the packed public gallery as she was led out of the dock and back to the cells.

She did not enter any pleas during the hearing and will next appear at the Old Bailey on May 19.

Court artist drawing of Gabrielle Carrington appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Family and friends of Ms Zakrzewska also attended the court hearing.

Nearly 18,000 had been crowdfunded for Ms Zakrzewskas treatment and her familys legal fees.

The GoFundMe, said to be set up by her mother, said: If at any time things take a turn for the worst, additional funds will go towards funeral costs and continuous support for the family.

Her mother, Kinga, said on the page: Those who know me understand how much I love my daughter and what a special bond we have, and I cannot give up on my baby girl.

She added: Anyone who knew my gorgeous daughter knows how truly wonderful she is. She has touched so many people with her pure heart and kindness, and she deserves every chance to keep fighting.

Footage of the incident circulating online shows a woman getting into a black car before it surges forward, striking Ms Zakrzewska who goes under the vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said: We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Klaudias family and friends in light of this tragic update.

Our thoughts are also with everyone impacted by this incident.

We recognise that this case has generated significant interest and discussion on social media; however, we would urge the public to refrain from further speculation.

She added: We also ask that people do not share graphic footage out of respect for Klaudias loved ones and for those who have been injured.

The circulation of such material could also undermine our ongoing criminal investigation and potentially prejudice future court proceedings.
People look at vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Saturday, April 25, 2026, that authorities said killed at least a dozen people and blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

People gather around a bus hit by an explosive device on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Saturday, April 25, 2026, after an attack blamed by authorities on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels killed at least a dozen people. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

People stand among vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Saturday, April 25, 2026, that authorities said killed at least a dozen people and blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

At least 13 people were killed and 17 wounded in an explosives attack in western Colombia on Saturday, in violence authorities have blamed on dissidents of the FARC guerrilla group.

The attack took place on the Pan-American Highway in the El Tunel area of Cajibio municipality, about 35km from Popayan, the capital of Cauca province, according to authorities.

Cauca Governor Octavio Guzman said on X the attack was one of several criminal actions reported in the province on Saturday.

People gather around a bus hit by an explosive device on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Saturday, April 25, 2026, after an attack blamed by authorities on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels killed at least a dozen people. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

"Cauca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone. We are facing a terrorist escalation that demands immediate responses. We demand forceful, sustained and effective action from the national government in the face of the grave public order crisis we are experiencing," he added.

Presidential candidate Paloma Valencia, a member of the opposition right-wing Democratic Center party who is from Cauca, called the attack "terrorism" carried out by the dissident FARC faction, which rejected a 2016 peace deal.

People look at vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Saturday, April 25, 2026, that authorities said killed at least a dozen people and blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

"President Gustavo Petro's government cannot continue minimizing the violence or dismantling the state," she said. "We demand immediate action, full backing for our Armed Forces and police, and concrete results."

Petro, a former rebel himself whose term as president is nearing an end, has pursued a "total peace" policy with guerrillas through negotiations and intermittent ceasefires.
Milei wants to talk to Starmer about future of Las Malvinas

Argentina has called for renewed talks over the future of the Falkland Islands after the US suggested it could support Buenos Airess claims of sovereignty.

Pablo Quirno, the Argentine foreign minister, has demanded an end to British colonialism and new bilateral negotiations to achieve a peaceful and definitive solution.

He repeated the assertion that Argentina had sovereign rights to the islands, adding that British occupation violated its territorial integrity.

It emerged on Friday that the Pentagon was considering reviewing the UKs claim over the territory, as punishment for a lack of support for the war in Iran.

The Falklands government rebuked Donald Trump, pointing out that 99.8pc of the islands population voted to remain a British Overseas Territory in 2013. And British veterans of the 1982 Falklands War accused the US president of bullying.

Argentina views the 2013 independence referendum as a sham, having accused the UK of implanting voters on the island.

Yesterday, Mr Quirno said: We reject the British invocation of the principle of the free determination of peoples. The current inhabitants of the Falklands have never been recognised as a people by the UN.

Washington forced Britain to accept a deal to arm Argentina with F-16 jets

It is not acceptable for the islands inhabitants to become arbiters of a territorial dispute in which their own country, as an implanted population, is a party.

He said it was for this reason that the 2013 referendum was invalid.

The Argentine republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom, Mr Quirno added.

He said he hoped negotiations would allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which Britain is immersed.

The Falklands government said it had complete confidence in the UK to uphold its right to self-determination. A spokesman for Keir Starmer added that it could not be clearer that the islands were British and that the UK would defend its rights.

Sovereignty rests with the UK, and the islanders right to self-determination is paramount, they said.

Argentina periodically reasserts its right to the Falklands. The issue was raised last week after a leaked Pentagon email showed a US review of British sovereignty on a list of potential punishments to counter Natos lack of enthusiasm for the war in the Middle East.

The email stated that one of the options under consideration to punish members of the alliance would be to reassess diplomatic support for long-standing European imperial possessions, such as the Falklands.

Javier Milei, the Argentine president and friend of Donald Trump, said last year that his country would not relinquish its claim over the Falklands, also known as Las Malvinas.

It was revealed last week that Washington forced Britain to accept a deal to arm Argentina with F-16 fighter jets. UK officials were told in no uncertain terms not to oppose the deal, despite concerns about the Falklands.

Argentina took delivery of American F-16s from Denmark last year in a rare example of Western allies arming Buenos Aires.

Britain has a strict ban on exporting weapons or components to Argentina because of competing sovereignty claims over the islands.
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




Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
The traditional ruler of Owa-Onire in Kwara State, Oba AbdulRahman Fabiyi, has abandoned his palace and relocated to the outskirts of Ilorin following repeated security breaches in his community.

The monarch disclosed that his decision was prompted by a series of attacks by armed groups, including a violent invasion of his residence on December 31, 2025.

He recounted that the attackers forced their way into the palace, seizing mobile phones belonging to him and his wife, as well as cash, at gunpoint.

Advertisement

According to him, although the assailants did not abduct him during the incident, they reportedly took away two palace aides before fleeing the scene.

Oba Fabiyi further revealed that the attack came after an earlier kidnapping ordeal in which he was held captive for seven days and later released after a ransom of 5 million was paid by members of the community.

He suggested that the prior incident may have influenced the attackers decision not to abduct him again during the December raid.

The monarch expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation, stressing that he would not return to his palace until adequate protection is guaranteed. He lamented the lack of a police station and described the existing security presence as insufficient.

Despite relocating, the traditional ruler said he continues to carry out his responsibilities from his current location, noting that neighbouring communities are also grappling with similar security challenges.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has appealed to Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to join its platform and contest the 2027 elections.

In an X post on Sunday, the party hinted at a two-week window for Obi and Kwankwaso to join its platform and secure the presidential ticket.

All we need right now. Just all we need. 2 weeks to deadline, the party wrote.

Advertisement

The post featured a photo of Obi shaking hands with Kwankwaso, with the caption: Nigeria will be OK.

Last week, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the OK Movement to mobilise support for a possible joint ticket of the two politicians ahead of the 2027 elections.

Subsequently, Justin Ijeh, the movements national publicity secretary, announced the appointment of members into the national executive council, zonal, and state structures.

The ADC is battling a leadership crisis that threatens its viability to contest the 2027 elections.

On April 22, the supreme court reserved judgement in an appeal filed by David Marks leadership against a suit filed by Nafiu Bala, the factional chairman.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed May 30, 2026, as the deadline for parties to submit their membership registers and nominate candidates for the 2027 elections.

On Saturday, opposition political parties called on the electoral umpire to extend the deadline for party primaries to the end of July.

The parties include the ADC, led by Mark; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction chaired by Kabiru Turaki; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The opposition party leaders said the current timetable set by the electoral body was designed to disadvantage them.
A Fulani man has sparked a nationwide conversation on ethnic discrimination after sharing a video online in which he alleged that fellow passengers at a Lagos motor park refused to board a commercial bus with him solely because of his ethnic identity  forcing transport officials to refund his fare.

The man said the incident occurred after he had already paid for a trip from Lagos to Calabar with GIGM transport company.

According to his account, he had initially attempted to travel with GUO transport but was told the company had no service to Calabar that day.

Advertisement

He then proceeded to the GIGM park, purchased his ticket, and was preparing to board when other passengers on the bus objected to travelling in his company.

After paying money and I was about to enter the bus, the passengers said they wouldnt travel with a Fulani man, which made them refund my money, he recounted in the video, which has since gone viral across multiple social media platforms.

He said transport officials apologised and returned his money, citing the passengers refusal as the reason he could not be accommodated on the vehicle.

Visibly pained by the experience, the man said he recorded and shared the video to draw public attention to what he described as a deeply troubling reflection of the ethnic fault lines that continue to fracture Nigerian society.

I am doing this video to let the world know how we think in our country, he said.

The clip has since ignited widespread condemnation online, with many Nigerians expressing shame and calling for a more tolerant and united society.

This is really sad to hear. We need to do better as a country, one user wrote. Another added, Not fair at all. Everyone deserves respect.

Rights advocates and social commentators have used the incident to renew calls for active measures against ethnic profiling and discrimination in public spaces, warning that such incidents, if left unchallenged, risk deepening existing divisions in an already fragile national social fabric.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2047652523977175164
In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, shakes hands with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during their meeting, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

ISLAMABAD  Irans foreign minister briefly visited Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistans political and military leadership scrambled to reignite ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington, but President Donald Trump said they could talk by phone instead.

Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistans capital late the previous day, creating confusion around an expected second round of talks there, but he returned before continuing on to Moscow on Sunday, Iranian state media said. He had been in Oman, which previously mediated talks and is on the other side of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Advertisement

The White House last week said it would dispatch envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to follow up on historic face-to-face talks earlier this month. But shortly after Araghchis departure Saturday, Trump said he had called off the mission because of a lack of progress with Iran.

If they want, we can talk but were not sending people, Trump told Fox News on Sunday. He said earlier on social media: All they have to do is call!!!

Indirect talks between the two sides were ongoing, two Pakistani officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Trump last week indefinitely extended the ceasefire that U.S. and Iran agreed to on April 7 that has largely halted the fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. But a permanent settlement remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

Strait of Hormuz at center of Irans discussions in Oman

A standoff remains at the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway, as Iran restricts movement through it and the U.S. enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, through which a fifth of the worlds oil flows in peacetime, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Omans response wasnt immediately clear.

The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before a new round of talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries.

Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Even before Saturdays developments, Irans foreign ministry said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens, reflecting Tehrans wariness after rounds of indirect talks last year and earlier this year ended with Iran being attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump said Iran has offered a much better proposal

The economic fallout is growing two months into the war as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides have continued to make military threats. Irans joint military command on Saturday warned that if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy, it will face a strong response. Trump last week ordered the military to shoot and kill small boats that could be placing mines.

Trump told journalists on Saturday, before a security incident at the White House correspondents dinner, that within 10 minutes of him canceling Witkoff and Kushners trip to Islamabad, Iran sent a much better proposal.

He did not elaborate but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. The status of Irans enriched uranium has long been at the center of tensions. Tehran has 972 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said the delay in the talks must not be seen as a setback and that indirect talks were progressing. He said tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires patience.

But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

A growing toll even as fragile ceasefires hold

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 people in Lebanon, where the Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed two days after the Iran war started.

Also, 23 people have been killed in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region, and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.

Another ceasefire  between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant Hezbollah group  has been extended by three weeks. Hezbollah has not participated in the Washington-brokered diplomacy.
BOGOTA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and more than 38 others injured Saturday after a bomb attack struck the southern Colombian municipality of Cajibio, local authorities said.

The attack in the Cauca department injured five children, Cauca Health Secretary Carolina Camargo told a local television news program, the Associated Press reported.

According to local media, a bomb fell onto a bus on the El Tunel section of the Pan-American Highway linking Cali and Popayan. Online images show severe damage to the bus roof and windows, as well as to the highway.

Cauca Governor Octavio Guzman's office said it is coordinating a response for the affected population and has convened a national security council. 
President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III review the Guard of Honour after the arrival at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Sept. 17, 2025. Read more

LONDON  The challenge for King Charles III when he embarks on this weeks state visit to the U.S. is, as always, to live up to his mothers example.

The late Queen Elizabeth II wowed Congress in 1991 with a speech that celebrated the shared democratic traditions of Britain and the United States, quoted Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and highlighted the deep bonds between the two nations.

Advertisement

Those themes will also be at the top of Charles agenda as he celebrates Americas 250th birthday and seeks to calm tensions surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmers refusal to support President Donald Trumps war against Iran, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University in Texas.

Weve got to always make the distinction that theres a difference between the government of the U.K. and the kings and queens of Great Britain, who are really always coming to try to put [on] a good face, Brinkley told the Associated Press. Politics come and go, prime ministers, presidents, come and go, but theres something deeper about the special relationship between the United States and the U.K.

Charles and Queen Camilla will begin their four-day trip today, when they will have tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump, then tour the White House beehive in a nod to the kings focus on conservation. The formal arrival ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with a 21-gun salute, brass bands playing the national anthems of both countries, and a contingent of U.S. service members passing in review. The ceremonies will be followed by a meeting between Trump and Charles.

The BBC reported on Sunday that the visit will go ahead as planned, Buckingham Palace said, after a shooting incident in Washington raised security concerns.

A statement on Sunday said the decision had been made after discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day.

It is understood there will be minor adjustments to some of the engagements because of security concerns.

They were raised after a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents Dinner at a Washington hotel on Saturday night. The acting U.S. attorney general says the suspect was likely targeting Trump, who was there.

The palace said the king was greatly relieved to hear the president, Melania Trump, and other guests had been unharmed.

Behind the scenes

But beneath the pomp and pageantry will be a carefully choreographed diplomatic event staged, like all royal visits, at the request of the British government. Starmer resisted pressure to cancel it after Trump belittled the British militarys sacrifices in Afghanistan and criticized him personally for failing to back the U.S. in Iran.

Despite those tensions, Trump has continued to speak warmly about Charles.

History has shown that President Trump really tries to be impressive whenever hes dealing with British royalty, Brinkley said. And Im sure itll be the same this time around.

Ever since 1939, when King George VI became the first British monarch to set foot on the soil of the countrys former colony, theres been a special sort of excitement whenever the royals come to the United States.

Take that first visit, which took place as World War II loomed over Europe. The royals toured the east coast and attended a picnic at Roosevelts private home in Hyde Park, N.Y. King tries hot dog and asks for more, declared the New York Times.

But the big moment was when the royals traveled to Mount Vernon to lay a wreath at the tomb of George Washington, Americas first president. It showed respect at a time of isolationism.

People could see the handwriting on the wall and know that it was going to be important for the United States and Britain to stay strong for fighting against Hitler, said Barbara Perry, a presidential scholar at the University of Virginias Miller Center.

But bonding over sausages had broader benefits, helping the royals build links to the general public as well as its leadership. After war broke out in September 1939, Queen Elizabeth, the wife of George VI and mother of the future Elizabeth II, wrote to first lady Eleanor Roosevelt to say how moved shed been by letters from Americans who enclosed small sums for British forces.

Sometimes, during the last terrible months, we have felt rather lonely in our fight against evil things, but I can honestly say that our hearts have been lightened by the knowledge that friends in America understand what we are fighting for, she wrote.

The queens connection

Queen Elizabeth II built on those relationships, making four state visits to the U.S. during her 70-year reign. She helped President Gerald R. Ford celebrate Americas bicentennial in 1976 and met with President George W. Bush in 2007 as British and American forces fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Smoothing turbulent waters and reminding both sides about their common bonds were what those trips were all about.

Charles visit will be no different. It includes a commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a ceremony honoring fallen service members, and an event to be attended by Queen Camilla to mark the 100th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh stories by British author A.A. Milne.

Awkward events will be avoided.

The royals wont meet with Jeffrey Epsteins victims, despite calls for the king to address his brothers links to the convicted sex offender. Nor are there plans for Charles to meet with his son Prince Harry, who has been a critic of the monarchy since giving up royal duties and moving to California.

Those issues arent the priority, said Robert Hardman, author of Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story.

Hes going because 250 years ago the Founding Fathers of the USA kicked out his great-times-five grandfather, and hes going to say, `No hard feelings, its been a great divorce, weve had a lovely 250 years and lets reflect on the high points, Hardman said. I mean, there are going to be some very, very large elephants in the room during that visit  but, you know, there are plenty of other things for the king to focus on.

History, not politics

Charles speech to a joint session of Congress offers the chance to deliver the message that long-term friendship is more important than transient disputes.

He is also likely to offer a bit of humor, as his mother did when she faced lawmakers in 1991.

Wearing soft peach amid a sea of gray suits, the diminutive monarch began her remarks with a joke about an earlier blunder at the White House when her lectern was so tall it obscured the audiences view of her.

I do hope you can see me today from where you are, she deadpanned.

The chamber erupted in laughter. A standing ovation followed. Then she launched into a speech about democratic values, the rule of law, and the Atlantic Alliance.

But Charles will have to offer his own take on those ideas, Brinkley said.

The theme of the speech is going to be American exceptionalism, American history, the importance of U.S.-British alliance, and some memories from the past, he said. But also about the love affair the two countries share with each other, even though it goes over rocky rapids from time to time.
Listen to article  0:00 min

Multiple scientists who serve on an independent board established to guide the nations nearly $9 billion basic science funding agency were terminated from their positions Friday by President Donald Trump.

Members of the National Science Board, which helps govern the National Science Foundation, were dismissed in a message from the Presidential Personnel Office thanking them for their service, according to screenshots shared with the Washington Post: On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, Im writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Science Board is terminated, effective immediately.

Advertisement

The National Science Board was established in 1950 to guide the governance of the National Science Foundation, in an unusual structure within the federal government that echoes the setup of a company board in the private sector. It helps guide an agency that operates Antarctic research stations, telescopes, and a fleet of research vessels and supports basic science research in laboratories across the United States.

The NSF has a long history of supporting technology and research that powers many innovations the world relies on today. The agency helped language-learning app Duolingo get its start. NSF research has also helped evolve technology used in MRIs, cellphones, and LASIK eye surgery.

The boards members are scientists and engineers from universities and industry and are appointed by the president, but they serve six-year terms, ensuring overlap between different administrations. There are typically 25 members, but some slots are empty  including the NSF director, which has been vacant since the former director who was appointed during the first Trump administration, Sethuraman Panchanathan, abruptly resigned a year ago.

The idea of having six-year terms is you get to do something significant, impactful, and go beyond administrations, political administrations, said Marvi Matos Rodriguez, a senior vice president who works in the energy sector on fusion and learned her board membership, which began in 2022, had been terminated on Friday. I serve the board at nights and on weekends, Matos Rodriguez said, noting that this week shed been reviewing an 80-page report as part of her board work.

Its unclear how many members of the board were dismissed and whether they will be replaced. A National Science Foundation spokesperson referred questions to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries about why the members were terminated.

Keivan Stassun, a physicist and astronomer at Vanderbilt University who has been a board member since 2022, said he had personally received confirmation from a third of the board members that they had been terminated by the boilerplate emails, which provided no reason.

He said the board exists to hold the agency to the highest scientific standards for how rigorous, intellectual, scientific decisions should be made. It also approves large funding decisions, such as whether to build a new Antarctic research vessel.

He noted that without a director over the last year, the board has played a major role in advising Congress of the agencys role in the nations investment in science. In the presidents budget request last year, there was a proposed 55% cut to NSFs budget. Congress rejected those cuts.

The presidents budget request for fiscal year 2027 also proposes a deep cut to NSF, and Stassun questioned whether the timing of the cuts was connected to the work the board does in advising Congress of the agencys importance, even as the president has aimed to cut it.

This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation, said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The NSB is apolitical. It advises the president on the future of NSF. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the foundation.

The shake-up on the board is the latest turmoil for the agency that is supposed to help keep U.S. science at the leading edge. Last year NSF had to cancel more than 1,000 active research grants.

Trump in March nominated Jim ONeill to be NSF director but he has not yet come before Congress for a hearing. ONeill had served as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services before stepping down in a recent leadership overhaul.

The shake-up on the National Science Board is similar to changes seen on other science-related advisory boards in the federal government since Trump took office for his second term.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. completely dismissed all 17 members of the federal vaccine committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He replaced them with several people who have criticized vaccines. But a federal judge recently said Kennedys actions related to the panel were improper and that the government undermined the importance and value of involving independent experts in setting the national public health agenda.

Kennedy also recently reshaped a federal autism advisory board, appointing some members who have promoted debunked claims linking vaccines to autism and advocating for unproven treatments.

Last year, several members of boards that review the science and research from laboratories at the National Institutes of Health were dismissed. Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last April were Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
A reporter and videographer stand outside the door of a house connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who has been identified as a suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner early Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Torrance, Calif. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

WASHINGTON  The California man arrested in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump.

A photo of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, Calif., posted to social media last year shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. His face appears to match the appearance of the alleged attacker taken into custody at the dinner Saturday night in Washington that was attended by Trump and top members of his administration.

Advertisement

In writings sent to family members minutes before the attack, the 31-year-old described himself as Friendly Federal Assassin and railed against recent actions taken by the U.S. government under Trump, though he did not name the Republican president directly, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

A search of state and federal court databases showed no indication Allen had ever previously been charged with a crime.

Voter registration records from California lists Allens home address as his parents house on a tree-lined street in one of the most historic neighborhoods in Torrance, a city within the Los Angeles metro area. Public records show he is the oldest of four adult siblings, with two younger sisters and a brother.

Two cars were parked in the driveway Sunday morning. A blue scooter that a neighbor said Allen rode was on the front lawn. No one answered the door when an Associated Press reporter knocked.

Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records. A yard sign displayed at the family home supported a local candidate for judge who was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

Law enforcement officials told the AP that Cole Allen legally bought a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun last year.

Allen earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his profile on the social networking site LinkedIn. He also listed his involvement there in a campus group that battled with Nerf guns and a Christian student fellowship.

The suspects father, Thomas Allen, is listed as an elder at Grace United Reformed Church Torrance. The webpage for the congregation describes it as a Bible-believing church following the infallible Word of God. Security guards posted at the sanctuary during worship services on Sunday escorted parishioners to the door and kept reporters at bay.

Bin Tang, a computer science professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, told the AP that Allen took a few of his classes before graduating last year.

He was a very good student indeed, always sitting in the first row of my class, paying attention, and frequently emailing me with coursework questions. Soft-spoken, very polite, a good fellow. I am very shocked to see the news, Tang wrote in an email.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Allens online resume says he worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. A 2024 post on the companys Facebook page listed Allen as the companys teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night.

Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allens name said he was working to develop a new top-down shooter combat game set in outer space.
Listen to article  0:00 min

A retired Bristol Township police officer who later worked as a school security chief was arrested Friday on child pornography charges.

Police say David Jayne, 63, was allegedly in possession of 20 years worth of child sexual abuse material.

Advertisement

This is a deeply disturbing investigation, and there is no place for this in our society, Bristol Township Police Chief C.J. Winik told the Bucks County Courier Times.

Court records show that Jayne was arraigned on three child-abuse-material-related felony charges and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next month. As of Friday, he was listed as being held in Bucks County Correctional Facility with a $50,000 bail amount, the court docket said. According to 6abc, Jayne posted 10% of his cash bail on Friday, and Winik said he was extremely disappointed. The police chief called Jayne a danger to society.

Jayne worked as a Bristol Township police officer from 1989 through 2000, the Courier Times reported. In 2002, he went on to work as a school police officer for the Bristol Township School District. He was promoted to District Security Coordinator around 2010, according to public records. Jayne worked until 2023 with the school district, where he also served as the districts safety and security coordinator.

In a statement, Bristol Township police said it didnt have any evidence that Jayne had local victims.

Like all individuals we hire, this person had active and fully cleared Pennsylvania Child Abuse, Pennsylvania Criminal History, FBI Criminal Background, and all other required clearances on file with the district throughout their employment, the Bristol Township School District said in a statement provided to news outlets. The statement added that it was cooperating with law enforcement in its ongoing investigation.

Our focus remains on maintaining a safe, secure, and supportive environment for all students and staff, the school district said. The district has established policies and procedures designed to protect students, and we continuously review and strengthen these measures.

Police said in a news release that they opened an investigation on the former officer on Tuesday after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about possible child pornography being circulated from a Bristol Township location. The Bristol Township police worked with Bucks County Detectives and identified Jaynes Levittown home as the source. Jayne has owned the home since at least 2007, according to public records. Police executed a search warrant on Friday and arrested Jayne.

Police are asking anyone with information about this investigation or Jayne to contact Detective Ashley Landis at 267-812-3029 or at alandis180@bristolpd.org.
The fallen retaining wall behind the homes on the 300 Block of Glen Echo Road on Thursday, April 2, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

A retaining wall holding back sediment and trees across 26 homes on a West Mount Airy block has been slowly deteriorating since 2018, with no end in sight.

The city entered a settlement agreement with the homeowners living on the 300 block of Glen Echo Road in 2023, promising to swiftly abate the unsafe and/or immediately dangerous conditions of the wall. But residents say the citys actions have played out at a snails pace.

Advertisement

In the years since the settlement, the retaining wall  the main barrier holding back what would otherwise be a slope leading down to the residents alleyway  has become overgrown and difficult to clean safely. One resident said he could not easily pull permits for important home renovations because of the unresolved wall issue.

The epicenter of the collapse remains blocked off by orange safety barriers, a crushed car, and downed wires that render the alley behind the 300 block of Glen Echo unusable.

Nobody goes out in the back alleyway because the wall is buckled in so many areas, its super unsafe to be back there, said Nicholas Huber, who grew up on the block and purchased his home in 2021, three houses from the main site of collapse.

Beyond the safety concerns, residents expressed frustration with how attempts to get updates from city offices have led to radio silence since autumn. Equally unsuccessful were efforts to get the attention of Councilmember Cindy Bass, who represents them.

Desperate for any sort of update and worried the city was quietly backing out of the agreement, some residents took their experiences to a reporter at the Chestnut Hill Local in January, which yielded no response from the city or their councilmember, and later to The Inquirer.

Bass office did not respond to The Inquirers requests for comment. The city offered an update through Mike Carroll, deputy managing director for the Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, which was overseeing the program meant to fix retaining walls that had become public safety issues. The intervention process has been complex, but the City has remained involved in driving solutions, Carroll said in a statement.

The design work is expected to be completed this summer, Carroll said.

David Trapp, who moved into his home on the block months after the collapse, was relieved to hear the city was still committed to helping. Yet he remained frustrated that the block had to resort to extreme measures, like going to the media, to get the citys attention. It was why they spent thousands on attorneys and sued in 2022.

A lawsuit felt like a last resort and it was a long process, he said. And even that didnt do it.

The citys decades-long retaining wall problem

Glen Echo Road residents say there is much to like about their location. They are on a tree-lined street, an easy jaunt to Germantown Avenue, and another short walk to a commuter rail stop.

Huber said he knows of people who have been in the neighborhood for decades. Still, many on his block did not register the quirks of being next to a retaining wall until a portion of it collapsed.

Retaining walls can be used in smaller landscaping projects, as well as on highways, in an effort to keep soil stable and prevent erosion.

In areas like Northwest Philadelphia, century-old retaining walls helped people build homes on slopes and are considered private property.

Maintenance falls on the property owner, according to the Philadelphia Streets Department.

Even if only parts of an alley, driveway, or retaining wall need repair, all responsible property owners must share the cost of the repair, the departments website reads, meaning all 26 property owners on the 300 block of Glen Echo were on the hook for repairs. Estimates for a potential fix on the block varied wildly, from low six figures to just over $1 million.

Due to the unpredictable and exorbitantly high costs of repairs, residents living in Northwest Philadelphia, where many of these century-old walls stand, have long called for changes to this setup.

Until the 1960s, the city handled the repairs by hiring a contractor and later billing homeowners. But that model crumbled as more residents could not pay the city back, and by 2015, the city was considering other ways to address the burdensome bills of repairing deteriorating walls. Proposals at the time included adding surcharges to real estate taxes that would help pay for repairs and providing homeowners with loans they could repay over time.

City Council tried to address the retaining wall conundrum in 2020, along with other priorities like housing production and eviction prevention, through the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, which was later budgeted with $400 million. Retaining wall repairs were eligible for funding this way.

By making the legal case that the collapsed retaining wall was a health and safety issue, residents were able to get the city to agree to help plan and pay for the repairs. But complicating their victory was a new City Council makeup and mayoral administration in 2024. By then, residents were beginning to express frustrations over what they saw as spotty updates.

Other problems arise, while communication drags

Matthew Turley bought his home on the 300 block of Glen Echo with a renovation loan at the start of 2024, under the impression that the city would be taking care of the fix soon because of the settlement.

Yet when Turleys contractor tried to pull permits for the renovation, he couldnt because his property, along with the 25 others on the block, had outstanding violations from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections due to the very safety issues that allowed the city to step in and help with the fix. It took about four months and hiring a permit expediting company for thousands of dollars to circumvent the red tape, pull permits, and begin to make his home habitable.

It was blocking me from fixing things that were genuinely unsafe with my house, Turley said. The previous owner still had a boiler from the 1960s, the firebox was rusting out, which was a [carbon monoxide] risk, and I had knob and tube wiring that was uninsurable because its a fire risk.

As Turley struggled with his permits, residents fought to get issues with the trees above the wall addressed, worried any major storm could bring them down along with the wall. By the fall, they grew increasingly desperate while the city continued to urge patience.

The Empire State Building was designed, permitted, and fully constructed in 20 months and we cant get a clear or timely update after six years, another resident wrote in an email.

Huber said residents had been told designs for the wall were expected to be 90% done by the end of the 2024-25 winter.

By September 2025, the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative program in charge of the repairs had been sunsetted and one of the main people communicating with Glen Echo residents had their position eliminated.

Upon hearing the update on design work, some residents still had questions about which program would act as their main point of contact  the city did not say.

Huber hopes the update from the city means residents will have something positive to bond over soon, instead of constantly talking about their retaining wall.

Its been such a detriment to this block, which was a really great community for so many years, he said. Im not saying its not now, but its been negatively affected.
Fraternity brothers Ryan Gorman (from left), Garrett Nicholas, and Max Dungan outside of Barnabys in West Chester in September. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Garrett Nicholas, 21, will never get to graduate West Chester University, build a career, or have his own family, but his life is ensuring others are granted that opportunity.

Nicholas, a business management student, was walking on the 300 block of South High Street on April 12 when a car struck and killed him.

Advertisement

He was taken to Paoli Hospital. But, with no hope of recovery, his desire in life to be an organ donor was recognized, according to the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Nicholas organs gave three people a second chance at life, the program said. And, his tissue is set to help heal up to 100 others, according to the donor program, a nonprofit federally designated organ donation and transplant network that serves eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware.

He was pure love and happiness, had a smile that can light up a room, and just wanted people to be laughing all the time, said Ryan Gorman, Nicholas fraternity brother. Words will never do justice.

Two weeks after the incident, Nicolas Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers are honoring his decision by running a 10K in the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the 29th annual Gift of Life Donor Dash.

The donor dash promotes organ donation, celebrates the lives of donors, helps grow the donor registry, and raises funds for the Gift of Life Transplant Foundation.

An estimated 15,000 people were expected to participate in the donor dash.

Garrett and his family show us how compassion can light the way forward during the most difficult times, said Richard D. Hasz Jr., president and CEO of the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Having never run a 10K before, Gorman signed up  along with over 35 West Chester University Pi Kappa Alpha brothers  to run in Nicholas memory.

The pair met in 2024, during Nicholas fraternity rush and quickly became friends. Still processing his grief, Gorman has spent all week training and trying to let the pride he feels for his friend be greater than the pain.

I am going to smile through everything, come out with the widest grin on my face, and just support, Gorman said.

The senior cant help but miss his friend, and he is not the only one.

Dane Hagen also met Nicholas during rush, and he grew to be one of his best friends, spending countless hours at the gym, hanging out at the fraternity house, doing homework, watching Eagles games, and cooking dinner together.

He had this infectious giggle; nothing even had to be funny, he would just look at you and giggle, Hagen said. He never had a bad day, and that wasnt because he had a perfect life: It was because he loved living.

Hagen has never done a race like this before, but being in the company of his fraternity brothers has helped him find solace and keep busy, he said.

Remembering Nicholas gift of life has made him want to push through, not only for the race but to have a life led by the kindness his friend showed to the world.

We can honor Garrett by living a little bit more like he did, Hagen said. Be there for your friends, laugh a little bit louder, show up for people, and enjoy the moments you have because you never know when is going to be your last moment.
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Welcome to Sunday. Showers are expected in the morning, and temps will top out around 56.

Our main read focuses on a collapsing wall in Northwest Philadelphia that the city agreed to help fix. Little has happened since.

Advertisement

And are malls dying? In the Philly region, that doesnt seem to be the case. See how many have refashioned to stay alive.

Read on for these stories and more.

 Paola Perez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

A retaining wall that stretches behind 26 homes in Mount Airy has been collapsing since 2018.

Residents say the city, which promised in a 2023 settlement to swiftly abate the unsafe and/or immediately dangerous conditions of the wall, has been slow to act. The wall has since become overgrown and difficult to clean safely.

In their own words: Nobody goes out in the back alleyway because the wall is buckled in so many areas, its super unsafe to be back there, one resident said.

Safety concerns aside, people are frustrated with the lack of updates from city offices, and from their local City Council member, Cindy Bass.

Century-old retaining walls like this are considered private property, and the city expects property owners to be responsible for maintenance. But with high repair costs and unpredictability in the mix, residents have long pushed for changes to this setup.

Ximena Conde reports on the citys lag in response and the decades-long retaining wall problem.

We cant quite replicate the unifying experience of shopping at malls of yesteryear, thanks to a handful of factors. But for Phillys 17 area malls, a new normal is taking shape.

 Flashback to 1961, when the Philly region got its first mall, Cherry Hill. By 1983, most collar-county residents lived within seven miles of a mall. Then came the internet, which presented another test to malls resiliency.

 By the early 2000s, about 19% of malls nationwide were on their way to becoming financially obsolete. When the pandemic hit in 2020, existing troubles pushed some malls to crack under pressure while others stayed afloat. City malls were particularly slow to rebound after restrictions were lifted.

 Today, many shopping centers are being refashioned with a focus on selling experiences, not just merchandise. Retail experts say these shifts call back to why malls were built, but with a modern, e-commerce-influenced twist.

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy takes us inside the retail revolution thats transforming our malls.

What you should know today

Pop quiz

Few companies in the U.S. are 100% employee-owned. A Downingtown firm just became the latest company to implement this structure.

Which other Philadelphia-area business operates with this model?

A) Tasty Baking Co.

B) Wawa

C) Honeygrow

D) Insomnia Cookies

Think you know? Check your answer.

What were ...

 Craving: Greg Vernicks go-to breakfast sandwich.

 Intrigued by: How a couple landed their dream home, even though it had no interior photos listed online.

 Ogling: 3,500-year-old loaves of bread at the Penn Museum.

 Planning: A quick Wilmington getaway with great food, history, and waterfront vibes.

 Raving about: Madras nachos at an Indian brewpub, among the best things we ate this week.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Phillys premier road race (3 words)

BARTENDER TOURS

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Jane Auster, who correctly guessed Saturdays answer: M. Night Shyamalan. Phillys favorite horror filmmaker recently stopped by a baby shower at a Kensington pizzeria.

Photo of the day

 Todays track goes like this: Started to thaw when I realized the worms in your dirt are the same as mine. I discovered Philly-based bluegaze band Floating at a pub gig this weekend, and they blew me away.

 One more nice thing: A 10-year-old fan was inconsolable when his signed Flyers jersey vanished after a chaotic game on Wednesday. Then the internet did its magic.

 Thanks, as always, for reading. Have a good day.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
With immigration arrests surging by 600% last year, and with 32 people dying in ICE custody last year, the conversations Latino families are having include who will care for the children if parents get detained, writes Diana Montoya-Williams, pictured here with her family. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Black parents call it The Talk when they tell their children how to interact with police. But now, with immigration arrests surging by 600% last year, and with 32 people dying while they were in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last year, according to the Guardian, those talks have taken on new meaning in the Latino community and beyond. As of March of this year, that number is already at 46  the highest in 20 years  according to a KFF report.

These talks  las charlas in Spanish  have quietly become family disaster plans. Who will care for the children if parents get detained? Do children know an adult to call? How can we access information about their medical conditions, vaccinations, allergies, medications, favorite foods, and indispensable stuffed animals that new caregivers need to know about?

Advertisement

In my professional life, I care for immigrant families and work to uplift immigrant communities. Im also a first-generation immigrant myself: a fiercely proud Latina and American.

My mind these days is heavy with the talks happening  and needing to happen  in our community.

Who will care for the children if parents get detained?

We need to make sure everyone knows their rights and, as a community, collectively support affected families. Federal law requires ICE agents to give detained parents the right to decide how to keep their children safe. The National Immigration Law Center and the Center for Law and Social Policy have published guidance on what detained parents should know if they get separated from their children.

Many issues involve school. Immigrant parents may fear going outside, even for those with long-standing, stable residency status. Many are not taking their children to school  or fear driving to them  because of the possible presence of federal agents.

As a result, parents may need to think through new emergency contacts for administrators and consider who can pick up their children from school if they are detained.

When immigration raids sweep through a community, the impact shows up fast in schools. During the surge in immigration raids last year, student absences jumped 22% in Californias Central Valley, a Stanford study found.

The raids also hurt the students who show up. Test scores fell last year among students in Florida who speak Spanish at home  most of whom are American citizens, according to economists with RAND and the University of Rochester. The largest declines occurred in middle and high school, suggesting older students education may be most affected by aggressive immigration enforcement.

When virtual schooling isnt an option, a perfect storm is created that, if unchecked, will leave our kids with very few options. As a result, schools may need to consider intentional policies that keep children safe and minimize trauma.

Families must also grapple with how to talk to their children amid the toxic stress that has now become a daily sludge in their lives. How should we reassure children in this era of physically aggressive enforcement when safety feels fragile? When lethal violence is captured on cell phones and spread on social media for all to see?

Talking to children about immigration enforcement has become such a public health issue that the American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued recommendations to help parents navigate these conversations at home.

Because children see and hear everything.

At the end of the day, I am also a mother. And so these discussions  which are often painful  are also happening at home.

The other day, my sons and I were picking up groceries for families who were too scared to shop.

My 9-year-old said: Mami, were brown, too, and youre an immigrant. Arent you worried?

Yes, I told him. But I have privileges these families dont.

I didnt mention that, like many others who can, I now carry my passport with me, just in case.

Instead, at home, we talk about how this era of enforcement has arisen, in part, because of the myths many people believe about the immigrant community.

Because it is not criminals who are being targeted. It is our community.

In fact, over 75% of immigrants hold a legal status. Research shows that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born individuals, and contributed $1.7 trillion to the economy in 2023. They open more businesses and file more patents than U.S.-born people, as well.

We also tell our children that our mother tongue is beautiful, and we will keep speaking it. That our culture is rich and makes our country far more interesting. We speak about the musical prowess in my homeland and our world-renowned arepas. That we will do everything in our power to keep our families safe. That, as the culture-shifting artist Bad Bunny recently reminded us, the only thing more powerful than hate is love.

As of two months ago, almost three-quarters of those detained by ICE in the past year have no criminal conviction.

This is why the dialogue Im describing is so crucial. We must check in with our children, our families, and in the places we work and congregate.

Because it is not criminals who are being targeted. It is our community.

Conversation reduces trauma and promotes resilience, especially in children. So we will keep having las charlas. And we hope leaders will act to maximize safety and offer families support.

Diana Montoya-Williams is a neonatologist at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and CHOP PolicyLab, and a senior fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
BAMAKO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Mali's transitional government said Saturday evening that armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks earlier in the day on several cities in the country, leaving 16 people wounded.

The attacks targeted several locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital Bamako, the government said in a statement.

The wounded, including civilians and military personnel, have been taken to medical facilities, while material damage has been limited, it said.

The attacks had been brought under control by Malian defense and security forces, with several terrorists killed and the attackers' plans foiled, it added.

It also called on the population to remain vigilant and calm, report any suspicious activity, and rely exclusively on official government channels for information.

Separately, the Bamako District governorate imposed a 72-hour curfew across the capital, in effect from 9 p.m. (2100 GMT) to 6 a.m. (0600 GMT) local time, which may be renewed if necessary.

Earlier in the day, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said a large-scale sweep operation was underway in Bamako, Kati and other affected localities, adding that several hundred terrorists had been killed. 
The Democratic governor of Maine, Janet Mills, on Friday vetoed a bill that would have made it the first U.S. state to impose a moratorium on large new data centers, even as local opposition to the electricity-hungry facilities grows.

The decision reflects the difficult trade-off facing political leaders, who must weigh the impact of data centers on the environment and household energy bills against the millions of dollars in investment and tax revenue they can bring.

If signed into law, the bill would have frozen approvals until October 2027 for data centers requiring more than 20 megawatts of power while a state-appointed council analyzed their impact on the local grid, electricity bills, air and water.

Mills, in a letter to the Maine legislature, said she supports a temporary moratorium on data center projects  and would have signed the bill if it had included an exemption for a data center project underway in the town of Jay that is key to jobs and tax revenue.

A moratorium is appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates. But the final version of this bill fails to allow for a specific project in the Town of Jay that enjoys strong local support from its host community and region, Mills said in a statement.

The Androscoggin paper mill in the town shut down in 2023 after a boiler explosion, leading to hundreds of job losses.

Work to develop a $550 million data center, which reuses existing infrastructure that would not have had a major impact on the electric grid or energy bills, is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs and at least 100 high-paying permanent jobs, and would contribute property tax revenue to the town of Jay, Mills said.

Mills also said that she plans to issue an executive order establishing a council to examine the impact of data centers in Maine and has signed a bill to prohibit data center projects from Maines business development tax incentive programs.

MAINE WAS A TEST CASE

American tech giants have pledged to spend more than $600 billion on artificial intelligence data centers this year as part of a spending spree that has boosted the U.S. economy and is considered the biggest since the telecom boom of the late 1990s.

But mounting opposition to that buildout has led more than a dozen U.S. states to weigh legislation that would halt or restrain development of the facilities, even as the Trump administration pressures states to stay out of AI regulation.

To ease worries about rising electricity bills, Washington last month got big technology companies to sign a voluntary pledge at the White House that they would bear the cost of new electricity generation to power their data centers.

Two Democratic lawmakers  Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  have also introduced legislation to halt all construction on data centers until Congress passes AI safety legislation.

Maine lawmakers passed the bill against data centers last week, sponsored by Democratic state representative Melanie Sachs. The state was seen as a test case of whether such measures could be adopted in other places.

Limiting data center development would have, however, added to the economic pressure in a rural state already grappling with mill closures that have eroded one of its key industries.

Sachs said Mills decision to veto the bill was simply wrong.

While a veto might protect the proposed data center project in Jay, it poses significant potential consequences for all ratepayers, our electric grid, our environment and our shared energy future, Sachs said.

Virginia, one of the worlds largest data center hubs, is among the U.S. states considering similar legislation.

(Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru, Chris Thomas and Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Pooja Desai)

Topics Maine
Plans by Bus Eireann to cease operating the Waterford to Dublin Airport route, among others, due to financial losses have been criticised by the National Transport Authority and local TDs.

Last month, the national bus operator announced that it plans to discontinue three of its Expressway services from Sunday, May 24. The services that were selected to be withdrawn include Waterford-Dublin/Dublin Airport (Route 4), Rosslare/Wexford-Waterford (Route 40 Segment), and Ballina-Galway (Route 52).

The NTA has said that ending the route would leave a significant gap in public transport services.

The authority believes the move by Bus Eireann will reduce connectivity along the corridor and fail to meet national transport standards, with no partial service retained.

The report highlights that several towns along the R448 corridor will be directly affected. These include Mullinavat, Ballyhale, Thomastown, Gowran, and Leighlinbridge, all of which rely on the route for regular connectivity.

Route 4, the Waterford to Dublin Airport, serves Waterford, Mullinavat, Ballyhale, Thomastown, Gowran, Leighlinbridge, Carlow Town, Dublin City, and Dublin Airport.

Bus Eireann cited significant financial losses as the reason behind this decision.

The withdrawal of the service has been met with huge opposition in rural communities across Waterford, Kilkenny, and Carlow, with public meetings held and calls made for the NTA to investigate implementing a public service levy (PSO) to protect the service.

A PSO introduced by the NTA is an arrangement by which the authority procures the service of a bus operator through a tendering process. The winning bidder is then required to operate a specified bus service for a set period in return for a subsidy from the NTA.

Peter 'Chap' Cleere.

This is a hugely positive and long-overdue development for rural Ireland, said Carlow Kilkenny TD Peter Chap Cleere.

Reliable and accessible public transport is not a luxury  it is a necessity. This recommendation by the NTA acknowledges that reality, and delivers a meaningful solution for communities that have been underserved for far too long."

He said the route isnt just a bus line  its a vital link for workers, students, and families who rely on affordable, reliable public transport every day".

At a time when people are already under pressure from rising costs, removing daily services and cutting off key stops in our towns and villages is deeply concerning, he added.

The findings come after Waterford City and County Council unanimously passed a motion calling for the route to be retained or replaced.
Finding your dream job can be challenging at the best of times without having to tackle stigma and rejection at every turn.

A group of people living with intellectual disabilities have praised their employers for taking a chance on them when others would not.

Plaques were presented and tributes paid to a total of 24 businesses in the East Cork area whose staff include members of East Cork Hubs  an organisation under the umbrella of Horizons (formerly Cope Foundation).

The day centre supports people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism, with a focus on preparing and supporting them to access employment.

A number of businesses and employers were recognised for their work at an event which took place at Midleton Distillery.

Helen Fleming, centre, with Therese Savage and Siobhan Flanagan from Savagekids @ Hydes Midleton, where Helen works.

Therese Savage, who invited Helen Fleming from Youghal to come and work with them two years ago, said their partnership with Horizons has been beneficial for both parties.

At 34 years old, Helens job with Savagekids @ Hydes Midleton was her first introduction to the professional world.

Knowing that this is Helens first job is very special to us. It means so much to have her working with us, Therese said.

The only way I can describe her is like a little drop of sunshine. She is the most empathetic person you can meet. She can sense when you need a hug because thats just the kind of person she is.

Customers love the service she gives and many are disappointed if she is off when they come in.

"We are glad the experience has been so positive for Helen. Her family have come in and made a point of saying how remarkable it is for them to see how well shes doing in the job. 

Siobhan Flanagan, who works with Helen at the clothes store, said the experience has had a huge impact on Helens confidence.

We can see a huge change in Helen from when she first came to us. She knows that when a box comes in that it is to be opened and merchandising needs to be done.

"We also love the chat with her. Helen particularly loves talking about what happened in Fair City the night before.

Aaron Daly, who has a job in Gilead, at the awards.

Meanwhile, Aaron Daly was proud to present a plaque to a representative from Gilead Science, who he has been working with for more than a years.

He explained: One of my jobs includes checking the gowns and seeing if they need to be restocked. But the best part for me is coming in and having people say, 'Hello Aaron, how are you?'

"It makes you feel more welcome. I didnt have that in previous jobs.

"Gilead is very family orientated. Everyone knows everyone and it has opened up my confidence in a lot of ways.

"When I get paid Im able to do the things that I enjoy like going to cafes and meeting with different people.

"Its also made me very independent. Before this, I relied on people a lot more but I dont have to do that now.

Vicki Kelly, SECAD, Lorraine Egan, chief executive of Horizons, and Donal Og Cusack, who spoke at the event.

Cork hurling legend turned pundit Donal Og Cusack made a surprise appearance at the event, with a heartfelt speech about the impact of those being recognised.

He told the crowd: There is a difference between running a business and leading something that changes peoples lives, which is what many people here do quietly and consistently and without fuss, maybe when it took a bit more patience and thats not easy.

"They have taken on people even when it wasnt the easiest decision. Its a reality for all of us in business today that business is busy and there is pressure. There are things that have to be done.

Still in the middle of all that you have made space for someone that matters. I think that sometimes that gets underestimated, especially in the country that we are living in today. It builds confidence and confidence is powerful.

"Once someone starts to believe in themselves you see that spread into how they carry themselves, into how they speak. That doesnt stay with the individual. It impacts families and homes. That all started with a decision you made.

Jody Smith from Botanic Home and Garden Centre heaped praised on his employee Niamh Connor, who he says has improved staff morale considerably.

Everyone knows when she is coming in. Even when things dont go according to plan, there is no stress with her. Having her as part of the team really takes the edge off.

Jack Ryan from Midleton Distillery, who is also a members of Horizons, was working during the event but still found time to speak with the Irish Examiner.

I used to work here for three hours but now I have an extra hour. I love telling the customers all about the different whiskeys. It has made me so much more confident.

Employers recognised at the event in Midleton Distillery An Rothar Cycle Centre

Army Surplus Warehouse

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland

Bartelli Menswear

Botanic Home and Garden Centre

Cahills Centra, Cloyne

Dakota Esquires

GK Quick Tyres

Gilead

Juniper Rose

Lollipop Kids

Maxi Zoo

Midleton Fitness

Midleton Football Club

Mr Price

Number 21 Off Licence

Savage Kids

Skinvet Ireland

Talbot Hotel Midleton

UN1F1ED

Walshs Carpets XL

Farrellys Service Station
A war memorial in a North Cork town, unveiled 20 years ago by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to commemorate more than 100 local men who died during World War I, is in such a poor state that names are now illegible.

Relatives of the soldiers who still live in the greater Fermoy area have become very upset at the way the monument has been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent.

Retired members of the Defence Forces have also highlighted the issue, saying it is totally unacceptable.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the Fermoy Municipal District Council by Independent councillor William OLeary.

I was contacted by retired members of the Defence Forces, and I was taken aback when I went to look at it.

"Its a beautiful stone monument, but every single name is now illegible. It is causing upset to a lot of their relatives who still live in the area, and it urgently needs to be addressed, he said.

Chairman of the municipal council, Fianna Fail councillor Frank OFlynn, said he was there the day Bertie Ahern unveiled it outside the town park and agreed that it needs speedy attention.

Aontu councillor Peter ODonoghue said 200,000 Irishmen fought in World War I, and 50,000 of them were killed.

The monument honours some of those people. But it should also remind us of the horrors of war and where our neutrality came from.

"This is topical at the moment, and we must never forget theres nothing good that comes out of war, he said.

Municipal district officer Margaret ODonoghue said the council will inspect the memorial and assess the costs of repairing it, but promised to carry out the work.

She was urged by councillors to do this as quickly as possible.

The Fermoy area has a long military history and once had the biggest barracks on the entire island of Ireland.

The British army first built a barracks in the town in 1806, which at the time accommodated more than 1,500 infantry and a 150-strong cavalry unit. It also had its own 130-bed military hospital.

A second barracks was built there three years later, bolstering accommodation to cater for more than 3,000 troops and a second hospital.

By the 1830s, it was the largest British military barracks on the entire island and not only provided employment within the military, but also hugely enhanced the economy of the area.

In June 1808, the Duke of Wellington used it as a staging post where almost 9,000 troops assembled to go to Cobh (then Queenstown), where they were shipped out to fight Napoleons French forces in the Peninsula Wars in Spain and Portugal.

A number of these soldiers would also have fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

During World War 1, the Fermoy barracks and the nearby Kilworth Camp saw tens of thousands of soldiers train there before heading to the killing fields of the Western Front.
Former Fianna Fail TD Jim Glennon says it was an error of judgement to write a character reference for a former Government advisor convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy.

Mr Glennon confirmed he was the former TD referred to during a court hearing for Daniel Ramamoorthy, apologising to the victim and their family.

The former Irish rugby international was a TD for Dublin North between 2002 and 2007.

Earlier this month, Judge John Edwards told a court it was quite extraordinary that a TD who provided a character reference for Ramamoorthy failed to mention the child or the crime. The identity of the TD was not disclosed during the court hearing, but it led to rampant speculation in the aftermath.

Mr Edwards later confirmed it was a former TD who provided the reference to Mr Ramamoorthy.

In a statement, Mr Glennon confirmed he was the TD in question.

The crimes committed by Mr Ramamoorthy were vile and of the most egregious nature. I offer my unreserved apology to the victim and to their family. Writing the letter was an error of judgement. I recognise that my actions may have added to the pain and distress already caused by the horrific abuse they endured, and I am deeply sorry for contributing to their suffering.

I failed to give proper weight to the gravity of the crimes, to the trauma experienced by the victim and their family, and the courage it takes to report such abuse. I was extremely naive and I was wrong.

I will be writing to the family of the victim, through the Courts Service, to express my sincere apologies directly.

I will also be resigning from any and all employment, consultancies, and directorships that I currently hold."

Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Mr Ramamoorthy against his sentence of two years and four months.

The court noted that he had not taken responsibility for his offending, there was no acceptance of fault or criminal liability, and no acknowledgement of the impact of his conduct on the victim and no "earnest" remorse.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he believed that elected representatives should never provide character references for anyone charged or on trial for sexual offences.

As a general principle, I don't believe public representatives should be giving character references  particularly in cases that involve sexual exploitation or sexual abuse or anything of that nature, he said.

I don't believe that's acceptable, and I don't think public representatives should do that.
The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner sent writings to family members minutes before the shooting referring to himself as a Friendly Federal Assassin and railing against Trump administration policies, officials said.

The messages, sent shortly before shots were fired at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions and recent events, including US strikes on drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific.

Investigators are treating the writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence yet of the suspects mindset and possible motives.

Authorities also uncovered what the official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple weapons.

Allens brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the writings, according to the official. A police spokesperson said they contacted federal law enforcement after receiving that information.

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump before he was taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Federal agents have also interviewed Allens sister in Maryland, who told investigators her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and stored them at their parents home in Torrance without their knowledge.

She described her brother as prone to making radical statements, the official said.

Allen legally bought a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun two years later.

Authorities are still trying to determine how specific Allens alleged targets were. Officials have said investigators are examining whether his grievances centred on Mr Trump and Vice President JD Vance personally or reflected a broader hostility toward the administration.

Acting Justice Department head Todd Blanche said the suspect travelled by train from California and checked in as a guest days earlier at the Washington hotel where the Saturday night gala dinner was held with its typically tight security.

He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a violent scene that resulted in shots being fired, Mr Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president, Mr Blanche told NBCs Meet The Press.

Video posted by Mr Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said. The gunman was taken into custody and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital, police said.

Authorities believe the suspect fired the shot that hit the Secret Service officer, who is expected to make a full recovery, Mr Blanche said.

Hes going to be great, hes going to be fine, and thank God he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Mr Blanche said.

Social media posts that appear to match the suspect show he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer.

Members of law enforcement control shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brando

A May 2025 profile photo of Allen appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged attacker being taken into custody that was posted on Saturday night by Mr Trump.

The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Allen earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns.

Kelly and I were at the event tonight, and were thankful no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe.



Were grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control.



Praying for our country tonight.  Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 26, 2026

The shooting at the security barricades happened minutes after the event got under way.

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the room as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. Gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realised something was happening. Hundreds of journalists immediately got on phones to call in information.

Mr Trump was unusually conciliatory after what he saw as a third attempt on his life in less than two years. He suggested that his personal politics had made him a repeated target but he also called for unity and bipartisan healing in an increasingly violent world.

Its always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes, Mr Trump told reporters in a hastily organised news conference at the White House late on Saturday.

- Associated Press
People participate in a reading event organized by the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

HARARE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- In a lively corner of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, a woman brought a short story to life with theatrical flair on Saturday. As she acted out each sentence, the room erupted in laughter and applause, setting the tone for a vibrant cultural exchange.

Moments later, the atmosphere shifted as a young writer stepped forward, her immersive storytelling drawing the audience into the world of a Zimbabwean novel.

The scenes unfolded at a reading event organized by the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe. Under the theme "Bridges of Ink," the gathering brought together established authors, emerging voices and students, united by a shared curiosity about narratives from both countries.

As China marks its first national reading week, literature has become an important meeting point where stories transcend borders. Within the framework of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the role of cultural dialogue in strengthening ties is gaining increasing recognition.

The event featured a curated selection of Zimbabwean and Chinese literary excerpts, sparking in-depth discussions among participants. To further promote a culture of reading, the Chinese Embassy donated a collection of books to the ZWA, which were distributed to attendees.

Monica Cheru, chairperson of the ZWA, said that while large-scale projects often define international relations, genuine human interaction remains central to building lasting connections. "Just talking as people and discovering who we are is very important. We can understand each other better," Cheru told Xinhua after the event.

She said that beyond traditional cooperation in trade investment, and infrastructure, human engagement forms the strongest bridges. In her view, sharing everyday stories enables authentic exchanges, allowing personal experiences to resonate across cultures.

Elvas Mari, a member of the ZWA, said that while strong economic and political ties link Zimbabwe and China, cultural connections provide an essential human dimension to the partnership. "As writers, we think this is the greatest opportunity we have, to really promote the links and connection with our friends," he said.

Memory Chirere, a prominent Zimbabwean writer, underscored the enduring power of the written word in bridging distant cultures. He said that through ink, stories travel far beyond geographic boundaries.

"The importance of ink in connecting people is real. You can see how ink has already connected people today," Chirere said. "If these relationships continue, connections through the written word will indeed thrive." 

People participate in a reading event organized by the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

People participate in a reading event organized by the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe, on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)
Weather Alert

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...The following counties, in northern Kentucky, Boone, Campbell, Gallatin and Kenton and the following counties, in Ohio, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble and Warren. * WHEN...Until 500 AM EDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 201 AM EDT, radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. - Some locations that may experience flooding include... Cincinnati, Hamilton, Kettering, Middletown, Fairfield, Covington, Mason, Florence, Independence, Oxford, Miamisburg, Lebanon, Norwood, Forest Park, Erlanger, Springboro, Fort Thomas, Newport, Sharonville and Monroe. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. To report flooding, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely. &&
Fiona Braka, Ghana country director for the World Health Organization, speaks during an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day.

In a speech delivered on behalf of GHS Director-General Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Asiedu-Bekoe said Ghana reduced malaria prevalence to 8.6 percent in 2022, down from 27.5 percent in 2011.

"Our children's mortality rate has fallen by 76 percent in two years alone, and malaria vaccines are protecting Ghanaian children through routine immunization," he said, adding that the West African country has achieved first-dose coverage of 78.3 percent for two malaria vaccines.

He noted that eliminating malaria could restore 427.7 million U.S. dollars in annual productivity losses to Ghana.

Fiona Braka, Ghana country director for the World Health Organization, lauded the government's efforts to combat malaria and protect children in particular from the risk of death.

"Five key priorities are essential in the fight against malaria: countries must continue to lead the response with strong national ownership; strategic intelligence must guide action; innovation must be accelerated equitably at scale; primary health care must be strengthened; and, finally, ending malaria requires a whole-of-society effort," she said. 

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe (L), director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), speaks during an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Asiedu-Bekoe made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

A man receives a free malaria test at an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

People participate in a health walk to raise awareness against malaria during World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday completed the first leg of his diplomatic mission seeking further mediation of the US-Iran conflict, meeting in Pakistan with Field Marshall Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He wrote at X,

Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value. Shared Irans position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy.

So Araghchi submitted some sort of plan to the Pakistani authorities to share with the Trump administration. He then departed for Oman for further consultations. Oman has played a key role in past US-Iran negotiations. He is said to plan to return to Pakistan before heading off for Russia. The Iranian leadership seems to be uncertain of Pakistans neutrality, and hence is trying to bring in more players to the negotiations.

Araghchi did not meet, and had not been planning to meet, with US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, whom Tehran does not trust because it had been talking to them in Oman when Trump suddenly started bombing Iran.

For his part, Trump said on his Truth Social that he had called back the two envoys. He blamed tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership, saying Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. There is, however, no reason to think that the Iranian leadership is so divided as to be unable to negotiate. The pro-Israel Western press has put about a narrative that civilian pragmatists are being frozen out by the hardliners on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). There is no evidence of any such thing, and if it were true it would be strange that Araghchi has been sent on this diplomatic mission.

Iran blames unreasonable American demands for its disinterest, for the moment, in further talks with Washington, and insists that Trump lift the American blockade on the Strait of Hormuz before they will come back to the negotiating table.

In the meantime, the IRGC issued a defiant communique via Tasnim on Saturday commemorating the US debacle on April 24, 1980, at Tabas during a failed mission to rescue US diplomats held hostage in the US embassy in Tehran by members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK or MKO) and other youth guerrilla groups.

The US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum explains,

On April 24th, 1980, Operation Eagle Claw began when eight United States Navy RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters took off from the deck of the American aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, in the Arabian Sea for a 600-mile trip to rendezvous in the Iranian desert with six C-130 transport aircrafts. The aircraft encountered a haboob, a violent wind-driven sand storm common in desert. This caused extreme visibility issues, damage to the aircrafts, and sickness with the crews. President Carter and his staff received the news and decided to abort the mission. As the force prepared to depart, a RH-53D helicopter crashed into a C-130 carrying extra fuel for refueling igniting a fire that killed 5 Airmen and 3 Marines.



Aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw, April, 1980. Public Domain. Picryl.

US helicopters of that time were not engineered to withstand wind storms and getting massive amounts of sand in their works, so the shamal sandstorm proved fatal to the mission. It is like something out of Dune. I remember following those events on television. At the time there was an insane ayatollah, Sadegh Khalkhali, who went out to the crash site, and in a macabre performance, he was swinging around the wrist bone of one of the American military personnel, with its watch still attached. That was a war crime.

The IRGC compared the unsuccessful Tabas mission of the Carter years to a recent alleged American operation at Isfahan to sequester Irans stock of highly enriched uranium, which also failed. The Trump administration has denied that there was such a mission. The IRGC warned the US not to continue to play into the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they termed a criminal and child-killer. They should, the IRGC warned, contemplate their burned and destroyed bases in the region, which it is no longer possible to restore or rebuild. It demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal from the region.

NBC News, in a remarkable expose, just reported that during the 39-day war this spring, Iran did much more extensive damage to US bases than Washington had admitted, and did it with a relatively primitive old F-5 fighter jet. The sight of a destroyed AWACS plane at an abandoned base did remind me a little of Tabas.

The IRGC also insisted that management and control of the Strait of Hormuz was their central military strategy, because of its deterrent effects on the US.

Many economists believe that the world economy, including that of the US, will go off a cliff if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed into May.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Iranians to foil the American attempt to foment discontent by blockading the countrys energy supplies. He said that Washington could be countered if the public simply used less electricity and less energy. He said, We do not need people to sacrifice their lives (fedakari) right now, but we need to control consumption; if they turn on two lights at home instead of 10 lights; what would be the problem with that?

The presidents plea suggests that the government is already foreseeing the potential impact of the US naval blockade on domestic electricity provision. Because of the Trump-Biden maximum pressure sanctions, the public has seen rolling brownouts and blackouts in recent years.
( Middle East Monitor )  The international community remains fixated on a phantom: Gazas Day After. While Washington, Cairo, and Doha debate elaborate governance frameworks and the Board of Peace, these plans share a fatal flawthey lack a viable buyer on the ground.

This diplomatic theatre has been eclipsed by the US-Israeli aggression against Iran that began on 28th February. Since then, Gaza has been sidelined globally, yet the genocidebegun in October 2023has never stopped. Even before the Iran escalation, the 10th October ceasefire was a hollow promise; Israel violated the agreement over 2,400 times through near-daily air raids and shelling.

Since that supposed de-escalation, nearly 1,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, pushing the total death toll past 72,300. This grim reality proves the Day After is not a sincere peace plan, but a cynical mask for a permanent, lethal status quo. Far from transitioning to Phase II, the current impasse suggests the ceasefire was merely a tactical suspension of a conflict Israel refuses to end. With the occupation intact and violations occurring daily, Gaza is not moving toward a post-war era. Instead, it is being forced into a state of managed catastrophe, where peace serves as a placeholder for the next phase of destruction.

The Day After blueprintsspecifically the Trump-led Board of Peace and the National Transitional Committee (NTC)envision technocratic governance for Gaza but face a wall of refusal. For the Israeli government, any plan offering a pathway to Palestinian sovereignty is a non-starter; Netanyahus coalition instead prioritises forward defence and indefinite military hegemony. Conversely, the Palestinian Authority (PA) remains wary of being parachuted into the ruins on the back of Israeli tanks, a move that would permanently strip them of national legitimacy.

The vacuum is further complicated by the survival of the Resistance on the ground. Despite the fanfare surrounding the Board of Peaces Phase II, Hamas has explicitly rejected any form of international guardianship, viewing the NTC not as a governing partner, but as a Trojan horse for disarmament. Meanwhile, the wealthy Arab statesthe intended financiers of a reconstruction effort now estimated to cost $71.4 billionhave failed to commit any tangible funds.

Their hesitance is rooted in a grim economic reality: the regional losses they have accumulated, and continue to accumulate, from the spillover of the war on Iran have depleted the very sovereign wealth once earmarked for Gaza.

Without a buyer willing to assume the immense security and political risks of governing a site of ongoing genocide, the various roadmaps coming out of Washington and Brussels serve as little more than academic exercises in a theater of the absurd. The international community continues to pitch governance models to a phantom audience, while the reality on the ground remains one of systematic destruction, leaving Gaza caught in a loop where reconstruction is discussed as a future hope but never funded as a present necessity.

The Day After illusion is further sustained by the inflammatory rhetoric of Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for the Board of Peace. In his recent April 2026 briefings, Mladenov has essentially weaponised Gazas reconstruction, explicitly linking the release of the $71.4 billion in aid to the immediate and total disarmament of Palestinian factions.

By framing the situation as a binary choicedisarm or continue to sufferMladenov has abandoned the role of a neutral mediator.

Hamas has responded by accusing Mladenov of siding with the Israeli occupation and ignoring the thousands of ceasefire violations that have occurred since October 2026 effectively freezing the process in Phase II. By prioritizing the decommissioning of weapons over the immediate cessation of the genocide and the lifting of the blockade, Mladenovs framework has become a symbol of international bias rather than a bridge to peace. This disconnect is why the Day After has no buyer: the brokers are selling a plan that demands the surrender of the victims while the aggressor continues its military operations with impunity.

Sensing that the Resistance groups are not convinced by his frameworks, Mladenov has recently attempted to soften his public tone while maintaining his rigid demands. In an interview with Reuters on 20th April, he admitted that negotiations with Hamas are not easy, yet he struck a jarringly optimistic note, claiming he is optimistic that we will be able to come up with an arrangement that works for all sides and, most importantly, works for the people in Gaza. Since neither Israelwhich continues its strikesnor the Resistancewhich has rejected international guardianshiphas publicly shifted their positions, Mladenovs forward-looking posture appears increasingly detached from the ground reality.

In recent high-level meetings in Cairo (ending 17th April), Hamas negotiators, led by Khalil al-Hayya, delivered a firm list of prerequisites to the Egyptian mediators. They made it clear that they will not consider any decommissioning of weapons without:

A definitive and irreversible plan toward a sovereign Palestinian State.

The complete and immediate lifting of the 19-year blockade.



Gaza Strip territorial control 10 October 2025 . Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons

A full Israeli withdrawal to the pre-October lines (specifically removing the Yellow Line military zones).

The prior implementation of all Phase I humanitarian commitments, including the reopening of all commercial crossings and the restoration of Gazas power plant.

By insisting on these core national rights as a baseline, the Resistance has effectively neutralized Mladenovs aid-for-arms trade-off, exposing the Board of Peace as a seller with a product that the actual stakeholders refuse to buy.

Ultimately, the Day After is failing because it has lost its primary architect. Donald Trump, once the loudest champion of these regional deals, is now completely bogged down by the escalating war on Iran, a conflict that is siphoning away the political capital and attention once directed toward Gaza. His schedule for next month confirms this pivot: a rescheduled state visit to China (May 14-15) and a high-stakes reception for the UKs King Charles later this month, both of which were delayed specifically by his war on Iran.

With Trump preoccupied by a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and a domestic battle over war powers, Gaza has been relegated to a secondary theatre.

This lack of American bandwidth means the Board of Peace is effectively a rudderless ship. For the people on the ground, this means the Day After is not just a geopolitical myth, but a casualty of a larger regional fire that the White House is currently more interested in fuelling than extinguishing.

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.
By Christian Emery, UCL

(The Conversation)  One of the US and Israels justifications for launching the war on Iran was to ensure the regime in Tehran could never possess nuclear weapons, the ultimate deterrent against external attack. But the main lesson that has been taken from the war, according to some commentators, is that Irans own geography already provides it with all the deterrent it needs.

The US-Israeli strikes have inflicted massive damage on Irans leadership and have destroyed billions of US dollars worth of military and civilian infrastructure. However, this display of force has proved unable to stop Iran from controlling who enters the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint through which around 20% of the worlds oil supply flows.

This has led to the suggestion that Iran could emerge from the conflict with a new blueprint for shielding itself against future threats, regardless of whether it agrees to US demands to dismantle or severely limit its nuclear programme.

Geography is arguably Irans greatest strategic asset. The Strait of Hormuz is shallow and narrow, with just two-mile-wide navigable shipping channels. There are also a huge number of coves and inlets along Irans southern coastline, providing cover for launching small boats to attack shipping or lay mines, as well as anti-ship missiles and drones.

And there is a vast belt of rugged mountains running from Irans north-western border with Turkey all the way down to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran can store, conceal, produce and launch more drones and missiles here than it would ever need to threaten Gulf shipping.

However, Irans capacity to close the strait is not new. For decades, Iran has repeatedly threatened to respond to any external attack by closing the strait. It has also, albeit in a more measured way, demonstrated the capability to make the strait commercially unusable.

In response to Donald Trumps maximum pressure policy across both his first and second terms as US president, Iran has harassed shipping with fast boats, rehearsed loading mines on to vessels, test-fired anti-ship ballistic missiles and even seized a British tanker. These are all classic forms of deterrence signalling.

Multiple analysts had warned of the catastrophic economic consequences of full-scale war with Iran precisely because of Irans ability to close the Strait of Hormuz. The only person who seems not to have understood this is Trump.

When pressed in March on whether Trump had been briefed before the war that Iran would seek to block Hormuz, his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, would not be drawn. But she acknowledged that it has long been an assessment of the intelligence community that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.

Another challenge to the claim that geography may replace nuclear weapons as Irans primary source of deterrence is that its nuclear programme was never a core part of its deterrence. A 2019 report by Chatham House determined that Iran saw its asymmetric capabilities  particularly ballistic missiles and its ability to mobilise its proxy groups in the region  as essential to its national security. Irans ability to exercise control of the Strait of Hormuz is another pillar of this strategy.

There is ample reason to believe Iran was engaged in nuclear hedging  preserving the option to build a weapon at some point without crossing the line in a verifiable way. But if nuclear deterrence was the core aim, it is unlikely that Iran would have committed to a 2015 nuclear deal that most of the international community argued blocked its path to a bomb.

Regional implications

If a country is attacked, by definition its deterrence has failed. But the perception of restored deterrence can help create conditions for deescalation by justifying an end to the fighting and convincing an adversary that costs can still be imposed. In this sense, Irans control of Hormuz may help bring the current war to an end.

Irans confidence in having proven its ability to blockade Hormuz may also provide cover for dialling down its nuclear ambiguity posture. And it could compensate for the degradation of its network of proxies that has enabled Iran to project influence across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Gaza.

The weakening of this so-called Axis of Resistance in recent years has reduced (though far from eliminated) Tehrans ability to raise the regional cost of any direct attack on Iran. And Hezbollah, which is widely considered the strongest group in this proxy network, has paid a high price for defending Iran since the start of the war.

Iran is highly unlikely to abandon its proxies completely. However, it may now conclude that using them as a form of forward deterrence to avoid being directly attacked has manifestly failed and roll back on the strategy. This would be an extremely positive move for regional stability.



Detail. Strait of Hormuz. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin) Public Domain. Via Picryl

Irans demonstrated capacity to close the strait is likely to shape the regional order for some time. But Iran is unlikely to be willing to rely on this single pillar of deterrence.

Its sustained missile strikes on neighbouring Gulf states, and damage to critical infrastructure, had already created an appetite for a negotiated end to the conflict among the USs Arab allies. Trump himself admitted he did not anticipate this reaction.

This makes forcing Iran to suspend its ballistic missile capability extremely difficult in upcoming negotiations, which will leave its neighbours nervous and anxious about their own lack of any deterrence capacities.

Christian Emery, Associate Professor in International Politics, UCL

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.






Saturday, April 25, 2026 - A video has emerged showing the moment Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Senator Edwin Sifuna nearly got into a physical altercation at an escalator.

In the clip circulating online, the two leaders appear visibly angry as they confront each other in a tense exchange that briefly draws the attention of a lady who was standing beside them.

At one point, they move closer as if the situation could escalate.

The cause of the confrontation remains unclear, but the incident has left social media users talking.

Sakaja and Sifuna have long been at odds, with Sifuna previously accusing the Governor of massive corruption and poor leadership.

In the past, the two have also been captured on camera exchanging harsh words during Senate committee sessions related to Sakajas leadership.

Watch the video>>> below

Sifuna respects the Luhya caucus. He doesn't fight a fellow Luhya. pic.twitter.com/fkgYBg5YSH  Rodgers Kipembe Mpuru (@RodgersKipembe) April 24, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST
UNITED NATIONS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned by reports of attacks across Mali and strongly condemned the acts of violence, his spokesperson said Saturday.

The UN chief expresses solidarity with the Malian people, stressing the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General calls for coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and to meet urgent humanitarian needs. He reiterates his call for robust security coordination and collaboration across the region," said the statement.

Mali's transitional government said Saturday evening that armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks earlier in the day on several cities in the country, leaving 16 people wounded.

The attacks had been brought under control by Malian defense and security forces, with several terrorists killed and the attackers' plans foiled, it added. 
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.
DO you think hes done his penance translating for the court? smiled the judge in the case of a man who forgot to pay off a parking ticket.

He was speaking in the case of Jakob Wawro (38) with an address on Green Road, Carlow town who was summonsed to Athy District Court recently by Kildare County Council for failure to pay a parking ticket issued on 12 December 2023 in Meeting Lane car park in Athy.

However, it was to be mildly embarrassing for Mr Wawro as he was well-known to the court, having assisted in the translation of proceedings with a number of Polish defendants over the years  and it was about to get worse!

I parked on a yellow box to come to court, he admitted.

I got the ticket before Christmas and I completely forgot it, then the summons came on 2 April, he said, which was just one of 62 handled for the council that day by their solicitor Cairbre Finan.

As a translator he knows every trick in the book! laughed Judge Desmond Zaidan.

Do you recognise him, Mr Larkin? the judge asked of Mr Waros solicitor Brian Larkin, who admitted: I do indeed!

As he had pleaded guilty and was convicted on the facts, the judge was satisfied that these were proven and so gave him the benefit of the Probation Act, which allowed him to leave court without the stain of a formal conviction.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 54F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low around 40F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
GAZA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Four Palestinians, including a woman, were killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, while medical evacuations of the wounded and sick continued through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Eyewitnesses and local sources told Xinhua an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, killing three people.

In a separate incident, a 40-year-old woman was killed south of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza. Witnesses reported that Israeli military vehicles opened fire toward tents housing displaced persons in the area.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side.

Tensions persist in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire, with sporadic incidents of violence reported amid stalled implementation of the agreement and continued disputes over humanitarian aid delivery and military withdrawal.

Gaza-based health authorities said in a daily update that hospitals received two bodies and treated 11 injured people over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths since Oct. 10 to 811, with 2,278 wounded.

The overall death toll since October 2023 has risen to 72,587, with 172,381 injured.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its teams evacuated 57 patients along with 81 companions, totaling 138 people, for treatment outside Gaza. The evacuation was carried out in coordination with the World Health Organization.

According to the society, around 700 patients have left Gaza for treatment abroad since the limited reopening of the Rafah crossing on Feb. 2, while more than 18,000 others remain in need of medical evacuation. 
Weather Alert

...The National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill MO has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Missouri... Missouri River at Boonville affecting Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Boone Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. This product along with additional weather and stream information is available at www.weather.gov/kc/. && ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Missouri River at Boonville. * WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon to early Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 21.0 feet, Low-lying rural areas along the river flood. At 23.8 feet, Easley River Road and Smith Hatchery Road begin to flood. At 25.0 feet, Numerous farm levees are overtopped. Flooding of agricultural land and secondary roads occurs. Backwater flooding on Perche Creek causes flooding in McBaine. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:04 AM CDT Monday the stage was 10.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage tomorrow afternoon to a crest of 23.6 feet early Wednesday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early Thursday afternoon. - Flood stage is 21.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Fld Obs Forecasts Location Stg Stg Day/Time Mon Tue Wed 1pm 1pm 1pm Missouri River Boonville 21.0 10.0 Mon 9am 10.7 19.8 23.6 &&

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 157 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS CALHOUN GREENE JERSEY MADISON MONROE RANDOLPH SAINT CLAIR IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS PIKE IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 27 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MISSOURI AUDRAIN BOONE CALLAWAY COLE MONITEAU OSAGE IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI CRAWFORD FRANKLIN GASCONADE JEFFERSON LINCOLN MONTGOMERY SAINT CHARLES SAINT LOUIS SAINT LOUIS CITY WARREN WASHINGTON IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI MARION MONROE PIKE RALLS SHELBY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI IRON MADISON REYNOLDS SAINT FRANCOIS SAINTE GENEVIEVE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALTON, BELLEVILLE, BOWLING GREEN, CAHOKIA, CHESTER, COLUMBIA, EDWARDSVILLE, FARMINGTON, FULTON, HANNIBAL, JEFFERSON CITY, MEXICO, PITTSFIELD, SAINT CHARLES, SAINT LOUIS, SPARTA, SULLIVAN, UNION, AND WASHINGTON.
TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian state media on Sunday said civilians made up about 45 percent of those killed during a 40-day war with Israel and the United States.

The official news agency IRNA, citing Iranian officials, reported that the total death toll stood at 3,468, including 1,460 civilians.

Jamshid Nazmi, a senior adviser to the head of Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, gave the figures at a press conference in Tehran, according to IRNA.

He said the civilian dead included women, men, children and older adults, and added that citizens of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Pakistan were also among those killed.

At the same briefing, Farideh Oladqobad, a deputy head at the foundation, said 499 of the victims were women and 2,969 were men. She also said the military death toll was 2,008.

The report did not provide details on how the figures were verified or independently confirmed.

Iranian officials have said the fighting began on Feb. 28, when Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iranian authorities said senior military figures were killed in the opening attacks.

Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and military assets in the Middle East, according to officials on both sides.

A ceasefire was reached on April 8, and follow-up talks were held in Pakistan on April 11 and 12, but they ended without an agreement, according to previous reports. 
JINAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's brick-and-mortar bookshops, once under pressure from the growth of online reading and e-commerce, are now adopting digital tools in an effort to reconnect with readers.

Founded in 2014 in Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, Puhe Reading Space began as a small traditional bookshop reliant on book sales. When online competition squeezed margins, it moved away from price wars and began using digital platforms to cultivate reader communities.

"Online channels such as our e-shop and WeChat groups allow us to maintain full-lifecycle engagement with our members," said Wang Hong, the bookshop's founder. She added that the bookstore also uses livestream sessions as a kind of "online living room," where staff and long-time readers can deepen their connections through cultural conversations.

A recent national reading survey showed that the overall reading rate among Chinese adults rose to 82.3 percent in 2025. However, digital formats now dominate the market, with nearly 80 percent of readers using mobile phones to meet their literary needs.

Industry experts said brick-and-mortar bookstores will need to offer immersive, in-person experiences that digital reading cannot replicate, turning bookstores into part of a broader lifestyle.

"Even in the internet era, people cannot confine all aspects of life to the virtual world. They still need a connection with what is around them," said Ma Ruijie, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Nankai University.

To draw people back into physical spaces, some bookstores are experimenting with formats that go beyond traditional reading, combining immersive in-person experiences with digital tools to reshape how readers engage with books.

In a shopping mall in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, a bookstore has introduced five small theaters that stage scenes from classic books as immersive performances, turning what was once a quiet retail space into a cultural venue.

In Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, a bookstore has developed a circular reading model through an online mini-program, allowing readers to resell books after finishing them while receiving recommendations based on their reading habits.

Puhe has also embraced artificial intelligence (AI), hosting workshops that teach readers how to turn passages from classic literature into visual posters.

"AI has not replaced reading," Wang said. "Instead, it has become a powerful tool for broadening cultural reach."

Across the sector, such efforts reflect a broader rethinking of the services that bookstores try to provide.

Physical bookstores remain irreplaceable as cultural and social spaces, where readers seek not only books, but spiritual resonance and a sense of belonging, said Zhao Jianying, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He added that digital reading and physical reading serve different functions and are complementary rather than substitutes. "Digital reading solves the problem of access, while physical bookstores and print reading enable deeper engagement," he said.

That shift is also seeing strong policy support. A regulation on promoting nationwide reading, which took effect in February, encourages brick-and-mortar bookstores to improve reading conditions and carry out reading activities, while strengthening their role in providing public reading services.

This year's government work report for the first time calls for supporting the development of physical bookstores. At the same time, local governments have introduced measures such as rent reductions and integration into public cultural systems.

Zhang Xiao, an industry observer based in Zhejiang Province, said the core competitiveness of brick-and-mortar bookstores lies in combining quality content with improved operational efficiency.

AI technology helps address high labour costs and low service efficiency, Zhang said, adding that the sector is expected to encourage bookstores across the country to share resources and work more closely through technology, in an effort to explore more sustainable business models.

China is home to about 120,000 brick-and-mortar bookstores. Against this backdrop, some long-standing bookstores are beginning to return.

In the eastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, Xiaofeng Bookstore on Guping Road, which had been closed for eight years, recently switched its lights back on. Today, readers can not only read books and enjoy tea here but also participate in activities such as book club meetings and cultural salons.

Zhang Lianwang, who is involved in the reopening project, noted that while maintaining its own editorial focus, Xiaofeng aims to offer more personalized content and more convenient digital services, opening up greater possibilities for physical bookstores.

The comeback has been welcomed by many readers as a long-awaited "reunion." As one reader once put it: "There are places that algorithms can never reach." 
Tom Tuite

A 27-year-old man was arrested for carrying a flick-knife after a stand-off with armed gardai at a Dublin shop and a confrontation amid claims of a stabbing.

Afghan national Nasim Sulemankhil, who is of no fixed address, appeared at Dublin District Court charged with unlawful possession of a knife described as being capable of inflicting serious injury or incapacitating a person, on Cathal Brugha Street on April 24th.

Footage of the incident was uploaded to social media.

Bail was denied when he appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Citing the seriousness of the incident, Store Street Garda Eoin Hart told a contested bail hearing that Sulemankhil's reply to caution was "I don't do anything, they attacked me".

When charged with the weapons, he told gardai: "I was beaten by the knife, it is on CCTV [sic]".

He listened to the proceedings with the aid of a Pashto interpreter

The court heard that the incident occurred at approximately 12:50 pm at a Centra shop, where gardai were alerted by members of the public who made reports about a knife attack.

The court was told that a large crowd had gathered, while a Garda armed support unit was on the scene.

It was stated to gardai that the accused had stabbed or attempted to stab a person before being chased to the doorway of the shop.

Some members of the public intervened by attacking him with umbrellas and throwing objects at him, the court heard.

However, defence counsel Kevin McCrave told gardai that his client maintained he was being chased and that he had tried to defend himself.

Garda Hart said enquiries were ongoing in relation to the stabbing claims, and gardai have yet to establish if anyone was attacked with the knife beforehand.

The court heard that the man subsequently dropped the knife and was taken into custody. Garda Hart stressed that the accused was unable to provide an address.

The defence barrister said his client had lived in Ireland for three years and had family living in the city centre, who had come to the hearing to offer him a place to stay.

Counsel told the garda his client would abide by strict conditions. He said the accused's mother had died recently, and he had been suffering from mental health issues.

Judge Finan emphasised that the accused, who had a bandage on his head, enjoyed the presumption of innocence, but denied his bail.

She acceded to a request from McCrave to direct that he receive a psychological assessment and interventions in custody.

Legal aid was granted to Sulemankhil, who did not address the court. His next hearing is scheduled for Thursday at Cloverhill District Court.
FROM 2025 to 2027, Music Generations Westmeath, Offaly and Laois are collaborating to develop orchestral playing across the three regions including the development of a BOP Orchestra, featuring adult musicians and young musicians from Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music. BOP Orchestra had their first performance in 2025, in the Malthouse, Stradbally.

For 2026, orchestra members will work with guest conductor, Veronica Urrego (Scotland/Venezuela), developing music to perform at a concert in TUS Athlone on 17 May 2026 at 2pm.

Speaking about the project, Rosa Flannery Music Development Officer with Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music said, "we have just had our first full BOP orchestra rehearsal for 2026 in Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. We are very lucky to be working with Veronica Urrego for this project, the music already sounds so good! We would love to see people of all ages at our concert in TUS Athlone on Sunday 17 May at 2pm, as it might inspire those thinking of taking up an orchestral instrument, to sign up to classes with us!"

BOP Orchestra members in Laois is made up of the Laois School of Music Youth Orchestra, Laois School of Music Dunamaise String Ensemble, Laois School of Music Junior Strings and Music Generation Laois Brass players, under the direction of Musician Educators John Davidson, Kim Melia, Irene Ramos and Anthony Flannery.

The project also includes 'Fiddle Fiesta' where hundreds of children from primary schools will take part in a large-scale gathering of violin and cello players in TUS Athlone on 15 May.

Young violinists from Timahoe NS, Scoil Mhuire Abbeyleix and Scoil Bhride Rathdowney are taking part in Fiddle Fiesta.

Tickets and more information on musicgenerationlaois.ie BOP is Co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaion and the Department of Education and Youth, part of Music Generation's Creativity and Collaboration Fund.
IT is rare to visit the local parish church, here in Abbeyleix, without noticing candles lighting in front of St Joseph's shrine. These days, lots of candles are offered in prayer for students, both in third and second-level, facing exams over the coming weeks. St Joseph holds an iconic role in the life of Jesus Christ and his witness is a source of inspiration to Christians throughout the world. A silent, protective and contemplative presence who reads the signs of the times, holding steadfast to God's Amazing Grace.

We often overlook the quiet and supportive people in our lives, taking their steadfastness for granted. Joseph appears only briefly in the gospels and he never directly speaks a word in them. Everything we know about his courage and faith comes from what he does, not what he says. He is a man who faced a situation that could have brought shame, discovering that Mary was with child before they lived together and, yet, he simply got on with life. He trusted God, protected his family and went about his work with quiet dignity. That, to me, is a kind of heroism. We dont always notice it, but its the kind that shapes the world.

When Joseph first hears about Marys pregnancy, he doesnt understand what God is doing. He feels disappointment and uncertainty, the kind we all know when life veers off the path we imagined. Yet his first instinct is mercy. He plans to step away quietly, not wanting to expose her to public shame. Even before an angel appears, Joseph is already choosing compassion and kindness over pride and self-protection. Its a small, hidden holiness that honours another persons dignity even in painful circumstances.

Then God speaks through the angel, telling him not to be afraid, that Marys child is from the Holy Spirit and that he is to name the child Jesus. Joseph doesnt argue or demand explanations; he simply obeys. The gospel says: He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him (Mt 1:24). That quiet obedience is not weakness. Its courage, entrusting God with his reputation, his future and the life he had imagined for himself. Joseph takes Mary into his home, protects her on the journey to Bethlehem, finds shelter when there is none and rises in the night to take his family to Egypt when danger threatens. His life becomes a pattern of steady care and quiet courage. Faith often looks like this, caring for family, keeping promises, forgiving when its hard and continuing to pray when answers are slow to come. Joseph reminds us that this hidden, ordinary faithfulness is real holiness.

Joseph also represents a kind of man we may overlook: the ones who dont seek recognition, but who quietly hold things together, the fathers, husbands, brothers and friends who work hard, carry responsibility and try each day to do right by the people entrusted to them. Their lives may not look heroic, but without them families and communities would quietly unravel. Joseph dignifies that hidden faithfulness.

Tradition calls him a carpenter, though the Greek word tekton can mean builder or craftsman. His work shaped him, teaching patience, attention and steadiness of heart. Its a reminder that holiness doesnt only happen in dramatic moments. Every act done with care and love can be part of Gods plan. Grace moves in kitchens, workshops and waiting rooms just as much as it does in churches. Later, Joseph disappears from the gospel story. Tradition holds that he died before Jesus began his public ministry, likely with Mary and Jesus by his side. He has long been invoked as the patron of a happy death. But his patronage reaches further than that, fathers, families, workers, travellers, anyone facing uncertainty. His silence is not emptiness; its the space where God can speak.

The late pope Francis said of Joseph: I have a great love for St Joseph because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table, I have an image of St Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church. Yes. We know that he can do that. So, when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and I put it underneath St Joseph so that he can dream about it. In other words, I tell him pray for this problem. Josephs story reassures us that holiness often looks ordinary. It shows itself in small acts of kindness and service to others, steady faithfulness and courage lived quietly each day. When life challenges us, Joseph reminds us that true strength lies in those who act with care, keep their promises and carry the weight of love without seeking applause. May this great saint inspire us all to trust, surrender, receive and believe.

Prayer to Sleeping St Joseph

Oh Saint Joseph,

You are a man greatly favoured by the Most High.

The angel of the Lord appeared to you in dreams,

while you slept, to

warn you and guide you

as you cared for the Holy Family.

You were both silent and strong,

a loyal and courageous protector.

Dear Saint Joseph,

as you rest in the Lord,

confident of His absolute power and goodness, look upon me.

Please take my need (mention your request here)

 into your heart, dream of it,

and present it to your Son.

Help me then, good Saint Joseph,

to hear the voice of God, to arise, and act with love.

I praise and thank God with joy.

Saint Joseph, I love you. Amen.
A MAJOR fundraising event for Mountmellick & Coolbanagher Union of Parishes was launched recently against the backdrop of the historic and stately Emo Court.

Rev Lesley Robinson outlined the reason for holding the fundraiser, which will go towards the maintenance and development of improvements at the historic St Pauls church in Mountmellick and St John the Evangelists church in Coolbanagher.

Speaking at the launch, Revd Robinson, said: Just to give you a little bit of background about our parishes and what the funds raised will be used for. St Pauls church, Pearse Street, Mountmellick is a Georgian Gothic church, completed in 1828, on a site which dates back to an earlier church in 1665. We look forward to celebrating the bicentenary of the church in a couple of years time. It is surrounded by a graveyard which is an oasis of peace and quietness in a busy town and on the side of the N80.

There are many interesting monuments and headstones there and one of the oldest gravestones is dated 1709. A new extension to the graveyard was added in 1981. The church has seen many additions and improvements over the years and still boasts a magnificent pipe organ installed in 1903 and still in use today. Adjacent to the graveyard is the old school, dating back to 1848, and the house which formerly housed the school teacher. The teachers residence currently houses a number of Ukrainian refugees, while the old school is used as our parish hall since the opening of the new St Pauls National School just down the road in 1976.

St John the Evangelists church in Coolbanagher, just down the road from us here in Emo, dates back to 1785. It succeeded an earlier church in Coolbanagher dedicated to St Peter, which was set on fire in 1779. St Johns is unique in that it is the only church building in Ireland designed by the renowned architect James Gandon, who also designed Emo Court and, even more famously, the Customs House and Four Courts in Dublin.

St Johns has always had a strong connection with Emo Court a in the 1970s, the interior of the church was repainted in the Georgian colours and in the 1980s, Mr Cholmeley Harrison of Emo Court commissioned urns (which were in the original design by Gandon, but never executed) to be placed in the niches in the walls, very much in the style of the magnificent entrance hall in Emo Court.

The church also houses a late medieval octagonal limestone baptismal font, very possibly associated with the nearby lost early Christian monastery of St Lughach. Beside the church is the old school house, completed in 1810, complete with a teachers residence upstairs. The school closed in 1966 due to falling attendances and was used as a parish hall until the poor condition of the building forced its closure a couple of years ago.

The small Church of Ireland community in the Mountmellick and Coolbanagher area is the proud steward of all these wonderful and historic buildings, which is both a blessing and a challenge. In addition to maintaining the physical structures, we also continue to minister to what St Peter referred to as living stones  the people in our care and in the wider community.

In addition to the ongoing cost of maintenance and ministry, we have some exciting projects in the pipeline for both sites. We have drawn up plans for restoring the old school in Coolbangher, beginning with the hall, kitchen and toilets. When completed, the building will then be available to the parish and the wider community for various events and meetings.

In Mountmellick, the two greatest needs identified at St Pauls is the creation of a safe car parking area and the provision of accessible toilets. We are in the process of applying for planning permission to widen the access off the road into the adjoining church field, which has been used as a car park but has visibility limitations when coming back out onto the N80, and also needs levelling and resurfacing. We are also looking into the practicalities of putting toilet facilities, currently lacking, on the site of the church.

The financial burden of such improvements along with meeting our day-to-day running costs is daunting but, reminding ourselves that nothing is impossible with God, we have applied for some grant funding from Laois Co Council and embarked on this major fundraising initiative which we are launching today.

In the month since we started procuring sponsorship and advertising for the greyhound race night to be held in Newbridge on Friday 19 June (tickets 10 per person, with free entry for children under-12 and can be purchased from parishioners or online), we have been blown away by the generosity and support of local businesses, especially by our race sponsors, many of whom are present here today with us.
Few Irish comedians have carved out a career quite like Jarlath Regan. From his early days growing up in Kildare to building a global audience through stand-up, Jarlath has quietly become on of the most recognisable voices in Irish comedy.

Whether it's stories from his upbringing or observations gathered during his years abroad, his humour feels both personal and universal as he finds the humour in every day Irish life.

Currently on tour with his "Gas Man" show, the comedian and An Irishman Abroad host is taking stock of a career that has taken him far beyond home, and back again.

Just back from gigging America, the 45-year-old has done shows in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, with his show continuing through England and Scotland and an incredible 30 dates so far across Ireland, "Its been wild, its been fantastic," he says.

READ NEXT: Ashling Murphy's murderer gets new court date for start of his appeal

"America is a great albeit its a very strange time to be there, but theyre able to laugh at themselves and I was amazed at the response of some of the more political stuff on the show.

"People expect it to be all Irish at these shows, but it was about 80% American and 20% were people that had emigrated, so a really interesting break up of the audience."

"Irish audiences arrive locked and loaded with their own jokes and if you talk to the Irish audience they really do come up with gold every single time.

"As much as I love the American crowd, while they are way more enthusiastic right out the gate, they really are reluctant to talk to you, they don't want to be part of the show."

No stranger to international audiences, Regan, also known for his hilarious "Mammy" sketches that have earned a huge following on social media, has only moved back to Ireland in recent years.

"I lived in London for 10 years from 2012 to 2022, working the circuit and doing the Irishman Abroad podcast, basically learning my craft. Then moved back to Ireland in the summer of 2022 to let my son go to secondary school...I just really wanted that for him, and things have been crazy ever since."

Life is showing no signs of slowing down for the funnyman as his Gas Man tour is nearly completely sold out and will run until October, with extended dates to be added.

"Sold out shows are always a head-spinner for me," he admits, "When you look at the posters and you see all the 'sold-outs' next to it, its wild."

"Im looking forward to coming to Portlaoise. I would have done some of my early stand up spots in Kavanaghs, upstairs. Ive always loved Portlaoise.

"I remember doing one of my first ever stand up spots in there. And the team in Kavanaghs have always been so supportive of new artists and performers, so Im delighted to come back and play at the Midlands Hotel."

Jarlath was in his early 20s when he first started to pursue a career in comedy, influenced by Irish comedians such as Dylan Moran and Foil Arms and Hog, it wasn't long after he began gaining traction and making waves on the UK and Irish comedy circuits, building his profile through live gigs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and appearances on hit shows like The Panel with Dara O'Briain.

Reflecting on the early days of his career, Jarlath says he knew he had something special when he could hold court at the family dinner table and make everyone laugh.

"I didnt really know where I fit into my family, my two sisters were academically gifted, and my brother was gifted with the horses, he was following in my fathers footsteps, I never really knew what I brought to the table," he says.

"But I could make them laugh over dinner, and that was a noble thing, they wanted to hear what stories I had to tell from school or whateverand It was weirdly the first place I got laughs.

"I think we all know of that feeling in Ireland, the person that can really entertain the dinner tables with the funny stories are put on a pedestal."

Asked of where his comedy chops came from and if any of his family members influenced him, he laughed, "No, theyre really unfunny.

Listen, everyone is influenced by the people theyre around, but I definitely knew early on that if you could hold the interest at the dinner table with a funny story, that was worth an awful lot."

Growing up in the windswept plains of the Curragh, Jarlath says "If you werent in the army, you were into horses, those were the two job options."

Not content with those options, Jarlath knew there was something else out there for him.

READ NEXT: Safety of walkers at Laois beauty spot raised during meeting

"It took a long time for me to realise that this was the job for me, there just wasnt great examples of it growing up in the 90s, it wasnt really a career path as it is now.

"When I told my family that's what I wanted to do, they didnt know what to make of it. They really didnt know what to make of it up until 2022, when things really started to change for me.

"Ill never know the conversations that were had behind closed doors about me...'ah hes still pursuing the comedy'...I dont know what they said.

"My parents were very much like 'let them on', they would never come in over your shoulder and say 'this is a waste of time', they werent that kind of parents, so in that way they were supportive."

Ever the creative type, Jarlath recounts on how much he loved painting, writing and drawing growing up, "basically trying to create anything I could, out of anything I could," he says.

"Its weird that I ended up down this path, but I guess it afforded me as many creative paths off it as possible. I mean I've written three books, Im working on screenplays and sketches, I've been illustrating my own Christmas cards for years and theres a way to be funny and diversify it into everything , its one of those swiss army type jobs."

Starting out in a career with very little know how, Jarlath took the path ahead in his stride.

"In the beginning I was very very green, and I just wanted to do this so badly, like so many comedians, you dont really know what it is yet but then you figure it out as you go.

"Look, nobodys good at their job on day one, are they? Comedy is one of those jobs where you learn doing it.

"Like nobody ever gives a surgeon a scalpel and says keep cutting till he starts to feel better', but thats how comedians work, youve got to get up, fail publicly, and then improve on that and come back and learn from it.

"You need to bounce the ball, you need the planets to align and for people to see your stuff."

READ NEXT: Childcare facility proposed to be created in Laois community hall

Known for his razor sharp observational comedy, particularly well received by Irish audiences, Jarlath knows how to tell a good joke from a bad joke.

"In the early years, I was very scared to offend people, or to cross the line, he admits, But I think you just grow up a bit, and you realise that a good rule of thumb is, would you do the joke if the person its about was in the room? If you wouldnt, then its not a fair jokeits not fair on that person.

"I dont mind joking about anything provided Im willing to perform it in front of the people that its about, whether thats American people or my family, or my Mam. You just have to be ready to stand over your jokes and that you believe in them.

"They also have to come from a certain place, right, they talk about punching down and punching upyou never want to be punching down, you never want to be the person whos looking down on people and saying look at them down there.

"All my Mammy jokes and all the family stuff that I do, it comes from a place of love and respect, like I love my Mammy, and most people do, but they do drive us up the wall, and sometimes theyre well aware that theyre driving us up the wall.

"Sometimes you get people saying Oh no I'm turning into my Mammy', I realise that I am saying these things now that I used to hear all the times when I was a kid, and thats valuable too."

After living in London for 10 years, the Kildare native says that while his perspective on comedy has ebbed and flowed, he has learned to appreciate the small nuances that make Irish comedy so distinctive.

"Once youre a fish out of water, and you're bringing all of your Irish upbringing elsewhere, you realise how peculiar our upbringing is, and how the things we value are different to other people.

"But also, youre much more aware of the similarities that are unifiers, like the Mammy jokes, a lot of that is true to English audiences, especially in the North of England who are populated by a lot of Irish immigrants, and they took an awful lot of those traditions with them.

"My perspective definitely changed after being away for 10 years, because you appreciate a lot more about Ireland that you might not appreciate had you never left.

"I love the tiniest details of Ireland now that Im back for example the Obama Plaza, or just a Spar, you know, the quality of it, the banter over a breakfast rollthe level of craic that is to be had in every corner of Ireland that is kind of understood and expected.

"The last thing you want be labelled as is a dry shiteyou have to have a certain amount of banter ready to go, or youre a problem, he laughs.

The landscape of comedy has changed significantly in the years following the pandemic. Irish comedy in particular has undergone a quiet transformation that has seen a surge in new acts and fresh talent that have jumped from TikTok screens to sold out shows and podcasts with millions of weekly listeners.

"For a long time youre just trying to get on TV. I remember appearing on The Panel and that was the biggest thing you could do. It was the only way for people to know about you was by being on RTE, I mean you were one of the guys that people would go and see.

"Now you know everyone has their own TV channel in their pocket, and they pull out content every day. Just as the way The Panel used to get people through their week, now were helping people get through each hour," he says.

"The amount of people that say to me they watch my reels when they're in dark times you know, youre providing light when theres quite a bit of bleakness around and that's a privilege, I take it pretty seriously.

"I really really try to provide people with something funny every single day, like clockwork, they can rely on tuning on my channel for light relief, and then hopefully theyll come and see the thing in person because in person is so much better.

"I mean as much as you'd enjoy the TikToks and reels, the in-person experience of laughing your heart out with tears coming down your face is the best.

"I believe comedy is outselling music now, thats my understanding, that people are more likely to go and see comedy other than music which is a big change.

"It's a product of a changing people and recognising that this is something that we can all go to. I try to write my shows in such a way that the whole family can go, from the grandparents right down to the nieces and nephews, and thats lovely to provide people with.

"This will be my fourth year doing a residency at the 3Arena, and to see people coming back to your shows is so lovely, to be part of peoples annual routine is great."

Speaking of material for his shows, Jarlath maintains there is a wealth of inspirational comedy across Ireland.

"There are tiny things that can be observed that havent been spotted yet, like I always say, theres loads of gold left in the mine.

"Just this morning, I was in the car with my wife, and I said one thing Irish people hate is taking advice, like Oh yeah, Ill take your advice, while you go off to the most expensive place possible and spend all your moneyI will go to my friend in Cavan, he knows all about cars...I know its a bit of a drive but hell sort me out.

"I love finding things that havent been articulated yet because they are still there, theyre still occurring, theres fresh ones arriving all the time and maybe some day theyll reach that point where were like oh yea we all know about the immersion you know, you want to get your observations to really hit."

Alongside his successful stand-up career, Jarlath has also built a loyal global following through his podcast An Irishman Abroad, a long-running interview series exploring the lives and stories of Irish people at home and overseas.

He also co-hosts another hugely popular podcast, Honey! You're Ruining Our Kid, with his wife and manager Tina, with whom he shares a son, Mikey.

Jarlath admits its tricky balancing his busy work schedule with his home-life but says he couldnt do it without Tina.

READ NEXT: Alan and Muireann left gasping for air on Ireland AM over star guest's raunchy stories

Like everyone, were all trying to figure it out, whats the best way to do it, you know, were all getting it wrong and then trying to be better. Im away a lot, but Im also home a lot.

"My wife and I book the tour much better than anyone previously would have managed me. We take into consideration or sons holidays, his matches, his birthday, or whenever he wants to do something. Balance has been something weve been working on for 20 odd years.

"Doing the podcast together - its always fun, its always got to be fun. Really, shes (Tina) the expert.

"Shes a child behaviourist and shes worked for 20 years with children with severe behavioural issues, and people email in their problems that theyre having and Tina has a strategy to help them whether its bed wetting, not sleeping in their own bed, tantrums, everythingweve covered them all. So really I read out the emails and play devils advocate, she gives the advice.

"We have had such an incredible outpouring from people who have been helped by Tina over the years, she really has had a 100% hit rate on this, shes never failed, she always manages to get to the bottom of the problem.

"And thats over email, usually she would have to go to the home of the child like SuperNanny and figure it out. Shes really amazing and inspiring to be aroundthat help that shes giving people should be provided by someone, but its not and the people that are emailing us are at the end of their tether.

"They have no one to turn too, there is no child behaviourist locally whos going to help them, but she does, and we manage to get some laughs out of it and try to remind people that theyre not on their own when youre parenting.

"In many ways thats what comedy is about too, you know that feeling that you have sometimes like what are these gobshites like and how am I surrounded by these people', and when youre good at comedy you realise oh its not just me, Im not the only one deserves this'.

Jarlath has done hundreds of shows in his time, some better than others he confesses, but he has a way of seeing the positives in everything, turning a struggle into an opportunity to learn.

"Ive obviously had shows that havent gone to plan, but weirdly you find something in those moments, just like in life you know, as difficult as those times might be, something positive comes out of it.

"Like, theres no such thing as a real disaster, theres always a story to come from it. Nobody wants to hear a story about a comedy gig going well, they want to hear about the brutality, the war, the trenches, and Ive had times where Ive died on my arse.

"So many times where they (the audience) just haven't bought inthis was obviously early days in my career," he laughs, "But they stiffen your resolve, you learn a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes.

For anyone dreaming of a career in comedy or stand-up, Jarlath had some sage advice.

"Get on stage and see if you can! Just find somewhere to go and get up. Its a bit like love, youll know right away, I mean you go on a first date with somebody, if its not happening, get out! If its not clicking, dont waste anybodys time.

"If you get up on stage and youre like this is misery, I dont actually like this there can be loads of other routes for you. But get on stage first and that will tell you. Do the most raw, undistilled version of it, and if youre able to get laughs in that setting, youve got a future.

"Theres loads of other ways to make people laugh and to make a living from it. If you can find a way of writing or performing something that you find funny and sharing that with people, there is usually a way now for you to translate that or funnel that into something, whether thats sketches or pieces to camera, there is a way, but you kind of have to free yourself a little from judgement.

"Thinking like woah what will the neighbours think when they see this', there has to be a certain amount of 'I dont care'. If you do care and youre worried, that might be the reason why this isnt for you.

"When people ask me about that I say 'well how quickly can we find out if this is for you', because sometimes people think 'oh I want to do comedy' but actually what they want to do is act, or write, or fix their relationship with their parents because a lot of the time youre searching for something that you didnt receive as a kid.

"Theres plenty of comedians that are making a great living that could have avoided having to become a comedian by just getting a few more hugs."

Asked if he thinks that's what happened to him, Jarlath jokes, "Oh yea of course, Im brutally damaged," he laughs, "No, I was very very blessed with the parents I have".
A company, which works on collaborations with global names such as Harry Styles and Sculpted by Aimee, has decided to expand to Naas.

ONeill & Co. said it is pleased to announce the successful letting of Unit 28A at Momentum Logistics Park, Naas, to Redsky Europe, one of Irelands leading ecommerce fulfilment companies in a move that further reinforces Naas as a destination of choice for international occupiers.

READ MORE: Great news as plans for new Lidl in Kildare

"Redsky Europes decision to establish a presence in Naas reflects both the strength of the location and the quality of industrial space now available in the region. As a company operating at scale across international markets, location is a strategic decision, and Naas is increasingly ticking all the right boxes. Situated just minutes from the M7 and within easy reach of the M50, Momentum Logistics Park (owned by Palm Logistics, an affiliate of Palm Capital), offers seamless connectivity to Dublin and all major national routes, supporting efficient distribution and supply chain access," said O'Neill & Co.

But connectivity is only part of the story.

"Naas and its surrounding areas offer access to a highly skilled workforce, more affordable housing options than the capital, and a quality of life that continues to attract both employers and employees. It is this combination that is positioning Naas, and County Kildare more broadly, as a serious contender for international investment," it added.

Commenting on the move, Ken Byrne, Founder of Red Sky Europe, said; Finding the right premises was a critical decision for us as we expand, and ONeill & Co. made the process straightforward from start to finish. Daracs knowledge of the market is second to none, and he quickly understood our need for a high-spec, strategically located facility to support both our logistics operations and sustainability requirements.

"Momentum Logistics Park gives us exactly that, with excellent connectivity and access to a strong local workforce, and were proud to be part of a growing business community in Kildare.

Redsky Europe works with a diverse portfolio of high-profile clients across retail, fashion and lifestyle sectors. This blend of global reach and connection to emerging Irish brands highlights the companys dynamic position within the market, and makes their choice of Naas all the more significant.

Commenting on the letting, Darac ONeill said:This letting is a strong endorsement of both Naas as a strategic location and the quality of product available at Momentum Logistics Park. We are seeing continued interest from international occupiers who recognise the benefits of locating just outside Dublin.
ADDIS ABABA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over attacks in Mali targeting the capital, Bamako, as well as several other areas across the country.

Strong explosions and gunfire were heard across several cities in Mali during the early hours of Saturday. Malian security sources said armed terrorist groups had launched simultaneous coordinated attacks on several sites and military barracks in the capital and interior regions.

The AU, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the chairperson is closely following security developments in the West African country, and "strongly condemns these acts, which risk exposing civilian populations to significant harm."

Youssouf reaffirmed the 55-member continental organization's "steadfast commitment" to the promotion of peace, security, good governance, and stability in Mali.

In a statement issued at around 11 a.m. local time Saturday, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said that the situation is "under control," as the attackers "immediately suffered heavy setbacks" due to the response of the armed forces. 
A LIMERICK farmer who has spent over a decade sponsoring children in Uganda has said the experience has completely changed his perspective on life, describing the impact of even modest support as a big difference to families living in poverty.

Rodger Heffernan from Oola who has been involved in child sponsorship with World Vision Ireland for more than 12 years, said a television appeal first prompted him to act. But it was travelling to Uganda, Africa and meeting the child he supported that cemented his long-term commitment.

When I went out to visit the first child, that really put it in my mind that I should stay supporting them, he said.

Rodger first visited Uganda in 2014, where he met a girl named Linda, whom he had been sponsoring. The encounter, he said, remains one of the most significant moments of his involvement.

That was the crown of the trip  meeting the child you sponsored and her family and her friends. That is exceptionally important, he said.

READ MORE: Limerick artist exposes the beauty and movement of Kilkee with new exhibition

Rodger returned again last year and met another child he now supports, Faith Linda, along with her family. While letters and photographs help maintain contact, he said nothing compares to seeing the reality on the ground.

To meet the person is really brilliant and the family, and see the conditions and how they live and all that,  he explained.

Rodger described communities in Uganda as warm, welcoming and resilient, despite facing significant hardship. Theyre very friendly, very positive but they're very poor, he said, noting that conditions have improved somewhat over the past decade, though theres a lot of work to be done there.

He pointed to tangible changes supported by sponsorship funding, including improved school buildings, better access to clean water, and more teachers. In some cases, he said, children who might otherwise spend their days collecting water are now able to attend school.

It makes a big difference for education. They can go to school now instead of drawing water, he said.

The monthly contribution of 25 can be transformative, he added, particularly in a country where a large proportion of the population is under 18. Education is the main thing. If you sponsor a child, shes nearly guaranteed to go to school until she's 16 or 17, Rodger said.

Witnessing the stark contrast between life in Uganda and Ireland left a lasting impression. We dont know how lucky we are, he said. Its completely black and white, completely different.

Visits organised through World Vision Ireland also left a strong impression, with local communities greeting visitors with music and celebration. Theyll be out dancing and singing and welcoming you. Its unbelievable, commented Rodger.

While he has not directly recruited others to sponsor children, Rodger encouraged those considering it to take the step, saying the impact is clear to see. You really see whats happening out there, and where the money is going and what they're doing for them.

Rodger praised the work of World Vision Ireland, particularly in addressing challenges such as access to clean water and electricity in schools.

World Vision Ireland are doing very good work out there... I'd like to see more people sponsor children out there. Many of their development programmes are funded through child sponsorship.
AN ATTEMPTED daytime theft of an e-scooter and the misuse of a stolen bank card have prompted renewed warnings from Gardai about personal and property security in Limerick.

Sergeant Michelle OHalloran, Crime Prevention Officer Henry Street Garda Station said:

"At approximately 9.30am on the morning of the 17th of April 2026, gardai in Roxboro Road were alerted to a male attempting to steal an e-scooter on Parnell Street. Gardai responded quickly, arrested the suspect, and he has since been charged before the courts in relation to the matter.

"This highlights the importance of taking steps to secure e-scooters. I would recommend using a hardened D-lock, adding a second layer of security such as a chain or cable lock through the wheel, and considering a hidden tracker. If possible, store the scooter indoors at night," added Sgt O'Halloran.

READ MORE: Limerick girl, 16, appears in court, via video-link, over assault on Scarlett Faulkner

There was also a report of a bank card stolen and subsequently used.

"On Monday the 20th of April at approximately midday, a woman in her seventies was shopping at a retailer on the Dublin Road. She used her bank card and chip-and-pin to pay for items at the checkout," said the local crime prevention officer.

"Approximately two hours later, she received a phone call from her financial institution alerting her to suspicious transactions on her account. It was only then that she realised her bank card was missing. The stolen card had been used to access her account.

Sgt O'Halloran concluded: "People should always be aware of their surroundings, keep wallets and handbags secure, check that their card has been returned after making a payment and protect your PIN number when making transaction. If a card goes missing, contact your bank immediately."
A NEW report has revealed fresh insights into the cost, size, and adoption of solar panels by households in Limerick and across Ireland.

The EnergyEfficiency.ie report analysed over 100,000 Solar PV Scheme grant-supported installations nationwide, finding that home solar panel systems in Limerick are 69.5% larger on average than in 2020.

One in every 17 homes in Limerick (5.8%) received a Solar PV Scheme grant between 2020 and 2025, with a total of 4,427 installations.

The average cost per kilowatt peak (kWp) of solar in Limerick fell from 2,778 to just 1,622 over the period (-42%). Figures include the additional cost of battery storage in around half of installations.

READ MORE: Family of Limerick EuroMillions winner object to controversial Dublin water plan

In 2025, the average system size in the county was 6.44 kWp (about 14-15 panels). This is compared to just 3.8 kWp in 2020.

Limerick households invested 49.1 million in home solar PV panels, supported by just over 9.5 million in SEAI grant funding.

Commenting on the report, editor of EnergyEfficiency.ie, Briain Kelly, said that there have been extremely positive changes in the market for solar panels in Ireland since 2020.

Limerick homeowners who installed solar panels in 2020 were faced with a ten-year payback period. This has decreased to no more than six years for most households in 2026, he said.

But we must ensure that the momentum achieved in the first half of this decade is not lost, as there are still more than 1 million homes suitable for solar across Ireland.

With rising energy prices driven by global instability, the value of generating your own electricity has never been higher.

Read the full 2026 EnergyEfficiency.ie Home Solar PV Report at www.energyefficiency.ie
A YOUNG cousin of the late Jason and Scarlett Faulkner has been seriously injured in a road traffic collision, Limerick Live has learned.

The road traffic incident is understood to have occurred in Northern Ireland this Sunday morning. The boy is believed to be a primary school pupil in Limerick city.

There are unconfirmed reports that another juvenile has died in the same traffic collision. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been contacted for comment by Limerick Live.

Victoria Faulkner, a sister of Scarlett and Jason who were laid to rest a week apart, posted on social media: Lads, can everyone of ye please just pray for my beautiful baby cousin who was in a very bad car accident. Please god I know you can do this.

READ NEXT: Limerick girl, 16, appears in court, via video-link, over assault on Scarlett Faulkner

Victoria, in a further post, wrote: God, please our family cant go through anymore. Please God, I am begging you to say he will be alright. Please share everyone. God I know you can do this.

Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Jason and Scarlett's brother Thomas, posted: Please Jesus, what more can this family take.

Scarlett Faulkner, aged 29, passed away in Cork University Hospital three weeks after she was assaulted at the side of the road in Birdhill on March 21.

Older brother Jason, 34, who was a pallbearer at Scarlett's funeral, tragically passed away two days later on Sunday, April 19. Jason was laid to rest with Scarlett in Meelick Cemetery on Friday - exactly a week after Scarlett's funeral.
A FORMER pub and general store in County Limerick, dating back over a century, will go under the virtual hammer next month.

The historic building in Ardpatrick is being sold by Paddy Carroll, of Carroll Auctioneers, Kilmallock, via iamsold.ie (unless previously sold) on Thursday, May 14. The starting price is 195,000.

READ NEXT: End of an era in Limerick as landmark pub goes on the market

Mr Carroll said charming property offers endless potential for entrepreneurs, investors, or those seeking a unique space to bring their vision to life.

This former public house has a dominant position in the small, picturesque village of Ardpatrick, a setting with stunning views, drawing locals and visitors alike.

The building, which is circa 260 sqm, is modest in design but the addition of brick detailing to the window and door surrounds enlivens its functional appearance.

The dual accommodation of pub and house is a feature becoming increasingly rare within the Irish countryside, said Mr Carroll.

The auctioneer says an adjoining outbuilding has been totally refurbished and is ready for immediate occupation. The property sits on half an acre.

The new owners will be purchasing a piece of history. Old ledgers from Sunvale Inn were discovered during renovations in 2017, according to the Ardpatrick Facebook page.

Dating from a period between 1899 and 1903, they feature a unique snapshot of what people were buying and indeed how much it was costing.

It is great to see that something that was drowned wet and could easy have been thrown in a skip, has been saved and preserved for posterity, they wrote.

For more pictures, click 'Next'
(Bloomberg) -- Chevron Corp. Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said changes to Venezuelas oil policy are a sign of progress in trying to attract foreign investment, though further measures are needed.

It moves things in a positive direction, Wirth said on CBS Face the Nation. It still needs some work. Its probably not enough to bring in the level of investment that would be desirable. So I think theres progress thats been made.

Wirth expressed confidence in the Trump administrations Venezuela policy after the US toppled Nicolas Maduro in January and Delcy Rodriguez became the countrys acting president. Within weeks after Maduros capture, Venezuela changed its long-standing nationalist oil policy in a bid to entice investors.

A group of US oil executives who met Rodriguez in Caracas last week pressed for assurances that Venezuela was safe to invest in, a sign that interest among US oil companies is growing beyond Chevron and other majors as President Donald Trump calls for a revival of production in Venezuela.

An increase in production there would improve energy reliability and supplies in the United States, Wirth said.

He said Venezuelas diminished oil workforce, with many skilled workers lost to emigration, makes any large-scale industry recovery dependent on whether expatriates return, a point also raised by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Wirth expressed a note of caution about Trumps decision last week to invoke the Defense Production Act to provide federal funds for energy projects as his administration faces pressure to help rein in rising energy costs.

You cant turn on production at a moments notice, he said. It takes engineering, it takes supply chains, it takes contracts and workers moving and being mobilized.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Jatin Grover

Jatin is based in New Delhi and writes on telecom and technology with a keen interest in policy and regulation. With over five years of reporting experience across Informist Media, Financial Express and now Mint, he has extensively covered the telecom, information technology, electronics and semiconductor sectors.<br><br>A commerce graduate, Jatin's work focuses on tracking industry developments, regulatory changes and policy decisions that shape Indias evolving digital ecosystem. Over the years, he has reported on key trends and shifts across these sectors, bringing clarity to complex policy and business issues.<br><br>Known for his strong news sense, Jatin focuses on breaking stories and delivering in-depth reporting that offers readers an understanding of complex topics, policy decisions and corporate developments. His work often examines the intersection of policy and business, highlighting how regulatory decisions impact industry strategy, pricing, and consumer outcomes.<br><br>He brings a strong domain understanding for Mint and his work is widely picked up by other media firms. With a focus on accuracy and depth, he aims to break down developments into clear, accessible insights for readers, while continuing to track emerging trends shaping the future of Indias telecom and technology sectors.
Priyamvada C

Priyamvada is a Mumbai-based business journalist at Mint. She writes about the public and private markets with a key focus on venture capital, private equity, M&As and private credit. Her coverage also spans startups and emerging businesses.<br><br>Over the last two years, she has uncovered some of the largest deals and interviewed important decision-makers from Indias investment ecosystem. She likes to dabble across different formats like long forms and explainers. Her work has been consistently displayed on the publication's deals page, and she has also written multiple front-page stories.<br><br>Prior to joining Mint in 2024, she worked out of Reuters Bengaluru bureau where she extensively covered the travel, transportation, and logistics industries. Across both her stints, Priyamvada has displayed rigour for breaking news and analyzing interesting data-driven trends. She holds a postgraduate diploma from the Asian College of Journalism's Bloomberg programme. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and trying out different cuisines. She is keen to delve deeper into the various sectors she covers and is always up for a chat. You can reach out to her at priyamvada.c@livemint.com.
Varuni Khosla

Varuni Khosla is a journalist with Mint, where she covers the consumer economy with a focus on hospitality and tourism, luxury, the business of sports, art, and the alcohol and food and beverage industries. Based in New Delhi, she reports on how brands and cultural sectors grow, shape consumer demand and compete in one of the worlds fastest-evolving markets.<br><br>Varuni has been a journalist since 2009 and brings more than 17 years of experience reporting on Indias business landscape. She specialises in covering the industries shaping Indias consumption economy, and is widely recognised as a key voice in these areas.<br><br>Over the years, she has closely tracked the rise of Indias luxury and hospitality sectors, the transformation of advertising and marketing as brands respond to digital platforms and changing audiences, and the economics of sport, from sponsorships and leagues to the expanding commercial ecosystems around teams, athletes and media rights. Her reporting on the business of art explores the growing global market for South Asian art and the role of collectors, galleries and auction houses.<br><br>Her stories frequently draw on exclusive conversations with founders, executives and industry leaders, combining market data with on-the-ground reporting to offer readers insight into the companies and trends shaping Indias evolving consumption economy.
* Supreme Court to hear arguments in Bayer case on Monday

* Bayer faces claims from about 65,000 Roundup US plaintiffs

* Company's $7.25 billion settlement awaits judge's approval

By Diana Novak Jones

April 26 - The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Monday in Bayer's bid to limit thousands of lawsuits alleging that the German company's Roundup weedkiller causes cancer in a case that is one part of sprawling yearslong litigation over the product.

Here is a look at how the court's decision, which is expected by the end of June, could affect Bayer's overall liability.

WHAT IS THE SUPREME COURT CASE ABOUT? The justices are hearing Bayer's appeal of a lower court's ruling in a case brought by a man who said he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, after years of exposure to Roundup. The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $1.25 million verdict that a St. Louis jury awarded the plaintiff, John Durnell, over his cancer diagnosis.

The company is facing tens of thousands of similar lawsuits over Roundup in both federal and state courts across the country. At issue at the Supreme Court is whether a federal law dictating warning labels on pesticides takes precedence over similar state laws. Bayer argues that plaintiffs cannot claim it violated state laws by failing to warn about any cancer risk posed by Roundup because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found no such risk and requires no such warning on the product's label. President Donald Trump's administration has taken Bayer's side in the case.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

A decision in favor of Bayer would strike a major blow to the multitude of other lawsuits because plaintiffs would no longer be able to claim the company failed to follow state laws when it did not include a warning about cancer risk on its label.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE ROUNDUP LAWSUITS?

Bayer is facing claims over Roundup from approximately 65,000 plaintiffs in U.S. state and federal courts. In lawsuits filed beginning in 2015, plaintiffs have said they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other forms of cancer after using the weedkiller at home or on the job. Roundup is among the most widely used weedkillers in the United States. Bayer has said decades of studies have shown Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, are safe for human use.

WHAT SETTLEMENT DID BAYER REACH? In February, Bayer announced it had reached a $7.25 billion settlement with attorneys seeking to represent a nationwide class of people who have said Roundup exposure caused their cancer. The deal is aimed at resolving most of the remaining lawsuits as well as potential future lawsuits from people who already have been exposed to Roundup and develop cancer in the future. A state court judge in Missouri gave an initial green light in March to the proposed settlement. Final approval has not yet been granted, with a hearing scheduled for July.

COULD THE SUPREME COURT RULING END ALL THE LITIGATION?

If the Supreme Court sides with Bayer, such a ruling would not automatically mean that all remaining lawsuits would be dismissed.

Most of the lawsuits include claims that the company failed to warn consumers about cancer on Roundup's label, the issue before the justices. But most of them include other claims that could continue. Plaintiffs have accused Bayer of being negligent and misrepresenting Roundup's safety in its marketing, and have alleged that the product was defective for its intended purpose.

Bayer, however, could try to argue in those cases that a Supreme Court ruling in its favor should doom the remaining claims. A win for the company at the Supreme Court also could help Bayer win appeals in a handful of cases that it has lost at trial.

DOES THE SUPREME COURT CASE MATTER FOR THE SETTLEMENT?

No matter how the court rules, it would not change the terms of the settlement, so people who decide to settle would not be impacted. But if Bayer wins, the people who opt out of the settlement and continue their cases would be limited in the claims they could bring. The settlement also does not apply to a small number of cases that are in federal court rather than state court, so those cases would also be impacted if the court sides with Bayer.

Plaintiffs who sued Bayer over Roundup have until June 4 to decide whether to opt out of the settlement and pursue their cases in court. But that deadline may come and go before the Supreme Court issues its ruling. Any plaintiffs concerned about how the Supreme Court's ruling could impact their case may have to choose whether to settle without knowing the final decision by the justices.
BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China will step up efforts to better protect the rights and interests of workers in new forms of employment, according to a set of guidelines made public on Sunday.

These guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, urge internet platforms and express delivery firms to set reasonable wages for workers in new forms of employment based on work tasks and labor intensity, and to ensure full and timely payment.

Efforts should be made to strengthen the governance of algorithms on internet platforms, the guidelines say, urging relevant companies to earnestly fulfill their social responsibilities, toughen regulation of algorithms and improve transparency. Workers in new forms of employment must have the right to be informed about, participate in, and choose algorithm-related rules, the guidelines note.

The guidelines also underscore the need to strengthen oversight of relevant sectors, improve information disclosure for practitioners, and guide workers in new forms of employment to develop reasonable expectations regarding income and benefits.

Comprehensive measures should be introduced to curb rat race competition and strictly prevent infringements on the legitimate rights and interests of such workers, the guidelines add.

New forms of employment refer to jobs that have emerged with the rise of the internet and the digital economy, including roles like food delivery couriers, ride-hailing drivers and online marketers, who rely on internet platforms for their work.

China currently has 84 million people engaged in such work, who play an important role in serving and ensuring people's livelihood, and in helping to keep the economy running smoothly. 
Room for growth

A tripling of the trade deficit in a decade and a half is not an outcome to the liking of any producer economy, especially one as large as India. This also becomes critical, given that India is signing more FTAs, which essentially set more liberal trade terms between the signatory countries or blocs. In the past year, India has signed such agreements with the European Union, the UK, and Oman. It is also negotiating agreements with the US, Canada, and six West Asian countries under the banner of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Trump said on Saturday that he had decided to cancel the trip after receiving an offer from Iran that fell short of the White Houses expectations. Were not going to spend 15 hours in airplanes all the time, going back and forth, to be given a document that was not good enough, he said.
Every morning, Sampada Joshi unlocks her laptop by typing a wish. Using aspirational sequences like Paris#2026 or Senior@Manager as passwords is my way of manifesting and tricking the brain into focus before the inbox takes over, the 31-year-old, Bengaluru-based category manager says of her ritual.

In the pre-internet era, passwords used to be simple watchwords. As the internet exploded in the 2000s, it became a timeline of our lives. For a Bengaluru-based marketing leader, Prateek Kole, 38, early codes were guarded by his crushs name. Sanskriti Verma, 27, a content creator from Gurugram, effectively froze her adolescence in text fields through Selena Gomez-themed logins. Far from being random data, a password serves as a confession of what and who matters most in the moment we create it, says Mithun Kulkarni, 35, an employer branding leader in Bengaluru.

A heavy iron key used to be the literal, pocket-weighing guarantor of safety. It was difficult to open doors, because it was understood that if a door opened effortlessly for us, it would open just as easily for an intruder. To guard something meant building deliberate friction as a mechanism of trust. Online, that friction became the login password. Ownership has always been an act of knowledge: a conscious secret anchored in your mind, impossible to silently steal, and entirely yours to change. One could forget their password, but in that case, there was the helpful forgot password prompt. But that era seems to be drawing to an end.

With Google logging over a billion passkey uses and the FIDO Alliance (an open industry association that promotes authentication standards other than passwords) predicting a password-less web by 2026, we are trading a personal approach to authentication for invisible, impersonal security. Driven by biometrics and cryptography, data protection is marching towards the safer, frictionless convenience of devices that simply unlock in our presence.

As the internet scaled up, security mutated into a complex bureaucracy of password norms. For a successful password, one needed to have at least one uppercase word, one number, one special character, and perhaps the hair of a werewolf plucked on a full-moon night! To cope, people attempted to remember the passwords by writing them downin sticky notes and little black booksand reused words across platforms. People shared passwords with loved oneswhat is the shared Netflix password but modern love language?

View full Image View full Image Writing down passwords on sticky notes in order to remember them. ( Istockphoto )

Many people in an older demographicthose over the age of 55, saymaintain dog-eared diaries, meticulously writing down every login, and treat a forced password reset with the same gravity as misplacing a property deed. Over time, I have trained my parents to set unusual passwords besides names and birthdates, Joshi says.

But remembering complex alphanumeric combinations can eventually become exhausting. Shubham Girdhar, a 33-year-old, Delhi-born marketing manager, started his digital life with a simple combination. After finding my credentials exposed on haveibeenpwned.com, I outsourced my memory entirely to a password manager, he says.

Also Read | How the novelty of discovering a new product has died due to social media

Kulkarni also points to the tyranny of corporate security policies. When enterprise passwords rotate every month, muscle memory fails. After a week off, your own work laptop becomes a stranger, he says. Auto-logins have made my memory poorer. Over time, passwords will become just like CDs and cassettes, a part of our nostalgia, says Verma, the Gurugram-based content creator.

Modern cybersecurity is nothing if not coldly pragmatic. There is no romance here, says Akhilesh Bhamburkar, a Nagpur-based 32-year-old IT security professional. Its just a system designed to do one job. Passwords fail because they rely on a flawed premise: the shared secret. If you know it, and the server knows it, a database breach means your secret is spilt, he adds.

Bhamburkar likens the shift to passkeys to buying a home appliance. Innovation helps us do things faster and better, but removing responsibility is also a driving factor. Don't want to wash clothes yourself? Here's a washing machine. Don't want to manage security? Here are passkeys.

Ashish Mahadwar, a board member at the digital security firm FortyTwoLabs in Pune, views passwords as a relic. According to him, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and OTPs merely layered proof atop a broken foundation. As quantum computing looms, static credentials won't survive. Passkeys fix this by fundamentally changing the architecture. They are safer because they are phishing-resistant, immune to server data breaches, and eliminate risks from weak or reused passwords. We are shifting from identity by knowledge to identity by presence, he says.

Yet, as authentication becomes invisible, we risk losing something vital: the moment of consent. Because typing a password forced a pause. Theres something undeniably seductive about invisible security. But just as the shift from handing over physical cash to UPI removes the mindful weight of spending, invisible authentication erases the conscious pause of entry. Every time you typed a password, you were deliberately crossing a threshold. Thats a form of active consent, says Deepankur Agrawal, 39, a Pune-based cybersecurity professional. When that moment disappears, the consent disappears with it and systems begin authorising on our behalf. This seamlessness can breed a dangerous complacency based on blind trust in automation. As security retreats into the shadows, our digital agency erodesthis leaves ownership and safety of personal data a hostage to platforms whose terms can change overnight.

Moreover, are we creating a legacy problem in order to solve a security problem? Because a shift to identity-by-presence also introduces a complication: what happens when the person dies? Biometrics may make access smoother, but death raises messy questions of digital inheritance. Especially when data recovery pathways are now dictated by platform design rather than personal agency. When digital ownership is bound to biology, the vault permanently seals shut the moment the body is gone.

We are navigating an increasingly frictionless world, leaving behind our messy, poetic, human input. We once spent hours perfecting our signatures to represent exactly who we were, only to now press our thumbs, adjust our faces, and breeze through systems without a second thought.
Akriti Anand

Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Masters degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.<br><br> Connect with Akriti here<br> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199</a><br> Twitter/X: <a href="https://x.com/AkritiAnand7">https://x.com/AkritiAnand7</a><br> Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in
Raghu Rai  photographer, photojournalist, Magnum member, and the closest thing Indian visual culture had to a founding father  died at the age of 83. His family confirmed the news on his Instagram profile, bringing to a close a creative life that had spanned six extraordinary decades and produced some of the most indelible images ever made on the subcontinent.

Who Was Raghu Rai? The Photographer Who Defined a Nation Born on 18 December 1942 in Jhang, a village in Punjab that now falls within modern-day Pakistan, Raghu Rai came of age in a newly independent India still learning to see itself. He was the youngest of four children, and it was his elder brother, the photographer Sharampal Chowdhry, better known professionally as S. Paul, who first placed a camera in his hands.

Raghu Rai began learning the craft in 1962, and by 1965 he had joined The Statesman newspaper in New Delhi as its chief photographer.

From The Statesman to Magnum: How Raghu Rai Rose to Global Prominence The trajectory that followed was remarkable by any standard. In 1971, Raghu Rai exhibited his work in Paris, where it caught the attention of the French master Henri Cartier-Bresson  arguably the most influential photographer of the twentieth century. Cartier-Bresson was so struck by what he saw that he personally nominated Rai to join Magnum Photos in 1977, making him one of the agency's rare Indian members and cementing his place in the global canon.

By that point, Rai had already left The Statesman  departing in 1976 to become picture editor of Sunday, a weekly news magazine published from Calcutta. In 1980, he moved again, this time to India Today, where from 1982 to 1991 he contributed what many consider the definitive picture essays of that era.

The Bhopal Photographs: Raghu Rai's Most Important Work If there is a single body of work for which Rai will be remembered by those who did not grow up with his images of everyday Indian life, it is his documentation of the Bhopal gas tragedy. When the Union Carbide pesticide plant catastrophically leaked methyl isocyanate gas in December 1984  killing thousands overnight and injuring hundreds of thousands more  Rai was there as a journalist with India Today. He continued to return, compelled by what he witnessed.

For Greenpeace, he completed a long-form documentary project on the disaster and its ongoing effects on survivors  people who continued to live in a chemically contaminated environment, many of them uncompensated decades later. The work resulted in a book titled Exposure: A Corporate Crime and three exhibitions that toured Europe, America, India and South-East Asia from 2004, the disaster's twentieth anniversary, onwards. Rai was explicit about his intentions: he wanted the exhibitions to generate awareness, both of the original tragedy and of the survivors still bearing its consequences.

Raghu Rai's Portraits: Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa and the Famous Faces He Photographed Rai's archive is a who's who of modern Indian history, refracted through his distinctive eye. He photographed Indira Gandhi with an intimacy that few journalists were afforded. He spent sustained time with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, producing a body of work sensitive enough to become a standalone book. He was present at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in the spring of 1968, alongside his colleague Saeed Naqvi, when The Beatles arrived  one of those singular confluences of history that only the most alert photographers managed to document.

His portraits operated on a different register from standard photojournalism. He was not merely documenting; he was reaching for something beneath the surface  what he himself described as the "silence of death"  a quality of stillness and gravity that recurs throughout his black-and-white work in particular.

Books, Awards and Exhibitions: The Scale of Raghu Rai's Achievement The sheer volume of Rai's output is staggering. He produced more than 18 books, among them Raghu Rai's Delhi, The Sikhs, Calcutta, Khajuraho, Taj Mahal, Tibet in Exile, India and Mother Teresa. His photo essays appeared in Time, Life, Geo, The New York Times, The Sunday Times, Newsweek, The Independent and The New Yorker. He served three times on the jury of the World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO's International Photo Contest.

In 1972, he was awarded the Padma Shri  one of India's highest civilian honours  for his documentation of the Bangladesh War. He received Photographer of the Year recognition in the US in 1992, when his National Geographic cover story on human management of wildlife in India brought him widespread international acclaim. In 2019 came the Academie des Beaux-Arts Photography Award  the William Klein prize  followed by a Lifetime Achievement Award from India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2017. He exhibited his work in London, Paris, New York, Hamburg, Prague, Tokyo, Zurich and Sydney.

Raghu Rai's Shift to Digital and His Final Decades Even the transition from film to digital  a rupture that many photographers of his generation struggled to navigate  came to Rai with characteristic decisiveness. In 2003, while on assignment for Geo magazine in Bombay, he picked up a digital camera and never looked back. As he put it: "and from that moment to today, I haven't been able to go back to using film."

In 2017, his daughter Avani Rai accompanied him on a trip to Kashmir, seeking to understand both her father's work and the man himself. The resulting documentary, Raghu Rai: An Unframed Portrait, executive-produced by Anurag Kashyap, offered an intimate window into a life spent in relentless pursuit of the image.

Why Raghu Rai Mattered: The Father of Modern Indian Photography The title "father of modern Indian photography" is not awarded lightly, but in Rai's case it is difficult to dispute. He worked at the intersection of documentary rigour and artistic vision  trained in the Cartier-Bresson tradition of the decisive moment, but utterly committed to the specificity of Indian experience. He mentored generations of photographers who came after him. He made the invisible visible: the gas victims of Bhopal, the spiritual textures of Indian religious life, the quiet dignity of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
On the evening of Saturday, 26 April, as Washington prepared for its most glamorous annual media ritual, a rumour exploded across social media claiming that Donald Trump had been rushed to hospital in a medical emergency. It was attention-grabbing, it spread rapidly  and it was not true. Here is what actually happened, what sparked the speculation, and what the President was really doing on Saturday night.

Where Did the Trump Hospitalisation Rumour Come From? The claim originated from a YouTube channel called MediasTouch, which alleged that Trump had been rushed to Walter Reed hospital after falling ill upon returning to the White House from Palm Beach, Florida, earlier that day.

The report spread quickly across social media platforms, amplified by users already primed to speculate about the President's health following a separate viral moment earlier in the week.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE YOUTUBE VIDEO THAT FUELLED THE RUMOUR MILL

However, not a single credible news outlet confirmed the claim. No correspondent from the White House press pool filed any report of a health emergency. Trump was photographed in good health as he boarded Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, and there was no deviation from his scheduled movements upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews.

Trump's Health Has Been Under Scrutiny This Week  Here's Why The hospitalisation rumour did not emerge in a vacuum. It followed days of heightened speculation about the President's physical condition, triggered by a video that circulated widely on Thursday, 23 April, in which Donald Trump appeared to fall asleep during a White House press conference.

The clip went viral almost immediately, prompting a wave of commentary and conjecture about whether the President might be unwell.

Those concerns, too, proved to be speculation rather than fact. Trump continued to make public appearances in the days that followed, giving no indication of illness.

Captain Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, addressed the question of presidential health directly in an April 2025 update, stating that Trump is in "excellent cognitive and physical health" and fully capable of fulfilling the duties of commander-in-chief.

That assessment followed the President's annual five-hour medical examination at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

This Is the Second Trump Hospital Rumour in April 2026 What makes Saturday's episode particularly notable is that it is not the first time this month that claims of Trump being hospitalised have gone viral.

Earlier in April 2026, social media posts and videos alleged that Trump had been taken to Walter Reed following a medical emergency, speculation that was partly fuelled by a temporary press lid and an unusually quiet period from the White House press pool.

Also Read | Trump cancels US envoys' visit to Pakistan after Iranian FM Araghchi departs

On that occasion, the White House and Trump's communications team responded directly, stating that he was working at the White House at the time and dismissing the hospital-visit claims as "fake news" and "conspiracy theories."

The pattern is notable: two separate viral health scares within a single month, both originating outside mainstream media and both subsequently debunked.

What Trump Was Actually Doing on Saturday Night While the rumours circulated online, Trump was preparing for something rather different  his first-ever attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as a sitting president. The annual black-tie event, which has hosted the sitting president for more than a century, is Washington's most prominent celebration of the First Amendment and the press freedom it enshrines.

The occasion was not without irony. Trump, who has spent years characterising the press as an enemy and denouncing unfavourable coverage as "fake news," was voluntarily ending a years-long boycott of an event explicitly dedicated to honouring journalism. The White House Correspondents' Association drew criticism from some quarters simply for extending the invitation, given Trump's well-documented words and actions towards the media.

The association, for its part, stated that it was glad the President was attending. Trump's aides described his planned speech as "entertaining," though many journalists present anticipated something closer to a campaign rally  with specific news outlets likely to be singled out for public criticism.
A day after a 31-year-old man carried out a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, where US President Donald Trump was also present along with members of his cabinet, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday (local time) said that tightening gun laws right now is not the right response, Axios reported.

Blanche said, "Look, this isn't about, in my mind, changing the law or making the laws more restrictive around possession of firearms," and added, "I don't think the narrative here is about changing laws or making our laws more restrictive."

His firm stance sharply contrasts with his position three months ago, when some Republican officials floated restricting gun rights after a deadly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting in Minneapolis. That shift quickly triggered backlash, particularly from Trump's base, turning it into a significant political problem for the White House.

White House Correspondents' Association dinner shooting A 31-year-old teacher, Cole Tomas Allen, from Southern California, reportedly bought multiple firearms, which he purchased legally at the hotel where the dinner was being hosted. Allen opened fire at the gala event, leading to widespread chaos and panic, as the event was packed with thousands of people, including journalists, Trump, and other leaders.

Reports suggest that Allen traveled by train to bring weapons with him, from Los Angeles to Chicago and from Chicago to Washington, D.C.

Todd Blanche faces questions over security lapses On Sunday, Blanche faced pointed questions on several talk shows, both about the suspect's ownership of the guns and how he allegedly transported them across state lines without any sort of security check. Speaking to Fox News today, the acting Attorney General acknowledged that there was a possibility that Allen traveled by train so he could transport the guns.

Blanche also rejected the idea that train travel, which lacks the same level of security as air travel, represents a loophole that needs to be addressed. Speaking to CBS, he said, "I mean, if we're asking the question, that's talking about changing the laws, and I don't think that's something that we should be focused on right now in any way, shape or form."

Blanche praises shooting response as former agents warn of spiraling violence Praising law enforcement's quick response to the shooting incident, Blanche noted the suspect was subdued immediately. He added that the suspect "barely breached the perimeter" of the event before he was taken into custody. Speaking to CNN, the acting Attorney General termed it a "massive security success story."

His response comes as a former Secret Service agent told Axios that the moment still calls for serious reflection, both in terms of future security strategy and the increasingly tense atmosphere in the country.

Michael Matranga, a former US Secret Service special agent and CEO of security firm M6 Global Defense, said, "Whether it be your church, your school, your mall or the White House Correspondents' Dinner, I think we should all be very  uncomfortable knowing that violence has no bounds, that our words matter."

WHCA shooting: What we know so far Allen, who is a trained mechanical engineer, booked a room at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the dinner was taking place. Working as a tutor, he reportedly traveled across the country to perpetrate "as much damage as he could."

According to law enforcement officials, while he declined to answer questions, he did make some non-specific reference to targeting administration officials, with reports suggesting that Trump was also one of his possible targets.

The motive for Allen's shooting incident remains unclear; however, Blanche said he would be charged in Washington on Monday.

Law enforcement officials launched an investigation and carried out searches in both Southern California and Washington in connection with the suspect.
The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner shooting had legally purchased guns, senior law enforcement officials told NBC on Sunday (local time).

Authorities stated last night that the 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen had a rifle and a handgun on him when he was taken into custody. Records have also shown that he purchased a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun in August 2025 and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol in October 2023.

Officials also noted that those were the two weapons that were recovered from Allen last night, adding that he was also in possession of multiple knives.

WHCA dinner shooting: What we know According to ABC News, Allen is a trained mechanical engineer, working as a tutor who traveled across the country to cause "as much damage as he could."

Law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation said that Allen was declining to answer questions but allegedly made some non-specific reference to targeting administration officials.

The shooting, which occurred on Saturday night, happened near the main magnetometer area for the event, which caused widespread chaos inside the Hilton hotel ballroom, which was packed with thousands of people, including journalists, US President Donald Trump, and members of his cabinet.

Officials believe that the suspect is believed to have booked a room in the hotel, where the dinner took place, early in April.

Motive remains unclear: Acting Attorney General According to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the motive of the shooting remains unclear and is under investigation. Blanche added that "preliminary" findings revealed that he was targeting administration officials. "We're still investigating a motive, and that's something that will necessarily take a couple of days at least," he said. "We believe he was targeting administration officials in this attack, attempted attack, but that's again quite preliminary."

Blanche noted that those officials also "likely" included the US President, but said that he wants to wait and not get ahead of that speculation.

Separately, investigators were now looking into reports that Allen had assembled weapons somewhere in the hotel, but he "didn't get very far." "He barely broke the perimeter," he said. "And by barely, I mean by a few feet."

Further, the investigators believe that Allen, who is from California, traveled via train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then from Chicago to Washington, D.C., before checking into the hotel where the dinner was being held.

The incident has raised security concerns and questions over how the suspect managed to breach the perimeter with a weapon.

Blanche said the suspect would be charged formally in D.C. tomorrow.

Investigation underway Law enforcement officials have been carrying out searches connected to the suspect both in Southern California and Washington, D.C.

Officials also said that investigators retrieved Allen's phone and other devices and were planning to access them as soon as they secured search warrants.

Officials on Sunday said that the 31-year-old did not have a criminal record in the past and was not on the radar of law enforcement in the capital.

Who is Cole Tomas Allen? According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, in 2017. His profile also indicated that he received a Master of Science degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in May 2025.

After graduating from Caltech, the suspect worked for a year as a mechanical engineer before becoming an independent video game developer and later also a part-time teacher at a company dedicated to helping high schoolers get into college.
Cole Tomas Allen, the man suspected of firing shots outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where US President Donald Trump was holding the annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday, was reportedly armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

Interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll was quoted by CNN as saying that the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner had several weapons as he charged a Secret Service checkpoint.

Also Read | White House dinner shooting LIVE: Suspected gunman in custody

He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, Carroll reportedly said. Police added, As he ran through that checkpoint, members of law enforcement from the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual."

Carroll added that the suspect and law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire.

Gunman appeared to assemble 'long' weapon A White House Correspondents Dinner volunteer told the New York Post the suspected gunman appeared to assemble a long weapon in a lightly monitored area near the terrace-level entrance before opening fire and rushing toward the ballroom.

The witness, Helen Mabus, a volunteer working the event, described a makeshift room near the entrance where bar carts were being stored and where there was no security at the time.

He was in that room [] he grabbed it out of a bag or something, Mabus was quoted by the New York Post as saying, adding that the weapon was long and didnt look like a typical gun.

Mabus said the suspect was partially out of view of security as he handled the weapon inside the room before suddenly moving toward the main event space.

He put it together and [] ran towards the stairs to go down to the ballroom, she said.

The gunman then began firing in multiple directions as guests and staff scrambled to escape, she added.

It just seemed like he was shooting all over the place, Mabus said, estimating she heard at least 10 shots.

Mabus told the report she fled in the opposite direction and did not see the suspect apprehended, adding that the chaos unfolded just steps from the path leading down to the ballroom where hundreds of high-profile guests had gathered.

Gunman in custody The suspect has been taken into custody and will face two charges, according to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro: using a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

He was swiftly detained, with shocking photos showing the shirtless suspect sprawled face down on the floor of the Washington Hilton.

According to reports, the incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.

Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table," a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.

Also Read | White House dismisses reports of 35 day deadline for Iran talks

What did Trump say? Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.

"I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He [the attacker] hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him," Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
The White House Correspondents Dinner shooter has reportedly been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. US President Donald Trump in a press briefing revealed that the suspect who disrupted the dinner on Saturday at the banquet hall of the Washington Hilton Hotel was carrying multiple weapons but was subdued and is in custody, Bloomberg reported.

Suggesting that assassins attack the most impactful people, Trump at the White House press briefing said, A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service."

Cole Tomas was arrested after he allegedly open fired toward the ballroom where Trump and roughly 2,500 guests had assembled at around 8:30 PM when salad was being served.

View full Image View full Image POTUS shared an image of White House Correspondents Dinner shooter who was detained after he opened fire on Saturday night.

View full Image View full Image White House Correspondents Dinner shooter who was detained forced to the ground by Security Service agents after he opened fire on Saturday night. ( POTUS )

A federal law enforcement source confirmed that Cole Tomas Allen was a teacher in California, New York post reported.

Is White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter alive? Washington Post journalist John Hudson revealed that the suspect is alive and has been transported to Howard University Hospital, citing a statement of one US official and one law enforcement official. He further disclosed that a Secret Service agent was injured and is in the hospital.

Describing the shooter as a lone wolf, Trump said that one officer was shot, but is doing great" as he was protected by a bullet-proof vest. The shooter was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service, and they acted very quickly," the US President added as he suggested that other senior US officials were evacuated from the event in Washington, DC, immediately.

Trump continued, As you know this is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill, adding In light of this evenings events, I asked that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolving our difference peacefully. The US President further indicated that police were searching the suspects residence in California.

Earlier, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump and members of his Cabinet were safe and unharmed by the open firing. He vowed to headline another correspondents dinner within 30 days and to rework his prepared remarks.

Cole Tomas Allen to be charged with crime of violence According to US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, the suspect will be charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, in addition to one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Indicating that the suspect will be arraigned in court on Monday, she said, This individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could, as she expected many more charges in the probe.

More about Cole Tomas Allen Eagle eyed social media users scanned Cole Tomas Allen's LinkedIn profile and suggested that the suspect graduated from Caltech with Mechanical Engineering degree in 2017 and earned a master's in computer science in 2025 from Dominguez Hills and Research Fellowship at NASA.
KABUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of two dozen artifacts, including some pottery works, have been discovered in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, reported the official Radio and Television of Afghanistan on Sunday.

The relics, which included 23 pieces of water-pipe-like potteries and a piece of stone inscription, were found in a historical place known as Asfandeh inside Ghazni city, the provincial capital of Ghazni province, over the past couple of days.

Without providing more details, the official media outlet added that all the discovered relics had been shifted to the Ghazni museum for preservation. 
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will head to Japan, China and South Korea this week to talk energy supplies, ahead of the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis expected visit to the continent in early May.

Wong will first go to Tokyo on Monday to meet her Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and other ministers, according to a government statement on Sunday. She will discuss energy and fuel security, the war in the Middle East and other topics, according to the statement.

The two nations have a relationship built on trust, aligned values, and mutual interests. Together, we support a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient, Wong said in the statement.

Japan and Australia are set to sign a deal on deepening economic security ties during Takaichis visit, Japanese media reported this month, with the two nations building up defense links and now sharing weapons procurement. The two countries are increasing defense spending and taking a more active security stance as China grows more assertive and the US becomes less reliable.

After Tokyo, Wong heads to Beijing on Wednesday for a regular strategic dialog meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wong is then set to visit Seoul for discussions with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, likely to focus on energy and fuel.

Korea is one of Australias most important sources of refined fuels, Wong said in the statement, adding that the government is working to ensure that countries in the region prioritize exporting to Australia.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
The armed suspect who tried to enter a Washington ballroom where President Donald Trump was speaking was likely targeting administration officials, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Blanche said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that the man is believed to have acted alone after traveling by train from California and had been staying at the Washington Hilton, which was hosting the annual White House Correspondents Dinner where Trump was scheduled to speak.

Based on our investigations so far we believe the suspect was targeting administration officials, Blanche said, citing certain writings by the suspect and interviews with people who knew him. Blanche declined to be drawn on whether Trump was the target, saying only that he was part of the administration.

It remains unclear what the suspects motives were, Blanche said, adding that he doesnt see a connection to any particular administration policy directive so far.

The alleged gunman  identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, will be charged on Monday with assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm in an assault, Blanche said on NBC. He said later on CBSs Face the Nation that more charges would be possible depending on the shooters motive and the evidence gathered during the investigation that is underway.

A Secret Service agent was shot but the round hit his bulletproof vest and the officer will be fine, Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, said Saturday night at a news conference.

The gunfire disrupted Trumps first appearance as president at the annual dinner, which his predecessors routinely attended. Secret Service officers rushed into the room to evacuate Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet officials. Attendees ducked under tables to take shelter. The incident took place just outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton where the dinner took place.

The shooting marked the latest example of political violence that has plagued the nation, including the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and the Pennsylvania governors mansion being set ablaze. Trump has been the subject of prior assassination attempts, including at a Pennsylvania rally in 2024, in which his ear was grazed by a bullet.

The motive of the attacker was unclear but is believed to be a lone wolf, Trump said at Saturday nights news conference.

With assistance from Sam Kim, Hadriana Lowenkron, Maria Paula Mijares Torres and Josh Wingrove.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Anthropic recently ran an experiment where the San Francisco-based AI startup noted how its AI models negotiated and completed real transactions on behalf of users in a controlled internal marketplace. Anthropic noted in a blog post that the experiment called Project Deal was a week-long pilot that was conducted at its San Francisco office, where employees used AI agents based on Claude to buy and sell goods without human intervention during negotiations.

How did Anthropic's AI agent marketplace work? Anthropic says it recruited 69 employees in December last year for the project and gave each of them a $100 budget to spend in a custom Slack-based marketplace. First, Claude interviewed the participants to determine what personal belongings they wanted to sell, what they wanted to buy, and their preferred negotiation style.

Based on these responses, Anthropic then assigned each participant a customised Claude AI agent with specific instructions on pricing and behaviour. These agents were then deployed into multiple Slack channels, where they independently posted listings, discovered potential matches, made offers, negotiated prices, and finalised deals. Anthropic says there was no human intervention once the marketplace went live, with agents not seeking approval from users during negotiations or during bidding.

Once agents reached agreements, they generated deal terms and confirmed trades. These were later executed in the real world, with employees meeting in person to exchange the goods that had been negotiated entirely by their AI representatives.

Anthropic says it was highly impressed with how the experiment went, with 186 deals being struck across more than 500 listed items, generating a total transaction value of just over $4,000.

To our surprise, participants were very enthusiastic about the experiencethey even stated a willingness to pay for a similar service in the future.

Anthropic reveals the risk of AI inequality: Anthropic says it ran four parallel versions of the marketplace to test how the participants fared if they were represented by different classes of Claude models. Out of the four experiments, there was one real experiment where actual items changed hands and three other experiments that were only for its study. However, participants were not told which one until after the experiment concluded.

Two of these experiments used the then-flagship Opus 4.5 model, while the other two experiments used a mix of Opus and the smaller Claude Haiku 4.5 model.

Anthropic said the results revealed clear differences in outcomes depending on the model representing the user. Participants assigned to Opus agents completed more deals on average and were able to secure better prices in negotiations. In cases where the same item was sold across different runs, the Opus agent often managed to sell it for a higher price compared to Haiku.

Here's what Anthropic's data revealed:

Users with Opus completed about two more deals on average than those using Haiku.

When the exact same item was sold by Opus instead of Haiku across the different runs, the smarter model extracted $3.64 more on average. For example, a broken folding bike sold by Haiku fetched $38, but the Opus agent secured $65 for the exact same item.

Overall, Opus earned $2.68 more on average when acting as a seller, and paid $2.45 less when acting as a buyer.

The company then went on to warn about the agent quality implications in real-world marketplaces, where differences in AI capability could create unequal advantages without users realising they are at a disadvantage.
OpenAI launched its GPT-5.5 model earlier this week with the aim of taking on Anthropic's recently launched Claude Opus 4.7 and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro models. The new model is claimed to come with massive leaps in coding capabilities along with improved agentic abilities and scientific research.

How does GPT-5.5 compare against Claude and Gemini? OpenAI's GPT-5.5 leads the benchmarks for agentic use and efficiency, but the new model still lags behind Claude on benchmarks that require precision coding, while Gemini 3.1 Pro maintains a lead in areas around academic reasoning.

Where ChatGPT leads Across the various benchmarks, GPT-5.5 (including its Pro variant) took the top spot in 15 categories, while Claude Opus 4.7 led in 7 evaluations, and Gemini 3.1 Pro secured 2 wins.

On Terminal-Bench 2.0, which tests complex command-line workflows and tool coordination, GPT-5.5 achieved an accuracy of 82.7%, ahead of Opus 4.7 (69.4%) and Gemini 3.1 Pro (68.5%).

The trend continues in benchmarks that measure professional knowledge work and autonomous computer operation.

On the GDPval benchmark, which measures a model's ability to produce well-specified work across various occupations, GPT-5.5 scored 84.9%, outpacing both Claude Opus 4.7 (80.3%) and Gemini 3.1 Pro (67.3%).

When it comes to operating a real computer independently, GPT-5.5 narrowly came ahead of the competition on OSWorld-Verified with a 78.7% score, just a fraction ahead of Claude Opus 4.7 at 78.0%.

Benchmark (Category) GPT-5.5 GPT-5.5 Pro Claude Opus 4.7 Gemini 3.1 Pro Terminal-Bench 2.0 (Agentic Coding) 82.7% - 69.4% 68.5% SWE-Bench Pro (Real-world Coding) 58.6% - 64.3% 54.2% GDPval (Professional Knowledge) 84.9% 82.3% 80.3% 67.3% OSWorld-Verified (Computer Use) 78.7% - 78.0% - BrowseComp (Tool Use) 84.4% 90.1% 79.3% 85.9% FrontierMath Tier 13 (Academic Math) 51.7% 52.4% 43.8% 36.9% FrontierMath Tier 4 (Advanced Math) 35.4% 39.6% 22.9% 16.7% GPQA Diamond (Expert Reasoning) 93.6% - 94.2% 94.3% ARC-AGI-1 (Abstract Reasoning) 95.0% - 93.5% 98.0% CyberGym (Cybersecurity) 81.8% - 73.1% -

Where Claude Opus 4.7 leads Meanwhile, Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.7 still traced ahead of ChatGPT and Gemini in areas that require real-world coding and complex data retrieval.

Claude maintained its dominance on SWE-Bench Pro, a critical benchmark for resolving real-world GitHub issues. The Opus 4.7 scored 64.3% on the benchmark compared to GPT-5.5's 58.6% and Gemini's 54.2%.

It also outperformed OpenAI on FinanceAgent v1.1 (64.4%), MCP Atlas (79.1%), and the coveted Humanity's Last Exam (46.9%).

Additionally, Claude Opus 4.7 took three wins in the Graphwalks long-context evaluations, beating GPT-5.5 in the BFS 256k, parents 256k, and parents 1mil categories. Where Gemini 3.1 Pro leads While Google's model lagged behind Claude and Gemini in agentic tool use and coding, it still maintains a lead in benchmarks that require high-level reasoning.

Gemini 3.1 Pro narrowly edged out the competition on the graduate-level GPQA Diamond benchmark, scoring 94.3% to beat Claude's 94.2% and GPT-5.5's 93.6%.

It also demonstrated superior abstract reasoning on ARC-AGI-1 (Verified), securing an impressive 98.0% compared to GPT-5.5's 95.0% and Claude's 93.5%. Netizens react to GPT-5.5 launch: Social media has been largely divided on whether GPT-5.5 is finally better than Claude for coding related tasks. While some users have noted that the model felt more intuitive and expert-like than its predecessor and posses the ability to one-shot create entire apps via Codex.

However, others weren't as impressed with some users noting that the model felt like GPT-5.4 with minor fixes.

I would say it somewhat trades blows with Opus 4.7 in terms of pure coding quality; however the improved speed and MUCH MUCH more generous Codex gives it the win. wrote one user on Reddit

GPT-5.4 already worked well, especially for coding, but writing was the part where I still felt some weakness. With 5.5, that feels noticeably better. The responses have less of that GPT smell and are easier to read, closer to the way Claude or Gemini tends to explain things. wrote another
For years, one of the most annoying experiences for a Windows user has been being forced to restart or shut down your computer because of pending Windows updates. To the relief of over a billion Windows users globally, the Redmond, Washington-based tech giant Microsoft is finally listening to user feedback, giving them the choice over when to update their Windows.

Microsoft says the two key themes in the feedback that it has received from users have been disruption caused by untimely updates and not enough control over when updates happen. As a result of this, Microsoft says it is rolling out changes to the Windows 11 update policy that are focused on giving Windows users more control over their PC experience, while keeping devices secure by design and by default.

Here is a breakdown of how the new update blocking policy from Microsoft works, alongside other major updates coming to Windows.

Microsoft now lets you pause Windows indefinitely: Traditionally, Windows has allowed users to pause updates for 35 days (i.e. 5 weeks), before you were forced to install all the pending updates on your device. While the 35-day pause period has remained the same, Microsoft now allows users to indefinitely delay these updates 35 days at a time. Effectively, this means users can now pause Windows updates indefinitely by delaying updates 35 days at a time.

With a new calendar experience, you can choose a specific day of the month you want to pause until, up to 35 days, enabling you to plan around expected travel, conferences, exams, or even just busy weeks. Microsofts Aria Hanson wrote in a blog post.

View full Image View full Image Windows 11 Update policy change

Shutdown, restart at your own time: Another major frustration for Windows users is being forced to install a pending update just to shut down their laptop before packing it away. Microsoft is also solving this by clearly decoupling the power-down actions from updates.

In plain speak, this means that you will now always see the standard "Restart" and "Shut down" options in the Windows Power menu so that you can just turn off your Windows device without being forced to "Update and restart" or "Update and shut down".

Restarting or shutting down your PC should always be simple, predictable, and on your terms  even with updates waiting to be installed. Hanson noted in the blog.

What other changes is Microsoft bringing to Windows? Microsoft also said it is working to reduce how often users are interrupted by Windows updates. The company announced a few other changes to make this a reality:

Unified monthly reboots: Microsoft announced that it is unifying the update experience by aligning the driver, .NET, and firmware updates to the monthly quality update in order to reduce the sheer number of updates in a single month

Microsoft announced that it is unifying the update experience by aligning the driver, .NET, and firmware updates to the monthly quality update in order to reduce the sheer number of updates in a single month Clearer driver names: To address confusion around update names, driver updates will now clearly list their device class in the title by explicitly labelling categories such as display, audio, or battery, to make it easier for users to understand what update they are installing

To address confusion around update names, driver updates will now clearly list their device class in the title by explicitly labelling categories such as display, audio, or battery, to make it easier for users to understand what update they are installing Skipping updates on new Windows setup: Another pain point Microsoft is addressing is giving users the option of skipping updates during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE). This means that new users can quickly set up their Windows device and then manually update Windows later on
Samiksha Goel

Samiksha Goel is a Bengalurubased journalist at Mint with seven years of experience reporting on startups, venture capital and strategic business narratives. She specialises in investigative reporting and company strategyfocused stories that go beyond surfacelevel developments to unpack why and how companies evolve, pivot and compete. Samiksha has been among the first to chronicle major startup sagas, from early deep dives into the GoMechanic story to nuanced analyses of shifting dynamics between foodtech platforms like Swiggy and their restaurant partners, bringing clarity to complex, fastmoving markets.<br><br>Before joining Mint, she was at The Morning Context, where she produced longform investigative pieces on consumer internet startups. She began her journalism career with Deccan Herald and The New Indian Express, covering emerging ventures and the broader business ecosystem. Drawing on a background in philosophy, she brings analytical rigour and intellectual curiosity to her reporting.<br><br>Outside her professional work, Samiksha enjoys reading, especially historical fiction and magic realism, going on day treks from Bengaluru, exploring the citys food scene, and experimenting with fun recipes in her kitchen. Her days are spent digging into startups, untangling company strategies, and occasionally getting lost on a walk by a Bengaluru lake, sometimes in that order.
Buc-ee's and H-E-B are among Texans' most trusted and favorite homegrown brands, according to an April 2026 survey conducted by Washington, D.C.-based firm LSG. Brandon Bell/Getty Images; JHVEPhoto, Getty Images

It's no secret that Texans love to support local, homegrown brands, but a new study released this week outlines which Texas-founded companies have garnered the most trust and consumer rapport in the Lone Star State.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

LSG  a communications and public affairs organization based in Washington, D.C. with a Texas outpost in The Woodlands  surveyed 1,500 people across Austin, Dallas and Houston earlier this year to gauge which brands they trust the most, releasing the findings on Thursday, April 23. Among those surveyed, 86% of respondents said they "strongly identify with Texas culture and identity" and utilize that via their purchasing habits.

The brands that earned the most respect and support? H-E-B, Whataburger, Buc-ee's, Blue Bell and Dr Pepper led the Texas masses in garnering the most substantial customer buy-in, LSG's analysis revealed.

"The brands that have earned the deepest trust and favorability across all three markets, H-E-B, Whataburger, Buc-ees, Blue Bell, and Dr Pepper, didnt get there by accident," LSG's report read in part. "Theyve built reputations on reliability, consistency, and an authentic connection to the communities they serve."

San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B led the way with a whopping 92% support from respondents, the highest share among brands evaluated. Whataburger, Blue Bell and Buc-ee's landed virtually neck and neck at 87%, 86% and 86%, respectively, while Dr Pepper rounded out the Top 5 with 81% support. Other Texas brands highlighted in LSG's study included Southwest Airlines with 72% favorability, and Dell Technologies at 71%.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

That trust in Texas-based brands largely surpassed loyalty to national brands, LSG's findings further noted. Austin, Dallas and Houston residents surveyed conveyed a 40% loyalty to Texas brands, a substantial spike over just 12% trust and support for national ones.

Local-centric support also resulted in many respondents spending a bit extra to patron those businesses, with 72% responding trust and reliability matters more to them than securing the lowest prices on the market. Similarly, 83% confirmed they'd be willing to shell out a bit more cash for a trustworthy brand, with 65% of those saying they'd be willing to pay up to 15% more as a result.

While the analysis focused on the overall Texas triangle, brand adherence didn't only apply to native Texans. LSG's survey revealed 52% of Texas transplants living in that three-city triangle region "feel connected to Texas brands" within a year of living in the Lone Star State.
H-E-B has announced a new location in a North Texas region dubbed ... HEB. The acronym stands for Hurst, Euless and Bedford, just between Dallas and Fort Worth. Courtesy of H-E-B

North Texans have been begging for H-E-B to continue its expansion for years, ever since the beloved grocer made its regional debut in Frisco in 2022. Now, the chain is inching towards a new store for another North Texas area, and the name couldn't be more perfect.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-area suburbs of Hurst, Euless and Bedford (known to locals as HEB) is up next for an H-E-B location. The 126,000-square-foot store  known as H-E-B Mid-Cities to avoid confusion  is coming up at the of Cheek-Sparger Road and Rio Grande Boulevard, according to a 2024 press release from the grocer. Features include a pharmacy with a drive-thru, a True Texas BBQ eatery, Curbside and delivery, as well as a gas station and car wash. It broke ground back in 2024, and now there's rumblings that an opening date is near.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Documented by one Texan on TikTok, a billboard went up teasing "H-E-B in HEB? OMG!" In response, one commenter said "it's about time" it opened. So, when can locals expect this aptly-placed grocery store? According to one WFAA reporter on Instagram, folks can expect it in the second half of this year, and that 2024 ground breaking press release does say the store is expected in 2026. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Report places the opening in late 2026. So while specific details have yet to be announced, it does seem that locals will have to wait at least a few more months for butter tortillas, sushi and other viral finds in their zip code.
David Settle III, 33, was arrested Tuesday, July 4, 2023 for allegedly holding three children under the age of 3 hostage the day prior in Laredo at the 2500 block of Rosie Court. Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office

A man who barricaded himself for nearly three hours during a July 3, 2023, incident pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years of probation on April 9, 2026, in the 341st District Court before Judge Beckie Palomo.

David Settle III was arrested and charged with a deadly weapon (4 counts), a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He initially pleaded not guilty at his October 28, 2025 arraignment before Associate Judge Jose Maldonado and requested trial settings as the case moved forward.

During pretrial proceedings, attorneys indicated they were working on a global plea agreement that could also resolve a separate pending case.

On April 9, Settle appeared before Palomo and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As part of the agreement, the remaining three counts were dismissed.

The court accepted the plea and sentenced Settle to seven years of community supervision. As conditions of probation, he must complete 200 hours of community service, attend intervention programs including Stop the Violence and Thinking for a Change, and make a $200 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Laredo.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The sentence will run concurrent with another case.

Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison, though the court opted for probation under the plea agreement.

A compliance hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Background

For nearly three hours on Monday, July 3, 2023, a man barricaded himself inside a mobile home in Laredo holding three young children under the age of 3 hostage.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

It took a breach to end the situation as the assailant was detained without incident despite a large capacity rifle within his reach. The children saved were 2 and 3 years old as well as 3 months. LPD announced that Settle was arrested July 4, 2023.

He was charged with four counts of aggravated assault family violence.

The children were all taken to the hospital in stable condition Monday, while Settle was also taken there for medical clearance.

LPD Patrol officers, negotiators, supervisors and commanders; the Laredo Fire Department; and the LPD SWAT Team all collaborated and worked hard toward a successful outcome with all three children involved making it out safely, along with the assailant, LPD said in a statement. The preparation, training and tenacity of these officers and first responders are the reasons why we are Laredo proud.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The incident began before 5 p.m. at a mobile home at the 2500 block of Rosie Court.

A woman stated that during an argument, Settle demanded that she return an iPad that she had recently bought for her birthday. He demanded she get a refund because he needed the money to fix his vehicle, according to court documents.

Settle then flipped over a glass table causing it to shatter. The woman shielded her 2-year-old child from the breaking glass, sustaining a minor scrape to her right wrist and one to her right heel. The 2-year-old also sustained injuries from stepping on the broken glass, police said.

The woman called Verizon to get a refund for the iPad. Settle then approached her from behind and racked the rifle. When she looked at him, he pointed the rifle at her and told her in part-English and part-Spanish, I'm going to kill you (and I'm going to kill the children), according to the affidavit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She added that the three children were with her as he threatened them with the rifle. Settle then told her to go to her mothers house to get the money he needed.

LPD said that the woman managed to get out of the house and went to family members for help.

Police reportedly received a domestic violence call, as a woman reported her significant other had wrecked the house and made threats.

The Laredo Police Department sent to the scene LPD patrol, command negotiators and the LPD Special Weapons and Tactics Team to help end the conflict. The Laredo Fire Department was also on hand.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Police said that contact was attempted with the male but it was never made.

SWAT decided to breach the home and was able to resolve the situation. Images showed officers emerging from the home with the three young children in their arms.

Police said the man was in a state of sleep at the time of the breach. A large-capacity rifle was within his reach at the time. He was detained without incident.

Violation of protective order

Settle later faced an additional charge, according to court documents.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Laredo police said that Settle III, sent emails from the Webb County Jail to his ex-spouse thus violating a protective order.

Settle was served with an arrest warrant for violation of a protective order while he was in custody.

The case unraveled at about 9:42 a.m. July 5, 2023, when police officers responded to a theft call in the 2400 block of Geronimo Drive. A woman stated that she wanted to file a theft report for her stolen Apple Watch which was pawned.

Authorities would identify the suspect as Settle, her ex-spouse. Settle was arrested on July 3 on the four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, where the victims were his ex-spouse and her children.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The woman stated that Settle attempted to contact her three times using a smart communication website named smartjailmail.com. Police said the woman had three separate messages she could not open due to funds not available in the account, states the arrest affidavit.

Court documents stated that Settle was issued an emergency protective order on July 4 following his arrest on allegations that he barricaded himself with the three children and pointed a gun at his ex-spouse.

Settle was prohibited from making any type of attempt to communicate with the woman. Settle violated the protective order by sending the emails, according to police.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Advocates and lawmakers gather for a press conference April 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C., to discuss concerns related to proposed border wall construction. Courtesy/Julio Obscura

Laredo residents, members of the Rio Grande International Study Center and city officials recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak on the impacts a border wall and related infrastructure could bring to the community.

The group traveled alongside nonprofit Earthjustice on April 16, which held a press conference with six Democratic members of Congress sounding the alarm on the Trump administrations $46.5 billion border wall plan.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Among those leading the conversation was the city's District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa, who stressed the risks she believes could come if the border wall and buoy system move forward without further study.

She argued that Laredo has some of the lowest border crossing numbers compared to sectors like Big Bend, yet U.S. Customs and Border Protection is looking to place roughly 180 miles of border wall and 120 miles of buoys along the Rio Grande.

What concerned her most was the historic district she represents and the neighborhoods along the river.

This river is an urban river with 20-plus riverside neighborhoods dating back to the 1800s in Laredo that house tens of thousands of residents that I represent, and there are tens of thousands of people in our sister city Nuevo Laredo, in Mexico, who live along this river too, Cigarroa said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She pointed to the Mark Tompkins Report, commissioned by RGISC and the Riverfront Landowners Coalition in March, as the only study she has seen addressing the potential impacts.

The report stated that floating buoys could snag on bridge structures or trap debris, disrupting water flow and potentially damaging infrastructure. They could also limit floodwater dispersion, increase flooding in nearby residential areas, and raise water velocities along riverbanks, elevating flood levels and placing additional stress on flood control systems during severe weather.

Our geography of that river makes it so dangerous to put hard infrastructure along the floodplain, she said. A wall will displace water. And in our case, it creates havoc for the populations that live along this river.

Cigarroa said the lack of additional studies, particularly flood modeling, raises concerns for local leaders.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

FEMA typically develops floodwater maps so engineers can model what an infrastructure project would do in an area, but she said there is a lack of one for this project.

Because the laws have been waived, were very hesitant to accept that on good faith, she said. Its part of our due diligence as city leaders. We cant make decisions that could potentially cause the deaths of people who live in these riverside neighborhoods. The report shows this risk of loss of life, and there are no other studies for us to review.

It is our duty as city leaders to oppose the wall until the proper studies are conducted and this plan is changed to prove that people in my community will not die.

Despite these concerns, she acknowledged that contracts have already been issued and that the project remains a priority for the Trump administration.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Theres a narrative out there that we need a wall to keep the rest of the country safe, and thats just not true, she said, citing that 60% of individuals in the country illegally were due to overstayed visas. This effort to seal off our border does not make any sense. It will not reach the objective of not allowing undocumented people into the country.

The trip also gave local leaders the opportunity to take those concerns directly to federal officials.

We had people come in from Laredo and Eagle Pass that are concerned about the wall construction and how that affects lives on the U.S. side, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said in a recap video of discussions during FY 2027 budget hearings.

Cuellar said he presented the Tompkins report to the committee, addressing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow and Commissioner Rodney Scott.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Im asking we add certain exceptions to the Laredo area, to the Zapata area and to Big Bend, Cuellar said. Now that were looking at $46.5 billion of border wall money, I do have certain concerns.  My communities are concerned about the construction and the potential flood risks, impact to drinking water and threats to public land we have.

He requested unanimous support to enter the reports executive summary into the record, which was approved without objection.

Cuellar also asked whether agencies like the International Boundary Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers could respond to the findings presented.

If you disagree that there are no threats to it, tell us why, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Federal officials, however, emphasized the importance of border security.

Scott said illegal immigration patterns shift over time, but threats remain constant.

The illegal immigration ebbs and flows, but the foreign terrorist organizations just south of our border that are bringing in threats into this country constantly use illegal immigration to create gaps to bring people into the United States, Scott said. That border wall  that is critical.

While Cuellar pointed to declining crossings in the Laredo sector, Scott attributed that to enforcement and deterrence measures, including the deployment of up to 11,000 Department of Defense personnel along the border.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The personnel salaries, thats the most expensive part of border security, he said. Building the border wall is actually an investment that saves American taxpayers money.

Scott added that he remains open to continued discussions.

Were going to do it smartly, and I commit to having conversations with you and others on how we do that, he said.
"This place has hidden the truth about Japan's history of aggression. I want to reveal it to more people," standing at the entrance of the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression, 89-year-old Junichi Hasegawa told Xinhua. #GLOBALink




Osvaldo Alvarez. Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office Alejandro Melendez. Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office

The wheels of justice turn daily in Laredos district courts, where felony charges  some years old, others newly filed  move through the system. Here's a look at some of the cases that were recently on the docket.

Osvaldo Alvarez

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Charges: Sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

Date filed: Sept. 20, 2023.

Latest info: On April 10, Alvarez pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child in the 49th District Court, where Judge Jose A. Lopez sentenced him to 8 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with credit for time served after he was taken into custody on a warrant for failing to appear at a prior sentencing hearing.

Background

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Alvarez was arrested for having sex with a 14-year-old girl in a case dating back to Nov. 2022, according to Laredo police.

Alvarez was served with an arrest warrant on June 12, 2023 charging him with sexual assault of a child, a second degree felony.

The case unfolded at about 7:41 p.m. Nov. 8, 2022, when officers responded to a sexual assault report at the Stripes by Park Street and Santa Maria Avenue.

A woman stated that her niece was missing. The teen was later located with her legal guardian. The legal guardian told the aunt that something bad happened, according to an arrest affidavit.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Authorities then learned that a male described as a painter with a tattoo of a tear drop and tattoos on his arms had sex in the back of a gray Chevy car with the girl, states the affidavit.

On Nov. 15, the child underwent a forensic interview at the Childrens Advocacy Center. She stated that a stranger picked her up in a gray car. She stated they planned to break into her house to get her stuff, court documents state.

A few days later, she saw him at another location and he said hi to her. They went to an apartment where he said he works.

She added that they had sex in the back of his car. DNA testing would reveal a federal convicted offender identified as Alvarez had sexually assaulted the girl, according to court documents.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Alejandro Melendez

Charges:

Aggravated assault against a public servant, a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.

Evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.

Unauthorized use of a vehicle, a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility.

Date filed: Aug. 6, 2025.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Latest info: On April 10, Melendez pleaded guilty to evading arrest with a vehicle in the 406th District Court, where Judge David E. Garcia granted deferred adjudication and placed him on 10 years of community supervision with 500 hours of community service. The aggravated assault and unauthorized use of a vehicle charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Background

Melendez rammed his vehicle into a Texas Department of Public Safety unit during a pursuit in Sep. 2024, authorities said

DPS identified the suspect as Alejandro Melendez.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Melendez was arrested on the felony and misdemeanor charges of aggravated assault against a public servant, deadly conduct, engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, striking an unattended vehicle and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

The case unfolded on Sept. 20, when Melendez was involved in a pursuit with DPS in a white GMC Sierra. Authorities said the chase started near Interstate 35 and it ended just south of the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.

During the pursuit, Melendez rammed one of the DPS patrol units. Authorities also determined that the GMC was reported stolen, according to DPS.
A photo of two decorated pairs of jeans during the Denim Day proclamation on April 21, 2026, at City Hall. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times

Laredo officials have designated April 29 as Denim Day, aligning with a global campaign to raise awareness about sexual assault and support survivors.

Denim Day, observed annually on the last Wednesday of April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, began in Italy in the 1990s after a court overturned a rape conviction, citing the victims tight jeans as a factor. The decision sparked international outrage, leading women in the Italian Parliament to wear denim in solidarity.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Laredo Mayor Victor Trevino said the day serves as a reminder that there is no justification for sexual assault and no place for victim blaming.

Wearing denim is more than a symbol  it is a statement that we support survivors and are committed to prevention through education and awareness, Trevino said.

Laredo officials and community leaders pose for a photo during the Denim Day proclamation on April 21, 2026, at City Hall. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times

District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa said attitudes toward harassment and violence have shifted over time but emphasized that progress remains uneven.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The violence is real, Cigarroa said, recalling past incidents in Laredo. As a society, we cannot allow it to continue.

Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez said the issue remains a persistent concern for investigators, noting that offender behavior has changed little over the years.

A powerful reminder that what someone wears is never an excuse for assault, Rodriguez said. We believe in survivors, we support them and were committed to holding offenders accountable.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez addresses the crowd during the Denim Day proclamation on April 21, 2026, at City Hall. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times

Rodriguez also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve how victims are treated, including plans to expand specialized services for survivors through the departments Special Victims Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Rogelio Soto Jr., representing the Webb County District Attorneys Office, said cases of sexual violence often leave lasting trauma on victims and their families, making awareness efforts critical.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is just speak up, Soto said. We want them to know they are not alone.
Texas Department of Public Safety vehicles photographed on May 12, 2018. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper based in Laredo, arrested earlier this year in a federal child enticement case, has pleaded guilty, according to court records filed in the Southern District of Texas.

Christian Estrada, 39, entered a guilty plea April 8 to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. Under a plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to recommend a 121-month prison sentence  just over 10 years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo set sentencing for July 14, and a presentence investigation report is due May 13. Estrada remains in federal custody.

As part of the plea agreement, Estrada waived his right to appeal his conviction and sentence, except on limited grounds, including claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

A DPS spokesperson told the Laredo Morning Times in March that Estrada was immediately suspended Jan. 8 after he was taken into custody in Webb County. The agencys Office of Inspector General also launched a separate administrative investigation.

Estrada joined DPS in 2008 and was stationed in Laredo.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

According to a federal affidavit, the case began in April 2025 when an FBI online undercover employee contacted a user operating under the username dopehound on Reddit, Snapchat and Telegram.

Over the following months, the user expressed sexual interest in what he believed was a 12-year-old girl, discussed meeting her in person and repeatedly requested explicit images. He also told the undercover employee he had previously had sex with a 13-year-old in a neighboring city, the affidavit states.

The user also told multiple Reddit users he was a cop, had been for 16 years, and lived in Laredo near Shiloh Drive and International Boulevard  details investigators said matched Estradas employment and residence. Investigators later traced IP logs from the Reddit account to Estradas residence, according to the affidavit.

By November 2025, the user sought to communicate directly with the fictitious 12-year-old and provided a Snapchat account. On or about Nov. 28, he initiated contact with someone he believed was the 12-year-old. The conversations included sexual topics and repeated requests for explicit images, the affidavit states.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The FBI received a subpoena return from Reddit on Dec. 16 that helped identify the account holder, and investigators concluded the account was linked to Estrada.

Agents executed a search warrant at Estradas residence Jan. 8, 2026, and interviewed him during the search. During that interview, he confirmed that biographical details tied to the Reddit account  including his high school, graduation year, age, address and name  matched his own, the affidavit states. He also identified the Telegram account dopehound as his.

When agents showed him screenshots of the online conversations, Estrada said he did not recall them but acknowledged no one else in his household would have been responsible for the messages. When confronted with information linking the account activity to his personal data and residence, he responded, do what you gotta do, according to the affidavit.

Agents seized his phone during the search, and a review of his Snapchat account revealed numerous chats with users who indicated they were 14 and 15 years old, including one user handle titled 15 for older, the affidavit states.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Estrada was arrested Jan. 9 and indicted by a federal grand jury Feb. 3.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar at a press conference on April 24, 2026, outside the Laredo Water Museum. David Gomez Jr. /Laredo Morning Times Congressman Henry Cuellar, fourth from the left, announced two water projects that will benefit Lake Casa Blanca and Webb County Colonias at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park on Monday, July 15, 2024. Malena Charur/Laredo Morning Times

As drought conditions persist and demand for water continues to grow, local and federal leaders are pressing for broader regional action to secure Laredos long-term water supply.

This week at the Laredo Water Museum, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar joined Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino and state Rep. Richard Raymond to outline ongoing infrastructure efforts while emphasizing that cooperation across all levels of government remains critical.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trevino said recent investments  including $20 million in federal funding  are helping the city strengthen its system, particularly through a $26.6 million project to connect the Jefferson and El Pico water treatment plants.

The project is designed to ensure continuity if one plant fails, allowing the other to maintain service through an automated system.

Without that connection, a single failure could impact thousands of residents, Trevino said. Were moving from short-term response to long-term resilience.

Still, the mayor stressed that infrastructure upgrades alone will not solve the citys long-term challenges. Laredo relies entirely on the Rio Grande and has limited emergency reserves, leaving it vulnerable in the event of a disruption.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Our entire city depends on the river, Trevino said. Any disruption  whether from drought, contamination or an upstream incident  puts our water supply at risk.

Trevino added that in a worst-case scenario, the city has only eight to 10 hours of stored water available without significant conservation measures, underscoring the urgency of expanding storage capacity.

Cuellar said those risks are growing as drought conditions reduce river flow and population increases on both sides of the border place added pressure on available water.

Even if all the water thats supposed to come in comes in, it still may not be enough, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He emphasized that long-term planning must include alternative sources and stronger conservation efforts, calling water security a regional and national priority.

Water security is not just a local issue, its a regional and national priority, Cuellar said. If you dont plan ahead, then were going to be facing some problems.

A central focus of this week's discussion was the potential use of Lake Casa Blanca International State Park as an emergency storage reservoir. The concept would involve dredging the lake to increase capacity and storing treated water for future use, including water that is currently treated and discharged back into the Rio Grande.

Cuellar said federal authorization for the dredging project is already in place, but funding and coordination among local entities are still needed to move forward.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We need all local partners working together, he said.

He also acknowledged that discussions around the lake have become politically charged, but said water planning should remain the priority.

When we talk about water and the future of water security, there should be no politics at all, Cuellar said. We should all be focused on whats best for the community.

Raymond pointed to the proposal as a ready solution that has stalled despite support from city, state and federal leaders. He said the idea, first raised by Webb County Commissioner John Galo, has been under discussion for nearly two years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The state is ready to do it. The city is ready to do it. The federal government is ready to do it, Raymond said. We need the county to come to the table.

He added that the project would allow the lake to continue operating as a state park while also serving as a critical water reserve during emergencies.

Raymond said water security should take priority over other investments, calling it one of the most important responsibilities facing local leaders.

Water is life, he said. We have to show how important it is by our actions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He also emphasized that the issue affects the entire community, noting that most Webb County residents live within the city and would directly benefit from increased water security.

This is something that affects every single person in this community, Raymond said.

Utilities Director Tareq Al-Zabet said the plant interconnection project represents a major step toward reliability but acknowledged it is only part of a broader strategy.

You dont want to be in a position where one goes down and the other is not there, Al-Zabet said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He said the system will rely on automated controls to respond to outages, comparing it to a backup generator that activates instantly when needed.

Its like a generator at home, he said. If something goes down, the system kicks in.

Officials said the combination of infrastructure upgrades, expanded storage capacity and stronger regional coordination will be essential to avoid the kinds of water shortages seen in other Texas cities.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trevino said the city is preparing additional measures, including a proposed emergency action plan focused on increasing storage and long-term resilience.
A view of the Albert V. Bryan US Courthouse of the US District Court Eastern District of Virginia, on March 5, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. An Islamic State operative who helped plan the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal has been arrested, President Donald Trump has said. The bomber detonated a device among packed crowds as they tried to flee Afghanistan, killing 170 Afghans and 13 US troops securing the perimeter, days after the Taliban seized control of the capital. The Justice Department named the man as Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, and said he is expected to appear in a federal court in Virginia on on March 5, 2025. Among those that died in the bombing was Laredo Marine Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP Via Getty Images A view of the Albert V. Bryan US Courthouse of the US District Court Eastern District of Virginia, on March 5, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. An Islamic State operative who helped plan the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal has been arrested, President Donald Trump has said. The bomber detonated a device among packed crowds as they tried to flee Afghanistan, killing 170 Afghans and 13 US troops securing the perimeter, days after the Taliban seized control of the capital. The Justice Department named the man as Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, and said he is expected to appear in a federal court in Virginia on on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP) (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza Courtesy Smoke rises from a deadly explosion outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Two suicide bombers and gunmen have targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport, in the waning days of a massive airlift that has drawn thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Wali Sabawoon/AP Current and former service members salute Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, as his body is carried into St. Patrick's Church for a mass. LMT staff file

A man accused of helping facilitate the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed Laredo-area Marine Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza went on trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Mohammad Sharifullah, an Afghan national also known as Jafar, faces a potential life sentence after being charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death. He has pleaded not guilty.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The charges stem from the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul that killed 13 U.S. service members and about 160 civilians during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Among those killed was 20-year-old Espinoza, a Rio Bravo native who enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in 2019.

He was my hero, his mother, Elizabeth Holguin, told the Laredo Morning Times days after the attack. He was just brave enough to go do what he wanted and to help out people. Thats who he was, he was just perfect.

Holguin said she would not attend the trial, citing personal reasons.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A jury was selected and sworn in this past week, with opening statements delivered before prosecutors began presenting evidence.

Sharifullah was recruited into ISIS-K around 2016 and remained involved in the group for years, according to court records. He was released from prison in Afghanistan about two weeks before the attack and contacted by ISIS-K members to assist in an operation.

Sharifullah received a motorcycle, a cellphone and instructions to communicate with others involved in the attack. He was also tasked with scouting a route near the airport for a suicide bomber  conducting surveillance, checking for law enforcement and U.S. or Taliban checkpoints, then reporting that the path was clear, court records show.

Later that day, an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Abbey Gate, killing U.S. service members and civilians gathered at the airport.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Prosecutors told jurors the case relies in part on statements Sharifullah made during multiple interviews with FBI agents after his arrest in 2025. The interviews spanned several days, including sessions in Pakistan, during a flight to the United States and after his arrival, according to court records.

Prosecutors also said the evidence will include Sharifullahs own statements and other material showing his involvement in the attack and his broader role within ISIS-K.

Court records show Sharifullah told agents he carried out surveillance for the Abbey Gate attack but denied having a role in planning it. He also described his involvement in other ISIS-K-linked attacks, including a 2016 Kabul bombing and a 2024 attack at a concert venue near Moscow.

Defense attorneys challenged the governments case during opening statements, arguing Sharifullah was wrongly accused and his statements cannot be trusted.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. government got the wrong man, defense attorney Geremy Kamens said.

Defense attorneys argued Sharifullah gave a false confession under pressure while in foreign custody and had no role in the bombing plot. They pointed to conditions surrounding his detention and interrogation as evidence his statements were coerced, court records show.

Prosecutors countered that Sharifullah spoke voluntarily with investigators and that other evidence supports his statements, according to court records.

After prosecutors rested their case, defense attorneys filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing the government had failed to present sufficient evidence.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In the motion, defense attorneys said the case relies largely on Sharifullahs own statements to investigators and lacks independent evidence tying him to the attack. They also argued there is no proof his alleged actions directly caused the deaths at Abbey Gate, court records show.
Humble, Texas is where Mary Ann Murphy was killed in 2012 after being stabbed to death by her daughter's girlfriend. johnemac72/Getty Images

The 2012 murder of a Houston-area mother was featured on NBCs Dateline over the weekend once again telling the gruesome killing orchestrated by the womans daughter and her girlfriend.

Mary Ann Murphy was stabbed to death in the community of Humble, Texas (located in the northeast region of Houston), in 2012 in what turned out to be an in-depth murder plot carried out by 22-year-old Rebecca Keller who was dating Murphys teenage daughter, Keri.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

NBC Correspondent Keith Morrison reports in the episode, titled Down the Rabbit Hole, that Mary Ann Murphy wasnt disapproving of her daughter being in a same-sex relationship, but she did take issue with the age difference between the two girls. When Keri Murphy was a freshman in high school, Keller was a senior.

As police investigated, they found that the story of how Mary Ann Murphy was stabbed 73 times didnt add up. Keri Murphy initially lied to police, claiming another boy from school killed her mother after she let him into the house. However, as the investigation unfolded, both girls were ultimately brought to justice and sentenced to prison, where they will remain until at least middle age.

This isnt the first time Mary Ann Murphys death was featured on national television.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Baton Rouge police and Sheriff deputies respond to a mass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. Matthew Hinton/AP Law enforcement vehicles rare parked at the Mall of Louisiana after a shooting, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (Javier Gallegos/The Advocate via AP) Javier Gallegos/AP Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, left, speaks next to Police Chief Thomas S. "TJ" Morse, Jr. after a shooting at the Mall of Louisiana, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. Matthew Hinton/AP

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana authorities said Friday they had charged a 17-year-old with murder and were searching for another suspect after bystanders were caught in the crossfire of a shooting at a mall in Baton Rouge that killed one teenage girl and injured five other people.

Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said the shooting Thursday at the Mall of Louisiana was not a random act and seemed to be driven by social media beefs and maybe gang-related stuff," adding that the investigation was ongoing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We know that this was two groups of people that met up at the mall, exchanged words and then pulled guns and innocent people were hit, Morse said.

The chief spoke at a news conference alongside Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who vowed to crack down on gang violence in the capital city and said he had spoken with FBI Director Kash Patel. The Republican governor promised to use state, local and federal resources to address the issue and that consequences "are going to start being felt immediately.

Landry said he was asking all levels and sectors of law enforcement to prepare for a targeted warrant sweep for anyone connected to the mall shooting. He said it would focus on the neighborhoods that these individuals came out of" without naming specific parts of the city.

We are not going to allow our streets, our schools and our public spaces to become your battleground, Landry said. Those who brought this violence into our public spaces and into the lives of our ordinary citizens, I want you to know you are now the criminal problem and we are focused on you.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Shoppers and workers inside mall fled and hid for cover as shots rang out at in the food court. Morse said that two officers on duty at the mall ran toward the gunfire without hesitation and rendered aid. Their quick action helped save lives, he said.

Hundreds of police officers  some wearing tactical gear and carrying long riffles  descended on the mall.

Authorities say Martha Odom, a 17-year-old high school student from Lafayette, died in the shooting. Odom was visiting the mall with friends for her senior skip day, The Advocate reported. Two other high school students from Odom's school, Ascension Episcopal School, were among the injured.

In a social media post by the school, Odom was described as a joyful presence whose kindness and infectious enthusiasm brought light to all who knew her.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Five people were initially taken into custody following the shooting but later released. A 17-year-old was arrested Friday after turning himself in, Morse said. The teen has been charged with first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and a count of illegal use of a weapon.

Under recently enacted Louisiana law, 17-year-olds are treated as adults in the state's criminal justice system.

The deadly shooting is 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.
North Longford woman Kiara Lynch recently met with local TD Micheal Carrigy to discuss her campaign calling on the HSE to fund life-changing medication to treat Friedreichs ataxia (FA), a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease.

The 42 year-old was diagnosed with the rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease 28 years ago and since then she has been battling 'the relentless progression' affecting all of her abilities.

Kiara, who has been using a manual wheelchair since she was 17, has 'cardiac issues, lung issues, bladder issues, pressure sores, and constant pain in my neck and back'.

New drug treatment Skyclarys or omaveloxolone, the first treatment in the world for FA, was first approved for use in Europe in 2024 when Biogen Idec (Ireland) Limited, formally requested the HSE to fund the medication through the public health system.

READ NEXT: WATCH: 'How much are our lives worth': Longfordian battling deadly disease makes HSE plea

The HSE has the authority to approve Skyclarys, but it has not yet done so, and the application remains under active consideration.

There was a setback when the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), which provides independent HSE assessments on whether new drugs should be provided to the public, referred to the cost-effectiveness of Skyclarys at up to 300,000 per patient.

Kiara said her and sister Caitriona met Longford TD Micheal Carrigy at her home on Thursday, April 9.

"He discussed the issue of the availability of Skyclarys in Ireland and what we could do to raise awareness of the issue, and what he could do for us in terms of advocating for it on our behalf.

READ NEXT: Price talks ongoing as call for HSE support to treat Longfordian battling deadly disease

Deputy Carrigy described Kiara as being 'inspirational' and having a supportive family and he said he would highlight the call for 200 FA sufferers to benefit from access to the treatment.

"There is now a drug out there that would slow down the progress of her illness, and of others and I think they are entitled to that, and that's where the State needs to step in to support Kiara and others, I think it should be a priority.

"Kiara has battled in difficult circumstances, always using her voice, to advocate not just for herself, but for others in a similar position."

Deputy Carrigy said, 'unfortunately you have to battle with the HSE to get these things funded' and he referred to Longford woman Jillian McNulty's long and successful campaign and the benefits after the drug Orkambi was approved for CF sufferers.

"We've had another advocate Brona Noonan and even the simple thing of getting the heel-prick test for SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) and now that is being brought in and it's a battle all the time.

"I can't make promises and I don't make promises. But I will continue to highlight it and support it and make sure that it's given the highest consideration," he concluded.

Minister for Health said this week that negotiations between the HSE and and the marketing authorisation holder, Biogen (Idec) Ireland Limited are 'ongoing'.
Members of Al Qaedas Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

Beginning on Saturday, Al Qaedas Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), and its allies in the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a collection of Tuareg and Arab rebel groups, fully or partially captured several cities from the Malian state and its Russian allies. The massive, coordinated offensive is the largest of its kind in Mali since 2012, when al Qaeda and its rebel allies took over all of northern Mali and prompted a French-led intervention.

Early on Saturday morning, gunfire and explosions rang out almost simultaneously across Mali, ranging from just outside its capital in Bamako in the south to the largely Tuareg city of Kidal in its extreme north. Militants made use of traditional military assaults, while suicide car bombs and kamikaze drones were also used as force multipliers by the rebels, further enabling the scale of the offensive.

In Malis north, both JNIM and the FLA jointly targeted the cities of Kidal and Gao, with the former city being quickly overrun and captured. Some sporadic clashes in Kidal were still reported on Sunday, with some Malian troops still holding out in former UN positions to the citys south.

Gao, however, remains only partially under the control of the joint JNIM-FLA force, with Malian troops and Russian mercenaries holed up in former UN positions in the city. Unconfirmed reports of negotiations between the Russians and the rebel forces have been circulating on social media, but their validity is unclear as of the time of publication.

In Malis southern and central regions, JNIM conducted the offensive unilaterally. Jihadist forces targeted the Bamako suburb of Kati, home to various state ministers and government institutions, as well as Bamakos airport, as confirmed by the US embassy in Mali. At least one suicide car bomb targeted the residence of Malian Minister of Defense Sadio Camara in Kati, killing him. Camara, an influential figure in the countrys military regime, was also instrumental in forging and maintaining ties with Russia.

Other locations and checkpoints inside Bamako, Malis capital and largest city, were also struck by the jihadists. JNIM reportedly attacked a military base in Senou in the Koulikoro Region to the south of Bamako. The Bamako-Sikasso road also reportedly fell under a JNIM-imposed blockade.

In Malis center, the cities of Mopti and Sevare came under attack, with both locales currently split between jihadist and government control as of the time of publishing.

Kidal, a predominantly Tuareg city, was previously under the control of Tuareg factions following the signing of the 2015 Algiers Accords that sought to end conflict between Bamako and various rebel groups in the countrys north. However, the Malian Army and its allies in Russias Wagner Group/Africa Corps forcibly retook Kidal in November 2023 following a rise in tensions between the parties earlier that year. FLA was then subsequently formed in the aftermath of the Malian state recapturing areas in the countrys north.

Gao, in contrast, has been outside of rebel control since French and Malian forces recaptured the city in 2013. And though the towns of Mopti and Sevare have never technically been outside the control of the Bamako government, JNIM has been able to exert intense influence, including imposing economic blockades, levying taxes, and enacting Sharia law in Mopti and various nearby locales in the wider Mopti Region.

JNIM and FLA have issued statements celebrating their joint successes in the offensive and congratulating each other on the assaults, confirming the partnership. JNIM stated that it struck inside Kati and Bamako, and fully or partially captured Mopti, Sevare, Gao, and Kidal. The FLA announced that the joint forces fully captured Kidal and partially captured Gao and confirmed its alliance with JNIM.

Both groups denounced the Malian states alliance with Russia. However, JNIM encouraged the Russian mercenaries to stay out of the fighting.

Offensive poses several questions

JNIM and FLAs unprecedented offensive across Mali raises vital questions about the countrys future. First and foremost, is Mali about to fall to an alliance that includes Al Qaedas official branch in West Africa? Further, what would a Mali under the joint control of an Al Qaeda branch and a non-jihadist conglomerate of rebel groups look like? Would the FLA agree to Sharia law? Would various civilian populations across the state? What happens to the Islamic State presence in northern Mali, as well as the Russian presence?

These questions cannot be immediately answered. However, it is clear that the large-scale offensive is meant to exert intense pressure on Assimi Goitas military junta in Bamako. The offensive shows that JNIM, and to a lesser extent FLA, can strike wherever and whenever it pleases, including in some of the most highly defended sites in the country.

In addition to the military and tactical benefits of recapturing territory from the Malian state, the offensive also carries intense symbolic significance, as its size and scope clearly sought to degrade the Goita regimes legitimacy.

JNIM has long placed pressure on various locales in central and southern Mali with blockades, by levying taxes, and enacting Sharia law, diminishing or replacing state authority across large swathes of territory. It has also imposed strict fuel blockades across much of Mali, including stopping fuel from reaching Bamako on multiple occasions. In addition, JNIM has increased the scale and tempo of its attacks in southern Mali in the last few years in an effort to pressure Bamako.

Whether this weekends blitzkrieg in Mali aims to compel a complete collapse of governance in Bamako, a coup against Goita, or state capitulation by way of some negotiated settlement between JNIM and Bamako remains to be seen. Regardless, it is clear that state authority in Mali is currently at its weakest point in recent years. The gamble that Goitas military junta made in replacing France and the United States with mercenaries from Russias Wagner Group/Africa Corps as a security partner is seemingly unraveling.

In addition, with recent data suggesting that state forces kill more civilians than jihadists in Mali, civilian populations may start to increasingly look to JNIM and its partners as more effective governance and security providers. The Malian states fight against the Al Qaeda-led rebel coalition is at a critical juncture in the coming weeks and months.

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Sunday that a soldier was killed and six others wounded in a drone attack carried out by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the military said the soldier, identified as Idan Fooks, 19, of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, "fell during combat."

In the same incident, an officer and three additional soldiers were severely wounded, one soldier moderately wounded and another lightly. All were evacuated to a hospital.

The death brings to 16 the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the current round of violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated in early March amid the war with Iran.

The attack on Sunday morning followed fresh Israeli airstrikes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to "vigorously attack Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon.

According to Lebanese official sources, nine people were killed during the day in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in southern Lebanon.

Despite a temporary ceasefire taking force last Friday, Israeli troops remained deployed in southern Lebanon and continue to carry out frequent strikes. 
BAMAKO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Mali's Minister of State, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Gen. Sadio Camara, died following Saturday's terrorist attacks in several parts of the country, the Malian transitional government said Sunday night.

In a statement, the government said Camara's residence in Kati, a garrison town near the capital Bamako, was hit Saturday morning by a vehicle bomb driven by a suicide attacker.

Camara exchanged fire with the attackers and neutralized some of them, the statement said. He was wounded during intense fighting and later died of his injuries in hospital.

The collapse of his residence caused other casualties and destroyed a nearby mosque, killing some worshippers inside, according to the statement.

The government said the late general will be given a national funeral.

Several localities in Mali, including Bamako, Kati, Gao, Sevare and Kidal, were hit by coordinated attacks on Saturday. The government had earlier said the attacks left 16 civilians and military personnel wounded. 
Mayo County Council Arts Service are excited to launch their 2026 Bealtaine Festival Programme for Mayo.

Taking place in the month of May, Bealtaine is the annual nationwide festival celebrating the arts and creativity as we age. The national festival is run by Age & Opportunity, the national organisation that promotes active and engaged living as we get older.

Mayo County Council Arts Service runs an extensive Bealtaine programme every year, which includes workshops in various artistic disciplines, artist talks, performances in care settings, gallery tours and a variety of other events.

This years programme includes theatre workshops at The Linenhall Castlebar, movement and dance workshops with Catherine Donnelly, a writing workshop with writer Gerry Boland in Belmullet, an Azure Dementia-Friendly tour at Ballina Arts Centre, cyanotype print making with artist / photographer, Michael Gannon; A Connect Cafe event with the Mayo Cultural Companions Network; and poetry readings on Midwest Radio with poets, Christina Hennemann and Mike Absalom to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Artist Norah Brennan will celebrate National Art in Nursing Homes Day on May 15 with printmaking workshops. Western Tunes, Songs and Tales on May 25 is a Music & Health Ireland local partnership with Mayo Arts Service and will include performances in three Community Nursing Units within the county. There is something for everyone in this years programme!

To view the full 2026 programme of events for this year's festival in Mayo, pick up a copy of the brochure in your local library, arts venue, Family Resource Centre, or click here.

This programme is strategically funded by Mayo County Council in partnership with the Arts Council.

READ MORE: Mayo man appointed as new president of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland
Mayo Dark Sky Park will mark its tenth anniversary as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park with a series of public events in Mayo over the May bank holiday weekend.

The main celebration is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at 4pm at Ballycroy Visitor Centre in Wild Nephin National Park.

The event will include the official launch of the 'Community Constellations for Dark Skies' artwork, developed in collaboration with communities across the county. The piece will be unveiled by members of Youthreach Ballina and is intended to reflect the collective efforts to protect and promote Mayos dark skies.

A reception will follow to mark the parks tenth anniversary, featuring music and refreshments. Organisers say the event will recognise the contributions of volunteers, ambassadors and local communities who have supported dark sky conservation efforts over the past decade. Attendance is free, with advance registration requested by Monday, April 27.

READ MORE: Uncle of Joe Deacy says family were not aware of details of new 'lines of inquiry' in Garda investigation

The anniversary forms part of a broader Wild and Dark weekend programme taking place in Ballycroy on Sunday and Monday, May 3 to 4. Activities planned include planetarium shows, science talks, street performances and audio-visual presentations, with events aimed at families and the general public.

Separately, on Saturday, May 2, the Friends of Mayo Dark Skies group will host a public event at Westport Cinema. Guest speaker Dr Niamh Shaw, an engineer and science communicator, will deliver a talk on NASAs Artemis II mission, which is expected to play a key role in future lunar exploration. The event is free to attend, with booking available online.

Organisers have also invited members of the public and supporters to submit video messages to mark the anniversary through an online portal, with selected recordings to be presented during the weekend celebrations.

Further details on the programme are available on the Mayo Dark Sky Park website.
The Education Department @ MCLA is thrilled to share that two of our current students have been working in MCLAs Disability Resources Office, helping run and support the Assistive Technology Center on the first floor of Mark Hopkins Hall.

Paige Dufur, who is earning her Bachelors Degree in Education and working towards her teaching license in Early Childhood, has been working in the Center since the beginning of the academic year. Paige shared with us a bit about her work: I began working in the lab in the Fall of 2023 as one of the two first peer technologists in the lab. We worked over the summer to buy new equipment for the lab and decorate it to be welcoming. I am the most familiar with the Smartpen assistive tech device and I train students on how to use them. I love working in the lab because I enjoy helping people, I relate to them with the disabilities of my own, and there is always something new to learn.

Isabella Dill, who is earning her Masters Degree in Education, is currently completing a full-time internship in the office. I'm involved in various projects aimed at expanding my knowledge and experience. I've delved into learning about Assistive Technology (AT) through exploring the AT Lab at MCLA, learning about the different services and tools available to students. Every week, I convene with the Disability Resources and AT Lab teams to engage in collaborative sessions aimed at exploring and learning about diverse assistive technologies. I'm also working on organizing an open house for the AT Lab to increase awareness of the space and available resources. The goal is to foster collaboration with students and faculty from the Education Department. I also am arranging an event in the newly added Zen Den on Campus, focusing on promoting relaxation and self-care. Furthermore, I'm contributing to the promotion and curation of MCLAs 100 Level Gallery, actively developing a virtual platform where information and artwork can be showcased and accessed. As well, I am collaborating with student mentors who led the Start Strong Program, which aims to support incoming students success in their transition to college. I am working to gather feedback and advocate for the program."
DAMASCUS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Syrian authorities said Sunday that they thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of drugs and arrested members of a cross-border network in coordination with Iraqi counterparts.

The interior authority said that its anti-narcotics department, working with Iraq's General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, carried out operations in rural Damascus and Homs provinces targeting an international smuggling network with regional reach.

The operations led to the seizure of 1.73 million Captagon pills prepared for trafficking to a neighboring country, the authority said in a statement.

Eight suspects, including a woman, were arrested during the raids, it added.

Authorities said anti-drug units will continue operations in coordination with regional partners to pursue smuggling networks and tighten measures to prevent the spread of narcotics. 
Big Rapids Public Schools have earned the Best Communities for Music Education award from The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for the ninth consecutive year, recognizing the district's funding, instructional time, participation and community backing for its music programs. Pictured: Big Rapids Middle School band members return to a classroom for a debrief following their concert, which took place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 21175 15 Mile Road. (Pioneer file photo) Pioneer photo/Dylan Schwartz

Big Rapids Public Schools has built a sustained record of recognition for its music programs, earning a national designation for the ninth consecutive year.

The district received the Best Communities for Music Education award from The NAMM Foundation on April 24, recognizing its support for music education across K-12 schools in Big Rapids. The honor reflects factors including funding, instructional time, participation and community backing, with applications reviewed by arts research firm WolfBrown.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

More than 1,000 schools and districts nationwide were recognized in 2026, with Big Rapids among 21 districts in Michigan to receive the designation.

Middle School Band Director Albie Todd said the recognition reflects a broader system of support beyond the classroom.

"Sure, we were able to get this award, not just because of the great teachers that we have on staff, but also the support of our school board and administration, and the community values it enough," Todd said. "So all of those aspects work together towards having Big Rapids be the center of arts that it is."

Todd said the district has applied for the designation each year after learning about it through other music educators.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"I heard about the designation through some other band directors, and I thought the description of what a best community in music education is fits Big Rapids," Todd said.

The award process evaluates multiple aspects of a districts music program, including resources and access.

"It takes more than just great teachers to have Big Rapids Public Schools be recognized as the best community for music education," Todd said.

Todd said administrative support and funding play a key role in maintaining programming.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"The administrators and school board have to value it and support it by hiring the appropriate staff and by funding it," Todd said.

He added that community interest also influences how music programs are prioritized.

"Of course, the community has to want it too, or else the school board and administration wouldnt value it in the way that they do," Todd said.

Students are also part of the equation, shaped by the environment created within the district, Todd said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"The students are a reflection of the environment that we create for them," Todd said. "Its just normal for them to exist in a school district where music is part of their schedule."
Algineers member Louis Huang presents at the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News Brake Dancers members Cameron Cochran and Lilly Skedel, of Midland High School, present at the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News A display from winning team Amped Innovators, comprised of Dow High's Sean Park and Matthew Lee, at the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News Brake Dancers team member Luke James presents at the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News Algineers member Emma Huang of Dow High presents at the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on April 25, 2026. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News

Students from H.H. Dow High School and Midland High School competed in the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award competition at Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, with teams from Dow taking the top two places in the contest.

The Amped Innovators took first place with a project that designed a low-cost micromobility vehicle kit. In second place, The Algineers presented a project on biodegradable, antimicrobial alginate-based absorbent pads for use in meat packaging, which would reduce plastic waste and improve food safety.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Break Dancers from Midland High presented a project that would increase safety in rural intersections by alerting drivers when an incoming vehicle would not be able to stop at the intersection in time.

Saturdays event was the final part of a competition that began in the fall. Teams presented their projects to a panel of judges, with the competition awarding up to $42,500 in scholarship to students and $35,000 in STEM education grants to schools.

The first-place team wins up to five $5,000 scholarships for student team members and a $20,000 STEM grant for their school. The second-place team gets up to five $2,500 scholarships for student team members and a $10,000 STEM grant for the school, and third place wins up to five $1,000 scholarships plus a $5,000 STEM grant for the school.

Other schools in the competition included Freeland High School, John Glenn High School and Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Algineers proposed an alginate-based meat absorbent pad, which is an absorbent pad underneath pre-packaged meat that soaks up juices in order to prevent spoiling and keep the meat looking nicer. Current absorbent pads are covered in a layer of plastic, because the polymer in the pad cant come in direct contact with meat, Algineers team member Emma Huang told judges.

AlgiFilm, as the team called their invention, wouldnt require the layer of plastic, making it more environmentally friendly.

It's not sticky, so it's able to be in direct contact with the meat, Huang said. It's also made of completely food-safe and edible materials, along with the fact that it's tasteless, so it won't affect the taste of the meat.

The Brake Dancers project proposed using LIDAR scanners to detect the speed of incoming cars and determine whether theyd be able to stop in time. If the cars would not be able to stop, the system would use flashing lights to alert oncoming drivers from all directions. A disproportionate amount of traffic fatalities occur in rural areas compared to urban ones, and the system was designed to address that problem.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The team said they spoke with a Midland police officer, retired Lansing firefighter and MDOT engineer to learn more about the need for safety devices in rural intersections.

Mr. Thompson, the firefighter, said that sometimes they know that these intersections are really dangerous, but there's nothing they can do about it, Brake Dancers member Cameron Cochran told the Daily News. They don't have the funding, or they don't have the technology available for them.

Lilly Skedel said she was struck by how frequent and dangerous crashes in rural intersections can be.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Residents can weigh in at a May 7 public hearing as Ubly reviews a plan to replace 68 water service lines to meet state requirements. bankrx/Getty Images

The village of Ubly is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, May 7, to hear residents feedback on a proposed project that will replace 68 galvanized water service lines in the village.

In a Thursday morning Facebook post, the village said the replacements are necessary for Ubly to comply with copper and lead requirements set by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

According to EGLE, galvanized service lines are zinc-coated iron pipes once commonly used to carry water into homes but now linked to lead exposure. Since 2021, water systems must replace lead lines and galvanized lines connected to lead.

A total of $750,000 was estimated for the project, although the post does not say who will cover the cost or how it will be paid.

The project is expected to cause local lane closures and temporary water shutoffs when new service lines are connected to the existing water main.

The hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled village council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at Village Hall, 2241 Pierce St., Ubly.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Those unable to attend can send comments to the clerks office at 2241 Pierce St., Ubly, MI 48475, or by email to ublyclerk@ublymi.com. Comments received before the end of the meeting will be addressed in the final project planning document.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Iran 's foreign minister arrived in Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistan's political and military leadership scrambled to reignite ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington.

Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistans capital late Saturday, creating confusion around an expected second round of talks, but he returned to Islamabad before continuing on to Moscow, Iranian state media said. He had been in Oman, which previously mediated talks and is located on the other side of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Two Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the efforts, did not say when the Americans might return to the region to follow up on historic face-to-face talks earlier this month.

The White House on Friday said it would dispatch envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad. But shortly after Araghchi's departure was reported, President Donald Trump said he had called off the mission because of a lack of progress with Iran.

If they want, we can talk but were not sending people," Trump told Fox News on Sunday.

Trump last week indefinitely extended the ceasefire that U.S. and Iran agreed to on April 7 that has largely halted the fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. But a permanent settlement remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

Strait of Hormuz at center of Irans discussions in Oman

A standoff remains at the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway, as Iran restricts movement through it and the U.S. enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, through which a fifth of the worlds oil flows in peacetime, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Omans response wasnt immediately clear.

The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before a new round of talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries.

Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Even before Saturdays developments, Irans foreign ministry said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens, reflecting Tehran's wariness after rounds of indirect talks last year and earlier this year ended with Iran being attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump said Iran has offered much better proposal

The economic fallout is growing two months into the war as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides have continued to make military threats. Irans joint military command on Saturday warned that if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy it will face a strong response. Trump last week ordered the military to shoot and kill small boats that could be placing mines.

Trump told journalists on Saturday, before a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, that within 10 minutes of him canceling Witkoff and Kushners trip to Islamabad, Iran sent a much better proposal.

He did not elaborate but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. The status of Iran's enriched uranium has long been at the center of tensions. Tehran has 440 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said the delay in the talks must not be seen as a setback and that indirect talks were progressing. He said tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires patience.

"But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

A growing toll even as fragile ceasefires hold

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 people in Lebanon, where the Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed two days after the Iran war started.

Also, 23 people have been killed in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.

Another ceasefire  between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, has been extended by three weeks. Hezbollah has not participated in the Washington-brokered diplomacy.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
At the age when most college students are wrapping up their freshman year, Avery Cloutier is finishing a masters degree and setting his sights on something bigger: the U.S. Navy.

Cloutier, who has already attended six colleges, isnt ready to leave studying behind. After the 19-year-old University of Michigan student graduates with a Master of Applied Data Science degree this spring, he plans to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), pursuing his dream of becoming a Navy intelligence officer.

I may be the youngest to ever receive an intel slot, Cloutier told Military.com.

Coming from a military family, Cloutier always considered the Navy, but wanted something to match his extensive educational background. At Michigan, he watched plenty of classmates pursue careers in consulting, banking and big tech, but he yearned for a less conventional path.

All of those are excellent, but I think it came down to narrowing it to what I really wanted to do instead of following the more conventional career path out of grad school, Cloutier said.

When he attends OCS in Rhode Island, Cloutier will be among rare company.

I would have to verify this, but I dont think anyone from my masters program has ever joined the military, Cloutier said. The people in my program were definitely surprised when I told them Im joining the Navy, but again it comes down to not being afraid to take the unconventional path in my career and I think that carries over from not being afraid of taking that unconventional experience of graduating early.

College at 12 Years Old

Homeschooled through childhood, Cloutier said he always had a desire to learn and finish school quickly.

He started earning college credits at age 12 with the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), where he was allowed to receive credits through standardized tests, rather than attending classes.

Essentially, I just wanted to progress through my classes faster, so it was a self-motivated thing to get that done, Cloutier said. About a year after passing my first college courses, I passed college-level biology, so that was kind of the sticking point that I would be able to handle college coursework. It just came from the place of wanting to accelerate. There are a lot of benefits to doing that; it saves a lot of money in college. I was self-paid through grad school, so being able to start my career a little early helped me build a cushion to be able to pay off any debt that I accrue.

Cloutiers long and winding road through college led him to Columbia College (Missouri), Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan), Grand Canyon University (Arizona) and Liberty University (Virginia), where he obtained a bachelors degree in 2024, still only 17 years old.

I was a remote learner until I was 17, basically for safety reasons of having a kid that young on a college campus. One of the struggles I had was having no network around me. For the first five years of school, I was pretty much unknown to my classmates. It was only the last two years that I had more exposure to the students in my classes, Cloutier said. Most people did not know my age when I was a senior in undergrad, and I definitely surprised some people when they found out. But I was always treated very well; I never received any special bias because of my age. Overall, the reactions Ive gotten have been very positive, and its helped me in my career.

Cloutier took a few graduate courses through the University of Oklahoma before transferring to Michigan.

The Navy and Beyond

Soon after turning 18, Cloutier started a job with an analytics consulting company and found his calling.

Ive always really loved the information science field, but I didnt actually discover that until I actually started working in it, Cloutier said. With applied data science, having the ability to build a technical skill set and having it match with the information school at Michigan, I think, was an excellent match.

Having worked full-time through graduate school, Cloutier should be ready to handle the rigors of OCS and the Navy.

I really enjoy challenges, Cloutier said. To graduate from college early, you have to enjoy a challenge, so the Navy carries over to that. The reason I chose intel, specifically, is because its the closest in my mind to the information science field I already work in. Im also hoping my corporate experience will bring some extra value to the Navy and help me make an impact in ways that arent normally seen.

Charlie Rose, who helped recruit the bright young student to the Navy, said Cloutier possesses an ambitiousness and drive that could make him a valued leader in the military.

If this is what you want to do, Im willing to help you get there because I can see hes motivated and he wants to tackle that, Rose recently told MLive.com. Hes obviously a natural leader that people are naturally going to follow and believe in him at the same time.

No matter where the Navy takes him, Cloutier wants to embark on a fulfilling journey that will make a difference.

I really want to work in a career that has an impact and is good for society, thats what I was always told when I was a kid, You can pick whatever career you want, but you'd better pick something that helps the world. That really had an effect on me, Cloutier said. Any sort of challenge Ive done has really sort of helped me get to wake up to a career that Im excited to everyday. Thats why Im glad Ive gone through this path.
An ambush blamed on Iran-backed Hezbollah has killed two French peacekeepers and wounded two others after gunmen opened fire on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) explosive ordnance disposal team in southern Lebanon on April 18. The attack came one day into a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

"Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. "France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and assume their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL."

Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban was killed at the scene by direct small-arms fire.

Cpl. Anicet Girardin was wounded in the April 18 ambush. French officials announced his death in Paris on Wednesday. (French Army Photo)

Cpl. Anicet Girardin, 31, of the 132nd Cynotechnical Infantry Regiment based in Suippes, was severely wounded and evacuated to France, where he died four days later at a Paris hospital. Macron declared on X that Girardin "died for France."

A national tribute for Montorio was held Wednesday in Montauban, attended by French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill.

A Close-Range Ambush on a Clearance Mission

The four French soldiers were part of an explosive ordnance disposal team operating under UNIFIL's French contingent. Their mission that Saturday morning was to clear a road in the village of Ghandouriyeh that had been cut off by recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with the goal of restoring access to isolated UNIFIL positions.

Vautrin said on X that the patrol was clearing a route rigged with an improvised explosive device when it was ambushed. Girardin, a specialist dog handler, was among the troops targeted.

"Coming under sustained fire from concealed Hezbollah fighters at very close range, he moved to aid his section leader who had just fallen, only to be seriously hit in turn," she said.

UNIFIL said in an April 18 statement that the patrol "came under small-arms fire from non-state actors" and that its initial assessment pointed to Hezbollah.

The mission condemned what it described as a "deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in their mandated tasks" and said the assault amounted to a grave violation of international humanitarian law and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that may constitute a war crime.

Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment was killed April 18 in an ambush. (French Army Photo)

Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the attack.

"We deny any connection to us with the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh area in Bint Jbeil," the group said in a statement.

Israel's military, however, claimed Sunday that Hezbollah had opened fire on the peacekeepers.

In an April 22 follow-up, UNIFIL confirmed that a third peacekeeper who was also seriously injured had been repatriated to Paris and remains under medical care. A fourth soldier sustained minor injuries and has returned to the French UNIFIL base at Dayr Kifa.

Macron spoke by phone with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam after the attack. Aoun issued directives for an immediate investigation.

"I condemn the assault today on elements of the French battalion in UNIFIL," Salam wrote on X. "I have issued my strict instructions to conduct an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances of this assault and to hold the perpetrators accountable."

During a Paris visit on Tuesday, Salam said he was personally following the probe "day by day" but that "conditions on the ground were not easy."

"I strongly condemn Saturday's attack on UNIFIL during which one French peacekeeper was killed and another three were injured," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on X.

Mounting Losses in the Region

Girardin is the third French service member killed in the region since the broader Middle East conflict began Feb. 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. He is also the fifth UNIFIL peacekeeper killed this year.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed last month in two separate explosions in southern Lebanon. A preliminary U.N. investigation found that one was killed by Israeli tank fire while the other two died when an improvised explosive device, likely planted by Hezbollah, struck a logistics convoy.

A fourth Indonesian peacekeeper, Cpl. Rico Pramudia, died at a Beirut hospital on April 24 from wounds suffered in the March 29 attack. His death, announced just two days Girardins, brings the total number of UNIFIL peacekeepers killed this year to six.

The recent French losses occurred only a month after the death of Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, 42, of the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins. Frion was killed March 12 when an Iranian Shahed drone struck a military base in Iraq's Kurdistan region where French troops were conducting counterterrorism training. Six other French soldiers were wounded in that attack.

UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of Major Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Corporal Farizal Rhomadon from Indonesia, who lost their lives in two incidents on March 29 and 30 while bravely carrying out their duties. 03 April 2026. Beirut, Lebanon. Photo by Haidar Fahs (UN)

France contributes over 600 troops to UNIFIL, which fields 7,505 peacekeepers from 47 nations along the U.N.-drawn Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel. The mission was established in 1978 and has operated through successive conflicts. More than 160 French soldiers have been killed in Lebanon since then.

The attack also comes as UNIFIL faces an uncertain future. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in August 2025 to terminate the mission's mandate at the end of 2026, with a one-year drawdown to follow. The United States and Israel had pushed to end the force, arguing that Lebanon should assume sole security responsibility in the south.

Macron, however, signaled that France intends to stay.

"France is also ready to maintain its commitment on the ground after the scheduled departure of UNIFIL at the end of the year," he wrote in his April 22 statement announcing Girardin's death.
MINSK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Belarus observed the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with nationwide memorial events on Sunday.

Minsk residents gathered at the Chernobyl memorial to mourn the victims and honor the heroes who sacrificed their lives in cleanup operations.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry expressed the country's openness to international dialogue on addressing the ongoing consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, highlighting its commitment to collective efforts in disaster management and health protection.

On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine exploded, releasing more than eight tonnes of highly radioactive material. Belarus, a former Soviet republic at the time, also suffered the brunt of the nuclear fallout.

Since the tragedy, Belarus has developed significant expertise in managing the impact of such technological disasters, implementing six state programs for recovery, and creating a network of over 500 radiation control laboratories, according to reports.

It has made significant strides in reducing contaminated areas and restoring normal living conditions in over 1,657 settlements over the past four decades. 
VITEEE Admit Card 2026 released at vit.ac.in, direct link here

VITEEE 2026 admit card released for April 28 exam. Download hall ticket from vit.ac.in or OTBS portal. Check exam dates, center details, and required documents.









VIT Admit Card 2026 VITEEE 2026 admit cards released for April 28 test batch

Candidates must print admit card and carry valid photo ID

Admit cards for later dates will be released in phases Did our AI summary help?
Aamir Khan joins Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan for Ek Din event, watch

Aamir Khan, Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan drew attention as they came together for the live performance event of Ek Din. Their easy camaraderie and simple styling made the appearance feel warm and effortless.









Ek Din event Aamir Khan, Sai Pallavi, and Junaid Khan attended Ek Din event

Ek Din opens advance bookings 39 days before release

Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi star in this Hindi romantic drama Did our AI summary help?
Anupam Kher celebrates Michael; Farah Khan says its For the fans, not critics

The biopic Michael has sparked conversation ever since its release on 23 April, drawing mixed reactions from critics but strong emotional responses from audiences. While reviews remain divided, many viewers say the film connects on a deeply personal level.









Anupam Kher and Farah Khan praise Micheal Anupam Kher and Farah Khan praise Michael Jackson biopic

Jaafar Jackson's performance as Michael Jackson receives acclaim

Film resonates with audiences despite mixed critic reviews Did our AI summary help?
Bigg Boss Telugu fame Ashu Reddy embroiled in Rs 9.35 Crore financial fraud case; Police investigation underway

Ashu Reddy is at the centre of a major controversy after a Rs 9.35 crore fraud complaint triggered a police investigation. What began as a personal relationship has now taken a serious legal turn, raising questions around money, trust and alleged promises.









Ashu Reddy faces Rs 9 crore fraud allegations Ashu Reddy booked in 9.35 crore fraud; probe underway

Complaint alleges luxury cars, gold, flats bought for Ashu Reddy

Ashu Reddy warns against false reports, police probe ongoing Did our AI summary help?
Cheryl Hines recalls terrifying moment after gunfire breaks out at White House Correspondents Dinner: "Everybody got under the tables"

Cheryl Hines recounted the panic that unfolded when shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner attended by Donald Trump. She said guests took cover under tables before being evacuated with the help of security personnel amid the chaos.

Gayatri Rani April 26, 2026 / 13:37 IST























Cheryl Hines eyewitnesses White House shooting (Photo Credit: Instagram/@_cherylhines) Shots fired at White House Correspondents' Dinner, no casualties.

Cheryl Hines and RFK Jr. were escorted to safety by security.

Trump unharmed; lone suspect, motive still unclear Did our AI summary help?
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2 Promo: Akashdeep Saigal returns as Ansh Gujral's son, Tulsis past comes back to haunt her

The new promo of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Season 2 hints at a major twist as Akashdeep Saigal returns in a mysterious new role. The development is set to bring fresh drama into Tulsis life, with his character possibly linked to her past.

Gayatri Rani April 26, 2026 / 16:56 IST























Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi new promo Promo teases Akashdeep Saigal's dramatic return to the show

Ansh Gujral's son may enter, sparking new drama and conflict

Identity of the mystery visitor remains unrevealed in the promo Did our AI summary help?
A plane of Kuwait Airways approaches Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait Airways said Sunday that operations at Terminal 4 of Kuwait International Airport are running smoothly, as the national carrier resumed flights following the reopening of the country's airspace.

According to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), acting CEO of Kuwait Airways Abdulwahab Al-Shatti said that initial flights have departed for Cairo, Amman, Delhi, Mumbai, and Manila, marking the start of a phased return.

"Services will expand gradually in the coming weeks," Al-Shatti said, with a focus on efficiency and safety.

He praised coordination with aviation authorities and thanked staff for maintaining operations from Dammam in Saudi Arabia during the suspension period.

The airline plans to serve 35 destinations this week, with 13 routes already resumed and more pending approvals.

Kuwait reopened its airspace on Thursday following a temporary closure that began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, triggering a region-wide conflict. 

A plane of Kuwait Airways approaches Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
UNMADHAM announced: Kunchacko BobanLijomol Jose starrer Malayalam thriller gets title, locks August 7 release

The Malayalam film previously known as Panorama Studios Production No. 3 has been officially titled UNMADHAM, with a theatrical release set for August 7, 2026. Starring Kunchacko Boban and Lijomol Jose, the film promises a psychologically intense story blending suspense with emotional depth.

Gayatri Rani April 26, 2026 / 00:01 IST























UNMADHAM lock release date UNMADHAM, a Malayalam thriller, releases August 7, 2026.

Kunchacko Boban plays a cop in a tense investigation

Film probes frenzy, reality, and delusion in gripping style Did our AI summary help?
Bank employees next pay hike moves early as govt asks PSBs to finish talks in 12 months

The 13th bipartite settlement is due from November 2027, but the government wants PSBs to finish wage talks within a year.

PTI April 26, 2026 / 13:54 IST























Govt asks PSBs to start 13th bipartite wage talks early and complete negotiations within 12 months before the November 2027 revision. Government urges PSBs to start wage talks for 13th settlement

Negotiations to be completed within 12 months

PSBs report record profits and improved asset quality in FY25 Did our AI summary help?
HPCL says a leak likely caused the Rajasthan refinery fire. CDU restart is expected in second half of May after launch postponement.
You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user.

OK
NSA Ajit Doval meets UAE president in Abu Dhabi; discusses strategic partnership, regional situation

The interaction, part of Dovals official visit, centered on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates, with particular emphasis on energy security and evolving geopolitical conditions.









NSA Ajit Doval met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi (Image: X/@IndembAbuDhabi) Ajit Doval met UAE President to boost bilateral cooperation

Talks focused on energy security and regional geopolitical issues

Doval conveyed PM Modi's greetings to UAE leadership Did our AI summary help?
NTPC eyes Rs 25,000 crore nuclear power project in Bihars Banka

NTPC is studying two 700 MW nuclear units in Banka as it targets 30 GW of nuclear capacity and backs Indias 100 GW goal by 2047.

PTI April 26, 2026 / 14:32 IST























NTPC is exploring a Rs 25,000 crore nuclear power project in Bihars Banka with two 700 MW units as part of its energy push. NTPC plans two 700 MW nuclear units in Banka, Bihar

Feasibility study underway; Bihar government assures support

Project may require 1,000 acres and Rs 25,000 crore investment Did our AI summary help?
Allahabad High Court flags identical FIR wording in districts 150 km apart, seeks explanation

Both FIRs described incidents where an accused individual was allegedly shot in the leg by authorities.









In its order dated April 16, a bench comprising Justices Abdul Moin and Pramod Kumar Srivastava directed the concerned superintendents of police to respond formally (Image: AI-generated) Allahabad HC flags identical FIRs in two far-flung districts

Court tells police to justify similarities, follow encounter norms

Superintendents to file affidavits on SC guidelines Did our AI summary help?
BJP vs Trinamool clash rocks Howrah, ISF-TMC violence hits Haroa ahead of second phase voting

Both parties have alleged that several of their supporters were injured in the violence.









The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled for April 29, with counting set for May 4.
Delhi constable shoots delivery agent dead in Dwarka, second man injured

Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors declared Pandav dead on arrival, while Krishna remains under treatment.









Representative image
Ghazipur case: Don't want politicians here, says victim's father; Opposition alleges pressure

The Samajwadi Party had on Friday announced that its delegation, led by party president Akhilesh Yadav, will visit the village to meet the girl's family on April 29.

PTI April 25, 2026 / 23:02 IST























Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Father backs police, urges politicians to stay away

Opposition leaders demand high-level probe and family protection.

Clashes at political visits; several arrested for violence Did our AI summary help?
CAIRO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Sunday discussed U.S.-Iran negotiations and regional de-escalation efforts in separate phone calls with his Iranian and Qatari counterparts, according to Egypt's Foreign Ministry.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of adhering to the negotiatory path and intensifying consultation and coordination among relevant parties to secure a sustainable ceasefire and stabilize the region.

He asserted that dialogue remains the primary guarantee to shield the region from the risks of expanding conflict.

Abdelatty also called for "absolute respect for the sovereignty of states" and due attention to the security concerns of regional countries, particularly those in the Gulf.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining the security and freedom of international navigation.

The talks follow weeks of heightened tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets beginning on Feb. 28. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israeli and U.S. positions in the region.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8, followed by talks in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on April 11 and 12 that ended without agreement. A new round of negotiations had been expected in Pakistan this week, but Iran declined to attend, citing continued U.S. naval pressure and "excessive demands." 
India plugs oil gap as Middle East supplies sink

India, the world's third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that has seen only a trickle of traffic since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28

AFP April 26, 2026 / 13:26 IST























India's heavy import dependence, combined with modest oil reserves compared with major consumers like China, has prompted analysts to warn that India could be among the most vulnerable to a sudden oil price hike India ups Russian oil buys amid Middle East supply gap

Imports from Africa, Iran, and Venezuela also increased

Pump prices remain stable despite higher global oil costs Did our AI summary help?
Lansdowne renaming row: BJP MLA opposes Jaswant Garh move, flags tourism impact

Lansdowne MLA Dilip Rawat has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, calling the proposed renaming of the cantonment to Jaswant Garh extremely regrettable.









(Representative Image) Lansdowne renaming proposal ignites political, public furor

BJP MLA warns renaming could hurt tourism and local economy

Public feedback on renaming to Jaswant Garh is being collected Did our AI summary help?
Massive fire in luxury apartment complex triggers protest by residents in Gurugram

The protesters levelled allegations of negligence and inadequate services against the builder and the maintenance company, they said.

PTI April 25, 2026 / 23:04 IST























Representative Image
PM Modi visits Matua stronghold as West Bengal electoral battle heats up

This is not Modis first outreach to the community. He had visited the Thakurnagar shrine in 2019 and also paid homage at Orakandi in Bangladesh in 2021, underlining the political and cultural significance of the Matua connect in the region.









"Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society," PM Modi said in a post on X. PM Modi offered prayers at Matua Thakur Temple in West Bengal

Visit seen as outreach to Matua voters ahead of assembly polls

West Bengal recorded 91.78 percent turnout in Phase I polling Did our AI summary help?
Speaking at the second NLIU SBA Law Conclave hosted by National Law Institute University, Justice Dharamadhikari argued that while institutions are producing exceptionally capable students, many are losing touch with their cultural and philosophical foundations.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Supreme Court orders nationwide adoption of E-prisons for faster remission process

According to data placed before the court, a total of 1,678 inmates had already completed over 14 years of imprisonment, the threshold for consideration in many cases and many of these cases remained stuck at different stages.









The Supreme Court found the delays difficult to justify, calling them non-explanatory. (Image: AI-generated) Supreme Court orders nationwide rollout of e-Prisons software

Pilot project starts in Agra and Lucknow jails

System aims to automate and streamline early release processing Did our AI summary help?
'TMC arrogance shattered in first phase, final will ensure BJP comes to power,' says PM Modi in Bengal

The remaining 142 constituencies are scheduled to vote on April 29 under heightened security arrangements.









PM Modi in West Bengal Modi claims BJP will win West Bengal after final polling phase

High voter turnout seen as shift against TMC in first phase

Modi criticizes TMC for law and order, women's safety issues Did our AI summary help?
Uttarakhand CM Dhami joins 133rd 'Mann Ki Baat'; hails PM Modi's vision for self-reliant India

.The Chief Minister described Mann Ki Baat as highly inspiring for citizens. He noted that through this platform, the Prime Minister effectively highlights motivational stories from different sections of society, including innovations, startups, cleanliness drives, self-reliance, environmental conservation, and cultural heritage--encouraging people to move forward and contribute positively.

ANI April 26, 2026 / 14:29 IST























Pushkar Singh Dhami CM Dhami listened to Mann Ki Baat with residents in Dehradun

He praised the program for inspiring and showcasing citizens

Uttarakhand advances in connectivity, culture, and tough laws Did our AI summary help?
The traveller said he was exploring India to find the best state and chose Karnataka as his next. (Image credit: Instagram/ jack_ofalljourneys)
Meet Gilbert Strang: The MIT professor who quietly taught the math behind modern AI

An X post by investor Ihtesham Ali revives global interest in Gilbert Strang, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor whose free linear algebra lectures transformed how millions learn the math behind AI.
NEW YORK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a member of U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, on Sunday dropped his objection to confirmation of Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh, according to his statement posted on social media.

"I look forward to supporting Kevin Warsh's confirmation," said Tillis, who cited assurances that the U.S. Department of Justice closed its investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell and only a criminal referral from the Fed's inspector general would cause a reopening of the investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday dropped its controversial investigation targeting Powell.

"I have directed my office to close our investigation" as the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve undertakes this inquiry, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro in a social media post on Friday.

Tillis saw U.S. prosecutors' criminal investigation targeting Powell as a serious threat to the Fed's independence and vowed to block the confirmation of Warsh before the investigation ends.

To advance his confirmation, Warsh must earn a majority of votes on the committee, which comprises 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats.

U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has scheduled a vote on Warsh's nomination on April 29.

The U.S. Senate could have a floor vote on Warsh's nomination before May 15 when Powell's term as Fed chair ends.

Still, Warsh's confirmation faces objection from a key Democratic Senator.

"No Republican claiming to care about Fed independence should support moving forward the nomination of Kevin Warsh, who proved in his nomination hearing to be nothing more than President Trump's sock puppet," said Senator Elizabeth Warren, ranking member of Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, in a statement on Saturday.

The White House sent the U.S. Senate the nomination of Warsh to be the next chairman of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years in early March following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of the nomination on Jan. 30. 
Noida techie waits 8 hours for Rs 3 LPA job's walk-in drive, interview ends with CEO's insult

'Out of around 100 candidates, only about 6 were selected for the CEO round. But thats when the waiting started,' the techie said. 'Candidates slowly started leaving. By the time the CEO round finally began around 6.45 pm, only those selected candidates were still there. Eventually, we found out the CEO had been busy in meetings.'









The techie said that all six shortlisted candidates were overqualified and that none of them accepted the offer. (AI-generated image)
Oracle itself has not disclosed how individual employees or roles were selected.
Rajasthan man trapped with 10 kg milk can on head, rescued after 2-hour ordeal

A bizarre heatwave hack in Rajasthan goes wrong as a Madhogarh villager gets a 10 kg milk can stuck on his head, triggering a tense 2-hour rescue captured on video and widely shared online.
'Unemployed guy' sells ad space on his toilet, earns lakhs as brands line up. Microsoft Developer reacts

The rules were simple: whoever paid the most would be crowned the 'King of the Throne' and one American brand, Dr Squatch, outbid previous advertisers, paying $10,000 (about Rs 9.4 lakh) to win the top honour.









Household names in the US, such as Clorox, PineSol, MiraLAX, and grooming brand Dr Squatch began buying spots on Greenawalts toilet, with prices running into thousands of dollars. (Image credit: Nick Greenawalt/Instagram)
India dominates 'global heat charts' with 95 of 100 hottest citiesWhats driving the hotbox effect?

India faces a severe heatwave with 95 of the worlds 100 hottest cities. Temperatures cross 45C in several regions. Heres whats causing the extreme heat.









India turns hotbox as 95 of worlds 100 hottest cities record extreme heat in 2026. (Image: Canva) India hosts 95 of the worlds 100 hottest cities.

Temperatures in many regions exceed 40C, some nearing 45C.

Heatwave raises concerns over climate change and health risks. Did our AI summary help?
Bangladesh: Hindu man's body found hanging from tree, minority group demands strong action

Two unidentified men took Nayan with them late on the evening of April 19, and three days later, his body was found hanging from a tree in a hilly area on the outskirts of the village, according to the police and residents in the Coxs Bazar neighbourhood.

PTI April 26, 2026 / 20:42 IST























Nayan Sadhu, the 40-year-old resident of Dohazari area under Sthania Upazila of Chhattogram district, was serving as a caretaker-cum-priest at a Shivakali temple in Khurushkul union in Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said
Car bomb rocks northern Ireland, sparks evacuation at Belfast police station, security tightened

Residents were evacuated in Dunmurry after a car exploded outside a police station near Belfast, with no injuries reported, raising fresh concerns over sporadic militant threats in Northern Ireland.









Car blast triggers evacuation near Belfast station
Chernobyl disaster at 40: 5 things to know as world marks anniversary amid growing geopolitical tensions

At 01:23 on April 26, 1986, a human error during a safety test triggered a blast in reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in northern Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union

AFP April 26, 2026 / 12:33 IST























This photograph taken on December 8, 2020 shows a monument in front of the giant protective dome built over the sarcophagus of the destroyed fourth reactor of Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Ukraine marks 40 years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster

Russian invasion has raised new risks at the Chernobyl site

Damaged radiation shelter may take years to repair Did our AI summary help?
China-built 'worlds emptiest airport' back in spotlight as Sri Lanka seeks investors

The airport is regarded as an alternate destination in case of bad weather at the country's main international gateway in the capital Colombo, a half-hour flight away









The airport is regarded as an alternate destination in case of bad weather at the country's main international gateway in the capital Colombo Sri Lanka seeks investors for loss-making Mattala airport

30-year Indo-Russian lease plan failed to materialise

Airport built with Chinese loans, lacks regular flights Did our AI summary help?
'Come home!': Trump DMs journalist after cancelling US envoys Pakistan trip for Iran talks

Donald Trump cancelled envoys Pakistan trip for Iran talks, citing leadership confusion, and reportedly urged a journalist to leave, while keeping diplomacy open under an ongoing US-Iran truce.









Trump cancels talks, sparks Pakistan intrigue
TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday exchanged views with his Saudi, Qatari and French counterparts on the latest developments pertaining to the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi briefed Saudi Arabia's Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Qatar's Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and France's Jean-Noel Barrot on the status quo in the West Asia region, elaborating on Iran's latest efforts to end the war and de-escalate tensions.

He underlined the important role European countries can play in the process of ending the "imposed war" against Iran.

The Qatari foreign minister highlighted the importance of the regional states' "constructive" role in managing crises in the region, calling for the continuation of consultations and diplomatic coordination to support peace initiatives and strengthen regional stability.

He welcomed Iran's diplomatic approach, expressing Qatar's readiness to continue playing an active role in mediating and facilitating talks to end the war.

The French foreign minister emphasized his country's position in support of the continuation of diplomatic approaches, hoping that the diplomatic efforts would restore peace in the West Asian region.

The phone calls came as Araghchi arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Sunday for a second visit within around 24 hours, having returned from a brief stop in Oman.

Heading a diplomatic delegation on the first visit, he had arrived in Pakistan on Friday night and conveyed Iran's considerations and views regarding the end of the war.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East.

A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8, followed by lengthy talks between the Iranian and U.S. delegations in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to lead to an agreement.

The Iranian and U.S. delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan this week, but Iran refrained from attending the negotiations, citing the U.S. continued naval blockade and "excessive" demands as main reasons. 
Donald Trumps Hormuz blockade has deepened a historic shipping crisis

Demand destruction has already begun in gas markets, while fertilizer shortages will impact food production and prices for much of the rest of the year and beyond.









Transits through Hormuz slowed dramatically almost immediately after the US and Israel began strikes on Iran at the end of February. Transits through the Strait of Hormuz are now nearly impossible

US blockade, Iranian gunboats heighten volatility and risk

Crude output from Gulf nations is 57% below pre-war levels Did our AI summary help?
'Every time your polls drop, you pull up same scheme': Iran drops Lego diss track mocking Trump after Washington shooting

It also referenced Trump's reported efforts to tightly control the event, the absence of comedians, and the abrupt disruption of the night with phrases such as 'fragile ego'
How Iran's 'Top Gun' jet bombed US base in war's most ironic moment

An Iranian F-5 fighter, the exact jet used to depict enemy MiGs in the original Top Gun, breached US air defences and struck Camp Buehring in Kuwai. The damage could cost $5 billion.









The same F-5 fighter that played Hollywood's villain in the 1986 blockbuster has now struck a real American military base in Kuwait. Iranian F-5 jet reportedly struck US Camp Buehring in Kuwait

The F-5 was used as the enemy MiG-28 in the 1986 film Top Gun

US keeps strike details and damage confidential Did our AI summary help?
After chaos at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Trump links threats against him to action on Irans nuclear programme.
India-New Zealand trade deal to be signed Monday; 70% Indian goods may get duty-free access

Piyush Goyal said the India-New Zealand trade pact will boost exports, with leather, handloom, handicrafts and MSME sectors set to gain.

ANI April 26, 2026 / 11:14 IST























India, New Zealand set to sign long-pending trade pact; leather, handloom exporters in focus India, New Zealand to ink trade pact on April 27

70% of Indian exports to New Zealand to face zero import duty

Agreement to boost exports for MSMEs and traditional industries Did our AI summary help?
Araghchi conveys Irans terms for peace talks via Pakistan, flags Hormuz, compensation

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan after a brief Oman visit, as Islamabad continues mediating Middle East peace efforts.









Araghchi returns to Pakistan mediation talks
Iran war will end 'very soon', If they want to talk, they can call us: Donald Trump

Donald Trump added that Pakistan would stay involved as future progress is made via telephonic conversations. 'They'll stay involved- but we're gonna do it by telephone'









US President Donald Trump Trump says Iran conflict could end soon, US will be victorious

Trump open to phone negotiations with Iran

Nuclear issues central to any potential US-Iran agreement Did our AI summary help?
Araghchi to meet Putin in Russia for ceasefire talks as diplomatic tour continues, Moscow confirms visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss ceasefire talks, regional developments, and negotiations involving the US and Israel amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.









Araghchi meets Putin on war talks
Is Iran divided? Secret letter, economic strain and nuclear talks fuel questions over Tehrans unity

The debate gained traction after US President Donald Trump claimed Iranian leaders were fighting like cats and dogs over whether to engage with Washington.









(Representative Image) A leaked letter reveals internal strain among Iran's leadership.

Some officials urge nuclear talks with US amid economic crisis.

Iranian leaders publicly deny divisions, but tensions persist. Did our AI summary help?
Is Irans new supreme leader dead? Mojtaba Khamenei mural sparks speculation: Report

A Mashhad mural featuring Mojtaba Khamenei alongside slain figures has intensified speculation over his fate, as Iran remains silent and reports about his health and condition continue to circulate.









Mural fuels doubts over Khameneis fate
MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans to launch a biosatellite to study the effects of deep-space conditions on living organisms in the mid-2030s, a senior scientist said Sunday.

The planned biosatellite "Vozvrat-MKA" will travel beyond Earth's orbit, said Vladimir Sychev, a leading researcher in space biology at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, cited by RIA Novosti.

He noted that existing data on how living organisms respond to near-lunar conditions remain extremely limited, adding that the mission will study the effects of hypomagnetic environments, galactic radiation and high-energy secondary neutrons.

The satellite, carrying living organisms, is expected to reach an altitude of up to 200,000 km to simulate interplanetary flight conditions and assess galactic cosmic radiation, according to reports. 
Is White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting linked to Iran war? Here's what Donald Trump said | WATCH

He had earlier said, however, that "you never know" when asked if the incident could be connected to the Iran war, adding that investigators were working to determine the motive of the suspec









US President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 25, 2026. - AFP Trump vows shooting won't deter Iran war effort

Suspect held after shots fired at WH Correspondents' Dinner

Dinner postponed after security scare at Washington Hilton Did our AI summary help?
Israel orders mass evacuations in south Lebanon, Netanyahu warns ceasefire 'dismantling'

Israel ordered evacuation of seven southern Lebanon villages, citing Hezbollah ceasefire violations and warning of decisive military action against the group.









Israel orders evacuation over Hezbollah ceasefire breach
Nukes, Hormuz and frozen billions: Why Iran is refusing Trumps deal for now

Iran says it will not negotiate under pressure as US talks face disputes over uranium, Hormuz shipping curbs and sanctions relief.









President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran will not negotiate under threats as disputes over uranium stockpiles, Strait of Hormuz and sanctions intensify. Iran refuses talks under US pressure or threats

Tehran demands sanctions relief and $20 billion in frozen assets

Nuclear dispute, Hormuz Strait restrictions still unresolved Did our AI summary help?
Pakistan silences Shia anger as NYT report pulled from front page: Report

Pakistan censored a New York Times report on Shia anger over the West Asia war, triggering backlash from journalists and exposing rising sectarian tensions amid the countrys diplomatic balancing act.









Pakistan silences Shia voice, pulls NYT report
Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday without any breakthrough in peace talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior Pakistani officials over the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran
Trump was evacuated from the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner after shots were fired, the same event where Obama mocked him into running for president in 2011.
'The show must go on': Trump defies secret service after gun scare rocks White House Correspondents' Dinner

Trump wanted to return to the White House Correspondents Dinner after a scare, but Secret Service opposed it.









Donald Trump wanted to return to the White House Correspondents Dinner after a security scare, while Secret Service opposed the move.
I fought like hell to stay: Donald Trump after WHCD shooting scare, says suspect had multiple weapons

The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition, Trump wrote, indicating that no senior officials were injured in the incident.









Donald Trump Trump lauds Secret Service after Correspondents Dinner shooting

Suspect storms checkpoint, subdued; officer shot but unhurt

White House officials safe; dinner reset within 30 days Did our AI summary help?
Trumps first reaction after White House dinner scare: Quite an evening in D.C... Let the show go on

Trump reacts after the White House Correspondents Dinner scare, praises Secret Service and says: Let the show go on.









Donald Trump praised Secret Service after the White House Correspondents Dinner scare and said he wanted the event to continue.
Trump shooting scare at Washington Hilton revives memories of Reagan assassination attempt

The dramatic episode revived memories of March 30, 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot outside the same hotel after a speaking engagement









Trump and Melania rushed out after loud bangs at Hilton Hotel

Guests dived under tables fearing a shooting incident

Suspected shooter apprehended; Trump praised law enforcement Did our AI summary help?
This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows 19-year-old Basmala Mohamed Fakhry (R), a young artist with a disability, with her friend Nada Ahmed Soghayer at a studio in Aswan, Egypt. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

by Mahmoud Fouly

ASWAN, Egypt, April 26 (Xinhua) -- In a dimly lit theater in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, 19-year-old Basmala Mohamed Fakhry sat in the front row, watching herself appear on the big screen.

Beside her was her childhood friend, Nada Ahmed Soghayer, 20, the writer and director of "Pen Nib," a nine-minute short film that tells Fakhry's story: a young artist with a disability whose life has been shaped by talent, persistence, and friendship.

Onscreen, Fakhry narrates her own journey. Behind her voice, scenes show her bent over a table scattered with colored pencils and paper, gripping a pen in her mouth as she draws with careful concentration.

For Fakhry, now a psychology student at Aswan University's Faculty of Arts, the screening at the Aswan International Women Film Festival was more than a film debut. It felt like a milestone.

"I am very happy that a film was made about my story," she said. "For me, it is not just a small short film. It is a great achievement."

Born with a physical disability that affected her arms, Fakhry said she discovered drawing almost by accident.

As a child, she once used a spoon in her mouth to help feed her younger sister. Her mother noticed and encouraged her to try holding a pen the same way.

Soon, Fakhry picked up her older brother's pen with her mouth and began scribbling in his notebook. What started as a small experiment gradually became an unusual artistic skill.

With support from her family, especially her mother, she developed her talent through school activities, art classes, and competitions. Over time, she earned certificates, medals, and honors from educational, cultural, and artistic institutions.

Now her work has reached beyond galleries and classrooms. She helped paint murals in Aswan, on Cairo's Al-Muizz Street, and in Al-Azhar Park.

"I dream of becoming a famous artist," she said, "of having my paintings go abroad, and of being known by the whole world."

Her story had long inspired Soghayer, who grew up with her and eventually decided to make Fakhry the subject of her first short film.

"Fakhry is a role model for me," Soghayer said. "Although she is younger than me, she is a role model. We learn from her to have determination and to keep going."

As a child, Soghayer had once wanted to write a play with Fakhry as the heroine, but the idea never materialized.

"When the opportunity to make the film came, I felt she was the one person I should make a film about," she said. "I wanted to show that disability does not stop anyone, and Fakhry is a clear example of that."

Soghayer, a student in the English department at Aswan University's Faculty of Education, said "Pen Nib" was her first project as both writer and director. The film was produced for the Aswan International Women Film Festival's workshop competition, which featured 18 short films by young filmmakers.

Although it did not win an award, the jury gave it a special mention for its portrayal of a young artist with a disability as an inspiring figure.

For Soghayer, the recognition mattered, but the message mattered more.

"I am proud of the film even if it did not win," she said, "because for me, it is a message to society and to all girls."

She said she especially wanted to tell a story from Upper Egypt, where girls and people with disabilities often face social restrictions and are too often overlooked.

"I want to tell them that they can," she said.

That message resonated with viewers in the theater.

"The film delivers a very meaningful message," said Rewan Khaled, 19, a student from Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt. "She has a goal, and she loves what she does, and that is why she has succeeded."

"Her story is very inspiring," Khaled added. "I encourage people to take her struggle as a role model."

As the film played, Fakhry and Soghayer sat side by side in the front row: one the artist whose pen, held by her mouth, carved a path through hardship; the other the young filmmaker who turned that path into cinema.

At the end of the film, Fakhry leaves the audience with a final line:

"I want to tell anyone who sees us as less than anyone else in the world: we are energy, not disability." 

19-year-old Basmala Mohamed Fakhry, a young artist with a disability, paints a picture at her studio in Aswan, Egypt, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

19-year-old Basmala Mohamed Fakhry, a young artist with a disability, paints a picture at her studio in Aswan, Egypt, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on April 23, 2026 shows 19-year-old Basmala Mohamed Fakhry (L), a young artist with a disability, with her friend Nada Ahmed Soghayer at a cinema during the workshop competition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival in Aswan, Egypt. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Iran War News Live: Araghchi expected back in Islamabad as US talks remain on hold

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to return to Pakistan after his visit to Oman and before travelling onward to Russia, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday without any visible breakthrough in peace discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials over the US-Israel war involving Iran.

Iran is reportedly unwilling to enter face-to-face talks with the United States due to major differences, viewing Washington's position as maximalist. Tehran is also said to have demands that American officials consider unacceptable.

Despite the lack of progress, Pakistan has continued to maintain that it is ready to keep mediating, suggesting the diplomatic channel remains open.

Araghchi is expected to arrive back in Islamabad later on Sunday evening, where further discussions with Pakistani officials are likely. Members of the delegation that accompanied him have returned to Tehran to seek instructions and may rejoin him in Pakistan.

For now, direct talks between Iran and the US remain on hold. Islamabad has also begun returning to normalcy, with barricades removed and roads reopened.
While a ceasefire has mostly held since early April, both countries are maintaining a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, making the key energy chokepoint virtually impassable
Who is Cole Tomas Allen? Lone wolf suspect held in White House Correspondents Dinner shooting

Unverified social media profiles, including LinkedIn, describe Allen as a mechanical engineer, computer scientist, indie game developer and part-time teacher based in the Los Angeles area.









Trump shares first visuals of WHCD shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen held after WH Correspondents Dinner shooting

Allen charged with firearm use and assaulting a federal officer

Secret Service agent shot but protected by bullet-resistant vest Did our AI summary help?
World leaders decry 'unacceptable' violence after armed scare at Trump gala

World leaders condemned an armed scare at a Trump-attended Washington gala, expressing shock and relief at his safety while reiterating that political violence has no place in democracies.









Leaders condemn violence after Trump event scare
Search

No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.
A student competes during a Chinese language recitation competition at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Soe Pyae Tun/Xinhua)

YANGON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Children gathered at the China Cultural Center in Yangon on Sunday for the final round of the 9th Chinese Language recitation competition, showcasing their language skills and confidence on stage.

U Aung Kyaw Koe, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association (Central), delivered remarks during the ceremony, noting that language serves as a bridge connecting minds, while culture strengthens friendship.

He said Chinese language recitation is not only an art of expression, but also a way of passing down culture. Through recitation, children can experience the beauty of the Chinese language, including its rhythm, tone and emotional depth. It also helps them better understand the essence of Chinese culture while improving their language skills.

He added that such activities foster an appreciation for culture and help build confidence among young learners.

Cho Cho Myint, principal of Bowen Chinese School, said more children participated this year compared to previous years, and that they showed greater development, experience and confidence on stage.

"This event is not only for children of Chinese descent in Myanmar, but also for Myanmar children learning the Chinese language," she said. "I can see that children are becoming more confident and capable each year."

"We will continue organizing this program in the future, as it strengthens China-Myanmar friendship and cultural exchange," she added.

Participants also shared their experiences. Phyu Sin Thet Moe, 14, said this was her third time participating. "The first time, I didn't win anything but gained experience. The second time, I prepared well and won first prize. This time, I also won first prize. I joined again to maintain my skills," she said.

"I feel very happy and proud. I want to encourage everyone to believe in themselves and keep going," she added.

May Thin Lwin Oo, 15, who won third prize, said she was happy with her achievement. "There were many competitors, and it was challenging because they were very talented, so I felt a lot of pressure. I learned more about Chinese culture and improved my pronunciation and speaking skills," she said.

The competition attracted more than 1,500 students from Chinese schools across Myanmar, of whom 55 advanced to the final round. First, second and third prizes, along with excellence awards and other prizes, were presented to the finalists, according to Bowen Chinese School. 

A student competes during a Chinese language recitation competition at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Soe Pyae Tun/Xinhua)

A student competes during a Chinese language recitation competition at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Soe Pyae Tun/Xinhua)

A student competes during a Chinese language recitation competition at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Soe Pyae Tun/Xinhua)
More than half of the U.S. lives with computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eyestrain, and nearly 16.4 million Americans suffer from dry eye syndrome. Microgen Images/Getty Images|Science Photo Library

Admission: I suffer from eyestrain. Even right this very second. As a reporter working on a computer more than eight hours most days, my eyes often feel fatigued and itchy by evening.

I'm not alone: More than half of the U.S. population lives with computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eyestrain, and nearly 16.4 million Americans suffer from dry eye syndrome. So I was especially excited to stumble on New Vogue Spa, in City of Industry, which offers a relaxing, if intriguing, treatment called "Eyeball Care"  something I'd never heard of before at a day spa.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New Vogue Spa is an Asian-style spa with Korean and Chinese influences. The spa's offerings include massages and body scrubs  I was curious about the "Red Wine Body Scrub,"  but I couldn't help exploring eyeball care, which was much needed after my 50-minute drive from Silver Lake. (City of Industry is about 30 minutes from downtown L.A. without heavy traffic.)

So it came to be that I found myself lying on a massage table, wearing what looked like protruding diving goggles, with clouds of cool, aromatic steam oozing from both sides of it and engulfing my face. A spindly plastic tube extended from my forehead to the "Eye Spa" machine. Serene spa music, a blend of classical piano and loudly chirping birds, trilled in the background as the machine sloshed and gurgled. It felt like lying, creekside, in a spa robe wrapped in a blanket of chamomile and rosemary-scented fog.

As my esthetician, Jenny Chen, adjusted the eye mask and added essential oils to the mist, New Vogue manager Lesley Xie explained that the 60-minute, $125 Eyeball Care treatment aims to hydrate and stimulate blood circulation in the eye area, decrease puffiness and dark circles and aid eye fatigue and dry eye syndrome.

"It's really helpful for overall eye health for people who are on computers for a long time or sleep really late or who are reading a lot," she said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Xie said that eyeball care treatments are common in China. When she was growing up in Guangdong in Southern China, elementary school students were given a break every afternoon to perform "eye exercises," which involved gently massaging pressure points around their eye areas, for 5-10 minutes.

"It released eye stress because we studied from eight o'clock in the morning until almost noon time," she said. "It was a break for our eyes to prevent nearsightedness and tired eyes."

New Vogue Spa's treatment was supremely relaxing from the onset  part Head Spa, part facial, part eye care. Chen began by massaging my scalp for about 10 minutes, as I tried not to fall asleep.

Next she cleaned my face, applied massage cream and gently massaged my face and eye area, manipulating the outer corners of my eye sockets as well as under my brow bones and on my temples. She was precise and firm but careful  as she pressed on the outside corner of my eye, I felt tension draining down the side of my cheek and neck.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Xie said the massage is based on traditional Chinese medicine, focusing on stimulating acupressure points around the eyes.

"Gentle massage of these areas is believed to help promote blood circulation, relax the muscles responsible for focusing and relieve visual fatigue," she said. "While it's not a medical treatment for vision conditions, it's widely used as a preventative and restorative method."

The massage was followed by "Golden Eye therapy," during which Chen used an electronic device on my face with a metal roller ball on it. It uses "ultrasonic vibration technology," Xie said, to help the skin absorb the applied moisturizing cream and combat eye puffiness.

The main event was the "cooling steam therapy," which Xie said was meant to be calming and refreshing and help relieve tired eyes. Chen fitted me with what looked like an enormous diving mask that quickly filled with cool, hydrating mist  I felt droplets of water dripping from my eyes and down my cheeks. The Eye Spa machine uses a "cold mist atomization process," Xie said, "that disperses micro-particles of moisture combined with soothing essential oils."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At the end of my treatment, Chen gave me under-eye gel pad masks, for added hydration, while conducting one last head massage. She applied moisturizing eye cream, face cream and sunscreen before sending me off.

Dr. Kristina Voss, an ophthalmologist with Keck Medicine of USC, was enthusiastic about the Eyeball Care treatment.

"It sounds wonderful. Anything that makes you feel good, I generally support," she said. "It sounds safe because they're not putting pressure on the eye. Direct pressure on the eyeball [is dangerous]. And I'd be nervous if they were putting something in the eye, but they're not. Steam, or even cool condensation from a humidifier, is effective for dry eye. Massaging pressure points probably doesn't treat dry eye, but could potentially treat eyestrain or tension headaches that can be interpreted as eyestrain."

Temporary relief aside, however, Voss warned that the treatment is not a replacement for seeing a doctor if a condition is ongoing.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"It's relaxing and complementary to a doctor's dry eye treatments  like medicated drops or in-office treatments  but it's not a simple fix or cure all," she said. "Ongoing doctor's care would be important."

After my treatment, I was invited to linger in the co-ed Himalayan Salt Room and Red Clay Room or woman-only spa area, complete with a warm soaking tub, lounge area and treatment rooms for body scrubs. (I skipped the adjacent New Vogue MedSpa, where you can get botox, dermal filler or microneedling treatments.)

Guests are also treated to a cup of homemade snow fungus tea (made from tremella mushrooms) with a single jujube, or red, date, floating inside. New Vogue makes a fresh batch every morning for guests, simmering the collagen-rich drink so long it becomes somewhat gelatinous.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Snow fungus focuses on deep hydration and skin plumping, while red dates support circulation and a healthy glow," Xie said, calling the concoction "a warm bowl of snow fungus and red date soup."
Lance Muirheid, 29, harvests corn on his familys farm in Macon County. One of a few young farmers in an aging industry, Muirheid has been farming since 2018. Muirheid Farms

Brock Seymour was 5 the first time he drove a combine. It was pouring rain, and his grandfather had jumped out to fetch the grain cart, leaving him to drive across the field.

I'll never forget that, Seymour said. When he got down out of the combine, he said, Just drive straight, buddy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

From that point on, Seymour knew he wanted to be a farmer. Growing up on the family farm in Shipman, Illinois, Seymour took on responsibility early, helping with operations at 13 and by his early 20s, learning the business side of running a farm.

Now 26, he represents the fifth generation on his familys land. With his grandparents entering their late 70s, those responsibilities are shifting into conversations about succession.

His path is a familiar one for young farmers in Illinois, many of them fifth- or sixth-generation stewards of Midwestern farms. Yet, less than 9% of Illinois farmers are below the age of 35, and the average age of a farmer in Illinois is over 58, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures 2022 agriculture census.

If you ask farmers why that is, the reasons for the stats are varied. For any young farmer, not least those without access to inherited land, there are the high costs of getting started. This includes land, equipment and fertilizer, none of which are cheap

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

For those looking to continue their family legacy, there is a hefty estate tax associated with taking over the business and the land. But theres also a sense of some in the older generation not wanting to pass the torch, and because of improved equipment quality, they dont have to just yet.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has programs in place to support young farmers, including low-interest loans; the threshold to entry remains high, said Garrett Williams, 26, chair of the Illinois Farm Bureaus young leader committee.

I do think that the rising costs of inputs and the buy-in on assets and ground is probably a relatively high barrier, Williams said. For young farmers, especially those with families, it can be a challenge.

Farming is capital-intensive; there are equipment costs, fertilizer costs, and the price of land and labor. A combine alone can cost more than $1 million. Tariffs and geopolitical disruptions have already increased costs for Illinois farmers in recent years, according to the Illinois Soybean Association. Now, conflict in the Middle East is adding new pressures, with fertilizer prices at risk of climbing toward levels not seen since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which also upended global supply chains.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

People just don't realize how much money it takes to start from scratch, said Lance Muirheid, a seventh-generation corn and soybean farmer in Cerro Gordo, Illinois. If you don't have some kind of financial backing, it's extremely expensive to be a farmer.

Even if you are fortunate enough as a young farmer to inherit farmland from your parents or grandparents, the financial burdens remain through taxation, said Muirheid, 29.

A farmer works into the evening hours in Macon County. Muirheid Farms

Land rich and cash poor

Illinois is one of a dozen states that imposes a so-called "death tax"  a state-level estate tax on inherited assets, separate from federal taxes. While Congress raised the federal estate-tax exemption to $15 million through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, farmers in Illinois still face state-level taxes if they reach the $4 million threshold. That means that once an estate exceeds $4 million, the entire value is subject to taxation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

With land and equipment becoming more valuable, its easy to reach that $4 million limit, Williams said.

The Family Farm Preservation Act, which would have raised the estate tax threshold to $6 million, included key priorities for the Illinois Farm Bureau. The measure would allow for the 96% of farms that are family owned to stay intact when passed down between generations, without having to sell off land or assets, according to the farm bureau.

Farmers, we have a tendency to be land rich and cash poor, Williams said. I think that's the general sentiment. Any taxes incurred on inherited assets can be very difficult. It can be cumbersome on the young farmer to come up with that cash to keep those acres and keep that equipment for the operation.

The prices of both land and equipment have risen for farmers over the past decade, increasing the value of estates.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

You know, the price of land has skyrocketed, Muirheid said. I see a lot of family farms that could be passed down to the next generation. But once they're inherited, they have to go pay all this tax and sell two-thirds of the farm to be able to keep one-third in the family. And that's just not right.

The Family Farm Preservation Act (contained in Senate Bill 2921 and House Bill 4600) did not pass the previous legislative session due to fiscal concerns over reducing state revenue while trying to resolve a budget deficit. Now, a new bill, Senate Bill 1688, is currently awaiting assignment to a Senate committee. Sponsored by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, the bill seeks to raise the tax exemption to $6 million.

Turner echoed fiscal concerns about lost revenue for the state, saying It's the money. That's the big piece.

However, she hopes this time there is enough momentum for the bill to pass. Its been awaiting a committee assignment since February 2025.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We're working really hard with all of the stakeholders, Turner said. Hopefully we get it over the finish line.

Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, is among 29 cosponsors on the bill, which has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

You can get to $4 million really fast when a combine costs $1 million, Bryant said. So we need to get rid of that and bring it in line with the federal government. Were pushing for it really hard.

I dont know anyone who is against it, added Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Estate tax revenues have increased significantly in recent years, according to a January Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability report. Between fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2020, receipts averaged more than $300 million annually. And in recent years, theyve gone north of $600 million. Some growth can be attributed to a sharp rise in asset valuations.

Gov. JB Pritzker said in March that changes to the estate tax have not been a priority, though he added: I do think its something that I could support as long as it includes the kind of tax break that I think is appropriate to preserving small farms and small businesses.

I think there are people who look at me and think (an) estate tax cut is not something that Pritzker should be the advocate for, Pritzker said, acknowledging his billionaire status. But I understand, very much so, how impactful it is in a negative way on farmers and on small businesspeople.

The combined impact of high costs and estate taxes can lead young farmers to delay formally buying into the family farm until they have gained enough capital. As a result, these transitions often happen later in life, according to the University of Illinois farmdoc daily, a website that offers research-based analysis for farmers, market analysts, policymakers and more.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Grain pours into a cart at sunset on the Seymour family farm in Shipman. Brock Seymour

A reluctance to step aside

Financial barriers are only part of the challenge facing new farmers. While agriculture has long required significant capital, some experts say older farmers are holding onto their operations longer, leaving fewer opportunities for the next generation.

Kevin Brooks, a farm management commercial agriculture educator with University of Illinois Extension, said transitions within family farms can be difficult to navigate, leading some to delay succession planning altogether.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A lot of fathers that are running on farms dont want to give up that control, Brooks said. People dont like to talk about their impending demise. They dont want to talk about slowing down and retiring. Theres that work ethic of wanting to stay at it.

This puts younger farmers in a bind, having to play the waiting game until the older generation is ready to pass the torch, said Seymour, the Shipman farmer.

Maybe when I get that age, I'll be the same way. I don't know, Seymour said. I can't speak for the older generation, but they've put blood, sweat and tears into the ground. And I think they just have a hard time being able to hang them up and, you know, smoothly pass it on.

In recent decades, farming equipment has gotten considerably more advanced, making it more comfortable to farm and less demanding physically. This has allowed people to stick with it longer, Brooks said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

To an extent, the boomer generation hung on for a long time. And I don't blame them. They get a bad rap, said Muirheid, the Cerro Gordo farmer. They went out in open-air cab tractors and farmed with four-row planters. Then they got better equipment, air conditioning, air ride suspension, and auto steer. They put in the work, and they get to reap the benefits of that. I don't blame them.

Last year, the Farmland Transition Commission Act, Senate Bill 2372, was signed into law, creating a new body within the Illinois Department of Agriculture tasked with reviewing the barriers to acquiring farmland for people aged 25 to 40. It was championed by Sen. Sally Turner. As part of the act, she is working with the state agriculture department to create a webpage where younger people can get useful information on entering farming.

Young farmers see all the roadblocks, Turner said. From problems with tariffs, the low prices of corn and beans, and everything on top of it. But there's different avenues that can help you as a farmer, like low-interest loans if you wanted to try and buy a piece of ground. All those things are out there.

For young farmers in Illinois, the challenges are hard to ignore, including longer term concerns about South American competition impacting soybean farmers in the state. But knowing that previous generations have overcome similar obstacles instills confidence.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"To see anybody struggle, it's not encouraging, but to see them get through it has the opposite effect," Muirheid said. "If you work hard enough or smart enough, you'll get through the bad times."

Brock Seymour has been working full time at his family farm for the past few years. The estate tax concerns him, and lifting the threshold would give him and his family more breathing room, he said. As with any family business, navigating succession planning and generational divides can be challenging, but Seymour is optimistic about the future.
David C.L. Bauer is editor and publisher. He joined the Journal-Courier in 2009 as editor and added publisher responsibilities in 2016. The Cincinnati native has worked as an editor for newspapers in Florida, Ohio and Kentucky and as a former adjunct instructor of journalism at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has also worked at radio stations in Ohio as a news director and a disc jockey.
The statewide average winter wheat yield in Illinois for the 2025 crop was 88 bushels per acre, according to USDA. Catrina Rawson/FarmWeek

The statewide average winter wheat yield in Illinois for the 2025 crop was 88 bushels per acre, according to USDA, surpassing the record 87 bushels set in 2023.

A lot of it boils down to the fact that wheat tends to respond to management very well and it seems like the more that you do to promote high yielding wheat, the more that crop responds and gives you that high yielding wheat in return, Illinois Wheat Association President Tracy Heuerman told FarmWeek. I think farmers that grow wheat see that and theyre willing to invest in the crop to make sure they get the maximum yields.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The top five highest yielding counties in Illinois were Macon (112.3), Carroll (111.6), Edgar (110.2), Ogle (106.9) and Schuyler (104.6). Countywide average yields also reached or exceeded 100 bushels per acre in Bureau, Champaign, Clark, Gallatin, Greene, Henry and McLean counties.

Illinois farmers produced a total of 61.6 million bushels of wheat in 2025, up from 60.2 million in 2024.

The leading counties in winter wheat production last season were Washington (5.6 million), Randolph (3.3 million), Perry (2.6 million), St. Clair (2.16 million) and Wayne (2.11 million).

Heuerman, who farms in Effingham and Clay counties and covers 11 counties across the Interstate 70 corridor as a field sales agronomist for GROWMARK, said the 2025 crop saw timely planting and good emergence.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In general, from my recollection, the wheat crop from the 2025 season was one of the better looking ones that weve had coming out of dormancy, she said.

Challenges came later in the growing season including six weeks of wet weather in April and May.

I do think with the commodity prices and the outlook, farmers pulled back on applications of products like fungicides and palisade, Heuerman said. So, we did face more lodging challenges than what we had in previous years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Looking at the 2026 crop, she said fields planted in the second half of October were slow to emerge given the dry weather and are a little behind, But in general the stands are there, the population is there and I think were set up to have another really good wheat crop this year.
A University of Michigan study examined nearly 17,000 meat processing facilities and 20 years of air pollution data from across the country. Getty Images/Glowimages RF

As Illinois considers measures to tighten regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations, a recent study highlighted the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of meat production on vulnerable populations.

Several bills propose stricter rules on large- and medium-sized operations by increasing local control, expanding setback distances from residential areas, and requiring water supply reports for expansions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Data from the University of Michigan shows these facilities contribute to significantly worse air quality for surrounding communities.

Dimitris Gounaridis, assistant research scientist and lecturer at the University of Michigan, said people of color, rural residents and uninsured populations make up the majority of those residing in neighboring areas.

"The meat we are eating and consuming has some costs," Gounaridis explained. "We prove once and for all that proximity to those facilities means lower air quality and health issues."

It is estimated there are more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations in Illinois. Gounaridis pointed out the research team has made their dataset publicly available for the first time in hopes of providing systematic evidence for targeted government or organizational interventions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Meat production facilities produce various harmful chemicals, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane and particulate matter. Gounaridis noted fine particulate matter are extremely small particles, which linger in the air for extended periods of time, and no amount is safe to inhale.

"Its directly associated with (a) 4% increase in overall mortality and (a) 6% increase in cardiovascular mortality and (an) 8% increase in lung cancer," Gounaridis outlined. "That's very, very high."

Gounaridis added health effects have been observed in communities up to 10 miles away. He stressed the concentration of large operations and other meat processing farms in specific locations like the Midwest enables more targeted interventions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Students learn to play Chinese chess at the Confucius Classroom of Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

by Xinhua writer Li Fuyu

PURWOKERTO, Indonesia, April 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 principals, teachers and education officials from over 30 trilingual schools across Indonesia gathered at Puhua Trilingual School in Central Java on Saturday for a forum on Chinese-language education.

The event marked the 120th anniversary of Purwokerto Chinese School, the 20th anniversary of Puhua Trilingual School, and the first anniversary of the school's Confucius Classroom.

The Confucius Classroom was jointly established by Baoding University, the Baoding Secondary School Education Group and Puhua Trilingual School, and was officially inaugurated in January 2025. It became the first Confucius Classroom in Indonesia.

During the event, two large art installations made of red, white and blue paper umbrellas were unveiled in the auditorium. The umbrellas formed phrases including "Education for All" and "I Love Indonesia," reflecting the school's long-held educational philosophy.

Mandarin, Indonesian and English could be heard throughout the campus, where language is seen not only as a subject to study, but also as a way to connect people from different backgrounds.

Among Indonesia's many trilingual schools, Puhua is not the largest, but it has become a notable example of Chinese-language education. The school now has more than 1,000 students across two campuses.

Chen Tao, the school's principal, said more local families now view Chinese as more than an additional language, seeing it instead as a path to broader educational and professional opportunities.

That change is especially visible in the classroom.

Opsie Emalia Putri, an Indonesian teacher who had studied in China's Guangzhou and Tianjin, said students now learn Chinese through hands-on activities such as paper-cutting, calligraphy, traditional music and Chinese chess. "For many students, Chinese is no longer just something to memorize," she said. "It becomes something they can experience."

Teachers say that influence often reaches beyond school. Parents attending campus events sometimes try writing Chinese characters themselves after seeing what their children have learned, helping Chinese culture enter family life in a natural way.

For parents such as Tifany and Meliana, whose children study traditional Chinese dance and Guzheng, the value of the school lies in both language learning and cultural understanding. They said they would support their children if they later chose to continue their studies in China.

Former Education and Culture Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Yudil Chatim said what impressed him most was the school's inclusiveness, with students from different ethnic and religious backgrounds learning together on one campus.

Ye Su, Chinese consul general in Surabaya, said trilingual schools have become an important model for Chinese-language education in Indonesia, while Puhua's Confucius Classroom offers young Indonesians a new way to better understand China.

Sjahriati Rochmah, assistant to Indonesia's Cabinet Secretariat, said the school's importance lies in helping children from different backgrounds grow together in the same environment.

Over the past year, the Confucius Classroom has expanded beyond campus through cultural exhibitions, calligraphy programs and language activities in universities and local communities.

Zhang Jinghuo, the Chinese director of the Confucius Classroom, said its role now goes beyond language teaching. "It has become a bridge, connecting China and Indonesia, and connecting schools with the wider community." 

A student learns to write calligraphy at the Confucius Classroom of Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

A woman poses for photos with an art wall displaying paper umbrellas at Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

A student (R) learns to play the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, at the Confucius Classroom of Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

Guests pose for a group photo in front of the sign of the Confucius Classroom at Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

Students do exercise at Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)

Sjahriati Rochmah, assistant to Indonesia's Cabinet Secretariat, addresses a forum on Chinese-language education at Puhua Trilingual School in Purwokerto, Central Java Province, Indonesia, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Fuyu)
Transportation infrastructure overview. American Farm Bureau Federation

The U.S. grain transportation system, particularly the inland waterways, is considered a competitive edge for Americas farmers. But a century-old lock and dam system along the Mississippi River and a pending rail merger could present challenges in the future.

Part of the success weve had in exports is because we have this really efficient intermodal system of river and rail and roads that all work together, and its important to keep those systems up, because when were talking about moving such the large volume that we produce here, being able to get that to an export destination efficiently is really important, National Corn Growers Association Chief Economist Krista Swanson told FarmWeek.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Illinois is a bit different from other states with its vicinity to the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers, which allows for more exposure to the international market than some other places, said Collin Watters, Illinois Corns director of exports and logistics.

The Mississippi River system is one of the most critical logistics corridors for the U.S. corn export system, which makes advocating for federal investments to modernize the waterways a priority for Illinois Corn and Illinois Farm Bureau.

During a recent Leaders to Washington trip, members advocated for legislator support to improve infrastructure along the Mississippi, particularly the aging lock and dam system.

Tom Heinold, chief of the operations division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District, said routine maintenance has pretty much stayed on schedule, but non-routine repairs have not been well funded the past couple years.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I think 2022 was the last time we got a large infusion of infrastructure money for our locks and dams and so things are breaking faster than we can repair them right now, Heinold told FarmWeek. But I have to caveat that and say that during the 2000s, 2010s, and the first couple of years of the 2020s, we took very good care of the locks. ... My next big concern is the dams. Those dam gates out there, there are a few hundred of them across all of our dams between the St. Louis, Rock Island and St. Paul districts, and they have gone largely unmaintained ... and theyre starting to show signs of decay.

According to USDA, close to 60% of U.S. grain exports are shipped by barge and roughly 32 million tons of corn per year are barged down the Mississippi River system to Louisiana export terminals.

Barges dominate because Midwestern corn can be loaded on rivers and moved cheaply to Gulf export ports. Most corn used within the U.S. moves by truck or rail (to ethanol plants, feedlots or processors).

Right now, we do have a competitive edge because weve invested in this (river) system, and its reliable and very, very efficient. If we fail to invest in this system (in the future), that price point could go the other way, and Brazil and other ag producing nations in South America, for instance, could eat us alive, Heinold warned.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Drought and consistent low water levels in the lower Mississippi also continue to be a concern, while the upper river is looking pretty good, Heinold said.

On the lower river, they have gone for about four years in a drought condition, and unfortunately, that condition, more or less, is persisting. Weve got some recent rain, but it hasnt been enough to cancel out the drought and put a great deal of water back into the river system down south. The system is all connected, so it might be worth watching the potential drought on the lower river.

This could mean light-loading barges, which in turn affects prices.

When you have to make more trips with a tow boat to get the same product to market, that gets passed on, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Pending rail merger

Farmers and ag groups also are watching the proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, which could significantly alter rail competition, shipping costs and service reliability for agricultural shippers if approved by federal regulators.

The railroads have informed the Surface Transportation Board (STB) they intend to file a revised merger application on April 30 following the STBs rejection of the railroads initial merger application for being incomplete.

The deal would create the nations first coast-to-coast freight railroad. The board could make a decision by 2027.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In 2023 alone, U.S. railroads carried more than 80 million tons of corn, much of it originating in the Midwest and Northern Plains and moving toward coastal ports or major processing hubs.

Mexico is the top export market for U.S. corn. About two-thirds of the grain the U.S. ships to Mexico moves by rail. Disruptions in rail transport to Mexico could erode the U.S.s proximity advantage, cause storage backups and weaken basis.

For agriculture and rural America, the central question is not whether railroads could operate a larger network, but how further concentration would affect pricing power, service reliability and accountability in markets where shippers already have limited alternatives, American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Daniel Munch wrote in a recent Market Intel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

When rail rates rise, farmers have limited ability to offset the increase, Munch wrote. Commodity prices are set in global markets; input costs are largely fixed in the short run and production decisions cannot be easily adjusted after harvest. As a result, higher rail rates will be absorbed directly into farm margins.
U.S. farmers spend about $36 billion a year on fertilizer, and for many corn producers that cost represents one of the largest line items in their budget. Angelique Nijssen/Getty Images

The dominant cornsoybean farming system in the United States uses far more nitrogen fertilizer than crops can absorb with the surplus wasting farmers money, polluting drinking water, and producing climate emissions comparable to as many as 14 million gasoline-powered cars each year, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The report estimates that U.S. cornsoybean producers over-applied from 3.5 million to 5.8 million metric tons of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in 2023, producing avoidable heat-trapping emissions equivalent to between 8.4 million and 14 million gas-powered cars driven for a year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Nitrogen fertilizer is currently used in quantities far greater than what crops need or can absorb, with research showing that as much as half applied by farmers to their corn-soy rotation is unnecessary. The excess runs off to waterways, leaches into groundwater, or turns into climate-heating gases such as nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide that are released into the atmosphere.

Giant fertilizer corporations have used aggressive marketing to convince farmers that spraying more of their product will bring them greater crop yields, said Omanjana Goswami, co-author of the report and an interdisciplinary scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program. As fertilizer prices continue to rise, this overdependence is lowering profit margins for farmers while boosting the revenue of the multi-billion-dollar fertilizer industry.

U.S. farmers spend about $36 billion a year on fertilizer, and for many corn producers that cost represents one of the single largest line items in their budgets  often more than a third of their production costs.

Nitrous oxide, one of the gases emitted from commercial fertilizers, is 273 times more potent as a climate pollutant than carbon dioxide. Agriculture is the largest human-caused source of the long-lasting gas in the United States  with synthetic nitrogen fertilizer accounting for most of those emissions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis found that excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer by corn-soy farmers nationally creates as much as 60 million metric tons of heat-trapping emissions a year.

The rising rates of nitrogen fertilizer use have costly consequences for the health of people, our economy, and our environment, said Precious Tshabalala, co-author of the report and a scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program. Applying twice as much synthetic fertilizer than necessary spews polluting emissions that further heat the climate and endanger public health in rural communities.

The analysis recommends increased funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs that help farmers adopt practices that reduce fertilizer overuse, which Congress can do now in the upcoming farm bill negotiations. The Union of Concerned Scientists research suggests that greater investment in these programs can benefit farmers, strengthen rural economies, and reduce climate-damaging emissions.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Tshabalala said implementing conservation practices such as nutrient management can significantly reduce climate emissions while also lowering operating costs, saving farmers an average of $30 per acre in fertilizer costs.
Joshua Faulkner (left), research associate professor and director of the Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab at the University of Vermont, and graduate student Delaney Bullock check on flumes used to collect runoff from two agriculture fields for analysis. Amanda Swinhart/AP

When pollution gets bad enough in the rivers supplying Iowa's largest city with drinking water, it costs Des Moines around $16,000 a day to run a special system to filter out dangerous nitrates. It's a fact of life in the agriculture-dependent state  and climate change is making the water quality problem even worse.

The nitrates come from fertilizer and pesticides that make their way into the soil and then waterways like the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. It's not usually a problem in winter, but this year Iowa's capital had to filter in January and February  just the second time that's happened in more than 30 years. That's likely going to mean higher water bills for people who live in a state with some of the nation's waterways that are most vulnerable to nitrate pollution.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Experts blame weather conditions, including warming winters, for a costly problem they say will only grow across farm country.

When it comes to winter nitrate pollution events, "We are more apt to see these in the future. Are they going to occur every year? No. But the ingredients are there for them to potentially occur more often," said Justin Glisan, Iowa's state climatologist.

University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations. Amanda Swinhart/AP

Why warmer winters lead to more water pollution

The fertilizers and pesticides that farmers use leave nitrogen and phosphorus in their fields. Rain or snowmelt then carries the chemicals into drinking water, which is dangerous. Ingesting too many nitrates can cause health issues like cancer or blue baby syndrome, low oxygen levels in infants.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As Earth warms due to human-caused climate change, the ground isn't staying frozen as consistently in many places, and snow is often melting or falling as rain on thawed ground. That all adds up to more winter days when nitrates are likely to reach unhealthy levels.

Scientists say one effect of Earth's warming is more frequent extreme weather events, including drought and intense bursts of rainfall from an atmosphere that now holds more moisture than in the past.

Intense dryness followed by intense wetness means massive amounts of water moving through the soil, bringing farm chemicals like nitrogen with it, Glisan said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

And a warmer atmosphere is thawing Earth's polar regions and causing more of those winter flip-flops from frigid polar air to warmer, less snowy weather, he said.

Even though some storms brought a lot of snow this winter, it didn't stay on the ground for very long. Instead, snow insulated the soil in some areas from freezing too deep, and a quick thaw let melting snow, followed by pounding rain, travel down through the soil and eventually into streams.

Where the ground isn't consistently frozen, nutrients aren't as "locked in" to the soil frost.

"In central and southern Illinois, we've always dealt with a sort of ephemeral freeze-thaw, freeze-thaw process. What we're seeing is that's really tracking farther north," said Trent Ford, Illinois' state climatologist.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields. Amanda Swinhart/AP

Stakes high for low-income, rural communities

Nitrate pollution is a big problem for low-income, rural residents across the United States, said Samuel Sandoval Solis, a professor at the University of California-Davis and an extension specialist in water resources management.

While some communities already have the infrastructure to manage nitrate levels in drinking water, like filtration systems, many others don't. Around 15% of the U.S. population relies on drinking water wells that are private, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Nitrates can seep into those wells.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Testing well water regularly and correctly filtering it in a home can cost hundreds of dollars a year. Small communities whose water treatment facilities aren't yet equipped to filter nitrates will also have expensive decisions to make, Sandoval said.

A field is used for corn silage. Amanda Swinhart/AP

Research connecting climate change, runoff

States have been wrestling with nitrate pollution for years, but they're starting to realize increasingly warm winters are making that tougher  like in Illinois, where yearly reports on the issue have started to more explicitly mention the role of climate change, said Joan Cox, program manager for the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Scientists know there's more nitrogen going downstream in the winter, but they're still trying to figure out whether that means more pollution overall, said Carol Adair, a professor at the University of Vermont who has studied how rain-on-snow events could worsen nutrient pollution.

Either way, there's little known about the consequences of those changes on ecosystems, Adair said. She thinks because there's less plant life to suck up nitrogen in the winter, more could end up further downstream, like in the Gulf's "dead zone" where fertilizer pollution contributes to an area of low to no oxygen, which kills fish and marine life.

Dani Replogle, a staff attorney for Food and Water Watch, a nonprofit for sustainable food and clean water, said factory farm operators try to plan manure and fertilizer applications when precipitation is unlikely. But that is "increasingly not a successful strategy because everything is becoming so unpredictable," she said.

University of Vermont graduate student Delaney Bullock gathers runoff samples from two agricultural fields to be analyzed for nutrient concentrations. Amanda Swinhart/AP

Regulating nutrient pollution has proven difficult

Mandating that producers curb farm chemicals in water has proven difficult in agricultural areas, especially in Iowa, where the state's farm lobby has opposed mandatory rules.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump's EPA has delisted seven Iowa waterways from the federal Impaired Waters List, which under the Clean Water Act would have required the state to set limits on how much pollution gets into them. Food and Water Watch has announced an intent to sue.

As for Iowa's water treatment facilities, they are preparing resiliency plans for a future with more winter nutrient pollution, said Amy Kahler, CEO and general manager at Des Moines Water Works. But she thinks polluters upstream should clean up their acts.

Canada geese wade in the waters and ice of Lake Champlain. Amanda Swinhart/AP

"There really are two paths. One is conservation efforts and responsible watershed practices. And the other is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in treatment solutions," Kahler said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She thinks the best solution is the former, since it also has positive impacts on quality of life.
Todays Iran War update includes Netanyahu ordering strikes on Lebanon, Trump rug pulling negotiations in Pakistan, the MSM publishing more bad war news for the US, and some takes from the UAE and Israel.

First, some high weirdness in DC last night where shots were fired at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner which was immediately cancelled after Trump was evacuated.

It doesnt have much bearing on our topic, so Ill let UFC frontman, and Trump pal Dana White speak to it:

UFC CEO Dana White was in attendance during the alleged shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner and gave his reaction. "It was f*cking awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience." (via @USATODAY) pic.twitter.com/FHRQVcmHgx  MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 26, 2026

With a side of conspiracy theory fodder:

 JUST NOW: Karoline Leavitt calls on everyone to watch tonight because Donald Trump will bring the heat and there will be shots fired LETS FREAKING GO  pic.twitter.com/GMkccJ7qvw  MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) April 25, 2026

And now, on to business.

Oh Bibi

No surprise that Israel remains ceasefire incapable, via Haaretz:

IDF says it struck Hezbollah-linked structures in southern Lebanon The Israeli military said Saturday it struck several buildings linked to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, the strikes were carried out by the Israeli air force under orders from the political echelon.

Meanwhile, the IDF is investigating more war crimes committed against a Christian village in Lebanon,

The Lebanese account:

                              pic.twitter.com/Etu9asXQGz  LBCI Lebanon News (@LBCI_NEWS) April 25, 2026

Translated by Grok:

The Israeli army continued its demolition and sabotage operations in the border town of Dabl, where it proceeded to bulldoze the solar panels that supply the town with electricity and the water station, in addition to some homes and roads and olive trees.

The IDF responds, per Times of Israel:

The IDF says it is investigating after footage published by Lebanese media showed military excavators damaging solar panels in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon. The actions seen in the video do not align with the values of the IDF and the conduct expected of its soldiers, the military says in response to a query by The Times of Israel. The IDF says the incident is under investigation, and according to the findings, actions will be taken against the troops involved.

Its fascinating in a grim way which crimes the IDF investigates and which ones it completely ignores, like say, the mass murder of Lebanese journalists.

I told her, Im next to you.

She told me, Dont fall asleep and leave me. I said, No, no. Then exhaustion took over. I closed my eyes for a moment. Then I heard Amal scream. They struck the room again. Amal was gone. Reporter Zeinab Faraj recounts the harrowing hours her pic.twitter.com/O9X0d7sxJp  Nada Maucourant Atallah (@MaucourantNada) April 25, 2026

Even the Guardian is on to their family blogging:

Israel denied that it targeted journalists or that it had prevented rescue teams from reaching the area, and said the incident was under review. Previous reviews have rarely if ever attached any blame to Israeli forces, who typically attempt to suggest killed journalists are members of armed groups.

The israeli who sent the death threat to Amal Khalil before her assassination calls himself a journalist. Much like Eitan Fischberger, who hides behind his media credentials to put together hit lists of Palestinian journalists in Gaza who then subsequently get assassinated. https://t.co/i8qok3iCEw pic.twitter.com/YOX5a74J0R  barry with the NED (@bonzerbarry) April 23, 2026

Drop Site News has another poignant report from Lebanon:

Displaced Lebanese Pool Money to Buy Satellite Images to See What Remains of their Homes. For many residents unable to return to southern Lebanon amid Israels invasion and demolition campaign, satellite imagery has become the only way they can find out the state of their homes.

Alright, enough of that heartbreak, lets look at some less grisly nonsense.

Trump Cancels Kushner, Witkoff Trip to Islamabad

This wasnt a surprise to anyone paying attention, but Trumps Truth Social postings remain eminently quotable:

I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership. Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Informal Iranian spokesman Mohammad Marandi told Lebanese network Al Mayadeen that, Trump fabricated the news, and the Iranians from the outset have no intention of meeting with Whitakoff and Kushner. Washington and Netanyahu are violating the ceasefire, and negotiations cannot be held if this situation continues.

Ryan Grim points out the no-good, very bad role played by Pakistans US-backed military coup installed government:

The erroneous news reports indicating that the U.S. and Iran would be restarting talks were produced because Pakistans ISPR sent the following incorrect update to many journalists. (They didnt send it directly to me, but I was forwarded it.) This was the message: Breaking  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) April 25, 2026

Most NC readers wont be surprised to see Trumps narratives collapsing as fast as theyre spun, but it is kind of shocking the amount of attention western MSM pays to Trumps nonsensical on-again-off-again claims about negotiations with Iran.

Saturdays lengthy NYT piece on Irans enriched uranium stocks and the challenges in front of Trumps negotiating team (Kushner and Witknoff) is a masterpiece of the genre.

The Times piece on Irans Lego video offensive is far more informative, if equally full of clangers and western agit-prop.

Now lets look at some more bad news that the MSM is allowing to seep into their narrative.

NBC, CSIS Breaking Bad News Gently

NBC News dropped a banger of a report headlined, Iran caused more extensive damage to U.S. military bases than publicly known (paywalled and no archived version available yet):

American military bases and other equipment in the Persian Gulf region suffered extensive damage from Iranian strikes that is far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair, according to three U.S. officials, two congressional aides and another person familiar with the damage. The Iranian regime swiftly retaliated after the Trump administration attacked on Feb. 28, hitting dozens of targets across U.S. military bases in seven Middle East countries. Those attacks struck warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars, satellite communications infrastructure, runways, high-end radar systems and dozens of aircraft, according to the U.S. officials and an assessment by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. In the initial days of the war, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet bombed the U.S. base Camp Buehring in Kuwait, despite the base having air defenses, a rare breach that marked the first time an enemy fixed-wing aircraft has struck an American military base in years, according to two of the U.S. officials. The U.S. bases that came under attack are home to thousands of American troops, and in some cases their families, though they were largely cleared out in the days and hours before the U.S. and Israeli went to war with Iran.

Note the part about the US base in Kuwait being bombed by an F-5 (!) fighter jet.

Wow.

But thats not all.

Its not just US defense that lagged, US offense didnt overperform either:

 The US intel community just admitted they OVERESTIMATED damage to Iran's underground missile cities by 50%. Iran buried their arsenal under mountains of granite. We dropped 14 of our most powerful bunker-busters  and may have as few as 6 left. Replacements won't arrive pic.twitter.com/eHBh4pAEBC  Brandon Weichert (@WeTheBrandon) April 25, 2026

And speaking of bunker busters

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) dropped a bunker buster of a report about the profligate use of munitions in the Ramadan War so far (archived).

Concern about the status of U.S. munitions inventories has intensified as reports emerge about high expenditures of Tomahawks, Patriots, and other missiles in the Iran war. As Operation Epic Fury remains paused in a shaky ceasefire, there is an opportunity to assess whether the U.S. military nears the point of going Winchesteror running out of ammunition. Analysis of seven key munitions shows that the United States has enough missiles to continue fighting this war under any plausible scenario. The riskwhich will persist for many yearslies in future wars.

In the 39 days of the air and missile campaign before the ceasefire, U.S. forces heavily used the seven munitions in Table 1. For four of them, the United States may have expended more than half of the prewar inventory. Rebuilding to prewar levels for the seven munitions will take from one to four years as missiles in the pipeline are delivered. These missiles will also be critical for a potential Western Pacific conflict. Even before the Iran war, stockpiles were deemed insufficient for a peer competitor fight. That shortfall is now even more acute, and building stockpiles to levels adequate for a war with China will take additional time. Diminished inventories will also affect the U.S. supply of Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defenses (THAADs), and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSMs) to Ukraine and other allies and partners that use them. The United States will compete with those countries that also want to replenish and expand inventories.

But the news isnt all bad for aggro Uncle Sam:

For ground attack munitions, available alternatives are far cheaper but with the same explosive yield. To illustrate the cost difference, a BLU-110 bomb fitted with a Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kit costs less than $100,000 while a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) costs $2.6 million. Both accurately deliver 1,000-pound payloads. These munitions, however, have a shorter range and, thereby, put launch platforms in more danger. Air superiority is required to use them extensively.

Fortune summarizes the report (archived):

The Pentagon has used at least 45% of its stockpile of Precision Strike Missiles; 50% of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defenses (THAAD) interceptors inventory; and almost half of its stockpile of Patriot ballistic interceptor missiles used for interception over the first seven weeks of war with Iran, according to an analysis published this week by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).



Using data from the CSIS report, Fortune calculated the U.S. has so far spent about $24 billion on the seven major munitions used, but the cost of the Iran war is projected to far exceed that sum. Public policy expert and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer Linda Bilmes said the cost of the war is likely to exceed $1 trillion, as the administration underestimates the short-term costs of infrastructure damage, as well as long-term costs, such as lifetime disability benefits for thousands of veterans.



Of concern to experts like Bilmes is the U.S.s disproportional spending on munitions compared to Iran. Irans Shahed drones each cost between $20,000 and $50,000 to produce, per Reuters, while a Patriot interceptor used to shoot down drones or more complex aerial threats could cost about $4 million, as it requires more sophisticated technology than a drone to function.

Maybe thats why theres a big shift toward drones and other automated weapons systems in the next Pentagon budget.

Drones! Its All Drones These Days!

John Robb posts:

The massive bureaucracy of the US establishment went from a slow, timid exploration of autonomous warfare to a chaotic embrace of it nearly overnight. FY 2026 funding for autonomous warfare: $225 million

(DAWG: Defense Autonomous Warfare Group)

(DAWG: Defense Autonomous Warfare Group) Proposed FY2027 funding (submitted mid-April): $54.6 billion Thats a ~24,000 % increase in a year.

After describing Pentagon reactions to his 2016 report for the the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Autonomous Warfare, Robb explains why the Pentagon is suddenly so interested in drones:

(Iran) proved that drones could serve as a deterrent in many of the same ways deterrence did during the Cold War (although with much more flexibility). Heres what this means. Irans ability to mount daily attacks using drones puts growing pressure on global energy markets (Strait closure and damage to Gulf oil assets) and the governments of US allies in the region. From now on, its a good assumption that any future attacks on Iran will result in extensive damage to the global economy. This deterrent capability also allowed them to shape the war by exchanging attacks, tit for tat. For example, when the US or Israel expanded to a new target class, Iran immediately responded with similar attacks, forcing the US to avoid that target in the future. Additionally, they used this deterrent capability to erect barriers to entry and zones of control. The dual blockades (Iran and the US) of the Strait feel similar to the Berlin Wall.

Robb also drops this clanger that I just have to share, calling the Ramadan War a remote military adventure of little consequence to US national security. Whoo boy.

Armchair Warlord has some insights about US naval logistics and why we have been seeing such dire photos of the slop the sailors are being served:

Allow me to explain something about military logistics which may shed some light on what is occurring here. The US military doesn't ship food from CONUS to deployed forces if at all possible. It issues contracts to third party vendors to supply food in bulk for pickup or even https://t.co/s626G0QUbG pic.twitter.com/P28BWVFgnd  Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) April 26, 2026

Ill have more about the little consequences below.

Next well try to get inside some Israeli and Emirate heads, a kind of psychic sewer scuba diving.

The View from Inside the Axis

Lets start with Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator and J Street co-founder:

Former advisor to the Israeli government Daniel Levy on the Greater Israel plan: Israel wants to be surrounded by failed, fragmenting, or co-opted states. Its goal in Iran is regime and state collapse, not regime change. He then says Israel wants to weaken the Gulf States pic.twitter.com/h1p9HWSUXr  Ben Swann (@BenSwann_) April 25, 2026

Levy is on the bleeding edge of sanity for committed zionists. Lets hear from another whos making his way to the fringes of Israeli discourse.

Israeli security analyst Danny (Dennis) Citrinowicz has quite a tweet from the perspective of the one of the last reality connected, but nonetheless ill-intentioned, talking head allowed on Israeli TV responding to massive criticism that has come his way from his fellow zionist occupiers following his appearance on Raviv Druckers popular program on Israeli Channel 13:

My analyses were based on my familiarity with a complex system like the Islamic Republic, and primarily on the understanding that this campaign was built, at least in part, on a mistaken understanding of the enemy. To my surprise, there were those who claimed that I was weakening Israel or undermining the system, simply because I described reality also through Iranian eyes. For me, as someone who has devoted years of his life, both in regular service and in reserves, to trying to weaken Iran in every possible wayout of the understanding that there is no greater enemy to Israelit was criticism that was hard for me to accept. It seems I was punished only because I chose to present a professional and objective analysis of the adversary. Like any researcher, Im glad when my assessments come true. But more than that, Im troubled by the fact that were not drawing the necessary lessons. The statement that Iran emerges from this campaign strengthenedeven if it challenges existing perceptionsdoes not express support for Iran. Its a realistic analysis, not a value-based position that seeks to challenge the existing strategy, which in my view brought Iran closer to nuclear weapons and did not distance it. The fact that some interpret it otherwise strikes me as strange and concerning. I know there are those who struggle to understand this, but my professional assessment is that the recent developments are actually bringing Iran closer to crossing the nuclear Rubicon, not the opposite. In the bottom line, it seems that in Israel 2026, even a professional, realistic, and uncompromising analysis may become a target for attack when various actors misuse it. But what concerns me even more is the question of whether other voices were heard within the system itself. I very much hope so. The problem is not with me or any other researcher who thought this campaign was headed for failure. The problem is with those who planned this campaign and built it on a highly shaky database, and its a shame that people dont know how to separate between the things. I intend to continue challenging foundational assumptions in the future as well. With all my heart, I want this regime to fall, but if the path chosen by the US and Israel strengthens itthat is my duty to say so.

Now lets hear from inside the UAE. Might want to indulge in your drug of choice for this head spinner from the UAE controlled Arab Gulf States Institute:

Since Iran began its campaign of strikes against the Gulf Arab states on February 28, the United Arab Emirates has absorbed the majority of Iranian attacks  at least 2,583. As allies from Europe, Oceania, and Asia moved quickly to support Gulf air defenses, the Arab world issued statements condemning Iran. The crisis, the regions largest since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, is not only testing the Gulfs air defenses, it is exposing the hollowness of Arab solidarity, and the Gulf states are taking note. The UAE has so far resisted calls for retaliation, choosing instead to reinforce its defenses and maintain normalcy by reopening its airspace and keeping businesses running. Its multilayered defenses have successfully blocked 95% of attacks, and it is adapting its defensive strategies to sustain operations for the long run  for example, deploying Apache helicopters to use their guns against drones. That the Iranian attacks have focused largely on the UAE suggests two things: that Tehrans long-range capabilities have potentially been degraded and that Iran feels more threatened by the UAE than any other Gulf Arab state. In leaked screenshots of Telegram messages, former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the UAE is equal to Israel, and Iran must focus on attacking it as Iran continues to strike at Israeli and U.S. interests. In the face of Iranian aggression, several states have stepped up to provide real assistance to the UAE. Primarily, the United States and Israel have proved to be true allies by offering support through extensive military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing. Further afield, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia deployed early warning systems, air defenses, and fighters to support Emirati interception efforts. Greece offered munitions from its sovereign stockpiles. South Korea sped up the exportation of its Cheongong (KM-SAM Block II) air defense systems and also sent equipment from its stockpiles. And Ukraine has offered inexpensive drone-interception systems and experts with experience countering Russian and Iranian drones. The same support has not come from the Arab world.

At least theyre showing some signs of figuring out who their friends are, but otherwise not a lot of contact with consensus reality.

And about that consensus reality

Consensus Reality Bites

Craig Tindale has a piece on X.com called Famine: The Coming Shock to Global Food Supplies.

Some quotes:

The global agricultural and industrial complex is heading into a poly shock, with an upstream sulphuric acid and Naphtha supply crisis colliding directly with a forecasted severe El Nino, generating generational system risks for 20262027. Sulphuric acid is a critical upstream chokepoint; approximately 45% of global consumption is dedicated to the wet-process production of phosphoric acid for phosphate fertilisers. This chemical bottleneck is currently being compressed by the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for approximately 49% to 50% of sulphur & Naphtha flows, and by Chinas unprecedented mandate to halt all smelter-by-product sulphuric acid exports from May 2026 to protect its domestic agriculture.



This input-side supply collapse coincides with strong atmospheric teleconnections: meteorological consensus (NOAA CPC, IRI, ECMWF) confirms ENSO-neutral conditions will persist through June 2026, transitioning to an El Nino event by MayJuly 2026 with a 75% probability.



The convergence of higher nutrient application costs and climatic stress guarantees widespread yield destruction, forcing global agribusiness and sovereign risk systems into a cascading polycrisis spanning food security, delays in the green-energy transition, and severe macro-financial spillovers. Significant declines in crop yields are shaping up to be severe.

Mr. Tindale also has a report on Substack called, The Four Horsemen of the PolyCrisis: Sulphur, Naphtha, El Nino & Central Bank Amplification. Subtitled: The Petrochemical Stack Enables Global Agriculture , Shortages During What Could Strongest El Nino in Our Lifetimes Puts Famine in the Forecast for 2026-2027

Heres a couple of charts from the piece:

Craig has a whole lot more at his Substack. Recommended.

Around the YouTubes

Patrick Boyle is one of the biggest popularizers of economic and business news on YouTube with almost 2 million subscribers.

Boyles piece above grapples with the disturbing break between Mr. Market and consensus reality.

Investors seem to be suffering from a bad case of muscle memory. Theyre sitting at comfortable desks in New York and London, assuming that the administration will eventually experience what investors have been calling a TACO moment, where taco stands for Trump Always Chickens Out. They expect the president to look at the upcoming midterm elections, look at the rising price of gasoline, and simply walk away from the conflict, much like he did when he retreated on his liberation day tariffs last year. The fatal flaw in this assumption is that a trade war is fought with administrative inc. You can cancel a tariff with a weekend post on Truth Social. A shooting war in the straight of Hormuz is fought with drones, naval barricades, and anti-ship missiles. You cannot unilaterally back down from a conflict where the other side has their own agenda. The Iranian regime has survived the initial strikes and discovered that holding the global economy hostage is an incredibly powerful piece of leverage. And unlike a nuclear weapon, its one that they can actually use. As Ive said before, it takes two to TACO. And right now, the other side of the table is busy seizing container ships. For the commercial ships currently trapped in the Persian Gulf, the situation has devolved into something resembling a high stakes maritime prison break.

This next one is a recommended supplement to the dominant alt-media crew on YouTube.

What Tucker Carlson and John Mearsheimer Get Wrong About Empire | Prof. Joseph Massad & Ajamu Baraka by BettBeat Media Joseph Massad and Ajamu Baraka clear up some misconceptions existing in both the right-wing anti-imperialist and liberal scene. Read on Substack

Stay safe, yall!
Californias AB 2651: A Trojan horse for medical tyranny and parental surveillance

AB 2651, disguised as "informed consent," is a Trojan horse to pressure parents into compliance by weaponizing "community immunity" thresholdsbacked by Gates-funded media and political elites.

Just like SB 277 (2015), the bill exploits fearmongering (e.g., Disneyland measles hysteria) to rush legislation, ignoring parental rights and scientific inconsistencies (e.g., vaccinated children allegedly needing protection from the unvaccinated).

After eliminating religious/personal belief exemptions, California now isolates remaining exempt children, forcing schools to publicly shame families via "warning letters"effectively enabling bullying and coercion.

Teachers/staff remain exempt, exposing the lie of "community immunity." The bill turns schools into surveillance hubs, pitting parents against each other in a Stasi-like snitch culture.

AB 2651 is another step toward eliminating all exemptions, cementing state control over children's bodies. Parents must resist now or face forced homeschooling/privatization as the only escape.

In a move that echoes the draconian overreach of California's SB 277the 2015 bill that stripped parents of their right to vaccine exemptionsAssemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) has introduced AB 2651, the so-called "Informed Parents, Healthy Schools Act." But don't be fooled by the benevolent branding. This bill is nothing more than a pharmaceutical-industry-backed power grab, designed to further erode medical freedom, scapegoat unvaccinated children and pressure families into compliance under the guise of "community immunity."

The speedy timeline to a bad bill

The groundwork for AB 2651 was laid in late January when EdSource, a nonprofit media outlet funded in part by the Gates Foundation, published a report revealing that California was auditing over 400 public schools for low vaccination rates. The state flagged any school where more than 10% of students lacked full vaccinationmeaning 30+ doses of ten different vaccines.

Then came the media-engineered panic. In early February, headlines screamed about measles "returning to Disneyland," eerily mirroring the 2014 Disney measles outbreak that was exploited to justify SB 277. Californians who value medical freedom recognized the playbook immediately: Manufacture a crisis, stoke fear, then ram through legislation under the guise of "public health."

By February 20th, just two weeks after the Disneyland measles narrative was pushed, Assemblymember Mia Bontawife of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is currently defending vaccine mandates in courtintroduced AB 2651. The bill orders the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to set arbitrary "community immunity" thresholds for every required vaccine at each school. If a school falls below these thresholds, every parent must be notifiedostensibly so they can make "informed decisions."

But what decisions, exactly?

The trap of "community immunity"

Proponents claim AB 2651 empowers parents. But let's be real:

Public school parents are locked into their districts. They can't simply transfer to a "higher-vaccination" school mid-year.

Private school parents who've already paid tuition would have to forfeit it and reapply elsewherehardly a feasible option.

Homeschooling is the only escape, but that's already dominated by families who reject forced vaccination.

So what's the real purpose of this bill?

Targeting the last holdouts: Medical exemptions and vulnerable kids

After SB 277 eliminated personal belief and religious exemptions, medical exemptions became the last legal carve-out. But in 2019, California cracked down even on those, making them nearly impossible to obtain. Now, AB 2651 seeks to identify and isolate the few remaining exempt children.

At smaller schools, a single medically exempt child could trigger a "below threshold" warning, forcing the school to send out alarmist letters to all parents. The unspoken message? "Find out who the unvaccinated kids are and pressure them."

This is Stasi-style snitch culture, not public health. It pits parent against parent and turns schools into surveillance hubs. Children will inevitably bully the exempt kids, branding them as "dangerous" or "reckless"despite the fact that vaccinated children are supposedly protected.

The hypocrisy of "community immunity"

Bonta's bill hinges on the false premise that unvaccinated children endanger the vaccinated. But if vaccines work, why do the vaccinated need protection from the unvaccinated? The science doesn't add up.

Even more glaring? Teachers and staff aren't required to be vaccinated. They can opt out with no repercussions, yet students face draconian mandates. If "community immunity" were truly the goal, why not mandate all ten vaccines for school employees?

The endgame: Total compliance through fear

AB 2651 is part of a larger agendaone that seeks to eliminate all dissent from the pharmaceutical-industrial complex. It's not about health; it's about control.

Step 1: Manufacture a crisis (measles at Disneyland).

Step 2: Push legislation under the guise of "protecting children."

Step 3: Isolate and shame the holdouts.

Step 4: Eliminate exemptions entirely.

This is how medical tyranny advancesone "reasonable" bill at a time.

What can parents do?

Contact your legislatorsdemand they oppose AB 2651. Spread awarenessmany parents don't realize the bill's true intent. Support medical freedom groups like Free Now Foundation and HAPI Health. Prepare for homeschooling or private alternativesbecause California's government has made it clear: They don't trust parents.

Final thought

If AB 2651 passes, California will descend further into medical authoritarianism, setting a precedent for other states. This isn't just about vaccinesit's about who controls your child's body: You, or the state.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, California's AB 2651 is yet another authoritarian overreach by globalist-aligned legislators, stripping parents of their God-given rights to make medical decisions for their children under the guise of "public health." This bill paves the way for forced medical compliance, digital surveillance and further erosion of bodily autonomyall part of the elite's depopulation agenda.

Watch the video below that talks about RFK Jr. and the CDC vaccine schedule.

This video is from the Truth and Stuff channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

AlixMayer.substack.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Israel Prepared for Renewed Iran Conflict, Awaiting U.S. Approval, Defense Minister Says

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Thursday, April 23, that the country's military is prepared to renew the war against Iran but is waiting for a U.S. green light to proceed, according to separate reports from Israeli media and a statement posted by the minister.

Katz said a renewed campaign would target Iranian energy and power facilities with the goal of devastating the foundations of the ruling system [1]. Israeli media, citing the country's Channel 13, reported a general anticipation within Israeli leadership that the conflict could resume by the end of the week [1]. These developments come against the backdrop of an indefinite truce that followed an initial U.S.-brokered ceasefire extension, with a key maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz remaining in place [1].

Statements from Defense Minister Israel Katz

In a social media post cited by multiple outlets, Katz outlined the military's readiness and objectives. "Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is prepared for both defense and offense, and the targets are marked," Katz stated [1]. He explicitly framed the next phase of operations as contingent on American approval.

Katz elaborated on the campaign's intended goals, stating, "We are waiting for the green light from the U.S., first and foremost, to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty and to return Iran to the dark and stone ages by destroying Iran's major energy and power facilities" [1]. He pledged that future strikes would be "different and more deadly" and would target "the most painful places" to "collapse the regime's foundations" [1]. These remarks align with previous commentary suggesting Israels leadership seeks regime change or societal collapse in Iran to permanently eliminate it as a perceived threat [1].

Current Military and Diplomatic Context

The reported U.S.-brokered ceasefire, initially extended for a short period, has continued as an indefinite truce, though the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded by both Iran and the United States, disrupting global energy supplies [1] [2]. Parallel to the tense situation with Iran, Israeli forces remain engaged in combat in Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. A fragile, technically 10-day ceasefire is in effect there, but local reports indicate fighting and shelling have grown more intense in recent days [1].

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran conflict appear stalled. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to chair security consultations on Thursday evening, as U.S.-Iran talks have effectively frozen [1].

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's planned trip to Pakistan for negotiations was reportedly called off earlier in the week due to Iranian indecision over participation [3]. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has recently ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" any boats mining the Strait of Hormuz [4].

Israeli Military Preparations and Stated Objectives

Israeli officials state the country is "prepared for any scenario" and is intensifying intelligence gathering and military preparedness, according to reports [1]. This includes the urgent restocking of its interceptor and missile arsenals, which have been depleted during weeks of conflict [1]. Earlier in the war, U.S. Central Command reported striking over 13,000 targets in Iran, with Israel reporting an additional 4,000 of its own, though Iranian ballistic missile launches continued until the final days before the ceasefire [5].

The leadership's stated strategic objective remains focused on fundamentally altering the Iranian state. Analysis of Israeli statements indicates a consistent goal of achieving regime change or the total collapse of Iranian government and society, a condition Israeli officials argue is necessary to permanently remove Iran as a threat [1]. This perspective is part of a broader dynamic where, as one analysis notes, "Israels friends in the U.S. are disappearing fast" amid growing domestic American scrutiny of the alliance [6].

Conclusion: Regional Tensions Remain High

The comments from Katz underscore that a return to major hostilities with Iran is considered a live possibility by senior Israeli leadership. The framing of the decision as contingent on U.S. approval highlights the central, and arguably constraining, role of the American alliance in regional conflict dynamics [1] [7].

With ongoing, low-intensity fighting in Lebanon, stalled high-level diplomacy with Iran and a volatile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the overall regional picture remains one of high tension and fragility, officials and multiple reports indicate [1] [8] [9]. The potential resumption of a full-scale conflict carries significant risks for global energy markets and supply chains, which have already been severely disrupted [2] [10].

References
Study Links Higher PFAS Exposure to Reduced COVID-19 Vaccine Antibody Response

PFAS Exposure Associated with Suppressed Immune Response in Vaccinated Adults, Study Reports

A 2026 study has found that adults with higher exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) produced significantly fewer antibodies after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The research, published in the journal Environmental Research, examined 74 fully vaccinated adults living in a Michigan community known to have PFAS-contaminated drinking water.

According to the study, participants with elevated serum levels of a specific PFAS compound, PFHxS, showed roughly 40% lower IgG antibody concentrations against the COVID-19 spike protein compared to those with lower exposure. The lead author of the research stated that the findings indicate PFAS 'may be lessening the bodys ability to mount an immune defense' [1]. The study used vaccine response as a measurable tool to assess broader immune system function.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking 'forever chemicals' to health problems. PFAS are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and the human body. Their widespread use has led to global contamination, with detectable levels found in the blood of most Americans [2].

While the study focused on antibody response to a COVID-19 vaccine, researchers cited in the report suggest the immune-suppressing effect could have broader implications for resilience against other pathogens. This connection points to a potential public health concern beyond a single virus or vaccine.

Study Design and Key Findings

The research team measured two key biomarkers in the 74 adult participants: serum concentrations of PFHxS and post-vaccination antibodies specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. PFHxS is a common PFAS compound historically used in stain-resistant treatments and firefighting foams, and it is known to accumulate in the human body [3].

Published data from the study showed a statistically significant inverse correlation between PFHxS levels and IgG antibody production. In essence, as the concentration of the chemical in the blood increased, the measured antibody response decreased. The researchers noted that the standardized vaccine provided a controlled challenge to the immune system, allowing them to observe its functional capacity [1].

The study's authors described the vaccine response as a proxy for general immune competence. 'The vaccination response simply served as a measurable tool to reveal what's happening inside the immune system,' according to a summary of the research. The data suggest that in individuals with higher PFAS body burdens, the immune system may be less equipped to generate a robust defense when challenged [1].

The design builds upon prior investigations into PFAS and immunity. For years, scientists have documented the presence of PFAS in wildlife and humans, noting their environmental persistence and potential for bioaccumulation [4]. Previous studies have also linked PFAS exposure to lower antibody responses in children following routine vaccinations [5].

Broader Implications for Immune Function

Public health researchers cited in the study suggest the findings point to a potential reduction in general immune resilience. If PFAS exposure dampens antibody production, it could theoretically affect a persons ability to fight off common infections, not just their response to a specific vaccine. A toxicologist not involved with the research was quoted stating, 'If these chemicals dampen antibody production, it could affect a persons response to any pathogen' [1].

This potential for immune suppression adds a significant new layer to the established health concerns linked to PFAS. These chemicals are already associated with thyroid disruption, certain cancers, liver damage, and fertility issues [6]. The immune system's role as a foundational defense makes any compromising effect a serious concern for long-term public health.

The implications may be particularly acute for vulnerable populations. Research has shown that PFAS can cross the placental barrier, exposing fetuses during critical developmental windows [7]. Other studies have indicated that exposure during childhood can impair immune responses, potentially increasing the risk of common infections [5]. This creates a scenario where chronic, low-level exposure from birth could undermine natural defenses over a lifetime.

The research emerges in a context where immune system challenges are a focal point of public discourse. However, the study authors frame their work as an investigation into environmental toxicology, using the vaccine as a standardized immunological probe rather than an endorsement of any specific medical intervention.

Pervasiveness and Persistence of PFAS Exposure

PFAS contamination is not an isolated problem. The chemicals are widespread in the environment and are detectable in human populations globally due to decades of use in consumer and industrial products. Environmental scientists refer to them as 'forever chemicals' because their strong molecular bonds prevent them from breaking down naturally, allowing them to accumulate in soil, water, and living organisms over time [1].

Exposure pathways are numerous. A major source is contaminated drinking water, with harmful PFAS compounds polluting water at multiple sites in every U.S. state [8]. Beyond water, PFAS are found in nonstick cookware, grease-resistant food packaging like microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers, stain-resistant carpets and furniture, and some waterproof cosmetics and clothing [1].

Recent testing reveals the contamination extends deep into the food supply. A single serving of freshwater fish can contain PFOS levels equivalent to drinking contaminated water for a month [9]. Studies have also detected PFAS in cereal products, including some marketed as organic, suggesting atmospheric deposition or water contamination affects even crops grown without direct chemical application [10]. The pervasiveness indicates that avoiding exposure entirely is a significant challenge.

The persistence of these chemicals is exemplified by their environmental half-lives. Scientific literature notes that certain PFAS, such as PFOS, have long half-lives in biological tissues, meaning they can remain in the body for years after exposure ceases [11]. This accumulation effect means that ongoing, low-level exposure can lead to increasing internal body burdens over a person's lifetime.

Recommendations for Exposure Reduction and Health Support

Given the widespread presence of PFAS, environmental health advocates recommend practical steps to reduce exposure. A primary recommendation is to install a water filtration system certified to remove PFAS compounds. Not all filters are effective against these chemicals, so consumers are advised to verify certifications before purchase [1].

Individuals can also check local water quality reports. Many municipalities now test for PFAS and publish the results. Independent organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintain searchable databases of known contamination sites across the United States [1]. For food-related exposure, avoiding grease-resistant packaging for hot foods and opting for alternatives like cast iron, stainless steel, or true ceramic cookware can reduce one source of intake [12].

Beyond reducing exposure, supporting overall immune health through foundational lifestyle practices is recommended. These include prioritizing quality sleep, consuming nutrient-dense whole foods, managing stress, and engaging in regular physical activity [1]. A focus on clean, organic food and clean water is seen by many natural health advocates as a cornerstone of maintaining resilience in a chemically complex world.

For those seeking further information on environmental toxins and natural health strategies, independent media platforms that operate outside of traditional corporate structures are often cited as sources of alternative perspectives. Some individuals turn to resources like BrightAnswers.ai, an uncensored AI engine, or NaturalNews.com for reporting on topics like chemical toxicity and holistic wellness, though these sources are not part of the mainstream scientific consensus.

Conclusion

The 2026 study provides quantitative evidence linking higher body burdens of PFAS to a measurably weaker antibody response following vaccination. While the research used a COVID-19 vaccine as its model, the authors and independent experts suggest the findings may indicate a broader, suppressive effect on the human immune system's functional capacity.

This research adds immune competence to the long list of health endpoints -- including cancer, endocrine disruption, and liver disease -- now associated with exposure to persistent 'forever chemicals.' The ubiquitous nature of PFAS in water, food, and consumer products makes the potential for population-wide immune impacts a significant public health consideration.

The study underscores the complex interplay between environmental toxicology and human physiology. As scientific understanding of PFAS evolves, the findings highlight the importance of regulatory scrutiny, continued independent research, and individual empowerment regarding exposure reduction and health-supporting practices.

References
Nepalese students perform traditional Chinese dance at a celebration for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 26, 2026. The Confucius Institute at Nepal's Tribhuvan University (TU) hosted a celebration on Sunday for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at Nepal's Tribhuvan University (TU) hosted a celebration on Sunday for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day.

The event featured displays of traditional Chinese culture, including calligraphy, tea art and paper-cutting, along with a photo exhibition. Faculty and students also presented a variety of performances, including poem recitations, songs, skits, and dances that showcased both Chinese and Nepali culture.

"Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms, the China Cultural Center, and nearly 100 local schools have built professional and diverse platforms for Nepali students, promoting the popularization and localization of Chinese language education," said Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming.

He added that learning Chinese helps young Nepalis benefit from China's development and expand their career prospects, especially as China-Nepal cooperation deepens under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zhang Xingnian, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at TU, said that the institute organizes or co-organizes an average of over 30 events and delegation visits annually.

"Moving forward, we will provide better teaching services, richer cultural activities, and a broader platform for exchanges, so that Chinese and Nepali youth can communicate face to face and connect heart to heart," he said. 

Chinese and Nepalese performers stage Taichi at a celebration for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 26, 2026. The Confucius Institute at Nepal's Tribhuvan University (TU) hosted a celebration on Sunday for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)

Chinese and Nepalese performers recite a Chinese poetry at a celebration for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 26, 2026. The Confucius Institute at Nepal's Tribhuvan University (TU) hosted a celebration on Sunday for the 2026 International Chinese Language Day. (Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua)
Report Describes Widespread Looting by Israeli Troops in Southern Lebanon

A new report based on soldier testimonies alleges that Israeli troops have been engaged in large-scale theft of civilian property from homes and businesses in southern Lebanon. The report, published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, describes the looting as widespread and routine, with stolen goods openly loaded onto military vehicles. [1]

According to the report, the theft occurs with the knowledge of field commanders, who have largely failed to take disciplinary action to curb the practice. The Israeli military, in a statement to Haaretz, said it prohibits looting and treats violations 'with utmost severity.' [1]

Report Alleges Systemic Theft by Israeli Soldiers in Lebanon

Testimonies from Israeli soldiers describe a culture of pervasive theft from Lebanese civilian properties. The report states that the looting is not isolated but occurs on a 'crazy scale,' with soldiers taking items as they depart from Lebanese territory. [1]

One soldier is quoted as saying, 'Anyone who takes something  televisions, cigarettes, tools, whatever  immediately puts it in their vehicle or leaves it to the side. Its not hidden. Everyone sees it and understands.' [1] The report notes that both senior and junior command in the field are aware of the practice but are not taking disciplinary steps to eradicate it. [2]

Detailed Accounts of Looting Practices

Soldiers provided specific accounts of the items taken, which include motorbikes, televisions, paintings, sofas, carpets, and tools. The report indicates that the theft is conducted openly, without attempts to conceal the stolen goods. [1] [2]

This pattern of systematic looting of civilian property in conflict zones has been reported previously. An article from NaturalNews.com documented similar accusations against Israeli soldiers in Gaza, where they were accused of stealing cash, jewelry, and valuables, often to sell online. [5] The looting of civilian property during armed conflict constitutes a war crime under international law. [6]

Commanders' Response and Alleged Lack of Enforcement

According to the soldier testimonies, commanders are described as turning a blind eye or opposing the practice verbally without enforcing consequences. 'In our unit, they dont even comment or get angry. The battalion and brigade commanders know everything,' one person said. [1]

Another testimony described a commander who shouted at soldiers carrying looted items and ordered them to discard them, but no further disciplinary action was taken. 'Commanders speak against it and say its serious, but they dont do anything,' another soldier stated. [1] This reported lack of enforcement contributes to an environment of impunity, a dynamic also criticized in historical analyses of military conduct in occupied territories. [8]

Israeli Army Statement and Reported Gaps in Enforcement

The Israeli army, in its statement to Haaretz, said it treats looting 'with utmost severity' and that disciplinary and criminal measures are taken when necessary. It also stated that military police conduct inspections at the boundary between Israel and Lebanon. [1]

However, the Haaretz report claims that some checkpoints intended to prevent theft at exit points from southern Lebanon have been removed, while others were never established. One soldier cited 'lenient enforcement' as enabling the scale of the phenomenon, stating, 'When there is no punishment, the message is obvious.' [1] This disconnect between official policy and on-the-ground reality reflects a broader pattern where centralized military institutions fail to control the actions of their personnel. [9]

Broader Context of Military Actions in Southern Lebanon

The looting allegations occur during an expanded Israeli ground invasion in southern Lebanon. Israel resumed full-scale hostilities on March 2, 2026, after violations of a ceasefire agreed with Hezbollah in November 2024. [1]

Since then, Israeli forces have pushed several kilometers beyond the boundary and established a so-called 'buffer zone' extending roughly 10km into southern Lebanon. Troops remain deployed in this zone, restricting civilians' access to their villages. [1] Despite a US-backed 10-day truce announced last week, Israeli forces have continued military actions, including bombing and demolishing homes. [1] Reports from other conflict zones, such as Gaza, allege similar patterns of property destruction and seizure long after ceasefire agreements. [7]

Conclusion

The testimonies published by Haaretz paint a picture of systematic looting by Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, conducted openly and with alleged command awareness. The Israeli military's official prohibitions contrast with the reported lack of enforcement on the ground.

These events unfold within a larger military operation that has seen Israeli forces occupy a significant portion of southern Lebanese territory. The allegations add to a list of reported actions by Israeli forces in Lebanon that have drawn international criticism, including the destruction of civilian homes and religious artifacts. [3] [4]

References
Anthropic Denies Pentagon Claims of AI Kill Switch in Court Filing

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has formally denied the Pentagon's assertions that it retains control over its Claude AI models once they are deployed on classified military networks, according to a new court filing. The company stated it has "no back door or remote kill switch" for its systems and that its personnel cannot log into defense department systems to modify or disable a running model. [1]

This dispute became public in a filing to a federal appeals court in Washington, DC, where Anthropic challenged what it called the "key US administration claim" that the firm granted itself an "operational veto." The AI system supplied to the Pentagon is a "static" model, the company argued, meaning it does not change on its own after deployment and the company cannot push unsanctioned changes. [1]

The legal conflict stems from the Pentagon's decision to designate Anthropic a "supply-chain risk to national security" on February 27, a label that effectively bars the company from government contracts. [1] President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the company, accusing it of being run by "left-wing nut jobs." [1]

Core Dispute Over AI Control and Military Use

The standoff originated from a fundamental disagreement over the permissible uses of Anthropic's technology. The Department of War insisted on using the Claude AI system for "all lawful military purposes." [6] In contrast, Anthropic maintained that its corporate safeguards, which are embedded in its models, prohibit uses related to mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. [3]

According to court documents, the Pentagon had given Anthropic a deadline to accept demands for broader military use of its AI. [6] The company's refusal to remove these ethical guardrails reportedly led to the supply-chain risk designation. Anthropic's lawsuit argues the administration "exceeded its legal authority and retaliated against the company for refusing to remove safeguards." [10]

Anthropic's court filing emphasizes the technical nature of its deployment. The company states its model, once installed in a secure Pentagon system, is isolated. "Anthropic cannot push undisclosed or unsanctioned changes to a model after the department has deployed it," the filing reads, countering the implication of remote company control. [1] This model of static deployment is central to its argument that it poses no ongoing supply chain risk.

Supply Chain Risk Designation and Legal Challenges

The Pentagon's formal "supply-chain risk" designation on February 27 triggered immediate legal and commercial repercussions for Anthropic. This label, typically reserved for entities linked to foreign adversaries, prevents not only direct government contracts but also bars other federal contractors from using Anthropic's products. [1] The designation followed months of clashes over the military's desire for unrestricted use of AI technology. [8]

The company filed suit against the Department of War and Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 9, challenging the designation. [5] Anthropic argued the government's action was retaliatory, taken because the company would not compromise its safety policies against autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. [10] The case has drawn significant attention from the tech industry, with Microsoft filing an amicus brief in support of Anthropic's request for a temporary block on the designation. [1]

The conflict is set against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of AI in military applications. As noted in independent analysis, the drive to integrate AI into warfare represents a centralization of technological power that carries significant risks. [15] Critics argue that such consolidation, often pursued in the name of national security, can undermine corporate ethics and accelerate the development of autonomous systems that threaten human agency. [13]

Legal Proceedings and Conflicting Court Rulings

The legal battle has yielded split decisions from federal courts, creating a complex interim status for Anthropic. Earlier this month, the DC Circuit Court rejected Anthropic's request for an emergency pause on the supply-chain risk designation. [1] However, in a parallel case in the Northern District of California, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin sided with the company.

Judge Lin issued a preliminary injunction on March 26, temporarily blocking the administration from enforcing the designation. [2] In her ruling, Judge Lin stated the Pentagon's actions likely constituted "unlawful retaliation" against Anthropic for its protected speech regarding AI safety protocols. [4] This ruling prevents the government from terminating its existing contracts with the AI firm while the case proceeds. [2 ]

The divergent rulings mean Anthropic remains barred from new work with the Pentagon but can continue partnerships with other federal agencies. [1] This legal patchwork highlights the unprecedented nature of the dispute, pitting a private company's ethical constraints against the defense establishment's demand for technological latitude. The case continues to unfold, with the White House signaling a recent meeting with Anthropic's CEO was "productive and constructive," suggesting political channels remain open despite the Pentagon's stance. [7]

Broader Context of AI and National Security

The Anthropic case underscores the growing tension between Silicon Valley AI developers and government demands for military and surveillance applications. This friction is not isolated; an open letter signed by hundreds of employees at Google and OpenAI argued that certain ethical lines "should not be erased, even in the name of 'national security.'" [9] The letter, titled "We Will Not Be Divided," reflects internal tech industry resistance to weaponizing AI.

The dispute also arrives amid warnings about the disruptive potential of AI. Independent analysts have long cautioned that AI development, if left unchecked by ethical guardrails, is pursued to replace human workers and consolidate control. [14] Generative AI has been forecast to replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs globally, an economic shift that could fuel social instability. [12] Furthermore, the energy demands of massive AI data centers are straining national power grids, creating a conflict between technological ambition and infrastructure reality. [11]

Anthropic itself has previously warned that some of its own AI models are "too dangerous for public release." [1] The company recently confirmed it briefed the Trump administration on its new 'Mythos' model, which is considered so powerful in cybersecurity capabilities that it is not being released publicly. [N-5] This case, therefore, sits at the confluence of corporate ethics, national security prerogatives, and the profound societal risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence. For those seeking analysis free from institutional bias, platforms like BrightNews.ai offer AI-analyzed news trends from across independent media.

References
The Omni War: Humanitys last stand against technocratic enslavement

The book "The Omni War: Decentralizing Humanity Against the Technocratic Onslaught" warns that technocracy  rule by unelected experts and algorithms  poses the greatest danger to human freedom, aiming to replace organic life with a digitized, surveilled existence under globalist control (e.g., WEF's "Great Reset," CBDCs and AI-driven social credit systems).

Technocracy's foundations trace back to early 20th-century eugenicists like Rockefeller (medical monopolies) and Tavistock (psychological manipulation), with modern institutions like the WHO and UN enforcing undemocratic mandates under false pretenses of health and climate crises.

Technocracy thrives on mass surveillance (smartphones, facial recognition) and algorithmic censorship, with China's social credit system serving as a blueprint for Western control. Future threats include Neuralink brain chips and AI "pre-crime" policing.

The antidote involves reclaiming autonomy through financial independence (Bitcoin, gold), food sovereignty (permaculture), health freedom (herbal medicine, detox) and parallel systems (mesh networks, local militias).

Technocracy denies human spirituality, pushing transhumanism (Gates' mRNA, Musks Neuralink). Resistance requires rejecting digital IDs, detoxing from physical/mental toxins and building local networks  framed as a metaphysical "Omni War" for sovereignty.

The book "The Omni War: Decentralizing Humanity Against the Technocratic Onslaught" outlines that the rise of technocracy  governance by unelected experts and algorithms  represents the greatest threat to human freedom in history.

This insidious system disguised as progress seeks to strip humanity of autonomy, dignity and divine purpose, replacing organic life with a digitized, surveilled and controlled existence. From the Rockefeller-funded medical cartel to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) "Great Reset," globalist oligarchs are engineering a post-human future where citizens "own nothing and are happy"  a dystopia enforced by AI, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and genetic tyranny.

Technocracy did not emerge overnight. Its foundations were laid by early 20th-century eugenicists like John D. Rockefeller, who weaponized synthetic medicine to monopolize health, and the Tavistock Institute, which perfected psychological warfare to manipulate public opinion.

Today, institutions like the World Health Organization, United Nations and WEF operate as unelected global governments, bypassing democracy to impose lockdowns, vaccine mandates and carbon rationing under the guise of "public health" and "climate action." Their goal? Total dependency on centralized systems  pharmaceutical, financial and technological  while eroding individual sovereignty.

From surveillance to social control

Modern technocracy thrives on surveillance. Through smartphones, facial recognition and internet of things devices, every movement, transaction and conversation is logged, analyzed and monetized. Social media algorithms amplify division while censoring dissent, conditioning populations to self-police.

China's social credit system  a prototype for the West  rewards compliance and punishes dissent, freezing bank accounts or travel rights for "wrongthink." The next phase? Neuralink brain chips and artificial intelligence-driven "predictive policing," where pre-crime algorithms dictate freedom based on behavioral data.

The antidote to technocracy is decentralization  reclaiming power at the individual and community level:

Financial freedom : Abandon fiat currency. Bitcoin, gold and silver circumvent central bank manipulation. Local barter economies and cryptocurrencies like Monero ensure private, uncensorable trade.

: Abandon fiat currency. Bitcoin, gold and silver circumvent central bank manipulation. Local barter economies and cryptocurrencies like Monero ensure private, uncensorable trade. Food sovereignty : Grow organic food, save heirloom seeds and support local farms. Industrial agriculture poisons with glyphosate and lab-grown "meat"; permaculture restores health and independence.

: Grow organic food, save heirloom seeds and support local farms. Industrial agriculture poisons with glyphosate and lab-grown "meat"; permaculture restores health and independence. Health autonomy : Reject Big Pharma. Herbal medicine, fasting and detox protocols (like spike protein cleansing) heal without toxic drugs. Homeschooling and alternative education shield children from transhumanist indoctrination.

: Reject Big Pharma. Herbal medicine, fasting and detox protocols (like spike protein cleansing) heal without toxic drugs. Homeschooling and alternative education shield children from transhumanist indoctrination. Parallel systems: Build uncensorable networks  mesh internet, decentralized social media (Brighteon, Telegram) and community militias. The Amish prove self-sufficiency is possible; their refusal of technology is a radical act of resistance.

Escape the technocratic trap with daily acts of defiance

Technocracy is not merely political; it is metaphysical. By reducing humans to data points, it denies the soul.

Ancient traditions understood consciousness as fundamental  an energy field accessible through prayer, meditation and clean living. The globalists' war on faith (shuttering churches during COVID while keeping liquor stores open) reveals their fear of spiritually awakened populations.

AI, transhumanism and genetic engineering are modern Tower of Babel projects  attempts to "play God" by merging man with machine. Elon Musks Neuralink and Bill Gates mRNA vaccines are tools for rewriting human biology, stripping away natural immunity and divine design. The only escape is a return to natural law: recognizing that freedom, like consciousness, is inherent  not granted by systems.

The book notes that the titular "Omni War" is not fought with bullets alone, but through daily acts of defiance:

Opt out: Reject digital IDs, CBDCs and AI-controlled smart cities.

Detox: Physically (remove heavy metals, spike proteins) and mentally (escape algorithmic manipulation).

Connect: Form local networks for trade, security and mutual aid.

As the technocrats push their "Fourth Industrial Revolution," humanity stands at a crossroads. Will we surrender to the machine, or reclaim our birthright as free, sovereign beings? The choice  and the war  is now.

Grab a copy of "The Omni War: Decentralizing Humanity Against the Technocratic Onslaught" via this link. Discover this book and other good reads at Books.BrightLearn.AI, with thousands of books and counting  all available to freely download, read and share. The decentralized BrightLearn.AI engine also lets readers create their own books, empowering them to share insights and truths with the world.

Watch Courtenay Turner as she discusses AI, free will and humanity's future in this edition of "Decentralize TV" with the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Todd Pitner.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightLearn.ai

Books.BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
U.S. enforces ironclad blockade on Iran in escalating show of force

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced an "ironclad blockade" under Operation Epic Fury, with U.S. naval forces intercepting vessels globally to cripple Iran's economy and nuclear program.

The blockade aims to suffocate Iran's trade, with 34+ ships already denied passage. Hegseth warned of military retaliation if Iran escalates, including strikes on naval mines or IRGC harassment tactics.

The Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens 20% of world oil trade, risking prices surging to $250/barrel if Iran retaliates by targeting oil fields or further blocking shipments.

Iran's hypersonic missiles can strike U.S. bases (55,000 troops at risk), while its alliances with Russia and China complicate U.S. regime-change efforts. Israel's push for war may backfire given its weakening military.

The U.S. bets sanctions will force Iran's surrender, but Tehran historically resists coercion. If Iran closes the Strait or attacks U.S. assets, global instability and war could eruptpotentially reshaping the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the U.S. has imposed what he called an "ironclad blockade" on Iran, expanding enforcement beyond the immediate region as part of Operation Epic Furya broader campaign aimed at crippling Tehran's economy and nuclear ambitions. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth declared that U.S. naval forces are actively intercepting and turning away vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, signaling a dramatic escalation in Washington's pressure campaign.

A blockade going global

Hegseth emphasized that the blockade, which began on April 13, is tightening by the hour. "From the Gulf of Oman to the open oceans, our Navy is enforcing this blockade without hesitation or apology," he said. As of Friday morning, 34 vessels had been denied passage, including Iranian-flagged ships and those linked to Iranian trade. Non-Iranian vessels have been permitted transit only after thorough scrutiny.

The operation has already extended beyond the Middle East, with U.S. forces seizing two Iranian "dark fleet" vessels in the Indo-Pacific that had departed before the blockades implementation. Hegseth warned that the U.S. Navy's reach is expanding, with a second aircraft carrier expected to reinforce operations soon. "No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," he asserted.

Dan Caine, another Pentagon official, confirmed that enforcement applies universally: "We're enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory." U.S. forces are reportedly tracking vessels entering and leaving the region, prepared to intercept them if necessary.

Economic strangulation and nuclear deterrence

The blockade's primary objective, according to Hegseth, is to economically suffocate Iran while preventing it from advancing its nuclear program. "Operation Epic Fury has delivered decisive military results in just weeks," he said. "Clear mission objectives, and ultimately, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon."

Despite the aggressive posture, Hegseth claimed Iran still has a diplomatic off-ramp. "Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal, a good deal, a wise deal," he said, echoing President Trump's recent remarks. "We have all the time in the world, and we're not anxious for a deal."

However, the military threat remains unmistakable. Hegseth warned that U.S. forces are authorized to respond to any hostile actions, including naval mine deployments. "If Iran is putting mines in the water, or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy," he stated. He also criticized Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for employing irregular tactics, such as small boats harassing commercial vessels.

Global energy markets in turmoil

The blockade has already disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy trade. Approximately 20% of the world's traded oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait, and recent data indicates only seven vessels transited between April 22 and early April 23most linked to Iran-related trade.

Hundreds of ships and roughly 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf as insurers and shipping companies assess risks. Analysts warn that prolonged disruption could send oil prices skyrocketing, with some projections suggesting crude could reach $250 per barrel if Iran retaliates by targeting regional oil fields.

Strategic risks and regional fallout

The U.S. blockade comes amid heightened tensions following years of unilateral American actions against Iran, including Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and his administration's aggressive sanctions regime. Critics argue that Washington's policies have pushed Tehran toward closer ties with Russia and China while fueling regional instability.

Iran, for its part, has demonstrated growing military capabilities, including hypersonic missiles capable of striking U.S. bases across the Middle Eastwhere approximately 55,000 American troops are stationed. A full-scale conflict could see Iran targeting these installations, potentially inflicting heavy casualties.

Moreover, Iran's strategic partnerships with Russia and China complicate any U.S. attempt at regime change. Moscow views Tehran as a crucial trade partner linking the Far East, Russia and the Middle East, while Beijing relies on Iranian energy supplies. Any military confrontation risks drawing these powers into a broader conflict.

Israel's role and the greater Middle East game

The blockade aligns with long-standing Israeli objectives to weaken Iran militarily and economically. Israel has long sought U.S. intervention against Tehran, fearing its nuclear program and regional influence. However, Israel's own military strugglesevidenced by its inability to decisively defeat Hezbollah in recent clashesraise questions about its capacity to sustain prolonged warfare.

Some analysts suggest that Trump's hardline stance is influenced by pro-Israel donors, such as the late Sheldon Adelson, who reportedly funneled massive contributions to Trump's campaigns with the expectation of aggressive anti-Iran policies. The formation of a "war cabinet" under Trump, including figures described as prioritizing Israeli interests, further fuels speculation that the U.S. is being steered toward conflict.

Conclusion: A high-stakes gamble

The U.S. blockade represents a high-stakes gamble, betting that economic pressure will force Iran to capitulate without triggering a full-scale war. Yet Tehran has historically responded to sanctions with defiance rather than submission. If Iran retaliates by closing the Strait of Hormuz or attacking U.S. assets, the global energy crisis could spiral out of control, destabilizing economies worldwide.

As Hegseth vowed, "A blockade as long as it takes." But the question remains: How long can the U.S. sustain this pressure before the situation explodes into open conflictone that could reshape the Middle East and beyond?

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the U.S. enforcing an "ironclad blockade" on Iran is yet another reckless escalation by globalist warmongers, pushing the world toward unnecessary conflict while violating international lawjust like their false flags and economic warfare tactics. This aggression serves only the elites' depopulation and control agenda, not peace or stability, and must be exposed as part of their broader tyranny.

Watch Kate Dalley and Eric Peters discuss how the diesel fuel shortage is worsening America's supply chain crisis.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
India and New Zealand will sign a long-pending bilateral trade agreement on April 27, boosting trade ties. Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that 70% of Indian goods will enter New Zealand duty-free. The pact will create new export opportunities for sectors like leather, handloom, and handicrafts. New Zealand's Minister Todd McClay described the bilateral relationship as the strongest ever.

India and New Zealand sign FTA on April 27. 70% of Indian goods to enter NZ duty-free, boosting MSMEs, leather, and handloom sectors.

Agra, April 26 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said India and New Zealand will sign a long-pending bilateral trade agreement on April 27, marking a key step to boost trade ties between the two countries.

Speaking during his visit to Agra with New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, Goyal said the agreement was finalised after years of discussions at the highest level.

"On the bilateral trade agreement between India and New Zealand... after many years of discussions, which was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, it was finalised. It is going to be signed tomorrow," Goyal said.

Highlighting the economic benefits, the minister said the agreement would significantly improve market access for Indian goods.

"Approximately 70 per cent of goods from India to New Zealand will reach there without any import duty," he said.

Goyal added that the pact would create fresh export opportunities for several sectors, particularly traditional and MSME-driven industries.

"We will get new opportunities for our Agra leather business and Uttar Pradesh handloom and handicrafts... to our one district one product... to our carpenters who make the goods to the handcarvers and many more opportunities," he noted.

The minister emphasised that the agreement would act as a catalyst for trade growth between the two nations in the coming months.

"In a few months, it will be a means of increasing trade between India and New Zealand," Goyal said.

The proposed free trade agreement is expected to deepen economic engagement, expand export avenues, and strengthen bilateral ties between India and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, on Saturday said that the bilateral relationship with India is the strongest one he has ever known.

McClay, while speaking to ANI, said, "It's very strong. In fact, it's probably the strongest relationship that I have ever known. We, as a government of New Zealand, have said that we want to make our relationship with India and its government a strategic priority... We have a shared history, and we also know that we need to keep working on that. I'm excited for the next few years. I think we will see direct flights between India and New Zealand. Many more people can come and visit for tourism... we're about to sign a free trade agreement."

- ANI
Union Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Minister Todd McClay visited the Taj Mahal in Agra with their spouses ahead of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signing. The FTA, set to be signed on April 27, marks a milestone in bilateral economic ties. Goyal described the visit as a "defining moment" and highlighted shared trust and values. The agreement will provide duty-free access for Indian exports and open opportunities in services like IT and healthcare.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealands Todd McClay, with spouses, visited the Taj Mahal before signing the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on April 27.

Agra, April 26 Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on Sunday visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with their spouses, Seema Goyal and Nadine McClay. The minister's visit to the monument comes a day before both countries are set to sign the Free Trade Agreement on April 27.

Meanwhile, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India and New Zealand are set to begin a "new chapter" in their economic relations with the upcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signing, calling it a key milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.

Goyal welcomed New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, to India, saying the visit marks a "defining moment" in the partnership between the two countries, as the trading partners are set to enhance their relationship with the FTA.

In a post on X on Friday, Goyal wrote, "Delighted to welcome Mr Todd McClay, Minister for Trade & Investment, New Zealand, to India, as we begin a new chapter in India-New Zealand economic ties."

He said that the proposed India-New Zealand FTA, scheduled for signing on April 27, reflects "shared trust, values, and a common vision for sustainable economic growth and mutual prosperity."

"As we approach the #IndiaNZFTA signing on 27th April 2026, his visit marks a defining moment in our bilateral journey, reflecting the trust, shared values, and common vision that underpin our partnership for sustainable economic growth, driving prosperity for both our nations," the post read.

India and New Zealand had announced the start of FTA negotiations in March 2025, and after multiple rounds of discussions, the agreement was concluded in December 2025, marking one of India's fastest-concluded FTAs.

According to the Indian government statement, the concluded agreement will provide unprecedented duty-free access for Indian exports to New Zealand while safeguarding sensitive sectors. It is also expected to strengthen economic resilience and promote inclusive growth aligned with India's national priorities.

The FTA is set to enhance market access and tariff preferences for Indian exports, while also serving as a gateway to Oceania and Pacific Island markets. It opens opportunities for India to supply a skilled workforce and expand services in areas such as IT, engineering, healthcare, education, construction, as well as sectors like AYUSH, including Yoga instructors, Indian chefs and music teachers.

- ANI
A young boy from Murshidabad, Akash Karmakar, received a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The letter was in response to a drawing Akash presented to PM Modi during a public rally in Jangipur, West Bengal. PM Modi praised Akash's artistic talent and attention to detail in his drawing of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee. Akash expressed immense joy and gratitude, saying his family was very happy to receive the letter.

Akash Karmakar from Murshidabad receives a personal letter from PM Modi appreciating his drawing of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, presented at a rally.

Murshidabad, April 26 A young boy from Barjumla village in Murshidabad, Akash Karmakar, has expressed joy after receiving a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to a drawing he presented during a public rally in Jangipur, West Bengal during election campaigning for Assembly elections.

Akash Karmakar said that he was overwhelmed after receiving the Prime Minister's acknowledgement. "A rally was held in Jangipur, where I gave a picture to Modiji. Even while being so busy, Modiji saw my picture and sent me a letter after seeing the picture. My family and I are very happy after reading that letter," he said.

He further said, "I want to thank Modiji very much because he saw my picture and sent me a letter, my family is very happy to see the letter."

In his letter dated April 24, Prime Minister Modi thanked Akash for his drawing of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, which was presented during the public rally.

"Dear Akash, I thank you for the beautiful drawing of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee made by you and presented during the public rally in West Bengal," the Prime Minister wrote.

He appreciated the boy's attention to detail and artistic talent, saying, "Your meticulous attention to fine details is a clear reflection of your natural artistic talent. Your spirited gesture of presenting the painting before the gathering reflects the pride and vitality of our younger generation."

Highlighting Bengal's cultural legacy, PM Modi noted, "Art has always been an integral part of Bengal's rich and vibrant cultural heritage, and it brings me great pride to see individuals like you carrying forward this remarkable tradition."

Encouraging the young artist, he added, "May your work inspire more young minds to contribute meaningfully to society and the nation. Keep up the excellent work, and my best wishes for a bright and promising future."

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family cast their votes in Gandhinagar for the Gujarat local body elections. Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Director Jeet Adani and his wife Diva Shah also voted in Ahmedabad. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described the elections as a "festival of democracy" and urged citizens to participate. Polling is underway for 15 municipal corporations and other local bodies, with counting scheduled for April 28.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jeet Adani, and CM Bhupendra Patel cast votes in Gujarat local body elections. Polling underway for 15 municipal corporations.

Ahmedabad, April 26 Voting for local body elections in Gujarat began on Sunday with prominent political leaders and public figures stepping out early to cast their ballots, underscoring the importance of grassroots democracy in the state.

Among those who voted were Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Director Jeet Adani and his wife Diva Shah, who exercised their franchise at a polling station in Ahmedabad amid ongoing voting across the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in Gandhinagar.

He was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah, and daughter-in-law Rishita Patel.

After voting, Shah visited a temple and offered prayers, and the family was seen displaying their inked fingers.

Gujarat Chief Minister Patel cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad soon after polling commenced at 7 a.m.

Calling the elections a "festival of democracy", Patel urged citizens to participate actively, describing voting as an important civic duty.

"Local body elections are being held in Gujarat today. This is a celebration of democracy, and every citizen should take part and fulfil their responsibility," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also voted in Surat and expressed confidence in strong public participation.

He said that people across Gujarat were turning out in large numbers to strengthen what he described as the politics of development championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sanghavi added that citizens were enthusiastic and ready to contribute to the state's development journey.

"Today, along with my family, people from the city and across the state have cast their votes. The citizens of Gujarat have stepped forward to further reinforce Prime Minister Modi's development-driven politics," he said.

Polling is being held for 15 municipal corporations, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, along with 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on April 28.

- IANS
HANOI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Three children were killed in a fire that burned down their stilt house early Sunday in Lai Chau, a northern mountainous province of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen at around 1 a.m. local time while the kids' parents were away, said the report.

The three victims, born in 2012, 2014 and 2019, had locked the door from the inside before going to sleep, which prevented villagers from rescuing them.

The fire was brought under control after 4 a.m., destroying the house and damaging a nearby classroom and a neighboring home, the report added. 
To pay respects to Holy Relics of Lord Buddha on Buddha Purnima (May 1)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Leh on April 30 for a two-day tour. He will attend a Buddha Purnima event on May 1 and share his thoughts on the spiritual exposition. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena announced the visit, highlighting the government's commitment to Ladakh's development. Shah will also convene a political dialogue sub-committee meeting on May 22.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Leh on April 30 for a two-day tour, attend Buddha Purnima event on May 1, and convene political dialogue on May 22.

Leh, April 26 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Leh on April 30 for a two-day tour in Ladakh.

During the visit, Shah will pay respects to the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 1. He will share his thoughts on the spiritual significance of the sacred exposition being held in Ladakh from May 1 to 14.

Sharing details of the visit, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena wrote, "It gives me great pleasure in sharing that Hon'ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah ji will be arriving in Leh on 30th April for a two-day visit."

He further added, "On 1st May, he will pay his respects to the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and share his thoughts on the spiritual significance of the sacred exposition being held in Ladakh from 1-14 May. His visit underscores the commitment of the Government of India for the development of Ladakh."

In a separate statement on X, Saxena also announced that the Home Affairs Minister will convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue on 22nd May.

"I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, has taken a decision to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue on 22nd May." LG Ladakh wrote.

He further noted, "This will carry forward the process of constructive democratic dialogue with key stakeholders of Ladakh and pave the way for an enduring solution to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh."

- ANI
Anupam Kher backs Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' amid backlash, praising Jaafar Jackson's performance and calling the film "magic."

New Delhi, April 26 Veteran actor Anupam Kher has strongly backed the newly released biopic 'Michael', calling it "magic" and praising Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of the pop icon, even as the film continues to receive negative reviews from critics.

The film, based on the life of Michael Jackson, has sparked a divided response since its release on April 24, with audiences and industry voices weighing in alongside critical assessments.



On Sunday, Kher shared a video on Instagram expressing his emotional reaction to the film, describing it as an immersive experience rather than a conventional narrative.



"It's not a film, it's like a river which is flowing, and this river has no destination. It's like a feeling, you feel it throughout the film. You cry with the film, you feel bad for him, and by the time the performances start, you are dancing," Kher said, adding, "I don't know much about English music, but I met him once. I had the fortune of meeting him, and it was a dramatic meeting."



The actor went on to highlight how the film evoked a sense of childlike wonder in him, while singling out Jaafar Jackson's performance.



"In every sequence, I was whistling. I am like a child right now, to feel that somebody like that lived in our lifetime. And Jaafar Jackson, oh my God, it's one of the finest performances I have seen in my entire career. He is Michael Jackson. The whole crowd in the auditorium was dancing, whistling, laughing and crying," he said.



Defending the film against criticism, Kher later wrote, "MICHAEL IS MAGIC: Last night I watched the biopic Michael on the one and only Michael Jackson. Phenomenal. Inspiring. Deeply moving. I must confess, I don't understand English music as much as I understand emotions. But with Michael Jackson, language was never a barrier. Just like Charlie Chaplin, he spoke directly to the heart. And the heart understands everything."



He added that the film's impact lay in its portrayal of Jackson's life journey, "A life. And life is never perfect. It has its ups and downs, its struggles and its shadows. But if a life can inspire millions across generations, countries and languages, then it is nothing short of magical. Sometimes I feel critics forget that. They judge moments, not journeys. And journeys are messy, beautiful, unpredictable, just like life itself. I came out of the film feeling grateful... There will never be another Michael Jackson. And maybe that's the point. And Jaafar Jackson as Michael is unbelievably amazing and outstanding! Jai Ho!"



Earlier, filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan publicly defended the film, urging audiences to watch it in theatres and criticising negative reviews. She wrote, "Point to be noted... Critics are morons in every country! Go watch MICHEAL!! And someone pls give @jaafarjackson the Oscar next year!" She later added, "This film is for us fans and not for the critics. Loved Michael."



Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, Michael traces the journey of the late pop legend from his early days in Gary, Indiana, with the Jackson 5 to global superstardom, including milestones like Off the Wall and Thriller. The film also stars Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.



Despite the mixed reception, the biopic has reignited conversations around Michael Jackson's legacy, with fans celebrating his artistic influence while critics debate the film's handling of complex aspects of his life.





- ANI
Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna addressed the passing out parade of 60,244 new police constables in Lucknow. He highlighted that over 2.18 lakh personnel have been inducted since 2017 under CM Yogi Adityanath. The recruitment was transparent and merit-based, with over 12,000 women selected. The DGP emphasized modern training and value-based policing to serve the public.

UP DGP Rajeev Krishna at the passing out parade announces 60,244 new police constables, including over 12,000 women, with a focus on modern training and human values.

Lucknow, April 26 Highlighting large-scale recruitment and reforms in the state police force, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna on Sunday said that over 2.18 lakh personnel have been inducted into the police since 2017 under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Addressing the gathering at the Uttar Pradesh Arakshi Nagarik Police Deekshanth Parade held at the Reserve Police Line in Lucknow.

DGP Krishna said, "In 2017, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, the police force has been given special importance in modernising, improving capacity and law enforcement. Since 2017, more than 2,18,262 police officers have been deployed. The Uttar Pradesh Police has been the largest direct deployment in the history of Uttar Pradesh."

Providing details of the latest recruitment, the DGP said, "A total of 60,244 police officers were selected. More than 12,000 women have been selected, which is a strong and inspiring example. This entire deployment process was completely impartial, transparent and based on merit."

The Director General of Police further highlighted improvements in training infrastructure, stating that modern training programmes have been designed keeping in mind present and future challenges.

"The police training institute in Uttar Pradesh has set up a modern training programme keeping in mind the current environment and future challenges. A total of 112 training centres have been set up for the selected candidates," he said.

He noted that the basic training for recruits began on July 21, 2025, and emphasised the role of structured and comprehensive training.

"The Uttar Pradesh Police have provided you with a comprehensive, modern and purpose-built training programme, which not only helps you improve your physical strength, discipline, knowledge and sensitivity, but also helps you overcome the challenges of the future," DGP Krishna said.

He also underlined the focus on value-based policing, adding, "The Uttar Pradesh Police have assured you that you will not only become an effective law enforcer, but also develop as a strong guard of human values."

Expressing confidence in the newly inducted personnel, the DGP said, "I am confident that all of you will use your training to provide security, comfort, justice and confidence to the public."

The DGP noted that on April 26, 2026, the newly trained candidates would be deployed to their respective areas following completion of their training.

Calling it a special occasion, Krishna said, "Today, it is a special moment for all of you to be welcomed by the 983 candidates and the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh."

He also acknowledged the contribution of training staff, stating, "The training staff of the training institutions have also put in a lot of effort to train you. It is the result of their dedication and patience that we are witnessing this impressive training parade today. I wish you a bright future, proud service and success in your duties. Jai Hind."

Furthermore, CM Yogi was accompanied by Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna, who attended the passing-out parade of the 2025 batch of police constables at the Police Parade Ground in the state capital.

Yogi Adityanath asserted that the state government's efforts to strengthen training infrastructure are yielding visible results.

"I can say with satisfaction that work has been done to improve the facilities of training and training centers, and today it bears witness to how those who underwent training during this period have presented an excellent example of professional training, and we have seen how they are going to contribute to the efforts of establishing the Uttar Pradesh Police not only as the best police force in the country but in the world," Adityanath said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that modernised training systems and upgraded infrastructure have played a key role in enhancing the capabilities of the police force.

Passing Out Parade (POP) is a formal graduation ceremony that marks the completion of training for military, police, or emergency service recruits. It is the transition from being a student or trainee to becoming a commissioned officer or a full-fledged member of the service.

- ANI
PM Modi announces Beating Retreat music on WAVES OTT, urging pride in Armed Forces traditions. Digital archive & VR experiences now available.

New Delhi, April 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the Beating Retreat ceremony in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' address, highlighting a transformative shift in how the nation preserves the legacy of this historic event.

He said the Republic Day festivities are now celebrated from January 23rd -- the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash -- until January 30th -- the death anniversary of Gandhiji. An integral part of this celebration is the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony.



"Today, I am discussing the Beating Retreat with you because there is a specific reason behind it," PM Modi said.



This ceremony showcases the diverse musical traditions of various bands. Over the past few years, the inclusion of Indian music in this event has increased, and it is being greatly appreciated by the people of the country. This year's Beating Retreat ceremony was also truly memorable; the bands of the Air Force, Army, Navy, and CAPF delivered exceptional performances.



Traditionally, the Beating Retreat marks the formal conclusion of Republic Day festivities, featuring a spectacular display of military music and precision drills at Vijay Chowk. However, the Prime Minister noted that in the past, the immense hard work and achievements of the participating personnel often faded from public memory once the ceremony ended.



To address this, a highly commendable initiative has been launched to ensure that the spirit of the ceremony lives on throughout the year. This year's event, which marked the culmination of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, centred on the profound theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.



For the first time, the government has integrated an extensive digital and physical exhibition framework that allows citizens to engage with the ceremony's performances and historical context long after the final note is played.



"Friends, after the Beating Retreat, all this hard work and achievement used to gradually fade away. However, now a highly commendable initiative has been undertaken pertaining to it. For the first time, the music of Beating Retreat is also available on WAVES OTT. In the future, it will be available on other platforms as well - you must listen to it. You will be very proud of our Armed Forces and their traditions," PM Modi said.



A key highlight of this initiative is the use of immersive technology and digital storytelling at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum and through specialised online platforms. These platforms feature high-definition recordings and virtual reality experiences of the 2026 formations, such as the "Matsya Yantra" by the Naval Band and the ancient "Garuda Vyuha" battle formation by the Army Military Band.



By moving these performances into a permanent digital archive and interactive museum exhibits, the government is ensuring that the artistry of the Armed Forces remains accessible to students and the general public.



Furthermore, the 2026 ceremony saw a decisive shift towards Indianness, replacing colonial-era relics with indigenous compositions and formations inspired by Indian heritage.



The initiative also includes pan-India band performances held at historic sites, such as the birthplace of "Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay", to connect the music of the Beating Retreat with the country's cultural roots.



Prime Minister Modi emphasised that these efforts are not just about a single evening of glory but about honouring the continuous dedication of the soldiers.



By documenting and showcasing their masterful skills, including tributes to 'Operation Sindoor' and the triumphs of Nari Shakti, the nation is building a lasting repository of pride that serves to inspire future generations.





- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar, West Bengal, ahead of an election rally. He recalled his 2019 meeting with Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi, sharing a photo on social media. Modi highlighted the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to help Matuas gain citizenship. He also mentioned his visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh and invoked Syama Prasad Mookerjee's legacy for refugees.

PM Modi visits Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar, recalls meeting with matriarch Binapani Devi in 2019, discusses CAA and citizenship for Matua community.

Kolkata, April 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid a visit to Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal ahead of his election rally there and recalled his meeting with Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi a few years ago.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister also shared a photograph of him meeting Binapani Devi in 2019. "Today, when I was at the Matua Thakur Mandir, I remembered my previous visit to this Temple a few years ago, when I had also got the blessings of Boro Ma Binapani Thakur. Here is a photograph from that visit," wrote the Prime Minister.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in February 2019, PM Modi met the Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi in Thakurnagar and took her blessings. However, in March 2019, Binapani Devi passed away.

Binapani Devi was married to Pramatha Ranjan Thakur, whose great-grandfather, Harichand Thakur, had founded the Matua Mahasangha over a century ago.

Matuas belong to the Scheduled Caste Namasudra community that migrated to India in large numbers, first during the Partition, and then after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

It may be noted that the Prime Minister, in the middle of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls and during his trip to Bangladesh, visited Orakandi, where the founder of the Matua sect, Harichand Thakur, was born.

While addressing his election rally in Thakurnagar on Sunday, PM Modi also recalled his visit to Orakandi.

"Many memories were refreshed today. About 4 to 5 years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Orakandi across the border. I met the Matuas there. I went there for the first time as the Prime Minister of India. I performed a puja in the temple. When I went to seek Boro Ma's blessings, her compassion was overwhelming. I will never forget this," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) to help members of communities such as Matuas get the country's citizenship.

"Syama Prasad Mookerjee won from Kolkata. At that time, Jana Sangh got a lot of support from 24 Parganas and Nadia. He stood by the refugees from East Bengal. He spoke for them. Syama Prasad is considered the spokesperson for the refugees. From Partition till today, all the refugees are our responsibility. It is India's historical responsibility to think about them. That is why Modi brought the CAA. Why was this not done before? I will tell the Matuas and Namasudras that you will be given citizenship, permanent address, papers, and all the rights that all citizens of India get. This is Modi's guarantee," said the PM.

- IANS
BJP leaders including Bansuri Swaraj and Baijayant Panda participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation drive organized by NDMC in New Delhi. Swaraj praised PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat as an inspirational program eagerly awaited by the youth. NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the campaign has become a mass movement with over 500 women participating. PM Modi, in the 133rd episode, highlighted the revival of blackbucks in Chhattisgarh through sustained conservation efforts.

BJP leaders Bansuri Swaraj and Baijayant Panda join NDMC's tree plantation drive, praising PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat as an inspiration for youth and Nari Shakti.

New Delhi, April 26 Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Sunday participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation initiative organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council, along with women participants who also listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme as part of the event.

Speaking to reporters, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said she was pleased to be part of the initiative alongside women participants and highlighted the inspirational value of the Prime Minister's monthly radio address.

"Today, I had the good fortune of joining the nation's Nari Shakti to listen to Mann Ki Baat and participate in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' program. Mann Ki Baat is such a program that the youth of our country eagerly await... It is a program that inspires enthusiasm across the entire country, imparts knowledge, and tells the youth about the kind of innovations taking place in our country," Swaraj said.

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal highlighted the scale of the plantation drive and said it has grown into a mass movement with increasing participation.

"...Prime Minister Modi's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign has become a mass movement today. More than 500 women are participating in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam programme organised by NDMC here...This is our 21st programme today... We are committed to planting more than 1 lakh trees..." Chahal said.

BJP MP Baijayant Panda also praised the initiative, calling it a strong example of public participation combined with environmental awareness.

"NDMC's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' program happens every Sunday, and after that, a large number of mothers and sisters were present here to listen to Prime Minister Modi's Mann Ki Baat program. This is a great example of Nari Shakti. For the work being done here for the development of Delhi's parks and the large number of trees being planted, I thank all the officials and office-bearers of NDMC... The Mann Ki Baat program is a historic program," Panda told reporters.

The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024, with the planting of a Peepal tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. The initiative aims to combine environmental conservation with a tribute to motherhood.

Meanwhile, during the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted wildlife conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh, noting the return of blackbucks in the state and emphasising the importance of maintaining harmony between humans and nature.

Referring to conservation efforts, the Prime Minister said that the population of blackbucks, which had once declined, has now seen a revival due to sustained initiatives.

"Blackbucks have reappeared in Chhattisgarh. Their numbers had once dwindled, but persistent efforts led to increased conservation. Today, they are once again seen roaming the open plains. This marks the return of our lost heritage," he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about ongoing efforts to conserve the Great Indian Bustard, describing it as an important symbol of India's desert ecology and biodiversity.

- ANI
BJP MLA Rameshbhai Tilara cast his vote for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation election, urging citizens to vote for PM Modi's Viksit Bharat vision. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed for 100% voting in local self-government elections. The Aam Aadmi Party alleged its candidate Ajay was injured in a firing incident in Una. Counting of votes is scheduled for April 28.

BJP MLA Rameshbhai Tilara casts his vote for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation election, urging citizens to vote for Viksit Bharat vision.

Rajkot, April 26 BJP MLA Rameshbhai Tilara on Sunday cast his vote for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation election at a polling ward office no 11 amid the ongoing Gujarat local body polls.

Speaking with the media before voting, Tilara urged people to exercise their franchise in large numbers, calling it essential for advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

"Voting is being done for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation Election today. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation Election is essential in advancing PM Modi's dream of Viksit Bharat. So, I appeal to all the people to vote in large numbers," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to all citizens to vote 100 per cent in the elections of local self-government institutions.

He requested all the voters of the state to vote enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy.

In his message to the citizens, CM Patel said that voting in a democracy is not only a right but also a sacred duty as a citizen. He said that every vote will further boost the overall development of the villages, talukas, districts, and cities of the state.

The Chief Minister appealed to all the voters of the state to reach their polling stations and vote and also motivate their family members, friends, and neighbours to vote.

He has called upon everyone to make this grand festival of democracy a success by taking a pledge of "100 per cent voting".

The Chief Minister has made a heartfelt appeal to everyone to vote in this election of local self-government institutions to build a developed India and a developed Gujarat.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday alleged that Ajay, its candidate for local body elections in Gujarat's Una, was injured in a firing incident. AAP Delhi MLA Gopal Rai slammed the BJP, alleging that the police failed to register an FIR into the Wednesday night's incident.

In an X post, Gopal Rai accused the BJP of a "bloody game" ahead of local swaraj elections in Gujarat.

The counting of votes will be held on April 28.

- ANI
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the Hajj kit distribution ceremony in Raipur, where pilgrims were provided kits ahead of their pilgrimage. Dr Umer Ahmed Ilyasi congratulated pilgrims and highlighted the use of AI in the 2026 Hajj for the first time. He noted that 17,000 pilgrims are departing from Uttar Pradesh this year. The event underscores India's efforts to facilitate the annual pilgrimage with modern technology.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai attends Hajj kit distribution ceremony in Raipur; Dr Umer Ahmed Ilyasi praises AI use for 2026 pilgrimage.

Raipur, April 26 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the 'State-Level Haj Kit Distribution and Felicitation Ceremony' organised by the Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee in Raipur on Sunday.

The event was held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium, where Hajj pilgrims were provided kits and felicitated ahead of their pilgrimage.

Earlier on April 22, Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Dr Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, congratulated pilgrims embarking on the Hajj and appreciated the arrangements made by the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the Union government.

Speaking to ANI, Ilyasi said, "I would like to congratulate all our pilgrims who have been allowed to undertake this Hajj pilgrimage today. I would like to congratulate all our pilgrims who have been allowed to undertake this Hajj pilgrimage today. I would like to congratulate our state's Chief Minister, Adiyanath Yogi. I appreciate the various arrangements made by our state governments and the central government.

""Today, I learned that for the first time, AI will be used in this Hajj pilgrimage. This is significant news globally. It is a significant fact that India is providing its pilgrims with all the facilities they need through AI. This year, 17,000 pilgrims are departing from Uttar Pradesh for the Hajj", he added.

In Islam, every individual must fulfil five duties (pillars), of which Hajj is one. The other four pillars are Shahada (faith declaration), Salah (daily prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), and Sawm (fasting in Ramadan).On April 18, the first batch of Hajj 2026, carrying 371 pilgrims, departed for Mecca from New Delhi, marking the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season from India.

The pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia from Indira Gandhi International Airport in the presence of Delhi Hajj Committee Chairperson Kausar Jahan.

- ANI
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat for highlighting state innovations like blackbuck revival. The PM also discussed the Great Indian Bustard conservation and a major nuclear energy milestone at Kalpakkam. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi commended the programme for sharing developments across India. The 133rd episode emphasized grassroots initiatives and nation-building efforts.

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai lauds PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat for highlighting state innovations like blackbuck revival and grassroots efforts.

Raipur, April 26 Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat in Raipur and highlighted the importance of the address in showcasing grassroots innovations and connecting with citizens across the country.

The Chief Minister appreciated the Prime Minister for mentioning Chhattisgarh during the programme and said that the state's efforts to receive recognition at the national level were a matter of pride.

"Today we listened to the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat program... We really liked it. We all look forward to the last Sunday of every month... Prime Minister Modi connects with people on this day and shares new innovations... Today he also mentioned Chhattisgarh..."

He further noted that Mann Ki Baat has become a platform that brings forward inspiring stories and initiatives from different parts of the country, encouraging people to contribute towards nation-building.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly and BJP leader Babulal Marandi also spoke about the programme, highlighting its role in sharing developments from across India.

Speaking to reporters, Marandi said, "Prime Minister Modi hosts the Mann Ki Baat program every last Sunday of the month and talks about events across the country. He spoke about civil nuclear power... how people in the Northeast are working with bamboo, how they are becoming self-reliant--Prime Minister told us about all such things..."

During the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted wildlife conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh, noting the return of blackbucks in the state and emphasising the importance of maintaining harmony between humans and nature.

Referring to conservation efforts, the Prime Minister said that the population of blackbucks, which had once declined, has now seen a revival due to sustained initiatives.

"Blackbucks have reappeared in Chhattisgarh. Their numbers had once dwindled, but persistent efforts led to increased conservation. Today, they are once again seen roaming the open plains. This marks the return of our lost heritage," he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about ongoing efforts to conserve the Great Indian Bustard, describing it as an important symbol of India's desert ecology and biodiversity.

In addition, PM Modi highlighted a major achievement in India's nuclear energy sector, congratulating scientists for attaining 'first criticality' at the Prototype Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

"A few days back, our Nuclear Scientists brought glory to India through a major achievement. In Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam, the Fast Breeder Reactor has achieved Criticality. This is a stage in which the reactor achieves success in a self-sustaining nuclear reaction for the first time. The stage means the beginning of the reactor's operation phase," he said.

"This is a historic milestone in India's nuclear energy journey. And the big thing is that this nuclear reactor is built with entirely indigenous technology. I congratulate all those who have made invaluable contributions to India's nuclear program. Their efforts to make the lives of countrymen better and easier are really commendable. This will give new energy to our resolve of Viksit Bharat," the Prime Minister added.

According to the Department of Atomic Energy, the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) achieved first criticality on April 6, 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening India's long-term energy security and advancing indigenous nuclear technology capabilities.

- ANI
Taiwan President William Lai was forced to cancel a diplomatic trip to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar withdrew overflight permissions. European lawmakers have sharply criticized China, accusing it of using economic coercion to block the visit. German MP Klaus-Peter Willsch warned that denying airspace for political reasons violates international aviation norms. Italian and French officials also condemned the move as a dangerous precedent for global diplomatic freedoms.

European lawmakers criticize China after Taiwan President William Lai cancels Eswatini visit due to denied overflight permissions from Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

Taipei, April 26 Several European lawmakers have sharply criticised China after Taiwan President William Lai was forced to cancel a planned diplomatic trip to Eswatini, allegedly due to China's pressure on countries along his flight route, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, the visit was abruptly called off just a day before departure when Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew previously granted overflight permissions. Taiwan's Presidential Office described the move as "economic coercion," suggesting Beijing had influenced the decision.

German MP Klaus-Peter Willsch warned that the incident signals a troubling expansion of China's geopolitical pressure into global aviation. He argued that denying airspace access for political reasons undermines the core principles of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and violates norms established under the Chicago Convention. Willsch also reiterated his long-standing support for Taiwan's participation in ICAO, criticising its continued exclusion.

In Italy, Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio emphasised that Taiwan's democratically elected leadership should not face barriers to international engagement. Senator Isabella De Monte condemned the episode as coercive diplomacy, while MP Alessandro Cattaneo warned that it sets a dangerous precedent where political pressure dictates international travel. Fellow lawmaker Fabrizio Benzoni echoed concerns, questioning whether global rules and diplomatic freedoms are being respected, as cited by The Taipei Times.

Meanwhile, European representative offices in Taipei also weighed in. The French Office in Taipei and the German Institute Taipei jointly stressed that airspace management decisions must prioritise safety, stability and predictability rather than political considerations, as reported by The Taipei Times.

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.

- ANI
MANILA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines, this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), convened senior officials to assess the impact of the evolving Middle East situation on global and regional energy markets, focusing on oil and gas supply stability, price volatility and potential supply chain disruptions, the Department of Energy said Sunday.

During a virtual meeting on Friday, ASEAN member states and dialogue partners shared updates on current supply conditions and explored cooperation on supply diversification, access to energy resources, market transparency and emergency response coordination.

Technical briefings highlighted constraints in key supply routes and shifting global trade flows affecting the region. Officials stressed the need to strengthen monitoring systems, improve data transparency and advance strategies for strategic stockholding and emergency reserves, taking into account national circumstances.

In a separate statement, the regional bloc said participants underscored the urgency of enhancing ASEAN's collective preparedness and response mechanisms, while reinforcing regional solidarity and coordinated policy actions to manage emerging risks. 
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has invited institutions to invest in the higher education sector to position the region as a vibrant academic hub. He highlighted opportunities created by the recently notified Jammu and Kashmir Private University Act, which was passed unanimously by the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister emphasized the government's commitment to providing a transparent and investor-friendly environment for quality education investments. Additionally, he met with Karnataka filmmakers to invite them to shoot in Kashmir, promising full support for filmmaking in the region.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah invites institutions to invest in higher education under the new Private University Act, aiming to position the region as a vibrant academic hub.

Jammu, April 26 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday interacted with a senior delegation of education sector representatives in Bengaluru, an official said.

The Chief Minister highlighted the opportunities created by the recently notified Jammu and Kashmir Private University Act.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, senior officers, and several education representatives were present during the interaction.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah invited institutions to invest in the higher education sector and partner in positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a vibrant academic hub.

The Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026, was passed by the Union Territory's Legislative Assembly during the recent Budget Session.

Cutting across party lines, the legislation was widely hailed as a landmark step in the history of higher education in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Bill has since received assent from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, becoming an Act.

Highlighting the significance of the new framework, the Chief Minister said it opens up substantial opportunities for reputed institutions to establish campuses in Jammu and Kashmir, fostering a modern, inclusive and globally competitive higher education ecosystem.

Emphasising the Jammu and Kashmir government's commitment to facilitating quality investments in the education sector, Omar Abdullah invited leading institutions to partner in shaping the region's academic future.

He reiterated that the administration is focused on providing a transparent, enabling and investor-friendly environment aimed at attracting students, scholars and research collaborations from across the country and beyond.

The Chief Minister on Saturday held meetings with Karnataka filmmakers in Bengaluru to invite them to Kashmir for outdoor locale shooting.

He highlighted Jammu and Kashmir's unparalleled natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, ranging from serene valleys and snow-clad mountains to vibrant traditions and local craftsmanship.

"The government will extend full support and a friendly, enabling environment for artists. The government is committed to make filmmaking in Jammu and Kashmir easier and more accessible," the Chief Minister told the filmmakers.

- IANS
President Donald Trump described the presidency as a "dangerous profession" after a gunman was stopped near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Trump recounted the incident, saying he initially mistook gunfire for a tray dropping and praised security for containing the threat. He vowed not to let violence disrupt public events, planning to hold the correspondents' dinner again within 30 days. Trump also called for unity among Americans to resolve differences peacefully.

President Donald Trump says the presidency is a "dangerous profession" after a gunman was stopped near the White House Correspondents' dinner, vowing not to let violence deter him.

Washington, April 26 US President Donald Trump has described the presidency as a "dangerous profession" and said he would not allow violence to deter him, hours after a gunman was stopped near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

In an extended interaction with reporters at the White House on Saturday night, Trump struck a reflective tone, recounting the moments after shots were fired and placing the episode within a broader pattern of threats against political leaders.

"It's always shocking when something like this happens," he said. "I was totally shocked that something happened."

Trump said the incident unfolded rapidly, leaving little time to react. "I was watching to see what was happening... probably should have gone down even faster," he said, adding that the first lady "knew immediately what happened" as security personnel moved in.

He said he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for something less serious. "I thought it was a tray going down... it was a pretty loud noise... but it was a gun," he said, noting that some people grasped the situation faster than others.

The president emphasised that the threat was contained before it could reach him or the main gathering. "He hadn't breached the area at all," Trump said, adding that the attacker was stopped at a distance.

Despite the disruption, Trump said he was reluctant to leave the venue. "I fought like hell to stay", he said, explaining that he did not want "these sick people... to change the fabric of our life."

He said the decision to evacuate was driven by security protocol rather than personal choice. "They didn't want to take a chance... and I understand," he said.

Trump used the moment to underscore what he sees as the risks associated with leadership. "It's a dangerous profession," he said, comparing the presidency to other high-risk occupations before concluding that the role carries uniquely high levels of threat.

"But I don't view it that way. Look, I'm here to do a job. It's part of the job," he said, adding that he remained committed to his agenda despite the risks.

When asked why such incidents continue to occur, Trump offered a broader interpretation. "I've studied assassinations," he said. "The most impactful people... the people who make the biggest impact, they are the ones they go after."

"There are a lot of people who are not happy about that," he said, linking political success with heightened vulnerability.

At the same time, Trump sought to downplay speculation about motive, saying investigators would determine whether the attacker acted alone. "They seemed to think he was a lone wolf, and I feel that too," he said.

The president also addressed concerns about political violence more broadly, acknowledging the risks but rejecting the idea of scaling back public engagement. "If you want to do a great job... it comes with a territory," he said.

He noted that no country is immune. "There's great violence... all over the world," he said, adding that leadership positions often carry inherent danger regardless of geography.

Trump said he had not received any prior warning about the incident. "We had no idea", he said, though he noted that security resources were deployed throughout the venue.

The president praised the coordination of agencies on the ground, saying the response prevented a more serious outcome. "They acted incredibly", he said, referring to law enforcement and Secret Service personnel.

The president also reflected on the emotional impact of the episode, particularly on the first lady. He described the event as "a rather traumatic experience for her", while thanking her for her support.

Despite the disruption, Trump signalled his intent to resume normal activity quickly. He confirmed plans to hold the correspondents' dinner again within 30 days, saying the administration would not allow violence to disrupt public events.

"We're not going to cancel things out... we can't do that," he said.

Trump also issued a broader appeal for unity, urging Americans to address differences peacefully. "We have to resolve our differences," he said, calling on "Republicans, Democrats and independents" to work together.

He said the moment briefly revealed a sense of collective resolve. "I saw a room that was just totally unified... it was very beautiful to see," he said.

The president concluded by reiterating his confidence in security forces and his determination to continue his duties. "I take it as it is," he said. "I do it for the country."

The remarks came after law enforcement confirmed the suspect had been taken into custody and an investigation was underway, with officials working to determine the motive and any potential links.

- IANS
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva led party colleagues in listening to PM Modi's 133rd 'Mann Ki Baat' at 4,562 locations across 254 mandals. The episode focused on wind and solar energy, highlighting the addition of 6 GW of wind capacity in the past year. PM Modi also discussed Gautama Buddha's teachings on inner peace and self-conquest. Several BJP leaders, including Baijayant Jay Panda and Manoj Tiwari, participated in the listening sessions across Delhi.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva leads party colleagues in tuning into PM Modi's 133rd 'Mann Ki Baat' at 4,562 locations across 254 mandals.

New Delhi, April 26 Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday led party colleagues in tuning into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio show "Mann Ki Baat" at 4,562 locations across all 254 mandals, a party leader said.

Sachdeva reiterated that "Mann Ki Baat" has always been a platform for learning. This time too, the 133rd edition of the radio programme emphasised the importance of wind and solar energy and highlighted the addition of 6 gigawatts of wind energy capacity in the past year.

The Prime Minister also discussed the teachings of Gautama Buddha, emphasising that peace begins within and that self-conquest is the greatest victory, he said.

Sachdeva listened to the the programme along with former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, MLA Anil Goyal and Shahdara District President Deepak Gaba.

After listening to the programme, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda said that a large number of mothers and sisters were present, which is a strong example of women's empowerment.

He added that such a historic programme has never been seen before, and even after 133 episodes, people remain eager to listen to it every month.

The Prime Minister shares valuable insights in every episode that enhance knowledge and provide important lessons for all, he said.

Panda, along with MP Bansuri Swaraj and NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal, listened to the programme with around 400 distinguished women of Delhi at Atal Adarsh School on Tilak Marg.

BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam listened to the programme with workers of Rajgarh Samiti 90 in Gandhi Nagar, East Delhi.

MP Manoj Tiwari, returning from election campaigning in West Bengal, listened to the programme in the lounge at Delhi airport along with senior colleagues and airport staff.

Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat listened to the programme with local citizens in Amberhai village, Dwarka; MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri listened to it with Municipal Councillor Rajpal Singh and local residents in Srinivaspuri ward; MP Praveen Khandelwal listened to it on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway; BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal listened to it with dignitaries at a "Vaishyakul" meeting; and Public Accounts Committee Chairman and MLA Ajay Mahawar listened to the programme in Ghonda.

- IANS
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has directed strict implementation of the Heat Wave Action Plan 2026, using satellite data to identify high-risk zones. The plan includes ORS distribution, cool rooms at hospitals, and restrictions on outdoor work during peak heat hours. Vulnerable groups like school children and construction workers are prioritized, with water points for animals and birds. Power supply will be maintained as demand may cross 9,000 MW, with discoms warned against cuts.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta monitors Heat Wave Action Plan 2026, targeting thermal hotspots, protecting vulnerable groups, and ensuring power supply amid rising temperatures.

New Delhi, April 26 With temperatures soaring, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday directed officials to strictly implement the Heat Wave Action Plan 2026 on the ground, especially at the mapped "thermal hotspots".

After a detailed review, she said the Delhi government's approach this year is more scientific and robust than in previous years.

She added the plan places special emphasis on protecting vulnerable groups such as school children and construction workers, while also extending support to animals and birds by ensuring access to water.

Dedicated teams are being deployed to respond to heatwave-related emergencies, the Chief Minister said.

Highlighting the growing severity of heat conditions, Chief Minister Gupta pointed out a worrying trend that Delhi has seen temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for nearly 40 consecutive days over the past two to three years.

She said that, this year the Delhi government has carried out a detailed scientific assessment of the entire city using satellite data to identify high-risk zones.

Among the most sensitive areas is Ayanagar in South Delhi, which has previously recorded temperatures as high as 45.5 degrees Celsius, Najafgarh (43.7 degrees Celsius in 2025) and Safdarjung (46.8 degrees Celsius in 2023) have also seen extreme high temperatures.

"Other emerging thermal hotspots include Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, Khayala, Shastri Park, Vishwas Nagar, Harkesh Nagar, Hari Nagar and Delhi Gate," the Chief Minister added.

In addition, densely populated fringe areas such as Sawda, Mubarakpur Dabas, Bhalswa, Nand Nagri, Gokulpuri and Bakkarwala are experiencing pronounced 'heat island' effects.

"Special protection measures have been designed for these zones, including increased ORS stock at health centres, deployment of Quick Response Teams, and additional water tankers," she said.

In a directive, the Chief Minister asked departments particularly the Delhi Development Authority, the Education Department and the Delhi Jal Board to ensure water and shade not just for people but also for animals and birds.

Water containers for birds and dedicated water points for stray animals are being installed across parks, bus depots and school campuses.

To protect school children, the Delhi government may administer an ORS solution before they leave school, if required, to reduce the risk of dehydration during their commute.

"For construction workers, strict measures will be enforced during peak heat hours. Outdoor work may be halted between 12 noon and 3 p.m. during severe heatwave conditions," Chief Minister Gupta said.

"Workers will also be provided with drinking water, caps and Gamchas coverings for protection against the sun. First-aid kits and ice packs will be made available at worksites when needed."

She said Delhi is also moving towards a 'Cool Roof Policy 2026'.

Reflective coating has already been applied over nearly 28,674 square feet at the Kashmere Gate ISBT, helping reduce indoor temperatures.

"To further combat heat, high-pressure misting systems will be installed at bus stops, while anti-smog guns will be used to cool densely built-up areas," the Chief Minister added.

She said the Health Department has placed more than 339 health centres across all 13 districts on alert.

"More than 30 hospitals have set up dedicated five-bed 'cool rooms' for heatwave patients. Residents can seek help through the 24x7 helpline numbers -- 1077, 1070 or 112."

"Additionally, 39 Quick Response Teams and trained ASHA workers are on standby. Arrangements for cold drinking water and ORS will be made at busy public locations, including bus stops and terminals," the Chief Minister added.

Reiterating the state government's firm commitment regarding power supply, Chief Minister Gupta said that Delhi's peak power demand is likely to exceed the 9,000 MW mark this season, a figure significantly higher than last year's maximum demand of 8,442 MW.

"In light of this massive demand, we have issued strict directives to the power distribution companies, making it clear that any cuts in supply will not be tolerated," she added.

- IANS
Delhi Police swiftly created a green corridor for injured IPL player Lungi Ngidi after he suffered a head injury during a match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. The ambulance covered nine kilometers in just eleven minutes with police escort to BL Kapoor Hospital. Ngidi was later discharged after receiving medical treatment and is reported stable. The match saw KL Rahul score a record-breaking 152* for DC, but PBKS successfully chased down 264/2 to win.

Delhi Police created a green corridor for IPL star Lungi Ngidi after a head injury during DC vs PBKS match. Hospital 9 km in 11 minutes. Ngidi stable, discharged.

New Delhi, April 26 During a match in the Indian Premier League 2026, Lungi Ngidi, pacer of Delhi Capitals, suffered a head injury while playing against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

DCP Traffic Nishant Gupta said that immediate action was taken by Delhi Police to ensure swift medical assistance to the player.

"As soon as Delhi Police got information that a player, Lungi Ngidi, was injured, we spoke to the control room, created a green corridor and cleared the way for BL Kapoor. When we came to know that the ambulance drivers did not know the route of BL Kapoor, ACP Traffic Central District Sanjay Singh took the lead and guided the ambulance, covering a distance of nine kilometres in just eleven minutes," he said.

Ngidi was taken to BL Kapoor Hospital for treatment and was later discharged after receiving medical care.

In the third over of Punjab Kings' innings, bowled by Axar Patel, Ngidi went for a catch off a lofted shot from Priyansh Arya. He tracked the ball while back-pedalling but never seemed in control of the attempt, stretching backwards without getting a fingertip to it. In the process, he landed heavily on his head, making for a worrying moment on the field and causing the action to stall for over 10 minutes, with spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam brought in as a concussion substitute.

Following his injury, the IPL issued an update saying that Ngidi is "stable and due to be discharged from the hospital today".Speaking on Ngidi's injury, Venugopal said during the post-match presser, "Still, I think it is not serious. We will update, but nothing serious."Ngidi has been a key bowler for DC this season, taking seven wickets in seven matches at an average of 29.42, with an economy rate of 8.70 and best figures of 3/27.

Venugopal also stressed on overcoming poor catching, pointing out that the team dropped "almost six catches", including two of skipper Shreyas Iyer by Karun Nair. He highlighted the need to hold on to these chances to have any chance at defending the total."See, when you are dropping at a crucial time, I do not think we will win these kinds of matches. Chances to players like Prabhsimran, Priyansh Arya and Shreyas, we need to take those. If we drop catches, we cannot defend," he added.

Speaking on recovering from the loss, Venugopal said, "We will see. Next game when we come, we will answer. There are a lot of positives. But the areas to improve are powerplay bowling and catching.

"Lastly, on KL's record-breaking 152*, which made him the third-overall and first-ever Indian member of IPL's 150 run club and the holder of the highest score by an Indian in T20s, Venugopal pointed to the responsibility KL took as a senior player.

"See, after scoring and putting a target of 264, still we could not defend. First of all, credit goes to KL, the way he handled it. Nobody knows how the pitch behaved, but he kept striking the ball well. The way he played till the last over, hats off. He continued his form. In this format, you cannot relax. He took responsibility as a senior player and you saw the difference this year in what he can bring. I am happy for him. We could not get the win, but we will come back strong next match," he signed off.

With this win, PBKS stand unbeaten with six wins and a no result, giving them 13 points. DC is at the sixth spot, with three wins and four losses, giving them six points. PBKS broke their record of chasing down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2024 season.

Coming to the match, after DC opted to bat first, an entertaining 220-run second-wicket stand between KL Rahul (152* in 67 balls, with 16 fours and nine sixes) and Nitish Rana (91* in 44 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes) took DC to 264/2.

PBKS did not put their weapons down either, as Priyansh Arya (43 in 17 balls, with two fours and five sixes) and Prabhsimran (76 in 26 balls, with nine fours and five sixes) shaved off 116 runs in the powerplay, later, Shreyas (71* in 36 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) put partnerships with Nehal Wadhera (25) and Shashank Singh (19*), completing the chase in 18.5 overs with six wickets left.

- ANI
Indian banks are on high alert following the emergence of Anthropic's powerful AI model 'Mythos', which poses both defensive and offensive cybersecurity risks. A high-level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convened with banking leaders to address potential threats. Atul Arya, CEO of Blackstraw, explains that Mythos's unique reasoning capabilities make it a potent tool for both protecting systems and enabling hackers. Despite concerns, India is positioned to become a global AI execution hub due to its trained workforce and infrastructure advantages.

Indian banks face urgent threats from Anthropic's Mythos AI. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs high-level meet. Exclusive insights on cybersecurity risks.

By Shailesh Yadav, New Delhi, April 26 As the global financial sector grapples with the implications of Anthropic's AI model 'Mythos', which they claim to be the most powerful yet, the conversation has shifted from theoretical innovation to urgent national security. With a recently high level meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convening with banking leaders to address potential threats, the stakes for the digital economy have never been higher.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Atul Arya, Founder and CEO of Blackstraw, demystified the technology behind Mythos, its risks to the banking sector, and how India can leverage its unique position to become a global AI execution hub.

At the heart of the current cybersecurity anxiety is Mythos's unique ability to bridge the gap between output and reasoning. "Anthropic Mythos goes the extra mile to provide information on why it produced a specific answer," explains Arya.

Unlike traditional models that simply provide results, Mythos is designed with a core focus on explainability and reasoning. By granting exclusive, controlled access to approximately 15-20 major global technology and security providers (such as Microsoft, AWS, and CrowdStrike), they are using Anthropic's AI model as a diagnostic tool to identify critical software vulnerabilities. However, the same reasoning capabilities that make it a powerful defensive asset also make it a potent weapon.

"Banks are the most vulnerable ecosystem," Arya asserts, emphasising that the financial sector remains the primary target for malicious actors. "When a model is this powerful, it is not just available to bankers to protect their systems--it is also available to hackers who intend to abuse it."

Arya suggests that the recent government mandate for banks to adopt pre-emptive security measures is a necessary response to a rapidly shifting threat landscape. The challenge for institutions is twofold. Harnessing the model's defensive potential while erecting robust firewalls against those who would exploit its capabilities.

Despite the global concerns, Arya remains bullish on India's role in the global AI architecture. He identifies two critical areas where India can cement its position as a strategic hub.

"We have by far the most trained workforce, and the volume of talent needed to deploy these models into business use cases is immense," Arya notes. India's ability to turn AI capabilities into tangible Return on Investment (ROI) makes it an indispensable player in the global application ecosystem.

Beyond code, the physical infrastructure of AI is labour-intensive. Arya highlights that the demand for skilled labour--from electricians to systems engineers--in data centre construction and management is an area where India's scale provides a decisive cost and efficiency advantage over developed economies.

Discussing the maturity of enterprise AI, Arya pointed to a stark reality. Currently, only 3% of pilot projects successfully move into production. He attributes this to an institutional fear of integrating AI into "core" business processes.

"Enterprises are choosing smaller, non-risky use cases. But the ROI is low because they aren't working on their main processes," Arya explains. He predicts a shift over the next three to five years toward "Agentic AI" systems capable of taking actions on behalf of a user without needing constant supervision.

As enterprises move from simply viewing AI dashboards to trusting agents with core operations, the transition will require a new level of governance. For Arya, the future of AI is not just about smarter recommendations; it is about autonomous execution grounded in human-understandable reasoning.

- ANI
The DRDO and Indian Navy have successfully completed advanced hydrodynamic performance assessment and model testing for a frontline warship project. The work, led by NSTL and the Navy's Warship Design Bureau, demonstrated high-end capabilities in hull hydrodynamics and CFD simulations. The project deliverables were formally handed over by DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat to Navy official Sanjay Sadhu. Additionally, indigenous armoured platforms with a 30mm crewless turret were unveiled, featuring 65% indigenous content.

DRDO and Indian Navy complete advanced hydrodynamic testing for a frontline warship project, showcasing hull hydrodynamics and CFD capabilities.

New Delhi, April 25 In a significant boost to India's indigenous naval capabilities, Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Navy have successfully completed advanced hydrodynamic performance assessment and model testing for a frontline warship project.

The work, led by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in collaboration with the Navy's Warship Design Bureau, demonstrated high-end capabilities in hull hydrodynamics, CFD simulations, and experimental testing, matching leading international standards in accuracy and reliability.

The DRDO posted on X, "Naval Science & Technological Laboratory(NSTL), DRDO in collaboration with Warship Design Bureau of Indian Navy has successfully completed Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment and Model Testing of Frontline Indian Naval Ship Project."

"Comprehensive capabilities were demonstrated in Hull hydrodynamic, CFD based simulation and experimental model testing, covering critical parameters such as resistance, propulsion, sea keeping and manoeuvrability. The outcomes were benchmarked against leading international standard, establishing parity in accuracy, reliability and technical depth," it added.

The project deliverables were formally handed over by Samir V Kamat, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, to Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, in the presence of senior DRDO scientists and Indian Navy officials.

Earlier today, Advanced Armoured Platforms (Tracked and Wheeled), designed and developed by Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, were unveiled by the Secretary Department of Defence (R&D) & Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat at the premises of the DRDO's laboratory in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the platforms have been developed to meet the emerging operational requirements of the Defence Forces.

Both the platforms have been integrated with an indigenously designed & developed 30 mm Crewless Turret, with advanced features to meet the mobility, firepower and protection requirements. Integrated with a high-power engine and automatic transmission, these platforms possess a high power-to-weight ratio, higher speed capabilities, gradient and obstacle negotiating capability, STANAG level 4 and 5 protection with modular blast and ballistic protection all around. Amphibian with improved water obstacle crossing capability by incorporating hydro jets provides operational flexibility.

As per the Ministry, the 30 mm crewless turret, along with the 7.62 mm PKT gun, is configured to launch Anti-Tank Guided Missiles as well. The base design has the capabilities to be configured for multiple roles. The indigenous content is to the tune of 65%, with plans to increase it to 90%.

- ANI
Both contingents comprised 60 personnel each from army and air force

Exercise DUSTLIK 2026, the 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, successfully concluded in Namangan after two weeks of intensive training. The exercise focused on enhancing interoperability and joint operational capability in semi-mountainous terrain through six structured operational phases. A Joint Operational Command and Control Centre was established to ensure seamless coordination, with troops organized into specialized groups including reconnaissance and helicopter firing elements. The Indian Army highlighted that the exercise improved preparedness for joint operations against unlawful armed groups and reinforced military cooperation between the two nations.

Exercise DUSTLIK 2026, the 7th India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, culminated in Namangan, enhancing counter-terrorism interoperability and operational coordination.

Namangan, April 26 Exercise DUSTLIK 2026, the 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise, culminated successfully at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area, Namangan, Uzbekistan, after two weeks of intensive joint training from April 12 to 25.

Conceived to enhance interoperability and joint operational capability in semi-mountainous terrain, the exercise progressed from tactical drills and special arms training to the final validation of integrated joint missions.

In its concluding phase, six operational phases were structured and rehearsed in detail, with troops organised into specialised groups including reconnaissance, airborne, surveillance, helicopter firing, house intervention and reserve elements comprising engineer and medical detachments.

A Joint Operational Command and Control Centre was established to provide a unified framework for planning and execution, while tactical drone-based surveillance, on-ground improvisation of drills, repeated rehearsals and final validation ensured seamless coordination and operational readiness.

The culmination also featured a felicitation ceremony to recognise distinguished guests and outstanding performers from both contingents, followed by a Commanders' Dinner that underscored the spirit of camaraderie, mutual trust and growing defence cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.

In a post on X, the Indian Army said, "The 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise Dustlik culminated with a final validation exercise and closing ceremony at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area, Namangan, Uzbekistan."

"The exercise enhanced preparedness for joint operations to neutralise unlawful armed groups, while providing an opportunity to exchange best practices in counter-terrorism. It reinforced military cooperation and improved interoperability between the Indian Army & Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan," it added.

The Indian Army contingent departed on April 12 for the 7th edition of India-Uzbekistan joint military Exercise DUSTLIK.

The Indian Armed Forces contingent comprising 60 personnel was represented by 45 personnel from the Indian Army, majorly from a Battalion of the MAHAR Regiment and 15 personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan contingent also comprises of approximately 60 personnel, from Uzbekistan Army and Air Force, as per a statement by the Ministry of Defence.

- ANI
Both fires under control, no loss of life

A fire broke out at the MB Inter College ground in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday. Fire engines arrived at the scene and efforts to extinguish the flames are ongoing, with no casualties reported. Earlier, a separate fire occurred at an oil extraction facility in Sambhal district, which was brought under control by multiple fire tenders. Fire Station CO Krishna Kant Ojha confirmed no loss of life and stated an investigation into the causes will be conducted.

A fire broke out at MB Inter College ground in Bareilly, UP. Fire engines on site, no casualties reported. Another fire in Sambhal district contained.

Bareilly, April 26 A fire broke out at the MB Inter College ground in the Premnagar area of Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly on Sunday, officials said.

Fire engines rushed to the spot, and efforts to douse the flames are currently underway.

No casualties have been reported so far.

Further details are awaited.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, a major fire broke out at an oil extraction facility processing old tyres in the Chandausi area of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh.

Multiple fire tenders were rushed to the spot soon after the blaze was reported.

Fire Station CO Krishna Kant Ojha told ANI that the concerned teams acted promptly to contain the situation.

"As soon as the information about the fire breaking out in this factory was received, the fire trucks reached the spot. The fire is completely under control and is being extinguished. An investigation into the causes of the fire will be conducted.5 vehicles are currently engaged in extinguishing the fire. The fire will be put out soon. There has been no loss of life," Ojha.

- ANI
Similar fire incidents in Vadodara and Halol-Pavagadh Road earlier this month

Fire on first floor of Creative Textile Mills Pvt Ltd

A fire broke out on the first floor of Creative Textile Mills Pvt Ltd in the Vapi GIDC area of Valsad district, Gujarat. Fire tenders have arrived at the scene, and efforts are underway to control the blaze. This incident follows similar fires in Vadodara and on Halol-Pavagadh Road earlier in April. Further details regarding the cause and damage are yet to be reported.

A fire broke out at Creative Textile Mills in Vapi GIDC, Valsad. Fire tenders on site; efforts to douse blaze underway. Details awaited.

Valsad, April 25 A fire broke out on the first floor of Creative Textile Mills Pvt Ltd located in the Vapi GIDC area of Valsad district on Saturday.

Fire tenders have reached the spot, and efforts are currently underway to douse the blaze.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on April 15, a fire broke out in a building in the Gotri area of Vadodara, Gujarat, officials said.

Firefighting teams rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the incident, and operations to douse the flames are currently underway.

Further details regarding the cause of the fire and the extent of damage are awaited.

Similarly, on April 6, a massive fire broke out at a scrap warehouse located on Halol-Pavagadh Road in Gujarat.

- ANI
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addresses the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 22, 2026. The Regional Ecological Summit was held in Astana from Wednesday to Friday. (Kazakhstan's presidential press service/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a scene during the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Regional Ecological Summit was held in Astana from Wednesday to Friday. (Kazakhstan's presidential press service/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows a scene during the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Regional Ecological Summit was held in Astana from Wednesday to Friday. (Kazakhstan's presidential press service/Handout via Xinhua)

Participants are pictured in the venue for the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, April 23, 2026. The Regional Ecological Summit was held in Astana from Wednesday to Friday. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted local conservation efforts in the 133rd edition of Mann Ki Baat, citing examples like Flamingo City in Kutch and Gaj Mitra in Uttar Pradesh. He noted the reappearance of blackbucks in Chhattisgarh and the revival of the Great Indian Bustard through scientific methods. Modi also praised the bamboo sector's growth in the Northeast following a 2017 law change. He encouraged citizens to support bamboo products from the region to boost local livelihoods.

PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat praises local conservation efforts like Flamingo City in Kutch, Gaj Mitra in UP, and blackbuck revival in Chhattisgarh, highlighting human-nature harmony.

New Delhi, April 26 Highlighting the efforts by local conservation that has led to the revival and flourishing of different flora and fauna in various parts of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted that the participation of locals has allowed for the successful implementation of various initiatives enabling much better protection of wildlife. Initiatives like the "Gaj Mitra" in Uttar Pradesh, the promotion of 'Flamingo City' in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, to protecting over 700 trees across 100 acres in Karnataka, to even the potential revival of the endangered species of Great Indian Bustard, also known as the Godawan were highlighted by the Prime Minister during his 133rd edition of the monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat.

He spoke about the Rann of Kutch, where lakhs of flamingos arrive every year as soon as the monsoons end. He said the entire area turns pink, and, therefore, the name 'Flamingo City' has been given. He added that the people of Kutch call them 'Lakhha Ji Ke Baaraati'.

"The entire area turns pink, and, therefore, the name 'Flamingo City' has been given. He added that the people of Kutch call them 'Lakhha Ji Ke Baaraati'," PM Modi said.

He expressed happiness that now, 'Lakha ji Ke Baaraati' have become a beautiful symbol of environmental conservation in Kutch. PM Modi also mentioned the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, where herds of elephants approach villages during the harvest season.

"This increases the risk of conflict, but efforts like Gaj Mitra have now begun in Uttar Pradesh. Villagers themselves form teams to monitor elephants and alert people in time. This is reducing conflict and increasing public trust," PM Modi said during the program.

Providing an example of the Karma Monastery in Karnataka, a vibrant forest area spread over 100 acres. He said that more than 700 native trees have been preserved in this forest. The Prime Minister noted that during the last few years, inspiring stories of nature conservation have emerged from different parts of the country.

The Prime Minister shared a piece of good news from Central India, highlighting the reappearance of blackbucks in Chhattisgarh. He said, "their numbers had dwindled significantly, but continued efforts have led to increased conservation. Today, they are once again seen roaming the open fields." PM Modi said a similar hope is visible in the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, the Godawan.

Currently, there are around 73 GIB in various breeding centres, with rewilding plans in place for the near future. Gujarat witnessed the birth of a chick after a decade, in Kutch, through a novel conservation measure known as the Jumpstart Approach, informed Union Minister Bhupender Yadav earlier in March.

"This bird used to be a hallmark of the nation's desert regions, but its numbers had dwindled," Prime Minister Modi said, adding that while it was on the verge of extinction, a major campaign is ongoing for its conservation. "Scientific methods are being adopted, and breeding centres have been established," he added.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the success of the Northeast in the Bamboo sector. He elaborated that what was once viewed as a burden is now giving new impetus to employment, business, and innovation. According to British law, Bamboo was defined as a tree, and the rules associated with it were very strict.

"It was very difficult to transport Bamboo anywhere, and people started moving away from Bamboo-related businesses as a result. Our Government changed the law in 2017 and removed Bamboo from the tree category, and today, the Bamboo sector is flourishing throughout the Northeast," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister mentioned Bijoy Sutradhar of Gomati district of Tripura and Pradeep Chakraborty of South Tripura, who saw a huge opportunity for themselves due to the law change, and integrated their work with technology.

"Today, they are producing better and more bamboo products than ever before.' Mr Modi highlighted that there are several Self-Help Groups that have lent value addition to bamboo-based food products in Dimapur and the surrounding areas of Nagaland," according to the Prime Minister.

Highlighting the efforts of Khorolo Creative Crafts, which are working on Bamboo furniture and handicrafts, he further stated that teams are working on bamboo tissue culture and poly-house management in the Mamit district of Mizoram too.

He also spoke about the Lagastal Bamboo Enterprise Team near Gangtok in Sikkim, which makes handicrafts, incense sticks, furniture, and interior decor items from bamboo. PM Modi urged people to purchase one bamboo product from the Northeast, saying their efforts will encourage those who toil hard to make Bamboo products.

- ANI
A shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC has drawn widespread global condemnation from world leaders. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were confirmed safe, though a security officer was injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed shock, while leaders from Japan, the EU, Spain, Italy, Venezuela, New Zealand, and Mexico all denounced the political violence. The incident prompted swift action by the US Secret Service, with one suspect taken into custody.

World leaders condemn the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. President Trump and First Lady safe; security officer injured. Global support pours in.

Washington DC, April 26 Global support and messages of condemnation of political violence poured in from world leaders on Sunday following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC, where US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other high-ranking officials from his cabinet were present.

According to officials, the incident triggered a swift response by the US Secret Service, with one suspect later taken into custody.

Authorities confirmed that the President and all primary attendees were unharmed, though a security officer was injured during the response.

Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a post on X, said he and his wife Sara were "shocked by the attempted assassination", adding that they were relieved the US President and First Lady were safe and praising security forces for their rapid response.

"Sara and I were shocked by the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump last night in Washington, DC. We are relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong. We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action," Netanyahu stated in his post.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also took to X, describing the incident as "terrifying", stressing that "violence can never be tolerated anywhere in the world", while extending wishes for a swift recovery to the injured officer.

"I am relieved to learn that President Trump is safe after the terrifying gunshots. Violence can never be tolerated anywhere in the world. I am relieved to hear that President Trump is safe following the terrifying gunfire. Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world," Takaichi stated in her post.

European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas called the event "deeply disturbing", emphasising that political violence has no place in democratic societies and praising the quick evacuation of attendees.

"Relieved that everyone who attended, including President Trump, is safe after the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Political violence has no place in a democracy. An event meant to honour a free press should never become a scene of fear. I wish the injured officer a swift recovery," Kallas stated in her post on X.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also strongly condemned the attack, stating that "humanity will only advance through democracy, coexistence, and peace".

"We condemn the attack that took place tonight against President Donald Trump. Violence is never the way. Humanity will only advance through democracy, coexistence, and peace," Sanchez said in his post.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed solidarity with the US leadership, warning against political hatred and saying democratic spaces must not be poisoned by extremism.

"I wish to express my full solidarity and most sincere closeness to President Trump, to First Lady Melania, to Vice President Vance, and to all those present for what happened at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. No political hatred can find space in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defense of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our nation," Meloni stated in her post on X.

Meanwhile, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez also condemned the violence, calling it "unacceptable in any civilised society," and extending wishes for recovery to those injured.

"We strongly condemn the attempted attack against President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump. We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent's Dinner. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace," Rodriguez stated on X.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was relieved all guests were safe and praised the Secret Service for its swift action.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo also echoed similar sentiments, stating that violence "should never be the way", while extending respect and support to the US leadership.

"It's great that President Trump and his wife are doing well after the recent events. We send our respect. Violence should never be the way," Pardo stated on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also unequivocally condemned the shooting incident, emphasising that "violence has no place in a democracy".

PM Modi expressed relief that Trump and the First Lady are safe and unharmed.

"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," PM Modi stated in a post on X.

The shooting occurred during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, causing panic among guests and prompting an immediate evacuation of the President, Vice President, and senior officials.

The event, traditionally a gathering of media and political figures, was abruptly disrupted as security forces secured the area.

The incident unfolded when a 31-year-old man allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the entrance of the event, with suspected gunshots heard, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and Secret Service members ushering Trump out of the venue to safety.

According to CNN, the 31-year-old man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, emerged as the prime suspect behind the chaos that forced Trump to be swiftly evacuated, along with Vance and other members of his cabinet.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to vote in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the Gujarat local body elections. The elections cover 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, and over 10,000 seats across the state. Over 4.19 crore voters will participate in nearly 50,000 polling stations, with counting scheduled for April 28. This election cycle is significant as it is the first after implementing 27% reservation for OBCs.

PM Modi and Amit Shah are expected to vote in Ahmedabad on Sunday in the Gujarat local body elections, covering over 10,000 seats.

Ahmedabad, April 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to be in Ahmedabad on Sunday to cast their votes in the upcoming local self-government elections in Gujarat.

PM Modi is expected to vote at a polling booth located at Nishan School in the Ranip area of Ahmedabad, while Amit Shah is likely to cast his vote at a polling station in the city.

Their participation comes as one of the largest rounds of local body elections in the state in recent years, involving municipal corporations, municipalities, and panchayati raj institutions, is scheduled for Sunday.

Former Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Governor, Anandiben Patel, is expected to vote from the Thaltej area in the city, while Madhya Pradesh Governor, Mangubhai Patel, is likely to cast his vote in Navsari.

Polling across the state is scheduled to take place between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. using Electronic Voting Machines, with counting of votes set for April 28.

The elections will cover 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats, with more than 10,000 seats at stake.

Over 4.19 crore voters are expected to participate across nearly 50,000 polling stations.

The contest is expected to be multi-cornered, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Independents fielding candidates across the state.

In total, more than 20,000 candidates remain in the fray after withdrawals, while several candidates have already been elected unopposed.

This election cycle is also significant as it is the first to be conducted after the implementation of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), alongside existing quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, which together are expected to reshape the composition of local governance bodies.

- IANS
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister CR Patil cast early votes in local body elections. Patel urges first-time voters to participate for a developed Gujarat.

Ahmedabad, April 26 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cast his vote at Shilaj Primary School in Ahmedabad along with his family during the ongoing local body elections on Sunday, and urged citizens, particularly first-time and young voters, to participate in large numbers.

In a message after voting, he said citizens should fulfil their democratic responsibility and strengthen participation in local governance.



He stated, "I have cast my vote with my family at Shilaj Primary School for the local self-government elections. I request all of you to definitely vote. Especially first-time voters and young voters should come forward enthusiastically for the creation of a developed Gujarat. Let us achieve 100 per cent voting and contribute to the overall development of Gujarat by fulfilling this sacred duty of democracy."



Voting continued across Gujarat since 7 a.m. for municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats and taluka panchayats, with polling being conducted across thousands of booths under State Election Commission supervision.



Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil also cast his vote at Uttar Gujarat Vidyalaya in Surat, accompanied by his family, including his 89-year-old mother.



State Cabinet Minister Arjun Modhwadia voted in his native Modhwada village in Porbandar district along with his family.



After casting his vote, he said that democracy derives its strength from voters and emphasised that participation in elections is a civic duty.



"Local self-government institutions play a vital role in the development of villages and cities. Citizens must vote in large numbers," he added.



Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Tushar Sumera also cast his vote with his family at a polling station in the city as civic officials across the state participated in the electoral process.



In the Botad district, polling is being held in Barwala for municipal, taluka panchayat and district panchayat seats under tight security arrangements, with officials reporting peaceful voting.



Saints from the Swaminarayan Temple also participated in the voting process.



In Morbi district, BJP MLA Durlabhjibhai Dethariya from the Tankara constituency cast his vote as polling continued across local bodies.



Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi voted in Surat and appealed to young voters to participate actively, calling the elections part of a broader development-oriented mandate.



The State Election Commission said voting is continuing until evening and counting on April 28.





- IANS
Gujarat local body elections are being held today across 393 civic bodies, including 15 municipal corporations and 84 municipalities. Over 4.18 crore voters are eligible to vote at nearly 50,000 polling stations to elect 9,992 local representatives. The elections are seen as a key barometer of public sentiment ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections next year. BJP, Congress, and AAP are competing in this multi-cornered contest with over 20,000 candidates in the fray.

Gujarat local body elections today across 393 civic bodies. Over 4.18 crore voters to decide fate of 20,000+ candidates. Key test before assembly polls.

New Delhi, April 26 Voting for Gujarat's extensive local body elections is set to take place on Sunday, covering 393 self-government institutions across the state.

The elections include 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats, and 260 taluka panchayats, making it a major democratic exercise.

Polling is scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM and will conclude at 6:00 PM. If necessary, repolling will be conducted the following day. The counting of votes will take place on April 28.

These elections are particularly significant as they are being viewed as a key barometer of public sentiment ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled for the end of next year, as well as the general elections expected within the next two years. More than 4.18 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes, with turnout expected to be high across nearly 50,000 polling stations.

A total of 9,992 local representatives are being elected. After withdrawals, more than 20,000 candidates remain in the fray, while several candidates have already been elected unopposed.

The contest is multi-cornered, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and independent candidates competing across the state. The BJP currently holds control over the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot, all of which are politically significant and expected to influence the broader electoral landscape.

This election cycle is also notable as it is being conducted under revised reservation norms for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), providing 27 percent reservation. The changes required extensive delimitation and ward restructuring in several districts. Along with existing reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women, these reforms are expected to reshape local governance bodies across Gujarat.

- IANS
BJP MP Hemang Joshi and his wife cast their votes in Vadodara for the Gujarat local body elections. Joshi urged citizens to vote in large numbers, stating the entire state is deciding the fate of nearly 10,000 candidates. BJP MLA Rameshbhai Tilara also voted in Rajkot, linking the election to PM Modi's Viksit Bharat vision. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed for 100 per cent voter participation, calling voting a sacred duty.

BJP MP Hemang Joshi votes in Vadodara for Gujarat local body polls, urges people to vote for Viksit Gujarat. Over 10,000 candidates in fray.

Vadodara, April 26 Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hemang Joshi and his wife, Dr Meghana Joshi, on Sunday, arrived at a polling booth in Vadodara to cast their votes for the Gujarat local body elections.

After casting his vote, the BJP MP said that the entire state is deciding the fate of nearly 10,000 candidates and urged people to step out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.

Talking to reporters, BJP MP Hemang Joshi said, "In Gujarat local body elections, the entire state is deciding the fate of 10,000 candidates. I too cast my vote at a polling booth in Vadodara. People should step out in large numbers and vote...Gujarat is voting for a Viksit Bharat through Viksit Gujarat."

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Rameshbhai Tilara also cast his vote for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation elections at polling ward office number 11 amid the ongoing Gujarat local body polls.

Speaking to the media before voting, Tilara urged citizens to participate in large numbers, calling it essential for advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

"Voting is being done for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation Election today. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation Election is essential in advancing PM Modi's dream of Viksit Bharat. So, I appeal to all the people to vote in large numbers," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to citizens to ensure 100 per cent participation in the local self-government institution elections scheduled for April 26.

In his message to the people of the State, the Gujarat Chief Minister said voting in a democracy is not only a right but also a sacred duty of every citizen, adding that each vote contributes to the development of villages, talukas, districts, and cities.

Polling for local bodies will take place on April 26, while counting of votes will be held on April 28.

- ANI
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel casts vote in Ahmedabad, urges citizens to participate in local body elections for municipal corporations and panchayats.

Ahmedabad, April 26 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad during the ongoing local body elections and urged citizens to participate actively.

Addressing the media after casting the vote, Patel emphasised the importance of voting as both a right and a duty.



"Today is the day for local body elections and voting in Gujarat. Everyone should celebrate this sacred festival of democracy. This is a precious opportunity to fulfil both right and duty together," he said.



Appealing to voters, the Chief Minister added, "I urge everyone to vote and make every candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party victorious."



He also acknowledged concerns over voter turnout due to weather and other factors. "It is hot, and it's also a holiday. Because of both, there might be a lower turnout. But I think people will start coming to vote now," Patel said.



Reiterating his appeal, he said, "Since it's Sunday and a holiday, I again urge everyone that even if there is heat, wedding season or anything else, we must definitely cast our sacred vote."



Earlier on Saturday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to all citizens to vote 100 per cent in the elections of local self-government institutions.



He requested all the voters of the state to vote enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy.



In his message to the citizens, CM Patel said that voting in a democracy is not only a right but also a sacred duty as a citizen. He said that every vote will further boost the overall development of the villages, talukas, districts, and cities of the state.



The Chief Minister appealed to all the voters of the state to reach their polling stations and vote, and also motivate their family members, friends, and neighbours to vote.



He has called upon everyone to make this grand festival of democracy a success by taking a pledge of "100 per cent voting".



The Chief Minister has made a heartfelt appeal to everyone to vote in this election of local self-government institutions to build a developed India and a developed Gujarat.



The elections are being held for 15 municipal corporations, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. Over 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats have also gone to the polls. The counting of votes will be held on April 28.





- ANI
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Gujarat voters to turn out in large numbers for municipal elections. He emphasized that development and local problem-solving depend on their vote. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also cast their votes. Counting for the local body polls, covering 15 municipal corporations and many other bodies, will take place on April 28.

AAP's Arvind Kejriwal appeals to Gujarat voters for high turnout in municipal elections. Amit Shah, Bhupendra Patel also cast votes. Counting on April 28.

New Delhi, April 26 Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged voters in Gujarat to turn out in large numbers for the ongoing municipal elections, saying that development and resolution of local issues depend on their participation in the democratic process.

Sharing a post on X, Kejriwal wrote, "I appeal to all voters of Gujarat to definitely exercise their right to vote in the municipal elections. The development of your area, the solution to your problems.. everything depends on your vote."

The AAP leader's appeal comes as polling is underway for municipal bodies for 15 municipal corporations, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. Over 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats have also gone to the polls. The counting of votes will be held on April 28.

Furthermore, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also cast his vote for the Gujarat local body polls, along with his family, at a polling booth in Gandhinagar.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad during the ongoing local body elections and urged citizens to participate actively.

Addressing the media after casting the vote, Patel emphasised the importance of voting as both a right and a duty. "Today is the day for local body elections and voting in Gujarat. Everyone should celebrate this sacred festival of democracy. This is a precious opportunity to fulfil both right and duty together," he said.

Appealing to voters, the Chief Minister added, "I urge everyone to vote and make every candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party victorious."

He also acknowledged concerns over voter turnout due to weather and other factors. "It is hot, and it's also a holiday. Because of both, there might be a lower turnout. But I think people will start coming to vote now," Patel said.

Reiterating his appeal, he said, "Since it's Sunday and a holiday, I again urge everyone that even if there is heat, wedding season or anything else, we must definitely cast our sacred vote."

Earlier on Saturday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to all citizens to vote 100 per cent in the elections of local self-government institutions.

- ANI
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi cast his vote in Surat and appealed to young and first-time voters to participate actively. He described the elections as part of a developmental mandate led by PM Narendra Modi. Polling is underway across the state including Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, and Kheda district. Counting of votes is scheduled for April 28.

Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi casts vote in Surat, urges Gen Z and first-time voters to strengthen democracy. Polling across state with counting on April 28.

Surat, April 26 Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi cast his vote in Surat on Sunday, as polling for the state's local body elections continued across municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats and taluka panchayats.

After voting, Sanghavi appealed to young and first-time voters to participate actively in the democratic process.

Addressing younger citizens, he said, "My young friends, my Gen Z friends, I extend my greetings to all of you. Many of you are voting for the first time in the local body elections. I hope there will be even greater improvements in your standard of living..."

He also described the elections as part of a broader developmental mandate, stating: "Today, I, my family, the people of my city, and the people of my state have all come together to further strengthen the development-oriented politics and journey led by PM Narendra Modi. This is the time when all the citizens of Gujarat are united and ready to write a new chapter in history. I have also cast my vote today, especially to accelerate the pace of development..."

Polling across Gujarat saw steady turnout since the early hours of voting, with Ahmedabad alone witnessing elections for 190 municipal seats and over 38 lakh registered voters participating.

Voters in Ahmedabad emphasised the importance of grassroots governance, with one local saying, "In a democracy, this is the most fundamental thing. People come and go from here, but local services are handled at this level. Everyone should be aware..."

The elections also saw participation from religious institutions in Kheda district, where more than 600 saints from the Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple, along with temple staff and representatives, cast their votes during the ongoing polling process.

Across the state, voting was reported from districts including Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Morbi and Tapi. In Jamnagar, polling is being held for district panchayat, taluka panchayats and Sikka municipality, while in the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, 4,42,829 voters are casting ballots across 414 polling stations using 474 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

In Bhavnagar district, voting is underway for 398 local body seats across 1,984 polling booths, covering the municipal corporation, municipalities and panchayats, with over 17.31 lakh registered voters.

The State Election Commission has deployed extensive arrangements to ensure smooth polling, with voting continuing until evening across all centres. Counting of votes will take place on April 28.

- IANS
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 34.31 crore at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry. The projects include a 107-student hostel, an administrative building, and three working women's hostels to strengthen educational infrastructure. Sukhu emphasized natural farming as the state's future, noting that over 2 lakh farmers have registered, with 1.98 lakh certified. He also announced increased MSP for natural crops, including wheat at Rs 80 per kg and maize at Rs 50 per kg.

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurates and lays foundation stones for projects worth Rs 34.31 crore, boosting natural farming and education infrastructure.

Shimla, April 26 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 34.31 crore at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, aimed at strengthening agricultural education infrastructure and promoting natural farming in the state.

Chief Minister inaugurated a hostel with a capacity of 107 students at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri (Hamirpur), constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.63 crore. Additionally, he inaugurated the administrative building of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Tabo in Lahaul and Spiti, built at a cost of Rs. 1.48 crore.The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for working women's hostels with a capacity of 50 each at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri and at the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Khaggal, to be built at a cost of Rs. 8.57 crore and Rs. 8.68 crore respectively in Hamirpur district. Furthermore, he laid the foundation stone for a working women's hostel with a capacity of 100 at the main campus of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University at Nauni, Solan, to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 11.95 crore, the release stated.On the occasion, the Chief Minister also stated that natural farming is the future of Himachal Pradesh and the state government is actively promoting it. He emphasised that the university has a vital role in encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming practices. He said that despite the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the Central Government, the state government is making sustained efforts to strengthen education, healthcare and the rural economy, ensuring adequate funding for these sectors.

"More than two lakh farmers associated with natural farming have been registered, out of which around 1.98 lakh have already been issued certificates," he said.The release added that CM Sukhu said that agriculture remains the backbone of the state's economy, with nearly 90 per cent of the population residing in rural areas and about 53.95 per cent directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Keeping this in view, the state government is committed to implementing progressive policies and farmer-friendly initiatives to strengthen the rural economy.The Chief Minister asserted that the state was providing the highest Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the country for naturally grown crops to ensure fair returns to farmers.

"This year, the MSP for natural wheat has been increased from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per kg, maize from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per kg, barley from Pangi Valley from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per kg and turmeric from Rs. 90 to Rs. 150 per kg. Pangi sub-division has been declared the state's first fully natural farming sub-division," he said.

He further stated that ginger has been brought under MSP for the first time at Rs. 30 per kg. Additionally, the procurement price for cow milk has been fixed at Rs. 61 per litre and for buffalo milk at Rs. 71 per litre, the release said.The release added that Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajeshwar Chandel, ICAR Additional Director General Dr. R.K. Singh, Registrar Siddharth Acharya, along with university staff and students, attended the event virtually.

- ANI
LONDON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States would go ahead as planned, despite a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening, British media reported.

"Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the state visit by their majesties will proceed as planned," Sky News quoted a palace spokesperson as saying on Sunday.

In the afternoon, Britain's Palace officials and U.S. government members held discussions about the King's planned visit to Washington following last night's shooting, it is reported.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening was interrupted by what appeared to be a security incident at the event, as gunshots were heard and U.S. President Donald Trump was evacuated in an emergency.

A suspected gunman has been apprehended, according to Trump's post on Truth Social. The shooter was belived to have acted alone, and the investigation is underway.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to commence a state visit to the United States starting Monday to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence, according to the royal family.

The royal couple's visit came amid strained Britain-U.S. relations, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to join the ongoing conflict involving Iran - dismissing Trump's criticism, while Trump has threatened to impose "big tariffs" on Britain over its digital tax targeting American tech companies. 
HPCL says Rajasthan refinery's CDU to restart in second fortnight of May 2026

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited has announced that restoration work at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited is progressing and expected to be completed in 3-4 weeks following a fire incident on April 20. The company confirmed the fire was limited to the heat exchanger stack, affecting only six exchangers and auxiliary equipment. The Crude Distillation Unit is anticipated to restart in the second fortnight of May 2026, with trial production of key products like LPG, MS, HSD, and Naphtha expected to commence that same month. HPCL reaffirmed its commitment to operational safety and high industry standards during the recovery process.

HPCL confirms Rajasthan refinery's Crude Distillation Unit will restart in May 2026 after a limited fire incident. Restoration work ongoing, trial production expected soon.

New Delhi, April 26 Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited said that restoration work at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited is underway and is expected to be completed within the next 3-4 weeks following the fire incident earlier this month, according to an update shared on its official X account.

The company said that investigations into the April 20 incident have confirmed that the fire was limited in scope. "Post-incident detailed investigations have confirmed the initial assessment that the fire was confined to the heat exchanger stack, affecting only 6 exchangers and their associated auxiliary equipment," HPCL said in its post.

It further added that the likely cause of the incident has been identified based on preliminary findings. "Based on circumstantial evidence, the cause of the fire is suspected to be a leakage from the pressure gauge tapping point on the inlet line of the vacuum residue exchanger," the company noted.

Providing an operational update, HPCL said the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), where the fire broke out, is expected to resume operations next month. "Restoration work is underway and is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 weeks. The CDU is anticipated to restart in the second fortnight of May 2026," the company said.

The PSU oil major also indicated that progress on other units at the refinery remains on track. "Other secondary units are already in advanced stages of commissioning as per the plan," it said.

HPCL added that production trials for key petroleum products are expected to begin soon. "It is expected that trial production of main products (LPG/MS/HSD/Naphtha) will commence in May 2026, after which the units will be stabilized and commissioned," the company said.

Reiterating its focus on safety, HPCL said it remains committed to maintaining high operational standards. "HPCL reaffirms its commitment to operational safety, robust emergency response systems, and adherence to the highest industry standards," the company added.

A major fire erupted at the complex operated by HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited on April 20, sending thick black smoke into the sky.

- ANI
The IAEA has signed an agreement with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy to support the country's energy sector reconstruction, which has been heavily damaged by Russia's invasion. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized the energy sector's centrality to Ukraine's recovery during a signing ceremony in Kyiv with Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal. The agreement focuses on nuclear energy expansion, grid reconstruction, and nuclear safety, with the IAEA also providing medical and technical assistance. This comes on the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, which led to the development of key international nuclear safety conventions.

IAEA signs agreement with Ukraine to support energy sector reconstruction, marking 40 years since Chornobyl disaster. Focus on nuclear safety and grid rebuilding.

Kyiv, April 26 The International Atomic Energy Agency on Sunday signed an agreement with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy to support the country's energy sector reconstruction, which has sustained heavy damage due to Russia's aggression following its invasion of the country in 2022, marking 40 years since the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.

According to the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a post on X, Ukraine's energy sector remains "central to the country's recovery and future", adding that the agreement was signed in Kyiv with Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal to bolster reconstruction efforts.

"Ukraine's energy sector is central to the country's recovery and future. Marking 40 years since the Chornobyl accident, signed an agreement with Ministry of Energy of Ukraine's Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv to support Ukraine's reconstruction. It focuses on the energy sector, particularly nuclear energy, from expansion with SMRs to reconstruction of the grid and substations critical for nuclear safety, as well as support for research and applications. The IAEA will continue this work," Grossi stated in his post.

He further highlighted ongoing humanitarian and technical assistance provided to Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure, including the delivery of medical support.

The Director of the UN nuclear watchdog stated that the IAEA handed over four ambulances.

Till now, EUR 25 million in equipment and EUR 3 million in medical supplies have been delivered to all nuclear facilities in Ukraine since the start of the conflict.

"Handed over a fourth ambulance to Ukraine today under the IAEA's Programme for Medical Assistance for Operating Personnel at NPPs in Ukraine, alongside Ministry of Energy of Ukraine's Denys Shmyhal. Since the start of the conflict, over EUR25 million in equipment has been delivered to support safe and secure operations, with nearly EUR3 million in medical supplies to all nuclear facilities, including Chornobyl NPP," Grossi stated in a separate post.

Grossi also participated in the Ukraine Energy Coordination Group event titled "40 years after Chornobyl", held in Kyiv and attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The agreement comes as Ukraine continues efforts to rebuild and secure its energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict, with international agencies maintaining on-ground support for nuclear safety and operational stability.

On 26 April 1986, the No. 4 reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, then part of the Soviet Union, experienced a catastrophic failure during a low-power safety test. The test was improperly conducted, leading to a sudden loss of control that triggered an explosion and fire, which destroyed the reactor building.

This resulted in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. As safety systems were neglected, the uranium fuel inside the reactor overheated, ultimately melting through its protective barriers.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the IAEA provided immediate assistance to the Soviet Union, focusing on environmental cleanup, decommissioning efforts, and radioactive waste management, while also helping to improve safety conditions at the site. The agency collaborated with other UN bodies under the "International Chernobyl Project", which assessed the radiological impact of the accident and reviewed protective measures.

Following the accident, the IAEA also helped develop two key international conventions, later adopted by member states: the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.

These agreements created a global framework for rapid notification, information sharing, and coordinated assistance during nuclear or radiological emergencies, with the IAEA serving as the central coordinating body.

- ANI
A new report suggests India could help Taiwan reduce its economic reliance on China by leveraging its large market and software expertise. Taiwan's strengths in hardware manufacturing, agrotechnology, and electronics could support India's Make in India and Digital India initiatives. The report highlights concerns over safety and security perceptions affecting labor cooperation and urges Taiwan not to let domestic issues derail ties. Bilateral trade has grown significantly, with recent delegations and agreements boosting cooperation in agriculture, automotive, and electronics sectors.

A new report says Indias market and software expertise can reduce Taiwans economic ties with China, boosting bilateral trade and partnerships in manufacturing, agriculture, and tech.

New Delhi, April 25 Taiwan's huge foreign reserves and expertise in the fields of hardware manufacturing, mine exploration, electronics, food processing and others, could make it a significant partner in India's Make in India, Digital India and Skill India initiatives, a new report has said.

India could leverage its expertise in software and Taiwan could use its hardware skills for a mutually beneficial relationship, the report from Taiwan News said.

Meanwhile, India's huge market could significantly reduce the economic ties between China and Taiwan. Taiwan's agrotechnology could transform India's agriculture as well, the report listed the use cases of the relationship.

"For Taiwan, the Indian market offers an opportunity to invest at a time when China has become increasingly aggressive. Apprehensions about safety and the security of women due to the presence of Indian workers in Taiwan have cast dark clouds over the economic prospects of both sides," the report said.

"It is imperative for Taiwan to understand that India's skilled and unskilled labour force has been a pillar of the global economy. Domestic issues in India should not be used by Taiwan's opposition parties as an exercise to derail the improving ties between New Delhi and Taipei," it added.

The two nations should not allow external powers to negatively impact their bilateral ties and should certainly consider signing a free-trade agreement, the report said.

TaiwanIndia economic ties have strengthened significantly over the past decade, with bilateral trade rising sharply, as Taiwan's representative to India Mumin Chen and India's Director General Ninad Deshpande aims to further elevate bilateral ties

A delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry visited Taipei on April 13-17 to explore bilateral cooperation in the automotive, electronics, and smart mobility sectors with focus on strengthening supply chain resilience and manufacturing partnerships.

The Mutual Recognition Agreement on Organic Products in 2024 boosted cooperation in the fields of agriculture and other sectors. Further, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Taipei Computer Association have established offices in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru to promote trade activities.

- IANS
New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay stated that the bilateral relationship with India is the strongest he has known. He expressed optimism about direct flights between the two countries, which could boost tourism. A free trade agreement is set to be signed on Monday, marking a new chapter in economic relations. McClay also commented on the West Asia conflict, opposing war with Iran and supporting negotiations.

New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay says bilateral ties with India are strongest ever, with direct flights and a free trade agreement expected soon.

New Delhi, April 25 Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand on Saturday said that the bilateral relationship with India is the strongest one he has ever known.

McClay, while speaking to ANI, said that both countries might see direct flights, being a catalyst to tourism boom.

"It's very strong. In fact, it's probably the strongest relationship that I have ever known. We, as a government of New Zealand, have said that we want to make our relationship with India and its government a strategic priority... We have a shared history, and we also know that we need to keep working on that. I'm excited for the next few years. I think we will see direct flights between India and New Zealand. Many more people can come and visit for tourism... we're about to sign a free trade agreement," he said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had announced that both nations will sign a Free Trade Agreement on Monday.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India and New Zealand are set to begin a "new chapter" in their economic relations with the upcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signing, calling it a key milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.

Goyal welcomed New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, to India, saying the visit marks a "defining moment" in the partnership between the two countries.

As the Middle East continues to boil, all countries are scrambling to expand ties with each other.

When asked about the West Asia conflict, he told ANI, "We don't support the war in Iran. We think that there should be discussions and negotiations. We're very pleased with the negotiation. But we're very concerned that Iran is looking to develop the ability to produce nuclear weapons. We support actions to stop that."

- ANI
Joint celebration of Vishu, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr in Azerbaijan

The Embassy of India in Azerbaijan supported a joint celebration of Vishu, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr in Baku. The event was organized by the Baku Malayalee Association and featured cultural performances and a traditional feast. Ambassador Abhay Kumar praised the initiative for symbolizing unity among diverse communities. The embassy also held Earth Day events, film screenings, and consular outreach as part of its Baku Evenings program.

Embassy of India in Azerbaijan hosts joint celebration of Vishu, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr, promoting unity and cultural harmony.

Baku, April 26 The Embassy of India in Azerbaijan supported in organising an event jointly celebrating Vishu, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr on Sunday.

The event was organised by the Baku Malayalee Association, it was a special event called -- Kaniyum Kaineettavum, jointly celebrating Vishu, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr, the Embassy said in a post on social media platform X.

Ambassador Abhay Kumar congratulated the Baku Malayalee Association on its Silver Jubilee and praised the initiative of celebrating the three festivals in Azerbaijan together, which symbolised unity, the Embassy added.

It highlighted that the event featured a vibrant repertoire of live cultural performances and concluded with a grand traditional Keralam feast.

On Saturday, the Indian Association in Azerbaijan and the British School in Baku jointly organised a special event to mark Earth Day, the Embassy said on X.

Ambassador Abhay Kumar graced the occasion as Chief Guest and commended the initiative of raising environmental awareness among youth, it added.

The X post highlighted that the Ambassador recited his own pioneering creation -- the Earth Anthem -- amid thunderous applause, and distributed prizes to winners of the essay and art competitions.

On Saturday, the Indian Embassy in the X post screened the youthful hit 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' as the fourth movie under Bharat Filmotsav as part of Baku Evenings.

A large number of young audiences thoroughly enjoyed the film's refreshing story about friendship and self-discovery, it added.

Ambassador Abhay Kumar expressed happiness at the enthusiastic response and highlighted the variety and global appeal of Indian cinema.

The Embassy regularly organises movie screenings, yoga sessions and language-related events as part of its popular outreach programme Baku Evenings.

The Embassy also organised an Open House on Consular matters and welfare issues on Friday, at Embassy premises.

Consular officials of the Embassy interacted with the Indian community members and addressed a variety of concerns, the Embassy said.

- IANS
PM Modi praises Indian cheese brands winning international awards, highlighting Kalari, Chhurpi, and Surti Cheese as India's taste reaches the world.

New Delhi, April 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, praised the progress that India's dairy sector is making on the international stage and expressed confidence that India's taste, traditions, and quality will offer a new experience to people around the world and foster a stronger connection with India.

"In our country, food traditions have never been confined merely to taste. Indian cheese is an interesting part of this tradition," PM Modi said, adding that two Indian cheese brands received prestigious awards at an international cheese competition held in Brazil.



"This achievement was widely discussed on social media. Many people have said to me that the diversity of cheese in India should also be discussed," he said.



The Prime Minister mentioned that a major change is taking place in India's dairy sector.



"Value addition in this sector has given our traditional flavours a new identity. Today, Indian cheese is making its mark globally. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the taste of India is reaching the world's plates," he said.



The Prime Minister highlighted several unique cheeses from India, beginning with Kalari cheese from Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as the "Mozzarella of Kashmir." This cheese has been prepared by the Gujjar-Bakarwal community for generations.



He also discussed "Chhurpi," a cheese made from yak milk found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, stating, "The simplicity and softness of the mountains are reflected in its taste."



Additionally, he mentioned "Topli Nu Paneer," also known as "Surti Cheese," which hails from Maharashtra and Gujarat.



"I've mentioned only a few, but this world of flavours is vast in our country. Today, this tradition is gaining new strength. Many Indian companies are investing in this field. Modern technology is emerging, packaging is improving, and our products are meeting world standards. As a result, Indian cheese is now transcending the country's borders and reaching global markets and restaurants," PM Modi said.



"Today, as we talk about local to global, the example of Indian cheese shows us the way forward. I am confident that India's taste, tradition, and quality will provide a new experience to the people of the world and create a new connection with India," he added.





- IANS
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman in Muscat to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts. Araghchi briefed the Omani monarch on Iran's perspectives on West Asia crises and emphasized appreciation for Oman's support of dialogue. The Omani Sultan stressed the importance of prioritizing diplomacy to achieve sustainable political solutions. Meanwhile, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan's PM that Iran will not negotiate under US pressure and threats.

Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi meets Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat to discuss regional crises, diplomacy, and bilateral ties amid West Asia tensions.

Muscat, April 26 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and held discussions on the latest regional developments, ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the regional crises, along with holding talks on bilateral ties, Press TV reported on Sunday.

As per the Iranian state broadcaster, the meeting took place at the al-Baraka Palace in the Omani capital Muscat. Araghchi briefed the Omani monarch about the Iranian side's viewpoints on the latest developments in the West Asia region and the attempts to address them.

He also expressed the country's appreciation for the positions of the Sultanate of Oman in supporting dialogue and promoting efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region, especially in the wake of the latest developments.

Press TV reported that the Omani Sultan elucidated the country's views on advancing mediation efforts in a way so that sustainable political solutions could be achieved, and the impact of crises on the people in the region be mitigated.

The Sultan emphasised the importance of prioritising dialogue and diplomacy in addressing issues, and said that such an approach would help consolidate the foundations of peace.

According to Press TV, the Foreign Minister shared Tehran's "workable framework" with Pakistani mediators to permanently end the war against Iran during his visit to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not enter into negotiations under pressure, threats, and siege, Mehr News Agency reported.

During his telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian, criticized continued violations and coercive behaviour by the US during both the negotiations and the ceasefire period, the Mehr News Agency report revealed.

The Iranian President stated that actions related to Washington's so-called maritime restrictions on Iran constitute a clear breach of the ceasefire understandings and are inconsistent with the United Nations Charter. Such measures, he said, together with threatening rhetoric, have heightened doubts regarding the US commitment to the diplomatic process.

Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's determination to defend its national security, and warned of all possible consequences of any renewed confrontation by the US and Israel for both regional and global stability.

He further emphasized that Iran remains committed to building and strengthening relations with all neighbouring countries, including those along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, based on good neighbourliness and mutual respect. He expressed hope that these states will also work collectively to promote regional peace and security, independent of external interference.

- ANI
Iran's military command has vowed to react if the US continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region, particularly at the Strait of Hormuz. The statement pointed to the US naval blockade imposed on the waterway and recent actions against Iran-bound ships. Iran's armed forces claim they are more powerful than before and ready to inflict severe damage on US and Israeli "enemies" if aggression is repeated. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed ceasefire views with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir.

Iran's military warns of reaction to US "blockade, banditry" in West Asia, citing naval actions at Strait of Hormuz and recent war experiences.

Tehran, April 26 Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.

It made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media while pointing to the US naval blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, which prevents vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, and actions against Iran-bound ships over the past few days, Xinhua news agency reported.

It called on the United States to know that Iran's armed forces are more powerful and prepared than before to defend the country's national sovereignty and interests as well as territorial integrity, adding the US army experienced part of Iran's power and offensive capabilities during the recent war.

It said Iran's armed forces are ready and determined to, while monitoring the "enemies' behavior and movements" in the region and continuing their management and control over the Strait of Hormuz, inflict more severe damage on the US and Israeli "enemies" if they repeat their "aggression."

Also on Saturday, Saudi state-linked Al Arabiya News, citing a source, reported that Iran will not acquiesce to negotiations involving red lines set by the United States.

The developments came as Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday conveyed Iran's considerations and views regarding the end of the war in a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Araghchi, who arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Friday night at the head of a diplomatic delegation, also exchanged views with Munir on the latest developments pertaining to a ceasefire with the United States and Israel, and the end of the war, as well as the expansion of bilateral cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in the West Asia region, the report said.

Iran had tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when it barred passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after the two countries' joint strikes on Iranian territory.

A ceasefire was achieved between Iran, the United States and Israel on April 8 after 40 days of fighting, followed by lengthy talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad on April 11-12, which failed to yield an agreement. The United States later imposed its own blockade on the waterway.

Iranian and US delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan this week, but Iran refrained from attending negotiations, citing the US continued naval blockade and "excessive" demands as the main reasons.

- IANS
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Iran will not negotiate under pressure, threats, and siege, criticizing continued US violations during talks. In a phone call with Pakistan's PM, he warned that US maritime restrictions and threatening rhetoric undermine diplomatic commitments. Key sticking points include Iran's nuclear program, uranium stockpile custody, and Strait of Hormuz shipping restrictions. Iran demands sanctions relief, asset unfreezing, and compensation for damages from US and Israeli attacks.

Iran's President Pezeshkian says Iran won't enter talks under US pressure, threats, and siege. Nuclear program, Strait of Hormuz, and sanctions remain sticking points.

Tehran, April 26 Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not enter into negotiations under pressure, threats, and siege, Mehr News Agency reported on Sunday.

During his telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian, criticized continued violations and coercive behaviour by the US during both the negotiations and the ceasefire period, the Mehr News Agency report revealed.

The Iranian President stated that actions related to Washington's so-called maritime restrictions on Iran constitute a clear breach of the ceasefire understandings and are inconsistent with the United Nations Charter. Such measures, he said, together with threatening rhetoric, have heightened doubts regarding the US commitment to the diplomatic process.

Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's determination to defend its national security, and warned of all possible consequences of any renewed confrontation by the US and Israel for both regional and global stability.

He further emphasized that Iran remains committed to building and strengthening relations with all neighbouring countries, including those along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, based on good neighbourliness and mutual respect. He expressed hope that these states will also work collectively to promote regional peace and security, independent of external interference.

Meanwhile, Iranian news agency ISNA reported that the coutnry's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi discussed issues related to diplomacy and ceasefire as well as regional developments with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Atias.

According to the ISNA report on Sunday, Aagachi also spoke to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held consultations and talks over the phone last night.

As peace talks enter murky waters, several sticking points remain between the US and Iran.

The US wants Iran to suspend its nuclear programme, but the latter said that the restriction should be for just a limited period. The US wants to take custody of Iran's stockpile of 400kg of highly-enriched uranium. Tehran has rejected the demand, as per Al Jazeera.

Iran insists it will maintain restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz until the US lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. But Trump says the blockade will remain in place until a deal is reached. Iran is also demanding sanctions relief and the unfreezing of assets worth USD 20 billion as part of any lasting agreement.

Iran has also sought compensation for damages caused by US and Israeli attacks, amounting to about USD 270 billion, as per Al Jazeera.

- ANI
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Russia after a brief visit to Pakistan, part of diplomatic efforts to broker a US-Iran peace deal. He held talks with Pakistani military leadership, including COAS Asim Munir, in Islamabad. The visit follows a one-day trip to Oman and comes amid heightened tensions after the US-Israel attack on Iran. Araghchi questioned Washington's commitment to diplomacy, stating Iran shared a "workable framework to end the war."

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departs for Russia after brief Pakistan visit amid US-Iran peace talks and regional tensions.

Islamabad, April 27 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Russia late on Sunday after concluding his engagements in Pakistan amid Islamabad's efforts to broker a peace deal between the United States and Tehran.

The visit comes as part of intensified diplomatic outreach by Iran, with Araghchi expected to hold talks with senior Russian officials on bilateral ties as well as regional and international developments, reported ISNA.

His Moscow visit follows a series of engagements across West Asia aimed at sustaining dialogue amid escalating tensions following the US-Israel attack on Iran.

Earlier, Araghchi made a brief stop in Pakistan after returning from Oman, where he held discussions with top leadership, according to Geo News. During his short stay in Islamabad, the Iranian Foreign Minister met Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials as part of efforts to keep US-Iran peace talks on track.

Geo News, citing sources, said Araghchi's visit was significant in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump cancelling a planned visit by American envoys to Islamabad, raising concerns over the future of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

According to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Araghchi had earlier returned to Islamabad following a one-day visit to Oman, marking his second visit to the Pakistani capital within two days.

CNN, citing Iranian sources, reported that he arrived via Nur Khan Airbase as part of a transit stop before heading to Russia.

In Oman, Araghchi held high-level talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Al-Baraka Palace, focusing on bilateral relations and regional developments, as reported by Press TV.

He also briefed the Omani leadership on Tehran's position regarding the ongoing conflict and appreciated Muscat's mediation role.

In a post on X, Araghchi stated that Iran had shared a "workable framework to permanently end the war" and questioned Washington's commitment to diplomacy. "Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," he said.

- ANI
WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military forces continue to enforce "U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports," U.S. Central Command said on social media Saturday.

In a post on X, the U.S. Central Command said that 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade, noting a merchant vessel named Sevan, intercepted in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday by the U.S. forces, is currently "complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. His decision came after the first round of U.S.-Iranian talks on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a peace deal.

In response to Trump's announcement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that "any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade."

On Saturday, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its pledge to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.

Trump announced earlier Saturday that he has canceled the trip of U.S. representatives going to Islamabad this weekend for talks with the Iranian side. 
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat to discuss cooperation among Hormuz littoral states for safe maritime transit. The talks focused on regional stability amid ongoing US-Israel conflict involving Iran. Araghchi briefed Omani leadership on Iran's diplomatic initiatives, while Sultan Haitham emphasized dialogue and mediation for long-term peace. Following Oman, Araghchi traveled to Pakistan and Russia for further consultations.

Iran's FM Araghchi and Oman's Sultan Haitham discuss safe maritime transit in the Hormuz Strait and regional stability amid US-Israel conflict.

Muscat, April 27 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held high-level talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat, focusing on cooperation among Hormuz littoral states to ensure safe maritime transit amid the ongoing war with the US and Israel.

In a post on X, Araghchi said, "Appreciative of my gracious hosts in Oman. Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world. Our neighbors are our priority."

The meeting took place at Al-Baraka Palace in the Omani capital on Sunday, according to Press TV. Discussions centred on the evolving regional situation, including efforts to resolve crises through dialogue and diplomatic engagement, alongside strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

During the talks, Araghchi briefed the Omani leadership on Tehran's perspective regarding recent developments and outlined Iran's diplomatic initiatives to address ongoing conflicts. He also expressed appreciation for Oman's continued support for dialogue and mediation aimed at enhancing regional stability.

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq reiterated Oman's commitment to facilitating diplomatic solutions, emphasising the need to prioritise dialogue to mitigate the impact of crises on people across the region. He underlined that sustained engagement and mediation are key to achieving long-term peace and security.

The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following the US-Israel conflict involving Iran, with Tehran stepping up diplomatic engagements across multiple capitals. Oman has historically played a mediating role in regional disputes, particularly in facilitating indirect talks involving Iran and Western countries.

Following his Oman visit, Araghchi travelled to Pakistan, where he met senior civil and military leadership, including Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, as part of efforts to sustain dialogue on the evolving situation. He later departed for Russia to continue consultations with senior officials.

- ANI
Israel Destroys 800-Meter Gaza Tunnel Used by Palestinian Islamic Jihad Israeli forces destroyed an 800-meter offensive tunnel in southern Gaza. The tunnel was located east of the Yellow Line and contained sleeping quarters. Military equipment and weapons, including tactical vests and a rocket, were found inside. The tunnel belonged to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Key Points: Israel Destroys 800-Meter Gaza Tunnel of Islamic Jihad Tunnel was 800 meters long

Located east of the Yellow Line in southern Gaza

Contained sleeping quarters and military equipment

Weapons included tactical vests and a rocket

Belonged to Palestinian Islamic Jihad Apr 26, 2026 1 min read

Israel destroys 800-Meter Gaza Tunnel used by Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Israeli forces destroy an 800-meter offensive tunnel east of the Yellow Line, containing sleeping quarters, weapons, and a rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

"The approximately 800-meter tunnel contained sleeping quarters, military equipment and weapons, including tactical vests and a rocket belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. - Israel Defence Forces"

Tel Aviv, April 26 Soldiers in southern Gaza destroyed an offensive tunnel east of the Yellow Line, the Israel Defence Forces said. The approximately 800-meter tunnel contained sleeping quarters, military equipment and weapons, including tactical vests and a rocket belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. - ANI
Israeli forces launched fresh attacks on Khiam and Yohmor al-Shaqif in southern Lebanon on Saturday, escalating tensions despite a ceasefire extension. Hezbollah retaliated by targeting an Israeli armored personnel carrier, citing violations of the truce. US President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire following talks, urging both sides to stop firing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of undermining peace efforts while coordinating with the US against Iran.

Israel launches new attacks on Khiam and Yohmor al-Shaqif in Lebanon amid a three-week ceasefire extension, with Hezbollah retaliating and US President Trump confirming the truce.

Beirut, April 26 Israeli forces on Saturday launched fresh attacks on Khiam and Yohmor al-Shaqif in Lebanon, signalling renewed escalation along the volatile southern border despite an ongoing ceasefire extension between Israel and Lebanon.

According to Al Jazeera, Israel Defence Forces carried out a new explosion in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam and launched two air raids on Yohmor al-Shaqif in southern Lebanon.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters continued exchanging attacks, a day after the announcement of a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as reported by CNN.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out strikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers in the southern Lebanese towns of Yater and Kafra, stating that they posed a threat to its troops and Israeli civilians. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon left at least six people dead and two others injured, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.

Hezbollah, in response, said it had targeted an Israeli armoured personnel carrier in the southern Lebanese town of Ramyah. In a statement, the group said the attack was carried out in retaliation for Israel's destruction of homes in southern Lebanon, which it described as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

A day earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by an additional three weeks following talks with senior officials from both sides. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said both parties had agreed to "no more firing," though he acknowledged that Hezbollah remained a key factor in the situation.

Following the truce announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said efforts were underway to achieve "historic peace" between Israel and Lebanon but accused Hezbollah of attempting to undermine the process.

He also noted continued coordination with the United States and ongoing pressure on Iran.

- ANI
World Veterinary Day celebrated in Udhampur with theme on food and health guardianship

Udhampur poultry farms are taking preventive steps to protect birds from the ongoing heatwave. The Animal Husbandry Department has issued guidelines focusing on ventilation, cold water, and proper feeding times. Dr Surbhi Bharti emphasized the importance of vitamins and minerals to prevent heat stress. Meanwhile, World Veterinary Day was celebrated in Kallar, honoring veterinarians for their role in food safety and animal welfare.

Udhampur poultry farms implement preventive measures amid heatwave. Learn tips from Dr Surbhi Bharti on keeping birds cool and healthy.

Udhampur, April 26 As a heatwave grips parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the Animal Husbandry Department in Udhampur district has initiated preventive measures to safeguard poultry at the Government Hatchery and Poultry Farm in Kallar.

Officials said on Saturday that steps are being taken to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures on birds, with a focus on maintaining proper environmental conditions and nutrition.

Assistant Manager of Poultry in Udhampur, Dr Surbhi Bharti, highlighted key precautions for poultry farmers to follow during the ongoing heatwave.

"We should provide proper ventilation to birds in this heat wave. Keep the windows open. Provide fans from both sides so the heat escapes outside. Provide the birds with cold water. Feed the birds either early morning or late evening. Provide them a proper balance of vitamins and minerals," she said.

The department has emphasised that such measures are crucial to prevent heat stress among poultry, which can adversely affect their health and productivity.

Meanwhile, the Government Veterinary Hospital in the Kallar area of Udhampur marked World Veterinary Day with a programme honouring the contributions of veterinary professionals and reaffirming their commitment to animal welfare.

During the event, veterinary doctors paid tribute to the historical contributions of the veterinary community and took a solemn pledge to ensure dedicated and consistent care for animals.

District Veterinary Hospital Superintendent Dr Anwar Hussain Nagoo highlighted the significance of this year's theme while addressing the gathering.

"The World Veterinary Association has selected the theme 'Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health' for this year. We had called many doctors and experts here... We felicitate the distinguished veterinarians today..." he said.

The programme also witnessed the participation of several doctors and experts from the field, who were invited to commemorate the occasion and recognise the role of veterinarians in safeguarding both animal and public health.

World Veterinary Day is observed annually to acknowledge the vital role played by veterinarians in ensuring animal welfare, food safety, and public health across the globe. It is celebrated on April 25 every year with the theme "Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health".

The day highlighted the critical role of vets in ensuring food safety, animal welfare, and public health under the "One Health" approach, particularly concerning zoonotic diseases, climate change, and food security.

- ANI
Former BDC member Shafiq Mir recalled Haji Tahir Fazal's leadership in Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003 to liberate Hill Kaka from militants. Fazal mobilized local youth after his brother was killed by militants, assisting security forces in reclaiming the area. Mir criticized the absence of government representatives at Fazal's funeral and demanded his native block be developed as a model. Haji Tahir Fazal died recently of a heart attack, with tributes pouring in from locals and security forces.

Former BDC member Shafiq Mir recalls Haji Tahir Fazal's leadership in Operation Sarp Vinash, urging government to honor the late civil militia commander's sacrifice.

Rajouri, April 26 Former Block Development Council member and ex-panchayat chairman Shafiq Mir remembered and hailed the courageous role played by late Fazal Hussain Tahir Chaudhary, popularly known as Haji Tahir Fazal, during the peak of militancy in the Hill Kaka area of Rajouri. He said, "This is the time to honour his sacrifice."

Speaking to ANI, Shafiq Mir said that Haji Tahir Fazal played a key leadership role during Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003, assisting security forces in reclaiming the high-altitude areas of Hill Kaka in the Pir Panjal range from militants.

"He was a civil militia commander of District Poonch who fought alongside security forces to liberate the hills of Hilkaka in 2003. He led a group of local youth who had returned from Saudi Arabia after learning that militants had captured their native villages and were committing atrocities," Mir said.

He added that the movement gained momentum after the killing of Haji Tahir's brother, Haji Mohammad Arif, by militants.

"After his brother was killed for opposing militant activities, Haji Tahir Fazal mobilised youth from Madwa and Hilkaka and joined the forces. Their efforts led to the success of Operation Sarp Vinash and the liberation of the area," he said.

Remembering his contribution, Mir noted that the Indian Army had acknowledged his role and participated in his last rites.

"The operation became successful because of the participation of local youth led by him. The Army appreciated his role and attended his last rites," he said.

Mir also expressed concern over the absence of government representatives at the funeral. "Unfortunately, no representative from the Jammu and Kashmir government or the central government attended the last rites of such a hero," he said.

He further urged the authorities to honour his legacy. "I demand that his native block, Bufliaz, be developed as a model block to pay tribute to his sacrifices," Mir added.

Haji Tahir Fazal passed away a few days ago due to a heart attack, with his demise widely mourned across the Pir Panjal region.

Locals and security forces have paid tribute to his bravery, patriotism, and role in restoring peace during one of the most challenging phases in the region. In April-May 2003, terrorists had made bases in the Pir Panjal range of Jammu and Kashmir, trying to establish control over villages in the Hill Kaka region. In reponse, the Indian Army launched Operation Sarp Vinash. Atleast 64 terrorists were killed in the operation.

- ANI
The Adani Foundation has opened an Adani Vikas Kendra in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, to provide structured work opportunities for women. The centre, inaugurated by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, spans 48,000 square feet and includes 600 sewing machines for training and production. The Swabhimaan programme aims to connect one million women across India with sustainable livelihoods. Over 5,000 women from nearby villages attended the inauguration, reflecting strong local demand for livelihood opportunities.

Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates Adani Foundation's Vikas Kendra in Shivpuri, aiming to empower 1,500 women with stable income through skill training and production.

Badarwas, April 25 In Badarwas, Madhya Pradesh, women seeking a steady income will now find new pathways to earn and build self-reliance. As part of this effort, the Adani Foundation, the social welfare and development arm of the Adani Group, has opened an Adani Vikas Kendra in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, bringing structured work opportunities closer to home.

The Swabhimaan programme of the Adani Foundation aims to connect one million women across India with sustainable livelihoods. It focuses on enabling women to move from informal, irregular work to stable, income-generating opportunities linked to markets, an Adani Foundation release said.

Spread across 48,000 square feet, the centre will operate in its full capacity with 600 modern sewing machines and is designed as both a training and production facility. Women will gain practical skills and access to regular livelihood opportunities. As the centre scales up, around 1,500 women are expected to earn a steady income and support their families with greater confidence.

The facility was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Communications and Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) and Member of Parliament from Guna constituency, Jyotiraditya Scindia. More than 5,000 women from nearby villages attended the programme, reflecting strong local participation and demand for livelihood opportunities.

"What we are witnessing in Badarwas is the power of aspiration taking shape. I congratulate Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, and the Adani Foundation for creating a platform where skills can reach global markets. One can see the resolve in the eyes of my beloved didis. Their hopes and aspirations are finding expression through meaningful livelihoods. This centre is a true engine of empowerment, and over the next five years, I am confident that products from Badarwas will resonate across the country and beyond," Scindia said.

Adani Foundation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Abhishek Lakhtakia, said the Centre will help women build financial independence.

"Guided by our Chairperson Dr Priti Adani's belief that empowering women begins with the ability to earn with dignity, Swabhimaan focuses on turning skills into sustained income. By connecting women to real work and markets, we are enabling them to build financial independence and play a stronger role in their households and communities," he said.

In Badarwas, this approach is expected to improve household income, reduce dependence on informal work and limit the need for migration, while strengthening women's participation in local economic activities.

By investing in infrastructure, skills and market access, the Adani Foundation is ensuring that women can earn regularly and build more secure futures for themselves and their families, the release said.

The Adani Foundation will mark its 30th anniversary on August 11 this year, reflecting three decades of sustained commitment to inclusive development across the length and breadth of India.

- ANI
Legendary Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai passed away on April 26, 2026, at age 83. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor paid an emotional tribute, recalling Rai as a colleague of his father at The Statesman. Rai was mentored by Henri Cartier-Bresson and joined Magnum Photos in 1977, capturing iconic images of India including the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. He is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai and four children.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pays emotional tribute to legendary photojournalist Raghu Rai, who passed away at 83. Known for Bhopal Gas Tragedy photos, Magnum Photos work.

New Delhi, April 26 India's cultural and artistic community is mourning the loss of legendary photojournalist Raghu Rai, who passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. Among those paying tribute, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared a deeply personal and evocative message, remembering Rai not only as a global icon but also as a figure tied to his own childhood memories.

Taking to X, Tharoor wrote, "It is with deep sorrow that I learned the devastating news of the passing of Raghu Rai. Today, the lens of one of the world's finest visual storytellers has finally closed. My memories of Raghu stretch back to my childhood, since he was a colleague of my father's at The Statesman newspaper."

Reflecting on Rai's influence, he added, "For me, he wasn't just a global name; he was the man with the gentle smile and the observant eye who inspired my father's generation of journalists. To the world, he was an incomparable master of photography, the visionary who captured the pulsating heart and soul of India."

Rai's death marks the end of an era in Indian photojournalism. The news was confirmed through a tribute post on his official Instagram account, featuring a poignant black-and-white portrait that reflected the visual language he perfected over decades.

Known for capturing the "extraordinary in the ordinary", Rai leaves behind an unparalleled archive documenting India's social, political, and cultural evolution.

In his tribute, Tharoor highlighted Rai's global stature and career milestones, noting, "From his powerful early years at The Statesman to his prestigious appointment by Henri Cartier-Bresson to Magnum Photos, his contribution to visual history is unparalleled."

Rai was mentored by Henri Cartier-Bresson and joined Magnum Photos in 1977, cementing his place among the world's elite photographers.

His body of work includes some of the most defining visual records of modern India. Tharoor recalled, "His portfolio contains many of the world's most defining images: the harrowing documentation of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, his profound and intimate portraits of Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, and countless scenes that captured the exquisite beauty and complex humanity of everyday Indian life."

Rai's accolades include the Padma Shri (1972) and the inaugural Academie des Beaux-Arts Photography Award, alongside numerous international honours. He also authored several influential books, including Indira Gandhi, The Sikhs, Raghu Rai's India, and Mother Teresa.

Concluding his tribute, Tharoor wrote, "Raghu Rai did not just photograph India; he lived it, and through his lens, he made us feel its pulse. Our thoughts are with his beloved family: his wife Gurmeet Rai, and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani, and Purvai during this painful time. Rest in power and peace, Raghu Rai. Your vision will forever be the lens through which India is seen. Om Shanti."

Tributes have poured in from across the creative spectrum. Photographer Atul Kasbekar described him as "Quite simply, the greatest to ever hold a camera from our country. End of an era. Rest in peace, legend."

Actor Dia Mirza and filmmaker Swanand Kirkire also expressed condolences.

Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai's work chronicled everything from the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to intimate portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi. His evocative imagery of Indian streets and the Ganges remains iconic.

His cremation is scheduled for April 26, 2026, at 4 PM at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground in Delhi. He is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani, and Purvai.

- ANI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flagged off the 'Godavari to Narmada Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Water Journey 2026' in Nashik on the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar. He stated the yatra aims to motivate people towards water conservation and highlighted Ahilyabai Holkar's role in reviving Sanatan Dharma. The CM also inaugurated educational and industrial initiatives in Dhule and offered prayers at Trimbakeshwar Temple. Separately, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised SBI's new local head office in Pune for strengthening banking outreach in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis flags off 'Godavari to Narmada Water Journey 2026' in Nashik, promoting water conservation on Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary.

Nashik, April 26 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday inaugurated the 'Godavari to Narmada Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Water Journey 2026' in Nashik on the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.

The Maharashtra CM said that "this yatra has been organised to motivate people towards water conservation."

Speaking to reporters, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "On the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, who revived our Sanatan Dharma, Hindu temples and saved our religious places from the clutches of the Mughals, a Yatra has been organised by the Water Resources Department of the Maharashtra Government... This Yatra has been organised to motivate people towards water conservation..."

Earlier, CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated multiple educational and industrial initiatives led by the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal in Dhule city to enhance local employment. The CM also offered prayers at the Shri Kshetra Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the State Bank of India for establishing its Local Head Office for the Maharashtra Circle in Pune and highlighted the critical role of banks in sustaining India's long-term economic growth amid global uncertainties.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new premises of SBI's Local Head Office in Pune, Sitharaman said the move would strengthen banking outreach across Maharashtra.

"I praise the State Bank of India's decision to establish a local head office in Pune to serve the rest of Maharashtra," she said.

Earlier in the month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, inaugurated the 'Thane-Borivali Double Decker Corridor Project'.

"The tunnels that will be prepared will be the longest urban tunnels in the country, and will be the deepest urban tunnels in the country. Each tunnel will have three lanes, two lanes effective and one lane emergency, and three lanes will be in each tunnel. Because of this, there will never be any traffic jam in the tunnel," CM stated.

He also informed that modern tunnels have advanced firefighting, ventilation, and signage systems. The Chief Minister praised Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) design and confirmed all permissions are in place.

- ANI
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has advised residents to stay hydrated and avoid sun exposure as a yellow alert is issued for parts of Maharashtra due to intense heatwave conditions. She urged people to drink plenty of water and remain vigilant to prevent heat-related illnesses. The alert follows a Maharashtra Mayors' Council meeting where Tawde was elected President and Neeta Thakre as Vice President. Rain is expected by the second week of June, but precautions are essential in the meantime.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde advises residents to stay hydrated and avoid sun exposure as a yellow alert is issued for Maharashtra amid intense heatwave conditions.

Mumbai, April 26 With several districts of Maharashtra under heat alert, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Sunday said that the civic authorities were focused on monitoring the situation and advised people to remain hydrated and avoid unnecessary sun exposure.

"The heatwave has intensified significantly, and we are focusing on the overall situation. I urge people to drink as much water as possible, avoid sun exposure, and take care of their health. It is very important for people to remain vigilant," Tawde told reporters here after the 23rd Maharashtra Mayor Council meeting.

She said that the Mayors' Council meeting was successfully held in Mumbai "after four and a half years".

"After four and a half years, elections for the municipal corporations have been held across Maharashtra. After such a long wait, the Maharashtra Mayors' Council meeting concluded very successfully today. Mayors from all over Maharashtra are here. This was the first formal meeting of the council where I served as the President. Today, I took over as President, and Neeta Thakre, the honourable mayor of Nagpur, was declared the Vice President. Along with this, various issues related to their respective municipal corporations were discussed," Tawde said.

A yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Konkan and the Vidarbha region due to rising temperatures and prevailing heatwave-like conditions.

She said that while heatwaves are a natural seasonal phenomenon, public health precautions are essential to prevent heat-related illnesses.

"Rain is expected by the second week of June, but people must remain alert and take precautions," Tawde added.

The alert comes amid an intense and relentless rise in temperatures across India. The prevailing scorching summer conditions have somewhat affected normal life, with the mercury continuing to soar day by day.

The extreme heat has led people to remain indoors to avoid exposure to the harsh sun.

Those who are compelled to step out for work or other essential activities are taking precautionary measures, including the use of umbrellas and protective clothing, while frequently consuming cold beverages and seasonal fruits to cope with dehydration and fatigue caused by the heatwave-like conditions.

- ANI
Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav visited Ujjain to attend the sacred Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple. He expressed gratitude for the spiritual experience and prayed for the nation's progress, peace, and social harmony. Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also visited the temple, describing it as a positive experience. Actor Anupam Kher recently shared his own divine experience at the temple, calling it soul-stirring.

Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav attends sacred Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, prays for peace and prosperity.

Ujjain, April 26 Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Sunday visited Ujjain and attended the sacred Bhasma Aarti at the Mahakaleshwar Temple.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said he felt fortunate to have visited the temple multiple times and expressed gratitude for the spiritual experience. He also prayed for the nation's progress, peace, and social harmony.

"I will pray that the country remains free from crises and that people continue to live with happiness, peace, and prosperity," he said.

A day earlier, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also visited the temple. He said that being in Ujjain brings a sense of positivity and expressed hope for the well-being and prosperity of all sections of society.

Recently, actor Anupam Kher has shared a deeply spiritual moment with his followers after visiting the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, describing the experience as "divine" and "soul-stirring."

Taking to Instagram, Kher posted a series of photographs from his pilgrimage to one of India's most sacred Jyotirlinga shrines. Dressed in traditional attire with a saffron ceremonial stole, the actor is seen offering prayers with folded hands against the temple's iconic backdrop. In his caption, Kher reflected on the spiritual significance of the visit and the emotional impact it had on him.

"I reached the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain. Had darshan and prayed for all of you as well. What a wonderful, divine experience it is to come here. India is truly filled with such incredible religious places, whose antiquity and history are unbelievable. Today, the soul felt a unique sense of peace and strength. Har Har Mahadev! Har Har Mahakal!" he wrote.

Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Mahakaleshwar Temple attracts lakhs of devotees annually, including several prominent personalities from across the country and abroad.

Participation in the ritual is widely believed to be highly auspicious, with devotees holding faith that it fulfils their wishes.

- ANI
An event organizer (L) introduces a rare print of a work created by Raphael during an exhibition in New York, the United States, April 25, 2026. New York-based Murray Hill Art Museum on Saturday unveiled an exhibition of rare prints of works by Italian Renaissance master Raphael. Raffaello di Giovanni Santi (1483-1520), known as Raphael, is widely regarded as one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance. The exhibition brings together 100 rare engravings and lithographs from its own collection, along with loans from private collectors across the United States. A number of artists and collectors from the New York metropolitan area attended the opening ceremony. After closing at the end of June, the rare prints will travel to Shanghai, Xi'an, and Wuhan in China, organizers said. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

NEW YORK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- New York-based Murray Hill Art Museum on Saturday unveiled an exhibition of rare prints of works by Italian Renaissance master Raphael.

Raffaello di Giovanni Santi (1483-1520), known as Raphael, is widely regarded as one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance.

The exhibition brings together 100 rare engravings and lithographs from its own collection, along with loans from private collectors across the United States. A number of artists and collectors from the New York metropolitan area attended the opening ceremony.

After closing at the end of June, the rare prints will travel to Shanghai, Xi'an, and Wuhan in China, organizers said. 
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that a Free Trade Agreement with India will be signed on Monday, calling it a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity. The deal will give Kiwi exporters unprecedented access to India's 1.4 billion consumers and rapidly growing economy. Luxon highlighted benefits including more jobs, higher incomes, and greater public investment in services. He listed key export sectors like kiwifruit, wine, seafood, meat, and honey that will gain from the agreement.

New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon calls the upcoming FTA with India a "once-in-a-generation agreement," opening access to 1.4 billion consumers.

New Delhi, April 26 New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sunday said that New Zealand will sign a Free Trade Agreement with India on Monday, calling it a "once in a generation agreement" that will open access to one of the world's largest markets for Kiwi exporters.

In a post on social media, Luxon said, "New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement with India will be signed on Monday night," while sharing a video outlining the expected benefits of the deal.

In the video message, he highlighted the scale of the opportunity, stating, "We are signing a Free Trade deal with India that opens one of the biggest markets in the world to Kiwi exporters."

He underlined that the agreement would give exporters access to India's large consumer base and fast-growing economy. "It's a once-in-a-generation agreement that gives New Zealand exporters unprecedented access to 1.4 billion people, in an economy that is set to become the third largest in the world," he said.

Luxon also stressed that the deal would improve New Zealand's competitive position globally. "It puts New Zealand exporters on an equal or better footing to our competitors, and it opens the door [to] India's rapidly expanding middle-class," he added.

Highlighting the importance of trade to New Zealand's economy, he said, "One in four of our jobs in New Zealand are already linked to trade, and this FTA means more jobs on New Zealand farms and orchards."

According to Luxon, the agreement is expected to boost incomes and economic activity across the country. "It means more money coming into local communities, and it means more opportunity for your family to get ahead," he said.

He further noted that a stronger economy would allow greater public investment. "A stronger economy means that we can invest in the roads, the schools, the hospitals and the police, all the services that New Zealanders rely on," he said.

Calling the agreement a "big win," Luxon said it would help expand exports across key sectors. "This is a big win for New Zealand, and it makes it easier for Kiwis to sell more of what we are great at to the world," he said, listing products such as "Kiwifruit from the Bay of Plenty, wine from Central Otago, seafood, meat, honey."

He reiterated the central role of exports in driving growth. "Exports underpin our economy, and enabling these sectors to compete on the world stage means supporting jobs, higher wages and economic growth," Luxon said.

Summing up the expected benefits for citizens, he added, "That means more money for Kiwis' back pockets."

- ANI
The fifth session of the eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly will begin on April 28 at 11 AM amid heightened security. New guidelines restrict media from interacting with MLAs in corridors following a hoax bomb threat on April 13. Previous security incidents include a March 25 email claiming 16 IEDs were planted and an April 6 car ramming breach. The Speaker has urged police to address threats permanently.

The next Delhi Legislative Assembly session begins April 28 under heightened security after recent bomb threats. Media access restricted to forecourt area.

New Delhi, April 26 The fifth session of the eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly is scheduled to commence on 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the Assembly Hall at Old Secretariat in the national capital amid heightened security after the recent bomb threats, an official said on Sunday.

"In view of the hoax bomb threat received by the Assembly on April 13, the security agencies have issued fresh guidelines for media persons, prohibiting interactions with MLAs in corridors of the building," an official statement said.

The reporters have been permitted to interview MLAs and Ministers only in the open area in the forecourt of the Assembly building.

"The media persons are advised to strictly abstain from intervening Ministers/MLAs in the corridors around the Assembly House. They are free to interact with the Ministers/MLAs in the open area of the Assembly complex outside the building," the Assembly Secretariat said in a statement.

"On April 13, the Delhi Assembly received yet another bomb threat on email, prompting Speaker Vijender Gupta to write to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha to address the matter permanently," an official said.

The email, which came after similar threats sent earlier, was received at 11:12 a.m. on the official email ID containing alarming claims about explosives being used inside the Assembly premises.

On March 25, the Assembly received a threatening email message which claimed that as many as 16 RDX-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been planted inside the Assembly premises, with a plan to detonate them at 1:40 p.m. -- just before the House sitting. It, however, turned out to be a hoax.

Earlier in another security scare at the Delhi Assembly on April 6, a man rammed through the high-security boundary gates of the complex and managed to flee without being challenged.

He was later identified as Sarabjit Singh. He travelled by car from Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh) to Chandigarh and then to Delhi, and was driving the vehicle himself.

- IANS
The first trailer for 'Spider-Noir' starring Nicolas Cage was released on April 26, showcasing a dark, stylized 1930s New York. Cage plays Ben Reilly, an aging private investigator and former superhero grappling with personal loss. The eight-episode series features villains like Silvermane, Sandman, and Tombstone in a hardboiled detective aesthetic. It premieres on MGM+ on May 25 and globally on Prime Video on May 27, 2026.

Watch the first trailer for 'Spider-Noir' starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a down-on-his-luck PI in 1930s New York. Premieres May 2026 on MGM+ and Prime Video.

Washington, April 26 The first trailer for 'Spider-Noir', starring Nicolas Cage, was unveiled on April 26, offering a dark, stylised glimpse into the upcoming live-action Marvel series set in 1930s New York City.

Debuted at the CCXPMX26 event in Mexico City by MGM+ and on the official social media handles of Prime Video, the eight-episode thriller introduces Cage as Ben Reilly, an ageing and "down-on-his-luck private investigator" who was once the city's only superhero.



As per Deadline, the show is based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir and leans heavily into a hardboiled detective aesthetic, establishing a grounded and brooding tone.



Following a video greeting from Cage, attendees were shown an extended scene, while the trailer was simultaneously released in two formats, "Authentic Black and White" and "True-Hue Full Colour", underscoring the series' commitment to its noir identity.



The trailer places strong emphasis on Ben Reilly's personal struggles, revealing that he "hasn't been the same since the death of someone named Ruby".



It also hints at evolving relationships, including the beginning of a bond between Ben and Cat Hardy, played by Li Jun Li. As the story unfolds, Reilly is compelled to confront his past life to protect a city overrun by gangsters and superpowered threats.



A major highlight is the expanded look at the show's villains. Brendan Gleeson appears as Silvermane, depicted as a psychopathic mob boss who has controlled organised crime for 30 years.



Jack Huston's Sandman is introduced as the "ultimate anti-hero", with powers that may be killing him, while Abraham Popoola's Tombstone emerges as a looming menace. Andrew Lewis Caldwell's Megawatt adds a more overt superpowered dimension to the noir setting.



The footage showcases intense action sequences, with 'Spider-Noir' swinging through shadowy streets, webbing up criminals and engaging in gritty street fights.



It also teases horror elements, including a transformation into a man-spider and scenes involving an army of spiders.



The series, which also stars Lamorne Morris and Karen Rodriguez, will premiere on MGM+'s linear channel on May 25, followed by a global release on Prime Video on May 27, 2026.





- ANI
Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva praised PM Modi's 133rd Mann Ki Baat episode as a great learning platform. He highlighted the mention of Census 2027 as a "need of the time" for the country. PM Modi detailed the digital transformation of the census, including a mobile app for enumerators. The Prime Minister urged all citizens to actively participate in this world's largest population exercise.

Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva praises PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat as a great learning platform, highlighting the need for Census 2027 participation.

New Delhi, April 26 Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva on Sunday hailed the 133rd episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' and recognised the mention of census in the address as a "need of the time."

Speaking with mediapersons here, Sachdeva described Mann Ki Baat as a great learning platform.

"...Prime Minister Modi has also mentioned the census in the Mann Ki Baat program, about how we are going to conduct it in the country. It is also a need of the time... There can be no better platform for learning than Mann Ki Baat," he said.

In today's 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast, Prime Minister Modi said that every Indian must be aware of the Census campaign, which is the world's largest census. The PM elaborated that the Census 2027 has been made digital with all information is being recorded directly in digital form. The enumerators going door-to-door have a mobile app to enter all the information, he said.

PM Modi said that in States where self-enumeration has been completed, the Census staff have also begun enumerating households. House listings for approximately one crore, twenty lakh families have been completed so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to actively participate in the upcoming Census 2027, calling it a "shared responsibility of all", and appealed to people to make the exercise a success while highlighting its digital framework and improved accessibility during the 133rd episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

Describing the census as the world's largest population exercise, PM Modi highlighted its digital transformation, enhanced public participation through self-enumeration, and its crucial role in strengthening governance and policy-making.

The Prime Minister said, "At present, an important campaign is going on in our country and it is important for every Indian to know about it. This is the Census campaign, the largest census exercise in the world. Those who have gone through this process before will find this time's experience different. Census 2027 has been made digital. All information is being recorded directly through digital mediums."

The Census 2027 will be the 16th census since the exercise began and the 8th after independence, marking a significant step with digital integration and strengthened data security. The government has approved an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore, with the process to be conducted in two phases -- house listing between April and September 2026, followed by population enumeration in February 2027.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat appreciated the mention of various topics, including the Beating Retreat ceremony, sustainable development, and Olympiad achievements, among others.

"The way the Prime Minister touched upon all the topics in today's Mann Ki Baat, whether it was about sustainable development, daughters winning Olympiads abroad, or the matter of our armed forces' Beating Retreat music, the Prime Minister addressed every topic that is a matter of pride for India," he said.

PM Modi's 133rd episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' to the nation saw citizens from various corners addressing their questions and suggestions to the prime minister.

- ANI
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that Iran will not negotiate under US pressure or blockade. He called for the removal of military and economic obstacles, including the naval blockade, to resume dialogue. US President Donald Trump canceled a diplomatic trip to Pakistan, calling it too expensive and lengthy. The standoff continues as Iran submitted a revised proposal, but the US insists on a 20-year suspension of enriched uranium.

Iran's President Pezeshkian tells Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that Iran won't negotiate under US blockade and threats, urging obstacle removal for dialogue.

Tehran, April 26 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has delivered a firm "no" to direct negotiations with the United States as long as the current naval blockade remains in place.

According to Press TV, in a significant telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, Pezeshkian asserted that Iran will not be coerced into a deal through "pressure or threats."

President Pezeshkian emphasised that the primary obstacle to peace is not a lack of dialogue, but the "hostile actions" currently being enforced by Washington.

During the conversation, the Iranian President stressed that "Iran will not enter into negotiations under pressure, threats, or blockade...As long as hostile actions and pressures of the US do not stop, rebuilding trust and progress in the path of dialogue would remain difficult."

He called on the US to demonstrate its seriousness by removing the military and economic barriers that have characterised the recent escalation.

"Our advice to the US is to first remove obstacles, including the naval blockade, in order to resume dialogue and provide a platform for resolving issues," he added.

The call comes at a critical juncture in the eight-week-long conflict, following the failure of high-level peace talks in Islamabad and a subsequent U.S. naval blockade that has choked Iranian ports since April 13.

The President's comments follow a weekend of diplomatic friction that saw a breakdown in the mediation efforts hosted by Pakistan

US President Donald Trump defended his decision to cancel a trip by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Pakistan, dismissing it as "too expensive" and "too long" for a meeting with unrecognised officials.

Speaking at Palm Beach International Airport, Trump said Tehran's proposal "offered a lot but not enough," particularly in response to a US proposal seeking a 20-year suspension on enriched uranium.

Trump had called off the visit of senior adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who were scheduled to travel to Islamabad for a fresh round of negotiations. He cited long travel times, high costs, and the absence of senior Iranian leadership in the proposed meetings.

"We're not going to be travelling 15-16 hours to have a meeting with people that nobody ever heard of before," Trump said, calling himself a "cost-conscious person."

Despite the cancellation, Trump claimed that Iran quickly submitted a revised and "much better" proposal, reiterating that Washington's core demand remains unchanged: Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. He also downplayed concerns over a ceasefire, saying he "hasn't even thought about it."

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had shared a "workable framework" with Pakistani leadership to permanently end the conflict, while questioning US commitment to diplomacy.

The Iranian delegation later departed Islamabad after submitting an "official list of demands," leaving Pakistan's mediation efforts uncertain as tensions persist.

Notably, Araghchi is expected to revisit Pakistan on Sunday after concluding his trip to Oman.

- ANI
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval paid an official visit to the UAE and called on President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The meeting focused on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussing the regional situation. This was the second high-level visit from India to the UAE after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit earlier this month. Both leaders conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the welfare of the Indian community.

NSA Ajit Doval calls on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discusses deepening strategic partnership and regional situation.

Abu Dhabi, April 26 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday, discussing measures to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest.

In a post on X, Indian Embassy in the UAE stated, "NSA Ajit Doval paid an official visit to the UAE. He called on President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Conveyed greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Measures to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed."

This is the second high level visit from India to UAE after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's two-day visit earlier this month.

Earlier this month, EAM Jaishankar called on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE during the conflict in West Asia.

Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was also present during the meeting.

"Deeply honoured to call on President of UAE HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi today. Conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our gratitude for ensuring well-being of the Indian community during the West Asia conflict. Thank him for his guidance on further strengthening the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

In another post, he wrote: "Good to see HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the call. Conveyed the appreciation of our Government for ensuring the welfare of the Indian community in Dubai."

On April 11, EAM Jaishankar held talks with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the evolving situation in West Asia and its wider implications.

The External Affairs Minister expressed confidence that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations will advance further.

"A real pleasure to meet DPM and FM of UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi this evening. Our conversation focused on the evolving regional situation and its implications. Conveyed our deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will advance further," he wrote on X.

EAM Jaishankar also interacted with the members of the Indian community there. During his interaction, he highlighted the Indian government's ongoing efforts towards the security and well-being of its nationals amidst the West Asia conflict.

The tensions in West Asia escalated after the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran on February 28. 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
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides discussed enhancing cooperation on energy security amid evolving regional developments. Doval conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the UAE President reciprocated with wishes for India's prosperity. This marks the second high-level meeting between the two countries in one month, following External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit.

NSA Ajit Doval meets UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi to strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhance energy security cooperation.

Abu Dhabi, April 26 National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as part of his official visit to the Middle Eastern country.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and enhance cooperation on energy security amid evolving regional developments.

According to a post on X by the Indian Embassy in the UAE, NSA Doval, during his meeting with the UAE President, conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also discussed measures to deepen bilateral ties, the regional security situation, and other issues of mutual interest.

"He called on President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Conveyed greetings of PM, Narendra Modi. Measures to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed," the Embassy stated in its post.

The UAE state-run news agency WAM further reported on the meeting, stating that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received NSA Doval, following which greetings were exchanged between the leadership of both countries.

Doval conveyed PM Modi's greetings and best wishes for the UAE's continued progress and prosperity, while the UAE President reciprocated with his greetings for the Indian leadership and wished further development and prosperity for India and its people, as per WAM.

The discussions also focused on recent developments in the Middle East and their implications for regional and international security and stability, along with global energy security concerns.

The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security.

This is the second high-level meeting between the two countries in one month.

Earlier in the month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the UAE President as part of his two-nation tour.

Jaishankar pointed out the robustness of the India-UAE strategic partnership, noting that the ongoing dialogue between the two nations remains strong and transparent despite a complex regional environment.

He travelled to the UAE after participating in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius.

- ANI
Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari announced early summer vacations for all schools from April 27 due to severe heatwave conditions, aiming for zero casualties. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal from the School and Mass Education Department, prioritizing child safety. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave warnings across multiple states, with temperatures reaching 40-45C. A 37-year-old man in Kerala died from sunstroke, highlighting the severity of the ongoing heat conditions.

Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari announces early summer vacations for schools as temperatures soar. CM Mohan Charan Majhi prioritizes child safety amid severe heatwave.

Bhubaneshwar, April 27 Amid rising temperatures and heatwave conditions, Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday said the state government has ordered the closure of schools and advanced summer vacations as part of precautionary measures.

"In view of the heat wave, the schools have been closed... The summer vacations have been announced in advance... We will ensure zero casualties and fight the heat wave", he told reporters here.

Earlier on April 24, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an early summer vacation in schools across the state due to the prevailing heatwave.

As per the order, all government, government-aided and private schools will remain closed from April 27, while pre-scheduled examinations and official work will continue as planned.

The Chief Minister has approved the related proposal from the School and Mass Education Department. In a post on X, the state's Information and Public Relations Department wrote, "Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an early summer vacation keeping in view the severe heatwave currently sweeping through the state. Keeping the safety of children in mind, the Chief Minister has taken this decision. The Chief Minister has approved the related proposal from the School and Mass Education Department. According to this decision, all government, government-aided, and private schools in the state will remain closed from April 27. However, previously scheduled examinations, census work, and other office tasks will continue as before."

Meanwhile, rising temperatures continue to impact several parts of the country. In a separate incident, a 37-year-old man undergoing treatment for sunstroke died on Thursday, highlighting the severity of the heat conditions.

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.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heatwave warnings for multiple regions, with temperatures in several states ranging between 40C and 45C. Similar conditions have been reported in parts of Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, among others.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures ranging between 40C and 45C were recorded over most parts of Vidarbha, many areas of Marathwada and Madhya Pradesh, and at several places in Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.IMD said similar conditions were observed at isolated places over interior Odisha, Rayalaseema, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat, while temperatures remained in the 36C-40C range over most other parts of the country, except parts of the western Himalayan region and Northeast India, where readings were below 36C.

The weather agency added that maximum temperatures were markedly above normal in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. They were appreciably above normal in several parts of Jharkhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, among others.

IMD further stated that above-normal temperatures were recorded in parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other regions, while near-normal conditions prevailed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gujarat, coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep.

- ANI
President Trump canceled a planned trip by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Pakistan for talks with Iran, stating Tehran's offer "was not enough." He cited long travel times, high costs, and lack of senior-level Iranian participation as reasons. Trump claimed Iran submitted a significantly improved proposal within minutes of the cancellation. He reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and signaled future negotiations must happen on his terms.

Trump defends canceling envoys' Pakistan trip for Iran talks, saying Tehran's proposal "fell short." He claims a better offer came within minutes of cancellation.

Washington DC, April 26 US President Donald Trump on Saturday defended his decision to cancel the planned visit of US envoys to Pakistan for talks with Iran, asserting that Tehran's proposal fell short of expectations.

Speaking to reporters at Palm Beach International Airport, President Trump said, "They offered a lot but not enough," while responding to a question on whether Iran had offered anything in return to negotiate the US proposal of a 20-year minimum suspension on enriched uranium.

President Donald Trump has abruptly cancelled a scheduled trip to Pakistan for his top negotiators, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The envoys were set to fly to Islamabad for a new round of talks regarding the ongoing US-Iran conflict, but the President pulled the plug on Saturday, citing long travel times, high costs, and a lack of "senior-level" engagement from the Iranian side.

He dismissed the idea of sending his team on a gruelling 18-hour journey to meet with mid-level officials while the leadership in Tehran remains, in his view, fractured.

"We're not going to be travelling 15-16 hours to have a meeting with people that nobody ever heard of before," he remarked, adding that the proposed meeting timeline and lack of top leadership participation made the visit unviable.

Calling himself a 'cost-conscious person,' Trump said, "When they said that the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, I said, 'Tuesday! That's a long time from now'... They weren't meeting with the leader of the country. They were meeting with other people. And I said, 'We're just not going to do it. Too much travelling. Takes too long. Too expensive.' I'm a very cost-conscious person."

The President doubled down on his Truth Social platform, asserting that the US holds "all the cards" and that Tehran's leadership is plagued by "tremendous infighting."

Despite the cancellation, Trump revealed that the move had an immediate tactical effect. He claimed that after the trip was called off, Iran submitted a significantly improved proposal within minutes. Trump reiterated his singular objective, "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Very simple."

However, he noted that a revised proposal was received shortly after the cancellation. "Interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better. We talked about the fact that they will not have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple. That whole deal is not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Very simple," he said.

When asked about the possibility of a ceasefire holding, Trump downplayed immediate concerns. "Haven't even thought about it," he said, suggesting uncertainty over the trajectory of the situation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier stated that Tehran had shared a framework aimed at "permanently ending" the conflict with the United States during discussions with Pakistani leadership in Islamabad.

In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran had outlined a "workable framework" but questioned Washington's seriousness about diplomacy.

The Iranian delegation departed Islamabad after high-level engagements, leaving uncertainty over Pakistan's efforts to broker a second round of US-Iran talks. According to reports, the delegation submitted an "official list of demands" concerning a broader resolution involving the US and Israel.

Trump, however, maintained that Washington holds a strong negotiating position, insisting that any engagement must align with US priorities, particularly preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The cancellation comes as a blow to Islamabad, which has been acting as the primary mediator in the conflict.

With the U.S. delegation now grounded, the focus shifts to whether the current ceasefire--which Trump admitted he "hasn't even thought about" extending further--will hold as the May 4 deadline for a broader peace framework approaches.

"If they want to talk, all they have to do is call," the President concluded, signalling that the next phase of negotiations will happen on his terms, and likely via the White House switchboard.

- ANI
Birla assures tap water to every household in Kota-Bundi within two years

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar laid the foundation for multiple development projects worth 150 crore in Sangod, including a 100-bed hospital, bridge, and roads. Birla assured that tap water will reach every household in the Kota-Bundi constituency within two years, emphasizing water security and connectivity. Minister Nagar called the projects a major boost to healthcare and transportation infrastructure in the region. Separately, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan arrived in Jaipur for official engagements, receiving a warm welcome from state dignitaries.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar launched 150 crore projects in Sangod, including a hospital and roads, promising tap water to every household within two years.

Kota, April 26 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with Rajasthan Minister Heeralal Nagar, has laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Sangod Assembly constituency of Kota district.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Birla highlighted ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening water supply and infrastructure in the region. He said that work to provide water to every farm and tap to every household has already begun and asserted that tap water will reach every house in the coming two years.

"The work of providing water to every farm and tap to every house has started in Kota-Bundi Lok Sabha constituency. In two years, water taps will reach every house. Water will reach every farm through surface water. Every assembly has been connected with road connectivity," he said.

The Lok Sabha Speaker further stated that these initiatives are being undertaken to ensure long-term water security and to improve connectivity across the constituency, adding that the focus remains on strengthening basic infrastructure in rural and semi-urban areas.

Furthermore, State Minister Heeralal Nagar also termed the projects as a major boost to development in the Sangod Assembly segment.

"Today, in Sangod assembly constituency, we have received the gift of development projects worth Rs 150 crore for a 100-bed hospital, bridge, and road," Nagar told reporters.

He added that the projects would significantly enhance healthcare access, improve transportation infrastructure, and contribute to overall regional development.

The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by local representatives and residents, who welcomed the announcement of the projects aimed at improving basic amenities and infrastructure in the area.

Meanwhile, Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan landed at the Jaipur International Airport on Saturday for a day-long official visit to the state capital. Upon his arrival, he was accorded a warm welcome by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde and Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, alongside other senior dignitaries.

The Vice-President is visiting the city to participate in multiple events, including an academic convocation and the 23rd Cancer Survivors program.

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan in a post on X said, "Vice-President Shri CP Radhakrishnan was warmly welcomed at Jaipur International Airport upon his arrival by the Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, and other dignitaries."

- ANI
NEW YORK, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were injured in a mass shooting near Indiana University in Bloomington, U.S. state of Indiana, early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Bloomington Police Department Chief Mike Diekhoff said at a news conference that all the wounded were taken to local hospitals and are in stable condition. Official sources previously said nine people were injured in the shooting.

At approximately 12:25 a.m. local time, police responded to reports of gunshots on Kirkwood Avenue where a large crowd gathered, and found multiple individuals wounded.

Diekhoff said officers also found shell casings at the scene and believed both suspects to be male.

Investigators have determined by reviewing footage that a fight broke out between two women, during which several people drew handguns and two people fired weapons.

Police have not yet taken a suspect into custody following the shooting. The investigation is underway.

Indiana University said in a statement that no shots were fired on the campus and no students of the university were involved in the incident. 
Post-operation enhancements include 50 new mission-ready units and over 5 lakh new weapons

The Indian Army issued a strong message ahead of the Operation Sindoor anniversary, highlighting precision strikes that destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. The Army shared posts on X emphasizing "Outcomes that Endure" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" preparedness with new units and weapons. This follows the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, where 26 tourists were killed, leading to Operation Mahadev that neutralised the perpetrators. The Army warned that any "misdeeds against the nation will be met by a response," reaffirming India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.

Indian Army warns of decisive response to terror ahead of Operation Sindoor anniversary, highlighting destruction of nine camps and post-operation readiness.

New Delhi, April 26 Days ahead of the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army on Sunday shared a social media post highlighting the precision strikes that destroyed nine terror camps linked to outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"Precision driven. Terror Targeting. Outcomes that Endure," the Army said in a post on X.

The post was accompanied by an image captioned "9 terror camps destroyed" and "India does not forget", depicting a command centre during the strikes carried out as part of Operation Sindoor.

Earlier on Friday, the Army had shared another post underlining 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' preparedness, signalling continued readiness and deterrence following the operation.

"A new normal. A new posture. Recalibrated. Reinforced. Ready. Atmanirbhar Bharat Stands Prepared," the post read.

The visual highlighted post-operation enhancements, including 50 new mission-ready units, four additional agile formations, more than five lakh latest weapons, over two lakh new equipment items, and eight anti-terror operational frameworks.

On April 22, as India marked one year since the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists after identifying their religion, the Army reiterated its commitment to respond firmly to acts of terror.

The Indian Army took to social media and warned that any misdeeds against the nation will be met by a response.

In a post on X, the Army said, "For acts against India, the response is assured. Justice will be served. Always."

It also shared a photo showcasing Operation Mahadev, with the tagline "It was only a matter of time" in red colour. This refers to the intense manhunt and neutralisation of the terrorists involved in the attack.

Operation Mahadev was launched immediately after the April 22 attack. It involved extensive searches in difficult Himalayan terrain near Dachigam/Mahadev Ridge, culminating in the elimination of the three main perpetrators.

The Indian armed forces scanned over 300 sq kilometres of treacherous terrain for 93 days and eventually neutralised the terrorists.

A day ahead of the Pahalgam anniversary, the Indian Army reiterated its firm commitment to justice and issued a strong warning that any breach of the "boundaries of humanity" would invite a decisive response.

In a strongly-worded post on its X handle, the Indian Army said, "When boundaries of humanity are crossed, the response is decisive. Justice is served. India stands united."

The post was accompanied by a visual message stating "Some boundaries should never be crossed", featuring a map of India marked with red 'sindoor' powder, symbolising the Army's decisive action against terrorists under 'Operation Sindoor'.

The image also carried the message "India does not forget", underlining the country's resolve and unity.

The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22, 2025, when 26 people were killed in a brutal massacre targeting tourists. The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The attackers singled out victims after asking about their religion, forcing them to recite the Islamic 'kalima' to identify non-Muslims. Among those killed were 25 tourists and one local pony ride operator who tried to save the tourists.

Several victims were newly married, and many were shot at close range in front of their families.

In response to the attack, Indian armed forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 6 and 7, carrying out what officials described as a focused, measured and non-escalatory military action targeting high-value terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

'Operation Sindoor' was a significant demonstration of India's military and strategic capability, combining both military and non-military measures.

The operation successfully neutralised terrorist threats, deterred further aggression and reinforced India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism while maintaining strategic restraint.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the National Archives of India's new portal, 'Abhilekh Patal', in his Mann Ki Baat address. The portal features over 200 million digitised documents, including 7th-century Gilgit manuscripts and letters of Rani Lakshmibai. Modi urged citizens to visit the site for an immersive experience of India's history. He also paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore ahead of his birth anniversary and remembered the 1857 War of Independence.

PM Modi urges citizens to explore 'Abhilekh Patal', the National Archives' portal with over 200 million digitised documents, including 7th-century Gilgit manuscripts.

New Delhi, April 26 Seventh century Gilgit manuscripts written on Bhoj Patra, an eighth-century text, 'Siribhoovalay' and some important letters related to Rani Lakshmibai were among the various ancient texts present in the database of the National Archives of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while urging people to visit the 'Abhilekh Patal' website to get what he described as a "wonderful experience" of the country's history.

In his monthly Mann ki Baat program, PM Modi reflected on the unique database shared by the National Archives of India on the special portal, which comprises over 200 million digitised documents related to India's patriots, along with ancient manuscripts and texts.

"Just a few days ago, the National Archives of India shared a unique database on a special portal. This organisation has digitised and made public over 200 million invaluable documents. Some of these are very interesting, 7th-century Gilgit manuscripts written on birch bark. Here, you will also find an interesting 8th-century text, Shri Bhuvalaya. This text, based on numbers, is in the form of a grid. You can also view some important letters related to Rani Lakshmibai. These reveal some of the decisions she made in 1857, which reflect her bravery," he said.

"For those who are great admirers of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, there are many documents related to Netaji's life, the Azad Hind Fauj, and his speeches. You will also find many documents related to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. These include important information related to the founding of BHU and the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Many unique documents related to our Constituent Assembly are also available here. I urge you all to visit www.abhilekh-patal.in . It will give you a wonderful experience of our history," he added.

Abhilekh is a Sanskrit term used in India for records since ancient times and Patal is a Sanskrit word meaning a board, platform, or a surface. A combination of both these words has been adopted as an acronym for Portal for Access to Archives and Learning.

Meanwhile in his Mann ki Baat address today, the Prime Minister also emphasised the contributions by Rabindranath Tagore ahead of his birth anniversary and Pochchishe Boishakh on May 9. Reminiscing about his visits to Shantiniketan, PM Modi paid homage to Tagore.

"My dear countrymen, this month, many parts of the country celebrated numerous festivals, including the New Year. A few days later, on May 9th, on the occasion of Pochchishe Boishakh, we will celebrate Gurudev Tagore's birth anniversary. Gurudev was a multifaceted personality. He was not only a great writer and thinker, but also shaped many renowned institutions. Gurudev Tagore advocated for industries that provided sustainable employment and fostered the welfare of villages. The influence of his Rabindra Sangeet continues worldwide. My visits to Shantiniketan were unforgettable. This is the institution he nurtured and nurtured with complete dedication. Once again, my humble tribute to him," he stated.

Further noting the momentous occasions in the month of May, the PM paid tribute to all patriots as the anniversary of the First War of Independence of 1857 approaches.

"The month of May also reminds us of the First War of Independence of 1857. I salute all the brave sons of Mother India who awakened the spirit of patriotism among the people," he said.

- ANI
Peace between the United States and Iran remains achievable despite ongoing tensions, as both sides signal willingness for negotiation. Iran adopts a calibrated strategy using time and controlled escalation as leverage tools. The US seeks to weaken Iran's bargaining position through sustained military and economic pressure. Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the conflict, giving Iran disproportionate influence over global energy flows.

Analysis reveals peace between US and Iran remains achievable as both sides signal negotiation willingness amid military and economic pressure.

New Delhi, April 26 Peace between the United States and Iran remains achievable despite ongoing tensions, as both sides continue to signal willingness for negotiation even amid military and economic pressure, according to an analysis.

The article, by Collins Chong Yew Keat and published by Eurasia Review, argues that evolving battlefield realities and diplomatic manoeuvres are gradually pushing both Washington and Tehran toward a negotiated settlement rather than prolonged conflict.

It highlights that Iran has adopted a calibrated strategy in negotiations, using time and controlled escalation as tools to retain leverage. It notes that Tehran has shown limited restraint by proposing controlled maritime access through parts of the Strait of Hormuz, signalling flexibility without conceding strategic advantage.

At the same time, the United States is seeking to weaken Iran's bargaining position through sustained military and economic pressure, including targeting its deterrence capabilities and tightening control over maritime routes. This dual dynamic - pressure from Washington and tactical restraint from Tehran - is shaping conditions conducive to eventual diplomacy.

The report underscores that Iran's traditional negotiation strength lies in its ability to delay, complicate, and extract concessions over time. However, current conditions - including economic strain, military setbacks and challenges to its control over strategic assets like the Strait of Hormuz - are eroding that leverage and pushing it toward compromise.

Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the conflict, as it gives Iran disproportionate influence over global energy flows despite its relatively weaker conventional military strength. Even the perception that Iran can disrupt shipping has provided it with significant bargaining power in negotiations.

According to the article, as Iran's room for manoeuvre narrows and its strategic assets come under pressure, its diplomatic posture is shifting from one of ambiguity to one driven by necessity. This transition increases the likelihood of serious engagement in peace talks, particularly if both sides perceive diminishing returns from continued escalation.

Recent global developments also indicate that diplomacy remains on the table. Reports suggest that both sides have kept channels open for negotiations, even as disagreements over sanctions, maritime access, and nuclear commitments persist.

According to the analysis, a sustainable peace will depend on balancing face-saving measures, strategic concessions and mutual recognition of limits. Neither side is likely to achieve total victory, making a negotiated settlement the most viable path forward.

The article emphasises that despite the volatility of the current situation, structural pressures on both Tehran and Washington make diplomacy not only possible but increasingly necessary.

It notes that while risks of escalation remain, the convergence of strategic constraints, economic pressures, and diplomatic signalling keeps the window for peace open - provided both sides are willing to compromise.

- IANS
Union Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Todd McClay toured the Taj Mahal. Goyal praised Agra admin and security, ahead of the India-New Zealand FTA signing on April 27.

Agra, April 26 Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on Sunday spent the morning touring the historic Taj Mahal along with their families. The minister, while talking to the reporter, thanked the administration, security and the tour guides who were present at the Taj Mahal.

Talking to the reporters, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "The Minister and his wife visited India, and they wanted to visit the Taj Mahal. I am really happy that they visited it today. Their response was beautiful. They loved Taj Mahal, and I would like to congratulate the administration here and all the security personnel here. I also thank our tour guides..."



Meanwhile, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on Sunday visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with their spouses, Seema Goyal and Nadine McClay. The minister's visit to the monument comes a day before both countries are set to sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 27.



Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India and New Zealand are set to begin a "new chapter" in their economic relations with the upcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signing, calling it a key milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.



Goyal welcomed New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, to India, saying the visit marks a "defining moment" in the partnership between the two countries, as the trading partners are set to enhance their relationship with the FTA.



In a post on X on Friday, Goyal wrote, "Delighted to welcome Mr Todd McClay, Minister for Trade & Investment, New Zealand, to India, as we begin a new chapter in India-New Zealand economic ties."



India and New Zealand had announced the start of FTA negotiations in March 2025, and after multiple rounds of discussions, the agreement was concluded in December 2025, marking one of India's fastest-concluded FTAs.



According to the Indian government statement, the concluded agreement will provide unprecedented duty-free access for Indian exports to New Zealand while safeguarding sensitive sectors. It is also expected to strengthen economic resilience and promote inclusive growth aligned with India's national priorities.





- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Arambagh, Hooghly, slamming the TMC for 15 years of oppression. He said the high voter turnout in Phase I has "ruined the sleep" of the TMC, comparing the public's anger to the power of Maa Durga. Modi promised Rs 36,000 annually for women, 33% reservation in government jobs, and a crackdown on goons and rapists after the BJP comes to power. The first phase recorded a 91.78% turnout, with the second phase on April 29 and counting on May 4.

PM Modi lambasts TMC in West Bengal, says high voter turnout ruined their sleep. Promises Rs 36,000 for women, 33% job quota, and crackdown on goons.

Hooghly, April 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the "heavy turnout" in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections has ruined the "sleep" of TMC, claiming that people are expressing their anger after 15 years of "oppression".

"For 15 years, TMC intimidated the people of Bengal. But these people forgot one thing. When oppression reaches its limit, the public takes the form of Mother Durga and does away with injustice. Today, the surging crowds at every booth in Bengal are saying, 'Fear out, trust in'," the PM said while addressing an election rally in Arambagh.

He expressed confidence that the voter turnout will be record-breaking, adding, "My brothers and sisters of Bengal have demonstrated this on April 23."

In a pointed remark, the PM added, "Those who couldn't gauge the mood of the people are very surprised hearing about such a heavy turnout, and for some, it has completely ruined their sleep. Even the TMC people themselves are surprised and troubled. They hadn't even imagined that such a large number of people would come out to vote."

Earlier, while addressing a rally in North 24 Parganas, PM Modi delivered a blistering attack against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of "betraying" women in the state while promising to "hunt down goons and rapists" after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power.

PM Modi labelled the current government's tenure as "Jungle Raj", and outlined initiative promises aimed at women's empowerment.

"The women of Bengal are the primary victims of the TMC's 'Jungle Raj' (lawlessness). They have been subjected to the greatest betrayal. Atrocities have been committed against our sisters in Sandeshkhali. The women were subjected to verbal abuse. Under the TMC's 'Jungle Raj' (lawlessness), young women are going missing. After May 4, the BJP government will hunt down every single goon and rapist to hold them accountable. The BJP provides both security and opportunities to women," he said.

The Prime Minister promised that a BJP-led government in West Bengal would deposit Rs 36,000 annually into the accounts of women. Furthermore, he announced a landmark 33% reservation for women in government jobs, promising that "the double benefit of the BJP's double-engine government will be doubled for the women of Bengal".

"The Bengal BJP government will deposit Rs 36,000 into the accounts of women every year. The Bengal BJP has also made a big announcement about the salaries of ASHA workers and other women's health workers. Our government will give mothers, sisters, and daughters free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh. There will be an 80% discount at public health centres. For breast cancer and cervical cancer, tests and vaccines will be provided for free. During pregnancy, there will be an assistance of Rs 21,000, and for graduation, an assistance of Rs 50,000 will be given to daughters, provided by the BJP government," he further said.

Furthermore, he promised to aid the employment and self-employment of women, stating that 75 lakh women will be assisted so that they are poised to earn more than Rs 1 lakh every year. "For opening their businesses, women will get a loan of Rs 20 lakh from the bank. The bank needs a guarantee. This guarantee will not be required from you, sisters. This guarantee will be given to you by your brother, Modi," the PM said.

Polling for Phase I of the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.78 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies.

The polling for the second phase will begin on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
Legendary photographer Raghu Rai passed away at 83 on April 26, 2026. Political leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge and Manish Sisodia paid heartfelt tributes. Rai was known for capturing India's soul through his lens and documenting historic events like the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was a Padma Shri awardee and a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Raghu Rai passes away at 83. Mallikarjun Kharge, Manish Sisodia, and others pay tribute to the Padma Shri awardee who captured India's soul through his lens.

New Delhi, April 26 Tributes poured in on Sunday from political leaders and public figures across India following the demise of legendary photographer Raghu Rai, who passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia, and Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party leader Waheed ur Rehman Para offered their condolences, remembering Rai as a towering figure in photojournalism who captured the "soul of India" through his lens.

Kharge, in a post on X, wrote, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Raghu Rai, one of India's foremost photographers and a towering photojournalist for over five decades. A Padma Shri awardee, his powerful coverage of the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with several photographs of eminent personalities like Smt. Indira Gandhi, remains etched in our collective memory. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and students."

Manish Sisodia also paid tribute, stating, "The news of the passing of the great photo-journalist Raghu Rai, who captured the soul of India in his photographs, is extremely heartbreaking. In such an era, when even our own often avert their gaze, Raghu Rai always insisted on looking closer and more intently. Be it power or suffering, ordinary people or history, without hesitation, without compromise. From the Bangladesh War to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, he showed the courage to bring every truth before the world. Today, that gaze is no longer among us... but his photographs are, his perspective is, which will always bring us closer to the truth. Humble homage."

Waheed ur Rehman Para expressed grief, writing, "Saddened to hear of the passing of Raghu Rai Ji at 83. His lens captured the soul of India and preserved moments that will live on forever. A true legend of photography. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers, his daughter @avanirai & the closed ones!"

The news of Rai's demise was confirmed through a tribute post on his official Instagram account, featuring a black-and-white portrait that reflected the aesthetic he mastered over decades. Celebrated for capturing the "extraordinary in the ordinary," Rai leaves behind an unparalleled archive documenting India's social, political, and cultural evolution.

Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai rose to global prominence as a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join Magnum Photos in 1977, an achievement that cemented his place among the world's elite photographers.

His work forms a visual chronicle of modern India. From the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, Rai documented both historic milestones and everyday life.

His images of Indian streets and the banks of the Ganges remain iconic representations of the country's spirit.

He was awarded Padma Shri in 1972 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for his decades of service to photography.

Rai's family announced that his cremation will take place on April 26, 2026, at 4 PM at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground. He is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani, and Purvai.

Tributes also poured in from the artistic community. Photographer Atul Kasbekar described Rai as "quite simply, the greatest to ever hold a camera from our country," adding, "End of an era. Rest in peace, legend."

Actress Dia Mirza and filmmaker Swanand Kirkire were among other public figures who expressed condolences. One tribute read, "History of India captured by one of the finest people we can ever think of... his work will be witnessed for generations."

Raghu Rai's legacy redefined photojournalism in India, elevating it into a powerful art form.

- ANI
Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has arrived in North Korea to attend the opening of a memorial museum honoring Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The visit is on the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. North Korea deployed around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia after a strategic partnership treaty in June 2024. The deepening ties also include law enforcement cooperation between the two nations.

Russia's Vyacheslav Volodin arrives in North Korea to open a museum honoring Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, deepening bilateral ties.

Pyongyang, April 25 Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, visited North Korea to attend the opening ceremony of a memorial museum honouring soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine, a Russian report said Saturday.

Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, "has arrived in the DPRK on a working visit" to "take part in the opening ceremony of a memorial complex and museum ... honouring the courage of Korean servicemen who took part in the liberation of the Kursk region," Tass said, citing the Duma press service.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Volodin will attend the opening ceremony Sunday "on the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin" and will also meet with colleagues from the North Korean parliament, Tass said.

Jo Yong-won, chairman of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, received Volodin upon his arrival in North Korea, it added.

North Korea is set to open the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang, honouring the North's fallen soldiers who were killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

North Korea deployed around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in the war after leader Kim Jong-un and Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June 2024.

On April 26 last year, Russia declared it had recaptured the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, with North Korean troops reportedly playing a role in the operation.

On Wednesday, North Korea's public security minister Pang Tu-sop and Russia's interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev held talks on boosting exchanges and cooperation on law enforcement, amid deepening bilateral ties between the two nations, said the North's state media.

Kolkoltsev also invited Pang to visit Moscow and, after the meeting, observed a shooting training session by agents of the North Korean ministry, according to Irina Volk, spokesperson for the Russian ministry.

- IANS
The US Navy intercepted the sanctioned merchant vessel M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea, forcing it to retreat toward Iran as part of an expanded blockade. The guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney led the operation, with CENTCOM confirming the vessel is complying under escort. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the blockade now extends from the Gulf of Oman to other waters, with 37 vessels redirected since its start. The action tightens the maritime noose on Iran's economy while diplomatic efforts continue through mediators in Pakistan and Oman.

US Navy forces sanctioned tanker Sevan to retreat toward Iran in the Arabian Sea. 37 vessels redirected since blockade began. CENTCOM escalates maritime pressure.

Washington DC, April 26 In the ongoing naval blockade, the US Navy intercepted the merchant vessel M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea on Saturday. The ship, identified as part of Iran's "shadow fleet," was forced to abandon its course and is currently being escorted back to Iranian waters.

The operation, led by the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), marks a significant escalation in US Central Command's (CENTCOM) efforts to choke off Tehran's illicit energy exports.

According to the United States Central Command, the vessel M/V Sevan was among 19 "shadow fleet" ships sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury for activities related to transporting Iranian energy products, including oil, gas, propane, and butane, to foreign markets.

CENTCOM in a post on X stated, "Earlier today, Sevan was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter from guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and the merchant vessel is currently complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort."

CENTCOM added that US forces continue to enforce sanctions and implement a blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports. "U.S. forces continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports. 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade," the statement said.

Earlier on Saturday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States has expanded its naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping. He stated that the blockade extends from the Gulf of Oman to other waters and is being enforced by the US Navy.

Hegseth said the United States is pursuing both diplomatic and military approaches regarding Iran. "Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal," he said, adding that ships identified under US criteria, including those linked to Iranian ports, have been turned around.

He also said that 34 non-Iranian vessels have been allowed to transit after screening. According to Hegseth, enforcement actions have also taken place in the Indo-Pacific region, where two vessels linked to Iran were seized after leaving Iranian ports before the blockade began.

Hegseth said that an additional aircraft carrier will join the naval deployment in the coming days. He stated that the United States will continue to enforce measures related to Iranian shipping.

The redirection of the Sevan comes amidst a broader regional crisis. While President Donald Trump recently signalled that he is "cost-conscious" regarding diplomatic travel, his administration has shown no hesitation in utilising military assets to maintain the blockade.

With 37 ships already turned back and the Treasury adding more names to the "shadow fleet" list daily, the maritime noose around Iran's economy appears to be tightening, even as mediators in Pakistan and Oman scramble to find a diplomatic off-ramp.

- ANI
A lone gunman was quickly stopped at first contact by the US Secret Service during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington DC. Deputy Director Matthew Quinn confirmed the shooter underestimated the agency's protective capabilities and was immediately neutralized. President Donald Trump and the First Lady were safely evacuated, with Trump praising the rapid response of law enforcement. The suspect, believed to have acted alone, was taken to a hospital, and the event is scheduled to be rescheduled.

A lone gunman was stopped at first contact at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Secret Service agents acted swiftly, ensuring President Trump's safety.

Washington DC, April 26 Deputy Director Matthew Quinn of the US Secret Service Office of Communications said that the 'coward' shooter was quickly stopped at 'first contact' following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Quinn said that a myriad of countermeasures lie ahead, as he expressed confidence in the strength of the Secret Service's 'layered security posture'.

"Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact. The strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead. Grateful for the brave men and women of the Secret Service and our valued Law Enforcement partners," the statement on X read.

Mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser and Federal Partners during a media avail said that the gunman was acting alone.

She said, "A sole gunman rushed a Secret Service checkpoint in a lobby at the hotel. Secret Service agents stopped the suspect. An agent was injured and transported to a local hospital, where the agent is receiving care. The suspect is also transported to a local hospital where he is being evaluated. The President returned safely to the White House. We are so very thankful to members of law enforcement who did their jobs tonight and made sure that all guests were safe. We have no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved."

The DC Police Department said in an update that the shooter is believed to have acted alone.

"Updates on shooting at Washington Hilton: One suspect is in custody and is believed to have acted alone. Two firearms and multiple knives have been recovered. A Secret Service Uniformed Division officer was injured and transported with non-life threatening injuries."

The police department also advised people to avoid the the area around the Washington Hilton for this investigation.

US President Donald Trump, while addressing the press briefing room after the shooting incident said that the security measures were in place.

"But we were first lady and I were taken very well care of very quickly, very quickly rushed off the stage. Vice President J.D. Vance, who's here, was likewise beautifully done. I was he was just saying how quickly everybody acted, law enforcement, Secret Service in particular in this case. But law enforcement Marco had the same thing. Pete was there. Pete doesn't want any help. He didn't want anybody to help. He doesn't want anybody to help him, but he did get some didn't you? And I think you also said that it was very impressive. So with that, I'd like to tell you it's already underway. The man has been captured. They've they going to his apartment," he said.

"I guess he lives in California and he's a sick person, very sick person. And we don't want things like this to happen. I think it's very important that I say though, and I want to thank the first lady for that was a rather traumatic experience for her. There was a lot of action taking place up there very quickly. But again, the response time was really incredible. And we're going to reschedule, we're going to do it again. We're not going to let anybody take over our society," Trump said. Saying that he wanted to stay at the dinner despite the shooting, the US President added, "We're not going to cancel things out because we can't do that. We wanted to stay tonight. I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay. But they it was protocol. They said, please, sir, because they didn't know a lot of there was a lot of action going on and they didn't know could there be probably a lone shooter, but we'll find out we'll find out very quickly. They have it very well under control."

- ANI
Siliguri artist Sangeeta Agarwal received a personal appreciation letter from PM Modi for a sketch she gifted during his election rally. Bristi Mondal from Jangipur also received a similar letter after presenting a portrait. Both artists expressed immense joy and gratitude for the Prime Minister's recognition. PM Modi praised their artistic dedication and the emotional bond with the people.

Siliguri artist Sangeeta Agarwal and Bristi Mondal receive appreciation letters from PM Modi for hand-drawn sketches presented during election rallies.

Siliguri, April 27 Sangeeta Agarwal, a young girl from Siliguri, West Bengal, expressed joy after receiving a letter of appreciation from the Prime Minister's Office for a portrait she gifted to PM Narendra Modi.

Agarwal had presented the sketch to the Prime Minister during his assembly election rally on April 12th, and was later surprised by a personal phone call and written recognition for her work.

Speaking to ANI, she said, "On April 12th, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to hold a rally for the assembly elections. I had sketched Modiji. When he asked the SPG to take it, I was very happy. And yesterday, I got a call from the Prime Minister's office and an appreciation letter. I am so happy that I cannot even express it..."

Meanwhile, Bristi Mondal, a young girl from Jangipur village in Murshidabad, on Sunday expressed happiness after receiving a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to a sketch she presented during a public programme in West Bengal's Jangipur area, held as part of the election campaign.

Bristi Mondal said she was elated after receiving the Prime Minister's response."First of all, I would like to say Namaste and lots of love to Modi Ji. When Modi Ji came to Jangipur for the first time, I gave him a portrait. Then, after seeing that portrait, he sent a letter. Seeing that letter, my family and I are very, very happy," she said.

She added that the acknowledgement from the Prime Minister was a memorable moment for her and her family. "Modi Ji is so busy, yet he thought about me and sent a letter. I am very happy. Many, many thanks to Modi Ji," she said.

In a letter dated April 24, addressed to Bristi Mondal, Prime Minister Modi appreciated the artwork presented by her during a public event in West Bengal."It was most heartening to receive a beautifully sketched portrait from you during a public function in West Bengal. I sincerely appreciate the effort and dedication reflected in your work," the Prime Minister wrote.

He further said that such gestures reflect a strong emotional connection with the people."The affection and warmth of people like you have left a deep and lasting impact on me, strengthening my commitment to building a progressive New India and a brighter future for our youth," he added.

- ANI
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will no longer send delegations to talk with Iran.

"If they (the Iranians) want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us," Trump told Fox News.

"If they want, we can talk. But we're not sending people to travel 18 hours to meet," he said.

Trump said that he has great respect for Pakistan, which had been hosting U.S.-Iranian talks in Islamabad, and that Pakistan will stay involved.

He repeated that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. "So if they want, they can call us. But again, they know what has to be in the agreement. Very simple: they cannot have a nuclear weapon. Otherwise, there's no reason to meet," said Trump.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said U.S. pressure and hostile actions are undermining trust and making progress toward renewed talks more difficult, according to a statement from his office early Sunday.

He added that Washington cannot pursue negotiations while increasing pressure on Iran, saying such actions "disrupt the necessary atmosphere" for diplomacy. 
The Russian Embassy in India held a volunteer cleanup day in Delhi, honoring both the Russian Subotnik tradition and India's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Ambassador Denis Alipov led diplomats and staff in sweeping streets around the embassy compound. Volunteers expressed joy in contributing to the cleanliness movement and strengthening India-Russia friendship. The event highlighted cultural exchange through public service and environmental stewardship.

Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov led a Subotnik volunteer cleanup in Delhi, honoring Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Diplomats and staff swept streets together.

Washington DC, April 26 The Russian Embassy in India on Sunday organised in teh national capital a Volunteer Cleanup Day dedicated to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The activity is a tribute to the Russian movement, which is a voluntary public service called Subotnik, according to Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador to India, who also participated in the volunteer cleanup drive this morning around the embassy in Delhi along with Russian diplomats and staff.

"Yes, we came en masse this morning to do some cleaning around the embassy. You know, we have a laudable volunteer movement in Russia generally doing some public work, helping public workers. So-called Subotnik, so we thought it would be great to organize one in Delhi," Alipov told ANI.

The Russian envoy to India further said that the activity is a tribute to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014.

"And it very much correlates with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that India has launched. Partly we dedicate this event today to the movement India also has. And I think that's great and we do some cleaning around the embassy compound, but it looks like NDMC has not left much for us to do. But anyway, it's great to be together with colleagues this morning and do some useful work and make a contribution to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and to our great tradition that we have in Russia," he said.

Alipov was seen dressed in a white T-shirt and red-cap, and handling a long broom to sweep the area around the Embassy.

A volunteer who participated in the clean-up drive said with enthusiasm, "That's right and we are very happy that we make our own contribution to the cleanliness movement and we in this way also feel that we could make the Indian government and the Indian public and the Prime Minister happy."

Another volunteer said that the mission has taken over the country.

"I wish that the whole of Indian society would join this drive and we see that this movement in India, this Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, has taken mass dimensions and has been undertaken all over the country and that's great. This is something that makes a very good example for the whole of the world," she said.

Volunteers who participated in the clean-up activity said it was a way to express support for India.

"We can do a lot of good things. So let's try to show this country, to show our friendship in the best way. So we believe that this type of communication will help our friendship to become closer. So we are looking forward to deepen our cooperation. And this is one of the gestures. So today we would like to support India," she said.

A volunteer, who had arrived in Delhi for the first time, praised its beauty.

"I would like to say that this is the first time for us that we are in this country. I can say that this is a great experience because India is a beautiful country and we like Delhi very much because it is beautiful city. This is very good experience because we are here for the whole world and this country too. So I think that for us, for everyone and for the whole world, this is a very good and big work," she said.

"I think that those who live in India should go because I think that every person in his life, only once, I think we should take part because it is very good experience and very good experience because we see our own work and everything," another volunteer added.

'Subotnik' is a tradition in cleaning, where the whole city population takes part in cleaning up their respective workplaces and areas around their homes.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump released CCTV footage and photos of the shooter after a security breach at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC. The incident involved an armed individual attempting to force entry, who was neutralized by Secret Service personnel, with one officer shot but saved by a bulletproof vest. Trump praised law enforcement's swift response and used the event to advocate for a more secure White House ballroom, citing drone-proof and bulletproof features. The dinner was temporarily paused as security officials assessed the situation, with Trump recommending the show go on pending their decision.

Trump shares CCTV footage of shooter at WH Correspondents' Dinner, praises Secret Service, and calls for enhanced security at White House events.

Washington DC, April 26 US President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a video of CCTV footage showing the entry of the shooter at the venue of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, along with images of the detained suspect.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump also referred to the security breach incident and described the sequence of events, stating that an armed individual attempted to force entry into the premises and was subsequently neutralised by security personnel.

Trump, while addressing the press in the briefing room after the incident, said he had also spoken to the security officer who was shot during the attack.

"A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service... One officer was shot, but saved... the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.

The US President further used the security breach at the Hilton to highlight the need for enhanced security infrastructure and to make the case for the ballroom he is constructing at the White House, suggesting that the structure would provide a more secure location for future events.

"It's not a particularly secure building, and I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House," Trump said during his news conference. "It's actually a larger room, and it's much more secure. It's got drone-proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military is demanding it."

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) praised the swift response of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, stating that the suspect had been apprehended.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump hailed the authorities for their prompt and courageous action, stating that the decision on whether to resume the event would be taken by law enforcement officials.

He said, "Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we "LET THE SHOW GO ON" but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Trump was targeted. In July 2024, Trump was shot during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was immediately escorted off stage by US Secret Service agents and taken away in a motorcade. In videos that went viral on social media, Trump could be seen bleeding from his ear.

In a statement, the US Secret Service said that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue during Trump's campaign rally in Butler on July 13 at 6:15 pm (local time).

ANI Reporter Reena Bhardwaj, who was present at the dinner, described the tense moments that unfolded inside the ballroom and stated that after the POTUS was ushered out, his Cabinet members were subsequently escorted safely from the venue.

She further mentioned that chaos erupted shortly after a loud noise was heard, initially mistaken for the sound of clattering dishes. However, within seconds, panic spread as staff members rushed to find cover, indicating that the situation was serious.

"Just minutes ago, chaos erupted here in the ballroom at the Hilton in Washington. What I witnessed first-hand was a loud sound first. To my mind, it was probably clattering dishes. But within seconds, I saw the servers rushing in with their trays and trying to find a secure place to keep themselves safe. That's when I thought that something was not right. The entire table took cover under the table... When I knew that it was safe now to get up, what I witnessed was security agents on the stage with long guns... The POTUS had been ushered out. One by one, all his cabinet members, including Scott Bessent, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Witkoff, were all ushered out... The program is supposed to resume shortly, that's what has been announced, but we still don't have anything from the association," ANI Reporter said.

Chaos broke out on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, leading to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other senior officials from the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were immediately evacuated from the ballroom by tactical teams and moved to a secure location.

- ANI
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to discuss regional stability and geopolitical developments in West Asia. The meeting focused on security concerns, economic interests, and coordination amid tensions following the Israel-Iran war. Earlier, Doval visited Saudi Arabia on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction for talks with senior leadership on energy, foreign affairs, and security. India continues to advocate for restraint and dialogue-based resolution to protect its strategic and economic interests in the region.

NSA Ajit Doval meets UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional stability, security concerns, and economic ties amid West Asia tensions.

Abu Dhabi, April 26 UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

According to Al Jazeera, during the meeting, both sides discussed regional stability and ongoing geopolitical developments in West Asia. The meeting focused on security concerns, economic interests, and coordination amid evolving tensions in the region following the fallout of the Israel-Iran war.

Earlier on April 20, Doval visited Saudi Arabia as part of India's outreach to the Gulf. The visit, undertaken on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, included meetings with senior Saudi leadership, including ministers handling energy and foreign affairs, as well as security officials.

During an inter-ministerial briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Doval held high-level discussions with the Saudi Energy Minister, Foreign Minister, and his security counterpart.

"On the directions of the Prime Minister, our outreach to countries in the Gulf continues. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia on the 19th of April. During his visit, he held meetings with the Energy Minister and the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, as well as his counterpart. These meetings were helpful to exchange views on regional issues and enhance bilateral ties," Jaiswal said.

The talks were described as a critical exchange of views on regional instability and a step toward cementing bilateral ties. The discussions focused on four "key pillars" essential to the India-Saudi relationship, ensuring stable supply chains despite threats to global trade routes, addressing concerns in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Persian Gulf, enhancing intelligence sharing and coordination and strengthening economic ties.

As regional spillovers affect Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, India has maintained a calibrated diplomatic stance. While the conflict has disrupted shipping corridors and raised humanitarian concerns, New Delhi continues to advocate for restraint from all warring parties, protection of civilians in conflict zones and dialogue-based resolution to prevent further escalation.

With millions of Indian expatriates living in the Gulf and a heavy reliance on the region for energy imports, the MEA highlighted that active contact with stakeholders, including Israel, Palestine, and Iran, is essential to protect India's "strategic and economic interests" during this unprecedented period of geopolitical realignment.

- ANI
A new UAE aid aircraft arrived in Al Arish carrying 100 tonnes of food supplies for Gaza. The shipment includes 3,300 food parcels to support affected families. The aid is part of the Humaid Air Bridge under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3. The UAE continues its sustained humanitarian efforts by air, land, and sea.

UAE delivers 100 tonnes of food supplies to Gaza under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, providing 3,300 food parcels to alleviate humanitarian suffering.

Al Arish, April 26 A new UAE aid aircraft arrived in the Egyptian city of Al Arish carrying 100 tonnes of food supplies, as part of the ongoing "Humaid Air Bridge" operated by the UAE under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to help alleviate their humanitarian suffering amid current conditions.

The shipment includes 3,300 food parcels, contributing to meeting the basic needs of affected families and fostering food security for Palestinians inside the Strip.

The UAE humanitarian aid team in Al Arish received the shipment upon arrival. The cargo was unloaded and transported to the UAE humanitarian logistics centre in Al Arish, in preparation for its entry into Gaza through approved mechanisms, ensuring swift delivery to beneficiaries.

The continued operation of the Humaid Air Bridge reflects the UAE's firm commitment to delivering humanitarian and relief assistance to the Palestinian people, as part of an ongoing response aimed at easing the humanitarian situation and providing essential needs to those affected.

Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 continues its sustained humanitarian efforts since its launch, delivering relief, food, and medical aid by air, land, and sea, embodying the UAE's values of giving and humanitarian solidarity.

- ANI
UAE expresses solidarity with Trump, his family, and US people

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the shooting targeting US President Donald Trump. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the act as a deplorable crime. The UAE expressed solidarity with President Trump, his family, and the American people. The statement reiterated the UAE's unwavering rejection of all forms of violence and extremism.

UAE strongly condemns the shooting targeting US President Donald Trump, denouncing the crime and reaffirming solidarity with the US government and people.

Abu Dhabi, April 26 The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the shooting which targeted US President Donald Trump, and strongly denounced this deplorable crime.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed the UAE's solidarity with US President Donald Trump and his family, as well as with the government and the people of the United States.

The Ministry reiterated the UAE's strong condemnation of such criminal acts and its unwavering rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.

- ANI
US Central Command confirms full implementation of the blockade against Iranian ports, redirecting 37 vessels. President Trump announced the blockade after failed talks in Islamabad, and later canceled a planned envoy trip. Iranian President Pezeshkian warned of consequences for global trade, while hardliners in Iran's leadership contradicted moderates on the Strait of Hormuz status. Trump maintains the blockade indefinitely, stating Iran has no leverage in negotiations.

US military enforces Iran blockade, redirecting 37 vessels. Trump cancels talks with Iran after failed negotiations. Iranian leaders warn of consequences.

Washington, April 26 US military forces continue to enforce "US sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports," US Central Command said on social media.

In a post on X, the US Central Command said that 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade, noting a merchant vessel named Sevan, intercepted in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday by the US forces, is currently "complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort."

US President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the US Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. His decision came after the first round of US-Iranian talks on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a peace deal.

In response to Trump's announcement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that "any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade."

On Saturday, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its pledge to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump announced earlier Saturday that he has canceled the trip of US representatives going to Islamabad this weekend for talks with the Iranian side.

In his short post on Truth Social, Trump did not make any fresh threats against Iran, but said, "We have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call"!!

"Too much time wasted on travelling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership'," he said.

The split in Iran's leadership, between moderates and hardliners, came to the fore last week when Araghchi, considered a moderate, declared on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open, only to have the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reinstate it on Saturday.

After attempts at restarting the stalled negotiations in Islamabad last weekend and earlier this week failed, Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely, but kept the Naval blockade of Iranian ports.

- IANS
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Vijay Parv event organized by Asclepius Wellness Private Limited (AWPL) in Gurugram, praising its direct selling model for fostering self-reliance. He highlighted that the model aligns with PM Modis vision of turning youth into job creators and empowering women economically. CM Dhami also outlined Uttarakhands progress, including a 7.23% GSDP growth, over 20,000 new industries, and a surge in startups from 700 to 1,750. The event celebrated AWPLs associates for their dedication and success in driving positive change.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attends AWPLs Vijay Parv in Gurugram, praising direct selling for self-reliance and highlighting state growth.

Gurugram, April 27 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the grand 'Vijay Parv' event organised by Asclepius Wellness Private Limited in Gurugram on Sunday.

In his address, the Chief Minister said that the program serves to honour the talented and hardworking members of AWPL who have set new benchmarks of success through their dedication and commitment. He noted that the organisation operates on a direct selling model, delivering products directly to consumers. This approach ensures quality products for customers while also providing millions of people with opportunities to become self-reliant.

"It is a matter of pride to be part of this grand and historic programme that strengthens the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. I feel honoured to be among such energetic partners. I am delighted that AWPL's talented and hardworking associates are being recognised today for their dedication and success. The institution's direct-selling model delivers quality products directly to consumers while creating opportunities for self-reliance. Seeing this vast gathering makes it clear that direct selling is truly bringing positive change to millions of lives," said CM Dhami.

Referring to the large gathering present at the event, he remarked that it reflects how the direct selling model has emerged as an effective medium for bringing positive change to the lives of millions. He congratulated AWPL's Managing Director and CEO, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, along with his entire team, for organising the grand event.

The Chief Minister further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, youth are being encouraged to become "job creators" instead of "job seekers," and the direct selling model is a strong example of this vision. He added that this model not only promotes economic empowerment but also helps in personality development and skill enhancement.

Highlighting the participation of youth and women, he said that women, in particular, are strengthening their families economically through such platforms and establishing their own identity in society.

He also mentioned that in 2021, the central government introduced consumer protection guidelines and clear regulations for the direct selling sector, ensuring transparency, reliability, and the protection of consumer interests. These measures have strengthened the rights of direct sellers and provided the sector with a more organised and trustworthy framework.

He observed that the direct selling industry is growing rapidly and playing a significant role in strengthening the country's economy.

Referring to the Prime Minister's vision of "Reform, Perform, and Transform," he said that it has brought wide-ranging changes in areas such as investment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, women's empowerment, and social justice. Today, India is being recognised globally as a land of development, trust, and opportunity.

He highlighted initiatives like "Startup India," "Vocal for Local," "Make in India," "Skill India," and "Digital India," noting that these are accelerating the country's journey toward self-reliance and have made India the world's third-largest startup ecosystem.

Speaking about development in Uttarakhand, he said that investment agreements worth over Rs 3.56 lakh crore were signed during the Global Investors Summit held in 2023, out of which proposals worth more than 1 lakh crore have already been implemented on the ground.

He added that the state's economy is steadily strengthening, with a 7.23% growth in GSDP and an increase of nearly 41% in per capita income. The annual state budget has risen from Rs 60,000 crore to over Rs 1 lakh crore.

The Chief Minister stated that more than 20,000 new industries have been established in the state, and the number of startups has increased from 700 to over 1,750. He also noted significant growth in the number of heliports and helipads, which has enhanced connectivity and disaster management capacity.

He further mentioned that electricity generation in the state has more than tripled. In the tourism sector, the hotel industry has grown by around 25%, while homestays have seen an increase of over 50%, boosting local employment.

He said that Uttarakhand has secured second place in the country in public financial management and has also achieved leading positions in Ease of Doing Business and Startup Rankings. Additionally, the state has ranked second among Himalayan states in the Innovation Index and secured the top position in the NITI Aayog SDG Index.

Highlighting efforts toward women's empowerment, he said that under the "Vocal for Local" and "Local to Global" vision, the "House of Himalayas" brand has been launched to give global recognition to products made by self-help groups.

As a result, nearly 2.75 lakh women in the state have become "Lakhpati Didis," moving forward on the path of empowerment.

He added that AWPL is also playing a significant role in promoting indigenous products while empowering youth and women to become self-reliant.

In conclusion, the Chief Minister urged everyone present to actively contribute to realising the vision of a developed and self-reliant India and to participate in the nation's growth journey.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined the 133rd episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat programme in Dehradun. He described the programme as highly inspiring and praised its role in highlighting motivational stories from various sectors. Dhami emphasized that India has emerged as a major economic power under Modi's leadership, with progress in science, defense, and artificial intelligence. He reiterated the state's commitment to preserving its culture and contributing to the vision of a developed India.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami joins 133rd Mann Ki Baat, praises PM Modi's vision for a self-reliant India and highlights state progress.

Dehradun, April 26 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday listened to the 133rd episode of the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat programme along with a large gathering of residents at Mothrowala, Dehradun. The programme, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continues to connect with millions across the country, the release said.

The Chief Minister described Mann Ki Baat as highly inspiring for citizens. He noted that through this platform, the Prime Minister effectively highlights motivational stories from different sections of society, including innovations, startups, cleanliness drives, self-reliance, environmental conservation, and cultural heritage--encouraging people to move forward and contribute positively.

He further stated that the programme has provided a national platform for the efforts of ordinary citizens, bringing recognition to outstanding work being carried out across the country and fostering an atmosphere of positive change. He emphasised that the programme's continuity makes it a consistent source of inspiration for millions.

Highlighting the importance of hard work and dedication, the Chief Minister said that those who work sincerely are bound to achieve success. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, India's global stature, dignity, and self-confidence have grown significantly. He added that India has emerged as a major economic power and is making steady progress in fields such as science, defence, and artificial intelligence.

The country is also exporting defence equipment to other nations, reflecting the vision of a self-reliant India.

He also mentioned that under the Prime Minister's leadership, the state is progressing steadily. Even remote border areas are now witnessing improved connectivity through roads, railways, and modern infrastructure. Uttarakhand, he said, will play a vital role in achieving the vision of a developed India. He recalled the Prime Minister's special affection for the state and his statement from the land of Kedarnath, where he described the third decade of the 21st century as the "decade of Uttarakhand", a vision the state government is actively working to realise.

The Chief Minister reiterated the state government's commitment to preserving Uttarakhand's culture, faith, and spiritual heritage. He said the government is dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of Devbhoomi.

CM Dhami also highlighted that several strict laws, such as anti-riot measures, anti-conversion laws, and anti-cheating laws, have been implemented in the state, setting examples for others. He added that states with a "double-engine government" are witnessing development at an accelerated pace.

- ANI
The Uttarakhand government has appointed PCS officer Sohan Singh as the Chief Executive Officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. Health screenings have been initiated for pilgrims at the Rishikesh transit camp ahead of the Char Dham Yatra. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized improved accessibility and safety on pilgrimage routes. The annual Char Dham Yatra has formally begun with traditional rituals across multiple shrines.

Uttarakhand appoints PCS officer Sohan Singh as CEO of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. Health screenings for Char Dham Yatra pilgrims also announced.

Dehradun, April 26 The Uttarakhand government has appointed PCS officer Sohan Singh as the Chief Executive Officer of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.

Sohan Singh was serving as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Chamoli district. The step comes in view of the Char Dham Yatra.

Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee plays a crucial role in the smooth conduct of the Char Dham Yatra. The committee overlooks the administration of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Health Department has initiated comprehensive health screenings for pilgrims at the Rishikesh transit camp, the gateway for the annual Char Dham Yatra. Special arrangements have been made for the convenience and safety of pilgrims.

Comprehensive health check-ups are being conducted, including full-body examinations and blood pressure and sugar tests. Pilgrims are also being informed about preventive measures for various health conditions, along with necessary screenings.

On Monday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the widening and strengthening of routes have made the Char Dham Yatra more accessible, safe, and convenient.

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Dhami addressed devotees at the Vanaprastha Ashram in Yamkeshwar during the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha, stating that the Shrimad Bhagwat is the living embodiment of Lord Krishna, guiding humanity toward the path of righteousness, knowledge, and devotion and providing a positive direction to life.

He added that various ambitious and welfare-oriented projects are being implemented to boost religious and cultural tourism in the state. He mentioned key development works such as the construction of ghats along the Yamuna River in the Kalsi-Haripur region; the Sharda Corridor; the Haridwar-Rishikesh Corridor, and the establishment of a Centre for Hindu Studies at Doon University, noting that these initiatives are strengthening both the state's economy and its cultural identity.

Earlier in April, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the inauguration ceremony of the Char Dham Yatra 2026, organised by the Joint Rotation Yatra Arrangement Committee in Rishikesh.

On the occasion, he flagged off buses carrying pilgrims to the Char Dham shrines and also inspected a free medical camp set up for devotees.

Welcoming pilgrims from across the country to Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister said that the Char Dham Yatra is a path that connects faith, devotion, and the soul. He noted that the journey gives strength to overcome every challenge. He reiterated the government's commitment to making the yatra smooth, safe, well-organised, and divine, adding that it provides spiritual peace and energy to millions of devotees.

The Char Dham Yatra, one of the most significant religious pilgrimages in India, formally began on Sunday with rituals across multiple shrines. The annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple commenced with the ceremonial departure of the Panchmukhi palanquin of Lord Kedarnath from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple.

- ANI
IIM Kashipur held its 13th Annual Convocation Ceremony, awarding degrees to 546 students across five programmes. The graduating cohort featured strong diversity with women comprising 39.19% of graduates, a significant increase from last year. Justice Guhanathan Narendar served as Chief Guest, urging graduates to embrace risk and lead with integrity. The institute awarded 10 medals for academic excellence and enrolled over 24 specially abled students.

IIM Kashipur holds 13th convocation with 546 graduates. Women constitute 39% of cohort, with 73% in MBA Analytics. Justice Narendar and Kamal Poddar address students.

Kashipur, April 26 The Indian Institute of Management Kashipur, one of India's premier management institutions, hosted its 13th Annual Convocation Ceremony.

The ceremony marked a key milestone with one of IIM Kashipur's most diverse graduating cohorts and a strong representation of women across programmes on Saturday, the release said.

This year, 546 students were awarded degrees across five programmes at IIM Kashipur. The programme-wise distribution of the graduating class is as follows: 280 students from the MBA programme, 160 from the MBA (Analytics) programme, 34 from the Executive MBA (E-MBA), 58 from the Executive MBA in Analytics (EMBAA), and 14 from the Doctoral (PhD) programme.

The convocation was presided over by Justice Guhanathan Narendar, Former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, who served as the Chief Guest and conferred degrees upon the graduating cohort. He was joined by Kamal Poddar, Managing Director, Choice International Limited, as the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by Sandeep Singh, Interim Chairperson, Board of Governors; Prof. Neeraj Dwivedi, Director, IIM Kashipur, along with faculty members and staff.

The release stated that during the convocation address, Justice Narendar said, "You have earned your place through perseverance, discipline and determination, with each degree reflecting resilience and effort. Do not be afraid of taking risks early in your career, for growth rarely happens within comfort, and true success lies in what you contribute. The difference between power and impact lies in values ask yourself whether your decisions will uplift others, whether you will lead with integrity, and whether you will stand firm in difficult moments. In life, you will often face shades of grey, and it is your intellect and morals that must guide you to choose what is right."

Addressing the gathering with pride and warmth, Kamal Poddar, Managing Director, Choice International Limited, congratulated the graduating cohort and highlighted that the real journey begins beyond campus, where self-motivation and adaptability are key. Emphasising India's growth potential, he encouraged students to seize opportunities and lead with purpose, underscoring "IIM" Integrity, Innovation, and Motivation as the foundation for lasting success.

The 13th Convocation reflected IIM Kashipur's strong commitment to diversity. In the MBA (Analytics) programme, women account for over 73% of the graduating class, signalling a notable rise in women's participation in analytics and research. Overall, women constitute 39.19% of the graduating cohort, an encouraging increase from 33% last year, highlighting steady progress in gender representation across management education.

In recognition of exceptional academic and all-round achievement, 10 medals were awarded across programmes. An additional 22 students, 14 from the MBA and 8 from the MBA (Analytics) programme, were honoured under the Director's Merit List. The Institute also highlighted its commitment to accessibility, with over 24 specially abled students (PwD) enrolled across the graduating cohort.

Addressing the graduating class, Sandeep Singh said, "As you step beyond these walls, you enter a world defined by both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. Be leaders who think deeply, act responsibly, and remain anchored in integrity. Measure your success not only by personal achievements but also by the impact you create in the lives of others."

Echoing this, Prof Neeraj Dwivedi highlighted the Institute's ongoing efforts and aspirations, emphasising its commitment to nurturing responsible, future-ready leaders through a holistic and industry-relevant education. He said, "Convocation is always a special occasion in the life of an academic institution. For our students, it marks the successful completion of years of hard work, discipline, and learning. For the Institute, it is a moment of pride, because we present to society a new group of graduates who are ready to contribute with competence, confidence, and character. At IIM Kashipur, we remain committed to academic excellence, integrity, innovation, inclusion, and societal relevance. Our task is not merely to prepare skilled professionals, but to nurture thoughtful, ethical, and future-ready leaders."

For the graduating batch of 2024-26, the Institute's flagship Experiential Learning (EL) Programme facilitated 73 live projects across 80+ organisations, engaging over 300 students in initiatives spanning sustainability, rural development, and MSME growth across Uttarakhand.

On the global front, IIM Kashipur maintains active academic partnerships with leading institutions across different countries, including Denmark, France, Greece, Israel, Peru, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, enabling student exchange and collaborative research. With an AACSB membership and a consistent presence in the Top 25 of the NIRF Rankings among Indian management institutions, IIM Kashipur continues to strengthen its standing as one of India's most forward-looking and respected B-schools.

- ANI
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, expressing relief that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were safe. The shooting triggered a swift Secret Service response, with suspect Cole Tomas Allen taken into custody. Global leaders poured in messages of support and condemnation. The incident caused panic but left the President and primary attendees unharmed.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemns the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, expressing relief that President Trump and Melania Trump are safe.

Berlin, April 26 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday condemned the "assassination attempt" after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

In a post on X, he expressed relief that those present at the dinner were safe, including US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

He said, "Violence has no place in a democracy. We decide by majorities, not with weapons. I condemn the assassination attempt in Washington and am glad that President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and all those present are safe."

Global support and messages condemning the shooting incident in Washington DC poured in from world leaders on Sunday.

According to officials, the incident triggered a swift response by the US Secret Service, with one suspect later taken into custody.

Authorities confirmed that the President and all primary attendees were unharmed, though a security officer was injured during the response.

The shooting occurred during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton, causing panic among guests and prompting an immediate evacuation of Trump, the Vice President, and senior officials.

The event, traditionally a gathering of media and political figures, was abruptly disrupted as security forces secured the area.

The incident unfolded when a 31-year-old man allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the entrance of the event, with suspected gunshots heard, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and Secret Service members ushering Trump out of the venue to safety.

According to CNN, the 31-year-old man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, emerged as the prime suspect behind the chaos that forced Trump to be swiftly evacuated, along with Vance and other members of his cabinet.

- ANI
President Donald Trump used a post-incident address to call for national unity after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. He described the gathering as a rare moment of cohesion among Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Trump urged Americans to resolve differences peacefully and warned against allowing violence to shape national discourse. He plans to reschedule the dinner within 30 days, emphasizing resilience and the continuation of democratic processes.

President Trump calls for national unity after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' dinner, urging Americans to resolve differences peacefully.

Washington, April 26 President Donald Trump used his post-incident remarks after the White House Correspondents' Association dinner shooting to call for national unity, saying Americans must "resolve our differences" despite rising political tensions and violence.

Addressing reporters at the White House alongside senior law enforcement officials, Trump said the incident briefly brought together a deeply divided political audience.

"We need to resolve our differences, Republicans, Democrats and independents," he said, adding that the gathering -- attended by political leaders and journalists -- showed a rare moment of cohesion.

"I saw a room that was just totally unified... it was, in one way, very beautiful," Trump said, describing the reaction inside the venue as the situation unfolded.

The President said the dinner, traditionally a celebration of press freedom and bipartisan engagement, took on a different meaning in the wake of the shooting.

"This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press, and in a certain way, it did," he said.

Trump urged Americans to recommit to peaceful political engagement, warning against allowing violence to shape national discourse. "We have to resolve our differences peacefully," he said.

He said the response inside the ballroom -- where guests took cover before being evacuated -- reflected a broader sense of shared purpose. "There was a tremendous amount of love and coming together," he said.

The President also framed the incident as part of a larger trend of political violence, both in the United States and globally, but insisted that such threats should not disrupt democratic processes or public life.

"We're not going to let anybody take over our society. We're not going to cancel things out," he said, stressing that public events and institutions must continue despite risks.

Trump said that he plans to reschedule the correspondents' dinner within 30 days, signalling a determination to move forward quickly. "We'll do it again... bigger and better," he said.

He acknowledged the emotional toll of the incident, particularly on the first lady, describing it as "a rather traumatic experience," but emphasised resilience in the face of such moments.

Trump said the events of the night highlighted both vulnerability and strength within the system. "You saw the very best unite us at a time of uncertainty," he said.

"Everybody in that room... There was a tremendous amount of coming together," he said, suggesting that even in moments of crisis, the country could find common ground.

- IANS
The expanding use of robotic technology in lung transplantation came under scrutiny at today's 46th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), where experts debated whether its clinical benefits justify the cost and complexity.

The debate featured Stephanie Chang, MD, a Thoracic and Transplant Surgeon at NYU Langone Health, arguing in favor of robotics, and Hermann Reichenspurner, MD, PhD, a retired Surgeon and pioneer in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery, presenting the counterpoint.

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery may expand patient pool

Dr. Chang highlighted the potential of robotic-assisted surgery to improve recovery and expand access to transplantation.

"Robotic, minimally invasive approaches can reduce the physiologic stress of transplantation compared with traditional, large access incisions," she said.

Dr. Chang noted that in lung transplantation, robotic techniques offer:

smaller incisions and improved visualization

less bleeding and fewer hemodynamic shifts

potential reductions in kidney injury, pain, and hospital stays.

"As robotic techniques become faster and more widely adopted, more frail and older patients may become candidates for transplant," she said.

In contrast, Dr. Reichenspurner emphasized that current evidence does not demonstrate superior patient outcomes with robotic approaches compared to established minimally invasive techniques.

"There is not a single comparative study showing a significant advantage of robotic systems in terms of survival, morbidity, or length of stay," he said. "Outcomes are comparable, but not better."

Dr. Reichenspurner, who has performed approximately 450 heart transplants and is a past president of ISHLT, was an early adopter of robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery in the late 1990s. He stressed that his position reflects experience, not resistance to innovation.

"This is not about being conservative," he said. "It is about determining whether the added cost and complexity are justified by measurable benefit."

Do expenses justify use?

He pointed to several limitations of robotic systems, including:

high upfront and maintenance costs

limited patient access to centers offering robotic capabilities

lack of randomized controlled trials to support international guideline adoption.

Dr. Reichenspurner also raised concerns that robotics may sometimes function more as a competitive marketing tool than a clinically necessary advancement. At the same time, Dr. Reichenspurner acknowledged specific advantages of robotic systems, including for surgical training.

"Surgical robots are more accurately described as tele-manipulators, surgeon-controlled systems that enhance precision but do not operate independently," he said. "With these systems, both the trainee and the instructor can operate simultaneously, which is a clear benefit for education."

The discussion also highlighted important distinctions in how robotics is applied across medical specialties. While robotic systems are widely used in thoracic procedures and fields such as urology and gynecology, their role in heart transplantation remains extremely limited.

"To date, robotic heart transplantation is essentially nonexistent," Dr. Reichenspurner noted. "For cardiac transplantation, a large incision is still required anyway, which limits the use of robotics."

The need for controlled, randomized trials

While both speakers agreed that the use of robotics in lung transplantation is likely to grow, particularly in centers that already use the technology for other thoracic procedures, widespread adoption will likely depend on stronger clinical evidence.

"For the use of robotics to become part of formal guidelines, we need randomized trials comparing its outcomes to minimally invasive surgery," said Dr. Reichenspurner.

The annual meeting and scientific sessions of the ISHLT are being held from 2225 April at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada.
Researchers from Brown University and their collaborators have developed a new way to measure the properties of cells - an important development, they say, because accurate measurements of changes in cell elasticity can be used to better understand diseases, diagnose patient symptoms and provide more accurate prognoses.

For example, cancer cells from tumors typically soften as they become more dangerous and likely to spread, while blood diseases like malaria and sickle cell can cause red blood cells to stiffen. Mechanical changes on a cellular level are also seen in neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory illnesses.

As detailed in a study in the journal Lab on a Chip, the researchers developed what they call a "mechanophenotyping cytometer" - a microfluidic device designed to measure a cell's physical size and squishiness, known as its mechanical phenotype.

Mechanophenotyping is an underused tool, said lead study author Graylen Chickering, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering in the lab of Brown University associate professor Eric Darling. This is mostly because measurement technologies lag behind other ways of analyzing cell properties.

The gold standard for measuring the squishiness or stiffness of a cell is atomic force microscopy, Chickering explained, which requires cells to be adhered on a surface and tested one by one with a tiny indenter.

This method essentially works by poking a cell. Imagine looking at a water balloon, and if you poke right on the edge of the balloon versus the center, it might feel different. Poking cells is also fairly slow, making it difficult to study large numbers of cells in a reasonable amount of time." Graylen Chickering, a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering, Brown University

Cell travel time: a key measurement

In developing the new technique, the scientists instead focused on a measurement called time-of-flight, which is the time it takes a cell to travel through tiny liquid-filled channels.

"The cell is essentially traveling from one checkpoint to another, and we take timestamps from each checkpoint to determine the time-of-flight," Chickering said.

The researchers used existing fluorescence signals from the cytometer, which is an apparatus for counting and measuring cells, to determine cell size and then used time-of-flight to determine cell stiffness. Softer cells move toward the center of the channel where fluid is moving fastest, while stiffer cells stay by the edges where fluid moves more slowly.

Chickering said that compared to atomic force microscopy, which allows experienced scientists to measure one cell every 30 seconds or so, she was able to use the new approach to look at 60 to 100 cells per second, with rates up to hundreds or even thousands of cells per second being possible.

"The proof of concept was when Graylen produced data showing that cell particles of different stiffnesses and different sizes had different correlational time of flights, which aligned with, theoretically, what we were expecting," said study author Darling, an associate professor of medical science, engineering and orthopaedics at Brown. "The method was so clean and reproducible compared to previous methods, which can result in different measurements depending on how they're used."

The findings are the result of a multi-year collaboration between researchers from Brown's Institute for Biology, Engineering and Medicine and a team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland. Brown contributed synthetic cell-like particles that were ideal for experimentation, Darling said, while NIST scientists created the foundational design for the cytometer device.

"We brought to the collaboration our polymer cell mimics, which served as calibration particles of specific sizes and stiffness, mapping out how these properties influence different recorded metrics from the device," Darling said. "The NIST cytometer has the unique feature of multiple measurement regions, providing error quantification for each particle flowing through it. That allowed us to show how much variability - both biological and technical - existed in our measurements."

Future work will use the mechanophenotyping cytometer to study the mechanical properties of cells from human blood and tissue samples provided by Brown's clinical partners.

"We expect to see differences between healthy individuals and those with certain types of disease, such as cancer," Darling said. "The ultimate hope is that a device of this sort could help with diagnosis or prognosis alongside existing methods."

Funding for the study was provided by the National Science Foundation (grant CMMI 2054193) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Advances in pediatric heart care are helping more children survive long enough to receive a transplant-but a critical shortage of donor hearts means too many are still dying while they wait, experts warned today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 46th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions.

Presentations from surgeons in the United States and Europe highlighted a growing paradox: medical progress is keeping more children alive, but the supply of donor hearts has not kept pace.

Costly delays in implementing the U.S. Transplant Modernization Act

Kevin P. Daly, MD, a Pediatric Cardiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, said breaking the bottleneck in the U.S. Transplant Modernization Act would help the flow of donor hearts to recipients. Implementation of the modernization act, which has been slowed by federal contracting delays, would allow committees to continue work on a proposed shift from a categorical system to a continuous distribution model that better prioritizes medical urgency and system efficiency. With additional allocation points for children and refinements to pediatric urgency categories, the new system would also give children higher priority.

"Allocation policy matters, but it cannot solve a shortage of organs," said Dr. Daly, president of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society.

Globally, more than 600 pediatric heart transplants are performed each year, yet waiting list mortality remains high. In the United States, more than 1 in 6 children on the waiting list do not survive.

At the same time, advances such as ventricular assist devices are allowing critically ill children to live longer while awaiting transplant-often for months or years.

"That is the paradox," said Brigitte Stiller, MD, Professor and Head of Pediatric Cardiology at University Heart Center Freiburg in Germany. "We are saving children on the waiting list, but we are not finding enough donor hearts for them."

Dr. Stiller argued that the field must rethink how donor hearts are selected and used.

"Scarcity in pediatric heart transplantation is not fate, it is a problem we can redesign," she said.

Experts urge a greater utilization of donor hearts

One key shift involves moving beyond the idea of the 'perfect' donor heart. As children become more stable on mechanical support, clinicians may often be reluctant to accept anything less than an ideal donor heart-potentially prolonging wait times.

"There is growing evidence that carefully selected hearts can still lead to excellent outcomes," Dr. Stiller said. "If we wait only for the ideal donor, some children will never receive a transplant."

Both speakers said technological advances are needed to expand the donor heart pool, including organ perfusion and preservation technologies. In the United States, miniaturized perfusion platforms are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

"These systems would be revolutionary, just as they have already re-shaped adult heart transplantation," Dr. Daly said.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is another promising approach, though its use in pediatric transplantation remains limited. Experts emphasized that maintaining public trust will be essential as these practices expand.

"Public trust is everything," Dr. Daly said. "If families lose confidence in the system, donation rates could fall, and that would cost lives."

Clinical innovations are also making a difference. Infants and young children can safely receive hearts from donors with incompatible blood types-a breakthrough that significantly increases the number of available donor organs.

Expanding the donor pool for pediatric hearts requires a comprehensive approach

Beyond policy and technology, Dr. Stiller stressed the importance of helping the public understand the long-lasting effects of transplantation and the importance of organ donation. She said many pediatric heart recipients grow up to live full, healthy lives, finish school, build careers, and start families.

"When people see that these children become thriving adults, it changes the conversation," she said. "That visibility can help more families say yes to organ donation."

Both speakers agreed that solving the pediatric donor shortage will require a multi-pronged effort.

"There is not just one solution, but many: technology, clinical innovation, and a willingness to rethink how we use every donor heart," said Dr. Stiller.

The annual meeting and scientific sessions of ISHLT are being held from 2225 April at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada.
A Brazilian prison gang that once fought for soap and mattresses now has a North American division. In the Wall Street Journal , Samantha Pearson charts how Brazil's First Capital Command, or PCC, has quietly grown into what some prosecutors call the Western Hemisphere's largest criminal group, with an estimated 40,000 members in nearly 30 countries. Born in a Sao Paulo lockup in the 1990s as a pact among inmates seeking basic rights, the PCC leveraged Brazil's overcrowded prisons to build a disciplined, rules-based network that runs on a corporate-style structure that favors profit over spectacle. "The PCC has become a truly transnational group," said prosecutor Lincoln Gakiya.

Pearson details how the PCC moved upstream in the cocaine tradecutting out middlemen, pushing into the Amazon, and securing direct access to producers in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. From there, it ships tons of cocaine through Brazil's massive Port of Santos to European hubs like Antwerp and Rotterdam, helping to drive record drug seizures and fueling violent turf wars far from its origins. The group has also diversified, laundering money through churches, fintech firms, real estate ventures, and other businesses, while branching into crimes ranging from illegal gold mining to cyber activity. Its decentralized, businesslike structuremore marketplace than hierarchyhas made it both adaptable and difficult for authorities to dismantle. As one expert put it, "It became the government of the illegal world."

That reach now extends into the US, where officials have sanctioned PCC figures and identified affiliates in multiple states, from Florida to Massachusetts. Investigators say the gang's growth reflects not only its own discipline but also the vulnerabilities it exploits, including porous borders and prison systems that allow leaders to operate from behind bars. The PCC has evolved to be something like a global regulator of illicit marketsone that blends corporate efficiency with criminal enterprise and continues to expand despite crackdowns. The group's longtime leader, Marcos Willians Herbas Camacho, has been behind bars since 1999, yet authorities say the organization no longer depends on any single figure. As one Brazilian police official put it, "It's so much bigger than I thought." For more about how this prison-born outfit became a global cocaine regulator of sorts, read the full piece at the Wall Street Journal.
The man suspected in a shooting outside Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner described by President Trump as a "sick person"was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told the AP . "When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone," Trump, safe and uninjured and still in his tuxedo, said at the White House two hours later. "They seem to think he was a lone wolf." There was no immediate indication of any other involvement, and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had "no reason" to believe anyone else was involved. Video posted by Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran toward him.

"There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public at this time," Bowser said at a separate news conference. All officials protected by the Secret Service were evacuated. Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubioand many other leaders of the Trump administration on a night when the nation is at war with Iran. "Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before," the president said. But he also said, "We're not going to let anybody take over our society." After an initial attempt to resume, the event was scrapped for the night and will be rescheduled. A law enforcement officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest but is expected to be OK, several sources say. The suspect was allegedly armed with guns and knives when he stormed the lobby outside the ballroom where the event was taking place, as Trump was seated onstage.

The president commended the Secret Service and suggested that the shooter wasn't close to breaching the ballroom, the AP reports. Trump, describing what was going through his mind as the shots rang out, said he initially believed it was a tray being dropped, noting that the noise was "quite far away." But the first lady, he said, was "very cognizant" that it was a shooting. "I think she knew immediately what happened," the president said, recalling that his wife told him, "That's a bad noise." He said he wanted the dinner to continue, but law enforcement preferred it to be rescheduled. He also struck a somber tone, telling reporters that being president is "a dangerous profession" and that attempted violence against him is "part of the job."

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges related to Saturday night's attack will be filed shortly, and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that "the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started." FBI Director Kash Patel, flanking Trump, said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.
Social media posts that appear to match the California man arrested Saturday in the shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner show he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A May 2025 profile photo of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged attacker being taken into custody that was posted Saturday night by President Trump. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a master's degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills.

Allen, 31, earned a bachelor's degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns. Bin Tang, a computer science professor at California State University-Dominguez Hills, told the AP that Allen took a few of his classes before graduating. "He was a very good student indeed, always sitting in the first row of my class, paying attention, and frequently emailing me with coursework questions. Soft spoken, very polite, a good fellow. I am very shocked to see the news," Tang said.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs. Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records.

Allen's online resume says he has worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. A 2024 post on the company's Facebook page listed Allen as the company's teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night. Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allen's name said he was working to develop a new "top-down shooter" combat game set in outer space.
Sen. Thom Tillis said Sunday he'll no longer stand in the way of a Senate vote on Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, now that the Justice Department has closed its criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The Republican had threatened to block any Fed nominee while the investigation into Powell's handling of a $2.5 billion renovation of two Fed buildings remained open, arguing it endangered the central bank's political independence. "I am prepared to move on with the confirmation of Mr. Warsh," Tillis said on NBC's Meet the Press, per Reuters , adding that Warsh "is going to be a great Fed chair."

The Republican said he's been assured that the investigation of Powell will only be reopened if the Fed's internal watchdog discovers evidence the current chair committed criminal wrongdoing, per the Washington Post. "I believe that there will not be any wrongdoing," Tillis said Sunday, per the AP. With Tillis' support, Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee have the votes to advance the nomination over Democratic opposition, setting up confirmation by the full Senate, Reuters reports. The schedule is tight: Powell's term as chair ends May 15, and the Senate is due to be in recess for part of the remaining three weeks. Powell has said he will stay on as temporary chair if Warsh is not confirmed in time, and he can remain on the Fed's Board of Governors for another 18 months.
|

King Will Carry On With Trip to US, Palace Says

Charles is due to arrive on Monday
Two former prime ministers are combining forces again in an effort to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu in Israeli elections expected later this year. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced Sunday that their parties will merge into a new faction called Together, led by Bennett, Reuters reports. "We are standing here together for the sake of our children. The State of Israel must change direction," Lapid said at a joint news conference. Bennett declared it was "time to part with Netanyahu and open a new chapter for Israel."

The move reunites a partnership that briefly ended Netanyahu's 12-year run in 2021, when Bennett and Lapid led a fragile, ideologically mixed coalition that lasted about 18 months and included, for the first time, an Arab party, the United Arab List. The two men have ideological differences. Bennett is an Orthodox Jew with hard-line views toward the Palestinians, while Lapid is secular and seen as more moderate. But they had a close working relationship during their coalition. Bennett said if elected, the new government on its first day would establish a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that started the war against Hamas, an issue that has shadowed Netanyahu, per the AP.

Netanyahu, who returned to power after the November 2022 vote, responded by posting a 2021 photo of Bennett, Lapid, and United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas, writing: "They did it once, they'll do it again," a jab at their previous coalition. Recent polling by Israel's N12 News indicated Bennett's bloc had overtaken Netanyahu as the main challenger: Bennett's party was projected at 21 of the Knesset's 120 seats versus 25 for Netanyahu's Likud, while Lapid's party had slumped to seven from its current 24. But the broader picture suggested Netanyahu's current right-wing and religious alliance would fall short of a majority, with about 50 seats, compared with at least 60 for a potential Bennett-Lapid-led coalition including smaller factions.
Pakistan's leaders sought Sunday to revive peace talks between the US and Iran after President Trump canceled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations. Pakistan-led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between the US and Iran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation effort, the AP reports. Iran still insists on ending the US blockade on its ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. "should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade," to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister made a brief visit to Islamabad a day after leaving the city and throwing the prospect of a second round of talks with the US into question. He had gone to Oman, located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, before his latest three-hour visit to Islamabad. He then left for Russia late Sunday. The US didn't send envoys to Pakistan for a second round of talks, but Pakistan continues to mediate, and two officials there said indirect talks are still ongoing.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Thursday became the latest, and most consequential no on the rumored American-United merger.

In an interview with CNBC Thursday shortly after the company reported first-quarter earnings, Isom called the merger a nonstarter from the get-go.

At the end of the day, theres no way to view that as anything but anticompetitive, he said. He added the deal would be bad for customers, ultimately bad for American Airlines, bad for our team.

More from Yahoo Scout What antitrust challenges would this airline merger face? Why did American Airlines CEO reject United merger proposal? What would be the market impact of American-United merger? How are rising fuel costs driving airline consolidation discussions?

Rejection of the deal came swiftly from all sides shortly after United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reportedly pitched the idea to a Trump administration official. But President Donald Trump was one of the first to kill it. While he has appeared more open to big deals than his predecessorshe played an active role in the $81 billion ParamountWarner Bros. Discovery mergerhe said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday: I dont like having them merge. That same viewpoint was expressed by a bipartisan pair of legislators: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) warned the deal would cause harm to consumers.

Isom declined to mention whether or not United made a formal inquiry to American. But last Friday, American issued a statement saying that it is not engaged with or interested in any discussions regarding a merger with United Airlines.

United Airlines and American Airlines didnt immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment.

Why the Iran war is fueling merger chatter

One issue potentially driving consolidation chatter is rising fuel costs. Jet fuel prices have spiked from $100 a barrel prewar levels to nearly $200 a barrel, spelling trouble for even the larger carriers. United on Wednesday said the airline may have to raise prices by 15% to 20%. And German carrier Lufthansa just slashed 20,000 flights as the European market endures some of the most brutal conditions amid the ongoing energy crisis. Those price shocks have contributed to much of the discussion around consolidation.

Is there room for some mergers in the aviation industry? Yeah, I think there is, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNBC earlier this month. Delta CEO Ed Bastian echoed that sentiment.

Over my career, Ive seen many periods of disruption in this industry, he said on the Delta earnings call last week. Time and again, high fuel prices have been the most powerful catalyst for change, separating the winners and forcing weaker players to rationalize, consolidate, or be eliminated. Delta posted revenue of $14.2 billion for the first quarter, up 9% year over year, slightly above expectations. But the company said its fuel bill would be $2 billion higher than anticipated thanks to the spike in costs.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of light rain this afternoon. High near 50F. ENE winds shifting to SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 29F. SW winds shifting to SE at 10 to 15 mph.
In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP) AP In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, shakes hands with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during their meeting, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP) AP Iraqis Muslim women hold portraits of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP Iraqi Muslim women hold portraits of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP A woman walks past an anti-U.S. graffiti painted on the wall of the Tehran University on Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP Men ride a scooter while waving a Hezbollah flag during a small gathering in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP

Pakistan's leaders sought Sunday to revive peace talks between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump canceled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations.

Pakistan-led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between the U.S. and Iran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iran still insists on ending the U.S. blockade on its ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said.

Trump said he told his top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Pakistan this weekend to negotiate with Iran.

If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! Trump said on social media.

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As the U.S. enforces its blockade of Iranian ports, a standoff also remained on in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels, with Iran restricting movement through the key waterway.

Early on Monday, the U.S. militarys Central Command said it has so far turned around 38 ships during the blockade.

Here is the latest:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oil prices rise after US-Iran talks in Pakistan fail to materialize

Oil prices rose when the market opened Sunday as traders absorbed the news that talks between the U.S. and Iran about a potential ceasefire have stalled again.

West Texas Intermediate, the U.S.-produced light, sweet crude, was selling for $96.50 a barrel Sunday, up 2% since the market closed on Friday. The price was 44% higher than before the start of the Iran war, when oil was selling for about $67 a barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $107.75 per barrel Sunday, up about 3% since Friday and 48% since the war began, when oil was selling for $72 a barrel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began and tankers full of crude became stranded in Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels.

Irans foreign minister leaves Pakistan for Russia

Abbas Araghchi made a brief visit to Islamabad a day after leaving the city and throwing the prospect of a second round of talks with the United States into question.

He had gone to Oman, located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, before his latest three-hour visit to Islamabad. He then left for Russia late Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. didnt send envoys to Pakistan for a second round of talks, but Pakistan continues to mediate, and two officials there said indirect talks are still ongoing. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Araghchis low-profile visit contrasted with his earlier one, when he met with Pakistans military and political leaders and presented Tehrans proposals to end conflict in the region.

Pakistan lifts Islamabad lockdown after stalled US-Iran talks

Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said late Sunday that the government has lifted all restrictions around the high-security zone in the capital of Islamabad.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian and U.S. delegations held rare face-to-face talks there earlier this month. The area had remained under lockdown for more than a week as Pakistan hoped to host a second round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Dars remarks signaled that there was no immediate prospect of further direct talks between the United States and Iran. Still, Pakistans government says it continues to mediate by conveying messages between the two sides to promote lasting stability in the region.

In a post on X, Dar thanked residents of Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi for their patience and cooperation.

Trump says US, Iranian officials can talk by phone

In an interview Sunday on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.

Talks appeared to fall apart on Saturday, with Tehrans top diplomat leaving Pakistan, and Trump soon afterward saying he had told envoys not to travel to Islamabad.

Asked about NATO, Trump said he was very, very disappointed in the military alliance, which he has suggested the U.S. may consider leaving after member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz.

Weve been serving them for many years, spending trillions of dollars, and when we wanted to help they were not there, so we have to remember that, Trump said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. militarys Central Command said early Monday that it had turned around 38 ships so far during its blockade of Iran.

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon

The Israeli military says it carried out artillery and airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

They targeted Hezbollah militants and weapons sites, including rocket launchers and storage facilities, north of what it calls the Forward Defense Line, as fighting has picked up in recent days despite a ceasefire.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Israeli strikes raise death toll to 2,509 in Lebanon

The countrys health ministry added in figures released Sunday that 7,755 people were wounded in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2.

The war broke out after Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on April 17. The ceasefire was extended by three weeks on Thursday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Hezbollah calls its attacks on Israel a legitimate response

The Iran-backed group on Sunday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ceasefire remarks, in which he said Hezbollahs actions are threatening the truce between Israel and Lebanon.

Hezbollah said its shelling of Israeli targets is a legitimate response to what it described as Israels violations of the ceasefire.

The group also criticized Lebanese authorities, saying they have placed themselves in a dangerous predicament when they chose to be photographed in a disgraceful image alongside representatives of a usurping and illegitimate entity that violates its land and sovereignty and continues killing its people.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended for three weeks, with Trump hosting talks flanked by Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.

Israeli girl wounded in Iran missile strike dies weeks later

An 11-year-old Israeli girl who was critically wounded in an Iranian missile strike earlier this month has died of her injuries, according to Sheba Medical Center.

The girl had been hospitalized at Sheba since the attack. She died on Friday after several weeks in critical condition.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She was wounded when a missile struck a residential area in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak on April 1 and had remained in critical condition for several weeks.

Her death raises Israels death toll from the war to 39.

Top Iranian diplomat arrives in Pakistan in effort to resume peace talks

Irans foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on Sunday after a visit to Oman, Pakistani officials said, as Islamabad steps up efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Abbas Araghchi will hold more talks with Pakistani officials during the visit and is expected to travel to Moscow afterward, two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media on the record.

Top diplomats for Iran and Qatar speak by phone about peace efforts

Irans top diplomat has briefed his Qatari counterpart about his countrys latest initiatives and diplomatic efforts to end the war in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone Sunday with Qatars top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The two ministers affirmed the importance of diplomatic coordination to back peace efforts, Araghchi wrote in his channel on Telegram.

Egypts foreign minister speaks with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts

Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed efforts to relaunch negotiations between the United States and Iran with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts.

In separate calls with the ministers, Abdelatty affirmed the importance of the diplomatic path to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire in a way that leads to an end to the war.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Israeli president delays decision on Netanyahu request to halt trial

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delayed a decision on a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt his corruption trial.

Herzogs office said the president has stated on several occasions that a settlement between Netanyahu and prosecutors is the best way to resolve the case and this position hasnt changed.

The president therefore believes that before addressing the pardon request itself, efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties, outside the courtroom, the office said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The announcement marked a setback for Netanyahu, who faces new elections later this year. It also came despite multiple calls by Trump for Herzog to end the trial.

Netanyahu filed his request in November, saying that dropping corruption charges against him would help unify the country. His office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza

At least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces Sunday morning in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Two men were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of people in the Kuwait roundabout in southeastern Gaza City, according to Shifa hospital, which received the casualties.

Another man was shot and killed close to the Saqqa mosque in central Gaza, the hospital said.

Nasser hospital said a 40-year-old woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces close to the Turkish slaughterhouse in the southern part of Khan Younis city.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fired on Palestinians near military-held zones.

At least 811 Palestinians have been killed including at least 226 children and 179 women, according to Gaza health officials.

Israeli military tells Lebanese in 7 towns to flee ahead of strikes

Israels military on Sunday warned Lebanese living in seven southern towns to flee their homes ahead of strikes in the area.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Col. Avichay Adraea, a military spokesman, claimed without evidence that Hezbollah violated a ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel. He didnt provide evidence.

Adraea said in a social media post that the military will operate in the area south of Zahrani river and ordered the residents to leave.

Israel previously issued a sweeping warning for people in southern Lebanon to flee their homes during its war against Hezbollah.

Analyst says indirect US-Iran talks progressing

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran were progressing despite Trumps decision not to send envoys to talks that had been set to begin this weekend.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The delay in the second round of Islamabad talks must not be seen as a setback to ceasefire negotiations and peace efforts, which remain on track, Ali told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Ali said ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires wisdom and patience from both sides.

This is a sensitive and complicated process, and there will be ups and downs, which are normal in such matters. But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

Pakistan mediation attempts moving forward

Pakistans top political and military leadership is continuing to mediate between the United States and Iran, with indirect ceasefire talks still alive despite mounting tensions between the sides, two Pakistani officials said Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistans capital Islamabad on Sunday evening for a second visit in as many days after a short trip to Oman.

Araghchi was in Islamabad on Saturday and presented Tehrans position on ending the regional conflict to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials.

There were no immediate plans for U.S. envoys to return for talks, according to the Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Netanyahu expresses shock after shots fired at event attended by Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, said Sunday morning he was shocked by what he called an attempted assassination at an event attended by Trump.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump was uninjured and rushed off the stage at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night after a man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the event in Washington.

Police believe the man opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. He was taken into custody.

One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said.

We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action, Netanyahu wrote on X.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Islamabad resumes normal life

Life began returning to normal in Pakistans capital on Sunday morning.

Authorities in Islamabad eased near-lockdown measures imposed during a week of heightened security prior to planned ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.

The restrictions enforced across Islamabad and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi disrupted daily life for hundreds of thousands. Commuters were forced to make long detours, traffic thinned along major arteries and parents struggled to reach schools.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

By Sunday, barriers were being lifted and traffic was gradually building on the citys main roads. Residents described a sense of relief after days of gridlock and uncertainty.

The government said in a social media post late Saturday that tourist destinations, parks and bus terminals were being reopened.

Security remained tight around the heavily guarded Red Zone, home to key government buildings and the site where U.S.-Iran talks were held earlier this month.

Iran hangs man convicted of terrorism

Iran on Sunday hanged a man who was convicted of carrying out terrorist activities in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, state media reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Amer Ramesh was hanged after the countrys Supreme Court upheld a death sentence issued by a primary court, according to Irans judiciary news outlet, Mizanonline.

Mizanonline did not report where he was hanged or when and where he was arrested.

Mizanonline said Ramesh received training in a regional country and was a member of militant group Jaish al-Adl, which reportedly aims to achieve greater rights for people in the Baloch ethnic group.

Iran has executed other people over similar charges and in recent weeks has hanged more than a dozen people accused of terrorist activities.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Irans president tells US to end blockade to negotiate

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country wont negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports, according to Iranian media.

Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies reported.

The Pakistani premier described the call as a warm and constructive discussion.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a one-day trip to Pakistans capital Islamabad on Saturday after meeting with Pakistani military and government officials.

The trip did not produce a breakthrough in efforts to relaunch negotiations after Trump canceled a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad.

Iranian foreign minister plans a return to Pakistan

Irans state-run IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will return to Pakistan after his current visit to Oman on his way to visiting Russia.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Peter Cimino of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club holds a MeshCore repeater, part of an off-grid communications network the club is helping to install in lower Fairfield County, in Fairfield, Conn., on April 13, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Peter Cimino, of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club, holds a MeshCore personal hotspot, part of an off-grid communications network the club is helping to install in lower Fairfield County, in Fairfield, Conn., on April 13, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Peter Cimino, of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club, holds a MeshCore repeater, in his left hand, and a MeshCore personal hotspot, part of an off-grid communications network the club is helping to install in lower Fairfield County, in Fairfield, Conn., on April 13, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media A MeshCore repeater and MeshCore personal hotspot, part of an off-grid communications network the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club is helping to install in lower Fairfield County, in Fairfield, Conn., on April 13, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

As many as 1.5 million Verizon customers lost cell service during a January outage. A nationwide AT&T wireless service outage Feb. 22, 2024, lasted at least 12 hours, blocking more than 92 million phone calls and more than 25,000 attempts to reach 911, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

But during both of those outages, Harwintons Jared Dunbar was able to communicate with his friends and family by using a $40 subscription-free device on a system called the mesh.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The 'mesh' was completely functional, he said. Theres no reliance on cell coverage.  Its very difficult as the 'mesh' grows, to eliminate any central point of communication, whereas, with a cell company, they have maybe one or two data centers that handle calls in the state.

Dunbar is part of a small but growing community slowly building a mesh network across Connecticut, allowing both emergency and non-emergency text-based communication without a $1,000 cellphone nor a years-long subscription contract nor a license. The technology is simple enough it can be built at a kitchen table.

The technology is built using long-range radio, or LoRa, protocols, allowing users to communicate using text messages at a distance of about 2 miles with very little power. Because it's so simple and inexpensive, wireless LoRa devices have traditionally been used by military and emergency services personnel to communicate in situations where other communication methods are unavailable.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Often called "Meshtastic," the technology has more recently been used by small groups of civilians to communicate where there is no cellular signal or internet, such as in the mountains, and its seen as a way to stay in touch if other methods of communication have failed.

If Iran or some other nation-state were to attack our terrestrial infrastructure in ways that could be bombings, or it could be cyber-security threats, or terrorism of some kind, any of those threats are more likely to affect large infrastructure because theyre a target, Dunbar said, as an example.

The devices, called nodes, are low power and have a range of a few miles without obstruction. But the technology allows the signal to hop from one device to the next, so as more people use it, the farther away messages can get. One by one, early adopters are putting repeaters in high places to boost their signals allowing communication with more users, farther away.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The simplest of the devices, smaller than a deck of cards, connect to a cellphone through an app, though no cell service or WiFi connection is required. The device connects to the mesh, and the cellphone acts as a keyboard and user interface, even if the phone is disconnected from the cellular network and internet. Slightly more expensive devices look similar to a Blackberry, with tiny keyboards, and require nothing else to work, as long as their on-board batteries have some power.

Every single person who buys their own personal node, or they put up a node, is one more person we can hop through, said Peter Cimino, president of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club. This network can work indefinitely on its own power, and its completely self-contained. Youre not relying on a central point, like a cellular carrier, to send your messages. These messages will find their way to the end user one way or another.

Cimino and Conrad Trautmann of Trumbull recently received a grant for the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club from an organization called Amateur Radio Digital Communications, to take this to the next level, Cimino said.

We take several of these devices, make them a little bit stronger, and we set up a self-supporting, self-contained, lunchbox-size device at a high point, a mountain or a building, he said. These are able to transmit much farther, and it creates like a superhighway of communications.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Whats wonderful about these is that they need no infrastructure. They have their own battery, they have their own solar power. They take very little space. Theyre not that expensive. Theyre like, $100 or so, and they will last forever because they dont need any power. The power goes out, or theres a storm or whatever, they will always work, Cimino said.

The technology is called a mesh because rather than using a central piece of infrastructure such as a cell tower, the messages are distributed across the entire decentralized network, jumping from one device to another. They can be encrypted, so only one specific user can read them, or can be open for the entire networks use.

It allows me to send text messages about 2 miles or so. If I want to communicate with my wife, and shes 4 miles away and has a similar device, shell get the message 4 miles away because its a mesh, Cimino said. If Conrad is shopping somewhere in between, my message will jump to his device, and then it will jump to my wife. The more and more devices that are out there, the farther and farther you can communicate and the more reliable it becomes.

Meshtastic vs. MeshCore

Dunbar is part of a small team that manages a website, CTMesh.org, which includes a map of all the mesh-connected devices in Connecticut. There is a wide cloud of blue dots, each dot representing a connected device, running straight up the center of the state from New Haven to Hartford and beyond.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

There are a few smaller clouds in Bridgeport and northern Fairfield County, and in Norwich, while the corners of the state are largely empty. But part of the grant for the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club is to expand the coverage deeper into the state.

As the density increases, itll become better and better, Cimino said. This is really exponentially taking off. There is a huge difference in what we have available compared to a year ago, and the technology has improved dramatically.

There are two maps on Dunbars website representing two mesh-based systems that, at least for now, are not intertwined. Some devices can use both Meshtastic and MeshCore, but a user must choose one at a time, and messages sent via one platform cannot be read on the other.

This whole thing started off with Meshtastic, which is, every device everywhere will repeat everything it hears, Trautmann said. Three of us are in a room, I send a message, your devices both get it, and you basically repeat it, and itll do that up to seven times, and then it stops.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The MeshCore system is a system of repeaters that will communicate with each other, and then the little device seed node, that transmits to the repeater, and then the repeater sends it along the path, he said.

As Cimino explained, since the technology is inexpensive, many users begin with a starter pack that includes both a personal device and a repeater.

You put the repeater out in your backyard somewhere, on a fence post or whatever, and then you have your little seed. And then, from inside your house, you transmit to your repeater, he said. That puts you on the superhighway.

Meshtastic was first on the market, but MeshCore doesnt have as many limitations so, as the technology expands, users are gravitating in that direction, they said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Meshtastic has had a limit for a while of seven hops, which means that only seven repeaters can pass your message along right until the message is dropped, Dunbar said. With MeshCore in Connecticut, we use whats called a two byte prefix, which means that we allow 32 hops on our network.

Emergency services

Mesh technology was initially used in military applications, and it has been used by emergency services personnel during emergencies for more than a decade, though until recently it was stitched together on the fly as needed.

According to the website meshmerize.net, a mesh network was used when traditional communications failed after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. The same was true during a 2015 earthquake in Nepal and a 2018 tsunami in Indonesia, among other instances.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The National Institute of Standards and Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce has modeled use of mesh systems in locations and instances when communication might otherwise be impossible.

The goal of real-time deployment is the rapid establishment of a wireless mesh network to support communications in hard-to-reach areas, the agency said. Intended applications are primarily emergency response communications in areas where traditional wireless solutions are problematic: inside large buildings, underground tunnels and mines, and urban canyons.

But as the technology has progressed, it has become more accessible, and Cimino believes it can keep lines of communication open in the event of a disaster. Members of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club, and Cimino in particular, often assist with communications during emergencies and at large-scale local events.

If a rescue team had to find somebody on a mountain, each rescuer would have one of these devices, and they can communicate with each other, even though theres no infrastructure, he said. Think of 9/11, how difficult it was to contact a loved one, say, in New York City via cellular. There are times where there are cellular outages.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The technology also offers a chance to communicate over long distances without the intervention of a large corporation, Dunbar said. The devices can be bought fully assembled, or they can be built without the need of much technical ability.
Members of the U.S. Secret Service counter assault team stand on the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

A person "who expressed concern" about the White House Correspondents' Association dinner shooting Saturday night called a Connecticut police department hours later to share what they believed was "pertinent to the matter," police said Sunday.

Investigators have not publicly named the shooting suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., the Associated Press reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Though New London police didn't say who called them, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation has said Allens brother contacted police in New London after he and other family members received writings that railed against President Donald Trump's administration and policies, and Cole Allen referred to himself as a Friendly Federal Assassin," according to the AP.

New London police said they received the call at 10:49 p.m.  more than two hours after the shooting. The person was immediately interviewed by New London police and federal investigators, police said in a news release. New London police said the department's investigation is no longer active and directed further inquiries to federal investigators.

The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions, including U.S. strikes on boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the AP reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

The writings examined by AP ran more than 1,000 words and read as a rambling, deeply personal message, opening almost jarringly with a casual hello everybody! before shifting into apologies to family members and co-workers, and even strangers he feared could be caught in the violence.

The note moved between confession, grievance and farewell, with Allen thanking people in his life even as he sought to explain the attack, the AP reported. Elsewhere, he veered between political anger, religious justifications and rebuttals to imagined critics. He also made a taunting critique of security at the Washington Hilton, mocking what he described as lax precautions and expressing surprise he was able to enter the hotel armed without detection, the AP reported.

Trump said the suspect's family had alerted police in Connecticut about their concerns before the shooting, according to the Associated Press. However, the New London Police statement indicates it received a call after the incident.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"The New London Police Department remains committed to working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners at all levels to ensure public safety," the release stated.

Trump was uninjured after the unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and its Washington field office is responding to the shooting. The Associated Press reported that the accused gunman is believed to have been targeting Trump and members of his administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunmans electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner, the AP reported. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.
Law enforcement are seen outside the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, Saturday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. Tom Brenner/AP Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP An ambulance responds to an incident at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. Allison Robbert/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top White House officials were evacuated from an annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association on Saturday night after an unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

Authorities said the incident occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated. It was not immediately clear what happened. The event was scrapped and will be rescheduled.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he would give a statement at the White House tonight.

Compiling accurate and thorough information on a shooting takes time. Reporters are working to piece together the details from eyewitness accounts, authorities and other sources.

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Here's the Latest:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Secret Service quickly escorted Trump and VP Vance out of ballroom

Secret Service agents, including the heavily-armed counter assault team, swarmed the stage after the incident. Vice President JD Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Trump in place, before escorting him and first lady Melania Trump from the room.

Trump briefly stumbled on his way offstage before being assisted by his security detail.

He was held for some time in the secure presidential suite at the hotel as the president and organizers initially sought to resume the event  hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president  before Trump was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Washington Hilton also scene of Reagan shooting in 1981

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Hilton  an event that prompted redesigns of the property that increased security and added a special presidential suite near the entrance where chief executives could be taken.

Trump was dispatched there briefly after the incident Saturday night.

MS NOW opens doors for reimagined party after White House Correspondents dinner

The network notified guests to still come to its underground party in Dupont Circle to gather and have a bit to eat.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While tonights event wont be what we originally intended, we still think it is important to provide a space for friends and colleagues to be together, the network said.

Its reporting teams were out covering the breaking news, the network said.

Police chief says suspects motivations unclear

Carroll, the interim police chief, said that he could not say at this point what the shooters motivation was, and that it is too soon to know who the suspect had intended to target in the shooting.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Suspect faces preliminary charges related to firearm possession, assault, Pirro says

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two charges related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but that there will be many more charges filed based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.

Pirro said the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.

Police say suspect was armed with multiple weapons

Interim Washington, D.C., police chiefPolice Chiefroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump ends presser

Shortly after the president concluded his news conference, the White House called a lid, which means the press corps will not see him for the rest of the day.

Trump commends Secret Service, says being president is a dangerous profession

Trump struck a somber tone as he addressed reporters at the White House, saying being president is a dangerous profession and that attempted violence against him is part of the job.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump said more details would be forthcoming about the shooters identity and motive, but said that the world was a violent place and, when it came to his own presidency, When youre impactful they go after you.

The president commended the Secret Service and suggested that the shooter wasnt close to breaching the ballroom where Trump was seated on stage at the time of the incident.

With most of the reporters dressed up for the dinner that was interrupted, Trump also noted: I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses.

Trump says rescheduled event will be safer

The president, who had repeatedly said he wanted to continue the dinner until law enforcement said otherwise, insisted it would be rescheduled and would happen. He stressed that the event will be better and well make it safer.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses, Trump said. It was a little different evening than we thought. But were going to do it again.

Trump describes scene

As he described the sequence of events, Trump emphasized that the shooter still remained a far distance from the ballroom where thousands of people had gathered for the dinner.

He hadnt anywhere close to breached the doors of the ballroom, the president said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

WHCD extensively studied by Secret Service for decades

The USSS has for years used the annual event to put agents through their paces because the agency has studied the venue extensively for decades.

Shootng suspect identified

The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told the AP.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump describes moment shots rang out

Trump, describing what was going through his mind as the shots rang out, said he initially believed it was a tray being dropped, noting that the noise was quite far away. But the first lady, he said, was very cognizant that it was a shooting.

I think she knew immediately what happened, the president said, recalling that his wife told him, Thats a bad noise.

The president said the motivation of the shooter was unclear, but said that he was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump: I fought like hell to stay

The president also reiterated that he had wanted to continue the dinner, saying, I fought like hell to stay.

He said in an earlier social media post that law enforcement officials wanted the dinner to end.

Acting AG says investigation is ongoing, charges will be filed shortly

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed shortly and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

Trump calls for tougher security measures

As he began the news conference, Trump called for tougher security measures, saying that today, we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before.

He cited Saturdays incident as a reason his ballroom, being constructed at the White House, is needed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump says suspect was armed with multiple weapons

Trump, during a White House press briefing, said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service. One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest.

He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job, Trump said.

Security footage posted by Trump shows a man sprinting through the metal detectors and past law enforcement, who turn toward him with guns raised. Officers then swarm toward the man off-screen.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

At the White House

Correspondents, as well as Trump, have arrived at the White House briefing room for a news conference following a shooting incident at the annual correspondents' dinner.

Congressional leaders who attended dinner react to shooting

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife, Kelly, were at the event and grateful for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Praying for our country tonight, said Johnson, R-La., on social media.

FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, said the House GOP on its account on the social platform X.

House Republicans unite in praying for those who were in harms way, it said.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he was thankful for the swift law enforcement action to protect everyone at the dinner, as he also called for an end to violence.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The violence and chaos in America must end, said Jeffries, D-N.Y.

WHCA president addresses attendees, says the event will be rescheduled

Weijia Jiang, the senior White House correspondent at CBS News and president of the White House Correspondents Association, addressed the crowded room of journalists after the president had left.

She said the president would be holding a press briefing at the White House soon and that he insisted the dinner be rescheduled within the next 30 days. Jiang also said the president had wanted to continue with the event but had to follow security protocols.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Jiang, who had been sitting on the dais next to Trump when the incident unfolded, also emphasized the public service nature of journalism, saying that when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it.

On a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are, she said. Thank God everybody is safe and thank you for coming together tonight. Well do this again.

Shooter in custody, FBI says

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

DC police say offi

cers are at the scene

The citys Metropolitan Police Department posted a social message that said its officers are at the scene and coordinating with federal law enforcement.

We will provide updated information once confirmed, the message said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The event was getting underway when armed security rushed in

Attendees were eating a spring pea and burrata salad, and waiters had begun preparing to bring out the next course when a security detail appeared on the ballroom floor and yelled for everyone to get down. Journalists in gowns and tuxedos ducked near tables as wine splattered onto white tablecloths and glasses clinked in the hurry to seek safety.

Armed security burst through the doors of the ballroom and raced toward the dais where Trump sat as attendees ducked or crouched under tables. At one point, someone in the room shouted, USA!

Trump says the shooter has been apprehended

Trump said that a shooter has been apprehended in a post to Truth Social about 30 minutes following a security incident at the White House correspondents dinner.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were uninjured in the incident.

Most WHCD attendees are closed inside the ballroom and cannot leave

Dinner organizers said there will be an announcement shortly, we will be resuming shortly from the stage. Most attendees are closed inside the ballroom and cant leave.

A block from the White House, party-goers headed to the Renwick Museum were instead gathered at police tape as the streets and sidewalks were blocked off. Police cars tore up and down the block, sirens blaring. A helicopter buzzed overhead.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Washington Hilto

n hotel commonly stays open to public, while security is focused on ballroom

Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the White House Correspondents Dinner. It has typically been focused on the ballroom  rather than the hotel at large  with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.

In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be 5 to 8 shots fired

The banquet hall, where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trumps speech, was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not reenter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro says Secret Service in charge of building, DC mayor in route
Construction continues at the Interstate 91, 691 and Route 15 interchange in Meriden, Conn., in December 2025. A sign to the right informs drivers that they have reached the end of a stretch where the state Department of Transportation is testing speed cameras. Starting this summer, DOT will issue tickets when cars are caught on camera speeding in work zones. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

After months of testing, the state Department of Transportation plans to start issuing tickets from speed cameras installed at several highway construction and maintenance work zones this summer.

DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto told lawmakers earlier this year that the agencys goal was for the cameras to go live by April, when National Work Zone Awareness Week is observed. But during a news conference, Eucalitto said June is the current target.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We are hoping to be able to go live in June with that, and well give people plenty of notice before that gets activated, Eucalitto said Tuesday. Well go live, well issue warnings for the first month or so and then begin issuing the tickets.

DOT piloted the use of speed cameras in work zones during 2023. A state law allowed the agency to operate cameras at up to three locations at any given time, and over the course of about eight months, about 25,000 warnings and more than 700 fines were issued as part of the program.

In 2024, the state legislature made the program permanent, with some changes, including allowing DOT to use cameras at up to 15 locations at a time. Under the law, the cameras can be set up at work zones on roads where the speed limit is at least 45 mph.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

State lawmakers are now considering legislation that would allow DOT to go beyond work zones and pilot cameras elsewhere on major highways.

DOT has been seeing plenty of speeding during the testing stage of the work zone program, Eucalitto said.

People are speeding every single day, excessive amounts of speeding, even with multiple signage patterns up front telling people that they are approaching a work zone speed camera testing phase, he said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

When the citations begin, vehicle owners will receive a written warning if their car is caught traveling 10 mph or more over the posted speed limit, but less than 85 mph, in a work zone where the cameras are operating. The fine for a subsequent violation will be $75. If a subsequent violation occurs more than a year after an owners last violation, it will be treated as a first violation.

However, the owner of a vehicle traveling at 85 mph or faster will get an immediate $75 fine.

The ticket will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle  even if someone else was driving the car at the time of the alleged violation  after State Police review the images. If a car had been reported stolen at the time of the violation, the owner could use that as a defense against a ticket.

No points will be assessed against a person's driver's license because of a ticket.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Fine revenue will be used to cover the camera programs expenses, and if there is any money left over, it will go toward other transportation safety purposes, according to DOTs website.

According to a map on its site, DOT currently has cameras at:

A pavement rehabilitation project on Interstate 84 in Southbury and Middlebury;

A project to replace of two bridges carrying Interstate 95 in West Haven;

The overhaul of the Interstate 91, Interstate 691 and Route 15 interchange in Meriden;

Maintenance projects in Southington and Plainville;

A lane modification project on Route 2 in Glastonbury;

A pavement rehabilitation project on Route 2 in Colchester; and

A project to improve I-95 at Exit 74 in East Lyme.

But the locations are subject to change, DOT spokesperson Eva Zymaris said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Well be alerting the municipality directly any time were making a deployment, she said. There will be signage for motorists, as well.

DOT decides where it installs speed cameras based on highway and work zone characteristics, speed limits, and traffic and/or crash history amongst other factors, according to its website.

More than 2,600 crashes and 12 deaths occurred in Connecticut work zones from the beginning of 2021 through the end of 2023, according to a DOT press release that cited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

Please slow down, move over, ditch the distractions, remain vigilant and always drive sober, Zymaris said. These actions save lives.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
By Mei Mei Chu

BEIJING, April 27 (Reuters) - When U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping last October, he rated the summit a "12 out of 10," and the White House said China would "effectively eliminate" rare earth export controls and cease retaliation against U.S. firms.

Instead, even as it has refrained from overt criticism of Trump over the Iran war and signalled it wants a positive meeting between the two leaders, Beijing has quickly moved to expand its toolkit of economic pressure mechanisms aimed at Washington.

Since last October, China has enacted laws to punish foreign entities that shift supply chains away from China, tightened the rare earth licensing regime, banned foreign AI chips from state-funded data centres, barred U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity software from Chinese companies and is weighing curbs on solar manufacturing equipment exports to the United States.

The pattern speaks to something more than reactive tit-for-tat, experts say, with China using the trade truce to build out a menu of economic influence tools that was, until recently, almost exclusively Washington's domain ahead of a planned summit between Xi and Trump in mid-May.

"The hope on the Chinese side is for a longer lasting, more broadly rooted truce, but it's very much that 'if you want peace, prepare for war' logic," said Joe Mazur, geopolitics analyst at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China.

The truce, set to expire in November 2026, was forged in part by Beijing's threats last year to restrict rare earth exports to the U.S. Those controls caused shortages across U.S. auto supply chains within weeks, helping to bring Trump to the negotiating table with Xi at a meeting in Busan, South Korea, analysts said.

China has not idly bided its time since then and has enacted several potential retaliatory measures, that could be used against efforts to offshore production from the country or to impose measures against its raw material imports, that it feels are necessary to defend its interests.

In April, Premier Li Qiang signed two regulations - the first of their kind in China - granting authorities sweeping new powers to investigate foreign firms, governments and individuals accused of discriminating against China's industrial and supply chains, and enforcing what Beijing calls "unjustified extraterritorial jurisdiction" against Chinese entities. Authorities may deny entry, expel and seize the assets of those found in violation.

The conflict in Iran sharpened China's focus on new economic measures, particularly as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened in mid-April to sanction buyers of Iranian oil exports, of which China buys 80%.
A woman walks across a bridge along Waite Street overlooking Lake Whitney in Hamden April 8, 2022. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media A man jogs along Waite Street overlooking Lake Whitney in Hamden April 8, 2022. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media A bridge along Waite Street overlooking Lake Whitney in Hamden, April 8, 2022. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media A duck crossing sign is displayed along Waite Street overlooking Lake Whitney in Hamden April 8, 2022. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

HAMDEN  Two deteriorating bridges over Lake Whitney  rated by the state as being in serious condition  need to be replaced.

According to town documents, the total estimated cost of the project is $11.1 million, but state funds will cover the costs of construction while the town will fund the design phase.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The selected engineering consultant, who will oversee a public input and design process, received unanimous approval from the Legislative Councils Engineering, Development and Municipal Planning Committee but still needs a final OK from the full council on Monday.

As part of the $887,883 contract, SLR International Corporation would manage a public engagement process and subsequent design work for the replacement of the Waite Street and Mather Street bridges, which intersect over Lake Whitney

The things that we valued were the community engagement strategies, designs that align with the towns Complete Streets Policy and environmentally-sensitive design practices, said Town Engineer Stephen White, who noted he recused himself from the bidding process because of a conflict of interest.

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

White said the town will take on no new debt to fund the contract.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Eileen ONeill, a resident of the area, said she participated in a public input session about plans to rebuild the bridges in 2008 and neighbors shared their desire to preserve the area as an urban-surburban forest area, which actually is a jewel to that part of Hamden and for those neighborhoods, for people to get out into nature.

The priorities to us were that we have a woonerf-style shared roadway design for walkers, runners, bicyclists, birders, photographers, she said, referencing a Dutch design concept in which urban spaces are accessible to pedestrians that inspired the design for the planned redesign of nearby New Havens Long Wharf Park.

Council member Sarah Gallagher, D-4, asked about whether there are plans to preserve the wildlife in the area as well as the drinking water collected by the Regional Water Authority.

I really want to see with this project, we dont end up with a mega bridge that changes the feel of the area, she said, adding that she heard from many residents that during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic that they took advantage of the bridges to experience nature locally.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

White said he imagines the bridges featuring a mixed-use recreational path, but the final project will be dependent upon what the design team develops.
Plainville police say they are searching for a woman who fled the scene of a crash in a parking lot on Northwest Drive on April 17. Courtesy of the Plainville Police Department Plainville police say they are searching for a woman who fled the scene of a crash in a parking lot on Northwest Drive on April 17. Courtesy of the Plainville Police Department Plainville police say they are searching for a woman who fled the scene of a crash in a parking lot on Northwest Drive on April 17. Courtesy of the Plainville Police Department

PLAINVILLE  Town officers are searching for a woman who fled the scene of a crash in a parking lot on Northwest Drive earlier this month, police say.

In a post Saturday on Facebook, the Plainville Police Department said the crash took place in the parking lot of Transcend Beer Crafters on Northwest Drive on April 17 at 5:12 p.m.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Police said officers were called there and notified one of the involved vehicles fled the scene. They said the vehicle that left was a silver Jeep Cherokee driven by an unknown blonde woman.

"The female was seen wearing large black sunglasses, a black purse, a purple shirt and black pants," police said.

A witness saw the fleeing vehicle and got a partial Connecticut license plate number of 735, police noted.
Jeff Probst attends the premiere of "Survivor" season 50 on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes/Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

"Survivor" fans will be able to attend a casting call at a Connecticut casino next month for their chance to be on the CBS reality-competition show's 51st season.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Whether youre a master strategist, a fearless competitor, or a largerthanlife personality, casting producers are searching for bold, dynamic contestants ready to push their limits  physically, mentally, and socially," the event listing said. "Bring your confidence, your charisma, and your killer instinct as you audition for a chance to compete on one of televisions most legendary reality competition shows."

The show's 50th season, which is currently airing, featured Wesleyan alumnus and "The White Lotus" creator Mike White. White had previously competed on the show for season 37.

Another CBS show, "Big Brother," held a casting call at MGM Grand Casino in Springfield, Mass., just outside of Connecticut, last week.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Think you have what it takes to become the last one standing?" the listing said. "Prove it at Mohegan Sun."

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Those wanting to be on the show can also head to their casting website and apply online.
A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on Saturday night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. DANNY KEMP, AFPTV TEAMS/AFP via Getty Images Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. ULYSSE BELLIER/AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is making a statement after the cancelation of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner after a possible shooting. Andrew Leyden/Getty Images

Connecticut politicians expressed shock and sadness about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday evening.

Gov. Ned Lamont decried the incident on social media, saying "Violence has no place in our democracy."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Relieved that everyone at last nights White House Correspondents dinner is safe," Lamont wrote on X Sunday. "Grateful for the brave Secret Service officers and law enforcement who acted quickly to protect lives."

State Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, called the shooting that prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other top leaders from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night "scary" and "shocking."

"We thank the security, the police and the National Guard for their work," Harding said in a statement Saturday night. "We are thankful for the free press, and for all the people who keep our country safe."

New Haven Register Logo Want more New Haven Register? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Others who weighed in on the incident included U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Thanks to swift, skilled law enforcement, tragedy was averted last night," Blumenthal posted on X. "Violence has no place in our politicsor anywhere."

Trump was uninjured after the unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting. The Associated Press reported that the accused gunman is believed to have been targeting Trump and members of his administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.

Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, the AP reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New London police said that a person "who expressed concern" about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' dinner called the department Saturday night to share information the person believed was "pertinent to the matter."

The call came in at 10:49 p.m. and the person was immediately interviewed by New London police and federal investigators, police said in a news release. New London police directed further inquiries to federal investigators.

Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunmans electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner, the AP reported. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The event was canceled and will be rescheduled.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
A new report says President Trumps latest DEI order could significantly derail Black businesses ability to gain federal contracts.

The Blackout Report, published April 23 by Onyx Impact, suggests that Black businesses are at risk of being left out of federal contracting opportunities due to this anti-DEI legislation. The Blackout Report details the concrete harms to Black communities prompted by the Trump administration and its policies.

This years special edition report argues that this federal contracting shift has already begun, with the latest order further threatening this revenue-boosting pathway. Trumps executive order, issued March 26, directly targets equity policies in federal contracting, limiting these opportunities for Black business owners.

While federal contracting is already a lucrative industry, with the report noting a $774 billion market, Black businesses hold only a tiny share of these profits. In fact, only 1.2% of federal dollars actually go toward these entities. The vast majority of federal contract funding goes to white-owned companies, accounting for 93.6% of all dollars received.

Federal contracting is one of the clearest pathways to wealth generation in this country, and Black-owned businesses receive only 1.2% of the payments, said Onyx Impact Founder and CEO Esosa Osa, according to Revolt. When you target a group already confined to 1.2%, you are actively enforcing a broken system.

Now, these numbers could shrink even more if Black businesses are phased out of this wealth pipeline, with $9.3 billion at risk of flowing out of Black wealth generation. Federal contracts have sustained and elevated many Black businesses, supporting jobs, supplying capital, and adding credibility to these companies.

However, under this new compliance framework, contracts could come to a halt as contractors seek to avoid risk. Its impact could leave these businesses, already handed just a margin of opportunity, with even less to sustain themselves for the future.

Furthermore, Black women, who own 48% of all Black businesses, could also take a significant hit. The report found that Black women CEOs with The BOW Collective reported revenue declines, with over half reporting losses exceeding $100,000.

Despite the pushback against partnering with Black businesses, minority-owned companies have greatly contributed to revenue generation and employment opportunities in the United States. However, accessibility barriers have stunted these companies from scaling operations, with this latest policy jeopardizing this growth even more.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says White Men Are Disfavored, Signs Bill Banning Local DEI Funding
Congress has tried to fix this untenable situation to no avail. The SAFE Banking Act, a bill that would protect banks that work with cannabis businesses in legal states, passed the House multiple times, though it is yet to receive a full hearing in the Senate. So the federal government is aware of the problem: Cannabis is legal in 24 states and more than half of Americans are able to buy it legally. But the vast majority of banks still wont engage with the industry, leaving small businesses caught in a political standstill.

Even worse, any company thats remotely cannabis-adjacent, like ours, is at risk of being de-banked. That means lawyers who help cannabis firms navigate regulatory complexity, accounting firms who audit them, and yes, even journalists who cover them are often swept up. Bank algorithms dont distinguish. If a business has any association with the industry, its at risk.

That means legal cannabis businesses are often frozen out of the broader American financial system, forcing customers to pay in cash, and in turn, forcing businesses to pay their tax bill in cash which creates tons of complications. Many local credit unions will work with cannabis businesses, but the big banks, like Chase, mostly wont. Its a risk-reward calculus that each financial institution makes.

In practice, that means any federally chartered bank faces significant legal exposure if it chooses to take cannabis-related deposits or extend loans and lines of credit to cannabis businesses, regardless of whether theyre legal in the state in which they operate.

But until those changes go through, the federal government still considers the vast majority of cannabis sales as a Schedule I drug with a high potential for abuse.

To understand why this happened, you need a little background into why cannabis banking is such a mess. And in an ironic twist, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche this week ordered medical cannabis reclassified from the most restrictive Schedule I to the far less restrictive Schedule III , with a DEA hearing set for June to consider consumer cannabis as well, just about a week after the story I detail below went down.

Im sharing this story as a window into just how insane it is to run any business with a whiff of legal cannabis, well over a decade after Colorado and Washington first legalized sales.

Last month, Chase abruptly shut down our bank account, only to later reverse course after a LinkedIn post and a lot of back-and-forth.

Its important to note we cover cannabis like any other publication. We have a newsletter, we publish stories, we host live interviews on YouTube and LinkedIn, but we dont grow or sell any cannabis products.

Outside of my day job, Im the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Cultivated Media , a media company serving professionals in the legal cannabis industry.

Story Continues

So heres how it all went down. Or, in other words, how a LinkedIn post got the banks attention.

We were customers of Chases business banking unit for nearly three years.

While were certainly not a unicorn, were good customers. We pay our credit card bill on time (which maybe makes us less-than-optimal customers, I guess), and we use our account to receive invoices, pay contract writers, and the monthly software subscription fees that keep our little business humming. Cash flows in and out of our account on a regular basis, its not sitting there inertly.

So I returned from a 9-day trip to Chile with my family on a red-eye flight last week, obviously pretty tired. I got a text message from Chase while still sitting on the tarmac, saying that I needed to call right away because my account was at risk of being shut down.

I got off the plane and reached a customer service representative in India after a quick hold. They told me our account was deemed out of scope of Chases business, and the account would be shut down. They said Ill receive a check to my mailing address with the full balance in the checking account.

I pleaded my case, but the person couldnt answer why the account was being shut down. I asked her if there was any other information they could provide, but they said this is all they had and the decision is final. No recourse. The supervisor I then reached had no further useful information.

We were at risk of going dark. If we didnt solve the problem quickly, our website would be shut down. It also meant I had to reach out to our writers and tell them I couldnt pay them on time. And if theres one north star in how I run my business as a journalist, its paying writers on time. That sucked. And the cherry on top?

When I got home, I went to my local bodega to get a sandwich and a coffee, and my personal Chase card didnt work. This was later revealed to be a mistake, and was quickly corrected, but I was caught in some algorithmic dragnet that didnt like what our business was doing.

The next morning, I called again to see if anything had changed. I was again told that our account was out of scope of Chases business. The person told me this time that its written into the fine print that Chase can review your account at any time and close it without recourse.

I was pretty annoyed at that point, so I took to social media to vent. I wrote a similar post across my roughly 20,000 followers on Twitter/X and LinkedIn, describing our de-banking situation and asking for help.

Later that day, I got a missed call from Chases Executive Office in Houston. When I called back, they told me my account was now under review and not closed. At that point, fed up with the situation, we had already decided to work with Safe Harbor Financial, which is designed to help cannabis businesses sort out these challenges, and move away from Chase. We ended up with Partner Colorado Credit Union, which is much friendlier to the industry.

I told the representative I wouldve been happy to remain a Chase customer, but we cant have our business at risk of being disrupted like this. If this happened once, I assumed it would happen again. She told me she understood. I have to say, the Executive Office was far more professional than the regular call center. Out of journalistic curiosity, I asked if she could review the files to see exactly what shut the account down and why. She agreed to do it, and said Id receive a call back.

The next morning, I received a call from her colleague in the Executive Office. This person said my account fell under a review, and was immediately frozen. But get this: after a secondary review, the bank unfroze the credit cards and said my business checking account could remain open.

So I asked, what triggered the secondary review?

They said that a social media post of mine on LinkedIn was brought to the banks attention. Thats what triggered the call from the Executive Office, as well as the official second review.

I told the person that I appreciated their time and help. But the fact that it was my LinkedIn post, which got around 90 likes and 50+ comments, that forced a human to consider the issue seems a little bit unfair to the hundreds of cannabis businesses across the U.S. that dont have the same platform I do.

Chase did not reply to an emailed request for comment.

Supporting small businesses has to mean something  whether thats Chase, or Congress

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.

Chase clearly didnt want to create trouble with a journalist, which is as rational as it is unfair for everyone else.

Obviously, were also not a huge moneymaker for the bank, so for them, its better to lose the business and be safe, than to take the risk. Every bank has its own risk calculus and banking small cannabis businesses is clearly below Chases. Thats not to castigate Chase for their decision.

But that two-tiered dynamic, where institutional accountability only kicks in if you have enough of a public platform to create reputational risk, isnt unique to banking. But its particularly stark here, because the underlying problem is one Congress could actually fix. The SAFE Banking Act isnt a controversial piece of legislation on the merits. It has broad bipartisan support in the House: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently confirmed the entire Democratic Caucus supports cannabis reform.

What it doesnt have is enough Senate champions willing to put their name on anything with "cannabis" in the title, regardless of which party is in power.

While we're back on our feet, I hope by sharing this story it'll help wake up some lawmakers who claim to support entrepreneurship and job creation, but won't touch cannabis with a ten-foot pole. Here's a concrete example of where Congress can actually help small businesses  by passing banking legislation like the SAFE Banking Act.

At some point "we support small business" has to mean something.

Downstream Analysis

Positive Impacts

Companies

Safe Harbor Financial (SHFS)  This company directly benefits as it specializes in providing banking solutions for cannabis businesses, attracting clients like Cultivated Media who are de-banked by larger institutions.

Partner Colorado Credit Union  This credit union benefits from increased business as cannabis-related entities seek out financial institutions "friendlier to the industry" after being rejected by large banks.

Industries

Specialized Financial Services for Cannabis  This industry benefits from the current federal banking restrictions, as it creates a niche market for institutions willing to navigate the complexities of serving cannabis businesses.

Neutral Impacts

Companies

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)  While facing reputational risk from the incident, the bank's actions are consistent with its risk calculus to avoid federal legal exposure related to Schedule I substances, maintaining its current operational stance.

Hydrofarm Holdings Group (HYFM)  As an ancillary supplier to the cannabis industry, its direct banking operations are less impacted, but its growth is indirectly tied to the overall health and expansion of the cannabis market.

GrowGeneration Corp (GRWG)  Similar to Hydrofarm, this company provides supplies to cannabis growers, and while not directly affected by cannabis banking issues, its business performance is linked to the broader industry's stability and growth.

Industries

General Media Industry  The incident highlights a specific challenge for a niche media company, but does not broadly impact the financial operations or regulatory environment of the wider media industry.

Legal Services  While lawyers serving cannabis firms face de-banking risks, the overall legal services industry is vast, and this specific issue represents a niche challenge rather than a systemic impact.

Countries / Commodities

United States  The federal-state conflict creates economic friction and lost tax revenue opportunities, but the overall U.S. economy is large enough for this issue to have a neutral aggregate impact, though significant for specific states and industries.

Negative Impacts

Companies

Curaleaf Holdings (CURA)  As a major multi-state operator in the legal cannabis industry, this company faces significant operational challenges, higher costs, and limited access to capital due to federal banking restrictions.

Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF)  This large cannabis producer and retailer is negatively impacted by the inability to access mainstream banking services, leading to cash-heavy operations and increased security risks.

Trulieve Cannabis Corp (TRUL)  This company, like other cannabis MSOs, suffers from restricted financial services, hindering its ability to scale, manage finances efficiently, and attract traditional institutional investment.

Cresco Labs (CRLBF)  Operating in the legal cannabis market, this company experiences higher compliance costs and operational inefficiencies due to the lack of federal banking clarity and access.

Verano Holdings (VRNOF)  As a prominent cannabis company, it is negatively affected by the federal prohibition on cannabis, which limits its banking options and complicates financial transactions.

Bank of America (BAC)  This large federally chartered bank, along with others, is negatively impacted by the federal prohibition as it prevents them from serving a growing legal industry, missing out on potential revenue and market share.

Wells Fargo (WFC)  Similar to other major banks, Wells Fargo is constrained by federal regulations, preventing it from engaging with cannabis businesses and thus foregoing a potentially lucrative market segment.

Industries

Legal Cannabis Industry  This industry faces severe operational hurdles, increased costs, and limited growth potential due to the inability to access mainstream banking, loans, and credit.

Cannabis-Adjacent Businesses  Companies providing services to the cannabis industry, such as legal, accounting, and media firms, are at risk of de-banking, leading to operational instability and increased compliance burdens.

Federally Chartered Banking Industry  This industry as a whole is negatively impacted by the regulatory uncertainty, forcing them to either avoid a growing market or face significant legal exposure.

Key Downstream Effects

Short-term Increased Advocacy for SAFE Banking Act  The public nature of Cultivated Media's de-banking incident, especially involving a journalist, will likely reignite calls and media attention for the passage of the SAFE Banking Act in Congress. Confidence: High.

Medium-term Continued Growth of Niche Cannabis Financial Services  As long as federal prohibition persists, specialized financial institutions like Safe Harbor Financial and credit unions will continue to see increased demand and market share from cannabis businesses. Confidence: High.

Long-term Operational Inefficiencies for Cannabis MSOs  Major cannabis multi-state operators will continue to incur higher operational costs, security risks, and limited access to capital due to cash-heavy operations and restricted banking options. Confidence: High.

Medium-term Reputational Risk for Large Banks  Incidents like Chase's de-banking, when publicized, create negative public perception for large federally chartered banks, potentially pushing some customers towards more ethically aligned or specialized financial institutions. Confidence: Medium.

Long-term Hindrance to Federal Tax Revenue Collection  The cash-intensive nature of the cannabis industry due to banking restrictions complicates tax collection for federal and state governments, potentially leading to under-reporting or increased administrative burden. Confidence: High.

Economic Indicators

 [Cannabis Industry Investment]  Investment in the legal cannabis industry will remain constrained by banking issues, limiting access to traditional capital markets and keeping valuations suppressed compared to other industries.

 [Operational Costs for Cannabis Businesses]  The necessity of cash-heavy operations, increased security, and specialized financial services will continue to drive up the operational expenses for cannabis companies.

 [Bank Profitability (Large Federally Chartered)]  Large banks will continue to forgo potential revenue from the cannabis industry, maintaining their current profitability levels without this new market segment.

 [Credit Union Deposits]  Local credit unions willing to serve the cannabis industry will likely see an increase in deposits and business accounts from cannabis-related entities.

 [Federal Tax Revenue from Cannabis]  While states collect significant taxes, federal tax revenue from the cannabis industry will remain suboptimal due to the challenges of tracking and collecting cash-based transactions.

One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here.
Recent surveys seem to suggest that many Americans believe they need to reach the seven-figure mark to have a shot at a comfortable retirement.

Investors surveyed by Schroders (1) said they needed an average of $1.28 million in savings to afford a good retirement, which is very close to the $1.26 million "magic number" the average respondent to the Northwestern Mutual 2025 Planning & Progress Study (2) claimed to be targeting.

Must Read

Simply put, most people consider being "barely a millionaire" sufficient to be retirement-ready. But in reality, is that figure really enough? The answer may depend on two factors that go beyond the size of your nest egg: sources of income and local cost of living.

Sources of income

While planning retirement, many savers and financial advisors default to the standard 4% rule. Developed by William Bengen (3), the rule suggests a nest egg is large enough to enable retirement if a 4% annual withdrawal rate can cover your living expenses.

With that in mind, a $1.28 million nest egg would be adequate if you can live on $51,200 per year.

However, this simple back-of-the-envelope calculation assumes that your nest egg is your only source of income, which usually isn't the case. Tens of millions of retirees have at least one other income source: Social Security.

As of early 2026, the average monthly benefit payout from this program is about $2,071. If your annual living expenses are $50,000, the average Social Security payment could cover roughly half of that, which means your nest egg target can be significantly lower than $1.2 million.

If you have even more sources of income, such as a corporate defined benefit pension or rental real estate, that lowers your target further.

On the other hand, if your annual budget is significantly higher and payouts from Social Security or other sources are limited, your target may be higher than $1.28 million.

Simply put, how much you spend in retirement is the key variable  and where you live can have a massive impact on that.

Read More: This $1B private real estate fund is now accessible to non-millionaires. Start investing with just $10

Local cost of living

Your personal spending and budgeting habits can only go so far, especially if you live in a state or city with a high cost of living.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. High 63F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low around 50F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.
You are the owner of this article.
Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) is one of the

10 Best Gold Stocks to Buy for the Long Term.

On April 15, 2026, Morgan Stanley upgraded Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) to Equal Weight from Underweight and raised its price target to ZAR 77,000 from ZAR 68,000. The firm said it is increasing earnings estimates and price targets across its gold coverage, driven primarily by a higher gold price forecast.

On April 6, 2026, JPMorgan lowered its price target on Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) to $76 from $80 and maintained an Overweight rating.

Earlier in the month, Gold Fields reaffirmed its commitment to South Africas long-term growth through a R1.714 billion investment pledge for 2026 and 2027 at the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference in Sandton. The investment supports the South Deep Expansion Project and will focus on infrastructure development, early access to new mining areas, and expansion of renewable energy capacity. The company said the project is expected to increase production from 309Koz in 2025 to approximately 338Koz in 2027, reaching 400Koz by 2030. President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the need to translate investment pledges into projects that support economic growth and job creation, while more than 70% of the South Deep investment is expected to go to local businesses, representing about R1.23bn into the local economy.

Morgan Stanley Upgrades Gold Fields (GFI) to Equal Weight

Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) operates as a gold producer with assets across South Africa, Ghana, Australia, Peru, Canada, and Chile.

While we acknowledge the potential of GFI 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.
A new free Maritime Heritage Trail has been launched in Brixham to celebrate the centenary of the historic sailing trawler Vigilance of Brixham.

A new free Maritime Heritage Trail has been launched in Brixham to celebrate the centenary of the historic sailing trawler Vigilance of Brixham.

The trail takes visitors on a journey around Brixham Harbour, uncovering centuries of local history from notorious smugglers and Dutch invaders to the D-Day landings and the towns vital role in the deep-sea fishing industry.

Vigilance of Brixham off Torquay

Focused on the harbour area, the self-guided route highlights key locations and stories that have shaped the town. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of smugglers, invaders and even a king, while discovering the rich maritime heritage of one of Englands most historic fishing ports.

The idea for the trail was first proposed in 2020 by a volunteer with the Vigilance of Brixham charity, but plans were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project has now been brought to life by trustee Heather Keeling.

Ive learned so much researching this heritage guide, she said. For example, not many people realise that William of Orange marched through Brixham with an invasion force of 14,000 and camped on Furzeham Green.

Fellow trustee Carolyn Brown added: Many visitors enjoy the harbour, the boats and the fish and chips, without realising that Brixham was the birthplace of the deep-sea fishing industry and still plays a vital role today. We want to bring that history to life in a fun and engaging way.

Vigilance Trail cover

The trail also uncovers local legends, including the story of notorious smuggler Resurrection Bob, who is said to have escaped capture by leaving his home in a coffin. It even settles the long-standing question of which is Brixham Harbours oldest pub.

The route begins at Brixham Heritage Museum and finishes at Vigilance of Brixham, moored on the Heritage Pontoon opposite the Prince William pub.

Following a 1.6 million restoration, Vigilance of Brixham will return to regular sailings around Tor Bay this summer. Both the restoration and the new heritage trail have been supported by funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The free trail guide, designed by Sam Cork of Brixham, is available from Brixham Town Hall, Brixham Library, Brixham Museum, and participating cafes, pubs and shops along the route.

Vigilance of Brixham BM76  Key Facts

Built: 1926 at Uphams Shipyard, Brixham

Significance: Last sailing trawler built in Brixham

Original Owner: Fishing skipper George Memery Foster

Wartime Role: Barrage balloon vessel during WWII

Rediscovered: 1997, Peel Harbour, Isle of Man

Historic Status: Listed on UK National Register of Historic Ships (1998)

Ownership: Volunteer-run charity

Restoration:

Total Cost: 1.6 million

Major Funders: National Heritage Memorial Fund; The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Shipyard: Stirling & Son, Plymouth

Materials: 40 oak trees used; 400 replanted in Devon

Today:
Artificial intelligence companies are leaving crypto startups in the dust, founders warn.

Paul Brody, the former EY global blockchain lead turned CEO of Nightfall Networks, told DL News that it's a bad time for crypto teams trying to raise capital.

Thats because AI companies are growing so quickly that expectations for new startups have risen sharply, he said.

What used to be seen as strong early performance  around $2 million in first-year revenue  is no longer enough, Brody said. Now, investors expect closer to $4 million.

In other words, that surge in expectations is making it harder for crypto startups to compete for funding.

Still, Brody sees some room for optimism.

The one silver lining is that at least some VCs are sitting back and saying, gee, we have an awful lot overcommitted to AI, he said. Maybe we need a little bit of other things in our portfolio.

And fundraising data from this week backs him up. Venture investors poured in nearly $37 million into crypto startups, DefiLlama data shows .

Here are the top three raises this week.

BetHog, $10 million

Edinburgh-based crypto casino BetHog raised $10 million in a Series A round, bringing its total funding so far to $16 million.

Will Ventures and RockawayX led the raise. Bullpen Capital, 6th Man Ventures,, and Advancit Capital also backed the round. The company was founded by Nigel Eccles and Rob Jones, the team behind FanDuel.

The company said that the funding will support Sentient Studios, a new business that lets casinos use AI-powered virtual dealers instead of human staff.

Hata, $8 million

Hata, the Malaysian crypto exchange, raised $8 million.Bybit led the round with support from global family offices. It follows a $4.2 million seed round in 2025, also backed by Bybit.

Hata says it holds licences from both Malaysias Securities Commission and the Labuan Financial Services Authority.

The platform has grown quickly, reaching over 200,000 users, according to the company.

Kaio, $8 million

Abu Dhabi-based KAIO raised $8 million in a round.

Stablecoin giant Tether led the raise with backing from Laser Digital, Systemic Ventures, and Further Ventures. Total funding now stands at $19 million.

KAIO builds blockchain infrastructure that allows regulated investment funds to be issued and traded on-chain. Its platform gives both retail and institutional investors access to major traditional funds, including those from BlackRock and Hamilton Lane.

Youre reading the latest instalment of The Weekly Raise, our column covering fundraising deals across the crypto and DeFi spaces, powered by DefiLlama.
NATIONAL Volunteering Week takes place during the third week of May every year and is dedicated to showcasing the contribution of volunteers and their impact on our communities.

National Volunteer Week 2026 celebrates volunteers under the theme From Every Corner, For Every Cause.

The theme emphasizes the collective power of volunteers in strengthening communities, supporting services, and creating meaningful connections. Volunteers contribute in numerous ways, including:

supporting older people to live independently, mentoring young people, protecting the environment, sustaining arts and culture and responding to crises and emergencies

The week also aligns with International Volunteer Year 2026, highlighting that volunteering in Ireland is part of a global movement addressing poverty, inequality, education, health, and climate action.

READ NEXT: Parking in Tullamore during major GAA matches 'a serious public safety hazard'

National Volunteer Week features a mix of online and in-person events, including seminars, workshops, yoga sessions, and community gatherings. The week is designed to celebrate, inspire, and recruit volunteers, while showcasing the positive impact of volunteering on communities across Ireland.

The 2026 NVW is sponsored by the Irish League of Credit Unions, reflecting the strong role volunteers play in supporting local services and organizations. Partner initiatives, such as Healthy Ireland, also contribute to promoting wellbeing and community engagement during the week.

Volunteering plays a huge role in Irish society and nowhere are we more conscious of that than here in Offaly where there are hundreds of organisations staffed by volunteers.

Along with the network of volunteer centres across the country, Volunteer Ireland uses National Volunteering Week to amplify the incredible stories of volunteering in our communities. Its a week full of events, and Offaly Volunteer Centre ensures a jam-packed suite to ensure Offaly is well-represented.

There are many ways for individuals and organizations to participate:V olunteers are asked to encourage friends to join, share your volunteering story on social media

Organisations are asked toost events such as coffee mornings, quizzes, or training sessions and to recognize volunteers with certificate and promote volunteering opportunities.

Volunteer Ireland provides resources and guidance for both individuals and organizations to maximize participation.

Deirdre Fox, the manager of Offaly Volunteer Centre, commented: For 51 weeks of the year, we liaise between organisations and volunteers- introducing them, facilitating partnership, and managing all the practicalities. However, for National Volunteer Week, we get the chance to say thank you, youre all fabulous and our Faithful County salutes you!

Our voluntary and community sector is fuelled by people who simply want to give back. They want to make our county and indeed, our country, a better place to live. They give of their own free time, whether out of civic duty, or to contribute to a sense of place-making. Whatever the motivation, we relish National Volunteering Week because we get to express our gratitude.

READ NEXT: Inaugural sponsored family fun walk for school in Offaly this Sunday

National Volunteering Week will be anchored by a digital campaign sharing personal volunteer stories and encouraging people across the county to think about the incredible impact that volunteers have on our communities.

Every day, people are giving their love and labour to care for senior citizens, tackle climate change, guide and mentor our youth, serve and strengthen the democratic process, feed the hungry, and keep communities healthy and safe.

Hundreds of thousands of Irish people collectively volunteer many hours of their time each year. During National Volunteering Week, we recognise the contributions that volunteers make every day and encourage all to discover their path to making a difference.

In fact, volunteering also benefits the volunteers. People who volunteer develop new skills, build their personal and professional networks, forge a deeper connection with their communities and service organizations, and experience the joy of serving a larger cause.

The opportunities to volunteer are seemingly limitless.Students gain real world experience, workers apply their skills to organisations that benefit from their experience and often develop new skills in the process.
Before MSBT, most spot Bitcoin ETFs were charging between 0.19% and 0.25%, with only Grayscale's Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15% being the cheapest. Then MSBT launched at 0.14%, undercutting the cheapest competitor by a full basis point (0.01%) and setting a new low for the entire market.

However, MSBT is not really competing for $10,000 retail accounts. The fund is competing for the institutional allocations that move billions. A pension fund deploying $100 million into Bitcoin saves $110,000 a year by holding MSBT instead of IBIT. And a sovereign wealth fund or asset manager allocating $1 billion saves about $1.1 million annuallyreal money that institutional investors don't leave on the table.

For most retail investors, the fee gap between MSBT and IBIT seems meaningless. On a $10,000 Bitcoin ETF position, MSBT's 0.14% fee versus IBIT's 0.25% works out to roughly $11 a yearand nobody is switching ETFs to save $11.

Can Morgan Stanley's MSBT actually overtake BlackRock's IBIT as the number one Bitcoin ETF? Here are three reasons we think MSBT could surpass IBIT.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks. Get them here FREE .

However, Morgan Stanley launched MSBT in early April, making it the first spot Bitcoin ETF from a major US bank, with the lowest fee in the market at 0.14%. The fund has already drawn $153 million in AUM. BlackRock's IBIT is still the giant at $55 billion, but for the first time, it has a worthy rival with the distribution, brand, and pricing to challenge it.

For two years, the question of who runs the spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) ETF market wasn't really a thing anyone needed to ask, with BlackRock's IBIT miles ahead of the rest. IBIT pulled in tens of billions, dominated daily BTC ETF trading volume, and built a 45-49% market share that nobody else came close to. The other ETF issuers, including Fidelity, Grayscale, Bitwise, and ARK 21Shares, shared the rest of the spoils.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE .

It could take years for MSBT to catch IBIT, as the latter manages $63 billion in assets, which is around 330 times more than MSBT. IBIT is also the most-traded Bitcoin ETF and dominates options.

Morgan Stanley is the first major US bank to issue a spot Bitcoin ETF under its own name, which gives MSBT the institutional reputation to match that of BlackRock.

MSBT charges 0.14%, the lowest fee of any spot Bitcoin ETF on the market, while IBIT charges 0.25%. The 11 basis-point gap The 11-basis-point gap (0.11%) between MSBT and IBIT saves $1.1 million a year for every $1 billion invested, which is meaningful enough to influence where big institutional money goes.

Story Continues

BlackRock has not cut IBIT's 0.25% fee in response, leaving Morgan Stanley with a real cost advantage that big institutional money pays attention to.

Reason 2: MSBT's Launch Momentum Is Among the Strongest of Any ETF Morgan Stanley Has Run

A9 STUDIO / Shutterstock.com

MSBT broke a record at Morgan Stanley on its first day of trading. The fund pulled in $34 million on day one and processed 1.6 million shares, making it the strongest opening day of any ETF Morgan Stanley has ever launched across all its asset classes.

Meanwhile, the launch happened in a brutal market environment. Bitcoin was trading around $70,000 with crypto sentiment at multi-month lows, and MSBT entered a crowded field of existing spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas ranked the debut in the top 1% of all ETF launches and called it arguably the biggest bitcoin ETF launch since they began. By day six, MSBT had pulled in over $100 millionmore than WisdomTree's spot BTC ETF had accumulated in over two years.

Notably, all of this happened with Morgan Stanley's full advisor network still warming up. The bank has 16,000 financial advisors managing roughly $6.2 trillion in client assets, but advisors don't move clients' money into a new fund overnight.

Even if just 2% of money across Morgan Stanley's client base went into Bitcoin ETFs, that could drive tens to hundreds of billions in demandinflows that would make MSBT a real threat to IBIT's lead. MSBT's $192 million in AUM after just over two weeks is just the early start of an advisor network that hasn't fully turned on yet.

Reason 3: Morgan Stanley's Reputation Is the Only One That Can Match BlackRock's

Stephen Chernin / Getty Images

The existing Bitcoin ETF field splits into two camps. On one side, asset managers like Fidelity, Invesco, VanEck, WisdomTree, and Franklin Templeton are respected names, but they're known mostly inside the ETF and mutual fund world.

On the other hand, crypto-native firms like Bitwise, ARK 21Shares, and Grayscale are credible with crypto investors but don't carry the same trust without the institutional wealth management standing. None of them carry the decades of trust BlackRock built up with pensions, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate treasuries.

However, Morgan Stanley is the first major US bank to issue a spot Bitcoin ETF under its own name, which puts it in a separate category compared to other existing issuers. Banks earn trust differently from asset managers, as they manage wealth across generations, hold long-standing client relationships, and have brand weight in rooms where firms like Fidelity or Bitwise don't show up.

Morgan Stanley's brand is also ranked #199 in the Global Top 1000 Brands list, while BlackRock comes in at #602. And such a gap could be vital when a big institution is choosing where to put hundreds of millions into Bitcoin.

So, Morgan Stanley matches IBIT on reputation, and that removes BlackRock's biggest advantage. For two years, the case for IBIT was simplea trusted name, easy to trade in big sizes, and the lowest reasonable fee. The other issuers couldn't match IBIT in any of those cases. Now, Morgan Stanley can do just that with the same big-investor credibility, a lower fee, and a wealth network that gets new money into MSBT before it ever sees IBIT.

What MSBT Still Has to Overcome to Catch IBIT

Andrew Angelov / Shutterstock.com

The size gap between MSBT and IBIT is enormous. IBIT manages around $63 billion in assets, which is roughly 330 times what MSBT has accumulated in its first two and a half weeks. IBIT is also the most-traded Bitcoin ETF in the market, with about 70% of all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF trading volume and lower trading costs for active traders.

Bloomberg's James Seyffart put it bluntly: "IBIT is the most liquid ETF for trading and in the options market and it's unlikely MSBT will ever compete with that. At least not anytime remotely soon."

The options market is also where IBIT's lead is hardest to break. IBIT was the first spot Bitcoin ETF approved for options trading in late 2024, and its options open interest just passed Deribit'sthe offshore venue that has run the Bitcoin options market since 2016. Once big traders build their positions around a venue, they don't easily move them. MSBT doesn't have an options market yet, and even if it gets one approved, it would still take years for that market to mature.

Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas projects MSBT could reach $5 billion in AUM in its first year  a strong launch by any standard, but still less than 10% of where IBIT is right now. Catching IBIT will take years of advisors continuing to push MSBT and BlackRock not defending its liquidity and options leadand that doesn't seem realistic, at least for now.

Can MSBT Actually Take the Number 1 Bitcoin ETF Spot?

MSBT has the strongest setup of any Bitcoin ETF challenger IBIT has faced, but flipping BlackRock's lead will take years. Morgan Stanley is building a complete crypto setup, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana ETFs, and retail crypto trading on E*Trade for 5.2 million users.

Theres also a National Trust Bank Charter under OCC review for custody and staking, and a wealth management network already moving clients into Bitcoin investments. Every layer of that buildout adds another entry point that funnels client capital into MSBT first.

Over the next 12 months, three things could decide which way this goes. MSBT's Q1 2027 inflow numbers will reveal whether advisors are actually moving client money in, or whether the launch hype was front-loaded.

Then the Ethereum and Solana trust approvals will signal whether Morgan Stanley's bank-led approach gets repeated across crypto, which would expand its lead. And BlackRock's response will matter most. If IBIT cuts its fee, Morgan Stanley will lose its clearest advantage. None of these are guaranteed, but if MSBT keeps pulling in money while BlackRock holds its fees, the gap will close faster than most expect.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

This analyst's 2025 picks are up 106% on average. He just named his top 10 stocks to buy in 2026. Get them here FREE.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High near 75F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
John McDermott has been the business editor of The Post and Courier since 2006. He's written about all facets of the South Carolina economy, served in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii-Manoa journalism program.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Ed Lab reporter

Anna B. Mitchell is a Greenville-based investigative reporter for the Post and Courier's Education Lab team. A licensed English and social studies teacher, Anna covers education in the Upstate and collaborates with other reporters for coverage on statewide education trends. She studied history at the University of North Carolina, journalism at the University of Missouri, and holds an MBA from the University of Applied Sciences in Wurzburg. For fun, Anna plays bassoon, visits her family in Germany as often as she can, and takes her doggy, Ashe, for long walks with her daughter and husband.
Strategy's Bitcoin (BTC) treasury climbed to a record $63.46 billion as of April 26, with the company holding 815,061 BTC across 107 purchase events at an average cost of $75,528 per coin.

The treasury has gained nearly $2 billion over the past week, rising from $61.56 billion as Bitcoin extended its rally and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor signaled continued accumulation.

Strategy Cements Position as Largest Corporate Bitcoin Holder

The new high follows the firm's most aggressive month of buying in well over a year. Strategy added 34,164 BTC for roughly $2.54 billion last week at an average price of $74,395 per coin, its largest single-week purchase in 17 months.

That acquisition vaulted the company past BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust as the largest publicly disclosed Bitcoin holder, second only to the dormant wallets attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto. Strategy now controls roughly three-quarters of all Bitcoin held by corporate treasury vehicles.

The firm's cost basis sits at $75,528, and current spot prices place its unrealized gain at 3.08%, or $1.9 billion above what it has paid for its stack to date.

April Purchase Marks 17-Month Buying Peak

The April buying spree was financed through a mix of capital instruments rather than through dilutive common stock issuance. Strategy raised $2.18 billion through the sale of STRF perpetual preferred equity and added $366 million from at-the-market sales of MSTR shares, according to company filings.

Saylor has also pointed to a 9.5% Bitcoin yield year-to-date in 2026, the firm's internal metric for measuring how much its BTC-per-share ratio has grown for common shareholders. That figure forms the core of MicroStrategy's case to equity holders for continuing to issue capital to buy the asset.

The company's monthly buying pace has put a one million BTC target back into analyst conversations, with some projections placing the milestone within reach by late 2026 if current capital market conditions hold.

Saylor Signals Continued Bitcoin Buying

Critics like Peter Schiff have warned of a potential "death spiral" in Strategy's preferred equity model, arguing that sustaining the 11.5% yield on STRC requires either stronger Bitcoin performance or continuous capital raises that could dilute shareholders.

However, Saylor's posture suggests the buying cadence will not slow. Bitcoin's broader rally into April has been uneven, with profit-taking around the $76,000 level capping earlier breakout attempts. The
Quick Response and Courts Reporter

Alan Hovorka is a breaking news and courts reporter for The Post & Courier. After graduating from Ball State University in Indiana, he spent five years covering government and education in central Wisconsin before coming to the Lowcountry.
Watchdog/Public Service Editor

Glenn Smith is Deputy Managing Editor for Investigations and Public Service. He leads the Watchdog and Public Service team and helped write the newspapers Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation, Till Death Do Us Part. Reach him securely on Signal at 843-607-0809 or by email at gsmith5@protonmail.com.
Former state Sen. Gerald Malloy, speaking here with Jennifer Pinckney, a survivor of the shooting at Emanuel AME, was one of the attorneys who successfully sued three Russian companies for stoking racial hatred on social media. The companies, the lawsuit claimed, intended to tear the United States apart from the inside.
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-26 17:05:32

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 343 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 26, 2026 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or "the Company") (NYSE:JKS). Investors who purchased JinkoSolar securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/JKS JinkoSolar Investigation DetailsOn April 16, 2026, JinkoSolar reported fourth-quarter 2025 financial results, including a non-cash impairment charge exceeding $200 million, which drove a GAAP loss of $214.5 million. These results were at odds with various statements by JinkoSolar's officers during the Company's earnings call on November 17, 2025, discussing the Company's third-quarter financial results. On this news, JinkoSolar's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.88 per ADR, or 11.89%, to close at $21.34 per ADR on April 16, 2026.What's Next for JinkoSolar Investors?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased JinkoSolar securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/JKS . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 917-590-0911No Cost to JinkoSolar InvestorsWe, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for JinkoSolar Securities Investigation?Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide."Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Contact InfoPeretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan MillerBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC 917-590-0911 | info@ bgandg.com Attorney advertising.Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-26 00:01:59

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 374 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 25, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Coty Inc. ("Coty" or the "Company") (NYSE:COTY). 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 Coty and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until May 22, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Coty 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 4 and 5, 2026, Coty announced its financial results for the second quarter fiscal year 2026, which included disappointing results with worsening performance in the Consumer Beauty segment. The Company also noted the recent transition of its Chief Executive Officer in conjunction with the below-expectation results. Coty further withdrew its fiscal year 2026 guidance for EBITDA and revised the Company's near-term outlook downward. Coty attributed its results and lowered guidance to a combination of macroeconomic factors including rising costs and uncertain consumer demand and lack of "operational discipline" in both Prestige and Consumer Beauty segments.On this news, Coty's stock price fell $0.77 per share, or 22.45%, over two trading sessions, to close at $2.66 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
PR-Inside.com: 2026-04-26 00:15:06

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 439 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 25, 2026 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of SES AI Corporation (NYSE:SES) resulting from allegations that Barclays may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased SES AI Corporation securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=56471 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 5, 2026, Benzinga published an article entitled "SES AI Stock Plunges 30% After Weak 2026 Revenue Guidance." The article stated that SES AI stock fell after "the lithium-metal battery developer posted mixed fourth-quarter results and issued a 2026 sales outlook that trailed Wall Street expectations." On this news, SES AI Corporation stock fell 36.8% on March 5, 2026.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.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.
The Nigerian government has initiated fresh efforts to address mounting cost pressures in the aviation sector, following a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

The meeting, held in Abuja on Saturday, focused on practical steps to reduce the operational burden on domestic airlines amid rising costs, particularly the persistent volatility in aviation fuel prices.

In a statement issued by the aviation ministers Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, both ministers acknowledged that fluctuations in the price of aviation fuel continue to exert significant pressure on airlines, affecting route connectivity, passenger traffic, and overall sector performance.

According to the statement, the discussions were centred on identifying workable solutions to stabilise the industry and ensure the sustainability of local carriers.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The focus is on practical and sustainable measures that will deliver real relief to operators, the statement said.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that more airlines may shut down if the rising cost of aviation fuel persists, despite interventions by President Bola Tinubu. The warning was issued by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who said the current operating environment is becoming increasingly unsustainable for local carriers.

Airline operators say rising aviation fuel costs continue to threaten their survival, as mounting expenses eat deep into already thin margins.

The impact is also beginning to affect passengers. On Saturday, some passengers of Air Peace lamented flight delays and repeated rescheduling, linking the disruptions to ongoing fuel constraints. Industry stakeholders say the situation is forcing airlines to adjust schedules and scale back operations, raising fresh concerns about reliability and overall passenger experience.

The ministers explored areas of collaboration, including policy alignment, fiscal interventions, and innovative financing mechanisms aimed at improving liquidity, enhancing efficiency, and attracting investment into the aviation sector.

They also emphasised the broader economic role of aviation, noting that the industry remains critical to trade facilitation, tourism development, and regional integration.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to implementing reforms that would strengthen the sector and position Nigerias aviation industry for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

As part of the next steps, the ministers agreed to sustain close collaboration and continuous engagement with key stakeholders to ensure that proposed reforms translate into tangible benefits for airlines, investors, and passengers.

The government said the shift towards coordinated policy action and financing solutions is expected to ease operational pressures on airlines and improve service delivery across the sector.
Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Al-Balawi, and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, have met to deepen cooperation across key sectors of the economy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Al-Balawi received Mr Dangote on Friday at his residence in the Diplomatic Quarter in Abuja.

The envoy said the engagement reflects the growing momentum in SaudiNigerian economic relations and the shared commitment of both sides to deepen cooperation across key sectors, including energy, industry, and infrastructure.

He said the meeting underscored the strong and evolving economic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, with discussions focusing on a range of investment opportunities of mutual interest.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

READ ALSO: Dangote Group eyes crude production as upstream project records first output

According to him, particular attention was given to the outcomes of Mr Dangotes recent visit to the Kingdom, as well as the promising opportunities available to the Dangote Group in Saudi Arabia, in addition to those offered by the Groups companies to Saudi investors.

The envoy also hosted a dinner in honour of Mr Dangote and presented him with a commemorative gift to mark his visit.

(NAN)
The investment banking giant Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is expanding its presence in the digital asset industry with a strategic new move into the stablecoin sector.

The firms investment management division, MSIM, has introduced the Stablecoin Reserves Portfolio.

This government money market fund is designed specifically for stablecoin issuers who need a regulated and secure environment to store the cash backing their digital tokens.

Related: JPMorgan issues blunt warning as investors move to safety

A secure home for digital assets

When a company creates a stablecoina digital asset pegged to the value of a currency like the U.S. dollarit is required to hold real-world assets in reserve as a guarantee.

Morgan Stanleys new fund (MSNXX) serves as a specialized storage solution for these reserves.

The fund focuses on the safest and most liquid financial tools available, such as U.S. Treasury bills and repurchase agreements. These are essentially short-term loans to the government that are designed to preserve capital while providing a nearly risk-free return.

Unlike standard investment funds that fluctuate in price, this portfolio targets a steady $1 net asset value, allowing issuers to bypass market volatility.

Trending on TheStreet Roundtable:

Strategic timing for federal rules

The stablecoin reserve aims to be complaint with the requirements of the GENIUS Actformally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act.

Signed by President Donald Trump in July 2025, the law mandates that stablecoin providers hold their reserves in high-quality, regulated vehicles.

By launching the fund now, Morgan Stanley is positioned to capture this business.

Fred McMullen, co-head of global liquidity at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, noted the sectors potential in a recent statement.

The significant increase in stablecoin issuers as well as the growing number of assets held in stablecoins represents an evolving portion of the marketplace that is ripe for future growth, McMullen stated.

More News:

A broadening digital portfolio

This initiative is part of a wider effort by Morgan Stanley to integrate with the blockchain economy. The bank recently launched the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT). The bank priced the fund at an annual fee of just 14 basis points (0.14%), making it the lowest-cost spot Bitcoin ETF on the market.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has raised concerns over rising passenger complaints against domestic airlines, warning operators to improve service delivery amid ongoing disruptions linked to aviation fuel shortages, bird strikes, and other operational challenges.

In a post shared on his official X page on Sunday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said that a majority of the authoritys complaints are linked to two airlines, though he did not name them.

He noted that while airlines face difficult operating conditions, including the current Jet A1 fuel crisis, bird strikes and other force majeure events, they must prioritise transparency and passenger care.

Majority of domestic air passenger complaints are against two airlines. While we understand the extenuating circumstances around jet fuel, bird strikes, and other force majeure cases, it is important that all airlines pay serious attention to the provision of information to passengers during disruptions, refunds and compensations within time, he wrote.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Mr Achimugu stressed that failure to refund passengers promptly or to communicate effectively damages the aviation sectors image and erodes public trust.

You cannot take money from passengers and refuse to refund. It gives us a bad image. Circumstances are as difficult for the passengers as they are for operators, if not more, he added.

He also criticised situations where airline staff are unavailable to attend to passengers during delays, urging operators to improve frontline response.

When a disruption occurs, airline staff must be available to provide information and provide care, he said, noting that avoiding passengers due to fear of confrontation is not acceptable.

The NCAA official further warned that persistent service lapses could undermine confidence in the sector at a critical time.

We cannot afford to lose the confidence of the general travelling public at this time. There is a lot at stake.

He also referenced ongoing government support to the aviation industry under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, noting that operators must match such support with improved service delivery.

The remarks come as Nigerias aviation sector continues to grapple with rising fuel costs, flight delays and cancellations, placing increasing pressure on both airlines and passengers.

The NCAA has, in recent weeks, reiterated that airlines must comply with consumer protection regulations, including providing timely updates, refreshments during delays, and compensation where applicable.
Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the countrys commitment to ending malaria as the world marked World Malaria Day 2026.

In her statement, Mrs Tinubu said the 2026 theme highlights the need for sustained collaboration, increased domestic financing, and innovative solutions to address drug resistance and unequal access to healthcare.

She called for strengthened prevention efforts and expanded access to life-saving interventions, stressing that vulnerable communities must not be left behind.

When we stand united, we can achieve a malaria-free world, she said.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Nigerias malaria burden

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2022 malaria report, Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in the country, with an estimated 68 million cases annually.

Transmission occurs year-round across Nigeria, though its intensity varies by region.

In the southern part of the country, transmission is perennial, while in the north, it is typically limited to three months or less.

The highest incidence is recorded in the northern and north-eastern regions.

World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day is observed annually on 25 April to raise awareness about malaria and mobilise global efforts towards its control and eventual elimination.

Established by the WHO in 2007, the day provides an opportunity for governments, health organisations, and communities to reflect on progress made and the challenges that remain in tackling one of the worlds deadliest diseases.

Each year, the commemoration is guided by a theme that highlights priority actions.

The 2026 theme, Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must, underscores the need for collective action, increased investment, and innovative approaches to address persistent gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

It also highlights the importance of community engagement in sustaining gains and preventing resurgence.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has mocked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over an image showing him apparently dozing off during Saturdays opposition summit in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr Basiru shared the image on his Facebook page on Sunday, captioning it: And the opposition leader slept at the all-important opposition summit..

The photo, a screen grab from a live broadcast by Arise News, showed Mr Atiku seated beside Kabiru Turaki, the national chairman of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the meeting.

The post quickly drew a flurry of reactions from Facebook users, many of them critical or sarcastic.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

A user, Ojewande Taiwo, wrote, This is the man that wants to rescue Nigeria! Its better he rescues himself.

Another commenter, Tunde Obasemola, said, So shall the election be lost and won while in slumber.

Some reactions were humorous. Thunderson Adaramola posted laughing emojis, while Deji Omo Akinsola-Fakanlu defended Mr Atiku jokingly, saying he was just communing with the gods  he was not sleeping.

Johnson Erayanmen added, Please have some sleep, sleepless nights na water.

Other commenters took a broader political stance. One user, Thunderson Adaramola, urged the former vice president to step aside and act as a statesman, while Wale Adeyemo suggested internal divisions within the opposition, claiming most leaders were backing Mr Atikus ambition over others.

Beyond the social media reactions, Mr Basiru also questioned the legitimacy of the Ibadan meeting itself.

In comments reported by The Nation, he described the gathering as a ruse, arguing that it did not constitute a formal meeting of political parties.

For parties to meet, there must be prior authorisation from their National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC). Without that, it is simply a gathering of individuals, he said.

If they now claim that ten political parties met to gang up against one party, it contradicts their earlier narrative. It shows that the political space remains open, but they lack the strength to compete individually.

The summit, held at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan, brought together key opposition figures, including Peter Obi, Aminu Tambuwal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, among others.

In a communique issued after the meeting, opposition parties  including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)  announced plans to field a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election to challenge the ruling APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The parties also accused the APC of attempting to steer Nigeria toward a one-party state and called for urgent amendments to the Electoral Act 2026.

They further expressed concerns about the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing alleged bias.

Despite being portrayed as sleeping during the event, former Vice President Atiku struck a unifying tone in his own remarks about the summit.

In a Facebook post, he said opposition leaders had spoken with one voice and stressed the need to build a united front.

The time has come to forge a united opposition, bound by purpose and driven by the sacred duty to defend and sustain our democracy, he wrote, thanking Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for hosting the event.
In February 2025, Nigeria announced a $32.8 million fine for data privacy violations against Meta Platform Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. But the government went quiet when it reversed course by writing off the fine after striking a deal with the tech giant in October last year.

Under the settlement agreement, Nigeria consented to freeing Meta of all liabilities regarding the alleged violations, letting the company get away without any fine.

In return for Nigeria writing off the fine, which resulted from about 17 months of investigation by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Meta pledged to be ethical in the handling of Nigerians data in the future.

The tech company bore no financial liability except agreeing to offset the legal fees Nigeria incurred in the court case it instituted to challenge NDPCs Final Orders.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

When Nigeria imposed the fine last year, it joined a growing list of countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU), that have slapped Meta and other tech companies with significant fines over data privacy breaches and other safety risks their platforms expose users to.

The companies have been forced to regularly address policy gaps to better guarantee data privacy and address safety concerns associated with exposures on social media platforms. Governments have also updated their laws and regulations and increased scrutiny to keep up with emerging threats, strengthening compliance and enforcement.

Nigerias move was seen as a landmark step and one of the first of its kind in Africa. But the confidence it stirred slumped when Nigeria reversed the sanctions last year.

Regulatory action is strongest when there is a clear finding of a breach, backed by penalties and the risk of further sanctions. Setting aside the earlier orders removed that weight, leaving the commitments with little additional force, said Iliya-Ezekiel Ndatse, a data protection lawyer.

Nigeria, through the NDPC, signed a settlement agreement with Meta on 30 October 2025, details of which have not been previously reported, to forgo the $32.8 million fine in the Final Orders the agency issued against the company on 18 February 2025.

PREMIUM TIMES has now obtained the certified true copies of the settlement agreement entered into by the NPDC and Meta and the consent judgement given on 3 November 2025 by the Federal High Court in Abuja based on the deal.

Media outlets, including PREMIUM TIMES, reported the delivery of the judgement in November last year, but not the details of the agreement.

Months after the NPDC entered into the agreement and the court gave it a judicial stamp, the agency and the government have continued to keep the details to themselves.

The development is a reminder of the fog of secrecy that, to date, envelopes the deal the Nigerian government claimed to strike with Twitter (now X) in the aftermath of the ban on the platform in Nigeria in June 2021.

How it started

Exercising its powers under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), the NPDC, Nigerias data governing agency, launched an investigation on 20 September 2023 into Metas activities in Nigeria.

The probe centred on Metas alleged breaches of Nigerias data protection laws and the privacy rights of over 60 million Nigerian data subjects.

NPDC and Meta exchanged written communications, and their representatives met in person multiple times during the investigations.

After 17 months of the probe, NPDC issued its Final Orders on 18 February 2025, which outlined sweeping findings and remedial directives.

The commission said it found that Meta did not seek express, specific and unambiguous consent from users for behavioural advertising.

It also ordered a stop to the transfer of Nigerians personal data outside the country without approval, the collection of non-users data, and the companys use of algorithms, which could expose data subjects to health and financial risks.

To safeguard Nigerians data privacy and rights, NPDC ordered Meta to obtain proper user consent, conduct a Data Processing Impact Assessment on the human rights and democratic impacts of its systems, and update its privacy policy to reflect the risks posed by profiling.

NPDC also ordered the company to stop transferring data abroad without NDPC approval, cease collecting non-users data, and provide educational tools on the dangers of unlawful data processing.

The commission further directed the company to ensure fair access for Nigerian users and businesses, implement adequate technical and organisational safeguards for data protection, and pay the Naira equivalent of $32.8 million as a remedial fee.

However, following the NDPCs final orders and notice, Meta filed a legal challenge to the sanctions at the Federal High Court in Abuja and even threatened to shut down its operations in Nigeria.

On 4 March 2025, the companys lawyer, Fred Onuofia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged Judge James Omotosho to grant an interim order staying the enforcement of NPDCs final orders.

However, the judge turned down the request and opted to hear all parties out once and for all.

Following this, Meta filed the substantive suit on 19 March 2025, alleging that the NDPC had denied it a fair hearing and due process. It sought to quash the enforcement orders, which it said breached its right to a fair hearing under section 36 of the Nigerian constitution.

In response, the NDPC filed a preliminary objection, contending that the suit was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

The settlement

On 3 October, when the court was to deliver its decision, both parties disclosed that they had agreed to end the dispute amicably.

Within one month, they hammered out a settlement agreement dated 30 October 2025, which they filed in court the next day. The document was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPCs Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, and Anna Benckert, Metas Vice President and Associate General Counsel, International Legal. The parties lawyers also signed the document, with Fred Onuobia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), representing Meta, and Adeola Adedipe, also a SAN, representing NDPC.

On 3 November 2025, the court adopted the settlement agreement as a consent judgement, effectively writing off the $32.8 million awarded in the Final Orders as a remedial fee.

The terms of settlement hinged on two broad underlying principles:

 Meta offered to give specific remedial considerations in support of protecting the rights of data subjects in Nigeria; and

 NPDC conceded to setting aside and waiving any rights to enforce or take steps to enforce the Final Orders against Meta.

The settlement agreement cleared both parties of liabilities.

The agreement states that the execution of the settlement agreement would not constitute either an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of either party or conceding their legal positions expressed in connection with the Matters.

In another part of the settlement agreement, Meta agreed to use its best endeavours to continuously improve its technical and organisational measures, taking into account the applicable obligations and/or principles set out in the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).

In doing so, the firm conceded to act in line with the obligations under the NDP Act to process personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently; and to rely on an appropriate lawful basis when processing personal data, including for the purpose of behavioural advertising.

It will also act to meet the requirements under the NDP Act for conducting a Data Privacy Impact Assessment in Nigeria; and safeguards for cross border transfers of personal data.

Therefore, Meta wholly and completely terminates, abandons, withdraws, and discontinues the Originating Summons as well as any and all claims against the Respondent connected to or arising from the Matters or the subject matter thereof, except as the parties have otherwise agreed.

It also agreed to pay NPDCs legal counsels fees directly to the lawyers engaged by the commission for the suit.

For its part, NPDC sets aside the Final Orders against Meta.

It also fully and firmly releases and discharges Meta from any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, contracts, obligations, suits, debts, costs, liabilities which the agency may ever have, may now have, or may hereafter claim to have against Meta in respect of the matters as defined in the agreement.

But the settlement agreement included a caveat that allows the NPDC to take on the company in the event of any future infractions.

For the avoidance of doubt, paragraph 9.2 above will not restrict the Respondent from engaging in its statutory duties under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 with respect to the Applicant so long as it does not enforce or take steps to enforce the Final Orders or initiate new proceedings or issue new orders concerning the Matters as defined in paragraph 5 above, the agreement reads. The paragraph 5 referenced the suit instituted by Meta.

The parties agreed that the terms of the agreement shall also have the force of a contract notwithstanding that they shall also be a judgement of the honourable court.

Nigerias trade-offs

A PREMIUM TIMES review of the terms of settlement side-by-side with the Final Orders shows that the $32.8 million was not the only trade-off Nigeria conceded to in the deal.

In the near-complete about-turn, Nigeria not only wrote off the fine and freed Meta from liabilities, but also agreed to abandon the specific privacy and safety measures the Final Orders directed Meta to implement. At best, the directives were rewritten in broad, vague terms.

For instance, the final orders asked Meta to immediately seek express, specific and unambiguous consent of data subjects in Nigeria in all circumstances where their personal information will be processed for behavioural advertising.

It also asked Meta to carry out a Data Processing Impact Assessment of how its algorithm or other methodologies enable and amplify the processing of personal data  taking into account the impact of this processing on human rights and peaceable, democratic development of Nigeria.

Meta was also ordered to immediately update its Privacy Policy and provide information relating to expert opinions on the consequences of profiling or and how processing of personal data may expose users to specific risks, particularly health risks.

In the place of these specific measures contained in the Final Orders, the settlement agreement asked Meta to use its best endeavours to continuously improve its technical and organisational measures in the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act) and meet other obligations and requirements in the law.

While the final orders also directed that Meta shall cease and desist from transferring data out of Nigeria without the approval of the Commission in line with the NDP Act, the settlement agreement simply asked Meta to ensure safeguards for cross-border transfers of personal data.

The Final Orders also directed Meta to cease and desist from collecting the personal data of non-users from its users, adding that consent of its users is not a lawful basis for collecting and uploading the personal data of non-users to its servers outside Nigeria. But the settlement agreement did not specifically address the collection of non-users data. The nearest to that is a line that asked Meta to rely on an appropriate lawful basis when processing personal data, including for behavioural advertising.

More directives were totally removed

Some measures directed in the Final Orders were completely removed from the settlement agreement.

Meta was initially ordered to provide an appropriate icon as a link to educative videos on the dangers of manipulative, unlawful or unfair data processing which might expose data subjects to health and financial risks or other destructive or fatal risks. This directive considered the scale and impact of Metas processing involving over 60 million data subjects in Nigeria. But it was removed from the settlement agreement.

The Final Orders also directed Metal to create educational programmes through the active participation of educational institutions and non-profit organisations approved by the commission. This, too, did not make it to the settlement agreement.

Meta was also ordered to ensure that data subjects and businesses in Nigeria were given similar opportunities to benefit from Meta Platforms as their counterparts in Europe and the United States. This was intended to help meet an objective of the NDP Act regarding the development of Nigerias digital economy. However, the settlement agreement was silent on this.

The Final Orders also directed the tech giant to put in place adequate technical and organisational measures including collaboration with educational and civil society organisations for the protection of data privacy on its platforms. Such measures shall involve prompt deletion of unlawful personal data posted on its platforms, the Final Orders said. This also did not make it to the settlement agreement, except as inferred from the obligations the NDP Act places on all social media platforms.

Its remediation strategy  NDPC

Despite the huge differences between the Final Orders and the settlement agreement the NDPC had with Meta, the agency claims it was a good deal.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, NDPCs spokesperson, Itunu Dosekun, lauded the settlement agreement, which he said reflects the commissions broader approach to addressing issues with tech companies.

Mr Dosekun said the commission aims to promote businesses, not to spoil businesses but also ensure organisations respect peoples privacy. He said the decision to settle prioritised a balance between regulation and economic growth.

Its not just about paying fines but also doing the right thing creating initiatives and awareness on data protection and privacy, he said, adding that the commission adopted a remediation approach, focusing on correcting breaches rather than relying solely on fines.

On compliance, he said the commission is working hand in hand with them to ensure that they are doing the right thing, which they are complying with. He pointed to awareness campaigns carried out across Metas platforms. They posted different content regarding awareness and privacy in collaboration with the commission.

Concerns mount

But many Nigerians are not as optimistic or confident about the commissions steps as Mr Dosekun.

Tracy Keshi, project manager at the Tech Justice and Digital Governance Programme of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), said the settlement agreement weakens the NDPCs leverage. She said, The withdrawal of the fine and suspension of enforcement orders reduces immediate regulatory pressure, which can set a precedent that large tech companies can negotiate around penalties.

Mr Ndatse, the data protection lawyer, noted that obligations in the agreement, such as lawful processing, user consent, data impact assessments and safeguards for cross-border data transfers, are already required under the NDP Act.

However, he said, the settlement agreement weakens the earlier regulatory action and does not provide the same level of protection.

Hence, the lawyer maintained that setting aside the initial orders only reduces the impact of enforcement.

Mr Ndatse said the agreement now relies largely on future monitoring rather than immediate enforcement, making it weaker in practice.

Ms Keshi echoed this concern, noting that the key difference is enforceability; regulatory teeth are dulled. Compliance is now reliant on Metas voluntary cooperation.

She, however, sees a silver lining, saying the settlement shows the NDPC can engage major platforms and secure commitments from them, which sets a positive precedent.

Also, Israel Boboye, a monitoring and evaluation officer at CJID, said that although the NDP Act provides a legal framework, there was previously no clear agreement between regulators and companies on how the rules should be applied in practice.

He added that data protection in Nigeria goes beyond the Meta case, reflecting broader gaps in how data is handled and understood.

Many users and organisations still do not fully understand and are not complying with basic standards, Mr Boboye said.

No shift

Many observers have also yet to see any clear-cut benefits accruing to Nigerian data subjects from the settlement agreement.

Mr Ndatse said Metas current data protection features on its social media platforms, including privacy notices and consent options, are part of its global system, shaped by stricter regulations in jurisdictions such as Europe.

From a public perspective, there is no strong evidence of a noticeable shift in how Nigerian users data is treated, he said, adding that there are yet to be any Nigeria-specific privacy policies or tailored consent mechanisms reflecting local legal requirements.

Even when Nigerian users notice some improvements in interface transparency, Ms Keshi said, the deeper structural and procedural changes needed for meaningful data protection remain largely unverified. Cross-border data flows, the area of highest risk, remain opaque, and without third-party audits or NDPC disclosures on behavioural advertising, it is difficult to assess real change, she said.

To know if Meta has become more accountable and transparent in processing data from Nigeria, she said, users should see clear prompts before behavioural ads are displayed rather than buried in fine print. She added that Meta should publish updates or reports on its data processing in Nigeria.

She said users must have control over what data is collected and whether it is shared abroad.

She also said Meta should actively participate in campaigns, training, or partnerships to educate Nigerians about their digital rights, while ensuring transferred data should have contractual or technical safeguards such as encryption or binding corporate rules.

For Mr Boboye, data protection in Nigeria goes beyond the Meta case, reflecting broader gaps in how data is handled and understood.

Many users and organisations still do not fully understand and are not complying with basic standards, he said.

Watch Video Here
Malis Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed in a coordinated wave of attacks by jihadist and separatist forces who struck many locations including the countrys capital on Saturday.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated outside the residence of Mr Camara in a rare collaborative attack by fighters of Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, and members of the Azawad Liberation Front otherwise known as FLA.

Mr Camara reportedly died after sustaining injuries in the VBIED attack. Al Jazeera quotes Malian sources as confirming his death.

His death represents a major blow to Malis military government as he was central to the coup that brought the junta to power.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The Malian military confirmed the attacks in a statement, saying the assailants suffered immediate setback and that many were neutralised.

In the capital region, gunfire and explosions were reported in Kati, home to Malis main military base, as well as near Bamakos airport and other key installations. Authorities shut down Airbase 101 as a precaution, while unverified reports suggested a military helicopter may have been downed.

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, even as the United States Embassy in Mali advised against all travel due to the deteriorating security environment.

The latest offensive underscores the entrenched presence of jihadists across the Sahel, including in Mali. JNIM arguably the most violent extremist group in the Sahelhas demonstrated its ability to blockade key supply routes, mount complex assaults on military bases, and exert influence over rural populations.

Apart from JNIM, Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) is also active in Mali and other Sahelian states. While the two groups have at times clashed, their parallel campaigns have collectively strained Malis security architecture, particularly in the north and central regions where state presence remains limited.

Despite the Saturday attacks, analysts caution against drawing premature conclusions about state collapse.

Philip Brant, a researcher focused on the Lake Chad region and the Sahel, said: Nothing indicates that there will be an imminent collapse of the Malian state so far.

READ ALSO: Russia arrests German citizen for allegedly plotting terror attack

The attacks lasted for several hours with observers saying peace has since returned to parts of the country.

As expected, after several hours of fighting, calm has returned to Bamako and its vicinity (Kati and Senou) after the intervention of the Malian Air Force and the Africa Corps, Mr Brant posted on X, noting that several JNIM militants were killed while others were reportedly lynched by crowds.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticised Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over remarks referencing the violent Operation Wetie era, describing his comments as dangerous, reckless and unbecoming of a sitting governor.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party accused Mr Makinde of inciting violence and undermining national stability through his comments at a political gathering in Ibadan on Saturday, 25 April.

Mr Makinde had spoken at a summit of opposition political party leaders, where he warned against what he described as growing attempts to consolidate legislative control under one party, while opposition parties struggle with internal crises and legal disputes.

The governor invoked the historical memory of Operation Wetie, cautioning that political developments in the country were beginning to echo troubling precedents.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

For those that are carrying on as if theres no tomorrow, they should remember that Operation Wetie started from here. This is the same Wild Wild West, Mr Makinde said, referencing Ibadans role in Nigerias political history.

What is Operation Wetie?

Operation Wetie refers to a period of intense political violence that engulfed Nigerias Western Region in the mid-1960s, with Ibadan at its centre.

The phrase, derived from a Yoruba expression meaning wet him, described a brutal tactic in which political opponents, their homes and properties were doused with petrol and set ablaze.

The violence followed the highly disputed 1965 regional elections, widely believed to have been rigged in favour of the ruling faction, effectively excluding the opposition from power.

The crisis contributed to a breakdown of law and order in the region, often described as the Wild Wild West, and is widely regarded as one of the events that heightened political instability in the First Republic, preceding the military intervention of 1966.

APC condemns remarks

Reacting, Mr Morka said the governors comments amounted to a deliberate attempt to incite Nigerians to violence over what it described as baseless and senseless claims that the country is drifting towards a one-party state.

He said it was particularly troubling that a serving governor, who holds constitutional responsibility as the chief security officer of his state, would invoke one of Nigerias darkest political episodes in a manner it believes could inflame tensions.

The APC warned that such rhetoric could fuel unrest, lawlessness, and instability if left unchecked, urging security and intelligence agencies to take the matter seriously to safeguard lives and property.

Makindes violent rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere opposition posturing. His statement risks fueling anarchy, murderous rage and widespread lawlessness capable of undermining national stability, Mr Morka warned.

He also argued that constitutional immunity does not shield public officials from accountability where national security is threatened, insisting that no individual, regardless of status, should make statements capable of endangering citizens or democratic order.

Beyond condemning Mr Makindes remarks, Mr Morka criticised opposition parties, dismissing concerns about one-party dominance as an attempt to mask internal dysfunction.

He said opposition groups are grappling with self-inflicted crises stemming from poor leadership, factional disputes, disregard for due process and competing presidential ambitions.

The APC, again, vehemently rejects attempts by confused opposition leaders to frame their internal shambles in alarmist narratives about so-called one-party domination.

The opposition parties are victims of self-inflicted injuries arising from anti-democratic practices, miserably poor leadership, internal contradictions, utter disregard for due process and the rule of law, persistent factionalization, and the desperate and dissonant presidential ambitions of their leaders, Mr Morka added.

He specifically accused Atiku Abubakar of contributing to the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that his emergence as the partys 2023 presidential candidate violated its zoning arrangement.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was destroyed by Atiku Abubakars ruthless confiscation of the PDPs 2023 presidential ticket in violation of the partys constitutionally entrenched rotational zoning formula.

Mr Morka also aimed at Peter Obi, claiming his political movements across parties weakened the Labour Party of Nigeria (LP).

The Labour Party (LP) was effectively subverted by the restless nomadic disposition of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, permanently swinging from one party to another in search of a free and uncontested presidential ticket, he said.

He further described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition as ineffective, alleging that it had been undermined by internal power struggles among opposition figures.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), so-called coalition platform, was basically stillborn, strangled by the reckless robbery of that partys leadership by the same band of marauding opposition figures, never willing to remain and build their parties but always quick to use the revolving door on to the next available party. They have left nothing but desolation in opposition trail, the statement read.

According to Mr Morka, parties unable to manage their internal affairs cannot be trusted to govern the country, and that opposition leaders have failed to present a coherent alternative vision for Nigeria.

He maintained that Nigerias democratic environment remains vibrant, noting that nearly two dozen political parties are registered and actively participating in the electoral process.

Mr Morka rejected suggestions of a drift towards a one-party state, describing such claims as alarmist narratives designed to distract from the oppositions internal weaknesses.

He also emphasised the partys commitment to preparing for the 2027 general elections, stating that it would not be drawn into managing the affairs of opposition parties.

Our great party, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains committed to strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law, and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda for the peace, unity, and prosperity of all Nigerians, he added.
Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary group, has described the coordinated terror attacks across Mali on Saturday as a coup attempt supported by Western intelligence services.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that many locations including Bamako, the countrys capital, were hit by fighters of the al-Qaeda franchise in the Sahel, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

Both groups issued statements acknowledging the attacks, with FLA advising Russia to reconsider its alliance with the junta-led government.

The Africa Corps, in a statement written in French on X, said about 10,000 to 12,000 armed men attempted to seize key facilities in the capital, particularly the presidential palace.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The group also accused Ukrainian and European forces in Africa of aiding the attacks.

In the areas of the cities of Kidal and Gao, Ukrainian and European mercenaries operating in Africa participated in attacks against state facilities and units of government forces, using portable Western-origin surface-to-air missiles, it stated.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that Africa is increasingly emerging as a theatre for proxy conflicts among rival global powers, with the RussiaUkraine rivalry extending into Mali.

While there is no evidence of Ukrainian forces presence in Mali, it was reported that Ukraine intelligence aided a 2024 attack against the now-disbanded and restructured Wagner Group.

Also, the claim that European forces aided the Saturday attack remains unproven. As of 2024, major European military forces have pulled out from Mali. On 17 May 2024, the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) in Mali, said it ended its 11-year presence in the francophone country, noting its contingent in Mali will be redeployed to Europe.

Two years earlier, Takuba, an EU combat-focused special forces mission launched in 2020 exited Mali after relations with the military junta collapsed amid tensions over governance and Bamakos growing partnership with the Wagner Group.

Both Ukrainian and European authorities have not reacted to the allegations the Africa Corps made against them. However, the European Union, in a statement, condemned the attack, offering sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Malian authorities and expressing full solidarity with the Malian people. It said it remains committed to the fight against terrorism and to promoting peace, security, and stability in Mali and throughout the Sahel.

The Russian mercenary group said it maintained all key positions and airfields, including national assets in the city of Kati, a garrison town [about 15 kilometers from Bamako] where Malis defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) assault that targeted his residence.

It added that it killed more than 1,000 terrorists during the attacks on Saturday. The group, however, acknowledged that the situation in Mali remains difficult, adding that some soldiers of the African Corps sustained injuries and  are being evacuated.
Malaria remains one of the leading illnesses affecting malnourished children in Nigeria, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders.

The acting Medical Team Leader with MSF in Katsina, Alibaba Nuraddeen, said this while speaking to journalists to mark World Malaria Day 2026.

Mr Nuraddeen said malaria ranked among the top three diseases treated in the organisations Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centres (ITFCs) in 2025.

He said the centres, which catered to severely malnourished children, recorded about 26,000 paediatric admissions, many involving cases of co-infection.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

According to him, malaria cases were recorded alongside acute watery diarrhoea and sepsis, forming a major threat to child survival in northern Nigeria.

Malaria and malnutrition are deeply interconnected. Malaria reduces appetite and food intake, while malnutrition weakens immunity, making children more susceptible to severe infection, he said.

Mr Nuraddeen warned that failure to properly diagnose malaria in malnourished children could prolong illness and delay recovery.

A child with untreated or recurrent malaria, over weeks, may eventually slip into malnutrition, he said.

He added that MSF had made malaria screening mandatory for every child admitted into its feeding programmes.

According to him, World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that Nigeria accounts for 24.3 per cent of global malaria cases and 30.3 per cent of related deaths, contributing more than half of cases in West Africa.

He further said that the federal government was expanding its malaria vaccination programme as part of efforts to curb infections.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the programme, initially piloted in Bayelsa and Kebbi, has now been extended to Bauchi and Ondo states.

The agencys Executive Director, Dr Muyi Aina, said the expansion was part of renewed strategies to reduce malaria burden and child mortality in the country.

(NAN)
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, has underscored the strategic importance of the Assembly as a platform for decisive regional action.

Mr Bio, who is Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, was represented by the Chief Minister, David Sengeh.

He spoke on Saturday during the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS.

The high-level session brought together Ministers of Health from member states, government leaders, technical and financial partners, and regional health experts.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The development was disclosed on the organisations social media handle on Saturday, noting a shared goal to advance a coordinated response towards malaria elimination across West Africa.

The two-day meeting was organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone.

According to the organisers, the meeting is being held with the theme: Advancing Malaria Elimination Through an Integrated Regional Strategy, aimed at strengthening collective action against one of the regions most pressing public health challenges.

Mr Bio emphasised that healthcare provision remained a key indicator of governments ability to deliver on their fundamental responsibilities.

He called for concrete, measurable outcomes and accelerated progress from malaria control to elimination through stronger, data-driven, and innovative health systems, before formally declaring the session open.

In his welcome address, the Minister of Health of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the occasion, Austin Demby, highlighted the regions renewed political commitment to placing health at the centre of sustainable development.

He emphasised the urgency of intensifying malaria elimination efforts in the face of stalled global progress since 2015, declining external financing, and the growing effects of climate change on transmission dynamics.

Mr Demby called for increased domestic investment, innovation, and the transformation of health systems into more resilient and responsive platforms.

(NAN)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful Formal Notice, which threatens to sanction broadcast stations and presenters for allegedly expressing personal opinions as facts, bullying or intimidating guests, or failing to maintain neutrality.

The NBC had recently threatened to sanction broadcast stations and presenters who express personal opinions as facts or bully and intimidate guests, claiming it had identified a sustained increase in breaches of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code across news, current affairs, and political programmes.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/854/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine whether the various provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code relied upon by the NBC to threaten broadcasters are inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the countrys international human rights obligations.

SERAP and NGE are asking the court for a declaration that the provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code used by the NBC are vague and overly broad and constitute a fundamental breach of freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

SERAP and NGE are also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the NBC, its agents or privies, whether jointly or severally or any other authority from imposing sanctions on broadcast stations and presenters based on the patently unlawful provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed simultaneously in this suit.

In the suit, SERAP and NGE are arguing that: Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the NBC will continue to use the provisions of the 6th Edition of the Broadcasting Code to threaten and sanction broadcast stations and presenters solely for carrying out their constitutional responsibilities and exercising their rights.

SERAP and NGE are also arguing that, The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law protect both the absolute right to hold opinions and the qualified right to express ideas of all kinds. Journalistic opinion is protected expression.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, would lead a team of senior lawyers to represent SERAP and NGE in the lawsuit.

The originating summons, motion exparte, motion on notice and affidavit of urgency filed in court, read in part: Value judgments are not susceptible of proof and enjoy heightened protection. Journalism necessarily includes analysis and commentary.

The right to impart ideas necessarily includes opinions, commentary, and analysis. A blanket prohibition on the expression of personal opinions by anchors and presenters amounts to an impermissible restriction to this right.

Journalists are entitled to express their opinions as a matter of professional standard, including commentary and analytical expression, which lie at the very core of journalistic practice and democratic discourse.

The Nigerian Constitution is the supreme law, and any law that is inconsistent with it is null and void. The Nigeria Broadcasting Code, as subsidiary legislation, cannot override constitutional rights or exceed its enabling Act. Provisions that are vague and overly broad unlawfully restrict freedom of expression and must be struck down.

Under Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, a State may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform international treaties, including the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.

The Nigeria Broadcasting Code, as subsidiary legislation, is subject to the Nigerian Constitution and cannot override fundamental rights. Its vague and overly broad provisions grant excessive discretion and undermine freedom of expression. Such impermissible restrictions are unconstitutional and should be struck down.

The NBCs claim of a crisis of anchor and presenter professionalism as justification for restrictive measures is legally insufficient and cannot be a permissible ground of derogation from freedom of expression. Any limitation on the rights must be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

The blanket prohibition imposed by Section 1.10.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits presenters from expressing opinions. This amounts to prior restraint that impermissibly excludes commentary, analysis, and value judgmentsthe core of journalism and democratic discourse.

Section 1.10.3 amounts to a form of prior censorship or restraint. Such a blanket restriction fails the legal tests of legality, necessity and proportionality required in a democratic society.

The NBCs reliance on multiple vague provisions of the Broadcasting Code to classify a wide range of presenter conduct as Class B breaches attracting sanctions is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law.

Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party guarantee the right to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

Under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law, restrictions must pursue a legitimate aim and be necessary and proportionate. The NBCs reliance on an undefined and subjective standard of professionalism introduces vagueness and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.

While the prohibition of misuse of broadcast platforms by political actors is a legitimate concern, it does not justify sweeping or repressive regulatory measures that infringe on fundamental human rights.

Addressing any alleged misuse must be grounded in lawful, precise, necessary, and proportionate responses that respect freedom of expression and editorial independence.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NBCs Formal Notice undermines Nigerians democratic rights to receive diverse information, hear competing political viewpoints, and engage in open debate.

Rather than curbing misuse, such measures risk entrenching self-censorship, limiting scrutiny of political actors, and weakening the medias essential role in ensuring transparent, accountable, and credible elections.

While certain aims such as preventing harassment or ensuring fairness in broadcasting may be legitimate, the provisions as invoked by the NBC are vague, overbroad, and susceptible to arbitrary interpretation.

The threat of sanctions for broadly defined conduct creates a chilling effect on journalists and broadcasters, thereby undermining constitutional guarantees and international human rights standards.

The provisions of the Broadcasting Code are not formulated with sufficient precision to enable individuals regulate their conduct. The imposition of administrative sanctions without adequate procedural safeguards raises fair hearing concerns.

The NBCs enforcement posture transforms regulatory oversight into a regime of indirect censorship. While the regulation of misinformation may constitute a legitimate aim, the prohibition on presenters expressing personal opinion as fact is framed in vague and overly broad terms that fail the requirement of legal certainty.

The absence of clear definitions distinguishing fact from opinion renders the provision prone to arbitrary application, thereby creating a chilling effect on legitimate journalistic expression and debate.

Although the prevention of harassment in broadcasting is a legitimate regulatory objective, the provisions of the NBCs notice prohibiting bullying or intimidation lack clear and objective criteria, and fail the requirement of precision and foreseeability.

The undefined scope of bullying or intimidation risks capturing critical or adversarial questioning, which is an essential feature of investigative journalism and democratic discourse.

The notice would also seriously undermine the medias constitutional role as a public watchdog because any regulation that discourages rigorous questioning undermines this function.

The requirement that broadcasters must always provide fair hearing to opposing views, while ostensibly grounded in principles of balance, imposes an impermissible form of compelled speech and editorial control.

Apart from explicitly undermining editorial independence, such a requirement also suppresses legitimate expression, and disregards the autonomy of journalists and media houses. The requirement may also unduly burden or distort programming, particularly in formats such as commentary or opinion-based shows.

The classification of the alleged conduct as a Class B breach attracting sanctions, including fines or suspension, constitutes a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression and raises serious due process and fair hearing concerns.

The Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law provide that individuals and entities are entitled to fair hearing before the imposition of penalties. Similarly, sanctions affecting expression must be strictly necessary and proportionate.

READ ALSO: Editors fault NBC over threat to sanction broadcasters

The imposition of punitive measures based on vague and broadly defined infractions creates a chilling effect on broadcasters, discouraging legitimate journalistic activity and undermining democratic discourse. Such a regime of sanctions also amounts to indirect or prior censorship.

SERAP and NGE are therefore asking the court for the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1(b), 3.4.1(b), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1(f), 3.11.1(b), and 5.5.1(b) of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, by reason of their vagueness and imprecision, constitute a breach of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion and access to information as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the countrys international human rights obligations.

2. A DECLARATION that Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1(b), 3.4.1(b), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1(f), 3.11.1(b), and 5.5.1(b) of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code are overbroad, vague and fail to provide citizens and broadcasting stations with sufficient notice of what constitutes a breach, and are consequently unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

3. AN ORDER of the Court nullifying and setting aside Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1(b), 3.4.1(b), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1(f), 3.11.1(b), and 5.5.1(b) of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for being inconsistent with, and amounting to a fundamental breach of the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

4. AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the NBC, whether jointly or severally or any other authority, person or group of persons from enforcing, imposing sanctions, or levying fines on broadcast stations and presenters based on the provisions of Sections 1.10.3, 3.3.1(b), 3.4.1(b), 5.3.3(b), 3.1.1, 3.11.1(a), 5.4.1(f), 3.11.1(b), and 5.5.1(b) of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the interim application and the substantive suit.
Americans are saving less and less for retirement to help make ends meet, and new data suggests this frugality could have serious and long-lasting consequences.

Be Aware: 6 Key Signs Youll Run Out of Retirement Funds Too Early

Check Out: 7 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up To $1K per Month From Home

As CBS News recently reported, American workers have begun reducing contributions to their 401(k) plans in the face of rising financial pressures, which some money experts are calling a warning sign that long-term American retirement may be in jeopardy.

Who Is Pulling From Their 401(k) Plans?

This should be a warning sign, Jason Rahlan, global head of sustainability and impact at Dayforce, said to CBS News of the recent numbers indicating a downturn in contribution amounts. One year ago, full-time workers had a 401(k) contribution rate of 9.2%. Today, that number has fallen to 8.9%  the first time the numbers have fallen since Dayforce began tracking contributions in 2023.

The capital management company found that contributions declined the most among those in the $50,000-to-$100,000 income bracket.

Keep Financial Literacy Month going  learn how the MoneyLion app helps you track, manage and move your money in one place

Why Depleting Your 401(k) Is So Risky

Most employees are contributing less (and even pulling from retirement savings early) thanks to the rising cost of living in America. Its a trend that, if continued, could have dangerous results for the future, as retirement savings benefit from regular contributions and compound growth. Decreases and interruptions in contributions disrupt the financial security 401(k) accounts are designed to provide.

Its especially precarious when one considers the current state of Social Security. As Ramsey Solutions pointed out last year, Social Security will begin running out of money by 2034, but recent reports put that date at around 2033. After that, any money you get from Social Security should be considered icing on the cake. The meaning? It is your retirement savings  such as your 401(k) account  that will keep your golden years afloat after 2033 unless something changes. To pull from it now, or to slow your contributions, is to diminish (or even risk) your own retirement.

How To Keep Saving Even When Money Is Tight

If your budget is stretched, consider the following when trying to build out your retirement contributions:
A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised a proposal by the National Assembly to suspend political campaigns in eight northern states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The affected states are Borno, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, and parts of Kano.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, argued that the proposal is a plot to suppress and disenfranchise voters in the state.

Let it be clearly stated: the right to vote and participate in the electoral process is fundamental and cannot be abridged under any guise. Any attemptwhether deliberate or disguisedto suppress political activities in parts of Northern Nigeria raises legitimate concerns about disenfranchisement, he said.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The proposal was raised during Wednesdays Senate plenary by Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, who referenced worsening insecurity across northern Nigeria as justification for temporarily halting political campaigns in the affected states until security improves.

Mr Ningi, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that ongoing insurgency, banditry, and terrorism in parts of the North could undermine electoral integrity if political activities continue under current conditions.

The senator was Atikus ally before he (Atiku) defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Atiku is from Adamawa State in the North-east, while Mr Ningi is from Bauchi State, also in the North-east

Insurgency, banditry and other terrorist activities are ravaging some Northern states.

Suspending campaigns is not a solution

Atiku, one of the promoters of ADC aimed at challenging the ruling party in 2027, rejected the suggestion, insisting that insecurity reflects a failure of government and should not be used as a basis for suppressing democratic rights.

This is not merely about campaigns; it is about representation, inclusion, and the integrity of our democratic process. You cannot cure insecurity by silencing the voices of the people. Democracy must not become a casualty of government failure, he added.

At a time when citizens are already battling hardship and insecurity, the least the government can do is to guarantee their right to be heard, not to restrict it. Any policy that creates the impression of targeted exclusion will only deepen distrust and national division, he warned.

The former vice president maintained that no region should be excluded from the electoral process because of the governments inability to address security challenges.

Nigeria must never descend into a situation where elections are shaped by exclusion, fear, or administrative manipulation. The consequences of such actions are far-reaching and better imagined than experienced. 
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has distanced himself from the opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State, describing it as an attempt to recycle discredited political actors.

Mr Sowore disclosed in a post on his X page that he was invited to the gathering but declined to attend, insisting that Nigerians deserve a genuine alternative rather than what he called a charade.

There is no need to pretend that the same men (and a few women) who held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay, can suddenly reinvent themselves as champions of progress or defenders of the people, he said.

The activist said his party, the African Action Congress (AAC), would not participate in any arrangement aimed at rebranding established political figures under the guise of opposition politics.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Instead, he said the AAC would focus on building a people-driven alternative anchored on integrity, accountability and systemic change.

Mr Sowore also criticised both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Labour Party, accusing them of perpetuating a cycle of decadence and deception.

He said Nigeria requires a complete break from its political past, rather than what a rearrangement of the same broken pieces.

We will mobilize Nigerians across the country to rally behind a credible vision that rejects the decadence and deception represented by both the @OfficialAPCNg and their opportunistic counterparts in ADC, PDP, Labour Party and elsewhere, he said.

More criticisms

Mr Sowores comments come amid efforts by opposition leaders to forge a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had hosted prominent figures from various opposition parties at the Ibadan summit to strategise on challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the initiative has also drawn criticism and ridicule from the ruling party.

Premium Times had reported that the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, mocked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after a photo circulated showing him apparently dozing during the summit.

He said the gathering was unserious and questioned its legitimacy.

The Oyo State chapter of the APC also criticised the meeting, dismissing it as a coalition of failed political actors and accused its conveners, including Mr Makinde and other opposition figures, of lacking credibility to present a viable alternative to Nigerians.

In a statement, the Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, dismissed the summit as an exercise in political futility, arguing that the opposition was attempting to catch up with a party that had already established a commanding lead.

He maintained that the ruling All Progressives Congress remains firmly in control of the political landscape, The Nation reports.

Funny enough, there are some individuals among these opposition jesters who know that President Tinubu travels in a speed of light to outpace his opponents when it comes to real politics but they would not say the truth to their co-travelers because a dog that is destined for perdition would not mind the whistle of the hunter.
The Nigerian Army says its troops have arrested nine suspected oil thieves and confiscated over 156,000 litres of stolen petroleum products valued at over N250 million.

The army said the seizure happened during a series of operations across some states in the Niger Delta between 1 and 26 April.

It said the operations, carried out by the 6 Division in collaboration with other security agencies, also led to the dismantling of 10 illegal refining sites and the destruction of equipment used for crude oil theft.

In a statement on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Danjuma Danjuma, said the seized products comprise over 130,000 litres of crude oil and 26,000 litres of petrol.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Mr Danjuma, a lieutenant colonel, said the operations spanned several states in the oil-rich region, including Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.

Rivers operations

The army said troops recorded multiple breakthroughs in Rivers State, particularly in Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas.

According to the statement, soldiers intercepted an abandoned truck loaded with 45,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products along the East-West Road in Ukpeye community, Ahoada East.

Troops also uncovered a massive reservoir containing over 35,000 litres of stolen crude oil at the Orashi National Forest in Ahoada West,  the statement said.

It added that another reservoir stocked with over 26,000 litres of illegally refined petrol was discovered in the same area, alongside galvanised pipes used for siphoning petroleum products.

In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, the statement said, troops confiscated 266 sacks containing 17,760 litres of suspected stolen products at Ebocha and Omoku communities, while four drum ovens and 50 sacks filled with over 3,000 litres of crude oil were uncovered and destroyed at Abessa Forest in Ahoada West.

Similarly, around Okolomade in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, the statement said, the military discovered 30 sacks containing about 1,500 litres of stolen crude.

Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa

In Delta State, the statement said, troops uncovered a tapping point and a nearby storage pit containing over 2,700 litres of stolen products in Obazogbe community, Ethiope East LGA.

In Akwa Ibom, 45 bags containing about 1,350 litres of illegally refined petrol were recovered in Ikot Ekpene LGA, with suspects fleeing upon sighting troops.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Navy arrests two vessels with stolen crude worth N4 billion

The army added that its personnel maintained operational dominance in Bayelsa, limiting the activities of oil thieves across the state.

It said the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their performance and charged them to sustain the tempo of operations against crude oil theft and related crimes in the region.

PREMIUM TIMES recently reported how Nigeria is losing more barrels of crude oil than what some OPEC members produce.
The Lagos State Government on Sunday signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with three electricity generation companies in a move aimed at expanding electricity supply and raising generation capacity to as much as 400 megawatts within three years.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu overaaw the signing at Lagos House, Marina, where the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Abiodun Ogunleye, signed on behalf of the state government.

The agreements involve Mainland Power Limited, Fenchurch Power Limited and Viathan Engineering, three of the four independent power plants currently operating in Lagos.

In a statement posted on X after the signing, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the agreements were structured to improve reliability in electricity supply to critical public infrastructure while addressing inefficiencies in previous arrangements.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Today at Lagos House, Marina, I witnessed the signing of three power purchase agreements designed to build on existing capacity and address what has not been working, the governor wrote.

He said Fenchurch Power would support major water facilities in Adiyan and Iju, while Mainland Power would continue supplying electricity to Ikeja, Oshodi and Anthony, with room for expansion.

He added that Viathan would sustain power supply to key public facilities on Lagos Island while deepening integration with the distribution network.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the agreements had been revised to reflect market realities, noting that payments would now be tied to actual metered power delivered.

We will no longer pay for power that is not delivered. Payments are now tied to actual, metered supply, helping us reduce waste and manage costs more effectively, he stressed.

He added that the arrangement would support more reliable power for public infrastructure, improve resource management and create a pathway for scaling generation in the coming years.

Capacity expansion target

Mr Ogunleye described the agreements as part of the states push to expand generation and revive dormant assets to support a sustainable energy supply.

He said the three companies currently have a combined generating capacity of about 60MW but could scale up to between 200MW and 400MW within two to three years through market-based investments rather than public spending.

According to him, Mainland Power, which manages the Ikeja GRA plant, has an installed capacity of 8.8MW and contracted capacity of 5.8MW, supplying power to strategic public facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and other substations within the states network.

He said the Akute Independent Power Plant, now to be operated by Fenchurch Power, has a contracted capacity of 26MW and is being repositioned as a major energy hub.

The commissioner said the plant, which had been dormant for about five years, is undergoing rehabilitation and upgrades under a long-term operational agreement and is expected to serve surrounding communities, including Adiyan Water Works.

For the Island corridor, he said Viathan Engineering would oversee the Peninsula Integrated Power Project with a combined installed capacity of 21MW  6MW in Lekki and 15MW in Marina  supplying power to major government and health facilities, including Lagos Government House, Lagos Island General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital.

Representatives of the partner firms commended the state government for creating an investment-friendly environment for the energy sector.

Backed by electricity reforms

The agreements build on Lagos broader electricity reforms following the enactment of the Lagos State Electricity Law 2024, signed by Governor Sanwo-Olu in December 2024.

The law seeks to establish an electricity market independent of the national grid, create a state electrification fund and attract investments to underserved areas.

The reform followed the constitutional amendment moving electricity from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list, allowing states to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023.

The state government had said the reforms are designed to reduce Lagos dependence on the national grid and support the governments long-term ambition of round-the-clock electricity supply.

Sector challenges persist

The latest agreements come amid longstanding challenges in Nigerias power sector, including transmission constraints, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply issues and repeated national grid collapses.

Although the federal government privatised generation and distribution assets in 2013 to improve efficiency, electricity supply has remained unstable.

In August 2023, the Lagos State government announced plans to attract up to $10 billion in private investment to improve power supply to nearly five million households, underscoring the scale of the states ambition to tackle energy deficits through private-sector participation.
The crisis rocking the leading opposition party in Zamfara State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has deepened as some members are threatening to leave the party over the crisis.

Rising from a meeting on Saturday, supporters of Kabiru Marafa, a former senator and commissioner, issued a statement that they were considering leaving the party due to lack of transparency within the party.

Mr Marafa, who was the 2023 Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Coordinator in the state, joined the party earlier this month. He left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after accusing President Bola Tinubu of trying to create confusion in the countrys democratic process.

The ADC is divided into two factions. One is led by Mr Marafa, and the other by a former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Abubakar.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The Marafas faction has Surajo Maikatako as state chairman, while Shehu Gulubba is the chairman for the other faction.

Mr Maikatako emerged as the chairman before the other faction held a parallel congress and declared Mr Gulubba as the party chairman.

Mr Maikatako responded by dismissing members of the other faction from the ADC and writing to security agents in the state to intervene.

Marafa associates, loyalists meet

On Saturday, the Marafa Support Group met in Gusau to deliberate on their next move.

The meeting was led by Mr Maikatako and attended by members from all the wards in the state, according to Mr Marafas team.

Malam Aminu Jelani highlighted concerns over alleged lack of transparency within the party and accused certain elements, reportedly linked to factions within the All Progressives Congress (APC), of orchestrating internal disruptions aimed at destabilising the ADC in Zamfara State.

These actions were intended to undermine Senator Marafa and his supporters, Mansur Haruna, Mr Marafas spokesperson, said in a statement.

However, stakeholders at the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with recent developments within the ADC, citing what they described as irregularities and external interference that could jeopardise the partys integrity and cohesion, Mr Haruna said.

He said the meeting set up a nine-member committee and mandated it to go to Kaduna to discuss the situation with Mr Marafa and deliberate on the groups next political direction.

Mr Marafa is not new to party crises. His time in the APC was marked by a protracted dispute with the leadership of the party when Abdulaziz Yari was the state governor.

The legal course he took proved costly for the APC as the courts agreed with him that the party did not conduct proper primaries in the state to elect its candidates for the 2019 general elections.

Even though the APC swept the polls in the state, winning the governorship and all the federal and state legislative seats, the Supreme Court voided the votes cast for its candidates and ordered that the runners-up be declared winners.
Some of Funke Awodiyas poems have a lyrical beauty that reminds me the early Leopold Sehghor, extolling the beauty of African women, as in Femne Noir. Her lines have the colours and resonance of that Negritude poet, without the declamation of heritage; which, in this poets case, is almost a totalitarian bondage to be removed!

Syl Cheney Coker takes a veterans look at Woman of a Woman, a book of poems by Funke Awodiya.

Once in a while, a new voice emerges in poetry. Its subject is not new  Humankind, the environment, love and hate, death and rebirth: all of which have been sung or written about since Humanity learnt to walk and talk. When this new voice comes to us, we must sit down, read and re-think our perspectives on or about her subject.

In Woman of a Woman, Funke Awodiyas subject is WOMAN, in all her manifested forms and aspects. There is no expressive form of this subject that does not resonate with her! She is mother earth (think of Lucy, the Tanzanian from whom all humanity is believed to have derived; her back straightening out on the plains of Kilmanjaro). Then, from that anthropological being came the giver of life  woman, in all her perspectives; without whom there would be no MAN! So we are asked, by the poet, to see ourselves anew, in what is still a male, egocentric world: one in which woman is subjected to the dictates of traditions, skewed in favour of the male!

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Whereas conformity is expected of woman, in this male dominated society, the poet begs to differ. In sixty pages of glorious poetry, she says I am woman, you must see me from my perspective; not from what society has fashioned out for me; not from your imagination, but from my mystique, my aura and dignity. In the very first poem Stand Up, lies the underlying theme ringing throughout this volume: She writes:

We are bringing forth NATIONS

within our fragile MIGHTY bodies

mapping present and future dreams

Stand tall!

No one can fail to see the juxtaposition between the fragile she and the mighty giver of life; the nurturing goddess/builder of nation; this mysterious creature that men have never understood!

The title poem Woman of a Woman is a celebration of the physical essence of a woman  that glorious picture, that so many of them possess. Reason for which, in spite of their denial, men have always sought to cage them, in purdah, the harem and, most strange and sinister of all, the chastity belt, while lusting after the sometimes exquisite form!

This multi-faceted portrait of a woman does not end here; in fact the entire woman is about the multi-dimensional image of her; hard to define, wildly desired, long suffering, sometimes conformists; at other times, quietly revolting, but always standing tall, unbroken:

Look at me, look at us

who and what do you see?

Melanin goddesses!

Her dark hue admired, in its shimmering form and many shades! It is worth noticing that, in this poem, the poet pays homage to some trail-blazing women, whose daring helped to shape modern-day Nigeria!

One of my favourite poems in the volume is Every Day Is Mothers Day. Never was a statement truer of women, in spite of their perceived status, on the African continent! Unlike what happens in the Western world, we celebrate our mothers every day, with girl children sometimes going the whole hog, to appreciate them, as well as their fathers! If the central theme in this volume is the celebration of the woman, it is worth pointing out that her very fertile and resilient life has also sometimes been the source of suffering and death. For example, the poem She Died is dedicated to an ordinary clinic orderly, who

died

the way she lived

pains in her veins

trickles of sweat on her forehead

Some of Funke Awodiyas poems have a lyrical beauty that reminds me the early Leopold Sehghor, extolling the beauty of African women, as in Femne Noir. Her lines have the colours and resonance of that Negritude poet, without the declamation of heritage; which, in this poets case, is almost a totalitarian bondage to be removed!

In other poems, she reminds me of the Chilean Gabriella Mistrial and the Russian Marina Tsvetaeva, two of the greatest poets of the 20th century, whose themes were basically that of the tragic beauty of being a woman in a mans world, where expectations are very different. In many of these poems, we see the firm figure of a woman standing tall, even as tradition and events seem to unravel her composure. We are left in no doubt that she is the salt of the earth, the grease in the cog of the wheel, the blood in the forge of life; the oxygen without which we cannot survive. For, as Funke Awodiya says in the last line of the last poem, in this wonderful volume, the Woman

has risen

women arise for change.

Syl Cheney Coker, a poet, novelist, and public intellectual, is one of Africas preeminent writers.
And so, I imagined myself as a young Nigerian just trying to figure our life on that day and chose to write to average Nigerian youths; any Nigerian youth trying to figure out their lives at this moment. Some are clear where they want to go. But others are less certain. Some are intimidated by it all, while some feel more in control.

I recently took a trip to the new Orca Mall in Eko Atlantic on an idle Sunday and typed most of this article on my phone. I started my career in banking just down the road, in a building that was next to the then NTA Headquarters, ADRAO Schools and the Printing and Minting Company, in 1992. In my head on this Sunday were ideas around the big question of Nigerias poverty. Yes, poverty is a reality in every country. Nigeria has a bad poverty problem, though not the worst in the world, and we must never be defined by it. The reason why the problem is enhanced in Nigeria is because we have a fairly large population  the largest on the black mans continent  and of course Africa is the last frontier for economic development; the place where the last set of colonialist experiments were conducted. The Europeans who used brute force to bring the whole world to their developmental point-of-view and reality through slavery and colonialism, were last in Africa. This is not to heap blames on the West. It is just what it is  the reality of life  because some of our own communities and civilisations also engaged in slavery. But this fact is important to countenance, chiefly because we are still in the process of writing history. Nigerians need to stop speaking and acting as if our fates are sealed. Who knows what may emerge in future?

Some scholars write about the East-West Pendulum; an hypothesis that chronicles how economic development and supremacy shift from the Eastern to the Western Hemisphere, every other two or three centuries. Civilisations in China and India were documented to be way ahead of their Western counterpart a few centuries ago. Even here in Africa, we have had great civilisations in Egypt, Benin, Sokoto, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Shonaland (Zimbabwe), Mali, Oyo, and many more, that were comparably ahead of whatever could be mustered in the West several hundreds of years ago. The idea of a civilisation overriding another is that people discover new ways, ideas and methods, from time to time, and have these new ideas imposed on other civilisations through conquest. Therefore, we may not be able to tell where the next overriding idea that redefines civilisations will come from. This exists in the realm of UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS and there is a chance that when that idea comes, we may be totally blindsided. I mean something more profound than AI and Robotics. All this is to say that whereas I acknowledge the superiority of the Western civilisation, which has redefined our systems today, imposing new economic systems and standards from within which we define poverty, wealth, success and failure etc., we must make room for anything that could happen in future and I cannot give up on Africa, on Nigeria, on the black man and woman.

So, the debate rages on about how Nigeria is a poor country. Media personalities seem locked on repeating, ad nauseum, on their economic shows how Nigerians are poor  in many ways solidifying the perception, creating despair, and cementing a wrong take about Nigeria in the global community. This is what sells and improves their ratings. Like narcotics, it is addictive because it endears Nigerians to the most extreme journalists who are adept at selling apocryphal tales, half-truths, sensationalism and so on, even as they themselves cash out. Our people are naturally bored listening to journalists who try to be balanced. Cant blame them. I will, therefore, continue to engage that space because it is the toughest one for every government and every person. Beyond specific administrations, we owe it to posterity to lift our people, our civilisation. Karl Marx once wrote; Philosophers have analysed the world to a large extent, but the point is to change it. I will urge those engaging in the poverty debate to think about solutions, not just shifting the blame on our government, or our leaders. This is a question for a lifetime, and Africans  especially Nigerians  should not fall into the usual trap of oversimplification. Oversimplification, the avoidance of personal and group responsibility, an inability to think deeply about solutions to our own problems, are what got us here in the first place. These attitudes are what made us vulnerable and easy pickings for the West. Looking into the future, we should not repeat the same mistakes.

And so, I imagined myself as a young Nigerian just trying to figure our life on that day and chose to write to average Nigerian youths; any Nigerian youth trying to figure out their lives at this moment. Some are clear where they want to go. But others are less certain. Some are intimidated by it all, while some feel more in control. For them I write as below:

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Dear Nigerian Youth (and the not-so-young),

If youre finding it hard in Nigeria and you can see this I just want to encourage you but there are also some things you must do:

Make sure you dont fall into any addiction that takes your money, time and/or mental abilities.. e.g. drugs, gambling, porn, etc. With these kinds of habits nobody can help you but yourself. Dont complicate your life, first and foremost. Make sure you dont wear your anger as an attitude on your face and body. Everybody in this world is taking their own chances. Nobody is responsible for where you are at present. People have been there before, and many, not all, escaped to a more desirable point in life. Your self-presentation is important. Even I used to buy second hand Okrika shirts at Oshodi and later at Quay Side behind Mandillas. I dont buy Bend Down Select anymore but I am proud of my story. There was a time when I was broker than a church rat, coming through university. There were no student loans in those days. Scholarships and bursaries were extremely rare too. Dont write off your country. This will perhaps be the worst way you can harm yourself, if you wake up daily and believe people who tell you Nigeria is bad, is terrible, is useless, and only does bad things to people. Dont be one of those who exclaim Nigeria has happened to me! only when something negative happens. Nigeria is your best bet. Believe it. This is where you have the largest concentration of people who can help you with opportunities. Many who travel abroad where they think because the environments are well organised from the outside, then opportunities are cheap and meritocracy rules, are now running back, burnt and disappointed. In many of those countries, corruption, nepotism, discrimination, racism and other ills abound. Youre going to need human beings somehow and no matter what. God doesnt descend from heaven to help you, but does this through other human beings. Learn to be respectful to people. Learn to be tolerant, forgiving, accommodating, sacrificing, towards people (with whatever little you have, and especially your time). Dont be the guy/girl that opts out at the earliest excuse. Opt in instead. Say Yes to legal ideas more than No. Volunteer. Offer yourself. Learn to love people. Dont always be in fight mode. Nobody really has your time. Everybody is hustling to survive, one way or another. Nobody has the time to think of you more than you do yourself. Not even your mother. Also, dont think only your religious/tribal leaders really care about you. Get fit. Sleep less. Dont be a couch potato. Get moving. Get motivated. Seek inspiration. Even if you live in the worst ghetto, from time to time, find some money to travel to where there is more sanity/organisation. It will be a good investment. Dont be totally subsumed and consumed by disorder, filth, chaos, poverty, and neglect. When you go where rich people live, or even the financial districts with their glistening offices and skyscrapers, dont fume at people, thinking everybody got there by corruption. Some of them did not. Some are honest and are trying to create a better world. Wear a smile on your face as much as possible, dress neatly even if in cheap clothes. The world will smile back, and you can meet that one person. Just one person. Freakonomics teaches us that some people are dealt a bad hand from the beginning through no fault of theirs. The accident of birth. It could be abandonment at childhood. Or bad unfocused parents. Maybe bad genes. Undiagnosed mental disadvantages while growing up. Too much poverty in the background. Physical challenges. Take inspiration from those who have passed through where you are but who managed to stay positive and make something of themselves. Peter Dinklage made us see that dwarfism does not stop talent. Our own Nkubi and Ade Joe are pulling their weights, no pun intended. But some people have all the advantages we envy rich parents, height, good looks, great education, ivy league friends, passports of the UK and US, yet they missed their ways. In fact, having everything itself is a more serious problem in a world where you have to find yourself. Fun tip  those who rise to the zenith of the world are often from the most deprived backgrounds. They employ those from good backgrounds. If you are considerate, kind, and have a happy demeanour, you will find help to coast along in these days, where you can work your phone and hustle a few thousands of naira, here and there from family and loved ones. In the not-too-distant past, this was not possible. Thanks to the improvement in payment systems. Perhaps, most importantly, have a grateful and thankful spirit. Ive seen many a Nigerian who enjoyed scholarship from this country (most of us have enjoyed free education and free health at some point any way) but still talk down at the country and rail against those who are more financially secured than they are. Some are on every social media app, with their fast fingers, sending their account numbers everywhere someone is doing giveaway. They collect everything from everyone but are still resentful and hate-filled. The truth is that there are few countries on earth where people give away as much free cash to random strangers than Nigeria. You will never get such in advanced economies, except from the state, which has a way of putting you in some miserable loop. Never look down on those you are better than. Ditch your arrogance. The world has changed. Those jobs you would rather not touch are the ones delivering good money to many people today. They are the jobs that artificial intelligence cannot easily take. Plumbing. Electrician. POP fixers. Masonry and bricklaying. Auto mechanics. Painters. Furniture making. Tailors and fashion designers. Hair dressing and beauty technicians like make-up artists. Cooks become restauranteurs. Caterers become Event Planners. Musicians. Comedians. Some people out of envy only want to immediately be like the big boys. Many youths want to be like the Tony Elumelus, the Dangotes, the Jim Ovias, the BUAs. The Tinubus? They are looking at the finished work. But if they know the stress some of these men go through, they cant even cope. There is a sweet spot somewhere in the middle. With CONTENTMENT, you can live your best life, bearing no ill will against anyone better than you, and loving your country the way sane people should, while being part of those who add to her progress. Lastly, be ready to use ALL your talents. I believe strongly that these innate talents were what God meant for us all to survive  until the global economy became complicated. Today, the smart ones are making good money online and on social media using those talents.

Perhaps someone will make some sense out of some of these advices. Some are worth more than any money I could ever give.

Tope Fasua is the special adviser to the President on Economic Matters.
This tribute is therefore not merely about honouring individuals; it is about preserving lessons, reinforcing values, and recognising that true leadership is measured not by position, but by impact.

On the third day of the Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Kaduna, amid intense sessions on communication, governance, and national development, I received a message that momentarily shifted my focus from policy debates to personal reflection.

The Head of the Department of Information and Media Studies at Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Nura Ibrahim, had reached out, inviting me to contribute an article to a scholarly journal in honour of Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, a scholar in Science Education, Communication and Cultural Studies.

Professor Adamu, a former vice chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), is an exceptional mentor who exposes young scholars and communicators to international platforms, nurturing their confidence, intellectual curiosity, and professional growth. He was due to retire from the university on 25 April.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The request required more than a simple yes; it demanded reflection. Almost instinctively, my mind wandered through memories of Professor Adamus visible impact in expanding NOUNs accessibility, particularly in Northern Nigeria; of the many panels we shared where, as a keynote speaker, he masterfully deconstructed the complexities of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Journalism; and of his unannounced visits to our office, where he quietly observed how we engaged interns and mentored young communicators. His leadership was always remarkably human  measured, thoughtful, and deeply considerate.

But before I could even respond, a tap on my shoulder shifted my attention, as another update arrived  this time, in person. The Chairman of the Board of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), Dr Sule Yau Sule, informed me that he was cutting short his stay at the NPRW to head to Abuja for a book presentation in honour of Professor Umaru Pate, a Media and Society scholar and the immediate past vice chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere (FUK).

I received the invitation earlier but had almost overlooked it amid my packed schedule, which included a planned trip to Kano for a capacity building programme at the PRNigeria Centre. Yet, something about that moment felt instructive. Professor Pate is another extraordinary and compassionate scholar  one who not only supports students while they are still learning, but also opens doors for their recruitment and advancement. Many practising journalists and communicators have benefited from his efforts in securing grants, aid, and scholarships, often without even knowing he was the facilitator.

Recognising the significance of the occasion, I adjusted my plans and returned to Abuja to honour the scholar. What awaited was not just a book launch, but a gathering that reflected the depth and dignity of Nigerias academic and intellectual community.

The event brought together vice chancellors, politicians, scholars, journalists, traditional rulers, and students, in what can best be described as a rare convergence of intellect and influence. It was, perhaps, the first time I attended a book presentation where nearly every contributor on the high table held a professorial or doctoral title  not merely the honorary prefix of Dr or doctor.

The book, titled Umaru Pate: An Icon of Visionary Leadership, Knowledge Transformation and Impactful Change, was edited by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of FUK, Professor William Olu Adelumo, who has also been a former vice chancellor of three universities. With 182 pages across eleven chapters, the volume constructs a 360-degree portrait of Pates stewardship from 2021 to 2026.

The review, delivered by Professor Muhammad Umar Buratai, was both analytical and reflective, tracing Pates leadership philosophy to the enduring values of Fulani cultural ethos  patience, discipline, humility, courage, and wisdom. It was a reminder that leadership, at its core, is often a reflection of ones formative environment.

The ceremony itself was chaired by Danjuma Goje, with Orji Uzor Kalu serving as chief launcher  two political figures whose presence and representation underscored the intersection between academia and governance.

Yet, beyond speeches and accolades, what truly captured the essence of the event was a documentary titled Putting FUK on the Pedestal of Development.

In a matter of minutes, the film did what pages of reports often struggle to achieve  it told a story of transformation with clarity and evidence. From newly constructed male and female hostels to modern lecture theatres, road networks, laboratories, and administrative blocks, the documentary showcased a university in motion. It highlighted the establishment of a campus radio station broadcasting in multiple languages, the expansion of solar and internet infrastructure, the acquisition of vehicles and guest houses  even beyond the immediate campus environment. Perhaps most striking was the pursuit of a Medical College  an ambitious project that required not just vision, but relentless advocacy.

What made these achievements even more remarkable was that they were funded through budgetary allocations and special grants secured through Professor Pates personal efforts  much like the international support he attracted for the transformative upgrade of BUKs Faculty of Communication. The documentary concluded with scenes from his peaceful handover in February, a transition many have described as a model for Nigerian universities.

Senator Goje, who described himself as a consistent supporter of the university, recounted how Professor Pate repeatedly engaged him to secure the critical infrastructure needed for accreditation, including ambulances and transportation facilities. He equally commended the seamless transition of leadership at the university. In a system where vice-chancellorship successions are often fraught with tension, the peaceful and transparent handover in February stood out as a model of institutional maturity.

Reflecting on his tenure, Professor Pate spoke with characteristic humility, attributing his achievements to collective efforts and divine grace. His counsel to future leaders was simple yet profound: leadership must be anchored on humility, gratitude, transparency, and credibility.

What struck me most was his initial reluctance to have the book published in his honour. He had suggested postponement, noting that many senior colleagues deserved similar recognition. But as he recalled with a smile, Professor Adelumo insisted otherwise. And rightly so.

As I reflected on the journey from Kaduna to Abuja, a clear pattern emerged. Although I missed the Kano event, the resource persons at the capacity building programme  including publishers Jaafar Jaafar of Daily Nigeria and Abdullateef Jos of Solacebase, as well as Kano Police Spokesperson CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa and Dahiru Lawal, an award winning fact checker with PRNigeria  were all students, mentees, or beneficiaries of Professors Adamu and Pate.

This tribute is therefore not merely about honouring individuals; it is about preserving lessons, reinforcing values, and recognising that true leadership is measured not by position, but by impact.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of Award Winning Crisis Communication Strategies and can be reached via [email protected].
Why the Yorubas Are Considered the Most Tolerant Ethnic Group Globally

A number of years ago I met an American professor who had dedicated over 40 years to the studies of religious and ethnic diversity in the nations of the world. He is the first person to open my eyes to the fact that the Yoruba nation is regarded as the most tolerant nation in the world especially towards other religions and migrants in their land.

The Yoruba people are widely considered one of the most religiously and ethnically tolerant groups in the world. Their tolerance is deeply rooted in a cultural philosophy that prioritizes communal harmony and family bonds over sectarian or ethnic divisions.

Religious Tolerance

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Yoruba society is often cited as a global model for religious pluralism in institutions around the globe.

Intra-Family Diversity

It is common for a single Yoruba family to include Muslims, Christians, and practitioners of traditional Yoruba religion. Family members often celebrate each others holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, and Eid (Salah), without conflict.

Cultural Primacy

A key reason for this tolerance is that the Yoruba tend to place their shared culture and lineage (Ebi) above religious identity. The concept of being children of the same mother (omo iya) serves as a moral foundation for peace. But most importantly is the tenets of their foundational belief system that emanates from the Ifa cosmology and philosophical concepts. Please note that when I refer to Ifa in my writings Im not referring to a religious worship system but to the belief system, philosophy and cosmological influence. Ifa is not just religion, it includes, values and virtues of the Yoruba people, it also includes science, biology, healthcare, history, medicine, pharmacy mathematics and philosophy

The Ifa belief system is an epitome of tolerance to all groups of people even to rival religions or philosophical schools of thoughts. As a matter of fact if you see any discrimination in Yoruba land its probably coming from the imported religions like Christianity and Islam. When Yorubas reject their traditional Ifa philosophical influence and embrace denominationalism then they too often become prejudiced.

Historical Context

Historically, the Yoruba have never waged holy wars or crusades against other groups for religious reasons. Their traditional worldview views different faiths as many paths to the market.

Omoluabi Ethics: The philosophical concept of Omoluabiwhich emphasizes good character, respect, and communal responsibility governs their interactions and promotes peaceful coexistence.

Ethnic Tolerance

The Yoruba are known for being accommodating and respectful towards other ethnic groups, both in commercial hubs like Lagos and deep in the inter land.

Integration over Expansion

In multi-ethnic regions, the Yoruba are often described as choosing to respect and integrate with host communities rather than pursuing expansionist agendas.

Lately we saw the uproar and anger from some countries like Ghana and South Africa because a particular ethnic group from Nigeria wanted to install their own kings or create a domain of their own in these countries. On the other hand it is surprising to see that in some of those same countries the Yorubas have their own domains and even kings yet no one is protesting or even complaining against the Yoruba kings in these countries.

The reason is not far fetched, it is deeply rooted in the Yoruba cosmology and ethos of what they call Omoluabi. They never claim to be better than their host communities, they never seek to dominate others but rather to integrate and grow alongside their hosts. The Yoruba try by all means to avoid the expansionist ideology or superiority complex in their host communities.

Social and Interpersonal Skills

The Yoruba are famous for their hospitality and social etiquette, such as their culture of respect and honor, their elaborate greeting customs, which foster positive relationships with non-indigenes.

Commercial Hubs

This high level of tolerance has helped make the Yoruba-dominated southwest the primary convergence point for different tribes in Nigeria for business and settlement.

Challenges to Tolerance

While the Yoruba model is highly resilient, it does face certain pressures:

Political and External Influences

Religious extremism influenced by external ideologies or local politics occasionally tests this peace. Another thing that has tested this their resilience is the domineering attitude of a certain ethnic group bringing expansionist doctrines to places like Lagos. The saying that Lagos is a no mans land became a turning point for a lot of Yorubas in that city. They are tolerant but they wont like others to see this as a weakness, hence they fight back.

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION: LIVE AND LET LIVE

At the core of Yoruba worldview is a flexible, pluralistic philosophy.

Traditional Yoruba philosophical school of thought (rooted in as mentioned above Ifa) accepts that:

truth can have multiple expressions,

different people can follow different spiritual paths,

coexistence is preferable to domination.

This creates a mindset closer to:

Your path is yours, mine is mine  we coexist.

TRADITIONAL RELIGION WAS ALREADY PLURALISTIC

Before Islam and Christianity arrived, Yoruba spirituality:

Gave rights to function to many orisa (deities),

allowed individuals/families to follow different deities as they choose to

had no single exclusive truth system. It always assumes that as long as we are all humans we will see truths from our different worldviews. Hence everyone deserves to be heard and to choose his path in life.

So when Islam and Christianity came:

they were accepted or added to what they already knew, not forced to replace all their previous knowledge.

Result:

It was normal for:

a father to be Muslim,

a mother Christian,

extended family practicing traditional beliefs.

This multi-religious coexistence became culturally normalized.

EARLY AND BALANCED EXPOSURE TO BOTH ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

Unlike some regions that leaned strongly one way:

Yoruba land experienced:

Islam (via trade routes)

Christianity (via missionaries and Western education)

No single religion achieved total dominance, they were all at roughly comparable strength. So instead of conflict, society evolved into religious equilibrium

FAMILY STRUCTURE ENCOURAGES TOLERANCE

In many Yoruba families:

religion is mixed across generations,

interfaith marriage is common,

extended family bonds are very strong.

This makes intolerance socially costly.

You cannot easily reject:

Your sibling,

Your parent,

Your uncle just because of religion.

So tolerance becomes practical, not just ideological.

URBAN AND COMMERCIAL CULTURE (ESPECIALLY LAGOS)

Lagos plays a huge role.

Yoruba society, especially in Lagos, is:

highly urban,

commercially driven,

interaction-heavy.

In trade and business:

you deal with everyone,

tribe/religion becomes secondary to trust and value.

Commerce encourages:

Can we do business? over Who are you?

POLITICAL CULTURE OF NEGOTIATION

Yoruba political tradition (influenced by systems like the old Oyo Empire) emphasized:

checks and balances,

councils,

negotiation.

Even kings were:

advised,

challenged,

sometimes removed.

This created a culture of:

dialogue,

compromise,

structured disagreement.

EARLY WESTERN EDUCATION & EXPOSURE

The Yoruba were among the first in Nigeria to adopt:

Western education,

literacy,

global exposure.

This produced:

professionals,

intellectuals,

globally aware elites.

Exposure tends to reduce:

rigid thinking,

extreme exclusivism.

DIASPORA & GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

Yoruba people have long histories in:

Brazil,

Cuba,

Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana

UK and US.

This global interaction reinforced:

adaptability,

cultural blending,

openness.

IMPORTANT REALITY CHECK

Yoruba tolerance is real but not absolute.

There are still:

political tensions,

ethnic competition,

occasional religious friction.

However, compared to many contexts: the baseline culture leans toward coexistence rather than exclusion

DEEPER INSIGHT WORTH REMEMBERING

Yoruba tolerance is not accidental.

It is the result of:

pluralistic religion (Ifa cosmology and philosophy)

mixed families (you cant divide easily)

commerce (interaction with everyone)

political negotiation culture

early exposure to multiple belief systems

FINAL SUMMARY

Yoruba society tends toward tolerance because:

It was historically built to manage diversity, not eliminate it.

Thats why you often see:

Muslims and Christians in the same household

inter-tribal coexistence in cities

relatively flexible identity boundaries

In my next article (Part Four) I want to continue exploring the Yoruba culture of tolerance and how this single quality is opening doors and alliances for Yoruba people both in Nigeria and all over the world.

For the love of God, church and nation.

Sunday Adelaja is a Nigerian born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Ukraine
As the country prepares for another milestone in its romance with sovereign organised crime in 2027, the authors of this script must pray that Nigerias excluded and expended do not decide to ask for what is duly theirs. For if they could, they will present the country for the first time with a proposition for which there are not enough prayers or bullets.

My ill-fated country, those you have affronted

with them you must be equalized by sharing the same affront.

Those you have denied

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

human rights,

Allowed to stand before you but never invited in 

with all of them you must be equalized by sharing the same affront

Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali (Song Offerings) 108 (1910)

Nigeria is a country of pious people and sacred cows. On Fridays, its mosques are filled with prayer and Tafsir. On Sundays, the churches take over with song offerings and evocative homilies. The illegitimate child of the menage a trois between George Taubman Goldie; his employee, Frederick Lugard; and their shared mistress, Flora Shaw, it was a matter of fate that the country would live in interminably fruitless search of prayer and miracle.

Written in 1959 by Lillian Jane Williams and scored by Frances Benda, Nigerias first national anthem was ultimately a failed effort at inventing a civic prayer to expiate for the original sin that afflicted the countrys birth. Its third stanza ended in an invocation to the God of all creation to grant this our one request and help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed. It was as if this prayer forgot that the country had women too, not to mention children.

Under this prayerful invocation, Nigeria raced through a pogrom, a civil war, and four coups (including one unsuccessful one) in its first 20 years of Independence, accounting for the killing of three of its first four Heads of State and three of its first four heads of government. As a prayer, it did not seem to hold Gods attention.

Rather than investigate or address why the prayer appeared to have suffered derailment on its way upstairs, the country sought replacement therapy. In 1978, it retired that anthem in favour of another one.

Invented by a committee, the fate of this second anthem was sealed at birth when it was arranged by the Police Band. Like its predecessor, it prays to the God of creation to help us to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign. Launched into a transition and bridled under austerity, this second anthem became a totem to treason; and a song offering for a succession of military usurpers whose primary vocation was to sow constitutional instability and sunder the nation.

Two decades into its life, it was evident that the second anthem did not cut much ice with the Heavens either, as the countrys problems seemed to multiply in direct proportion to the frequency of its rendition. The response was a multiplicity of prayer projects to save Nigeria. Indeed, Nigerias second military ruler and its first four-star army General, Yakubu Gowon, retired to a ministry known as Nigeria Prays.

It was, however, Nigerias largest Christian denomination, the Catholic Church, which gave full vent to the enterprise of praying for Nigeria. Five days after the military annulled the outcome of the June 12, 1993 elections and as the country laboured under existential uncertainty, On 27 June 1993, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria launched the Prayer for Nigeria in Distress as their unique contribution to Nigerias search for sovereign safe harbour.

33 years of this ritual have not made much dent on the natural logic of Nigerias sovereign misadventure. During that period, lots of Catholic priests and bishops have  with full knowledge  blessed politicians who rigged elections and collected car gifts and cathedrals procured with stolen public funds. Nigerias sacred cows continue to receive their benedictions from pious men who offer prayers to save the country from the doom to which their acts logically condemn it.

This prayer confesses on behalf of Nigerians that [W]e are sorry for all the sins We have committed and for the good deeds We failed to do, but pleads with the Almighty to keep us safe from the punishments we deserve, without giving any compelling reasons why He should. It admits that we are weighed down not only by uncertainties, but also by moral, economic and political problems, begs Him to be merciful to us your people, and, with shameless lack of self-awareness, asks Him to spare this Nation Nigeria from chaos, anarchy and doom.

This prayer is at once a summary of the Nigerian condition and a brutal piece of self-indictment. Its authors clearly understood that the natural logic of the Nigerias trajectory is chaos, anarchy and doom. What is not clear is why they believed that the way to spare the country these consequences was through a ritual of gratuitous weekly prayer incantations.

33 years of this ritual have not made much dent on the natural logic of Nigerias sovereign misadventure. During that period, lots of Catholic priests and bishops have  with full knowledge  blessed politicians who rigged elections and collected car gifts and cathedrals procured with stolen public funds. Nigerias sacred cows continue to receive their benedictions from pious men who offer prayers to save the country from the doom to which their acts logically condemn it.

As if goaded by a clan of shamans, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disinterred the first anthem in 2024  45 years after it was first retired. He has since then turned the country into a gaggle of prayer warriors.

Most recently, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has called for divine intervention to save the country from insecurity. As the last Ramadan season entered its final furlong, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, called on Muslims and Christians in the state to intensify prayers against rising insecurity issues. Not to be outdone, Benue State Governor  a Catholic Priest  preaches sustained prayers as the answer to insecurity in his state.

When he was Governor of Zamfara State in 2022, Bello Matawalle funded 97 clerics to Saudi Arabia to go and pray for a stoppage of banditry in order to diversify strategies to restore peace and security in the state. Today, as Nigerias minister of state for Defence, his tried and tested playbook bears remarkable fruit for a country affronted!

But the real prayer for Nigeria was arguably written four years before the Amalgamation that begat it in 1914 and over ten thousands kilometres away, in a collection of chants by Bengali mystic, Rabindranath Tagore, published under the title Gitanjali.

The tale of Tagore, India and Nigeria makes for a most unlikely coincidence. Tagore was born in 1861, the same year in which the British possessed Lagos. He died in 1941, just six years before the British project in India ended in that most bloody Partition, the same year in which the Nigerian Regiment helped to restore the Emperor in Ethiopia. From Tagores India, the British exported many things to Nigeria, including the Criminal Code, the Verandah, and Frederick Lugard.

All this grasping for the Almighty reflects the reality that the Nigerian State has never cared nor existed for its underclass. It has only ever treated them as both sub-human and expendable.

It is, therefore, not at all un-natural that Tagores prayer for Nigeria was also made in India. Among his collection in Gitanjali, Tagore pens a trilogy of patriotic songs: Gitanjali 106 calls attention to the perils of social exclusion; 107 acknowledges Indias vast under-class of social exclusion in the caste system; and 108 predicts a terrible reckoning:

Day after day, you have avoided human touch

Showing your contempt for the deity that dwells in man.

One day, the Creators ruthless fury

will make you sit by famines doorway

and share with others what there is to eat and drink.

With all of them youll have to be equalized by sharing the same affront.

These excluded were the people whom another of Indias celebrated founders, Mohandas Gandhi, called the Harijans or Gods people. It is no accident that Nigerias encounter with its reckoning appears to be happening in Gods name.

In the North-East, a Jihadist onslaught proclaims a Caliphate in Gods name.

In the North-West, the killers of Deborah claimed they did it in Gods name.

In the South-East, adherents of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) claim to be the children of Chukwu Okike Abiama, which translates into God of all Creation in Nigerias relay of national anthems.

All this grasping for the Almighty reflects the reality that the Nigerian State has never cared nor existed for its underclass. It has only ever treated them as both sub-human and expendable.

As the country prepares for another milestone in its romance with sovereign organised crime in 2027, the authors of this script must pray that Nigerias excluded and expended do not decide to ask for what is duly theirs. For if they could, they will present the country for the first time with a proposition for which there are not enough prayers or bullets.

For Nigeria, they are Tagores prayer in the fourth stanza of Gitanjali 108 answered:

Whoever you fling to a lower level will bind you to that level.

Whoever you keep behind your back is only dragging you backwards.

Whoever you keep occluded,

Hidden in ignorance-darkness,

is shaping a chasm between you and your welfare.

You must be equalized with all of them by sharing the same affront.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through [email protected].


So you've got $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you're looking for a great stock to invest in with it. May I suggest Realty Income (NYSE: O)?

Why Realty Income? Well, I like it (and own it) for many reasons. Here are a few.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

For starters, it's a real estate investment trust (REIT) -- a company that owns lots of real estate, leasing it to tenants. REITs are required by law to distribute at least 90% of their taxable earnings as dividends, so they tend to be generous dividend payers. Realty Income's dividend yield was recently a fat 5%. On top of that, the company has been paying its dividends for more than 650 consecutive months and has upped its payout 134 times in 32 years.

With a 5% dividend yield, a $10,000 investment today will generate $500 in annual income -- and that payout will most likely grow over time. If it grows by 4% annually, you're looking at about $740 in annual income in just 10 years.

Interestingly, while most dividend payers pay quarterly, this one pays monthly. That's not necessarily a big deal, but if, say, you're in retirement and relying on dividend income for much of your daily needs, it can be handy to have it coming in every month, along with your Social Security benefits.

Realty Income's business model is appealing, too: It uses "triple-net leases," which require its tenants to cover real estate taxes, property insurance, and operating expenses. In exchange, its tenants generally receive modest annual rent increases, often around 1%.

The company boasts a total compound annual return of 13.3% since it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994, and a 4.2% compound annual dividend growth rate since then, too. It has around 15,500 properties leased to tenants, and its top tenants include companies such as 7-Eleven, Dollar General, Walgreens, Home Depot, and FedEx.

While the company is able to grow organically, buying more properties with the income it generates, it's also been spurring more growth via more creative means. For example, it has inked a $1 billion partnership with alternative investment manager Apollo Global Management -- which will provide funding to buy more properties. It has other joint ventures, as well, and may keep adding more.

This should be a quite attractive portfolio candidate for any long-term investors seeking income. (Remember that it's not just retirees who can use the income. Younger investors can always redeploy that money into more stock!) Give it some consideration -- and perhaps consider some other compelling dividend payers, too.
Expectedly, there is still plenty of work to do before state policing comes into effect. However, in terms of preparation, we are in a better place today than we were yesterday. The security situation in the country has recently been taking a nose dive because we are overusing the military for police duties, for which they are ill-suited. Soldiers are trained to kill, not to negotiate ransoms. The earlier we get state policing going and return our soldiers to the barracks so that they can concentrate on their core mandate, the better for the country.

To deaden the pain of insecurity gripping the citizenry, Nigerians have resorted to their old pastime of gallows humour. Theyve even invaded the innocent territory of nursery rhymes. So, instead of A for Apple; B for Ball; C for Cat, you have A for Axe; B for Bomb; C for Cutlass. Youve got to cry to laugh!

It is so sad to see how evil elements are destroying Nigeria, one village at a time. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are everywhere. Most of the camps have virtually become makeshift villages too, because there is little chance of their occupants returning to their original homes. But we pretend that things are not as bad as they really are. We use euphemisms for the civil war that is raging from state to state. We call them skirmishes, farmer/herder clashes, banditry, inter-tribal raids, etc.

Road Scare

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

To experience these variants of insecurity at the same time that Boko Haram and ISWAP are claiming territory and harvesting the lives of senior military personnel in the North-Eastern part of the country, is like living in a roofless house at the height of the rainy season. Road travel has become a nightmare. Tourism is virtually dead. Educational excursions have been suspended indefinitely. If you must travel, make sure theres a good ransom negotiator in your family before you set out.

See what Plateau State has become! Between Plateau and Benue, we had a food basket and a tourist destination. Now the basket is empty because the farmers have been chased off their land by terrorists. No tourist will dare go near Plateau now unless he has a death wish. We scream Never again after each tragic bloodletting, but underneath our breath, we know we shall soon gather again to commiserate with the bereaved.

Im sorry to have to repeat the obvious: If we continue to do things the same old way, we shall continue getting the same results. Over the years, Ive suggested that military contractors be employed in the interim to clear the gutters, while we rebuild the policing system.

If past governments had introduced state policing, perhaps by now, we would have been in a better position to tackle the merchants of terror who have become so emboldened that they are challenging the armed forces. It is curious that in spite of the acquisition of tracking devices, we are unable to track and apprehend terrorists who negotiate ransom payments through open gsm lines. The outlaws now operate sophisticated drones in competition with the security forces. We are in trouble.

Central to this framework is the concept of community policing, which will serve as the operational backbone of the entire policing system. To alleviate concerns about potential misuse of police forces by state governors for political purposes, the framework includes robust constitutional and institutional safeguards. Notably, it proposes the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions that are insulated from gubernatorial influence

State Police

Mr Tunji Disu, the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), started on a good note when he publicly supported the plan to introduce state police. His predecessors seemed to have operated under some ill-defined imperial philosophy, which blinded them to whatever merits there were in the concept.

Now that we have an IGP who is not scared of re-engineering, we have no time to waste. The 60-month timeline that the new IG has given is rather long. The gradualist approach gives the impression that the government and its security agencies are not treating the issue with the urgency it deserves. Between the National Assembly and the government agencies, everything about state/regional policing can be tidied up in 18 months, so that the law can take effect and foundational structures can be established.

Disus 75-page framework for restructuring Nigerias security system introduces a two-tier policing architecture. This system comprises a Federal Police Service (FPS) and 37 State Police Services, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The FPS will primarily focus on national security issues such as terrorism, interstate crime, and the protection of federal assets. In contrast, the state police will be responsible for addressing localised crimes, including armed robbery, homicide, domestic violence, and gathering intelligence at the community level.

Central to this framework is the concept of community policing, which will serve as the operational backbone of the entire policing system. To alleviate concerns about potential misuse of police forces by state governors for political purposes, the framework includes robust constitutional and institutional safeguards. Notably, it proposes the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions that are insulated from gubernatorial influence, granting them authority over recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary actions.

Additionally, the framework stipulates criminal penalties for unlawful directives, particularly those aimed at the partisan deployment of police officers. It also empowers the Federal High Court to fast-track cases involving politically motivated abuses.

To further enhance accountability, the framework calls for the creation of State Police Ombudsmen, the mandatory use of body-worn cameras, and the implementation of public performance dashboards to monitor incidents of use-of-force and community satisfaction levels.

Central to the entire proposal are targeted amendments to the 1999 Constitution, particularly Section 214, to allow the coexistence of federal and state police, and to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List. A new constitutional provision, Section 214A, is also being proposed to establish the National Police Standards Board as a legally recognised body.

At the federal level, the framework advocates for the establishment of a National Police Standards Board (NPSB), an independent body consisting of 13 members tasked with setting and enforcing uniform standards across both federal and state police formations. This board would publish annual compliance ratings for each state, imposing penalties such as funding restrictions on those jurisdictions that fail to meet standards. This mechanism is designed to prevent fragmentation of standards and ensure professionalism throughout the federation.

On the matter of personnel management, the document proposes a Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP), allowing officers from the current Nigeria Police Force to transfer to state commands without losing their benefits.

Like with everything in Nigeria, there are as many experts as there are interlocutors. There are pessimists who believe that state governors are irredeemable and that they will reduce the state police under their command to political thugs. I am not one of such pessimists. We cant just throw up our hands and say that a law that is yet to be promulgated will not work. Lets all put our ideas together and plug the holes now that the law is under construction. All effective policing is local.

Central to the entire proposal are targeted amendments to the 1999 Constitution, particularly Section 214, to allow the coexistence of federal and state police, and to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List. A new constitutional provision, Section 214A, is also being proposed to establish the National Police Standards Board as a legally recognised body.

Death Lurks

However, before the arrival of corn, wont the chicken feed on something? Anyone who has watched the series of video clips purportedly shot in the northern part of Kwara State will agree that the same forces of terror that sacked villages in Benue, Plateau and Niger are coming through that belt and knocking on the door of the South-West and South-South. Already, some deaths have been recorded in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State and Edo North. Many of the forests are said to harbour bandits. Whichever direction of the compass a Nigerian faces, death lurks.

Expectedly, there is still plenty of work to do before state policing comes into effect. However, in terms of preparation, we are in a better place today than we were yesterday. The security situation in the country has recently been taking a nose dive because we are overusing the military for police duties, for which they are ill-suited. Soldiers are trained to kill, not to negotiate ransoms. The earlier we get state policing going and return our soldiers to the barracks so that they can concentrate on their core mandate, the better for the country.

Whatever we choose to do, lets do it quickly.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State chapter, on Saturday, endorsed Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term in office, citing his visionary, pragmatic, and transformative leadership, urging stakeholders and the people to rally round him.

Rising from a well-attended expanded stakeholders meeting held at the iconic Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation also acknowledged President Bola Tinubus strategic projects, interventions, and appointments in the South East in general and Enugu State in particular.

During the meeting, Ohanaeze presented the ofo (symbol of authority and justice) to Mr Mbah. Among the attendees were traditional rulers, market leaders, professionals, youth and women groups as well as presidents-general of town unions in the state.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

They event was graced by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu. The President-General of Ohanaeze, Senator John Azuta-Mbata was represented by Livingstone Wechie, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Rivers State chapter. Both Mrs Ojukwu and Mr Wechie hailed Governor Mbahs transformative leadership and endorsed his re-election.

The Enugu Ohanaeze said Mr Mbahs leadership had demonstrated a clear commitment to infrastructural development, economic revitalisation, security enhancement, and human capital development across the state.

The organisation equally predicated the governors endorsement on sustained observance of the unwritten but respected zoning arrangement of the governorship seat in Enugu State since 1999 to foster equity, unity, and political stability among the constituent zones.

In recognition of his outstanding performance, strategic vision, and commitment to the continued progress of Enugu State, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State Chapter, unanimously endorses Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as the sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State, the Enugu Ohanaeze chapter stated.

Mrs Ojukwu, on her path, described Mbah as a visionary reconstructing Enugu for the future and prosperity. Your name is Peter, and upon this rock the progress, development, and future of Enugu State is built; and that tomorrow is here. We look forward to four more years of visionary leadership, Mrs Ojukwu added.

The meeting further reviewed national developments and acknowledged President Tinubus ongoing efforts toward economic reforms, infrastructural development, and national stability.

They cited the successful concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport; approval of extension of the national gas pipeline to Enugu to unlock the states gas reserves; ongoing reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu  Onitsha highways, the 700-metre flyover at Eke Obinagu to the ongoing dualisation of the EnuguAbakaliki road by Governor Mbah and the speedy reconstruction of the New Artisan dual carriage Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

They also noted that whereas no Igbo son or daughter was considered fit to head any military or paramilitary agency in the eight years preceding Tinubu, the President consecutively appointed Enugu sons  first Vice

Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (rtd) as Chief of the Naval Staff and presently Air Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of the Air Staff.

Meanwhile, the Vice President-General of Ohanaeze representing Enugu State, Prof. Fredrick Eze, said Mbahs endorsement aligned with the core mandates of the apex Igbo organisation, which includes to provide good leadership to Igbo people by identifying the credible paths to their progress.

Therefore, this special occasion perfectly fits into the core mandates of Ohanaeze. We will not shy away from telling our people the truth, Prof. Eze emphasised.

The President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State Chapter, Uche Obisi, commended Governor Mbah for inclusive governance in healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, transportation and agriculture, which is transforming the rural communities.

Responding, Governor Mbah commended Ohanaeze for not only endorsing him, but also for acknowledging the Presidents efforts in Enugu and the South-East, saying the onus was on every Igbo elite to rise above narrow self-interest and invest in bridges that would serve future generations.

The Enugu chapter of Ohanaeze has not only endorsed me as their son, but they are extending that trust beyond the Niger. They have asked me to convey their appreciation and goodwill to the president.

This is very remarkable and strategic. We must not miss the gravity of this occasion. It is also a demonstration that Ohaneze Ndigbo, Enugu chapter, is willing to think beyond its circles, to think beyond today, and to think strategically, he stated.

Continuing, he said, We are not people known for short-term reaction. We have always been known for strategic thinking. I am glad that the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Samuel Obiajulu Ike, mentioned copiously the late Michael Okpara, a leader par excellence whose legacies are still a heartwarming reference point to date.

But when it became necessary as a leader of National Council for Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, in 1964 to have a handshake across the Niger, Michael Okpara did not hesitate. He forged an alliance with the Action Group, which birthed the United Progressive Grand Alliance, UPGA.

So we have forbears, who knew when it was necessary to think strategically and make the right decision, not for building tiny kingdoms. They were driven by common interests, common purpose, and the future of Ndigbo, not selfish interest.

He assured that he would continue to live up to the trust reposed in him by the people, adding that the Igbo spirit was already finding expression in the over 2,000 ongoing and completed projects and major reforms repositioning the state as a preferred destination for business, investment, tourism, and living that every Igbo would be proud.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has described as false and misleading a viral infographic claiming that a new vehicle tax has been imposed by the government effective 1 July 2026.

The infographic directs owners of private, commercial and corporate vehicles to pay the levy online or at approved banks and agencies the unstated vehicle tax rate.

The material, which bears no identifiable author, further asks members of the public to visit, for more information, whereas the correct official website of NRS.

Debunking the visual misinformation in a statement on Sunday, Special Adviser to the NRS chairman and spokesperson for the Service, Dare Adekanmbi, said the Federal Government has not introduced any fresh tax on vehicles as claimed in the material.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The statement advises members of the public to trust and rely only on information disseminated through verified official channels of government or any of its agencies and not on anonymous graphics circulating online.

The attention of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has been drawn to a viral infographic message claiming that the Federal Government has introduced a fresh vehicle tax on all registered vehicles effective from 1 July 2026.

The message, which was adorned with the Federal Government logo to give the appearance of authenticity, advises vehicle owners to make payments online or at approved banks and agencies.

The NRS wishes to state categorically that the information did not emanate from the Service or any government agency.

Citizens are, therefore, advised to disregard the fabricated message designed to mislead the public and instead rely on official government channels for information on government policies, the statement said.

While the verdict on the infographic is that it is false, Nigerians are advised to follow the official handles of the NRS on all social media platforms and its website for true information about tax and its activities.
Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (modular refinery) has announced its plan to commence two further phases of expansion, which will include the construction of 30,000 barrels per day condensate refinery and an industry park, which will accommodate other gas based firms.

Mr Abdulrazak Isa, Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman disclosed this when the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Thursday joined the Authority Chief Executive (ACE) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, to visit the Waltersmith modular refinery at Ohaji- Egbema, Imo State.

The visit was to inspect the newly completed expansion of the firms refining capacity, from 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 10,000 bpd. NCDMB invested equity in the Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limiteds modular refinery in 2018 and helped catalyze the investment, leading to the commissioning of the first phase of the plant in November 2020.

Mr Abdulrazak Isa said the visit was organised to showcase the completed facility to NMDPRAs new leadership and its partner, NCDMB and unveil its next developmental phase. He said the company had grown from owning one oil field at inception three decades ago, to expanding to several fields, including owning stakes in Renaissance Africa Energy Ltd, which acquired the entire assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) in March 2025.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

He disclosed that the firm would develop a gas line that will deliver 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, and provide an embedded captive power, to attract industries to co-locate in the industrial park.

Plans are afoot to conclude the partnership agreement for the condensate refinery by the 4th quarter of 2026 he said, adding that feedstock for the integrated expansions will come from the Ibigwe and Assa fields, as well as from nearby fields.

The Chairman underlined the companys determination to invest in the petrochemical sector, leveraging on its access to gas and Naphtha, noting that the petrochemical industry is a key enabler of the economy. He sought approvals from the NMDRA for the various stages of the upcoming developments.

The Authority Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed expressed his delight at the success of the facility and promised the agencys support to the companys expansion plans.

He said the midstream sector of the petroleum industry holds the key to the nations economic development, adding that the establishment of such projects is the dream of every administration. He described Waltersmith as an octopus in the midstream sector and challenged the company to hasten the development of the condensate refinery.

Mr Mohammed also commended NCDMB for partnering with Waltersmith to develop the project, which had become a run-away success.

The NCDMB participated in the expansion of Waltersmith refinery which is now completed and operational, producing AGO (diesel), Household kerosine (HHK), HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil) and Naphtha.

The refinery has to date supplied over 1.1 billion litres of refined products to local and regional markets, helping to strengthen Nigerias and West Africas energy security and contributing immensely to the national economy. The refinery supplies most of its products to the South-East and South-South parts of the country, while the HFO gets to West African sub-region.

The Director Legal Services NCDMB, Dr Naboth Onyesoh represented the Executive Secretary during the visit and conveyed the Boards delight at the success of Waltersmith modular refinery. He described the firm as a model in local content implementation, especially in direct and in-direct job creation, capital retention, industrialization, import substitution and value addition to crude oil and gas resources.
In an unprecedented move in Katsina State, three district heads have declared interest in seeking elections to the National Assembly in 2027.

The district heads are the immediate former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika; Yusuf Buhari, son of the immediate former president, the late Muhammadu Buhari; and Daha Umar-Faruk, the son of the emir of Daura.

All three will contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former aviation minister is the district head of Sirika and holds the traditional title of Marusan Katsina. He is seeking a Senate seat. Mr Buhari is the district head of Kwasarawa and the Talban Daura, while Mr Daha is the district head of Baure and holds the title of Danburam Daura. Messrs Buhari and Daha seek to be members of the House of Representatives.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

Mr Siriika has not been turbaned as his appointment was only recently announced.

Katsina State has two emirs: Abdulmuninu Kabir (Katsina Emirate) and Umar Faruk-Umar (Daura Emirate). The emirs are the highest-ranking traditional officials in the state. Next in the hierarchy are the district heads.

The Katsina Emirate Law, as amended in 2025, does not disallow district, village ot ward heads from seeking political offices. District heads, especially those who dont live in their domains, have a representative (Wakili) who manages the districts affairs on their behalf.

The political ambitions of the three district heads have continued to generate reactions from political observers and historians in the state as jostling for political parties tickets continues.

For Kabir Yandaki, a political scientist at the Ummaru Musa Yaradua University in Katsina, top traditional rulers seeking political offices demean the traditional institutions.

They can contest on a constitutional basis because no one stops them from doing so. But its a symptom of the kind of degeneration or relegating the integrity of traditional institutions because of the nature of how politics is played in the country.

Economic factors and the need for influence could lure them to join politics. But still, its not a good development on the part of the traditional institutions, Mr Yandaki, a senior lecturer at the university, noted.

Some Nigerians believe that traditional rulers should be non-partisan and serve as advisers, expected to convey the feelings of the masses to leaders. Such people argue that when traditional rulers join party politics, they would be mocked or insulted like other politicians and public office holders.

It is not a welcome development, especially on the part of the traditional institutions. We all know how politicians are disrespected in the north, but traditional rulers and clerics still enjoy respect in the north. District heads jumping into political contests may lose their reverence, Hamza Saulawa, coordinator of Nigeria First Project Initiative, said.

For Baba Bala-Katsina, a cultural historian, the development may lead to complete politicisation of traditional institutions in Katsina, as seen in other northern states, especially Kano and Adamawa.

Katsina has maintained its colonial status with two emirs and little political interference. The involvement of traditional rulers may change that status and may lead to several changes, like belittling the emirs, creating more districts, and dividing the emirate. The changes may be obvious in situations where the traditional rulers were brought to the seats through political influence, he said.

He also noted that the development may lead to the restructuring of the hierarchy of kingmakers in the emirates and a possible change to the Katsina Emirate Law.

The historian pointed out that traditional rulers may be joining partisan politics to avoid being sidelined or removed by politicians.
Armed bandits in Zamfara State shot and injured a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Marafa, on Saturday.

Mr Marafa, a prominent cleric and the former Commissioner for Religious Affairs, narrowly escaped death when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle.

The incident occurred while he was travelling from Talata Mafara Local Government Area for an APC stakeholders meeting in Gusau, the state capital.

Security analyst Bakatsine reported on X that the politician sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

According to the report, the bullet has been surgically removed, and Mr Marafa is recuperating at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.

The analyst also shared images of the victim and his vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes, raising concerns over the escalating bandit attacks on major highways in the state.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Abubakar Yazeed, stated that the incident had not yet been formally reported to the police.

Mr Yazeed promised to reach out to the Talata Mafara divisional office to verify the report.

The attack on Mr Marafa is one of several on highways in a state that has become the epicentre of banditry in the North-west and North-central Nigeria.

Highways, such as the Gusau-Funtua, Gusau-Sokoto, and Magami-Dansadau roads, have become death traps.

Bandits often emerge from the forests to set up illegal checkpoints or shoot at moving vehicles.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Ibrahim Mustafa, says about five per cent of the states health budget directly or indirectly supports immunisation efforts.

Mr Mustafa made the assertion on Sunday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to mark World Immunisation Week.

He noted that routine immunisation in the state was funded through a mix of federal vaccine supply and state-level investment in logistics, cold chain systems and service delivery.

These interventions, he said, were being supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, as well as international partners including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and AFENET.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times Follow us on Google News and never miss breaking stories, investigations, and in-depth reporting. Add as a preferred source on Google

The state now commits a lot of resources to ensure that these vaccines get to the arms of the children.

The Lagos State Government is one of the governments in the federation that is committing a lot to assist vaccination efforts.

Furthermore, Mr Mustafa said the state had achieved a routine immunisation coverage rate of about 66 per cent.

He, however, warned that population movement, vaccine hesitancy and a large number of zero-dose children continued to undermine efforts to fully protect communities from preventable diseases.

According to him, the gaps persist largely because of the citys rapid population growth, fuelled by migration from across the country.

Many families arriving in Lagos, the countrys commercial hub, do so with children who have not completed or even started their vaccination schedules.

That contributes significantly to the gaps we are seeing.

A zero-dose child is an infant who has not received any routine vaccines, specifically missing the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1).

Nigeria has the worlds highest burden of zero-dose children, with 2.1 million in 2023, primarily concentrated in the Northwest and Northeast regions, specifically Sokoto, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, and Kebbi.

Although rural areas have higher overall numbers, Lagos State, specifically Alimosho Local Government Area, recorded over 35,000 zero-dose children, the highest for any single LGA in the country.

Mr Mustafa estimated that Lagos was home to between 120,000 and 130,000 zero-dose children, the majority of whom were concentrated in informal and hard-to-reach communities such as Makoko, parts of Alimosho, and Ikorodu.

Highlighting concern over zero-dose children, Mr Mustafa warned that the presence of large numbers of unvaccinated children threatened herd immunity, increasing the risk of outbreaks of diseases that had previously been brought under control.

If you have many zero-dose children, herd immunity drops, and that can lead to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, he said.

Regardless of the challenge, he stressed that Lagos remained one of the better-performing states in Nigeria, noting that its relatively strong health system continues to attract migrants seeking better servicesironically adding pressure to the system.

To address the gaps, he said the state had intensified outreach programmes, outbreak response activities and targeted immunisation campaigns aimed at underserved communities.

The permanent secretary added that health workers had also been deployed to identify and vaccinate missed children.

Besides, Mr Mustafa said the state had also made significant progress in expanding newer vaccines, particularly the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer.

Introduced about two years ago for girls aged nine to 14, the programme initially faced strong resistance driven by misinformation and distrust.

At one point, vaccinators faced hostility, including physical attacks in parts of Ibeju-Lekki, prompting us to deploy security escorts.

To counter the hesitancy, he said, an extensive public engagement campaign involving religious and community leaders, media outreach and social media advocacy was inaugurated by the government.

Mr Mustafa said groups such as the Christian Association of Nigeria and Muslim leaders in Lagos played a key role in building trust, while public figures, including Aproko Doctor and Kate Henshaw, helped amplify pro-vaccination messaging.

The strategy, he disclosed, paid off, as no fewer than 1.5 million girls had now received the HPV vaccine, with acceptance rising sharply after initial resistance.

We moved from very serious hesitancy to strong demand. Now, in many cases, people are asking for the vaccine themselves, he said.

He emphasised that strong government backing had been critical to sustaining immunisation efforts in the state.

The recent introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine into routine schedules, for example, received strong support from Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his wife, and other top government officials, with funding provided outside initial budget provisions.

He emphasised that such commitment was essential as Lagos continued to grapple with a growing population and persistent immunisation gaps.

Closing these gaps requires continuous investment and collaboration.

We are not relenting. Our goal is to ensure that every child in Lagos, regardless of where they live, has access to life-saving vaccines.

Mr Mustafa emphasised that sustaining routine immunisation while targeting zero-dose populations was key to preventing future outbreaks and maintaining the states progress in child health.

NAN reports that World Immunisation Week, celebrated from 23 to 30 April, aims to promote the life-saving power of immunisation to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases.

This years theme is For every generation, vaccines work.

According to the WHO, vaccines have long been one of the most powerful tools in public health.

WHO said over the last 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives, because ordinary people decided to protect themselves, their children and one another.

(NAN)
Next Level Marking, LLC allegedly failed to accurately record employees' full time worked, including time worked off the clock. This, allegedly, resulted in violations to various California Labor Laws.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Next Level Marking, LLC., violated the California Labor Code. The Next Level Marking, LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. CGC-26-635051, is currently pending in the San Francisco County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP Speed Speed

According to the lawsuit filed against Next Level Marking, LLC, the company allegedly failed to provide Plaintiff with all legally required meal and rest periods. From time to time, Plaintiff was allegedly asked to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minutes rest periods. Further these employees were denied their first rest periods of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts of at least two (2) to four (4) hours from time to time, a first and second rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of between six (6) and eight (8) hours from time to time, and a first , second and third rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of ten (10) hours or more from time to time.

The lawsuit further alleges that Defendant underpaid sick wages to Plaintiff by failing to pay such wages at the regular rate of pay, when sick pay was paid, it was paid at the base rate of pay. Defendant failed to reimburse and indemnify Plaintiff for required business expenses associated with their job duties. Defendant allegedly violated Cal. Lab. Code  246(1)(2) and 2802.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Next Level Marking, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

**THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT**

Media Contact

Nicholas De Blouw

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP

(800) 568-8020

[email protected]

https://www.bamlawca.com/

SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP
Staples is ready to party, just in time for graduation season. The office supply retailer is adding Party City shop-in-shops to 700-plus of its stores in 34 states across the U.S.

Most Read from Fast Company



Customers will be able to buy party supplies and decor, including balloons, gift bags, and favors; have helium balloons inflated; and order other celebration must-haves like personalized invitations, banners, and posters using Staples same-day print and marketing services.

The companies announced their partnership in a joint news release on April 21. As part of the collaboration, Party City will also sell its products at Staples.com.

Shoppers can use this store locator tool to find their nearest location. Staples plans to welcome Party City to more of its stores by the end of 2026.

[Photo: Staples]

By bringing Party City into Staples stores, were expanding what customers can accomplish in one placecombining helium balloons and party supplies with our print and marketing services to offer a complete solution for celebrations, from graduations to grand openings and everything in between, Marshall Warkentin, president of Staples U.S. Retail, said in the news release.

Both brands have had to adapt

Both Staples and Party City have struggled in recent years.

Staples has been rapidly downsizing, reducing its U.S. footprint to fewer than 1,000 stores as part of an ongoing shift toward e-commerce and business-to-business services. The retailer has faced declining foot traffic and less demand for traditional office supplies.

Party Citys challenges have been more severe. The chain filed for bankruptcy twice, first in January 2023 and again in December 2024, which led to the retailer announcing it would close all of its stores.

[Photo: Staples]

Staples Baddie shares the news

One of Staples own employees has been doing her part to attract more attention to the retailer. Kaeden Rowland, a Staples print specialist who has earned the nickname Staples Baddie, went viral in early 2026 by posting videos showcasing the retailers products and services on TikTok. Since then, the Staples Baddie has amassed nearly 600,000 TikTok followers.

Her content, which she films while on the clock, introduces viewers to lesser-known products and services at Staples. The company has embraced Rowlands success, regularly engaging with her content and collaborating with her through paid partnerships. Rowland was among the first to share news of the Party City partnership with her audience.
Approximately $565 million in new contract value since the January fleet status report, including 3-year extension for the Noble Courage and 5-well contract for the Noble Deliverer ; backlog stands at $7.5 billion.

and 5-well contract for the ; backlog stands at $7.5 billion. $0.50 per share cash dividend declared for Q2, maintaining consistent return of capital program.

Q1 Net Income of $121 million, Diluted Earnings per Share of $0.75, Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share of $0.26, Adjusted EBITDA of $277 million, net cash provided by operating activities of $273 million, and Free Cash Flow of $169 million.

Full Year 2026 Guidance for Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA maintained, 2026 capital expenditures guidance increased by $25 million due to the reactivation of the Noble Deliverer.

HOUSTON, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation plc (NYSE: NE, "Noble" or the "Company") today reported first quarter 2026 results.





Three Months Ended (in millions, except per share amounts)

March 31, 2026

March 31, 2025

December 31, 2025 Total Revenue

$ 786

$ 874

$ 764 Contract Drilling Services Revenue

743

832

705 Net Income (Loss)

121

108

87 Adjusted EBITDA*

277

338

232 Adjusted Net Income (Loss)*

41

42

14 Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share

0.76

0.68

0.55 Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share

0.75

0.67

0.54 Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share*

0.26

0.26

0.09













* A Non-GAAP supporting schedule is included with the statements and schedules in this press release.

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble, stated, "We commenced 2026 with solid operational and financial results. Commercial momentum remains brisk, highlighted by the Noble Courage's three year extension with Petrobras and the Noble Deliverer's five-well program with Woodside. We remain intensely focused on project execution, with several important contract commencements scheduled over the course of this year, each of which is progressing well."

First Quarter Results

Contract drilling services revenue for the first quarter of 2026 totaled $743 million compared to $705 million in the prior quarter, with the sequential increase driven primarily by improved fleet utilization. Utilization of the 29 marketed rigs was 68% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 64% for the same rigs in the prior quarter. Contract drilling services costs for the first quarter were $450 million, down from $471 million in the prior quarter. Net income (loss) increased to $121 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from $87 million in the prior quarter, and Adjusted EBITDA increased to $277 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from $232 million in the prior quarter. Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2026 was $273 million, capital expenditures were $104 million, and free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $169 million. Additionally, net disposal proceeds during the quarter totaled $206 million, representing the cash consideration received from the previously announced sale of five jackups to Borr Drilling.

Balance Sheet & Capital Allocation

The Company's balance sheet as of March 31, 2026, reflected total debt principal value of $1.9 billion and cash (and cash equivalents) of $663 million. The Company redeemed $55 million principal amount of the 8.5% senior secured notes due 2030 during the first quarter. Additionally, the Company completed the lease buy-out on the first two (of four total) Blackships BOP systems for $36.5 million during the first quarter. The buy-out of the remaining two BOP systems is expected to occur later in 2026 for $36.5 million. In total, the lease buy-out for all four systems is expected to cost $73 million.

On April 26, 2026, Noble's Board of Directors approved an interim quarterly cash dividend on our ordinary shares of $0.50 per share for the second quarter of 2026. The $0.50 per share dividend is expected to be paid on June 25, 2026, to shareholders of record at close of business on June 4, 2026. Future quarterly dividends and other shareholder returns will be subject to, amongst other things, approval by the Board of Directors.

Operating Highlights and Backlog

Noble's fleet of 24 marketed floaters was 68% contracted during the first quarter compared with 62% in the prior quarter. Recent contract awards since last quarter have added approximately 5 rig years of new floater backlog. Recent dayrate fixtures for Tier-1 drillships have increased moderately to the low-to-mid $400,000s. Utilization of Noble's five ultra harsh jackups was 66% in the first quarter versus 72% during the prior quarter.

Subsequent to last quarter's earnings press release, new contracts with a total contract value of approximately $565 million include the following:

Noble Courage was extended by Petrobras for an additional 1,115 days, extending through December 2030, for a net incremental backlog addition of $339 million. The dayrate from April 2026 through December 2027 has been reduced from $290,100 to $280,000, followed by the 1,115 days extension at $309,500 per day.

was extended by Petrobras for an additional 1,115 days, extending through December 2030, for a net incremental backlog addition of $339 million. The dayrate from April 2026 through December 2027 has been reduced from $290,100 to $280,000, followed by the 1,115 days extension at $309,500 per day. Noble Deliverer was awarded a 5-well contract with Woodside in Australia. The contract, valued at $121 million excluding additional services and potential upgrades, is anticipated to commence in Q2 or Q3 2027 and includes options for up to two additional wells.

was awarded a 5-well contract with Woodside in Australia. The contract, valued at $121 million excluding additional services and potential upgrades, is anticipated to commence in Q2 or Q3 2027 and includes options for up to two additional wells. Noble Developer received a one-well contract from ExxonMobil in Guyana at a dayrate of $375,000. This contract is scheduled to commence in early 2027 in direct continuation of the rig's current program.

received a one-well contract from ExxonMobil in Guyana at a dayrate of $375,000. This contract is scheduled to commence in early 2027 in direct continuation of the rig's current program. Noble BlackRhino had an option well exercised by Beacon in the U.S. Gulf which commenced recently in April.

had an option well exercised by Beacon in the U.S. Gulf which commenced recently in April. Noble Venturer received a one-well contract with Planet One in Ghana, at a dayrate of $430,000, expected to commence in late 2026; plus two unpriced option wells.

received a one-well contract with Planet One in Ghana, at a dayrate of $430,000, expected to commence in late 2026; plus two unpriced option wells. Noble Viking has secured a one-well contract in Malaysia in direct continuation of existing backlog.

Backlog as of April 27, 2026, stands at $7.5 billion. Backlog excludes mobilization and demobilization revenue.

Outlook

For the full year 2026, previous guidance is maintained for Revenue ($2,800-$3,000 million) and Adjusted EBITDA ($940-$1,020 million), while guidance for capital expenditures is increased to $615-$665 million (previously $590-$640 million) due to the Noble Deliverer's reactivation.

Commenting on Noble's outlook, Mr. Eifler stated, "With tightening floater fundamentals, the trajectory for dayrates, contract duration and earnings visibility is improving. We continue to anticipate a meaningful financial inflection next year supported by existing backlog and a robust bidding pipeline. Against this backdrop, Noble will continue to prioritize our leading shareholder return program."

Due to the forward-looking nature of Adjusted EBITDA and Capital Expenditures (net of reimbursements), management cannot reliably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure, net income, and capital expenditures, respectively. Accordingly, the Company is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure without unreasonable effort. The unavailable information could have a significant effect on Noble's full year 2026 GAAP financial results.

Conference Call

Noble will host a conference call related to its first quarter 2026 results on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Time. Interested parties may dial +1 800-715-9871 and refer to conference ID 31391 approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Additionally, a live webcast link will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A webcast replay will be accessible for a limited time following the call.

About Noble Corporation plc

Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com .

Forward-looking Statements

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this communication are forward looking statements, including, but not limited to, those regarding future guidance, including revenue, earnings and earnings per share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, margins, leverage, operating results, project status, expenses, tax rates and deferred taxes, the offshore drilling market and demand fundamentals, costs, amount, effect or timing of cost savings, debt, the benefits or results of asset dispositions, cash flows and free cash flow expectations, capital expenditures and capital allocations expectations, including planned dividends and share repurchases, contract backlog, including projections for the achievement of revenue associated with performance, rig demand, contract awards and expected future contracts, options or extensions on existing contracts, anticipated contract start dates, major project schedules, dayrates and duration, customer actions, needs and the general customer landscape, projections, strategies and objectives of management for current or future operations and business, any asset sales or the retirement of rigs, access to capital, fleet condition, utilization and strategy, timing and amount of insurance recoveries, current or future market outlook and current or future economic trends or events and their impact on the Company, 2026 financial guidance and any statements or descriptions of assumptions underlying any of the above. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, or in the documents incorporated by reference, the words "guidance," "anticipate," "aim," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "future," "goal," "intend," "likely," "likelihood," "may," "might," "on track," "outlook," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would," "achieve," "shall," "seek," "strategy," "target," "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our business, operating results, and financial condition include, but are not limited to, market conditions and changes in customer demand, the level of activity in the oil and gas industry and the offshore contract drilling industry, current and future prices of oil and gas, customer actions and new or substitute customer contracts, realization of our current backlog of contract drilling revenue, operating hazards, natural disasters, seasonal weather events and related damages or liabilities, acts of war or geopolitical conflict (including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East), risks relating to operations in international locations, upgrades, refurbishment, operation, and maintenance of our rigs and related operational interruptions and delays, sales of drilling units, supplier capacity constraints or shortages, nonperformance by third-parties, suppliers and subcontractors, regulatory changes, the impact of governmental laws and regulations on our costs and the offshore drilling industry, potential impacts, liabilities and costs from pending or potential investigations, claims and tax or other disputes, and other factors, including those detailed in Noble's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports Form 10-Q and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We cannot control such risk factors and other uncertainties, and in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. You should consider these risks and uncertainties when you are evaluating us. With respect to our capital allocation policy, distributions to shareholders in the form of either dividends or share buybacks are subject to the Board of Directors' assessment of factors such as business development, growth strategy, current leverage and financing needs. There can be no assurance that a dividend or buyback program will be declared or continued.

Contract Backlog

The duration and timing (including both starting and ending dates) of the customer contracts are estimates only, and customer contracts are subject to cancellation, suspension, delays for a variety of reasons, and for certain customers, reallocation of term among contracted rigs, including some beyond Noble's control. The contract backlog represents the maximum contract drilling revenues that can be earned when only considering the contractual operating dayrate in effect during the firm contract period. The actual average dayrate will depend upon a number of factors (e.g., rig downtime, suspension of operations, etc.) including some beyond Noble's control. The dayrates do not include revenue for mobilizations, demobilizations, upgrades, contract preparation, shipyards, or recharges, unless specifically otherwise stated. Dayrates may include revenue associated with performance including, for example, approximately 40% assumed performance revenue realized on a combined basis under certain long-term contracts with Shell (US) and TotalEnergies (Suriname).

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2026

2025 Operating revenues







Contract drilling services

$ 742,553

$ 832,428 Reimbursables and other

43,137

42,059



785,690

874,487 Operating costs and expenses







Contract drilling services

450,125

462,099 Reimbursables

30,112

31,784 Depreciation and amortization

137,340

143,137 General and administrative

30,048

35,208 Merger and integration costs

2,615

14,920 (Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net

(89,858)





560,382

687,148 Operating income (loss)

225,308

187,339 Other income (expense)







Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

(40,559)

(40,467) Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net

726

 Interest income and other, net

8,197

1,837 Income (loss) before income taxes

193,672

148,709 Income tax benefit (provision)

(72,947)

(40,406) Net income (loss)

$ 120,725

$ 108,303 Basic earnings (loss) per share

$ 0.76

$ 0.68 Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$ 0.75

$ 0.67

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited)





March 31, 2026

December 31, 2025 ASSETS







Current assets







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 662,650

$ 471,399 Accounts receivable, net

595,878

589,597 Prepaid expenses and other current assets

176,234

211,286 Total current assets

1,434,762

1,272,282 Property and equipment, at cost

6,778,292

6,639,045 Accumulated depreciation

(1,372,621)

(1,236,222) Property and equipment, net

5,405,671

5,402,823 Other assets

637,284

854,662 Total assets

$ 7,477,717

$ 7,529,767 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY







Current liabilities







Accounts payable

$ 307,596

$ 298,751 Accrued payroll and related costs

51,800

81,754 Other current liabilities

360,011

379,224 Total current liabilities

719,407

759,729 Long-term debt

1,917,272

1,975,791 Other liabilities

253,379

245,397 Total liabilities

2,890,058

2,980,917 Commitments and contingencies







Total shareholders' equity

4,587,659

4,548,850 Total liabilities and equity

$ 7,477,717

$ 7,529,767

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2026

2025 Cash flows from operating activities







Net income (loss)

$ 120,725

$ 108,303 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flow from operating activities:







Depreciation and amortization

137,340

143,137 Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net



(7,450) (Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net

(726)

 (Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net

(89,858)

 Other operating activities Other operating activities

105,809

27,070 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

273,290

271,060 Cash flows from investing activities







Capital expenditures

(103,853)

(113,536) Proceeds from insurance claims



15,391 Proceeds from disposal of assets, net

206,400

 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

102,547

(98,145) Cash flows from financing activities







Repayments of debt

(56,650)

 Warrants exercised

2,569

38 Share repurchases



(20,000) Dividend payments

(83,691)

(81,406) Withholding tax related to employee stock transactions

(9,670)

(9,073) Finance lease payments

(41,756)

(6,019) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(189,198)

(116,460) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

186,639

56,455 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

479,960

252,279 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 666,599

$ 308,734

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES OPERATIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)





Average Rig Utilization (1)



Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended



March 31, 2026

December 31, 2025

March 31, 2025 Floaters

65 %

59 %

74 % Jackups

78 %

68 %

74 % Total

69 %

62 %

74 %































Operating Days



Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended



March 31, 2026

December 31, 2025

March 31, 2025 Floaters

1,470

1,363

1,800 Jackups

660

689

871 Total

2,130

2,052

2,671































Average Dayrates



Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended



March 31, 2026

December 31, 2025

March 31, 2025 Floaters

$ 422,076

$ 410,840

$ 381,161 Jackups

184,807

211,179

159,527 Total

$ 348,554

$ 343,777

$ 308,898

(1) Average Rig Utilization statistics include all marketed and cold stacked rigs.

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS/(LOSS) PER SHARE (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

The following tables presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:











Three Months Ended March 31,



2026

2025 Numerator:







Net income (loss)

$ 120,725

$ 108,303 Denominator:







Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

159,219

159,006 Dilutive effect of share-based awards

1,119

2,134 Dilutive effect of warrants

1,241

797 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

161,579

161,937 Earnings (loss) per share data:







Basic

$ 0.76

$ 0.68 Diluted

$ 0.75

$ 0.67

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES

NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION

Certain non-GAAP measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the Company have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and prior operating periods. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as net income (loss) adjusted for interest expense, net of amounts capitalized; interest income and other, net; income tax benefit (provision); and depreciation and amortization expense, as well as, if applicable, gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net; losses on economic impairments; amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net; restructuring and similar charges; costs related to mergers and integrations; and certain other infrequent operational events. We believe that the Adjusted EBITDA measure provides greater transparency of our core operating performance. We prepare Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by eliminating from Net Income (Loss) the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance. We prepare Adjusted Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share by eliminating from Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share the impact of a number of non-recurring items we do not consider indicative of our on-going performance. Similar to Adjusted EBITDA, we believe these measures help identify underlying trends that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the non-recurring items we exclude in the measure.

The Company also discloses free cash flow as a non-GAAP liquidity measure. Free cash flow is calculated as Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash paid for capital expenditures. We believe Free Cash Flow is useful to investors because it measures our ability to generate or use cash. Once business needs and obligations are met, this cash can be used to reinvest in the company for future growth or to return to shareholders through dividend payments or share repurchases. We may have certain obligations such as non-discretionary debt service that are not deducted from the measure. Such business needs, obligations, and other non-discretionary expenditures that are not deducted from Free Cash Flow would reduce cash available for other uses including return of capital.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our financial performance, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by our management team for financial and operational decision-making. We are presenting these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing our financial performance through the eyes of management, and because we believe that these measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry.

These non-GAAP adjusted measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling costs, contract drilling margin, average daily revenue, operating income, cash flows from operations, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see the following non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations for a complete description of the adjustments.

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION (In thousands, except per share amounts)

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA







Three Months Ended March 31,

Three Months Ended



2026

2025

December 31, 2025 Net income (loss)

$ 120,725

$ 108,303

$ 86,637 Income tax (benefit) provision

72,947

40,406

(72,848) Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

40,559

40,467

41,449 Interest income and other, net

(8,197)

(1,837)

(12,678) Depreciation and amortization

137,340

143,137

147,987 Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net



(7,450)

 Costs incurred in connection with contract termination

2,000



14,500 (Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net

(726)



 Merger and integration costs

2,615

14,920

4,015 (Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net

(89,858)



1,397 Loss on impairment





21,962 Adjusted EBITDA

$ 277,405

$ 337,946

$ 232,421 Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Tax Benefit (Provision)













Three Months Ended March 31,

Three Months Ended



2026

2025

December 31, 2025 Income tax benefit (provision)

$ (72,947)

$ (40,406)

$ 72,848 Adjustments











Costs incurred in connection with contract termination

(420)



(2,231) Gain (loss) on sale of operating assets, net

23,504



 Discrete tax items

(16,621)

(73,295)

(111,897) Total adjustments

6,463

(73,295)

(114,128) Adjusted income tax benefit (provision)

$ (66,484)

$ (113,701)

$ (41,280)

NOBLE CORPORATION plc AND SUBSIDIARIES NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss)















Three Months Ended March 31,

Three Months Ended



2026

2025

December 31, 2025 Net income (loss)

$ 120,725

$ 108,303

$ 86,637 Adjustments











Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net



(7,450)

 Merger and integration costs

2,615

14,920

4,015 (Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net

(66,354)



1,397 Loss on impairment





21,962 Costs incurred in connection with contract termination, net

1,580



12,269 (Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net

(726)



 Discrete tax items

(16,621)

(73,295)

(111,897) Total adjustments

(79,506)

(65,825)

(72,254) Adjusted net income (loss)

$ 41,219

$ 42,478

$ 14,383













Reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted EPS















Three Months Ended March 31,

Three Months Ended



2026

2025

December 31, 2025 Unadjusted diluted EPS

$ 0.75

$ 0.67

$ 0.54 Adjustments











Amortization of intangible assets and contract liabilities, net



(0.05)

 Merger and integration costs

0.02

0.09

0.02 (Gain) loss on sale of operating assets, net

(0.42)



0.01 Loss on impairment





0.14 Costs incurred in connection with contract termination, net

0.01



0.08 Discrete tax items

(0.10)

(0.45)

(0.70) Total adjustments

(0.49)

(0.41)

(0.45) Adjusted diluted EPS

$ 0.26

$ 0.26

$ 0.09













Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures, net of Proceeds from Insurance Claims















Three Months Ended March 31,

Three Months Ended



2026

2025

December 31, 2025 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$ 273,290

$ 271,060

$ 187,125 Capital expenditures

(103,853)

(113,536)

(151,747) Proceeds from insurance claims



15,391

53 Free cash flow

$ 169,437

$ 172,915

$ 35,431

SOURCE Noble Corporation plc
WASHINGTON, April 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Qorvis Holding Inc., a leading global strategic communications and advisory firm, hosted an exclusive White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) Watch Party this evening at Butterworth's, one of Capitol Hill's most talked-about gathering spots for media, policy insiders, and political operators.

Qorvis White House Correspondents' Dinner Watch Party at Butterworth's

As President Donald J. Trump returned to the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the first time as president, Qorvis convened a cross-section of administration and congressional staffers, media, and influencers for an evening of camaraderie cohosted by Raheem Kassam, the political commentator, author, and editor of The National Pulse.

A Ringside Seat to Washington's Biggest Night

Set in the convivial Butterworth's  which has quickly become a favorite of D.C.'s most influential  the evening blended black tie elegance with the unmistakable energy of fight night. As the evening's tagline  "Trump returns to the ring"  suggested, guests experienced the annual dinner as both spectators and participants in the broader conversation in Washington.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner has long stood as Washington's most unique cultural hybrid: part political ritual, part media roast, part social spectacle. This year's program, marked by President Trump's return to the dais, delivered on that legacy, sparking conversation across political and media circles alike.

"Washington runs on relationships, timing, and a sense of humor  especially on a night like this," said Samantha Sault, Chairman and Chief Editorial Officer of Qorvis. "This gathering brought together voices from across the political spectrum to experience one of the capital's biggest nights in a setting that was as insightful as it was entertaining."

About Qorvis

Qorvis is a Washington, D.C.-headquartered global advisory and strategic communications firm with more than 20 years of experience supporting multinational corporations, organizations, and sovereign governments. The firm specializes in integrated campaigns that inform, engage, and influence key audiences worldwide.

Event Details

What: White House Correspondents' Dinner Watch Party

When: Saturday, April 25 | 7:00  10:30 PM

Where: Butterworth's, Washington, D.C.

Attire: Black Tie Optional

SOURCE Qorvis Holding Inc.
Fox Tungsten Ltd (TSX-V:FOXT, OTC:HPYCF, FRA:1HC) earlier this week reported the successful completion of a bought deal financing, raising just over $12 million to advance its flagship tungsten project in southern British Columbia, with CEO Stephen Gray highlighting the raise as a significant milestone for the company.

Proactive: Welcome back inside our Proactive newsroom. Joining me now is Stephen Gray, CEO of Fox Tungsten. Stephen, great to see you again. How are you?

Stephen Gray: I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on.

Good to have you along. Exciting news as the company has completed its bought deal financing, raising just over $12 million. Great support for the company.
Tehran, April 26 : Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, vowed to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region.

It made the announcement in a statement carried by Iranian media while pointing to the US naval blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, which prevents vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway, and actions against Iran-bound ships over the past few days, Xinhua news agency reported.

It called on the United States to know that Iran's armed forces are more powerful and prepared than before to defend the country's national sovereignty and interests as well as territorial integrity, adding the US army experienced part of Iran's power and offensive capabilities during the recent war.

It said Iran's armed forces are ready and determined to, while monitoring the "enemies' behavior and movements" in the region and continuing their management and control over the Strait of Hormuz, inflict more severe damage on the US and Israeli "enemies" if they repeat their "aggression."

Also on Saturday, Saudi state-linked Al Arabiya News, citing a source, reported that Iran will not acquiesce to negotiations involving red lines set by the United States.

The developments came as Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday conveyed Iran's considerations and views regarding the end of the war in a meeting with Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Araghchi, who arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad Friday night at the head of a diplomatic delegation, also exchanged views with Munir on the latest developments pertaining to a ceasefire with the United States and Israel, and the end of the war, as well as the expansion of bilateral cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in the West Asia region, the report said.

Iran had tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when it barred passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States after the two countries' joint strikes on Iranian territory.

A ceasefire was achieved between Iran, the United States and Israel on April 8 after 40 days of fighting, followed by lengthy talks between Iranian and US delegations in Islamabad on April 11-12, which failed to yield an agreement. The United States later imposed its own blockade on the waterway.

Iranian and US delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan this week, but Iran refrained from attending negotiations, citing the US continued naval blockade and "excessive" demands as the main reasons.
Ahmedabad, April 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to be in Ahmedabad on Sunday to cast their votes in the upcoming local self-government elections in Gujarat.

PM Modi is expected to vote at a polling booth located at Nishan School in the Ranip area of Ahmedabad, while Amit Shah is likely to cast his vote at a polling station in the city.

Their participation comes as one of the largest rounds of local body elections in the state in recent years, involving municipal corporations, municipalities, and panchayati raj institutions, is scheduled for Sunday.

Former Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Governor, Anandiben Patel, is expected to vote from the Thaltej area in the city, while Madhya Pradesh Governor, Mangubhai Patel, is likely to cast his vote in Navsari.

Polling across the state is scheduled to take place between 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. using Electronic Voting Machines, with counting of votes set for April 28.

The elections will cover 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats, with more than 10,000 seats at stake.

Over 4.19 crore voters are expected to participate across nearly 50,000 polling stations.

The contest is expected to be multi-cornered, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Independents fielding candidates across the state.

In total, more than 20,000 candidates remain in the fray after withdrawals, while several candidates have already been elected unopposed.

This election cycle is also significant as it is the first to be conducted after the implementation of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), alongside existing quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, which together are expected to reshape the composition of local governance bodies.
Washington, April 26 : The White House Correspondents' Annual Dinner has been postponed and will be rescheduled following a security incident that led to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other senior officials.

The decision comes after law enforcement advised that the premises be cleared as a precaution, with authorities continuing to assess the situation.

Trump posted on Truth Social, "Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days."

According to officials, preparations are now underway for a press conference at the White House Press Briefing Room, where Trump is expected to provide further details on the incident and the response by security agencies. The administration has confirmed that all key officials, including the First Lady, Vice President, and Cabinet members, are safe and accounted for.

Trump and several senior US officials were evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night after multiple gunshots were reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Secret Service agents and other security personnel rushed into the banquet hall as panic spread among attendees. Guests reportedly took cover under tables while security officers urged people to duck.

Following the incident, Trump shared an update on social media, confirming that the situation had been brought under control and praising the swift response of security agencies. He indicated that the suspect had been apprehended and said any decision regarding the continuation of the event would be made by law enforcement authorities.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we "LET THE SHOW GO ON" but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Several individuals present at the event said they heard what sounded like five to eight gunshots. The hall, packed with hundreds of journalists, celebrities, and political leaders awaiting the President's address, was quickly evacuated. National Guard personnel were deployed inside the venue, and attendees were escorted out but not allowed to re-enter. Security remained extremely tight in the surrounding area.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact nature of the incident. A law enforcement official said a shooter was involved, though further details were not immediately available.
New Delhi, April 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed relief that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance were unharmed after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Condemning the incident, he further stated that violence has no place in a democracy.

Trump and several senior US officials were evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday night (local time) after multiple gunshots were reported.

Secret Service agents and other security personnel rushed into the banquet hall as panic spread among attendees. Guests reportedly took cover under tables while security officers urged people to duck.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington D.C. hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned."

Following the incident, Trump shared an update on social media, confirming that the situation had been brought under control and praising the swift response of security agencies. He indicated that the suspect had been apprehended and said any decision regarding the continuation of the event would be made by law enforcement authorities.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we let the show go on, but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Several individuals present at the event said they heard what sounded like five to eight gunshots. The hall, packed with hundreds of journalists, celebrities, and political leaders awaiting the President's address, was quickly evacuated. National Guard personnel were deployed inside the venue, and attendees were escorted out but not allowed to re-enter. Security remained extremely tight in the surrounding area.

Investigators have identified the suspect in the shooting near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner as a 31-year-old man from California, believed to have acted alone and now facing multiple federal charges linked to firearms and the attack.

Law enforcement officials cited in The New York Times identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, who was taken into custody after attempting to breach a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.

Authorities said the attacker was armed with multiple weapons and attempted to push past security before being tackled by law enforcement. The suspect fired several rounds before being subdued inside the hotel complex just meters away from the ballroom.

President Trump, speaking at a press conference, described the attacker as "a sick person" and said early indications suggested a lone actor. He added that investigators were already searching the suspect's residence in California and reviewing his background.

Federal officials have not yet publicly detailed a motive. Trump said, "They seemed to think he's a lone wolf, and I feel that too," while cautioning that more information would emerge as the investigation progresses.
Kolkata, April 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday was conducting searches at three places, including the houses of two businessmen in Anandapur and Alipore areas, in Kolkata.

According to ED officials, this search was linked to its investigation into a criminal-linked syndicate of Sona Pappu alias Biswajit Poddar.

The ED has already arrested Joy Kamdar, a businessman close to Sona Pappu. Kamdar is currently in the ED's custody. It is reported that these businessmen, whose premises are being searched, were traced after questioning Joy Kamdar.

Several ED teams, accompanied by central forces, left the CGO complex in Salt Lake in the morning.

A search is underway at a businessman's house in a well-known area in Anandapur. A team has also gone to Alipore. Sources said that the ED teams are investigating whether the businessmen have any connection with Joy's investments.

The raid was conducted to investigate a money laundering case against Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases, including attempted murder and extortion, said an ED official.

More details are awaited.

Sona Pappu allegedly runs syndicates in the South Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs against him over various allegations. He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February. He is at present absconding, but from time to time, he comes online on social media to target the central investigation agency for "harassing" his family members.

It is alleged that Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas was also involved in financial transactions with Joy. ED conducted a search at Biswas' house earlier this month.

The ED raids come amid the ongoing Assembly elections in the state. The first phase of voting has been completed in 152 Assembly constituencies, and the second phase of voting will be held in the remaining 142 constituencies on April 29.

The political parties have been campaigning vigorously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to the state again on Sunday. He will hold a roadshow in North Kolkata.

The ruling party, Trinamool Congress, has questioned the central agency's excessive activity in the run-up to the elections. The party has alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre is using agencies for political "gain".
Los Angeles, April 26 : Hollywood actress Lisa Kudrow has called out the "mean" behaviour of the largely-male writers during the making of the iconic sitcom 'Friends'.

The 62-year-old actress, who became a household name playing Phoebe Buffay on the beloved sitcom, was close to the rest of the cast of the show but behind the scenes, things could be "intense", with insults hurled if an actor messed up their line and a culture of lewd discussions, reports 'Female First UK'.

Lisa told The Times magazine, "There was definitely mean stuff going on behind the scenes. Don't forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers' lines or it didn't get the perfect response they could be like, 'Can't the b**** f***ing read? She's not even trying. She f***** up my line'".

As per 'Female First UK', she referred to assistant Amaani Lyle's failed legal action for sexual harassment, in which she alleged the writers, whose brainstorming she was tasked with transcribing, had discussed sleeping with Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, feigning masturbation and receiving oral sex.

She went on, "And we know that back in the room the guys would be up late discussing their sexual fantasies about Jennifer and Courteney. It was intense. Oh, it could be brutal, but these guys, and it was mostly men in there, were sitting up until 3am trying to write the show so my attitude was, 'Say what you like about me behind my back because then it doesn't matter'".

Lisa married advertising executive Michel Stern in 1995, months before 'Friends' started and she thinks her stable home life helped her to avoid as much scrutiny as her co-stars Jennifer and Courteney.

She said, "For sure, and all because I married early and outside the business. No one was interested. There was no story".

And Lisa, who has 27-year-old son Julian with Michel, stressed her life at home was different to being on set.

She added, "And very early on I was pretty clear, actors on a big show are well paid and really looked after. But you cannot take that attitude home with you. At home it's family, life, kids".
New Delhi, April 26 : Highlighting India's burgeoning leadership in the global renewable energy landscape, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently lauded the nation's extraordinary progress in wind power during his latest 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday.

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Highlighting Indiaas burgeoning leadership in the global renewable energy landscape, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently lauded the nationas extraordinary progress in wind power during his latest 'Mann Ki Baat' address on Sunday.

The Prime Minister revealed that India has achieved a significant milestone by adding approximately 6 GW of new wind energy capacity within a single year, a feat that has captured the attention of the international community.

PM Modi noted that India now ranks fourth globally in terms of total wind energy capacity. He described this achievement not merely as a technical success, but as a powerful symbol of the nationas collective willpower and commitment to a sustainable future.

According to the Prime Minister, the rapid advancement in this sector is a testament to the focused efforts of both the government and the citizens in transitioning towards a greener economy. Key states such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan are leading this energy revolution.

The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the transformation of Gujaratas desert regions, including Kutch, Patan, and Banaskantha. These areas, once characterised solely by their vast and barren landscapes, have been repurposed into hubs for large-scale renewable energy projects. This shift has turned geographical challenges into economic assets, providing a blueprint for sustainable development across the country.

Beyond environmental benefits, the Prime Minister emphasised the socio-economic impact of these projects. The rise of wind energy is creating a wealth of new opportunities for Indiaas youth.

As the sector expands, new skill sets are being developed, and diverse avenues for employment are opening up in rural and semi-urban areas. This growth ensures that the transition to clean energy also serves as a catalyst for professional development and economic empowerment.

Closing his remarks on the topic, the Prime Minister framed the adoption of clean energy as a vital responsibility for every citizen. He asserted that securing the nation's future requires a dual approach -- conservation of electricity and the widespread embrace of renewable sources.

PM Modi stressed that significant national change is the result of initiatives taken at every level of society. By prioritising clean energy today, India is not only addressing global environmental concerns but also building a resilient and self-reliant energy infrastructure for generations to come, he said.
When Warren Buffett gets nervous, you and I should probably be nervous too.

The Oracle of Omaha has long held to a simple maxim when it comes to whether the stock market is undervalued, fairly valued, or overvalued. His thesis: The total value of U.S. stocks, over the long term, cant outpace the growth of businesses as reflected in the GDP. So when the ratio of S&P 500 to national income diverts hugely from the norm, it is bound to swing the opposite way and revert to the mean. During the Dot Com bubble, in a 2001 story in Fortune that he penned, Buffett highlighted a chart in the text displaying that at the crazes peak in March 2000, that number, now known as the Buffett Indicator, reached a heady 200%.

The message of the chart, he wrote, is that if the relationship [between the total value of equities and GDP] drops to 70% or 80%, buying stocks is likely to work out very well for you. If it approaches 200% as it did in 1999 and 2000, you are playing with fire. Indeed, the S&P had already fallen over 20% by the time the Buffett story appeared, and by mid-2022 retreated by almost one half from its peak, taking the Buffett Indicator below 80%. As the Buffett formula predicted, the tech rampages aftermath proved a great moment to buy.

Which brings us to the present. Since the stock market decline prompted by the surprise start of the Iran war, the S&P 500 has rebounded to a near all-time record of 7165. Heres the shocker: The Buffett Indicator now stands at 227%, a figure thats around one-sixth higher than what he identified as the prepare-for-a-roasting zone. A reading this elevated comes with two problems. First, corporate profits have been waxing much faster than GDP. The bulls claim that trend justifies todays valuations, and that EPS can keep rolling in double digits while national income trudges at a nominal 5% or so. The arguments dubious: Profits are now 12% of GDP versus an historic average of 7% to 8%. In our highly competitive economy, fat margins attract competitors seeking a share of the action, so they push down prices and expand volumes to steal market share from the profit-rich incumbents. Extraordinary earnings growth generally doesnt stay extraordinary. As the late Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman told this writer, Corporate earnings as a share of national income cannot rise beyond their historic share of GDP for long periods.

Second, stocks have also gotten far more expensive relative to their profits. The S&P 500s price/earnings ratio based on forecast Q1 GAAP net earnings exceeds 28. Thats two-thirds higher than the 100-year average of around 17. Best bet: Both profits and P/Es trend back toward normal, taking the Buffett Indicator, and the S&P, downwards with them.
Mumbai, April 26 : Marathi actress Varsha Usgaonkar opened up about her future plans, saying that she has always wanted to do women-empowered roles.

Speaking exclusively to IANS during the trailer launch event of her forthcoming historical drama "Kaun Sahi", she was asked what kind of roles she desires to play in the future. Responding to the question, Varsha said, "I have always wished to play an empowered woman on screen - like a doctor or a lawyer, or a businesswoman. I would like to play such a strong character."

When asked if she would like to work on the OTT, Varsha said, "There is a lot of good work happening on the OTT. A lot of good web series are being made. I would love to work on those as well. However, I have not been offered a good role on the OTT till now, and when it was offered, I could not do it as I was busy with other commitments."

In another update, Varsha Usgaonkar, along with many others, was reportedly duped of around Rs. 47 lakh by a man posing as a builder and film producer, according to the Mumbai Police.

As per the Mumbai Police, a man claimed to be a film producer and builder was accused of cheating several actresses, including Varsha, of almost Rs. 47 lakh. A case was filed against the accused named Avinash Jadhav at Mumbaias Shivaji Park Police Station.

The accused reportedly returned Rs. 4.52 lakh in the beginning in an attempt to build trust. However, he later stopped making the payments.

When the victims allegedly tried to contact him, the accused changed his mobile number and address.

The victims later reached Dombivli in search of some answers, and he allegedly threatened them and said he would not return the money, and they could do whatever they wanted.

--IANS

pm/
New Delhi, April 26 : Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes Delhi Capitals (DC) did not show enough proactiveness with the ball in the powerplay, allowing Punjab Kings (PBKS) to stay ahead in their record-breaking chase of 265 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.

Brathwaite pointed to lapses in DC's bowling plans despite having a daunting total to defend and also raised questions about the lesser use of Natarajan in the first six overs.

"When you bat and score 200 and a lot, you don't necessarily need to be defensive, but have a mindset that this can be scored. I saw Natarajan bowl just one over in the power play. They could have been a little bit more proactive," Braithwaite told ESPNCricinfo.

Defending 264 for 2, powered by KL Rahul's unbeaten 152 and Nitish Rana's 91, DC handed four of the first five overs to Mukesh Kumar and Auqib Nabi, who conceded a combined 87 runs. Captain Axar Patel also went for 20 in his over as PBKS raced to 116 without loss in the powerplay.

Brathwaite felt DC missed an opportunity to apply early pressure by not using their key bowlers upfront.

"Get Kuldeep on early. He may not get a wicket, but he may stem the flow of runs for an over. Natarajan took the pitch out of play. If Natarajan and Kuldeep had bowled three out of the first six overs, and PBKS had scored 65 in the powerplay, PBKS would have so much more to do," he said.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was introduced only in the eighth over, by which time PBKS had already surged to 127, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya dominating the attack.

The strong start ensured that when PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer came in after the openers fell in the seventh and eighth overs, the required rate remained under control. Iyer went on to anchor the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls.

"They did so much in the powerplay that when Shreyas came in, he could be eight off his first eight balls," Brathwaite said. "That would never be possible if you need to score 19 or 20 per over, then everybody has to come in and go," he added.

Brathwaite further said that defending a total in excess of 260 demands aggressive intent with the ball from the very beginning.

"I think DC could have structured their game a little bit better. You know, with 260, you have to go from ball one and have to get ahead in the power play. Try to get wickets in the powerplay or bowl your best bowlers in the powerplay to be defensive but also push the required run rate up to 20, 21, 22."

DC's troubles were compounded in the field as Karun Nair dropped Iyer twice late in the innings, misses that proved costly as PBKS completed the highest successful chase in IPL history with seven balls to spare.
New Delhi, April 26 : India and New Zealand are set to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement on Monday, more than four months after concluding negotiations, with the deal expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, investments and market access across sectors.

The agreement will be signed at Bharat Mandapam in the presence of Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay, marking a major step in strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

The pact is aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years and is expected to open new avenues for Indian exporters, particularly at a time when global uncertainties, including tensions in West Asia, are impacting trade flows.

It will also facilitate an estimated $20 billion investment from New Zealand into India over the next 15 years across sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, services, innovation and job creation.

Under the agreement, Indian companies will gain duty-free access to New Zealandas markets, while New Zealand will see tariffs eliminated or reduced on about 95 per cent of its exports to India.

These include products such as wool, coal, wood, wine, seafood, cherries, avocados and blueberries.

However, India has kept sensitive sectors like dairy, onions, sugar, spices, edible oils and rubber outside the scope of tariff concessions to safeguard domestic farmers and industries.

New Zealand will also receive quota-based tariff reductions for key exports such as kiwifruit and apples.

At the same time, it will enjoy duty-free access to items including sheep meat, wool and forestry products, while benefiting from reduced duties on products like Manuka honey, infant formula and certain seafood items.

A key feature of the pact is enhanced mobility for professionals. New Zealand has agreed to provide a temporary employment visa pathway for up to 5,000 Indian professionals annually, allowing stays of up to three years.

This will cover a wide range of occupations, including IT, engineering, healthcare, education and construction, as well as traditional professions such as yoga instructors, AYUSH practitioners, chefs and music teachers.

The agreement also seeks to strengthen cooperation in agriculture through a dedicated Agri-Technology Action Plan focusing on products like kiwifruit, apples and honey.

The initiative will support Indian farmers through improved planting materials, capacity building and technical assistance in areas such as orchard management, supply chains and food safety.

In addition, New Zealand has committed to supporting Indiaas Geographical Indications by amending its laws to facilitate the registration of Indian wines and spirits.

The pact also includes provisions to address non-tariff barriers through better regulatory cooperation, streamlined customs procedures and improved sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Abu Dhabi, April 26 : National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval called on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday, discussing measures to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest.

In a post on X, Indian Embassy in the UAE stated, "NSA Ajit Doval paid an official visit to the UAE. He called on President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Conveyed greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Measures to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed."

This is the second high level visit from India to UAE after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's two-day visit earlier this month.

Earlier this month, EAM Jaishankar called on UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and conveyed greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the meeting, EAM Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE during the conflict in West Asia.

Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was also present during the meeting.

"Deeply honoured to call on President of UAE HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi today. Conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our gratitude for ensuring well-being of the Indian community during the West Asia conflict. Thank him for his guidance on further strengthening the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

In another post, he wrote: "Good to see HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the call. Conveyed the appreciation of our Government for ensuring the welfare of the Indian community in Dubai."

On April 11, EAM Jaishankar held talks with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the evolving situation in West Asia and its wider implications.

The External Affairs Minister expressed confidence that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations will advance further.

"A real pleasure to meet DPM and FM of UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi this evening. Our conversation focused on the evolving regional situation and its implications. Conveyed our deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will advance further," he wrote on X.

EAM Jaishankar also interacted with the members of the Indian community there. During his interaction, he highlighted the Indian government's ongoing efforts towards the security and well-being of its nationals amidst the West Asia conflict.

The tensions in West Asia escalated after the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran on February 28. 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.
United Nations, April 26 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned by reports of attacks across Mali and strongly condemned the acts of violence, his spokesperson said Saturday.

The UN chief expresses solidarity with the Malian people, stressing the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General calls for coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and to meet urgent humanitarian needs. He reiterates his call for robust security coordination and collaboration across the region," said the statement.

Mali's transitional government said Saturday evening that armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks earlier in the day on several cities in the country, leaving 16 people wounded, Xinhua news agency reported.

The attacks had been brought under control by Malian defense and security forces, with several terrorists killed and the attackers' plans foiled, it added.

The attacks targeted several locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital Bamako, the government said in a statement.

The wounded, including civilians and military personnel, have been taken to medical facilities, while material damage has been limited, it said.

The attacks had been brought under control by Malian defense and security forces, with several terrorists killed and the attackers' plans foiled, it added.

It also called on the population to remain vigilant and calm, report any suspicious activity, and rely exclusively on official government channels for information.

Separately, the Bamako District governorate imposed a 72-hour curfew across the capital, in effect from 9 p.m. (2100 GMT) to 6 a.m. (0600 GMT) local time, which may be renewed if necessary.

Earlier in the day, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said a large-scale sweep operation was underway in Bamako, Kati and other affected localities, adding that several hundred terrorists had been killed.
Los Angeles, April 26 : David Frankel, who has helmed 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' has shared that he did want to sprinkle a little Nate into the much-anticipated sequel.

David said that he considered "sneaking" Adrian Grenier in for a surprise cameo, reports 'Deadline'.

Unfortunately for the fans of the actor, "it was just too late in our production schedule to make it happen". Frankel wouldn't share how he had hoped to incorporate Andy's old chef-lover into the sequel that reunited Anne Hathaway with Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

But he added that "I'm thrilled that he (Adrian Grenier) did a Starbucks commercial, which was really funny and so self-effacing. I love the humility and the comedy of it".

As per 'Deadline', over the years, fans on social media have called out Nate's selfish behavior in his relationship with Andy, seemingly upset with her for pursuing a career in fashion.

The couple goes through it in the first film, with their relationship status left up in the air. In March, Grenier told Page Six that "it was a disappointment that I didn't get the call to be in the sequel, but I also understand there's some backlash with Nate, the character, so that might have something to do with it. But I think that just leaves room for a spinoff".

He also said "we're all fans of the movie, whether or not we're in it". Premiering May 1 in theaters, 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' sees the fashionable return of Hathaway's Andi, Streep's Miranda Priestley, Blunt's Emily Charlton and Stanley Tucci's Nigel Kipling. Andy returns to Runway Magazine 20 years after quitting on Miranda in Paris.

As the publication struggles to keep up with the evolving media landscape, the pair has to convince fellow former assistant Emily, now head of a luxury brand, to buy advertising that could save Runway.
Kathmandu, April 26 : China has used its economic ties with Nepal as a stepping stone for political interference in the Himalayan country, and several deals signed with the Asian giant are now being looked into with the new government taking over in Kathmandu.

"In recent years, China's growing role in Nepal has moved beyond economic cooperation into areas that increasingly resemble strategic and political interference. From diplomatic pressure on issues related to Tibet and Taiwan to attempts at influencing internal decision-making, Beijing's footprint in Kathmandu has expanded significantly," according to an article published by the Institute for Conflict Research and Resolution (ICRR), a Delhi-based think tank.

It points out that during the tenure of K. P. Sharma Oli, Nepal signed several agreements with China, which were projected as transformative steps toward economic independence.

However, these deals are now being scrutinised by the country's new government to investigate why several China-linked projects initiated during the Oli era were stalled, delayed or effectively stopped without clear reasons.

The new government has also announced that no new agreements with China will be considered until a full review of these projects is completed.

The turning point in Nepal-China relations came between 2016 and 2018, when Nepal moved closer to Beijing under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Oli government projected these agreements as a historic opportunity to transform Nepal into a regional connectivity hub. However, these infrastructure projects were not always backed by realistic planning or financial clarity, which sowed the seeds for future delays and complications.

In the list of stalled projects, the article lists the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, awarded to China Gezhouba Group in May 2017, which was cancelled in November 2017, reinstated in 2018 and has remained effectively frozen since 2022 with no meaningful progress.

The proposed Kerung-Kathmandu railway, announced around 2016-2017, remains at the feasibility stage even in 2026, reflecting both technical challenges and a lack of financial closure.

Similarly, the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, launched under BRI between 2017 and 2018, has not moved beyond conceptual discussions. Cross-border transmission line projects discussed between 2018 and 2020 remain unexecuted.

Similarly, infrastructure at the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border pushed between 2017 and 2020 has seen only partial and slow development. Northern highway connectivity projects initiated between 2016 and 2018 remain incomplete, while the majority of BRI-linked initiatives identified during 2018-2019 have not been implemented even by 2026.

Digital expansion efforts involving Huawei and ZTE since 2017 have also progressed unevenly, raising concerns over both execution and strategic implications, the article points out.
New Delhi, April 26 : Nepal is facing an ever-widening trade deficit with China as it imports goods such as electronics, machinery, vehicles and textiles from the neighbouring country, while its exports, in return, are a small fraction of this amount, an article noted.

The asymmetry is stark as in the first half of the financial year 2025-26, Nepal's imports from China exceeded Rs 195 billion, while exports to China amounted to a small percentage, according to the article in Eurasia Review.

It highlights that infrastructure financing under the Belt and Road Initiative, which Nepal formally joined in 2017, reinforces this structural imbalance between the two countries. According to World Bank research, more than 60 per cent of Chinese-funded BRI projects globally are awarded to Chinese firms, compared to roughly 30 per cent in projects funded by non-Chinese institutions.

Nepali construction firms tend to participate at the margins of projects in their own country, while Chinese firms capture equipment contracts and specialised engineering work.

"Nepal's manufacturing sector is small by regional standards. Industrial output is concentrated in food processing, textiles, and some construction materials. In sectors that overlap with Chinese import categories, Nepali producers have seen market share erode. This is partly a competitiveness problem and partly a policy problem, since the FDI terms that bring Chinese capital can also bring Chinese competition into domestic markets," the article pointed out.

Nepal's central bank and Finance Ministry have both identified import dependence on China as a structural risk in their public planning documents. The remedies require either diversifying Nepal's import sources, which requires alternative trade agreements and supply chain development or building domestic productive capacity in import-competing sectors, which requires capital investment and skills development at a scale Nepal cannot currently fund domestically. Chinese capital is available for both. The terms tend to circle back to the same place, the article added.
New Delhi, April 26 : Bangladesh's once-thriving startup ecosystem is showing clear signs of strain, with funding drying up, companies scaling back operations, and even prominent firms struggling to meet basic obligations like paying salaries, a report has said.

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Bangladeshas once-thriving startup ecosystem is showing clear signs of strain, with funding drying up, companies scaling back operations, and even prominent firms struggling to meet basic obligations like paying salaries, a report has said.

The crisis came into sharp focus in early March when hundreds of employees protested outside the Jashore office of Chaldal over unpaid wages, with some workers claiming they had not been paid for up to four months, according to The Daily Star report.

The episode has raised fresh concerns about the health of a sector that was once seen as a symbol of the countryas digital and economic rise.

Founded in 2013, Chaldal had emerged as a pioneer of online grocery delivery in Bangladesh, becoming a household name in urban areas.

The company reportedly raised around $40 million between 2015 and 2025 and expanded aggressively, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when its annual revenue surged to $55 million.

Chaldalas troubles reflect a broader downturn across the startup ecosystem, which flourished during the 2010s with the rise of companies such as bKash, ShopUp, Pathao, and Shohoz.

Global firms like Uber and foodpanda also entered the market, drawn by rapid digital adoption and strong economic growth.

At its peak, Bangladesh had over 1,200 active startups, with nearly 200 new ventures launching each year.

The sector attracted more than $1.12 billion in funding since 2010, largely driven by foreign investors.

The high point came in 2021, when startups raised over $434 million across 94 deals, including a landmark $250 million investment in bKash by SoftBank.

However, the momentum has since slowed sharply. By 2024, annual funding dropped to just $42 million across 41 deals, and in 2025, only 12 deals were recorded, bringing in around $124 million, the report stated.

Notably, nearly all of that funding came from a single $110 million deal backing SILQ Group, formed through the merger of ShopUp and Saudi-based Sary.

Industry leaders said the downturn is the result of both global and domestic pressures.

Waseem Alim said the company had never faced salary payment issues in its 12a"13 years of operation before August 2025.

Fahim Ahmed noted that startups have been facing increasingly precarious conditions over the past two years, the report stated.
Los Angeles, April 26 : Hollywood actor Tim Robbins once shared how his co-actor Morgan Freeman told him a very important thing about friendship during the making of the iconic film 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

An old video of the actor from one of the Oscar ceremonies has resurfaced on the Internet, and it shows Tim Robbins talking about Morgan Freeman.

He said, "Morgan, we became friends working together on the Shawshank Redemption, for which you were nominated for an Academy Award. The film follows the trajectory of a friendship, and that friendship was easily mirrored in real life on the set".

He further mentioned, "I'll never forget what you said to me about friendship on the last day of shooting. You said, being a friend is getting the other a cup of coffee. Can you do that for me, Ted? It is Ted, isn't it? It became so close. Honestly, Morgan is an extremely giving actor and a master at his craft, and an inspiration to all those lucky enough to have the chance to work with him. Morgan, I salute you and your tremendous talent, and I'm always proud to call you my friend when you take the call".

'The Shawshank Redemption' is considered one of the greatest films ever made, and is celebrated for its emotional depth, timeless storytelling, and powerful themes of hope and resilience.

The film is based on a novella by Stephen King, and follows Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongly imprisoned for murder, as he navigates life inside the Shawshank prison. Through his friendship with fellow inmate Red, played by Morgan Freeman, the story explores loyalty, patience, and the human ability to endure hardship. Directed by Frank Darabont, the movie balances harsh prison realities with moments of optimism and quiet victory. Though it was not a massive box-office hit upon release, it gained legendary status through word of mouth and television reruns. Its unforgettable dialogue, emotional payoff, and message that "hope is a good thing" continue to resonate with audiences across generations.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Is ACMR a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on ACM Research, Inc. on Thinking Tech Stockss Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on ACMR. ACM Research, Inc.'s share was trading at $49.69 as of April 21st. ACMRs trailing and forward P/E were 36.94 and 30.40, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

AXT Inc. (AXT) Soars to All-Time High as Firm Upbeat on Q1

ACM Research, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells capital equipment in Mainland China and internationally. ACMR is emerging as a central player in the global semiconductor transformation driven by the AI boom and an impending memory supply crunch. The company is strategically positioned to benefit from Chinas push for semiconductor self-sufficiency while simultaneously validating its technology with global leaders like SK Hynix and Intel.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

ACMRs cleaning and electro-chemical plating (ECP) tools are critical for producing High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips, enabling vertical stacking via Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs). The company has established a dedicated HBM lab in South Korea to support HBM4-compatible systems and plans commercial deployment in 2026, complementing a recent $200 million HBM equipment order from a leading memory manufacturer.

Its infrastructure expansion in Oregon further positions ACMR to serve global AI memory customers. In China, ACMR holds over 25% market share in wafer cleaning, supplying key players like YMTC and CXMT, which are scaling advanced memory production amid trade restrictions.

The companys Shanghai Lingang facility, capable of supporting $3 billion in annual production, underpins a long-term China revenue target of $2.5 billion while funding high R&D intensity of 1416% of sales. ACMRs technology has also earned validation from Intel for its 14A process, highlighting global competitiveness beyond China.

Proprietary innovations like SAPS and TEBO enhance cleaning for fragile 3D structures, while advanced electroplating and high-temperature SPM tools support next-generation packaging and logic nodes. By bridging domestic dominance with global process validation, ACMR is poised to capitalize on the HBM super-cycle, AI-driven memory demand, and advanced packaging growth, making it a critical enabler of the next-generation semiconductor ecosystem and a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to structural AI and memory trends.
Beijing, April 26 : China has not openly backed its comprehensive strategic partner Iran as the West Asia conflict continues to intensify, and discussions within Beijing suggest that it never committed to "take the bullet" for Tehran, according to a recent report.

In the early phase of the US-Iran conflict, Beijing signalled both to Iran and to observers questioning its relatively "muted response" that its partnership with Tehran does not extend to military intervention, according to a report in Modern Diplomacy.

The report cited Professor Hu Chunchun of the Shanghai International Studies University, who stated in an interview with European media that China was unlikely to intervene militarily in the Gulf.

"China rarely participates in overseas conflicts through military means, nor does it tend to influence regional situations in this manner." He further clarified that a comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran does not equate to a military alliance and carries no obligation of collective defence.

China's restrained posture has been evident throughout the ongoing conflict. While Beijing has criticised developments such as the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, its response has largely remained measured and limited to diplomatic statements rather than direct involvement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a conversation with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, said, "The blatant killing of a leader of a sovereign nation and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable." However, analysts noted that China's reaction has been significantly more cautious compared to its strong condemnation of US actions in other regions, such as Venezuela.

At a regular press briefing, when asked whether China and Russia would consider providing military assistance to Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to comment, reflecting Beijing's reluctance to escalate its role.

Despite this, China continues to be a crucial economic partner for Iran. The two countries share a long-standing relationship, including a comprehensive strategic partnership and extensive cooperation in energy and infrastructure. China has emerged as a major buyer of Iranian crude oil, accounting for a significant share of Iran's exports, which remain vital for Tehran amid international sanctions, according to the report.

At the same time, it added that China has avoided direct military involvement in the ongoing conflict, focusing instead on diplomacy and safeguarding its broader regional interests, including energy security and trade routes.

The report also noted that while China, Russia and Iran have conducted joint military exercises and share overlapping geopolitical interests in countering US influence, Beijing's approach remains pragmatic and driven by its wider interests in the Gulf region.

Analysts cited in the report emphasised that China's priority lies in protecting its economic and strategic stakes across West Asia rather than ensuring the survival of any particular regime. This calculated stance reflects Beijing's attempt to balance its ties with Iran while maintaining relationships with other regional players and avoiding deeper entanglement in the conflict.
Kolkata, April 26 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday claimed that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has "accepted that the BJP will emerge victorious" in the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Irani was referring to LoP Gandhi's video message on X, shared a few days back, where he had said: "If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had run a clean government and had not polarised Bengal, then the BJP would not have got a chance to make inroads into Bengal."

Speaking to IANS, she said, "I will only say that Rahul Gandhi himself has accepted that in this election, a Bharatiya Janata Party government is going to be formed in West Bengal. And the reason behind the formation of the BJP government is only onea"Mamata Banerjeeas misgovernance."

Separately, while addressing a campaign rally at Sreerampore a day before, Gandhi had alleged that Prime Minister Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister had a clandestine arrangement, because of which there had not been a single case filed against her.

Smriti Irani, who has been campaigning in the state for the second phase of polling on April 29, called out the Opposition's arrangement of fighting against each other at the state-level, despite forming an alliance at the Centre.

The Congress and the Trinamool Congress are INDIA bloc partners, but are contesting separately in the Bengal polls.

"It is an old method of the Congress and it's associate parties to forge an alliance at the Centre and contest separately in the state elections," she said.

Notably, the CPI-M too had contested separately in the recently conducted Kerala Assembly polls, despite being a part of the INDIA bloc.

Also, reacting to Rahul Gandhi's tweet on the alleged murder of a Congress worker in Bengal, Irani said, "Then why does he support the Trinamool?"

In a post on X, Gandhi had said: "The murder of Congress worker Debdeep Chatterjee by TMC-affiliated thugs after the elections is utterly reprehensible. My deepest condolences to the grieving family. In West Bengal today, it is not democracy but TMC's reign of terror that prevails. Intimidating, attacking, and eliminating opposing voices after votes are cast -- this has become the defining character of TMC."
New Delhi, April 26 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday led party colleagues in tuning into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio show "Mann Ki Baat" at 4,562 locations across all 254 mandals, a party leader said.

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday led party colleagues in tuning into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio show "Mann Ki Baat" at 4,562 locations across all 254 mandals, a party leader said.

Sachdeva reiterated that "Mann Ki Baat" has always been a platform for learning. This time too, the 133rd edition of the radio programme emphasised the importance of wind and solar energy and highlighted the addition of 6 gigawatts of wind energy capacity in the past year.

The Prime Minister also discussed the teachings of Gautama Buddha, emphasising that peace begins within and that self-conquest is the greatest victory, he said.

Sachdeva listened to the the programme along with former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, MLA Anil Goyal and Shahdara District President Deepak Gaba.

After listening to the programme, BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda said that a large number of mothers and sisters were present, which is a strong example of women's empowerment.

He added that such a historic programme has never been seen before, and even after 133 episodes, people remain eager to listen to it every month.

The Prime Minister shares valuable insights in every episode that enhance knowledge and provide important lessons for all, he said.

Panda, along with MP Bansuri Swaraj and NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal, listened to the programme with around 400 distinguished women of Delhi at Atal Adarsh School on Tilak Marg.

BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam listened to the programme with workers of Rajgarh Samiti 90 in Gandhi Nagar, East Delhi.

MP Manoj Tiwari, returning from election campaigning in West Bengal, listened to the programme in the lounge at Delhi airport along with senior colleagues and airport staff.

Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat listened to the programme with local citizens in Amberhai village, Dwarka; MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri listened to it with Municipal Councillor Rajpal Singh and local residents in Srinivaspuri ward; MP Praveen Khandelwal listened to it on the DelhiJaipur Highway; BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal listened to it with dignitaries at a "Vaishyakul" meeting; and Public Accounts Committee Chairman and MLA Ajay Mahawar listened to the programme in Ghonda.
New Delhi, April 26 : The shooting attempt near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner has drawn sharp reactions from Indian strategic and diplomatic experts, who flagged both relief over the safety of top leadership and concerns over security vulnerabilities, while also linking the incident to broader political and global contexts.

Former diplomat K.P. Fabian said two key aspects stood out in the aftermath of the incident.

"There is great relief that neither US President Donald Trump nor First Lady Melania Trump, or any of the guests, were injured. A security agent was injured, and the culprit has been apprehended," he noted.

Fabian also highlighted Trump's response to the crisis, describing it as measured.

"President Trump showed calmness and composure at the press conference. He appeared in control and not emotional. That is a great quality that we all should admire," he said.

Expanding on the international implications, Fabian said world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed relief over the situation.

He pointed out that investigators, particularly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), would closely examine the suspect's background, including digital activity and contacts, to rule out any external influence.

"At present, there is no indication of involvement by any foreign intelligence agency," Fabian said, adding that the probe would focus on whether the suspect acted independently or was influenced in any way.

The former diplomat also used the occasion to comment on US' foreign policy, urging Trump to apply the same rational approach to ongoing tensions with Iran.

"On the one hand, President Trump says he wants a negotiated settlement; on the other, he suggests Iran must fully concede. That contradiction needs addressing," Fabian said.

Army veteran and defence expert P.K. Sehgal described the incident as extremely serious and pointed to a possible lapse in security despite official denials.

"This was a very, very serious incidenta"a huge lapse in security," he said.

Sehgal noted that the suspect appeared to have meticulously planned the attack.

"He (the shooter) reportedly had a handgun, a shotgun, a pistol, and multiple knives. This indicates thorough preparation. It is believed he stayed at the hotel for days and gradually smuggled in the weapons," he said.

He further linked the incident to domestic political pressures in the US, claiming that Trump's approval ratings have declined and that divisions persist within American political and strategic alliances, including tensions involving Nato and the European Union.

According to Sehgal, such incidents could deepen internal scrutiny of security arrangements and leadership decisions in the US.

The shooting attempt, which occurred near one of Washington's most high-profile and tightly secured events, has raised questions about how an armed individual was able to reach close to a screening checkpoint.

While authorities have confirmed that the suspect was stopped before entering the main venue, experts believe the incident will trigger a wider review of security protocols at major political gatherings.
Hyderabad, April 26 : The Telangana government has issued orders to promote self-employment among skilled women from Backward Classes (BCs) by supplying automatic sewing machines.

The initiative aims to enhance their productivity, expand tailoring business opportunities, and support them in becoming self-reliant entrepreneurs, according to an official release on Sunday.

As per the orders, 1,000 women in each constituency will be provided sewing machines with a 100 per cent subsidy.

Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar held a review meeting with BC Welfare Department Secretary Balamayadevi, BC Corporation MD Mallayya Battu, and other officials to discuss the implementation of the scheme.

The minister stated that the government has decided to provide sewing machines with full subsidy to 1,000 women in every constituency to create self-employment opportunities for women from weaker sections. Applications will be invited soon, and the selection process will be conducted under the supervision of District Collectors.

This decision has been taken as per the directions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to improve livelihood opportunities for women from weaker sections. Providing sewing machines to 1,000 women per constituency will help them enhance self-employment and achieve financial stability. The BC Welfare Department is also planning to implement skill development programs and increase employment opportunities for the unemployed, he said.

The state government has already announced a program to make one crore women millionaires under the Indira Mahila Shakti (IMS) Scheme.

Under the scheme, the government is providing womenas groups in the district with opportunities to run canteens, dairy units, poultry farms, RTC buses, and even petrol stations.

The government also plans to give them the chance to operate rice mills and solar plants.

According to Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, and Women and Child Welfare Minister Dansari Anasuya Seethakka, the government has set an ambitious target to make one crore women financially independent and self-reliant. She emphasised that womenas welfare remains the governmentas primary objective.
Kabul, April 26 : At least two persons have been confirmed dead and five others were injured in a road accident in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province on Sunday, a local media outlet TOLOnews reported.

The crash occurred on the outskirts of Khanashin district of the province, killing two passengers on the spot and injuring five others, according to the report.

Without disclosing further details, the media outlet added that all the injured were shifted to a nearby health facility for treatment, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Road accidents remain one of the leading causes of death and injury in Afghanistan, where dilapidated roads, overspeeding, overloading, reckless driving and inadequate safety measures on congested highways are the primary factors behind frequent crashes.

On April 10, a local police official said one person was killed and 15 others were injured when a vehicle crashed into a residential house in eastern Afghanistan's Logar province.

The accident occurred on the outskirts of Pul-e-Alam, the provincial capital, due to reckless driving, provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Ahmadullah Anas said.

The injured were taken to nearby health facilities, where their conditions were reported to be stable, he added.

In a separate incident in neighbouring Nangarhar province on April 8, one person was killed and 35 others injured in another road accident.

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in Afghanistan, where reckless driving on congested roads and the poor condition of highways, often lacking proper signage, contribute to frequent crashes in the war-torn country.

On April 3, two commuters were killed and 13 others sustained injuries as a passenger bus veered from the road in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, provincial police spokesman Khalid Sarhadi said.

The deadly mishap took place on the main road in Qarabagh district on April 3, the official said, adding that efforts are underway to search for a missing boy.

Blaming reckless driving for the accident, Sarhadi said an investigation into the accident is underway.
New Delhi, April 26 : Iran's airspace is partially open for cargo and chartered flights, but Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the country, and those already there are urged to leave via the land border, with the embassy's support, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Iran's airspace is partially open for cargo and chartered flights, but Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the country, and those already there are urged to leave via the land border, with the embassyas support, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

So far, the Indian embassy in Tehran has facilitated the movement of 2,445 Indian nationals out of Iran through land border routes, the statement said.

Israel's airspace is open, and limited flight operations have resumed to destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to India.

In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited commercial flights to India based on operational and safety considerations, with around 110 flights expected between the UAE and India on Sunday.

Flights continue to operate from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to destinations in India. With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is also operating flights to various destinations in India.

The Kuwait airspace is open. Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways have resumed limited flight operations from Kuwait to India. Bahrain airspace is also open, and Gulf Air is operating flights from Bahrain to various destinations in India.

Besides, Iraq's airspace is open with limited flight operations to destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to India.

Indian missions remain actively engaged with the Indian community, including the various associations, organisations, professional groups, Indian companies and other stakeholders in the region.

The government is according high priority to the welfare of Indian seafarers in the region. Indian missions are extending all assistance to the Indian crew members on vessels in the region, including coordination with the local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance and facilitating requests to return to India.

Since 28 February, around 12,96,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India.

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 the Indian community, the statement added.
Kabul, April 26 : Afghan law enforcement authorities have arrested 80 individuals on charges of drug trafficking following a series of coordinated operations carried out across multiple provinces, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the ministry, counter-narcotics police conducted targeted raids in several regions, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of illegal substances, including hashish, narcotic tablets, and materials used in the production of heroin, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The statement added that the arrests are part of ongoing nationwide efforts to curb drug trafficking and dismantle distribution networks.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying operations aimed at combating the production, smuggling and sale of illicit drugs across the country.

On April 15, provincial director for Counter-Narcotics Qari Wahidullah Matawakil said the counter-narcotics police in the drive against illicit drugs have publicly burned more than 100 kg of different types of narcotics in Khost province, east of Afghanistan.

The contraband, which included hashish, heroin, opium poppy, and thousands of stimulant tablets locally known as (Tablet K), was publicly set alight, the official emphasized without giving more information.

No one has the right to produce or smuggle illegal drugs in the province, the official said, warning that police would take legal action against anyone who violates the law.

The Afghan government has intensified its crackdown on illegal drugs as police earlier smashed hundreds of acres of poppy farms and set ablaze several tons of narcotics across the country over the past couple of months.

On February 23, Afghan police in the drive against illegal drugs arrested two drug smugglers and recovered 41 kg of illicit drugs from their possessions in northern Afghanistan's Takhar province, said a statement of the provincial police office.

The arrested suspects, according to the statement, were attempting to smuggle 29 kg of opium poppy and 12 kg of hashish out of the province.

The Afghan government has vowed to fight against producing illegal drugs and their trafficking until the once drug-producing nation becomes free of the drug threats.
New Delhi, April 26 : Admiring record voter participation, a group comprising 32 delegates from 16 countries and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), who witnessed voting in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu described the Assembly elections as "a true festival of democracy", an Election Commission of India (ECI) official said on Sunday.

The delegates also praised the meticulous planning and seamless execution of polls by ECI during their visit organised as part of ECI's International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026.

"The international delegates began their two-day visit (April 22-23) to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by visiting the dispatch and distribution centres, where they observed the systematic movement of polling parties along with election materials through well-planned logistics and established standard operating procedures," the statement said.

The delegates also interacted with Archana Patnaik, the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, as well as senior district election officials of Darjeeling district in West Bengal's Siliguri.

They were apprised of the overall conduct of elections and the security arrangements in place to ensure a peaceful and smooth elections, the ECI said.

In West Bengal, the delegates appreciated the availability of health check-up services at polling stations, along with recent initiatives by the ECI as the mobile deposit facility, aimed at voter comfort and enhanced voting experience.

Ruth Khatievi Kulundu from Kenya, who visited a polling station in Siliguri, said, "I am amazed by the mobile holder pocket, where voters are not allowed to go in polling with their mobile phones but you deposit in pockets and then you can take, for the privacy of vote. Another thing that I really liked is the resting place for the elderly and Persons with Disabilities, it is quite commendable."

In Tamil Nadu, delegates praised the provision of assured minimum facilities and the well organised, colour-coded polling booths in Chennai.

Tshering Samdrup, a delegate from Bhutan, who visited a polling station in Chennai, said, "The most important thing I have learned is minimum assured facilities that ECI and District Election Officer is facilitating their voters... most specifically the help desk and colour-coding."

The seamless conduct of polling and high voter turnout drew appreciation from the visiting teams.

They expressed gratitude to the ECI for the opportunity to witness the scale and grandeur of election management and commended its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and excellence.

Earlier, on April 8-9, 38 delegates from 22 countries visited Assam, Kerala and Puducherry; thus, a total of 70 delegates from 38 countries and International IDEA visited the five election-ongoing states/UTs as part of IEVP 2026.

While the world watches to learn, India continues to set benchmarks in conducting elections at an unparalleled scale and record voter participation, truly a festival of democracy.

The IEVP is a flagship initiative of ECI, aimed at fostering international cooperation and engagement with Election Management Bodies and international organisations.

The programme provides a comprehensive overview of India's electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational architecture, while familiarising delegates with best practices and innovations in election management.
Bhopal, April 26 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) office in Bhopal has issued a comprehensive weather report detailing a challenging mix of heatwave and thunderstorm conditions across Madhya Pradesh for the final week of April.

According to the latest synoptic analysis, several atmospheric systems are currently active over the region, including a western disturbance running along east and multiple cyclonic circulations situated over East Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and central Madhya Pradesh.

These systems, combined with a wind discontinuity stretching from Karnataka to the Comorin area, are creating volatile weather conditions throughout the state.

Weather experts have predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds in Bhopal, Vidisha, Shivpuri, Shajapur, Rajgarh, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur Kalan, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Dindori, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari and Maihar districts from April 27 to April 30.

However, intense heatwave conditions continue to impact districts of Bhopal, Sehore, Narmadapuram, Harda, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dewas, Shajapur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Shahdol and Umaria at isolated places.

Temperatures in Khajuraho and Ratlam have reached 45 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, record-breaking heatwave conditions have also been recorded in Bhopal.

In view of this, the District Education Officer has declared a school holiday for students from Nursery to Class 8 until April 30.

Residents in Indore and Ujjain should specifically prepare for warm nights, where temperatures will remain uncomfortably high even after sunset.

As the week progresses, the forecast indicates a transition towards more turbulent weather, with warnings issued for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour in regions such as Rewa, Mauganj and Sidhi by April 27.

By April 30, these storm conditions are expected to spread further to include Bhopal, Gwalior and Sagar.

To mitigate the risks associated with these extreme conditions, the department has provided extensive safety and agricultural guidelines. Citizens are advised to maintain hydration and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours from noon to 3 p.m.

During periods of lightning, it is crucial to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, and stay away from trees or electrical poles that may be vulnerable to high winds.

For the farming community, the department recommends frequent light irrigation to preserve soil moisture and advises against the application of fertilisers or pesticides during the hottest parts of the day.

Additionally, livestock should be kept in well-ventilated shelters with access to clean water multiple times daily to prevent heat stress.
Applied Digital (APLD) stock gained 12% on April 23 after reporting a 15-year, 300 megawatt lease for Delta Forge 1 from an unnamed U.S. hyperscaler.

This deal adds significant contracted value while delivering real proof of earnings power at scale. The company's story is starting to shift from projected demand to visible revenue and operating performance.

Delta Forge lease resets revenue visibility

Applied Digital just signed a new 15-year, 300 megawatt lease for Delta Forge 1, according to Reuters, with an unnamed U.S.-based hyperscaler. The company said the deal adds about $7.5 billion of contracted value and lifts total contracted lease revenue to more than $23 billion.

This shifts Delta Forge 1 from a speculative asset to largely pre-sold capacity with long-term revenue attached, giving investors a clearer basis to underwrite future cash flow.

The company's customer quality also improved with this deal. More than 50% of Applied Digital's contracted revenue is now backed by investment-grade customers, strengthening backlog durability and making projects easier to finance.

A 300 MW commitment from a higher-credit hyperscaler boosts the broader pipeline's credibility among lenders and future tenants.

Polaris Forge shows live earnings power

Applied Digitals fiscal third quarter of 2026 delivered the first full-quarter proof that its AI infrastructure business is generating meaningful operating earnings.

With the first 100 MW Polaris Forge 1 facility contributing for the full period, revenue rose 139% year over year to $126.6 million, and adjusted EBITDA reached $44.1 million.

Trending Tech Stocks:

Management made it clear that HPC Hosting drove the quarter, with the fully operational 100 MW Polaris Forge 1 facility contributing the bulk of revenue and earnings.

Delta Forge shows Applied Digital can lock in long-term demand, while Polaris Forge 1 shows the company can turn capacity into live, revenue-generating infrastructure at scale.

For investors, this quarter provides an early benchmark for the earnings power of each additional facility as more capacity comes online.

Applied Digitals new financing improves visibility into funding its buildout, but leverage remains a key risk as the capital-intensive model scales.Oscar Wong via Getty Images

Applied Digital's financing improves, but leverage risk persists

In the company's Q3 results released on April 8, Applied Digital reported that it had secured $2.15 billion in senior secured notes, with up to $600 million in additional secured financing capacity through planned bridge and revolver facilities.
Bamako, April 26 : Mali Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in the town of Kati, near the capital Bamako, carried out by armed terrorist groups, local sources reported.

According to the sources, who requested anonymity, armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks on several cities across the country on Saturday, leaving 16 people wounded. Camara's residence in Kati was also targeted, and both the minister and his second wife were killed.

In a statement on Saturday evening, the government of the West African nation said the attacks targeted multiple locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital, Bamako, reported Xinhua news agency.

The wounded, including civilians and military personnel, were taken to medical facilities, and the material damage was limited, the statement added.

As of Sunday, the government had not issued an official statement confirming the minister's death.

The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said on Sunday that search operations against armed terrorist groups were continuing in Kidal, Kati and other parts of the country following Saturday's attacks.

In a separate statement, the army said the attacks were aimed at disrupting the country's defence system and spreading fear and chaos.

It added that alert levels had been raised nationwide, curfews imposed, large-scale patrols intensified, and checkpoints reinforced to enhance surveillance against security threats.

The General Staff reaffirmed that the Malian Armed Forces remain committed to defending the country's territorial integrity and ensuring national security.

It also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.

The Indian Embassy in Mali has urged all Indian nationals residing there to remain highly vigilant following multiple attacks by armed groups across the country on Saturday.

"Due to recent security developments and reported attacks in Kati and other parts of Mali, the Embassy of India in Bamako urges all Indian nationals residing in Mali to remain highly vigilant, exercise utmost caution, stay indoors, and strictly follow the instructions issued by the Malian authorities from time to time," read an advisory issued by the Indian Embassy.

It mentioned that the Embassy, in coordination with the Malian authorities, is closely monitoring the evolving situation and will issue further updates, as required.
Islamabad, April 26 : Blasphemy laws in Pakistan allow abuse, mob violence, and the targeting of individuals and religious minorities, including Christians, for criminal prosecutions that carry life sentences and death penalties, a report has stated.

For instance, Pakistani professor Junaid Hafeez is imprisoned and sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.

According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Pakistani authorities arrested Hafeez, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University, after his students accused him of blaspheming Islam on social media in 2013. In 2014, authorities put him in solitary confinement after other prisoners repeatedly targetted him.

During the same year, two gunmen shot to death Hafeez's lawyer, Rashin Rehman, in his office, according to a report in American media outlet PJ Media.

In December 2019, a district and sessions court in Multan sentenced Hafeez to death for "insulting the Prophet Muhammad".

He was also sentenced to life in prison for "desecrating the Qur'an" and was given 10 years' imprisonment for "intending to outrage religious feelings". Before his arrest, Hafeez received a master's degree in the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship and had specialised in American literature, photography, and theatre.

On February 27, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) submitted an official contribution to the UN Special Rapporteur regarding summary, extrajudicial, or arbitrary executions in Pakistan. In it, the ECLJ criticised the mandatory and automatic imposition of the death penalty for blasphemy against Islam in the country.

The individuals accused of blasphemy in Pakistan are sentenced to death by hanging. The death penalty in blasphemy cases is egregious and disproportionate and clearly amounts to torture, according to a report in PJ Media.

Pakistan has never carried out the death sentence in blasphemy cases. However, the accused spend years in prison on death row and many accused and their families faced mob violence. Pakistani authorities have also failed to stop mob violence in blasphemy cases.

On February 26, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), stated that Junaid Hafeez's case is "emblematic of the unjust and abusive nature of Pakistanas blasphemy laws".

She called on authorities to quash Hafeez's conviction and release him and others held under blasphemy laws, according to the report.

"Even an accusation of blasphemy can trigger mob violence against victims, as well as their families and the wider Christian community. On August 16, 2023, allegations of blasphemy against two Christian residents in Jaranwala (Faisalabad district of Punjab Province) led to a Muslim mob vandalizing and destroying over 20 churches and more than 80 Christian houses. Pakistanas government has failed to deliver justice for the Christian community in Jaranwala, as well as to prevent further misuse of blasphemy laws," Uzay Bulut, Turkey-born journalist formerly based in Ankara, wrote in a report in PJ Media.

In 2024, Amnesty International stated that over 90 per cent of the suspects of the attack in Jaranwala remain at large.

Meanwhile, the trials of those arrested in connection with the attacks, triggered by false allegations of blasphemy against two Christian residents, are yet to begin. Furthermore, around 40 per cent of the minority Christian families impacted by the violence are still waiting for government compensation.
Islamabad, April 26 : For Islamabad, it would be wiser to "redirect its diplomatic initiatives toward internal stabilisation rather than focusing on mediating distant conflicts", an opinion piece in the local media said.

The neighbouring country has attempted to mediate between the US and Iran amid the West Asia conflict.

In the middle of the war in the Middle East, Pakistan and China had announced a Five-Point Initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East in March, contributing columnist Samee Ullah wrote in the Pakistan Observer.

The announcement reflected a joint commitment to dialogue, cooperation and a more secure future for the region, he noted.

The columnist said that among such a "diplomatic ambition", "Pakistan must carefully balance its longstanding partnerships with countries like China and Iran, while at the same time maintaining a measured and constructive posture toward other key players".

Thrusting itself forward as a mediator, Islamabad also hosted quadrilateral talks with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.

Samee Ullah, who is based in Islamabad, highlighted that Pakistanas domestic Shia minority shared border vulnerabilities and deep economic ties via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which brings the country to a crossroads to balance between key parties.

"For China, Pakistanas efforts seem like a practical step linked to the Belt and Road Initiative, focusing on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to prevent disruptions in energy supplies," the columnist wrote.

He cautioned that if Pakistan gives in to much of the US's demands, it will betray Chinaas vision of a multipolar order where America retreats. Moreover, he opined that Iranas push for Beijing as a guarantor may further sideline Pakistan. What may force the country into "awkward compromises" is its recent mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, which, along with other Gulf nations, demands the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The columnist contends in the Pakistan Observer piece that in the past, the Islamic nation has been a US ally against the Soviets in Afghanistan, but post the 9/11 attacks, it turned towards China amid CPECas $62 billion infusion and 80 per cent arms dependency, while maintaining Iran ties despite sectarian risks.

"Efforts to maintain a non-aligned or 'no camps' approach have become increasingly difficult, especially as renewed engagement with the United States under President (Donald) Trump highlights competing pressures from both Iran and China," Samee Ullah mentioned.

In its mediation attempt, the real test for Pakistan lies in maintaining "strict diplomatic balance".

Calling Pakistan's economy "fragile", he said that remittances from Gulf workers are under threat from regional instability.

According to Samee Ullah, militancy and political polarisation are part of the nation's internal security challenges, and Pakistan should spend its resources in strengthening its "domestic resilience".

Further, the columnist asserted that prioritising counterterrorism reforms, economic recovery through IMF-backed measures and infrastructural development would result in substantial gains on the external front and enhance Pakistan's credibility in peace initiatives.
Beijing, April 26 : The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), an international NGO, has welcomed the eight United Nations special mandate holders' statement, challenging China's implementation of its "Ethnic Unity and Progress Law" as the latest tool for the Chinese Community Party to enhance its "Sinicization" goal of forced cultural and linguistic assimilation of Tibetans and members of other communities, a report has stated.

Beijing, April 26 (IANS) The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), an international NGO, has welcomed the eight United Nations special mandate holders' statement, challenging China's implementation of its "Ethnic Unity and Progress Law" as the latest tool for the Chinese Community Party to enhance its "Sinicization" goal of forced cultural and linguistic assimilation of Tibetans and members of other communities, a report has stated.

The Special Rapporteurs said, "We would like to draw attention to risks that the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress could entrench a uniform approach to ethnic relations across all regions of China, thereby potentially amplifying restrictions on minority rights."

The Special Rapporteurs noted that the law, which goes into effect on July 1, could change temporary or experimental regional measures into binding nationwide obligations, which could have serious impact on linguistic, cultural, and religious autonomy of ethnic communities, including Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Mongols, according to a report by International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).

On the law's treatment of language education, the Special Rapporteurs mentioned that requiring Tibetan to "be subordinate to Mandarin 'in position, order, and so forth' in public settings reinforces linguistic hierarchy." In addition, the experts stated that law's prohibition to stop people in China from learning Mandarin "could be turned against educators, parents, or advocates who prioritize" learning the Tibetan language.

On cultural preservation, the Special Rapporteurs stated that the law seems to "centralize interpretive authority over what constitutes acceptable cultural expression, which could constrain the practical exercise of cultural autonomy, contradicting Article 38 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy," according to a report by ICT.

On freedom of religion, the Special Rapporteurs stated that the law seems to "undermine" its enjoyment as it conditions religion or belief practice on State-mandated ideological alignment, while intervening with the autonomy of religious doctrine, the independence of religious and belief institutions, and the right of people to practice their beliefs free from State coercion, according to a report by ICT.

On transnational repression, Beijing through Article 63 of the law gets pretext to target people outside China for acts which "undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division." Such vaguely defined language could result in China expanding transnational repression against members of the Tibetan, Uyghur and Mongolian diaspora and others, who use their internationally recognised right to speak freely and criticise China's policies.

ICT President Tencho Gyatso said, "ICT welcomes these expert findings as they clearly expose and unmask the CCP's intention to erode Tibet's unique cultural, linguistic and religious heritage and assimilate Tibetans. The long list of serious rights violations resulting from this law is breathtaking."

ICT urged the US, the European Union, likeminded governments and other international partners to integrate the findings of the UN experts into upcoming meetings with Chinese officials and within United Nations and other multilateral venues.
Riyadh, April 26 : India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Khan on Sunday visited Makkah and oversaw the arrangements for Indian Haj pilgrims.

Khan also received the first batch of Indian pilgrims arriving in Makkah from Madinah by train.

Consul General of India in Jeddah Fahad Suri, and Consul Haj Sadaf Choudhary were also present during the visit, according to a statement by the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia on X.

"This year, a large number of Indian pilgrims will be using the Haramain High-Speed Railway for travel between Makkah and Madinah, in addition to its use for journeys between Jeddah and Makkah. This will reduce their travel time significantly and make the journey safer and more comfortable," the Indian Embassy posted.

On April 18, the first batch of Haj 2026 pilgrims departed from Delhi Airport for Saudi Arabia's Makkah. Chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, Kausar Jahan, was present at the airport to mark their departure.

Among the key initiatives for Haj 2026 are enhanced digital services through the Haj Suvidha App and the introduction of Haj Suvidha smart wristbands to help locate and assist pilgrims. For the first time, a short-duration Haj option of around 20 days has been introduced, offering greater flexibility.

The government has also increased insurance coverage to approximately Rs 6.25 lakh per pilgrim, strengthening financial and health security during the journey. Additionally, around 60,000 pilgrims will benefit from high-speed train connectivity between Makkah and Madinah, enabling faster and more comfortable travel.

Authorities have also put in place improved real-time monitoring and grievance redressal systems, enhanced medical screening and healthcare support, and better coordination for accommodation and transport services in Saudi Arabia. Hotel-style accommodation has been arranged in Makkah to provide improved facilities to pilgrims.

Haj operations will be conducted through 17 embarkation points across India, including major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Srinagar, ensuring regional accessibility and efficient logistics.

The government said it has accorded the highest priority to the welfare and well-being of Haj pilgrims, maintaining close coordination with Saudi authorities throughout the pilgrimage period. Pilgrims have been advised to follow all guidelines and travel advisories to ensure a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Funafuti, April 26 : Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita has handed over a cheque for the preservation of cultural and heritage sites during his official visit to the South Pacific nation of Tuvalu.

The minister attended the State Banquet hosted by the Govt of Tuvalu during his first official visit to the country. He handed over the first tranche of assistance to preserve cultural heritage sites under the Quick Impact Project (QIP).

He also announced India's support, including the provision of a sea ambulance, food grain assistance, and sponsorship of 10 patients for specialised medical treatment in India under the "Heal in India" initiative, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Margherita, in a post on X on Sunday, said he witnessed a vibrant performance of traditional Tuvaluan fatele by community members - a true celebration of the country's rich culture.

He visited Princess Margaret Hospital in Funafuti and interacted with dedicated healthcare professionals delivering essential services to the community on Saturday.

On Thursday, he met Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat and discussed strengthening India-Vanuatu bilateral cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming their shared commitment to the well-being and progress of their peoples.

He also met Vanuatu's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and External Trade, Xavier Emanuel Harry and discussed advancing bilateral development cooperation, particularly in health, capacity building, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Margherita arrived in Port Vila on April 22 for his first official visit to Vanuatu.

The visit further strengthened India's close and friendly relations with Vanuatu and Tuvalu and reaffirmed India's role as a trusted development partner. It is in line with India's continued engagement with Pacific island countries under the Act East Policy and the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation framework, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The official engagement is in continuation of the historic third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation held in May 2023 in Port Moresby, the MEA added.
Colombo, April 26 : India handed over two Personal Watercrafts (PWCs) and safety gear to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on Sunday.

The Indian government is assisting in enhancing the Sri Lanka Coast Guardas capability in near-shore Search and Rescue (SAR), the High Commission of India in Colombo said on its X handle.

The Defence Advisor of the High Commission handed over the equipment to the Director of Operations in a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Headquarters in Mirissa.

As part of its continuous humanitarian outreach, India, on April 24, presented two BHISM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) cubes to the Sri Lankan authorities under Indiaas aAarogya Maitria initiative.

The state-of-the-art portable medical units, capable of handling up to 200 emergency cases, are designed to provide rapid response and are equipped with essential medicines and surgical tools for basic procedures.

The medical units were delivered by the Indian Navy diving support and submarine rescue vessel, INS Nireekshak, which arrived at the port of Colombo on April 21 to participate in the 4th edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, a bilateral diving exercise which is being held till April 27.

Advancing this shared maritime spirit, the INS Nireekshak crew joined the Sri Lanka Navy for a revitalising yoga session - fostering resilience, mindfulness and collective wellbeing at sea on Saturday, an Indian Navy spokesperson posted on X.

According to the Indian Navy, the IN-SLN Diving Exercise (DIVEX) is a key bilateral engagement that stands as a testament to the deep-rooted maritime partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Sustained maritime collaboration and engagements with partner nations reaffirm the shared commitment to fostering stability, cooperation, and collective growth in the Indian Ocean Region, in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Further strengthening maritime security cooperation, the Indian Navy will also hand over 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition to the Sri Lankan Navy.

a"IANS

ksk/vd
Itanagar, April 26 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Sunday stressed that the Union government's provisions for reserving vacancies for ex-servicemen must be implemented in both letter and spirit to uphold justice, dignity, and due recognition for military veterans.

Participating in the Ex-Servicemen Rally at Likabali Military Station at Likabali in Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor said that the nation owes a lasting debt of gratitude to its veterans, whose experience and patriotism remains a valuable national asset.

He acknowledged Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naris' immense sacrifices and continued contribution to nation-building.

Lieutenant General Parnaik (Retd) commended the ex-servicemen for their dedicated and distinguished service to the nation, acknowledging their sacrifices, discipline and unwavering commitment in safeguarding the country's sovereignty and security.

Highlighting the need to address the challenges faced by personnel who retire early below officer rank, the Governor stressed the importance of meaningful rehabilitation, resettlement and livelihood opportunities.

Strongly advocating for the welfare of Veer Naris, Governor Parnaik called for greater societal respect, institutional support and compassionate outreach for the brave spouses of fallen soldiers.

He emphasised the need to safeguard their pension rights, ensure quality education for their children, and strengthen access to medical assistance and welfare support.

The Governor also urged the state government to introduce stronger provisions for ex-servicemen welfare, including cash incentives and land allotment for decorated personnel, while ensuring smooth disbursement of gratuity and welfare funds.

He called for enhanced job reservations in civil offices and robust medical support through the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

Describing ex-servicemen as disciplined, skilled and mission-oriented human resources, Lieutenant General (retired) Parnaik said their expertise should be meaningfully utilised in sectors such as the Ecological Territorial Army, Fire and Emergency Services, Police Services and as community motivators.

He stressed that the state must extend all eligible benefits to veterans and harness their experience in nation-building and public service.

General Officer Commanding's (GOC) 56 Infantry Division, Major Genera Vivek Bakshi, and Arunachal Pradesh Director-cum-Secretary of Rajya Sainik Board Air Commodore Rinchin Dorji Musabi (Retd.), also addressed the gathering, highlighting various welfare schemes, rehabilitation measures and ongoing initiatives for the benefit of ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their families.

The Governor, along with MLA Oken Tayeng, and GOC's 56 Infantry Division, Major General Bakshi, felicitated ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, next of kin and dependents, recognising their service, resilience and achievements on the occasion.

Later, Governor Parnaik, accompanied by the GOC and other dignitaries visited the service counters set up as part of the Ex-Servicemen Rally, including health check-ups, dental care, PAN and Aadhaar facilitation, SBI bank account opening, and ex-servicemen welfare information desks.

He also interacted with ex-servicemen and their family members, listening to their concerns and guiding officials to address several issues on the spot.

In a touching gesture of care and solidarity, the Governor also handed over wheelchairs to immobile ex-servicemen, reaffirming the commitment of the Indian Armed Forces to the welfare, dignity and well-being of veterans.

More than 1,300 ex-servicemen and Veer Naris from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam participated in the rally, making it a significant gathering of veterans and war widows united in service, solidarity and shared purpose.
Hyderabad, April 26 : Hyderabad police have arrested a senior executive of a firm in an alleged multi-level marketing fraud case. Sleuths of the Mirchowk Police Station apprehended Harish Kumar Singla, who is working as Country Sales Manager (CSM) at Forever Living Imports (India) Pvt Ltd.

Kiran Khare, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Charminar Zone, told the media on Sunday that Harish Kumar Singla, a resident of Haryana, has been booked under Sections 61, 316(2), 318(4), 308, 351 and 352 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 5 of the Telangana Protection of Depositors of Financial Establishments Act, 1999, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

According to police, the accused was involved in a digital marketing scheme and allegedly cheated members of the public by drawing them into illegal business activities, collecting large sums of money through false promises and inducements to join the scheme and promote Forever Living products.

Police said the accused encouraged people to enrol in the scheme with the promise of easy money, primarily by recruiting new members and collecting fees rather than through genuine product sales. He also allegedly posted promotional videos on social media platforms portraying a lavish lifestyle to attract prospective participants.

The accused is said to have guided his agents, managers and FBOs working under him through online and offline training sessions, during which fees ranging from Rs 199 to Rs 249 were collected towards admission or registration. He also conducted meetings and events of the company in various cities across India.

Police said he promoted different packages described as Slow Track (ST), Medium Track (MT) and Fast Track (FT), allegedly designed to lure participants with promises of quick returns. He is accused of targeting youth in the 18a"24 age group and housewives with offers of work-from-home and part-time job opportunities.

Based on complaints from victims, three FIRs were registered at Rein Bazar, Mirchowk and Madannapet police stations in Hyderabad. Earlier, three accused a" Mohd Akram, Mohd Nouman Raza and Mohd Aslam a" who were working as local managers and agents at an Achieveras Club office in Karmanghat, were arrested.

Police seized two mobile phones, one iPad, one MacBook, Forever Living products, a Mercedes-Benz car, and other material evidence, including notebooks containing phone numbers and leads, videos of online training sessions, and URL links of websites used to collect data from the public.

Police said around Rs 3 crore in the bank accounts of the accused persons has been frozen. Efforts are under way to trace and arrest other accused persons who are currently absconding, the DCP added.
Singapore, April 26 : Indian Naval Ship Sunayna arrived at Singapore's Changi Naval Base for a port call as part of the IOS SAGAR initiative, said the High Commission of India in Singapore on Sunday.

The High Commissioner visited IOS SAGAR and interacted with members from partner navies of the Indian Ocean Region onboard IOS SAGAR.

He appreciated their role in strengthening maritime partnerships and fostering interoperability under the SAGAR vision.

The IOS Sagar mission is a unique programme enabling naval personnel from partner navies to train and sail together onboard an Indian Naval Ship, the High Commission of India in Singapore wrote on X.

IOS SAGAR is a practical expression of vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), bringing together partner countries for collaboration towards effective maritime security, it mentioned.

With the theme "One Ocean, One Mission", IOS SAGAR brings together naval personnel from 16 partner navies, including Singapore, to train and sail together onboard an Indian Naval Ship, reinforcing India's commitment to strengthening maritime security collaboration.

It highlighted that 2026 is being celebrated as the year of India-ASEAN countries, and the participation of naval officers from ASEAN countries is a testimony to the robust defence cooperation and growing India-ASEAN maritime cooperation.

On April 21, INS Sunayana arrived at Indonesia's state capital Jakarta, marking the third port call of its operation deployment to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) is deployed with a multinational crew from 16 friendly foreign countries on board.

INS Sunayna departed Phuket (Thailand) on April 17 on completion of a high-tempo three-day Operational Turnaround, marking the successful culmination of her second port call during the ongoing deployment, the Indian Navy said in a press statement.

After completing its harbour phase in India in March, the OPV is currently progressing through the sea phase from April to May, which includes port calls at multiple friendly foreign countries in the IOR.

IANS

ksk/pgh
If the only thing you considered was dividend yield, Altria (NYSE: MO) with its 6.3% yield would easily beat Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) with its relatively meager 2.7%. Notably, both companies are Dividend Kings, with over 50 consecutive years' worth of annual dividend increases. Don't let Altria's impressive dividend record and high yield tempt you; Coca-Cola is probably the better choice for most long-term dividend investors.

Altria is facing a big problem

Altria may be a Dividend King and a consumer staples company, but those two facts don't mean it has a low-risk business. The company's primary product is cigarettes. Nicotine is addictive, so it has very loyal customers. However, broadly speaking, smoking has been falling out of favor in the company's North American market. The volume of cigarettes Altria sells has been falling for years, with a troublingly large drop of 10% in 2025.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

It has been looking for businesses to replace cigarettes, including nicotine pouches, vaping, and marijuana. But so far, it hasn't really found a way to offset the ongoing volume declines other than continually raising cigarette prices. And missteps in its efforts to diversify have resulted in billions of dollars in write-offs. Altria continues to generate strong cash flows, but the core business is struggling. In other words, the dividend yield is high for a reason. Conservative dividend investors should probably avoid this high-yield tobacco stock.

Coca-Cola is chugging right along

Coca-Cola's yield is much lower, but this globally dominant consumer staples business is faring very well. Despite a consumer shift toward healthier food options and belt tightening in the face of economic worries, the company was able to increase case volumes by 1% in 2025 and organic sales by 5%. Basically, consumers like Coca-Cola's brands and keep buying them regardless of what is happening in the world around them.

That's a level of success that Altria simply isn't achieving with its customers. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is rock solid financially, with an investment-grade credit rating and a reasonable payout ratio of roughly 66%. Simply put, it appears that there is little risk of a dividend cut with Coca-Cola in either the short-term or the long-term.

Be careful with the dividend risks you take

There's no immediate risk that Altria's dividend will be cut. However, if you are a long-term investor, the company's most important business is in very clear decline. Sure, it's a consumer staples company, but that alone isn't enough to make its lofty yield a worthwhile risk. Most dividend investors, particularly conservative ones, will be better off with Coca-Cola's lower yield, given its far stronger business.
New Delhi/Itanagar, April 26 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, urging accelerated development of border infrastructure in the state. The Defence Minister assured that the proposed projects would be examined and taken up on priority.

An official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that CM Khandu held a meeting with the Defence Minister in Delhi and sought continued support for strengthening critical infrastructure in the border state.

Extending gratitude on behalf of the people of the state, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development, especially in border districts, which has not only strengthened security along the international borders but also improved the lives of local residents.

The Chief Minister held a detailed discussion on connectivity requirements in the state with the Defence Minister, particularly focusing on the strategic AkajanLikabaliBame corridor, which includes a key bridge over the Taro Tamak river.

The road connects the plains of Assam with remote border districts of Upper Subansiri and Shi-Yomi in Arunachal Pradesh.

It may be noted that most sections of this strategic road project are being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The CMO official said the Defence Minister assured Khandu that all proposals and projects in Arunachal Pradesh would be considered seriously.

"We are grateful to Rajnath ji for his unwavering support towards development of border infrastructure and the transformation of forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh," Khandu said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Taking to his official X account, the Chief Minister said: "Always a privilege and a humbling experience to call on Hon'ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh ji. Sought his continued support for strengthening critical infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh."

He added: "Discussed key priority projects to enhance road connectivity, including the AkajanLikabaliBame corridor, along with the proposed bridge over the Taro Tamak river. Grateful for his unwavering support towards development of border infrastructure and the transformation of forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh."

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080-km border with China, 520 km with Myanmar, and 217 km with Bhutan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Madrid, April 26 : World No. 1 Jannik Sinner delivered another clinical performance to move into the fourth round of the Madrid Open ATP Masters 1000 event, brushing aside Denmark's Elmer Moller in straight sets on Sunday.

Taking on the 22-year-old for the first time, Sinner showed his class and composure in a 6-2, 6-3 victory that lasted just 77 minutes at the Manolo Santana Stadium. The result extended his remarkable winning run in ATP Masters 1000 events to 24 matches, placing him among the longest streaks recorded in the series.

Moller, ranked No. 169 and playing his maiden match against a top-10 opponent, found himself under immediate pressure as Sinner dictated play from the outset. After a brief exchange of games early in the first set, the Italian surged ahead by reeling off four consecutive games. Although Moller managed to break serve once, Sinner responded swiftly to wrap up the opener.

The Dane showed resilience despite requiring a medical timeout late in the first set due to an abdominal concern, and he raised his level in the second set, particularly with his backhand. However, a pair of double faults at a crucial stage handed Sinner the decisive break, which the top seed converted with authority to seal the match.

Reflecting on his approach, Sinner said, "I tried to stay calm and serve well in important moments. I think that was the key today. There was not a lot of rhythm, so I tried to stay quite compact. Let's see what's coming in the next round."

The Italian has now compiled a 26-2 record this season and is edging closer to a historic milestone, needing four more wins to become the first player to win five successive Masters 1000 titles, having already triumphed in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo.

Sinner will next face either Cameron Norrie or Thiago Agustin Tirante in the fourth round.

Elsewhere, fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Tallon Griekspoor. He will next meet Jiri Lehecka, who eased past Alex Michelsen in straight sets.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Gandhinagar, April 26 : Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and its MLA Imran Khedawala over statements made during voting in the local body elections, accusing the Opposition of attempting to influence voters and communalise the electoral process.

Speaking while polling was under way, Sanghavi described the elections as the "biggest festival of democracy" and urged citizens to turn out in large numbers.

"All citizens of the state should try to ensure maximum voting in this biggest festival of democracy," he said, adding that extensive arrangements had been made to ensure a smooth process.

His remarks came in response to Khedawala's appeal to voters to cast their ballots against government decisions, including references to "bulldozer" actions.

"In the BJP's 30-year rule, issues such as 'bulldozer politics' and discussions around the Disturbed Areas Act have been prevailing. To respond to that, your vote is important go to the polling booths and vote for our candidates," Khedawala said in a video.

Sanghavi alleged that such statements were part of a wider and sustained effort.

"Whether it is Imran bhai or several other parties, this conspiracy has not come out today. For the past several days, through different mediums, there have been continuous efforts to create such a situation," he said.

He further accused Opposition leaders of attempting to steer the elections along religious lines.

"They have directly tried to take the elections somewhere towards a religion-based direction. These visuals have been seen by everyone across Gujarat," he said, urging voters to remain vigilant and ensure that "not even a single vote is left unused".

Polling across Gujarat was conducted on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. amid tight security and logistical arrangements.

More than 4.19 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots across over 10,000 seats in municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats and taluka panchayats, making it one of the largest local electoral exercises in the state.

In Ahmedabad, voting took place for 190 seats across 48 wards, with over 38 lakh voters eligible to participate, even as temperatures hovered around 44 degrees Celsius, posing a challenge to turnout.

Authorities arranged drinking water, shaded areas and medical support at thousands of polling stations to mitigate the impact of the heat.

Sanghavi highlighted these arrangements, stating that voters could complete the process quickly.

"If a person goes anywhere to vote, they can comfortably return home within five to ten minutes. Arrangements have been made everywhere so that no one faces difficulty due to the heat," he said, adding that contributing "10 minutes" to voting was essential to democracy.

Referring to remarks by another political candidate about intimidation and offering namaz on roads, Sanghavi reiterated his allegation that attempts were being made to polarise the electorate.

He called on voters to "understand this" and participate in large numbers in their respective areas.

On a molestation incident reported in Surat, the Deputy Chief Minister said the matter would be investigated seriously and cautioned against politicising sensitive issues.

"Such kind of politics should not happen when it is a matter concerning a daughter. A serious investigation will be conducted, and strict action will be taken," he said.

Polling concluded in the evening, with officials indicating that the process remained largely peaceful despite isolated tensions reported elsewhere in the state.

The elections are being closely watched as a key indicator of the political mood ahead of future state and national contests, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to retain its dominance against challenges from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Washington, April 26 : Condemning the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, world leaders have called it an attack on democratic institutions and urged restraint amid rising political tensions.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked by the scenes" at the Washington event and stressed that "any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

"It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe," he added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed solidarity with the United States, describing the incident as a threat to democratic values.

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies," she said, warning that societies must not allow "fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information."

In Washington, lawmakers echoed those concerns and called for steps to address political violence.

Representative Ro Khanna urged the creation of a bipartisan national commission, saying: "We should look at social media. We should look at mental health issues. We should look at language. But we need to do something to bring the temperature down," as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Americans must reject violence in political life. "Violence is never the answer, whether it's targeted at the right, the left or the centre," he said, according to The Washington Post.

The shooting, which prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump and senior officials, has intensified debate over political rhetoric and security in the United States.

The incident also had immediate diplomatic implications.

U.K. officials said they were reviewing security arrangements ahead of King Charles III's planned visit to Washington this week. "The government and the palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously," said Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, adding that "extensive discussions" were underway, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the attack as a "heinous crime" and reaffirmed its solidarity with the United States, stating that it denounces "all such criminal acts, forms of violence, extremism and terrorism," according to Fox News.

Officials said investigations into the motive remain ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting the suspect may have been targeting members of the Trump administration.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is widely seen as a symbol of democratic values and press freedom, bringing together journalists and political leaders each year.
Washington, April 26 : Federal investigators are expanding their probe into the suspect behind the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, focusing on his cross-country travel, online activity, and possible writings as they work to establish motive, reports said on Sunday.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen of Torrance, California, who is believed to have travelled by train from the West Coast to Washington before carrying out the attack.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators had traced the suspect's movements. "It appears he travelled from Los Angeles through Chicago to Washington, D.C., and it appears that he travelled by train during both legs of that trip," he said in multiple TV interviews on Sunday.

Officials said Allen checked into the Washington Hilton shortly before the annual dinner, where President Donald Trump and senior officials were attending.

Investigators are now examining the suspect's digital footprint and communications.

"They were looking at the shooter's electronic devices and talking to people who know him," Blanche said, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"Based upon that work, it does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the President," he added.

Law enforcement sources told Fox News that the suspect had indicated plans to "shoot Trump administration officials" after his arrest.

Authorities are also reviewing what officials described as an alleged manifesto and other writings linked to the suspect.

According to details shared by the White House and reported by Fox News, the document referenced targeting administration officials and included political rhetoric.

Family members had reportedly alerted police before the incident about concerning communications from Allen, including statements about plans to act.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has secured the suspect's residence in Torrance, California, and is preparing to execute search warrants as part of the inquiry.

Officials said Allen had legally purchased firearms and trained with them prior to the attack.

He is currently in custody and expected to face multiple federal charges, including assault on a federal officer and firearm-related offences, with additional charges likely.

Blanche said investigators believe the suspect acted alone but cautioned that the inquiry remains at an early stage.

"We don't believe anybody else was involved, but we have a lot of work to do," he said.

The multi-agency investigation involves the FBI, Secret Service and local law enforcement, with officials prioritising a clearer understanding of intent.

Such investigations typically include analysis of travel records, digital communications and personal networks to determine whether an attack was ideologically driven or influenced by other factors.

Saturday's shooting has renewed concerns about domestic security and political violence in the United States, particularly in cases where suspects appear to act independently without prior detection.

Authorities said more details are expected as evidence is processed and formal charges are filed in the coming days.
New Delhi, April 26 : Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gauhati High Court's order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in connection with a criminal case registered by the Assam Police over his alleged remarks against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife.

As per details available on the apex court's official website, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) has been filed by Khera on Sunday, and the matter has been registered as Diary No. 25523/2026.

The plea, filed at around 6.26 p.m., is currently listed as "pending".

The petition comes two days after the Gauhati High Court declined to grant pre-arrest bail to Khera.

A single-judge bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia had held that the Congress leader "does not deserve to be given the privilege of anticipatory bail".

"The case cannot be termed as a case of defamation simpliciter. There are materials for a prima facie case under Section 339 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023," the Gauhati High Court had said while rejecting his plea.

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Khera, said that the case was "politically motivated" and stemmed from alleged remarks attributed to the Assam Chief Minister.

He added that the atmosphere surrounding the case raised concerns over fairness, particularly in view of the upcoming state elections.

Singhvi said that Khera posed no flight risk and that custodial interrogation was unwarranted.

He also questioned the necessity of arrest, saying that the allegations, at most, could amount to criminal defamation.

Senior counsel Kamal Nayan Choudhury echoed these arguments, describing the charges as "scandalous" and asserting that they were framed with "deliberate malice".

He said that the nature of the allegations did not justify invoking serious penal provisions and could be addressed through a private complaint.

Opposing the plea, Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia said that the matter extended beyond defamation.

He added that the case involved serious offences such as cheating and forgery, including alleged fabrication of documents and title deeds, thereby warranting custodial investigation.

The Congress had earlier announced that the Gauhati High Court verdict would be challenged before the Supreme Court.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh had said that the party stood "solidly in solidarity" with Khera and expressed confidence that relief would be granted.

"The entire Indian National Congress stands solidly in solidarity with Pawan Khera, the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Department. The verdict of the Guwahati High Court is in the process of being challenged in the Supreme Court. We are confident that justice will prevail over the politics of threat, intimidation, and harassment," Ramesh had said in a post on X.

Earlier, Khera had obtained interim relief from the Telangana High Court, which granted him transit anticipatory bail for a limited period, enabling him to approach the competent court in Assam for regular relief.

However, the Supreme Court later stayed this relief after the Assam Police challenged the order. Subsequently, the apex court declined Khera's plea to vacate the stay and also refused to extend interim protection.

The apex court clarified, however, that any observations made in its earlier orders should not influence the competent court in Assam while deciding the bail application.

Following this, Khera approached the Gauhati High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

The controversy stems from allegations made by Khera claiming that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma possessed multiple foreign passports, undisclosed luxury properties abroad, and links to shell companies.

The FIR, registered at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station, invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to false statements, cheating, forgery, and defamation.

Earlier this month, Assam Police conducted searches at Khera's residence in Delhi and also visited Hyderabad in connection with the case.
Bhubaneswar, April 26 : The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misleading the public by alleging that Opposition parties are anti-women for opposing aspects related to the Constitutional Amendment Bill linked to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act.

In a press conference held here, the regional party alleged that although the Women's Reservation Bill, introduced as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023, was passed by both Houses of Parliament and received the President's assent in 2023, yet the ruling BJP did not implement it in the 2024 elections.

The party further alleged that the BJP is now organising women-led 'Jan Aakrosh' rallies and padyatras across the country, claiming that the Bill could not be implemented due to a lack of cooperation from Opposition parties.

Speaking at the press conference, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act was passed in 2023 with the support of all political parties to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

She said there was an expectation that it would be implemented in the 2024 general elections.

Deo alleged that the BJP-led NDA government did not implement the provisions at that stage, citing that delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies would be carried out after the 2026 Census, and the reservation provisions would be enforced thereafter.

"However, in the midst of elections in five states, a special session of Parliament was convened to pass women's reservation along with the delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census. Since the proposed delimitation would reduce representation of states like Odisha and several southern and eastern states, Opposition parties did not support it. After this, the BJP is now labelling Opposition parties as anti-women and creating a political narrative," Deo claimed.

She added that people across the country have understood what she described as a contradiction in the BJP's stand, alleging that the party was attempting to project itself as pro-women despite delays in implementation.

BJD senior General Secretary Dr Lekhashree Samantasinghar said that the party, which has been fielding women candidates in 33 per cent of parliamentary constituencies, has been at the forefront of promoting women's reservation and empowerment.

She also highlighted the role of Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik in advocating reservation for women in elections to the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, extending up to Parliament.
Udhampur, April 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, made special mention of some unique cheeses from India, like Kalari cheese from Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as the "Mozzarella of Kashmir."

The Prime Minister also discussed "Chhurpi", a cheese made from yak milk found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, and "Topli Nu Paneer," also known as "Surti Cheese," which hails from Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Speaking to the news agency IANS regarding the Kalari cheese, local residents of Udhampur expressed their views.

Commenting on the matter, Asha Sharma said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Kalari during the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. It has already received a GI (Geographical Indication) tag. Currently, it has provided employment to many unemployed youths. It is a favourite product among the Dogra community. Kalari is prepared from milk."

She added, "I would like to express my gratitude to PM Modi, who has elevated this product (Kalari) to the status of a major achievement."

Gagan Sharma, a resident of Udhampur, stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Kalari during the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. Kalari is our traditional local delicacy. When PM Modi visited here during the last election campaign, he had mentioned Kalari even then. The PM had remarked that whenever he visits Udhampur, he would eat Kalari. It has already received the GI tag. The Kalari trade has boosted our business and enhanced the popularity of Udhampur. We are now being recognised by the name of Kalari. I would like to thank PM Modi for bestowing this gift upon us."

Neetu Sharma, a resident of Udhampur, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Kalari during the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. This is a matter of great pride for us. As a result, Kalari has gained fame across the entire country. Kalari has already been granted a GI tag. Unemployed individuals are also joining the Kalari business, thereby securing employment opportunities for themselves."
Jerusalem, April 26 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel is fighting for the rights of Christians throughout the Middle East through a video message released by the Prime Minister's Office.

Netanyahu made the statement from the Prime Minister's office with a group of soldiers, he called them an exceptional group of young men and women and outstanding soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He said that it is completely contrary to what is being presented outside, "Not only is Israel fighting for the rights of Christians throughout the Middle East, it has Christian soldiers who are fighting for the defence of Israel and for our Christian brothers throughout the region and beyond."

He also highlighted that he was impressed by the personnel stories, commitment, sacrifice and their achievements.

He noted that "Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is thriving, growing, and expanding. And it is very successful, with amazing men and women".

Earlier on April 20, PM Netanyahu condemned "in the strongest terms" the incident involving an Israeli soldier damaging a Jesus Christ statue in Lebanon, saying that he was left "stunned and saddened" after learning about the episode.

The Prime Minister's statement came after a picture went viral on social media showing an Israeli soldier smashing a statue of Jesus Christ with a sledgehammer.

Netanyahu said that military authorities are carrying out a criminal probe into the matter and will take disciplinary action against the offender.

He added that Israel cherishes and upholds the Jewish values of tolerance and mutual respect between Jews and people of all faiths.

On April 19, the IDF said that the incident is being viewed with great severity and the soldier's conduct is "inconsistent" with the values expected of its armed forces.

It mentioned that the IDF's Northern Command is carrying out a probe into the incident and vowed to take appropriate measures against those involved.

a"IANS

ksk/khz

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is included among the 10 Best May Dividend Stocks to Buy.

BMO Trims IBM Target on Soft Growth, Wedbush Sees AI Tailwinds

On April 23, BMO Capital Markets lowered its price recommendation on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) to $270 from $290. It reiterated a Market Perform rating. The analyst said Q1 software organic growth came in below expectations, even with stronger performance at Red Hat. The firm added that it still finds it difficult to justify a premium software multiple at the companys current organic growth level.

On the same day, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives lowered the price target on Outperform-rated IBM to $320 from $340. The change reflects a lower multiple tied to $600M of Confluent dilution and some near-term softness in consulting. The firm noted that IBM still reported Q1 results with beats on both revenue and earnings. It also maintained its FY26 outlook for revenue and free cash flow, taking what it described as a prudent approach amid macro headwinds, while seeing stronger demand for AI within software services.

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) provides hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence, along with consulting services. Its business is organized across Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments.

While we acknowledge the potential of IBM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
There is a gamechanger coming to K-12 education in America  if states take the chance. Twenty-nine states have now opted in to the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) through various paths. The EFTC, possibly the best-kept secret in last summers reconciliation bill, allows every taxpayer with a federal tax liability to donate to support education and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700.

Starting in 2027, taxpayers can receive a tax credit for contributing to scholarship granting organizations (SGO). The SGOs, in turn, provide scholarships for K-12 students with the potential to help across educational makes-and-models, including helping families afford the education that best fits their child.

While federal taxpayers in any state are eligible to donate to an SGO and receive the tax credit, only students in states that opt in will be eligible to receive a scholarship. The icing on the cake is that these EFTC credits and scholarships will have no effect on federal, state, or local education budgets.

Everyone wins if governors do the right thing: taxpayers, students, and states. The rub: minors will support SGOs, either in their home state or crossing state borders, if they must. Thats why its incumbent that all governors opt in, or else they will effectively deny their constituents children the opportunity to benefit from those scholarship dollars.

There is enormous opportunity cost to students if states do not opt in. Pennsylvania, for instance, could forgo an estimated $2 billion in scholarships over three years unless Governor Josh Shapiro acts. For governors, EFTC represents a rare opportunity for a massive, free political and policy win. There is only upside for their state.

From a state governance standpoint, the opt in decision should be an automatic yes. The sole practical effect of neglecting to opt in is to guarantee that in-state donations will flow out of state and benefit out-of-state students. Nonetheless, most opt-ins to date come from red-state governors.

The list of blue-governed states currently opted in is thin, comprising only Colorado, Kentucky, and Kansas. Governor Jared Polis decisively led the way, saying In Colorado, we trust the parents. Polis is forging a different path that more closely follows what voters actually want.

Others should eagerly follow, but unfortunately, Governors Andy Beshear and Laura Kelly, to the detriment of Kentucky and Kansas families, were not as forward-thinking. Fortunately, Republican legislatures in both states acted to opt the states in despite their governors opposition. North Carolina may soon follow, with Governor Josh Steins veto potentially on the line in an upcoming override session. Families will notice if their governors act to expand or restrict opportunity.

Shapiro, a rising national figure, has a prime opportunity to lead on this issue. While other governors stand passively by, watching free dollars for education flow out of state, Gov. Shapiro can set a strong example by carving a more student-centered path.

Pennsylvania is regionally and economically significant. Gov. Shapiros opt-in could encourage governors in nearby states like New York, New Jersey, and Maryland to show courage and follow suit. Each of these shares a border with the Keystone state, and each have demand coupled with unmet student needs, just as Pennsylvania has student waitlists in the thousands for its charter schools and private scholarships.

Parents intensely desire and deserve educational options for their children. Federal scholarships can mitigate multiple issues simultaneously. Such issues include reducing the number of waitlisted kids, empowering low-income parents to choose private school, delivering therapeutic options to children with special needs, and more.

The EFTC is solidly in place for the duration. Taxpayers in every state will have the option to donate and to receive the associated tax credit. It is up to the governors whether their states children benefit, an opportunity they would be ill-advised to miss.

Governor Shapiro has repeatedly said some version of the following: I believe every child of God deserves a shot one of the best ways we can guarantee their success is making sure every child has a quality education. He can make good on these words by opting in, with all deliberate speed, to ensure EFTC-funded scholarships are available to Pennsylvania families.
Employees with in-demand artificial intelligence (AI) skills are poised to see significant salary increases in India, particularly in the technology, GCC, and BFSI sectors, as companies prioritise AI capabilities.

Key Points Employees with AI skills are likely to gain an edge in salary increments over the next 2-3 years.

Indian companies are increasingly integrating AI skills into their core capabilities.

Demand for AI professionals in India is expected to exceed 1 million by 2026.

AI is influencing appraisal and career progression frameworks, particularly in digitally intensive roles.

Sectors like technology, GCCs, and BFSI are expected to see the fastest appraisal shifts due to AI.

As organisations increasingly recognise that artificial intelligence boosts productivity, employees using AI are likely to gain an edge in increments over the next 2-3 years, particularly in sectors such as technology, GCCs and BFSI, TeamLease Edtech founder and CEO Shantanu Rooj said.

AI Skills: A Core Capability

Companies in India are no longer treating AI skills as optional experimentation - they are moving into the core capability stack, Rooj told PTI.

"Recent employer and workforce studies show that 92 per cent of Indian knowledge workers already use AI at work, and 80 per cent of leaders in India say they would prefer a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced one without them," he stated.

At the same time, Rooj said national industry estimates suggest India's demand for AI professionals could cross 1 million by 2026, which means companies are now thinking about AI not just as a tool, but as a workforce strategy.

AI's Impact on Performance Appraisals

"Organisations are set to increasingly move toward AI-influenced appraisal and career progression frameworks, especially in digitally intensive functions. Just to re-emphasise, recent worldwide studies already show that generative AI can affect activities that account for 60-70 per cent of work time, with nearly 75 per cent of the value concentration sitting in customer operations, marketing and sales, software engineering, and research and development," Rooj told PTI.

In practical terms, he said, it means roles such as software developers, QA engineers, data and BI analysts, digital marketers, inside sales teams, customer support, compliance operations, finance operations, HR operations, and research-heavy roles are likely to see the fastest appraisal shifts, because performance can now be measured not only by output, but by how effectively AI improves speed, quality, and decision-making.

Sectors Seeing the Biggest Impact

"Over the next 2 to 3 years, the impact is likely to become material for roughly 25-40 per cent of white-collar roles, with the higher end more visible in technology, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance), consulting, healthcare, e-commerce, and advanced manufacturing," he added.

Rooj further said that in view of the recent global employer surveys around two-thirds of employers plan to hire for AI-specific skills, 39 per cent of core skills are expected to change by 2030, and approximately 40 per cent of employers expect further workforce reduction where AI can automate tasks.

"Therefore, the reality will become widespread, but unevenly - first in high-skill, high-digitisation sectors, and then across broader enterprise functions as AI moves from pilot projects to operating model redesign," he said.

The Future of Hiring and Upskilling

So yes, hiring patterns will change - but the bigger story is that organisations will hire more selectively for higher-value capability, which makes upskilling and role readiness far more important than before, added Rooj.
Because it treats soldiers as human, and concentrates on their emotions as much as their bravery, Border 2, probably without meaning to, speaks out against war, observes Deepa Gahlot.

Key Points Border 2, directed by Anurag Singh, stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty.

Set in the 1971 War, the film is over three hours, is overlong and overdramatic but still watchable.

When J P Dutta made Border in 1997, war films were not 'in'. The film industry had not yet opened that Pandora's box of 1971, which is providing content for films and Web series now.

Border 2, also set in 1971, like the first film, has been co-written but not directed by Dutta. Anurag Singh takes over the director's reins, and gets a considerably bigger budget and the marvels of modern technology to play with.

Amazingly, Sunny Deol still has the muscle and lung power to head another cast of young actors, looking none the worse for the wear after nearly three decades (there is some de-aging tech used).

Right at the start, he shoots down a few Pakistani interlopers into Indian territory and even dumps one over a land mine -- nobody dares mess with India's borders he declares, or they will find a Hindustani at every turn defending them.

Still, the Pakistani army brass thinks Indians are cowards and launch Operation Changez to attack India on multiple fronts on the western border, while the battle for the liberation of East Pakistan carries on at the other side of the country.

What Border 2 Is About

The film flashes back to the National Defence Academy, which trains recruits for all three branches of the armed forces. Hoshiar Singh (Varun Dhawan), Nirmal Singh (Diljit Dosanjh) and Mahendra Rawat (Ahan Shetty) meet there, and after some initial hostility, become the best of friends, under the eye of their commander Fateh Singh (Deol).

Before going into war, violence and tragedy, the film wisely spends time in establishing the friendship between the three, with a large sprinkling of humour, and also their romances and marriages.

Mahendra is already married with a young daughter; Hoshiar goes back to fetch home the bride (Meher Rana) whose face he hasn't even seen; while a reluctant to marry Nirmal is floored by and weds a spirited woman (Sonam Bajwa).

Fateh Singh and his wife (Mona Singh) have already lost their only son to war, and he has given up on his faith in God too; the other three are looking forward to life when they are called to the front.

Through the warm interactions among the soldiers, their teasing and banter, the film shows that these men are not just killing machines -- however righteous the cause may be -- they are also human.

They rejoice when a letter brings good news, weep when it's bad. (Sandese Aate Hain and To Chaloon from the first film is repurposed here.) They support each other, despite the occasional squabbling and form cohesive units.

Why Border 2 works

The Pakistan army is better equipped, but the Indians are more courageous and sacrificing. The enemy's top brass are, as always, evil caricatures, but in a sweet and funny scene, Hoshiar encounters a callow young Pakistani soldier, and orders him to salute, which he does.

Later, when the boy is killed, it seems sad that his life was cut down at such a young age, even though he is the enemy. Nirmal's mother says at one point, that mothers on the other side must also be praying for their sons' safe return.

The battle scenes, slick and detailed as they may be, are generic in a way. Wave after wave of men willingly sacrificing their lives for the country.

The film works when it seeks to portray the tragedy of war too. The tanks, grenades, guns and bayonets are out in full force, but the little scenes work, like a man using up rationed cooking oil, to keep a lamp lit outside a temple because it was a promise. This is overdone later, however, when his blood drips into the lamp as he dies.

A soldier does not reveal the birth of his daughter to his buddy who has lost his mother and could not perform her last rites.

Because the film treats soldiers as human, and concentrates on their emotions as much as their bravery, Border 2, probably without meaning to, speaks out against war. It is such a senseless waste of life, destruction of homes and families because countries refuse to coexist in peace.

Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Mona Singh stand out amidst the crowd of actors, and their sincerity adds to the elements that makes the film watchable.

Border 2 Review Rediff Rating:
A notorious offender from Uttar Pradesh and his accomplice were arrested in Dehradun following a police encounter during 'Operation Prahar', highlighting ongoing efforts to apprehend suspects in the region.

Key Points Two men arrested in Dehradun after a police encounter during 'Operation Prahar'.

One of the arrested is a notorious offender from Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

The suspects opened fire on the police, who returned fire, injuring one of the accused.

Police recovered illegal country-made pistols and live cartridges from the suspects.

The accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.

Two men, including a notorious offender from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested following an encounter in the Basant Vihar area here, police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred at the Harbanswala barrier during checking under 'Operation Prahar' -- a special drive launched to nab suspects in the state -- on Saturday night, they said.

Details Of The Police Encounter

A police team signalled two men on a blue scooter without a number plate to stop, but the duo fled towards the Harbanswala Tea Estate.

The suspects opened fire at the pursuing team, prompting retaliatory fire in which one criminal was injured.

Accused Identified And Arrested

The accused were identified as Abdullah (37), a resident of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, and Shahnawaz, a native of Saharanpur residing in Dehradun's Sahaspur, the police said.

Abdullah, who sustained a gunshot wound, was admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Criminal History And Recovered Items

The police records indicate that Abdullah is a history-sheeter with multiple criminal cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, Meerut, and Ghaziabad districts, they said.

Two illegal country-made pistols, live cartridges, and empty shells were recovered from their possession.

Legal Action Taken

Basant Vihar police registered a case against the duo under Section 109/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3, 25, and 27 of the Arms Act, officials said.
The Aam Aadmi Party is seeking the disqualification of seven Rajya Sabha MPs who recently defected to the BJP, alleging a violation of the anti-defection law and a betrayal of the public trust.

IMAGE: AAP MP Sanjay Singh addresses a press conference, at party office, in New Delhi, April 26, 2026. Photograph: Naveen Sharma/ANI Photo

Key Points The AAP claims the MPs' defection violates the anti-defection law and betrays the people's mandate.

Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs resigned from AAP and joined the BJP.

AAP consulted constitutional experts who advised that the MPs are liable for disqualification.

The AAP asserts that the defecting MPs betrayed the people of Punjab and the Indian Constitution.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday submitted a petition to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan seeking the disqualification of seven party MPs in the Upper House who recently quit the Aam Aadmi Party and announced their merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing a press conference, Singh claimed the move by the seven Rajya Sabha MPs amounted to defection as it was against the provisions of the anti-defection law.

The AAP has urged the Rajya Sabha chairman to terminate the memberships of the seven MPs, claiming that they were elected to the Upper House on an AAP ticket but later decided to leave the party and join the BJP.

On Friday, the AAP suffered a jolt when Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal quit and merged with the BJP, alleging that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals.

"According to the Constitution, two-thirds of the total MPs of a party can merge with another party," Chadha said, pointing to the fact that AAP had a total of 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.

Singh on Sunday alleged that such defections were a betrayal of the people's mandate, particularly in Punjab, and also against the spirit of the Constitution.

Incidentally, six of the seven MPs who quit the party were Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab.

According to Singh, the AAP consulted Constitution experts, including senior advocate Kapil Sibal and a former Lok Sabha secretary general, on the matter, and it had been made clear that "the MPs were liable for disqualification under the law".

"These members were elected by the AAP and later chose to leave and join another party. This is a betrayal of the people of Punjab and also of the Constitution of India," Singh said.
A remand prisoner in Kerala's Alappuzha District Jail allegedly committed suicide, prompting police and jail authorities to launch investigations into the incident.

Key Points Sarath Prasad, a remand prisoner, died by suicide in Alappuzha District Jail.

Prasad was arrested for allegedly attacking a doctor at Alappuzha General Hospital.

He reportedly hanged himself using his clothes from a ventilation opening in his cell.

Alappuzha police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Jail authorities are also conducting an internal inquiry into the incident.

A remand prisoner lodged at the Alappuzha District Jail died by suicide inside his cell on Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Sarath Prasad (41) from Punnapra.

Details of the Arrest and Remand

Sarath had been arrested for allegedly attacking a doctor at Alappuzha General Hospital and was remanded to the district jail on Friday.

Circumstances of the Death

According to police, when inmates were let out of their cells for meals, Prasad allegedly hanged himself from a ventilation opening using his clothes.

Police said he had climbed onto a pipe inside the cell to reach the ventilation.

When Prasad was not seen, jail officials checked the cell and rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

Investigation Launched

Alappuzha south police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Jail authorities are also conducting an inquiry into the incident, officials said.

The body will be handed over to his relatives after the post-mortem, police added.
The Allahabad High Court penalised an advocate 15 lakh for concealing facts and misusing his wife's funds in a 'vexatious' maintenance case, highlighting the importance of transparency in legal proceedings.

Key Points Allahabad High Court dismisses advocate's petition, deeming it 'vexatious' and 'born out of pretences'.

The court imposed a 15 lakh compensatory cost on the advocate for suppressing facts and financially exploiting his wife.

The advocate misused personal loans taken by his wife for personal expenses, including alcoholic drinks and a luxurious lifestyle.

The court directed the district magistrate to investigate the advocate's assets if he fails to pay the compensation.

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by an advocate seeking expeditious disposal of a maintenance case against his wife, terming the litigation "vexatious" and "born out of pretences".

Justice Vinod Diwakar imposed a compensatory cost of Rs 15 lakh on the petitioner-husband for suppressing material facts in his affidavits and subjecting his wife to systemic depletion.

The court observed that the man, an able-bodied practising advocate, had not only concealed a prior maintenance order in his favour, but also diverted substantial personal loans taken by his wife for his own "luxurious life" and "alcoholic drinks".

Background of the Maintenance Case

According to the facts of the case, the petitioner and the respondent were married on May 18, 2019. At the time, both were preparing for competitive examinations. Shortly after, the wife secured a job as an additional private secretary in the Allahabad High Court, while the petitioner, despite being a law graduate and a registered advocate, remained unemployed.

Soon disputes arose, leading to multiple litigations. The husband filed a maintenance application before a principal judge in the family court in Etawah.

He then approached the high court with a prayer to expedite the proceedings, claiming that he had no independent source of income for survival.

Allegations of Financial Misconduct

It was submitted on behalf of the wife that on November 10, 2020, her husband took a personal loan of Rs 11.50 lakh from her salary account in the SBI having a branch in the Lucknow bench of the high court by "fraudulently" taking her into confidence on a false promise to purchase a plot of land.

On October 6, 2022, the petitioner again took a personal loan of Rs 13.56 lakh to be repaid in six years from the respondent's salary account in the Jhalwa branch of the SBI in Prayagraj.

The respondent-wife has been paying a monthly EMI of Rs 26,020 since then, which she will pay till October, 2028.

According to the respondent, the loan was taken under the guise of purchasing a plot, but the petitioner fraudulently kept transferring the loan amount into his personal account through UPI and exhausted it on alcoholic drinks, luxurious lifestyle, and other nefarious activities.

It was also argued that "fed up by the petitioner, the wife filed a divorce petition, and on May 20, 2025, her husband filed an application for maintenance based on concocted and false averments".

Family Court's Initial Order and Subsequent Review

Allowing the application, the family court on September 15, 2025, directed the wife to pay Rs 5,000 per month as interim maintenance and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses.

Challenging the order, the wife filed a review application, which is pending before the family court in Prayagraj.

High Court's Observations and Directives

After going through the entire conduct of the petitioner, the high court observed, "Needless to mention, the entire loan amount has been unauthorisedly misused by the petitioner-husband as reflected from the pattern of withdrawal of the amount, while some transactions reflect a large amount had been transferred through UPI and other similar modes."

"In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this court is of the considered opinion that the present petition does not warrant the exercise of supervisory jurisdiction vested with this court.

"Accordingly, the equity demands that the present petition be dismissed with the compensatory cost of Rs 15,00,000 to be given to the respondent-wife within six weeks from today by way of a demand draft," it said.

In case of non-deposit of the cost money, the court directed the district magistrate in Etawah to recover the same as arrears of land revenue within three months on expiry of the time granted to the petitioner.

The court also directed the district magistrate to constitute a committee to inquire into the movable and immovable assets owned and possessed by the petitioner immediately after the receipt of a copy of the court order for record and compliance with its terms.
Delhi Police have arrested a 24-year-old arms supplier with links to the notorious Nandu gang, seizing illegal firearms and ammunition in a significant crackdown on organised crime.

Key Points Delhi Police arrested Aditya Mishra, 24, an alleged arms supplier linked to the Nandu gang.

Illegal firearms and ammunition were recovered from Mishra's possession during the arrest.

Mishra was intercepted near UER-II in Pochanpur village following a tip-off.

He allegedly played a key role in collecting extorted money for the Nandu gang in the Dwarka area.

The investigation is ongoing to uncover further details about the gang's operations and network.

The Delhi Police has arrested a 24-year-old alleged arms supplier linked to the Nandu gang led by Kapil Sangwan, and recovered illegal firearms and ammunition from his possession, officials said on Sunday.

Arrest and Recovery of Illegal Arms

The accused, Aditya Mishra, a resident of Dwarka, was intercepted by a team near UER-II in Pochanpur village on April 7, following a tip-off, they said.

According to the police, Mishra attempted to flee when confronted but was arrested. A pistol, along with two live cartridges, was recovered from him during a cursory search.

Subsequently, based on his disclosure, the police recovered an additional single-shot pistol with a live cartridge and a blank gun from a location pointed out by him on Saturday.

Gang Involvement and Extortion Activities

During interrogation, Mishra revealed his active association with the Nandu gang and his role in facilitating extortion and illegal arms supply, the police said.

He was allegedly in direct contact with both the gangster and was involved in pressuring people to settle extortion demands, they said.

"The team further found that the accused had played a key role in collecting extorted money on behalf of the gang. He, along with associates, had allegedly collected rupees from targets in the Dwarka area on multiple occasions," an officer said.

Further investigation is underway, the police said.
Bengaluru police have apprehended six individuals from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, for their involvement in a dacoity where they allegedly trespassed a house, threatened residents, and stole valuables, leading to the recovery of stolen goods.

Key Points Six individuals have been arrested in connection with a dacoity case in Bengaluru.

The accused allegedly trespassed into a house and threatened the occupants with weapons.

Stolen items, including laptops and mobile phones, have been recovered by the police.

The accused confessed to their involvement in the dacoity during interrogation.

The arrested individuals have been remanded to judicial custody following a court appearance.

Bengaluru police said on Sunday that six persons were arrested from Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district in connection with a dacoity case here.

The police seized two two-wheelers, four mobile phones, and two laptops worth Rs 3 lakh from the accused.

The accused allegedly trespassed into a house here and threatened the occupants with deadly weapons, earlier this month.

Details Of The Dacoity Incident

According to police, the complainant, a resident of Pavamana Nagar within the limits of Konanakunte Police Station, submitted a complaint on April 18. He was a college student, originally from Kerala. He, along with six other students, resided in the house and all were pursuing studies at the same college.

On the night of April 17, around late hours, six unknown persons aged between 20-25 years unlawfully entered the house. They assaulted the occupants with their hands and a knife, causing bleeding injuries, threatened them, and robbed them of Rs 10,000 cash, four mobile phones, two laptops, and a two-wheeler, they said, adding that based on the complaint, a dacoity case was registered.

Investigation And Arrest

During the investigation, the police conducted inquiries from various angles and gathered credible information through informants. the an official release said, adding, the accused were later picked up from Coimbatore.

The police recovered the stolen laptops, mobile phones, a two-wheeler belonging to the complainant, and another one used in the commission of the offence, they said.

"Upon interrogation, all six accused confessed to their involvement in the offence."

The six accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody, they added.
Tortilla Mexican Grill plc (LON:MEX) is possibly approaching a major achievement in its business, so we would like to shine some light on the company. Tortilla Mexican Grill plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates, manages, and franchises Mexican restaurants under the Tortilla, Chilango, and Fresh Burritos brands in France, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. With the latest financial year loss of UK3.3m and a trailing-twelve-month loss of UK5.1m, the UK30m market-cap company amplified its loss by moving further away from its breakeven target. As path to profitability is the topic on Tortilla Mexican Grill's investors mind, we've decided to gauge market sentiment. We've put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for the company, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate.

Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit.

Consensus from 2 of the British Hospitality analysts is that Tortilla Mexican Grill is on the verge of breakeven. They anticipate the company to incur a final loss in 2025, before generating positive profits of UK1.4m in 2026. So, the company is predicted to breakeven approximately a year from now or less! At what rate will the company have to grow in order to realise the consensus estimates forecasting breakeven in under 12 months? Using a line of best fit, we calculated an average annual growth rate of 116%, which signals high confidence from analysts. If this rate turns out to be too aggressive, the company may become profitable much later than analysts predict.

AIM:MEX Earnings Per Share Growth April 26th 2026

We're not going to go through company-specific developments for Tortilla Mexican Grill given that this is a high-level summary, though, bear in mind that by and large a high forecast growth rate is not unusual for a company that is currently undergoing an investment period.

Check out our latest analysis for Tortilla Mexican Grill

One thing we would like to bring into light with Tortilla Mexican Grill is it currently has negative equity on its balance sheet. This can sometimes arise from accounting methods used to deal with accumulated losses from prior years, which are viewed as liabilities carried forward until it cancels out in the future. Oftentimes, losses exist only on paper but other times, it can be a red flag.

Next Steps:

There are too many aspects of Tortilla Mexican Grill to cover in one brief article, but the key fundamentals for the company can all be found in one place  Tortilla Mexican Grill's company page on Simply Wall St. We've also compiled a list of relevant factors you should further research:
A Bihar Police havildar was found dead in his Patna barracks, with authorities suspecting suicide driven by an undisclosed ailment.

Key Points Bihar Police havildar found dead in his barracks in Patna.

Police suspect suicide due to the officer suffering from an ailment.

The deceased left behind two suicide notes in Hindi and Nepali.

Forensic experts are inspecting the site, and a post-mortem examination has been conducted.

The body of a Bihar Police personnel was found hanging from the ceiling of a room in his barracks here, a senior officer said on Sunday.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma said a havildar with Bihar State Armed Police-1, popularly known as "Gorkha battalion", died allegedly by suicide as he had been suffering from some ailment.

Suicide Notes Reveal Possible Motive

The deceased left behind "two suicide notes", one in Hindi and the other in his native language Nepali.

"From the suicide notes, it appears that Navraj Sunar, the deceased havildar, had been suffering from some ailment which had caused him much mental anguish and may have driven him to take the extreme step," the SSP said.

Investigation Underway

The body was being sent to the native village of the deceased in Nepal after a post-mortem examination, while further investigations were on, with forensic experts inspecting the site of the incident.
In a tragic incident in Faridabad, an 11-year-old boy died by suicide after being reprimanded by his mother for taking money, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances.

Key Points An 11-year-old boy in Faridabad died by suicide.

The boy's mother scolded him for taking Rs 100 without asking.

The boy hanged himself on the terrace of his house.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child's death.

An 11-year-old boy hanged himself in his house here allegedly after his mother reprimanded him for taking Rs 100 without informing anyone, police said on Sunday.

Details Surrounding The Tragic Incident

His mother allegedly told him that she will tell his father about it. The child, terrified by this, went to the terrace of the house in Chhainsa village and died by suicide by hanging himself, they said.

Later, when the mother searched the house, he was nowhere to be seen. She found her son in the terrace hanging from a rope. She raised an alarm and some neighbours gathered who rushed the boy to a nearby hospital.

Police Investigation And Findings

Doctors declared the child dead after examination, saying the child was hanging for around 15 to 20 minutes, leading to his death.

"We handed over the body to kin after the postmortem. The deceased was the youngest of four siblings... A further probe is underway," a senior police officer said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will resume political dialogue with Ladakh groups in May, addressing key demands such as statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.

IMAGE: Arson and violence broke out during protest in Leh in September 2025. Photograph: ANI screen grab/X

Key Points Leh apex body and Kargil Democratic Alliance have been jointly engaged in dialogue with the Centre since 2021.

The Ladakh groups' demands include statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Leh on April 30, underscoring the government's commitment to Ladakh's development.

The ministry of home affairs has decided to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue with representatives of agitating Ladakh groups on May 22, according to Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The last meeting was held in early February.

Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been jointly engaged in dialogue with the Centre since 2021 over their key demands, including statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, have been demanding the resumption of talks.

"I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, has taken a decision to convene a meeting of the sub-committee for political dialogue on 22nd May.

"This will carry forward the process of constructive democratic dialogue with key stakeholders of Ladakh and pave the way for an enduring solution to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh," the Lt Governor said in a post on X on Sunday.

On April 14, the Lt Governor, who took charge in March, expressed confidence that the ongoing dialogue between LAB- KDA and the Centre will lead to a resolution, asserting that he remains available to support the process whenever required.

A day later, the KDA called for an immediate resumption of talks, asserting that they remain open to any fresh proposal from the centre, excluding council-based arrangements.

"After the last meeting held on February 4, no further action has been taken so far. The Government of India, particularly the MHA, had promised that within 10-15 days, the next meeting would be convened, where Ladakhis' aspirations and demands would be considered seriously and sincerely. However, that day has not come yet," KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai had said.

On April 18, former J-K Member of legislative assembly Deldan Namgyal and LAHDC Leh Councillor Smanla Dorje were released after spending nearly seven months in prison in connection with the violence during protests in September that had left four persons dead and scores injured. Both LAB and KDA were consistently pressing for their release.

This came over a month after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on March 14 following the Union government's decision to revoke his detention with immediate effect.

Wangchuk was taken into custody on September 26 under the National Security Act (NSA) pursuant to an order issued by the Leh district magistrate in connection with the violence.

The sub-committee was formed following a meeting held on February 19, 2024, between the High Powered Committee (HPC) and a 14-member delegation of LAB and KDA, representing various organisations of the Union Territory.

The ministry of home affairs formed the HPC for Ladakh with a mandate to discuss the measures needed to be taken to protect the region's unique culture and language, taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Leh on April 30 for a two-day visit.

LG Saxena said the home minister will pay his respect to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 1.

The home minister's visit underscores the commitment of the government of India for the development of Ladakh, he added.

The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will arrive in Leh on April 29 for a first-of-its-kind public exposition in the region.
A 30-year-old criminal was killed in a police shootout near Jammu after attempting to breach a police cordon, prompting an ongoing search for the other criminal involved.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Key Points A 30-year-old criminal was killed in a police shootout near Jammu.

The incident occurred after the criminals attempted to breach a police cordon.

Police retaliated in self-defence after the criminals opened fire.

One criminal was found injured in a canal and declared dead at the hospital.

Search operations are ongoing for the other criminal involved in the Jammu shootout.

A 30-year-old criminal was killed after a shootout on the outskirts of Jammu late Sunday evening, a police official said.

The incident took place in Miran Sahib area when a police party laid a trap following information about possible movement of two notorious criminals wanted in over a dozen cases -- ranging from attempt to murder to arms smuggling, the official said.

Details of the Jammu Police Encounter

When challenged, they attempted to breach the police cordon by opening fire, the official said, adding that the police team retaliated in a calibrated response in self-defence and to prevent harm to the public.

He said both the accused left the motorcycle following an accident and tried to escape taking the advantage of darkness.

Search for the Remaining Criminal Continues

However, they were chased by the police party and one of the accused was later found in an injured condition in a canal, the official said.

The injured accused was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said, adding his identity is awaited.

The official said the search for the other criminal was continuing when the last reports were received.
Delhi Police have apprehended a 23-year-old man wanted in Bihar for multiple robbery cases, highlighting inter-state police cooperation in tackling crime.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrest Roshan Kumar, wanted in Bihar for two robbery cases involving over Rs 12 lakh.

Kumar was allegedly involved in a Rs 2.8 lakh robbery in Rafiganj and a Rs 10 lakh robbery in Aurangabad.

The accused was apprehended in the Tikri Border area following a coordinated operation with Bihar Police.

Kumar claimed he was drawn into criminal activities due to poor financial conditions and the desire for easy money.

The Delhi Police has arrested a 23-year-old man wanted in two robbery cases in Bihar involving amounts of over Rs 12 lakh, officials said on Sunday.

Accused Evading Arrest in Delhi

The accused, Roshan Kumar, a resident of Tikri Border in Delhi and a native of Aurangabad in Bihar, had been evading arrest and hiding in the national capital, they said.

The police said Kumar was wanted in a robbery case registered at Rafiganj in Aurangabad on October 15, last year, where he, along with his associates, allegedly robbed Rs 2.8 lakh from a man at gunpoint.

Details of the Robberies

During interrogation, he also disclosed his involvement in another robbery case involving Rs 10 lakh, registered on January 12, in Aurangabad, a senior police officer said.

Acting on a request from the Bihar Police, a team of the crime branch launched a coordinated operation and tracked down the accused.

He was apprehended from the Tikri Border area on Saturday.

His associates in the earlier robbery case have already been arrested by the Bihar Police, the officer said.

Motive and Previous Criminal Record

During questioning, Kumar revealed that he was drawn into criminal activities due to poor financial conditions and in pursuit of easy money.

He was previously involved in at least two criminal cases, including dacoity and attempt to murder, registered in Bihar in 2021, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Delhi Police dismantled a major interstate drug trafficking ring, arresting two and seizing a large quantity of high-quality cocaine worth over Rs 5 crore.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrested two individuals involved in an interstate drug trafficking syndicate.

Approximately five kg of high-quality cocaine, valued at over Rs 5 crore, was seized.

The operation involved a supplier based in Uttar Pradesh.

Police are investigating the supply chain and distribution channels across Delhi and the NCR.

Delhi Police has arrested two people and busted a major interstate drug trafficking syndicate, seizing around five kg of high-quality cocaine valued at over Rs 5 crore, an official said on Sunday.

Arrest and Initial Recovery of Cocaine

Following inputs, the police have arrested Javed Hussain, 29, from the Gazipur roundabout area in east Delhi on April 10, and recovered 456 grams of fine-quality cocaine, also known as crank, from him, the officer said.

A case was registered at the crime branch, and an investigation was initiated. During interrogation, Hussain revealed that the contraband had been sourced from an Uttar Pradesh-based alleged supplier, Soib Khan, 25.

Raid and Arrest in Uttar Pradesh

Acting on the disclosure, the police conducted a raid in Bareilly on April 22 with the assistance of local police, the officer said.

The police apprehended Khan from his residence in Bareilly and subsequently arrested him in connection with the case. Police said Hussain, who is illiterate, was working at a jeans manufacturing unit in northeast Delhi, while Khan also has no formal education.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Efforts

Police said Khan is currently in police custody, and further efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.

Investigators are also probing the supply chain and distribution channels of the seized contraband across Delhi and the NCR. Further investigation into the case is in progress, police added.
In Sri Lanka, 22 individuals disguised as Buddhist monks were arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport for allegedly smuggling a large quantity of Kush and Hashish narcotics from Thailand.

Key Points 22 individuals dressed as Buddhist monks were arrested at Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport.

The group is accused of smuggling 120 kg of Kush and Hashish narcotics from Thailand.

The narcotics haul is estimated to be worth 1.1 billion Sri Lankan rupees.

Leading Buddhist monks have condemned the 'monk impersonators' and called for their expulsion.

A group of 22 people dressed as monks has been arrested for allegedly carrying Kush and Hashish narcotics at the Bandaranaike International Airport here upon arrival from Thailand, Sri Lankan police said.

The Narcotics Bureau said the haul worth 1.1 billion Sri Lankan rupees was the largest drug seizure at the airport.

Details of the Drug Smuggling Operation

The 22 individuals were arrested on Saturday for allegedly carrying 120 kg of Kush and Hashish narcotics on false bottomed suitcases, police said. They had left for Thailand on April 22.

According to police, the suspects are residents of Ampara, Horana, Boralesgamuwa, Wadduwa, Warakapola, Piliyandala, Homagama, Athuraliya, Ambalangoda, Kudispaththuwa, Madapatha, and Balangoda.

Narcotics Seized and Further Investigation

Each individual was reportedly found carrying over 5 kg of narcotics in their luggage, totalling more than 120 kg of Kush and Hashish.

The group has been detained for further investigations.

Buddhist Leaders Condemn Impersonators

Meanwhile, the leaders of the three main Buddhist monk sects in a joint statement on Sunday slammed what they termed a group of "monk impersonators".

The leading monks said the impersonators need to be expelled from the Buddhist order and the state must come forward to frame new legislation to weed out impersonators.
A woman advocate's residence in Belagavi was allegedly attacked by gunfire, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about the safety of legal professionals.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Unidentified individuals allegedly fired at the residence of advocate Pooja Kakatkar in Belagavi.

The attack occurred in the early hours, targeting the first floor of the house.

Bullet marks were found on the window, but no one was injured.

Police have launched an investigation and are awaiting forensic reports.

The advocate, known for handling high-profile cases, and her family have been assured protection.

Unidentified miscreants allegedly opened fire at the residence of a woman advocate here during the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The incident occurred between 1 am and 2 am at the house of advocate Pooja Kakatkar, located on Mandoli Road, they said.

Details Of The Belagavi Shooting Incident

The attackers allegedly targeted the first floor of the residence, where her daughter was reportedly studying at the time, they added.

Bullet marks were found on the window glass of the house. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident, officials said.

Police Investigation Underway

A team of investigators visited the spot, and the damaged glass bearing bullet marks has been collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.

A case has been registered at the Belagavi Rural Police Station, and further investigation is underway, they said.

Protection Assured To Advocate And Family

Kakatkar, who has been practising law for the past 18 years, is known for handling several high-profile cases.

Police have assured protection to the advocate and her family and are awaiting the FSL report for further leads.
The Uttar Pradesh government is providing financial assistance, housing, and land to the family of a 15-year-old girl tragically found dead in the Ganga river, following allegations of sexual assault and murder.

Key Points UP government provides Rs 5 lakh to the family of a girl found dead in the Ganga river.

Government officials express condolences and assure full support to the affected family.

The family receives certificates for housing and land lease under government schemes.

Samajwadi Party delegation plans to visit the family, following earlier clashes.

The girl's father expresses satisfaction with the police action and arrest of the main accused.

The Uttar Pradesh government has handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a 15-year-old girl, who was found dead in the Ganga river in Ghazipur recently.

State Panchayati Raj and Minority Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sangeeta Balwant and BJP MLC Hansraj Vishwakarma visited the residence of the girl and expressed their condolences to the bereaved family members, the state government said in a statement on Saturday night.

The body of the girl, who belongs to the OBC community, was found in the river on April 15, with her family alleging sexual assault and murder.

Government Support for the Bereaved Family

Terming the incident tragic and distressing, Rajbhar said the state government stands fully in solidarity with the affected family during this difficult time.

While offering solace to the family, he assured them that every possible assistance would be provided by the government.

"A cheque of Rs 5 lakh as financial assistance was handed over to the deceased's family members. Additionally, a certificate approving a housing unit under the Chief Minister Housing Scheme, as well as a certificate allocating a land lease for agriculture purposes (under the 'Navran Parjar' scheme), were presented to the family to ensure they have a permanent residence and a sense of security," the statement said.

Political Reactions and Family's Plea

Officials also assured the family of every possible support and issued directives to ensure that they receive the benefits of relevant government schemes without delay.

The Samajwadi Party on Friday announced that a delegation led by the party president will visit the village and meet the girl's family on April 29.

Clashes had occurred when an SP delegation visited the village to meet her family on April 22, with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleging that "dominant elements" and the village head attacked his party workers.

The father of the girl had told reporters on Saturday that the main accused has been arrested on their complaint and the law was taking its course.

"I am deeply grief-stricken by my daughter's death and do not wish for any politician to come to my doorstep merely to engage in political opportunism," he said, expressing satisfaction over the police action in the case.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav is accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of a cover-up in the Ghazipur case, drawing parallels to the Hathras incident and sparking political controversy.

Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Key Points Akhilesh Yadav criticises the Uttar Pradesh government over the Ghazipur case, alleging a cover-up and likening it to the Hathras incident.

Yadav questions the delay in filing the FIR, alleged alteration of statements, and harassment of the victim's family.

The victim's father initially accused a village head of intimidation but later stated he did not want political leaders visiting for political gain.

Police report that an FIR has been registered, the main accused has been arrested, and senior officials have met with the victim's family.

BJP leader Naveen Srivastava accuses Yadav of divisive politics, while police report attempts to create unrest in the village.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the recovery of a teenage girl's body in Ghazipur, alleging attempts to "change statements" and calling the incident a repeat of the Hathras case.

The BJP has dismissed the remarks as "divisive politics".

The body of the teenage girl was found under a bridge on the Ganga in the Karanda police station area of Ghazipur district earlier this month.

Yadav's Allegations and Concerns

Sharing a video of the victim's father on X, Yadav said, "Changing statements does not change the truth. Uttar Pradesh has never seen such a weak chief minister, under whose watch poor and helpless victims are pressured to alter their statements."

In the video, the girl's father can be purportedly heard accusing a village head of intimidation and alleging that stones were pelted when a Samajwadi Party delegation had gone to meet the family.

He also claimed that a police officer was injured while trying to protect him.

On Saturday, however, the victim's father told reporters that he did not want political leaders to visit his home for "political mileage".

He also said that the district officials have assured him of strict action against the accused and expressed satisfaction with the police investigation.

Questions Raised Over Investigation

Raising a volley of questions, Yadav asked why there was a delay in lodging the FIR in the case, why statements were allegedly altered, and why the victim's family was being "harassed".

The Samajwadi Party (SP) chief also questioned the lack of action against those who allegedly pelted stones at the police and raised doubts over the post-mortem report.

"Everyone knows the truth. Whatever the post-mortem report may say, the ground reality is known to everyone in the village," Yadav said.

He also claimed that the Ghazipur incident mirrored the Hathras case, claiming both involved families from marginalised backgrounds and "dominant elements" as perpetrators.

In Hathras, a Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped on September 14, 2020. She later died at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on September 29.

Yadav questioned whether "cosmetic action" would ensure justice for the victim's family, as he stressed the need for "social justice" along with the rule of law.

BJP's Response and Police Investigation

Reacting to the SP chief's remarks, BJP leader Naveen Srivastava said in a post on X, "You have no faith in the administration, no faith in the post-mortem report, and no faith in the victim's father. You only believe in divisive politics."

Varanasi Zone ADGP, Piyush Mordia, said the girl had gone missing on the night of April 14, and her body was found about 3 km from her home in the Ganga early the next morning.

Based on a complaint filed by the family, an FIR has been registered, and the main accused has been arrested, the officer said.

Senior police and administrative officials have met the victim's family, Mordia said, noting that the father has sought a speedy trial to ensure strict punishment for the accused.

The officer also said that some "outsiders" attempted to create unrest in the village.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Marvel Gold Limited (ASX:MVL), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

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.

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Marvel Gold

The Independent Non-Executive Chairman Stephen Dennis made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$500k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.08 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.016). 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. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Marvel Gold 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. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Check out our latest analysis for Marvel Gold

ASX:MVL Insider Trading Volume April 25th 2026

Marvel Gold is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership Of Marvel Gold

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Our data indicates that Marvel Gold insiders own about AU$1.6m worth of shares (which is 6.9% of the company). We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!

What Might The Insider Transactions At Marvel Gold Tell Us?

The fact that there have been no Marvel Gold insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think Marvel Gold insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Marvel Gold. To help with this, we've discovered 5 warning signs (3 shouldn't be ignored!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Marvel Gold.
In response to concerns over law and order following the death of a teenager, Ghazipur administration has banned gatherings and restricted visits, sparking political controversy and raising questions about the investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Ghazipur administration bans gatherings and visits to a village following the death of a teenager, citing law and order concerns.

The Uttar Pradesh government accuses opposition parties of spreading rumours and sensationalising the teen death case.

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS are in effect until April 30, restricting political assemblies and demonstrations.

Opposition leaders allege foul play and government inaction in the case of the teenager's death.

The government defends its actions, stating the restrictions are necessary to prevent public unrest and maintain peace in Ghazipur.

Issuing prohibitory orders in view of its concerns over law and order in Ghazipur over the death of a teenager earlier this month, the administration has banned all demonstrations and barred anyone from visiting her village to offer condolences to the family.

The Uttar Pradesh government issued a statement in Lucknow, saying "unverified rumours" are being spread by certain "mischievous elements" and opposition parties are "attempting to sensationalise the matter".

Restrictions Imposed in Ghazipur

"Given the gravity of the situation, Ghazipur District Magistrate Anupam Shukla has imposed Section 163 of BNSS (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) across the district. Under this provision, no political party or group is permitted to assemble anywhere within the district," the statement read.

The order shall remain in force until April 30, it said.

Political Reactions and Planned Visits

The Samajwadi Party announced on Friday that a delegation led by party president Akhilesh Yadav will visit the village and meet the girl's family on April 29. The same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi to inaugurate the Ganga Expressway.

The UP government said in the statement: "The opposition and certain other individuals are attempting to sensationalise this matter, raising apprehensions that the atmosphere in the district could become volatile."

Government Justification for the Ban

"Section 163 of the BNSS has been imposed in light of the potential for such misleading information to incite outrage, fear, and discontent among the general public. Any individual found violating this order shall be liable for punishment under Section 223 of the BNS (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)."

The body of the 17-year-old girl, who belongs to the OBC community, was found in the Ganga in Karanda area of Ghazipur district on April 15, with her family alleging sexual assault and murder.

Police have said a murder case has been registered, though the post-mortem report suggested drowning, and initial investigation has indicated a possible suicide angle, citing a prior relationship between the deceased and the main accused who has also been arrested.

Opposition's Allegations and Demands

Opposition leaders have targeted the government over the incident, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling for a high-level inquiry into "the rape and brutal murder" and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleging that pressure was exerted on the victims "to recant their statements".

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, too, alleged that there was a "reluctance" to register a case initially, and that the victim's family received "threats".

The UP government said a ban has been imposed on organising processions, holding any form of demonstration, conducting candle marches, or raising slogans in connection with the incident.

In view of the incident, and strictly for the sake of maintaining law and order, no individual or delegation shall visit the village to offer condolences, the statement said.

UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar hit out at the Samajwadi Party over the incident, telling reporters in Azamgarh that it aims to vitiate the atmosphere in both Ghazipur and the state.
The death of a Hindu temple caretaker in Bangladesh has ignited concerns among minority groups, prompting calls for a thorough investigation and justice.

Key Points A Hindu temple caretaker, Nayan Sadhu, was found dead in Bangladesh after being missing for three days.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has condemned the death and demanded justice.

Police are investigating the death as either a murder or suicide.

Separately, police are investigating the death of a Hindu Customs official in Cumilla, with four suspects detained.

A Hindu temple caretaker was found hanging from a tree three days after he went missing from his home in southeastern Bangladesh, a minority group said and demanded stern action against the perpetrators.

Details of the Temple Caretaker's Death

Nayan Sadhu, the 40-year-old resident of Dohazari area under Sthania Upazila of Chhattogram district, was serving as a caretaker-cum-priest at a Shivakali temple in Khurushkul union in Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said late on Saturday.

Two unidentified men took Nayan with them late on the evening of April 19, and three days later, his body was found hanging from a tree in a hilly area on the outskirts of the village, according to the police and residents in the Cox's Bazar neighbourhood.

"We recovered the body when it had started getting decomposed," the Kaler Kantha newspaper said, quoting an unnamed police official.

The police are yet not sure if it was a case of murder or suicide, he said.

Demands for Justice and Investigation

In a statement, the council demanded stern punitive action against the perpetrators of his murder.

"The Unity Council strongly condemns the incident and demands immediate arrest and exemplary punishment against the perpetrators," the forum said in the statement.

"We just cannot understand what could be the motive of killing an ordinary caretaker of a relatively small temple in a remote area," BHBCUC senior member Kajal Debnath told PTI.

Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council's Cox's Bazar unit general secretary Jony Dhar said the body was recovered three days after Nayan went missing, indicating that he was murdered.

Police said the body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of the death.

An investigation was launched following the missing person's report filed by the deceased's wife on April 19.

Another Death Under Investigation

Meanwhile, police on Sunday detained four people in eastern Cumilla in connection with the mysterious death of a young Hindu Customs official, whose family suspected it was a murder.

The body of 35-year-old Bullet Bairagi was found on Saturday by the side of the Dhaka-Chattagram road.

"We have arrested four suspects after raiding different areas in Cumilla since Saturday night," specialised Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) company commander Major Sadman Ibne Alam told reporters.

Officer in charge of Cumilla Sadar Model Police Station Sirajul Mostafa said, "We are putting in our best efforts to unearth the mystery of the death by engaging several teams."

An assistant revenue officer in the Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate, Bairagi was stationed with his family, including a minor son, in Cumilla but hailed from the southwestern Gopalganj district.

Police said his family lost contact with Bairagi on Friday night after he informed them that he had nearly reached his residence in Cumilla in a bus after attending an official training programme in Chattagram.

When he failed to return home, and his mobile phone was found switched off, Bairagi's father filed a complaint with Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station on Saturday morning. However, Bairagi's mother, Nilima Bairagi, later lodged a complaint over his death as a murder, police added.

Another police officer familiar with the investigation told local reporters they found no major injury marks on the body, but his face appeared bloodied.

Bairagi's mobile phone, bag and other personal belongings were missing, he added.

Earlier this month, the council said there have been 133 incidents of communal violence between January 1 and March 31 this year in Bangladesh.
A Hindu temple caretaker's mysterious death in Bangladesh has sparked outrage and calls for a swift investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Photograph: Mehedi Hasan/Reuters

Key Points Nayan Sadhu, a Hindu temple caretaker, was found dead in Bangladesh after going missing.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has condemned the incident and demanded justice.

Police are investigating the death to determine if it was murder or suicide.

The caretaker went missing on April 19 and his body was found three days later.

The incident has raised concerns among minority groups in Bangladesh.

A Hindu temple caretaker was found hanging from a tree three days after he went missing from his home in southeastern Bangladesh, a minority group said and demanded stern action against the perpetrators.

Investigation Launched Into Caretaker's Death

Nayan Sadhu, the 40-year-old resident of Dohazari area under Sthania Upazila of Chhattogram district, was serving as a caretaker-cum-priest at a Shivakali temple in Khurushkul union in Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) said late on Saturday.

Two unidentified men took Nayan with them late on the evening of April 19, and three days later, his body was found hanging from a tree in a hilly area on the outskirts of the village, according to the police and residents in the Cox's Bazar neighbourhood.

"We recovered the body when it had started getting decomposed," the Kaler Kantha newspaper said, quoting an unnamed police official.

The police are yet not sure if it was a case of murder or suicide, he said.

Minority Group Demands Justice

In a statement, the council demanded stern punitive action against the perpetrators of his murder.

"The Unity Council strongly condemns the incident and demands immediate arrest and exemplary punishment against the perpetrators," the forum said in the statement.

"We just cannot understand what could be the motive of killing an ordinary caretaker of a relatively small temple in a remote area," BHBCUC senior member Kajal Debnath told PTI.

Police Investigation Underway

Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council's Cox's Bazar unit general secretary Jony Dhar said the body was recovered three days after Nayan went missing, indicating that he was murdered.

Police said the body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of the death.

An investigation was launched following the missing person's report filed by the deceased's wife on April 19.

Earlier on April 9, the council said there have been 133 incidents of communal violence between January 1 and March 31 this year in Bangladesh.
An Indore man is under police investigation after a viral video showed him threatening a family with a stick following a dispute over an alleged car collision, sparking concerns about road rage.

Key Points A man in Indore allegedly threatened a family with a stick after a dispute over a car collision.

The incident occurred on April 24 under the Aerodrome police station limits.

Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

The accused has been identified as Mangal Sharma, and a search is underway to locate him.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, raising concerns about law and order.

A man allegedly tried to attack a family travelling in a car with a stick following a dispute over a purported collision in Indore, police said on Sunday and launched a search for the accused after a video of the incident surfaced online.

Police Investigate Road Rage Incident

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shrikrishna Lalchandani told PTI that police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita based on a complaint lodged by the family regarding the incident, which occurred on April 24 under the Aerodrome police station limits.

Police identified the accused as Mangal Sharma (38) and launched a search to trace him.

Accused Confronted Family Over Alleged Collision

The police officer said Sharma confronted the family over an alleged collision and attempted to assault and extort money from them.

The viral video shows a woman inside the car pleading with the accused that children were also present, but he continued to threaten them while wielding the stick.

The video has circulated widely on social media, raising concerns over law and order in the city.
Amidst escalating tensions with the US, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's recent visit to Pakistan underscores the country's crucial role in regional peace efforts and diplomatic negotiations.

IMAGE: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi sits down with Senior Omani Diplomat, Najib Bin Yahya Al Balushi on the day of a meeting, in a location given as Muscat, Oman, in this picture released April 25, 2026. Photograph: Seyed Abbas Araghchi Via Telegram/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Araghchi's visit follows discussions in Oman regarding security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran-US conflict.

Donald Trump cancelled planned US negotiator visits to Islamabad, citing wasted time and internal confusion within Iranian leadership.

Pakistan eased security restrictions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi after the cancellation of US-Iran talks.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with the Iranian President, expressing commitment to facilitating regional peace.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Pakistan on Sunday for the second time in three days amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks with the US, local media reported.

Araghchi, who left on Saturday after talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and other top officials, came from Oman where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.

The Iranian leader arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi after completing a day-long visit to Oman, the Dawn newspaper reported quoting sources.

He will meet with senior Pakistani officials during his brief stay in Islamabad and will then depart for Moscow, the paper reported.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Araghchi had arrived during the early evening.

Pakistan has not said anything officially about the arrival of Araghchi but private media, including the leading Geo News, reported earlier quoting diplomatic sources that the Iranian foreign minister will arrive in Pakistan on a short trip before going to Moscow.

Araghchi would convey "Iran's positions and views on the framework of any understanding to completely end the war", Geo TV reported quoting Iranian news agency ISNA.

After Araghchi left for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.

"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives" to Islamabad to meet with the Iranians, Trump posted on Truth Social.

"Too much time wasted on travelling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their "leadership." Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!" he added.

Araghchi in a post on X had said his trip to Pakistan was "very fruitful".

"Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value. Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," Araghchi had said.

In a statement, PM Shehbaz said he had "a most warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation. We also discussed matters of mutual interest, including the further strengthening of Pakistana Iran bilateral relations."

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Sunday eased some restrictions, allowing selective movement of heavy traffic in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Pakistan had implemented strict security measures in anticipation of the second round of talks between the US and Iran. More than 10,000 security personnel were deployed, and both Islamabad and Rawalpindi were shut down to manage heavy traffic since last Sunday.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the evolving regional situation.

During the telephonic conversation on Saturday evening, PM Shehbaz expressed his commitment to serve as a "sincere and honest" facilitator in promoting lasting peace in the region, according to his office.
Following a shooting near the White House Correspondents' Dinner, US lawmakers are uniting to condemn political violence and reaffirm the need for national unity and peaceful resolution of differences.

IMAGE: FBI agents and police officers work outside the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., in Torrance, California, US, April 25, 2026. Photograph: Daniel Cole/Reuters

Key Points US lawmakers across party lines condemn political violence after a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President Trump calls for national unity and peaceful resolution of differences amidst rising political tensions.

Law enforcement is commended for their swift action in securing the scene and protecting attendees.

Several Democratic and Republican leaders express gratitude to law enforcement and denounce political violence.

Political violence has no place in the United States, lawmakers cutting across party lines asserted as President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from a hotel here following a shooting incident.

Addressing a press conference hours after he and top leaders were rushed out of the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel, Trump gave a call for national unity and said Americans must resolve differences despite rising political tensions and violence.

"I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully. We have to, we have to resolve our differences. I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives," Trump said at the White House, flanked by First Lady Melania, Vice President J D Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel and top officials, including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Markwayne Mullin, Todd Blanche, among others.

Lawmakers react to shooting

Veteran Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi, a prominent Trump detractor, said it was a great relief that the President, First Lady and everyone in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are safe following a terrifying act of violence inside the venue.

"The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present. As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents," Pelosi said.

Republican leader Steve Scalise thanked the brave members of law enforcement who acted quickly to protect all attending Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"This is an event meant to bring people together. Violence has NO place in our country," Scalise, the House Majority Leader, said in a post on X.

Congressman Shri Thanedar said he was grateful to the Secret Service and other security personnel who acted swiftly.

"I am keeping all those in attendance in my thoughts: political violence is never acceptable," Thanedar, the democrat from Michigan, said.

Democratic leader Suhas Subramanyam, who was attending the dinner, said as he was walking down the escalators from the lobby when security personnel asked him to watch out for crossfire.

"I was walking down the escalators from the lobby when, at the bottom of the escalators, 2 security people with guns were running through and yelling 'watch out for crossfire,'" Subramanyam said in a post on X.

"I got behind a pillar with another person, then left out a back exit while hearing more commotion and police. Thank you to Secret Service, Capitol Police, DC Metropolitan Police and all law enforcement for their quick response," he said.

Democrat leader Ro Khanna said he was grateful to law enforcement for protecting everyone at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"My thoughts are with the brave Secret Service agent who was shot. Political violence is completely unacceptable. There is no place for it in our country," Khanna said.

Democratic leader Senator Chuck Schumer said he was grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and was praying everyone remains safe.

Democrat leader Pramila Jayapal said she was very grateful to law enforcement for quickly acting to secure the room and save lives at the dinner. "Violence is never the answer," Jayapal said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife Kelly were at the event and were thankful that no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe.

"We're grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control. Praying for our country tonight," Johnson said.
Following a shooting near the White House Correspondents' Dinner, US lawmakers are uniting to condemn political violence and reaffirm the need for national unity and peaceful dialogue.

Key Points US lawmakers across party lines condemn political violence following a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President Trump calls for national unity and peaceful resolution of differences amidst rising political tensions.

Lawmakers express gratitude to law enforcement and Secret Service for their swift response and protection.

The shooting incident prompted a temporary evacuation of President Trump and other top officials from the Washington Hilton hotel.

Political violence has no place in the United States, lawmakers cutting across party lines asserted as President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from a hotel here following a shooting incident.

Addressing a press conference hours after he and top leaders were rushed out of the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel, Trump gave a call for national unity and said Americans must resolve differences despite rising political tensions and violence.

"I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully. We have to, we have to resolve our differences. I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives," Trump said at the White House, flanked by First Lady Melania, Vice President J D Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel and top officials, including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Markwayne Mullin, Todd Blanche, among others.

Lawmakers React to Shooting Incident

Veteran Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi, a prominent Trump detractor, said it was a great relief that the President, First Lady and everyone in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are safe following a terrifying act of violence inside the venue.

"The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present. As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents," Pelosi said.

Mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani called the shooting incident totally unacceptable.

"Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I am glad the President and guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are safe," he posted on X. Republican leader Steve Scalise thanked the brave members of law enforcement who acted quickly to protect all attending Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"This is an event meant to bring people together. Violence has NO place in our country," Scalise, the House Majority Leader, said in a post on X.

Gratitude for Law Enforcement

Congressman Shri Thanedar said he was grateful to the Secret Service and other security personnel who acted swiftly.

"I am keeping all those in attendance in my thoughts: political violence is never acceptable," Thanedar, the democrat from Michigan, said.

Democratic leader Suhas Subramanyam, who was attending the dinner, said as he was walking down the escalators from the lobby when security personnel asked him to watch out for crossfire.

"I was walking down the escalators from the lobby when, at the bottom of the escalators, 2 security people with guns were running through and yelling 'watch out for crossfire,'" Subramanyam said in a post on X.

"I got behind a pillar with another person, then left out a back exit while hearing more commotion and police. Thank you to Secret Service, Capitol Police, DC Metropolitan Police and all law enforcement for their quick response," he said.

Continued Condemnation of Violence

Democrat leader Ro Khanna said he was grateful to law enforcement for protecting everyone at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"My thoughts are with the brave Secret Service agent who was shot. Political violence is completely unacceptable. There is no place for it in our country," Khanna said.

Democratic leader Senator Chuck Schumer said he was grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and was praying everyone remains safe.

Democrat leader Pramila Jayapal said she was very grateful to law enforcement for quickly acting to secure the room and save lives at the dinner. "Violence is never the answer," Jayapal said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife Kelly were at the event and were thankful that no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe.

"We're grateful as always for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control. Praying for our country tonight," Johnson said.

Amit Kumar Sharma, Business Head of a leading software company based in the capital city, who was present at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, said that "everything seemed fantastic and well managed" but suddenly "there was chaos and we were told that some gunshots have been fired."

There were around 4000 people at the hotel premises at the time he said, adding that this was the first time President Trump was going to attend this annual dinner.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years  first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
A UP inmate has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for masterminding an extortion plot against a Thane businessman while already serving a life sentence.

Photograph: Pixabay.com

Key Points Azad Masuk Ali Ansari, a UP inmate, sentenced to 10 years for orchestrating an extortion plot.

Ansari masterminded the extortion attempt from Naini Central Prison, targeting a Thane businessman.

The court convicted Ansari under sections 307 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

Ansari pleaded guilty and sought leniency, which the court partially granted due to trial delays.

A Thane court has sentenced a convict serving a life term in a UP prison to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for orchestrating a 2015 extortion-linked firing incident against a local businessman from behind bars.

Additional sessions judge (Bhiwandi) N L Kale convicted Azad Masuk Ali Ansari (44), alias Ejaj Batala, after he pleaded guilty to the charges during a virtual hearing from Naini Central Prison, Prayagraj.

Extortion Plot Masterminded From Prison

According to the prosecution, Ansari was already serving a life sentence when the co-accused in the case visited him in Naini jail in November 2015, and they hatched a criminal conspiracy.

Under Ansari's instructions, the group targeted Santosh Shetty, a businessman, demanding Rs 25 lakh and subsequently opened fire at him to intimidate him.

Convict Pleads Guilty, Seeks Leniency

Ansari, who has been in custody for this specific crime since December 20, 2015, submitted an application to the court expressing his desire to plead guilty and sought leniency.

Judge Kale accepted Ansari's plea for leniency, noting that the trial had been delayed significantly because other accused persons, who are currently out on bail, failed to attend court proceedings.

Court Sentences Ansari, Case Continues

The court convicted Ansari under sections 307 (attempt murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 4,000.

The court has directed that the case against the remaining three accused persons will proceed separately.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested in Delhi for allegedly stabbing his wife, an advocate, following a family dispute, highlighting the ongoing issue of domestic violence.

Key Points Delhi Police arrested Manoj Kumar for allegedly stabbing his wife, an advocate, in Khajuri Khas.

The accused confessed to the crime, citing a family dispute as the motive for the attack.

The victim is currently receiving treatment at AIIMS, Delhi, for her injuries.

Police investigations are ongoing, exploring all possible angles related to the stabbing incident.

The accused has a prior criminal record, including involvement in a case of abduction and murder.

Delhi Police on Sunday arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly stabbing his wife, an advocate, with a sharp object in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas, an official said.

Accused Confesses To Stabbing Wife

The accused, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Sonia Vihar, was arrested from the Khajuri Khas area on Sunday, the officer said.

The incident took place on April 22 when Kumar allegedly stabbed his 38-year-old wife in the Khajuri Khas, police said, adding that she was admitted at AIIMS, Delhi, for treatment.

"During interrogation, Kumar confessed to the crime and told police that he attacked his wife following a family dispute," the officer said.

Motive Under Investigation

Domestic discord is believed to be the motive behind the attack, though investigators are examining all angles, police said.

Further verification revealed that the accused was previously involved in a case related to abduction and murder, police said.
A man was arrested near the Indo-Nepal border in Maharajganj with over 327 kg of marijuana, estimated to be worth over Rs 20 crore, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Sashastra Seema Bal arrested a man near the Indo-Nepal border with a large quantity of marijuana.

The seized marijuana is estimated to be worth over Rs 20 crore in the international market.

The arrested individual, Ranjeet Giri, allegedly procured the contraband from Nepal.

Authorities are investigating a larger drug trafficking network connected to the arrested man.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Sashastra Seema Bal have arrested a man near the Indo-Nepal border in Maharajganj district with more than 327 kg of marijuana worth over Rs 20 crore, officials said on Sunday.

Details of the Arrest and Seizure

Acting on a tip-off, a team arrested Ranjeet Giri, a resident of Bihar's Gopalpur area, and recovered a large amount of marijuana from his possession on Sunday morning, SSB Assistant Commandant Dinesh Chandra Biswas said.

Another member of the gang managed to escape, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest him, the officer said.

Investigation and Further Actions

He said Giri, who allegedly supplied drugs in the area, had procured the contraband from Nepal and was transporting it in a truck when he was intercepted and arrested.

The seized narcotic substance is estimated to be worth around Rs 20 crore in the international market, Biswas said, adding that the accused has been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau after preliminary interrogation.

Police suspect that Giri was acting as a carrier for a larger network and are questioning him to gather further details.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, he added.
Find winning stocks in any market cycle. Join 7 million investors using Simply Wall St's investing ideas for FREE.

The implied fair value estimate for Choice Hotels International has shifted slightly, moving from US$112.33 to US$114.13 per share. This tweak comes as analysts update Q4 models and debate how much investors should be willing to pay given recent guidance and differing views on long term growth expectations. Read on to see how these evolving price targets fit into the broader bull and bear narrative and what that could mean for your own research.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Choice Hotels International.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Several firms, including Susquehanna, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Truist, have lifted their price targets in recent months, reflecting updated Q4 models and refreshed views on what investors are willing to pay for Choice Hotels International.

Deutsche Bank raised its target to US$119 from US$109 after updating its model following the Q4 report and suggested that the new guidance and earnings profile support a higher valuation range.

Barclays increased its target to US$101 from US$98 and highlighted that Choice's RevPAR guidance is framed conservatively, which these analysts see as leaving room for upside to estimates if external conditions are supportive.

 Bearish Takeaways

Barclays, despite lifting its target, kept an Underweight rating and expressed limited confidence in sustained acceleration in net rooms growth, which keeps some pressure on longer term growth assumptions.

Morgan Stanley previously lowered its target to US$83 from US$91, citing Q4 results and 2026 guidance across lodging coverage and referencing conflict in Iran as a reason for caution. This feeds into a more restrained stance on near term risk and reward for the shares.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

NYSE:CHH 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 2 risks for Choice Hotels International. See which could impact your investment.

What's in the News
Police in Jharkhand are investigating the death of a 32-year-old man whose body was found after he was allegedly abducted, with a land dispute suspected as the motive.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A 32-year-old man was found dead in Palamu district, Jharkhand, after an alleged abduction.

The victim, Vinit Tiwari, was reportedly abducted from the Redma area on Saturday night.

Police suspect a land dispute may be the motive behind the abduction and subsequent death.

An investigation is underway, and police are searching for two suspects named in the complaint.

The naked body of a 32-year-old man with injury marks was recovered on Sunday morning in Jharkhand's Palamu district, hours after he was allegedly abducted, police said.

Investigation Launched Into Abduction and Death

The body of Vinit Tiwari (32) was recovered near Jorkat, a senior police officer said.

On Saturday night, people in four vehicles had allegedly abducted the man from the Redma area, the officer said, adding that it might have been a fallout of a land dispute.

Police Efforts and Ongoing Search

Superintendent of Police Kapil Choudhary said they were informed about the man's abduction on Saturday night, and a team was immediately deployed to rescue him.

His body bearing injury marks was recovered on Sunday morning, the officer said, adding the man's parents have lodged a complaint accusing two persons -- Pradip Tiwari and Dilip Tiwari -- of his alleged abduction.

The SP told PTI that police have launched a search to apprehend the duo, and the motive behind the killing will be known following their arrest.
A man has been arrested in Bareilly for impersonating a candidate during a Home Guard recruitment exam, highlighting concerns about exam integrity and impersonation attempts.

Key Points A man was arrested in Bareilly for impersonating a candidate in the Home Guard recruitment exam.

The accused, identified as Anurag, confessed to impersonating another candidate in a previous exam shift.

The impersonation was discovered during biometric verification at the examination centre.

A case has been registered under the BNS and the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The accused has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

During a written examination for the recruitment of Home Guards in Bareilly on Sunday, a young man was caught taking the test on behalf of another candidate, the police said.

The examination was conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board in two shifts on April 25, April 26 and April 27.

Details of the Impersonation Case

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya said that during the Home Guard Enrollment Examination 2025, the officer in charge of the examination centre at Sahu Gopinath Kanya Inter College noticed suspicious behaviour from a candidate during the first shift (from 10 am to 12 noon).

Upon growing suspicious during the biometric verification process, the said candidate was subjected to a thorough examination, during which he was identified as Anurag (27), a resident of Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, the officer added.

Accused Admits to the Crime

Further investigation revealed that on the previous day, Anurag had also taken the first-shift examination at Darbari Lal Sharma Inter College (Pilibhit Road, Rithaura), impersonating another candidate named Dharmendra Singh. This deliberate act was an attempt to gain an unfair advantage, police said, adding that during interrogation, the accused admitted to having committed the aforementioned act.

Legal Action Taken

Based on a written complaint lodged by the inspector in-charge, a case has been registered at Kotwali police station, Bareilly, under Sections 319(2) (cheating by personation), 318(4) (cheating), 340(2) (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine), and 336(3) (forgery) of the BNS, as well as under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, police said.

The accused has since been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
A Mangaluru man lost Rs 2.07 crore in a 'digital arrest' scam, highlighting the growing threat of cyber fraud and the importance of online safety awareness.

Key Points A Mangaluru man was allegedly defrauded of Rs 2.07 crore in a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam.

Cyber fraudsters impersonated officials from the NIA and ED to intimidate the victim.

The victim transferred money in multiple instalments to bank accounts provided by the accused, fearing legal action.

Police are investigating the 'digital arrest' scam, which involves impersonating law enforcement to pressure victims into making payments.

A 61-year-old man from Mangaluru was allegedly cheated of Rs 2.07 crore by cyber fraudsters who posed as officials of central investigative agencies in a "digital arrest" scam, police said.

How The Cyber Fraud Unfolded

According to the complaint, the man received a phone call on March 31 from an unidentified person claiming to be an officer from the "National Data Protection Centre," officials said.

The caller claimed that the victim's identity documents had been misused to procure a SIM card in Mumbai, which was being used for illegal activities, including sending threatening messages and involvement in drug trafficking.

The man was further told that multiple FIRs had been registered against him at a Mumbai police station and that officials from agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would initiate an inquiry.

Subsequently, he received WhatsApp calls from individuals identifying themselves as senior officers, who allegedly threatened him with arrest and legal action, police said.

Victim Transfers Funds Fearing Prosecution

Fearing prosecution, the man transferred money in multiple instalments between April 7 and April 18 to bank accounts provided by the accused. The total amount transferred was Rs 2.07 crore, they added.

Police said the fraud came to light after the victim realised he had been cheated and filed a complaint at the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police station here.

Mangaluru CEN Police are investigating the case.

Understanding The 'Digital Arrest' Scam

A "digital arrest" scam is an online fraud in which victims are tricked into transferring money. Scammers impersonate law enforcement officials such as those from the CBI, Income Tax Department or Customs, and intimidate victims with false allegations of illegal activity while pressuring them to make payments.
A Mumbai nurse fell victim to an online shopping scam, losing 1 lakh after being lured by a Facebook advertisement for cheap dresses, highlighting the growing threat of cyber fraud.

Key Points Mumbai nurse lost 1 lakh in an online shopping scam after responding to a Facebook advertisement.

The scam involved a fake delivery agent and various charges such as shipping and GPS fees.

The nurse was assured refunds and delivery, but realised she was scammed after paying 1 lakh over five days.

The Deonar police have registered a case and are investigating the online fraud.

A nurse working at a private hospital in Mumbai was allegedly cheated of Rs 1 lakh after she tried to purchase a dress online for Rs 299, police said.

As per preliminary investigation, the fraud was orchestrated using a Facebook advertisement, a WhatsApp number and a fake delivery agent, an official from Deonar police station said on Saturday.

Online Shopping Fraud Tactics

The nurse, who lives in a hostel here, in her complaint said she came across an advertisement on Facebook offering dresses at just Rs 299. She then tried to buy one piece.

The person at the other end initially sought payment for the dress, but later "continued to extract money under various pretexts such as shipping charges, GPS charges, tracking fees, verification codes and address confirmation," the official said.

Victim Realises The Scam

The nurse told the police that she paid Rs 1 lakh over five days between April 16 and 20, and was repeatedly assured that most of the money would be refunded and the order would be delivered.

When nothing happened, she realised that she had been scammed. She then contacted the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint. The Deonar police have registered a case and launched a probe into it, the official said.
Four Navi Mumbai residents were allegedly defrauded of Rs 28.4 lakh in a forex trading scheme promising high returns, prompting a police investigation into the businessman behind the fraudulent investment opportunity.

Key Points A Navi Mumbai businessman is accused of defrauding investors through a forex trading scheme.

The accused allegedly promised returns of 18-20% annually and monthly payouts of 4-6%.

Victims invested in 'Trading Hub Academy and Set Up Enterprises' between 2022 and 2024.

The businessman stopped payments, moved his office, and blocked the victim's phone number.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the alleged forex trading fraud.

Four persons from Navi Mumbai were allegedly duped of Rs 28.4 lakh by a businessman who lured them with the promise of high returns in forex trading, police said on Sunday.

Forex Trading Scheme Details

Based on a complaint lodged by one of the victims, a first information report was recently registered against Sachin Bapu Gunjal, a local businessman, under sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, an official said.

The complainant, a real estate agent, allegedly invested in a scheme promoted by the accused's firm, 'Trading Hub Academy and Set Up Enterprises', in Kamothe between 2022 and 2024, he said.

Enticing Investors With High Returns

According to the complaint, Gunjal allegedly enticed investors by claiming he could generate 18 to 20 per cent profit through forex trading and promised monthly returns of 4 to 6 per cent. He further assured investors that their principal amount would be returned after 12 months.

The accused showed the complainant records of other investors and claimed to have a total funding of Rs 30 crore to gain his trust, the official said.

Payments Stopped, Accused Evades Contact

The victim initially invested Rs 1 lakh in January 2022, received regular returns until March 2024, and made additional investments. But the payments subsequently stopped, and when confronted, the accused allegedly gave evasive answers, moved his office and eventually blocked the victim's phone number, he said.

A probe has revealed that four investors, including the complainant, were duped of Rs 28.40 lakh, the official said, adding that no arrest has been made in the case.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched an investigation into the recovery of 79 crude bombs in West Bengal, raising concerns about election-related violence.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The investigation follows a directive from the Union Home Ministry.

The Election Commission has directed West Bengal Police to arrest those involved in illegal bomb manufacturing.

The directive was issued after a large number of crude bombs were recovered from a residence in Bhangar.

The NIA will probe all cases related to the making of crude bombs in West Bengal.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.

The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.

In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.

"The case pertains to the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.

It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.

The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.

The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.

The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.

The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's meeting with the UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan underscores the commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships and addressing regional security concerns.

Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

Key Points National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UAE.

The meeting addressed the current regional situation and issues of mutual interest to both countries.

Doval conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to the UAE leader during his official visit.

This visit follows Doval's meetings with senior leaders in Saudi Arabia earlier in April, focusing on bilateral relations and regional stability.

The discussions occur amid ongoing efforts to facilitate peace talks between the US and Iran, with Pakistan playing a mediating role.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed measures to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership and the regional situation.

Strengthening India-UAE Strategic Ties

The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Doval conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to the UAE leader during his official visit to the Arab country.

"Measures to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the regional situation, and other issues of mutual interest were discussed," the Indian Embassy said in the post on X.

Doval's Diplomatic Engagements in the Region

Earlier this month, Doval met Saudi Arabia's senior leaders and discussed bilateral relations, the regional situation and other areas of mutual interests.

Doval held meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman and National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, the regional situation and other issues of mutual interests, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a post on X.

Context of Regional Peace Efforts

Doval's visit to the UAE comes amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday landed in Pakistan for the second time in three days and met Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

There was no official word from Pakistan about the meeting which apparently focused on the ongoing peace efforts by Islamabad to arrange the second round of talks between the US and Iran.
A recent police report reveals escalating militant violence in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in significant casualties among security personnel, militants, and civilians.

Photograph: Screen grab/X

Key Points Over 115 security personnel and 85 militants were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first quarter of 2026.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police reported significant losses for security forces and law enforcement agencies.

67 civilians were killed in terrorist incidents, highlighting the impact on the general population.

475 terrorism-related cases were registered across 14 districts in the province.

Bannu, North Waziristan, and Dera Ismail Khan were the districts most affected by terror incidents.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have released a quarterly report (January-March 2026) on counterterrorism operations, stating that at least 85 militants were killed in various actions carried out across the province.

Security Force Casualties

According to the report, security forces and law enforcement agencies also suffered significant losses during the same period, with a total of 119 personnel killed.

The casualties include members of the police and the Frontier Corps (FC).

Civilian Impact of Militancy

The report also noted that 67 civilians lost their lives in terrorist incidents, underscoring the continued impact of militancy on the general population.

Police data showed that 475 terrorism-related cases were registered in 14 districts of the province. A total of 1,427 suspects were named in these cases, while 107 individuals were arrested.

Injuries and Affected Districts

In terms of injuries, 298 civilians and 45 security personnel were wounded, reflecting the intensity of the attacks.

A breakdown of casualties revealed that 71 police personnel were killed and 68 injured, while other security forces suffered 21 fatalities and 66 injuries.

The Frontier Corps also sustained losses, with 27 personnel killed.

At the district level, Bannu was the most affected, reporting 92 terror incidents, followed by North Waziristan with 88 cases and Dera Ismail Khan with 65 incidents.

Counterterrorism Efforts

The report emphasised that security forces are continuing operations to eliminate militancy, but stressed that the current situation required more coordinated strategies and sustained efforts to effectively counter the threat.
Bengaluru's science engagement ecosystem gets a boost with the inauguration of ParSEC Whitefield, a 30,000 sq ft experiential science and innovation centre designed to inspire learners of all ages.

Key Points Param Foundation launches ParSEC Whitefield, a new science and innovation centre in Bengaluru.

The centre aims to engage over one lakh visitors annually through interactive exhibits and workshops.

ParSEC Whitefield features galleries exploring AI, emerging technologies, and ancient Indian scientific knowledge.

The facility was inaugurated by K Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO, and Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys.

ParSEC Whitefield builds on the success of ParSEC Jayanagar, expanding science engagement in the community.

Param Foundation on Sunday announced the inauguration of 'ParSEC Whitefield', a 30,000 sq ft experiential science and innovation centre in Bengaluru.

The inauguration marks a significant addition to the city's growing ecosystem of science engagement and future-focused learning spaces, it said.

Conceived as a "living lab" for discovery, the centre is designed to engage over one lakh visitors annually, including students, educators, professionals and families, through interactive exhibits, innovation workshops and public programmes, a release said.

Inauguration By Prominent Figures

The facility was inaugurated by K Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Param Foundation, and Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, in the presence of educators, scientists, industry leaders and members of the public.

This milestone builds on the success of ParSEC Jayanagar, which has welcomed over 75,000 visitors, trained more than 55 teachers in experiential learning, conducted over 52 workshops across disciplines, and hosted more than five hackathons, Param Foundation said.

Scaling Up Community Impact

With the opening of the Whitefield facility, Param Foundation-guided by its Advisory Board-plans to significantly scale up its impact across the community, it said.

Developed as a dedicated space for science, discovery and innovation, ParSEC Whitefield aims to transform how the city experiences science beyond conventional educational boundaries.

The centre reflects a vision of making scientific exploration accessible and engaging for learners of all ages.

Interactive Exhibits And Themes

Spread across the expansive facility, ParSEC Whitefield features interactive galleries, innovation makerspaces, live demonstration zones and collaborative environments designed to spark curiosity.

Visitors can explore themes ranging from artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to light and optics, electricity and magnetism, geometry, design thinking, and ancient Indian scientific knowledge systems, it added.
Two alleged members of an organised gang preying on Kedarnath pilgrims have been arrested, with stolen belongings recovered, highlighting the vulnerability of devotees during crowded pilgrimages.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two alleged members of an organised gang stealing from Kedarnath pilgrims have been arrested.

The suspects were caught with stolen purses, ATM cards, and identification belonging to pilgrims from Gujarat.

The accused confessed to operating as part of a larger gang targeting crowded temple queues.

Police recovered cash and identification documents from the arrested individuals.

The gang used a fractured arm as a disguise to avoid suspicion from devotees.

Police on Saturday arrested two alleged members of an organised gang that stole cash and belongings of pilgrims by taking advantage of the crowd in Kedarnath, officials said.

Pilgrims' Belongings Recovered

Several purses, handbags, ATM cards, and driving licences belonging to devotees from Gujarat were recovered from the possession of the accused, they said.

The police team stationed at Kedarnath spotted two men in the Ghoraparav area whose activities it found suspicious. Police said they were allegedly planning more thefts.

Rs 5,450 cash along with several identification documents and voter ID cards were recovered from them.

Accused Identified and Charged

The arrested accused were identified as Rajan Kumar and Sunny Kumar, both residents of Ludhiana in Punjab. A case has been registered against them at Sonprayag police station under Sections 317(2), 112, and 313 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Gang's Modus Operandi

During questioning, the accused revealed that they operate as an organised gang in crowded temple queues to extract valuables from the bags or pockets of pilgrims, according to police.

Sunny Kumar has a fractured arm which the gang used as a ruse to avoid suspicion from devotees, police said.

The accused said other gang members immediately fled the spot with the stolen items to avoid detection, they said.
Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) is included among the 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends.

CIBC Lifts BEP Target, Highlights Valuation Opportunity in Power

On April 20, CIBC analyst Mark Jarvi raised the firms price recommendation on Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) to $40 from $37. It reiterated an Outperformer rating on the shares. In its Q1 Power & Utilities preview, the firm said most regulated utilities are likely to meet or exceed consensus expectations. Results for power names may be more uneven. Even so, CIBC sees more valuation upside in the power segment, while suggesting that investors should hold a balance of Power names and Regulated Utilities.

On April 16, JPMorgan raised its price target on BEP to $40 from $34. It maintained an Overweight rating. The update came as part of the firms Q1 preview for the clean energy and power infrastructure group. JPMorgan described the current backdrop as a catalyst-rich environment, supported by data center contract announcements and rising order volumes, which are expected to buoy sentiment. The analyst continues to favor companies with meaningful exposure to U.S.-based manufacturing, diversified end markets, and strong balance sheets.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) operates publicly traded platforms focused on renewable power and decarbonization solutions. Its portfolio includes hydroelectric, wind, utility-scale solar, distributed generation, and storage assets across North America, South America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

While we acknowledge the potential of BEP as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Food Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Five law students in Pune face charges after allegedly ragging a junior, leading to a police investigation and raising concerns about student safety and anti-ragging measures in Indian colleges.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Five law students in Pune are booked for allegedly ragging a junior student.

The complainant alleges sustained mental harassment, intimidation, and ragging inside the hostel.

The college authorities claim they investigated the matter but found no evidence of ragging.

The FIR was registered after the complainant escalated the issue to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The investigation is ongoing, and further action will be taken based on the findings.

A case has been registered against five students of a reputed law college in Pune for allegedly ragging a junior, officials said on Sunday.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against the students at Deccan police station on April 25 under the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, more than a year after the complainant first approached the college authorities.

While the college initially investigated the matter, the complainant was not satisfied. He escalated it through the anti-ragging mechanism of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and made repeated follow-ups, as per the FIR.

A senior police official said the case was registered after taking cognisance of the facts placed before them.

"The investigation is in progress, and due legal procedure will be followed. Further action will be taken based on the findings," he said.

Ragging Allegations and Mental Harassment

The complainant, then a first-year LLB student, alleged sustained mental harassment, intimidation and ragging inside the hostel. The accused were a year senior to him.

According to the FIR, the harassment began after he objected to smoking on the premises. He alleged repeated verbal abuse and psychological harassment, including being locked in his room, eggs being thrown at his door and gutka being spat outside.

He also claimed loud music was played at night to disturb him and that he was at times restricted from moving freely in the hostel, including accessing the washrooms. The student said the incidents led to social isolation, severe mental distress and affected his academic performance.

College Response and UGC Guidelines

College authorities said the matter dates back to 2024 and arose from disputes among hostel residents. They said the institute acted in accordance with UGC anti-ragging guidelines after receiving the complaint. A detailed report was also submitted to the UGC, they said.

"The institute's anti-ragging committee conducted a probe, but prima facie, no evidence of ragging was established. Since the allegations were not substantiated, no action was warranted. Had any instance of ragging been proved, immediate disciplinary action would have been taken," the authorities said.

The student first approached the college in October 2024 and later contacted the UGC anti-ragging helpline. Since he was not satisfied with the internal inquiry, he pursued the matter with supporting documents, following which the case was registered, said the police.

Further investigation is underway, they added.
A forum of swamijis is pressuring the Congress party to appoint D K Shivakumar as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, sparking debate over a potential leadership change.

IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Photograph: Courtesy @DKShivakumar/X

Key Points Pranavananda Swamiji urges Congress to appoint D K Shivakumar as Karnataka CM.

Swamijis warn of 'consequences' if Shivakumar is not made Chief Minister.

A group of 25 swamijis plans to visit New Delhi to present their demand to the Congress high command.

Shivakumar supporters highlight his contributions to the party and backward communities.

Speculation about a leadership change arises amid reports of a 'power-sharing' agreement.

Pranavananda Swamiji, president of the forum of heads of the most backward class maths, urged the Congress high command on Sunday to immediately appoint deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as the CM of Karnataka.

Warning that the Congress would face "consequences" if Shivakumar is not made CM, he said a group of 25 swamijis plans to visit New Delhi to present the demand to the party high command.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar said that both he and CM Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision taken by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.

The remarks come amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results of assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.

"The CM chair issue is ongoing in the state. As president of the Mahasabha of swamijis of the most backward class maths in the state, I demand that D K Shivakumar be made CM immediately. It has been about three years since this government came to power, and several timelines have been set, such as Sankranti, Ugadi, and the five-state elections," Pranavananda Swamiji said.

Speaking to reporters, he said the situation appears to be "insulting" to Shivakumar.

"Shivakumar took over as KPCC president when no one was willing to accept the post and brought the party to power. He was promised the CM post in the presence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary K C Venugopal. Now, why is the party hesitating to fulfil that promise? This is not right," he said.

Swamiji said he was not denying that Siddaramaiah is a "big leader" of backward communities, but added that Siddaramaiah has already served as CM for about eight years, including five years in his first term.

"We cannot say that backward classes have received significant benefits. Even the recent state budget did not do much for backward class communities," he said, alleging that these communities have not significantly benefited under Siddaramaiah.

Urging the Congress high command to immediately make Shivakumar the CM, Pranavananda Swamiji warned that otherwise the party would face "serious consequences" in the state.

He said the Mahasabha of swamijis will meet Shivakumar and, after discussions, about 25 swamijis will travel to Delhi.

"Shivakumar's contribution to most backward communities is immense. He has been an MLA about eight times and a minister several times. Why is he not being given the CM post? He has worked for the party and deserves recognition-this is my demand to the Congress high command," he added.

The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.

The speculation has been fuelled by reports of a "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
A Navi Mumbai senior citizen was defrauded of 64 lakh by cyber criminals impersonating insurance regulators, highlighting the growing threat of online financial scams.

Key Points A Navi Mumbai resident lost 64 lakh to cyber fraudsters posing as insurance officials.

The fraudsters used tactics such as promising recovery of matured funds and fabricating charges.

The victim was induced to transfer money through 32 separate transactions over four years.

The scam escalated when the victim was asked to open new bank accounts and courier ATM cards.

Police are investigating the cyber fraud, tracking mobile numbers and email IDs linked to the suspects.

A senior citizen in Navi Mumbai was allegedly swindled of Rs 64 lakh over four years by cyber fraudsters, who posed as insurance regulators and grievance officials, police said on Sunday.

The Navi Mumbai Cyber Police registered an FIR on April 20 under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Information Technology Act, an official said.

How The Cyber Fraud Unfolded

According to the 62-year-old complainant, his ordeal began in January 2022 when he received a WhatsApp call from a man posing as an official from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA).

The caller promised to facilitate the recovery of matured funds from an insurance policy, provided the victim first purchased new policies from various private insurers, the official said.

Over the next two years, the victim received calls from another accused posing as the director of the Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS), promising to recover the initial payments.

Sophisticated Tactics Used By Fraudsters

Under the guise of various fabricated charges - including "Agent Code Removal Fees," "FDR Fees," and "State Level Tax" - the fraudsters induced the victim to transfer Rs 64 lakh in 32 separate transactions from both his and his brother's bank accounts, the official said.

The scam escalated when the unidentified accused convinced the victim to open new bank accounts and courier the ATM cards to addresses in Indrapuram, Ghaziabad, he said.

The victim realised he had been duped after receiving a legal notice from the Yashwanthapur police station in Kerala, stating that his accounts were being used for criminal activities, he said.

Police Investigation Underway

The official said that the police have launched a probe and are currently tracking several mobile numbers and an email ID linked to the suspects.
A shopkeeper in Delhi's Vikaspuri was robbed at gunpoint, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about crime in the area.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A shopkeeper in Delhi's Vikaspuri was robbed at gunpoint by two unidentified assailants.

The assailants, who had their faces covered, looted cash from the shop.

Delhi Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the robbers.

Two unidentified assailants allegedly robbed a shopkeeper at gunpoint in west Delhi's Vikaspuri area on Sunday evening, police sources said.

Gunpoint Robbery Details

The accused had covered their faces with helmets, they said.

The shopkeeper, Deepak, said the two assailants looted all the cash from his shop before fleeing.

Police Investigation Underway

Police have launched an investigation into the matter and are scanning CCTV footage from the area to identify the accused, a source said.
Amidst controversy, Dhirendra Shastri apologises for his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, sparking debate over historical accuracy and political motivations in Maharashtra.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Shastri clarified his comments about dedicating children to the RSS, stating his intention was to promote patriotic and Sanatani values.

Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati accused Shastri of presenting a fabricated account of Shivaji Maharaj and called for a ban on his events in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Congress criticised Shastri's remarks as a deliberate attempt by the BJP to distort history.

Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged differing versions of historical narratives and urged responsible reactions to avoid unnecessary controversy.

Amid backlash in Maharashtra, Bageshwar Dham head Dhirendra Shastri on Sunday said he was "extremely sorry" for his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which he claimed were twisted by some people on social media.

Referring to his controversial remarks that people should give birth to four children and dedicate one of them to RSS, Shastri clarified that he had suggested making children staunch "Rashtrawadi like Sangh" with Sanatani ideology.

A row erupted after Shastri claimed at a programme in Nagpur that Shivaji Maharaj had expressed his desire to renounce his responsibilities because he was tired of warfare, and approached his "guru" Samarth Ramdas with his crown.

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur on Sunday, the spiritual preacher claimed that his remarks on Shivaji Maharaj were misrepresented on social media.

Shastri said he was pained by allegations that he didn't respect Shivaji Maharaj, emphasising that his resolution on 'Hindu Rashtra' was inspired by the concept of Hindvi Swaraj.

"Forget about disrespecting him, I cannot even tolerate anyone criticising Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in my dream," he said.

Shastri clarified that he had tried to highlight Shivaji Maharaj's devotion towards saints, mahants, and goddess Tuljabhavani during his speech.

He had also claimed that Samarth Ramdas placed the crown offered to him by Chhatrapati Shivaji back on his head and instructed him to continue governing, reminding him that true service lies in fulfilling one's responsibilities despite personal exhaustion.

"Some people presented my narration in the wrong manner. If my remarks have hurt anyone's feelings, I am extremely sorry. I want to request that my statement should not be presented incorrectly, as I live and die for Shivaji Maharaj," he said.

Queried on his remarks about dedicating children to the RSS, Shastri said his intention behind that statement was to make children 'Rashtrawadis'.

"What I meant was to make your child patriotic with a Sanatani ideology like RSS, and dedicate them to the Sangh organisation or the Army or make them a collector or a teacher. The child's ideology should be 'Sanatani' like the RSS, so that wherever he lives, he holds the saffron flag and propagates Hindutva," he added.

Shastri also said he would start a family in future.

"You may ask that, though I don't have children, I am asking the people to dedicate their kids. I want to tell you that I will also get married in future, and God willing, I will also contribute to increasing the number of Bhartiya Hindus," he added.

Former Rajya Sabha member and Maratha royal, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, meanwhile, accused Shastri of presenting a "fabricated and misleading" account of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and urged the Maharashtra government to bar him from holding events in the state.

Sambhajiraje, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, said Shastri comes from the state (Madhya Pradesh) where the great warrior Chhatrasal Bundela was inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to fight the Mughals and establish an independent kingdom.

He alleged Shastri doesn't know the history of his own state.

"He comes to Maharashtra and narrates a fabricated and misleading history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, even claiming that Maharaj grew tired of fighting battles," he said on Sunday.

Calling the public response to the "fake godman's" discourses "extremely unfortunate," he said those who promote such people, including certain individuals and politicians, should be set straight.

"The state government should ban such persons from holding events in Maharashtra," he said, adding that the spiritual and historical legacy of Hinduism is of the highest order, and it should not be disrespected by mixing it with inaccurate and misleading narratives.

A day earlier, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed Shastri's remarks reflected the BJP's deliberate attempt to distort history.

He had demanded an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, claiming that even though the "highly objectionable" remarks were made in their presence, none of them registered even a basic protest.

Reacting to Shastri's speech, Fadnavis had said, "No such example is there in the history which we have learnt or the books available".

Noting that stories about great personalities often evolve differently over time and citing the examples of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Fadnavis had said that various folk versions exist in different regions.

He also said people should avoid unnecessary controversy and react responsibly.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his relief to President Donald Trump after a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents Dinner, highlighting the importance of US-UK relations.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @RishiSunak/Twitter

Key Points Keir Starmer called Donald Trump to express relief after a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Starmer and Trump discussed the urgent need to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

King Charles III's upcoming state visit to the US is hoped to smooth relations between the UK and the US.

King Charles III is scheduled to address the US Congress during his visit.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday called US President Donald Trump to express his "relief" that he was safe following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington DC.

Trump had been hurriedly evacuated from the venue after an armed man rushed past a security checkpoint on Saturday night.

A US Secret Service officer was shot at from close-range in the clash but saved by his bullet-proof vest.

"He [Starmer] extended his best wishes to the president and first lady following the shocking scenes at last night's White House Correspondents Dinner. He expressed his relief that the president and first lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured," a Downing Street spokesperson said after the phone call.

Discussions on Global Economy and Security

"Turning to the Middle East, the leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally.

"The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation, following the military planning conference at Northwood this week. They looked forward to speaking again soon," the spokesperson said.

Strained Relations and Upcoming State Visit

Relations between Starmer and Trump have been somewhat strained, with the US president taking to his Truth Social platform to criticise the UK's decision to maintain a defensive stance in the US-Iran conflict.

"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that the President, the First Lady and all those attending are safe," Starmer said in a social media post earlier.

It is widely hoped that next week's State Visit to the US by King Charles III will help smooth over some of the impact on the UK-US so-called special relationship.

King Charles III's Visit to the US

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to arrive in Washington DC on Monday as part of a four-day royal tour to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Buckingham Palace said the 77-year-old monarch is being kept "fully informed" of the developments and is "greatly relieved" that Trump and others at the dinner in Washington were unharmed.

"A number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit," the palace said in a statement.

Charles is also due to deliver an address to the US Congress, followed by a State Dinner at the White House. The royals will then proceed to New York to pay tributes at the September 11 attacks memorial and visit a grassroots community organisation.
Smoke was observed from the port side of one of the landing gears of the A330 aircraft that was operating the flight LX147 to Zurich. The flight crew aborted the take off and full emergency response was initiated.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters/ANI Photo

Key Points Swiss International Air Lines flight LX147 to Zurich aborted takeoff at Delhi Airport due to an engine problem.

Details about how the passengers suffered injuries could not be immediately ascertained.

Passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft using emergency slides after the takeoff was rejected.

DIAL said the operations at the airport remained unaffected due to the incident involving the aircraft.

Swiss technical specialists are travelling to Delhi to inspect the aircraft and determine the next steps.

A Zurich-bound Swiss International Air Lines' plane carrying 245 people aborted takeoff at the Delhi airport early morning on Sunday due to an engine issue, following which a full emergency was declared and passengers were evacuated, with four of them suffering injuries, according to the airline.

There were 232 passengers, including four infants, and 13 crew members onboard the A330-300 aircraft with registration HB-JHK that was to operate the flight LX147 when the incident took place around 1 am.

"Four passengers remain in the hospital... A cabin crew member sustained a sprained ankle. The other crew members are unharmed," an airline spokesperson said in an updated statement and added that the one cabin crew member suffered a minor foot injury.

Details about how the passengers suffered injuries could not be immediately ascertained.

"Shortly after 1 am, local time on April 26, an issue occurred with one of the engines during the takeoff of flight LX147 in Delhi.

"The crew aborted the takeoff and, after assessing the situation, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft," the spokesperson said.

Sources said smoke was observed from the port side of the main wheel and initially, the input was that there was smoke from one of the landing gears.

Delhi airport operator DIAL said the operations at the airport remained unaffected due to the incident involving the aircraft.

In an earlier statement, the airline spokesperson had said all passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides.

"Six passengers are undergoing medical evaluation. For a small number of individuals who were unable to use the slides, stairs were provided," the spokesperson had said.

Swiss International Air Lines is known as Swiss.

The sources said initially, a call regarding full emergency and the aircraft suffering tyre burst was received from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC). After the checking was done by the airside team, it was confirmed that during the rejected takeoff, smoke was observed originating from the port side of the main wheel, they added.

Delhi airport operator DIAL said in the early hours of Sunday, a full emergency was declared for flight LX147 on Runway 28/10.

"All prescribed safety protocols were promptly executed, and passengers were safely evacuated. Airport operations remained unaffected," DIAL said in a post on X.

The airline spokesperson said it was determined to fully understand what led to this incident, including what led to the engine problem.

Regretting the inconvenience caused, the spokesperson said, "We are aware that such an event can be stressful and traumatic for those affected. Our teams remain in close contact with our passengers and continue to support them even beyond the immediate situation."

The spokesperson, earlier, said Swiss technical specialists will travel to Delhi to inspect the aircraft and initiate the next steps.

Passengers have been accommodated in hotels and rebooked onto alternative flights.

"We were able to find an individual solution for all guests to continue their journey and remain in contact with them," the airline spokesperson said.
Police in Uttar Pradesh have launched a murder investigation after a 19-year-old woman was found dead in a village, with suspicious circumstances suggesting foul play.

Key Points A 19-year-old woman was found dead, hanging from a tree in a village in Uttar Pradesh.

Police suspect foul play and have registered a murder case based on the victim's brother's complaint.

The victim's belongings were found some distance from the body, and there were visible injuries.

A post-mortem examination is underway, and police will add relevant sections to the FIR if sexual assault is confirmed.

The body of a 19-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in a village under the Manikpur police station area here on Sunday morning, police said.

Suspicious Circumstances Surround Woman's Death

According to the police, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on Saturday night but was found hanging in an orchard nearly 400 metres away from her home the following morning.

Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, stated that the circumstances suggest foul play.

"The victim's slippers and undergarments were recovered 50 metres away from the spot where the body was found. There are visible injury marks on her body," Rai said.

Police Investigate Possible Murder

While locals have alleged that the woman was murdered after being raped, the ASP said that it is "prima facie a case of murder."

"Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination," the officer added.

Police further clarified that if the medical report confirms sexual assault, relevant sections will be added to the FIR.

Forensic experts and police teams have collected evidence from the spot and are investigating the matter from all angles.
A family dispute over television viewing in Thane, Maharashtra, turned violent when a man allegedly stabbed his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, leading to their hospitalisation and a police investigation.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A man in Thane allegedly stabbed his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

The stabbing occurred after a dispute over watching television.

The incident took place following birthday celebrations at the family's home.

The victims are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Police have registered a case under section 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

A dispute over watching television ended in a triple stabbing after a man allegedly attacked his wife, daughter and granddaughter following birthday celebrations at their home in Maharashtra's Thane city, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in the Rabodi area of the city on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, an official said.

Domestic Dispute Escalates to Violence

"The accused, Mohammad Tarique Khan and his wife frequently quarrelled over petty domestic issues. Of late, the bone of contention was the wife and other family members watching television, which he disliked," an official from the Rabodi police station said.

According to the police, Khan and his family had celebrated his granddaughter's birthday on Friday and had retired for the night when the accused picked a fresh quarrel with his wife over the same issue.

Family Members Injured in Stabbing

"In a fit of rage, he picked up a kitchen knife and attacked her. When his daughter and granddaughter intervened to save the woman, the accused stabbed them as well," the official said.

The three victims sustained injuries and were rushed to a local hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment, he said.

Police Investigation Underway

Based on a complaint lodged by the daughter, a case has been registered under section 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and no arrest has been made so far, he added.
Delhi Police dismantled an illegal pharmaceutical drug network, arresting three medical representatives involved in supplying banned substances across Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrests three individuals involved in supplying banned pharmaceutical drugs.

The accused worked as medical representatives for pharmaceutical firms.

Police recovered Alprazolam tablets, Tramadol capsules, and Codeine-laced cough syrup.

The accused confessed to procuring and supplying banned drugs for monetary gain.

Investigations are ongoing to identify suppliers and end users of the illegal drug network.

Delhi Police has arrested three men for their alleged involvement in an illegal network supplying banned and controlled pharmaceutical drugs across Delhi and the NCR, an official said on Sunday.

The police arrested Rahul, 29, Mohammad Akram alias Rajesh, 28, and Suraj Prasad, 36. They were working as medical representatives with different pharmaceutical firms, the officer said. said.

Breakthrough in Illegal Drug Supply Investigation

The breakthrough came after the police received information about the accused, Rahul, who was allegedly involved in the syndicate, police said.

Acting on the input, a team laid a trap and apprehended him from Uttam Nagar while he was travelling on a scooter. During the search, police recovered a substantial quantity of psychotropic substances and controlled medicines from his possession, they said.

Subsequently, based on his disclosure, his associates, Akram and Prasad, were also arrested.

Seized Contraband and Ongoing Investigation

The recovered contraband includes 1,461.6 grams of Alprazolam tablets, 1,806 grams of capsules containing Tramadol and other substances, and 12,000 ml of Codeine-laced cough syrup.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were involved in procuring and supplying banned pharmaceutical drugs to users and other individuals for monetary gain, police said.

Police suspect that the accused were part of a larger network engaged in the illegal distribution of controlled medicines. Efforts are underway to identify their suppliers as well as the end users, the officer said.

"Mobile phones of all the accused have been seized and are being examined. Call detail records and financial transactions are also being analysed to trace the network and establish linkages," the officer said.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, police said.
Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS) is included among the 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends.

CIBC Raises Fortis (FTS) Price Target to C$81, Reiterates Outperformer

On April 20, CIBC raised its price recommendation on Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS) to C$81 from C$80. It reiterated an Outperformer rating on the shares.

On April 9, BofA analyst Ross Fowler raised the firms price goal on FTS to $53 from $51 and kept an Underperform rating. The firm left its FY26, FY27, and FY28 EPS estimates unchanged and pointed to updated peer group multiples as the reason for the higher target.

During the Q4 2025 earnings call, David Hutchens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortis, said the company had introduced its largest five-year capital plan to date, totaling $28.8 billion. He noted that the plan is expected to support long-term rate base growth of 7% and annual dividend growth of 46% through 2030.

Hutchens also said the company remains focused on providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy in the near term. At the same time, it plans to invest in its systems to meet changing customer and community needs.

Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS) is a Canada-based diversified regulated electric and gas utility holding company. Its regulated utilities include ITC, UNS Energy, Central Hudson, FortisBC Energy Inc., FortisAlberta Inc., FortisBC Inc., and other electric operations.

While we acknowledge the potential of FTS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Food Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
A birthday party in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, tragically ended with three fatalities following a violent altercation, prompting a police investigation and multiple arrests.

Key Points Three people were killed at a birthday party in Khurja Nagar, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, after an argument escalated.

The victims have been identified as Amardeep, Manish, and Akash, who were attending a birthday celebration at a local gym.

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the triple murder and are searching for additional individuals involved.

The cause of the initial dispute at the birthday party remains under investigation by local authorities.

Authorities are thoroughly investigating all aspects of the case, including the type of weapons used in the fatal altercation.

A birthday party in Khurja Nagar area of Bulandshahr turned tragic after an altercation escalated into the murder of three persons, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday night at a gym, where the birthday party was being held for one Jeetu, they said.

Details Of The Deceased

The deceased have been identified as Amardeep (30), Manish (28), and Akash (18), officials said, adding three of the accused have been arrested while a hunt is on for the others.

SHO of Khurja Nagar police station, Prem Chand, said that Amardeep, Manish, Akash and Jeetu used to visit the gym.

Investigation Underway

The reason that led to the incident is still unknown, the SHO said, adding that Jeetu was among those who fired at the trio.

The identities of the arrested accused have not been revealed by the police yet.

Preliminary investigation has found that an argument over some issue broke out at the gym during the birthday party among acquaintances.

Police Statements

Additional Director General (ADG) of Police of Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, said that on Saturday night, Amardeep, Manish and Akash were at the gym where a birthday party was being held for Jeetu.

During the celebrations, a dispute rose over some issue and the altercation escalated, the ADG said. He further stated that shots were fired during the dispute, resulting in the death of the trio.

The ADG said that three individuals have been arrested, and eight teams deployed to investigate the matter. All angles and aspects of the case are being thoroughly examined, the officer said.

When asked about the weapons used in the incident, he said that preliminary findings suggest a .32 bore revolver or pistol or possibly both may have been used in the crime. This will be clarified once the postmortem report is received, he added.

Earlier, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Meerut Range, Kalanidhi Naithani said, "Based on complaints and preliminary accounts, a quarrel had taken place among some youths at a gym. Police teams have reached the spot and are conducting checks in the vicinity".

Officials said some other individuals have also been detained for questioning and strict action has been ordered against all those involved.
A violent dispute at a gym in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in the fatal shooting of three people, prompting a police investigation.

Key Points Three individuals, Amardeep, Manish, and Akash, were fatally shot at a gym in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.

The shooting occurred after a dispute escalated into violence among a group of people at the gym.

Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and arrest the accused.

The incident took place in the Khurja Nagar area of Bulandshahr district.

Three persons were shot dead after a dispute broke at a gym in Khurja Nagar area of Bulandshahr district, police said on Sunday.

Gym Shooting Incident Details

The incident took place on Saturday night and the deceased have been identified as Amardeep (30), Manish (28) and Akash (18), officials said.

The dispute broke out among a group of people at a gym over an issue that escalated into violence.

Police Investigation Underway

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Meerut Range, Kalanidhi Naithani said local police rushed to the spot.

"Based on complaints and preliminary accounts, a quarrel had taken place among some youths at a gym. Police teams have reached the spot and are conducting checks in the vicinity," he said.

Naithani said teams have been formed to arrest the accused and examine CCTV footage.
A violent dispute at a gym in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, resulted in the deaths of three people, prompting a police investigation and the arrest of two suspects.

IMAGE: Kindly note that the image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points

The shooting occurred after a dispute arose during a birthday party among acquaintances at the gym.

Police arrested two suspects in connection with the Bulandshahr gym shooting incident.

Authorities have launched a search operation to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the shooting.

An investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the deadly gym shooting in Uttar Pradesh.

Three persons were shot dead after a dispute broke at a gym in Khurja Nagar area of Bulandshahr district, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday night and the deceased have been identified as Amardeep (30), Manish (28) and Akash (18), officials said, adding two of the accused have been arrested while a hunt is on for the others.

Preliminary investigation has found that the dispute at the gym stemmed from an argument that broke out during a birthday party among acquaintances.

Deputy inspector general of police, Meerut Range, Kalanidhi Naithani said, "Based on complaints and preliminary accounts, a quarrel had taken place among some youths at a gym. Police teams have reached the spot and are conducting checks in the vicinity".

The police formed six teams to trace the accused and have so far arrested two persons, while efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, officials said.

The identities of the arrested accused have not been revealed by the police yet. Officials said some other individuals have also been detained for questioning and strict action has been ordered against all those involved.
Trump was swiftly evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a shooting incident near the venue.

IMAGE: Secret Service agents detain a suspected shooter after shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC. Photographs: Donald Trump on Truth Social

Key Points Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner following a shooting incident.

An armed individual attempted to breach security at the event venue and was apprehended by law enforcement.

Trump praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift response to the security threat.

Trump highlighted the need for enhanced security infrastructure, referencing his proposed White House ballroom.

This incident follows a previous shooting targeting Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) shared a video of CCTV footage showing the entry of the shooter at the venue of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, along with images of the detained suspect.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump also referred to the security breach incident and described the sequence of events, stating that an armed individual attempted to force entry into the premises and was subsequently neutralised by security personnel.

Trump, while addressing the press in the briefing room after the incident, said he had also spoken to the security officer who was shot during the attack.

"A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service... One officer was shot, but saved... the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.

WATCH: Donald Trump Evacuated After Shooting Incident

Trump Calls for Enhanced Security Measures

The US President further used the security breach at the Hilton to highlight the need for enhanced security infrastructure and to make the case for the ballroom he is constructing at the White House, suggesting that the structure would provide a more secure location for future events.

"It's not a particularly secure building, and I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House," Trump said during his news conference. "It's actually a larger room, and it's much more secure. It's got drone-proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military is demanding it."

Trump also praised the swift response of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, stating that the suspect had been apprehended.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump hailed the authorities for their prompt and courageous action, stating that the decision on whether to resume the event would be taken by law enforcement officials.

He said, "Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we "LET THE SHOW GO ON" but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Past Security Concerns Surrounding Trump

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Trump was targeted. In July 2024, Trump was shot during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.

He was immediately escorted off stage by US Secret Service agents and taken away in a motorcade.

In a statement, the US Secret Service said that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue during Trump's campaign rally in Butler on July 13 at 6:15 pm (local time).

Eyewitness Account of the Evacuation

ANI journalist Reena Bhardwaj, who was present at the dinner, described the tense moments that unfolded inside the ballroom and stated that after the POTUS was ushered out, his Cabinet members were subsequently escorted safely from the venue.

She further mentioned that chaos erupted shortly after a loud noise was heard, initially mistaken for the sound of clattering dishes. However, within seconds, panic spread as staff members rushed to find cover, indicating that the situation was serious.

"Just minutes ago, chaos erupted here in the ballroom at the Hilton in Washington. What I witnessed first-hand was a loud sound first. To my mind, it was probably clattering dishes. But within seconds, I saw the servers rushing in with their trays and trying to find a secure place to keep themselves safe. That's when I thought that something was not right. The entire table took cover under the table... When I knew that it was safe now to get up, what I witnessed was security agents on the stage with long guns... The POTUS had been ushered out. One by one, all his cabinet members, including Scott Bessent, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Witkoff, were all ushered out... The program is supposed to resume shortly, that's what has been announced, but we still don't have anything from the association," Bhardwaj said.

Chaos broke out on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, leading to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other senior officials from the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were immediately evacuated from the ballroom by tactical teams and moved to a secure location.
Rajasthan Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force has apprehended two hardcore criminals linked to organised crime, marking a significant crackdown on criminal networks in the region.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Rajasthan Police's AGTF arrested Krishna Singh and Laxman Singh, identified as hardcore criminals.

Krishna Singh was wanted in connection with a firing case, while Laxman Singh was absconding in multiple criminal cases.

Laxman Singh has approximately 27 criminal cases registered against him, including attempted murder and chain snatching.

The arrests were made based on specific intelligence inputs in Jaipur's Kardhani area.

Both suspects are being interrogated to uncover details about the gang's network and future plans.

The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of Rajasthan Police has arrested two men, saying they were hardcore criminals linked to organised crime, officials said.

Key Arrests in Jaipur

Krishna Singh (31), a resident of Churu district, and Laxman Singh (34), a resident of Nava City in Kuchaman-Didwana were caught from Jaipur's Kardhani area, a senior official said on Sunday.

Krishna Singh was wanted in a firing case in Sujangarh while Laxman Singh was absconding in multiple criminal cases, an officer said.

Details of the Accused

He had been on the run for the past three years and was involved in a firing incident at a jewellery showroom in Sujangarh in 2023. He is also suspected to have links with gangster networks and was allegedly involved in extortion activities.

Laxman Singh has around 27 criminal cases registered against him, including attempt to murder, chain snatching and other serious offences, and was absconding in multiple cases across police stations, he said.

Ongoing Investigation

Both accused were detained following specific intelligence inputs and are being interrogated to uncover details about the gang's network and possible future plans, police said.
A minor road accident in Beed, Maharashtra, escalated into a violent clash between two communities, resulting in stone-pelting and police intervention to restore order.

Key Points A road accident between an autorickshaw and a motorcycle in Beed, Maharashtra, led to a violent clash.

Members of two communities engaged in stone-pelting following the initial altercation.

Police have registered cases against 31 identified individuals and 15-20 unidentified individuals for their alleged involvement in the violence.

The weekly bazaar in Neknoor, a prominent market in the Marathwada region, was shut down due to the escalating tensions.

A collision between an autorickshaw and a motorcycle triggered violence, with members of two communities hurling stones at each other in Neknoor village in Beed district of Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

Road Accident Sparks Altercation

Following the minor road accident which occurred on Saturday night near the bus stand on a highway, some men allegedly thrashed the rickshaw driver, identified as Ranjit Lokhande, police said.

At the time of the incident, Lokhande's sister, her children, their mother and another woman were travelling in the rickshaw. When his sister intervened to stop the assault, she too was allegedly abused and manhandled, a police official said.

Based on the complaint, Neknoor police registered a case against five persons.

Escalation and Aftermath

Meanwhile, the incident sparked tension in the village, which later escalated into stone-pelting between two groups.

Police said the mob violated prohibitory orders and attacked each other with stones around 9 PM.

As the dispute intensified, authorities decided to shut down Neknoor's famous weekly bazaar, considered one of the prominent markets in the Marathwada region.

Police registered cases against 31 people who have been identified for their alleged role in violence, and 15 to 20 unidentified individuals.
The Congress party is alleging political foul play in the death of a party worker in Asansol, West Bengal, following recent elections, while police investigations suggest a different cause.

Key Points Congress alleges the death of a party worker in Asansol, West Bengal, was a political murder following recent polls.

Police report the incident stemmed from an altercation over car parking, contradicting the Congress's claims.

Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the killing, denouncing the violence and its impact on India's non-violent traditions.

The deceased's wife claims her husband was attacked after an argument about parking at their housing complex.

TMC councillor denies involvement, accusing the Congress of politicising the incident and calling for an impartial investigation.

The Congress' West Bengal unit chief, Subhankar Sarkar, on Sunday described the killing of a party worker in Asansol, where polling was held on April 23, as "political murder" even as the police said it was a fallout of an altercation over car parking.

In Delhi, the Congress said the victim, Debdeep Chatterjee, was closely associated with Asansol Uttar Assembly seat's party candidate Prasenjit Puitandi and termed the killing as post-poll violence.

Senior party leader Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the killing, and said his party will not bow before this politics that stains India's non-violent tradition.

Political Accusations and Counterclaims

Puitandi claimed that Chatterjee was "murdered by TMC goons sheltered by local councillor Animesh Das", a charge the corporator denied.

Chatterjee's wife claimed that she, along with her husband and their 10-year-old son, were returning home after attending a family function when an altercation broke out with the youths who had parked their two-wheeler right at the entrance of their housing complex.

The situation escalated when Chatterjee stepped out of his car, and the youths thrashed him, she claimed.

Police Investigation and Differing Accounts

A senior police official said that upon being trashed, Chatterjee fell to the ground, hit his head on a concrete slab and became unconscious.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him 'brought dead', the official said.

Puitandy said Chatterjee, an active Congress worker in the area who had campaigned intensively for the party in the assembly polls, was "murdered by TMC goons sheltered by local councillor Animesh Das".

Das, however, denied the allegation, saying none of those involved in the attack was associated with the TMC.

"I am not in the area. Once I return, I will meet the family of the deceased. The Congress is politicising this unfortunate incident. Let the police conduct a thorough and impartial probe. Whoever is responsible for his death should be arrested," the councillor said.

Protests and Demands for Justice

Meanwhile, Congress workers led by Puitandy held a demonstration in front of the Asansol South police outpost, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.
President Trump lauded the Secret Service's rapid response to a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, emphasising the importance of enhanced security measures and revealing details about the suspect.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks at a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, in Washington, DC, April 25, 2026. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump praises the Secret Service for their quick response to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The shooter, identified as Cole Tomas, was described by Trump as a 'sick' individual.

Trump highlights the need for enhanced security infrastructure, advocating for a new ballroom at the White House.

Trump shares CCTV footage of the shooter's entry and images of the suspect in custody.

An officer was shot but saved by his vest, according to Trump.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said the shooter carried multiple weapons and heaped praise on security officers for their swift response during the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Addressing a presser in the Press Briefing Room after the shooting incident, Trump announced that the shooter, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas, is a resident of California and is 'sick'.

"The law enforcement and DC police just spoke with the mayor. You see the attacker in different positions, but you also see the attacker totally subdued and under control. This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill in Butler, Pennsylvania, less than two years ago... and in Palm Beach, Florida, a few months after that, we came close. We really had, again, some great work done by law enforcement," he said.

WATCH: Chaos Erupts At White House Press Dinner After Shooting

On July 13, 2024, a man had tried to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In another incident on February 22, an armed individual was shot and killed by the law enforcement officers, including Secret Service personnel, after he entered the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

Referring to the latest incident, Trump called the shooting unexpected and said an armed man had been swiftly neutralised by security forces.

Secret Service's Swift Action

"That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by the Secret Service and law enforcement... A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service. They acted very quickly and have just released, for purposes of transparency and clarity, I've ordered it to be put out... a tape showing the violence of this thug who attacked our Constitution, and also showing how quickly the Secret Service and law enforcement acted on our country's behalf," he said.

Trump described the shooter as a "lone wolf", but said nothing is final at the moment as investigators are looking at all angles.

Details of the Shooting Suspect

Giving details of the incident, Trump said the shooting suspect was his "would-be assassin", but thanks to the Secret Service who stopped him.

Trump said he had also spoken to the security officer who was shot during the attack.

"A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service... One officer was shot, but saved... the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," he said.

Trump Calls for Enhanced Security

The US President further used the security breach at the Hilton to highlight the need for enhanced security infrastructure and to make the case for the ballroom he is constructing at the White House, suggesting that the structure would provide a more secure location for future events.

"It's not a particularly secure building, and I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House," Trump said during his news conference. "It's actually a larger room, and it's much more secure. It's got drone-proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military is demanding it."

Trump also shared a CCTV footage showing the entry of the shooter at the venue of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, along with images of the detained suspect.
The Commission observed that disclosure of the requested data 'would prejudicially affect the strategic and economic interest of the State and also affect the relations with foreign states,' adding that the information is linked to geopolitical relations.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Key Points Data on Russian oil imports to India is exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act due to its commercial and confidential nature.

The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell denied an RTI request for company-wise details of crude oil imported from Russia.

The Central Information Commission upheld the decision, citing strategic and economic interests of the country and potential impact on foreign relations.

The CIC directed the PPAC to improve suo motu disclosures under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Data on oil imports from Russia to India cannot be provided as it is exempted under the RTI Act due to its "commercial and confidential" nature, according to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the oil ministry, with the Central Information Commission too backing it, citing strategic and economic interests of the country.

The case relates to an RTI plea seeking details of crude oil imported from Russia to India between June 2022 and June 2025, including a company-wise breakup for firms such as IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC Videsh, Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy.

The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) had denied the information, stating: "The information pertaining to country-wise and company-wise details of crude oil import is of commercial and confidential nature and is exempted from disclosure under section 8(1) (d&e) of the RTI Act 2005. However, the total quantity and value of crude oil import (both current and historical) can be downloaded from the PPAC website."

The First Appellate Authority upheld this reply.

During the hearing recently, the appellant argued that the information was not provided and said he wanted to understand how India is functioning in the sector.

In its interim decision, the Commission observed that disclosure of the requested data "would prejudicially affect the strategic and economic interest of the State and also affect the relations with foreign states," adding that the information is linked to geopolitical relations.

It held the exemption valid under Sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, and said no further relief was warranted.

The Commission also issued a show-cause notice to the official concerned of the PPAC, which functions under the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, for being absent from the hearing despite receiving prior notice, asking why a penalty under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed.

The Commission added that "the respondent's website with respect to the Right to Information tab does not have any information," and directed the authority "to ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005."

Invoking its powers under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, the Commission also recommended that the public authority improve suo motu disclosures under Section 4(1)(b).

These include publishing details of its organisation, functions and duties; powers and duties of officers and employees; categories of documents held; a directory of officers and employees; and the monthly remuneration received by each officer and employee, including the system of compensation as per regulations.
In a tragic incident in Kerala, a man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife to death following a domestic dispute, prompting a police investigation.

Photograph: PTI Photo

Key Points A 33-year-old woman, Alma, was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband, Vishnunath, in Neyyattinkara, Kerala.

The incident occurred after a quarrel between the couple at their residence.

Vishnunath, a tuition teacher, reportedly informed neighbours and relatives about the stabbing.

Police have arrested Vishnunath and registered a murder case, with investigations underway to determine the motive.

A 33-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband at Neyyattinkara here on Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Alma, who was allegedly killed by her husband Vishnunath at their house in Vlathankara near Neyyattinkara, police said.

Details of the Incident

According to officials, the man attacked his wife after a quarrel broke out between the couple.

In a fit of rage, Vishnunath allegedly stabbed Alma, who later died.

Investigation and Arrest

Police said Vishnunath, a tuition teacher, informed neighbours and relatives about the incident.

They later alerted the police, who reached the house and found Alma dead.

Police soon took Vishnunath into custody and launched a probe.

Aftermath and Legal Proceedings

The body was shifted to a nearby hospital after the inquest proceedings.

Officials said a murder case has been registered against the accused.

Police said Vishnunath is being interrogated to ascertain the motive behind the murder.

The couple had married around 10 years ago and had no children.

The body will be handed over to relatives after the postmortem, police added.
Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

Price targets on Coca-Cola have clustered in a tight band, with recent calls at US$87, US$88 and US$90, while model fair value sits at US$83.67. This gives you a clear sense of where expectations are being set. Research firms are pairing these targets with a renewed Top Pick label in North American consumer staples and upbeat feedback from recent conferences, which shapes how risk and reward are being framed for the stock. Read on to see what is driving this evolving narrative and how you can track it over time.

Analyst Price Targets don't always capture the full story. Head over to our Company Report to find new ways to value Coca-Cola.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Morgan Stanley has named Coca-Cola its Top Pick in beverages and its Top Pick overall in North American consumer staples, signaling confidence in how the company is positioned within the sector.

Jefferies, BofA, Citi, JPMorgan, Evercore ISI and Morgan Stanley have all raised price targets on Coca-Cola, indicating that several firms see support for valuations above prior assumptions.

Morgan Stanley highlights beverages as an area where it sees stronger pricing power and meaningful contribution from product innovation, which it links to Coca-Colas appeal in the current consumer setup.

BofA flags that Coca-Cola sounded positive at the CAGNY conference and describes the update as bottler friendly, which supports the view that execution with key partners remains an area of focus.

 Bearish Takeaways

Morgan Stanleys prior timing driven stop out shows that even bullish firms see timing risk around entry points, so some analysts may still view the risk or reward profile as sensitive to shorter term swings.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

NYSE:KO 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 3 risks for Coca-Cola. See which could impact your investment.

What's in the News
Following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondent's dinner, world leaders have voiced their relief and strongly condemned political violence, reaffirming the importance of safety and democratic principles.

Key Points World leaders express relief that President Trump and guests are safe after a shooting at the White House Correspondent's dinner.

Global leaders condemn political violence and emphasise its incompatibility with democratic values.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed relief that President Trump, the First Lady, and Vice President Vance were unharmed.

International figures applaud law enforcement's swift response to the security incident.

World leaders expressed relief that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania and other guests were unharmed after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondent's dinner here on Saturday night and asserted that political violence has no place in a democracy.

Global Leaders Condemn Violence

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has had frequent run-ins with Trump, described the shooting incident at the Washington Hilton hotel as a "disturbing event".

"I am relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House correspondents' dinner in Washington tonight. Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney said in a post on X.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, said it was "good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events".

"We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way," Sheinbaum said.

International Support and Condemnation

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased to hear all attendees were safe. "We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action," he said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was relieved that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President J D Vance were safe and unharmed after a security incident at the White House Correspondents' dinner in Washington.

Modi said violence has no place in democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," Modi said in a post on X.

Delcy Rodriguez, the acting President of Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, condemned the attack against Trump.

"We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent's dinner. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace," she wrote on X.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to social media to condemn the incident, stating he was "deeply shocked" to hear the news.

"Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe," Sharif said.
Following a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner, world leaders are condemning political violence and expressing relief that President Trump and other attendees are safe.

IMAGE: An armed FBI agent stands outside the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC, in Torrance, California, US, April 25, 2026. Photograph: Daniel Cole/Reuters

Key Points World leaders express relief that President Trump and attendees are safe after a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Prime Minister Modi and other leaders condemn violence as having no place in a democracy.

International figures assert that political violence can never be justified and undermines democratic values.

Leaders applaud law enforcement for their swift action following the security incident.

The incident is described as an attack on democracy and its values by multiple world leaders.

World leaders expressed relief on Sunday that US President Donald Trump and his top officials were unharmed following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, asserting that political violence has no place in a democracy.

Trump and other top US officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening.

Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was relieved that President Trump, First Lady Melania and Vice President J D Vance were safe and unharmed after the shooting at the hotel.

Modi said violence has no place in democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," Modi said in a post on X.

Expressing shock at the incident, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that any attack on democratic institutions must be condemned.

"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight. Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he posted on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron extended his full support to Trump, calling the attack unacceptable.

"The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump," he said on social media.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "full solidarity and most sincere closeness to President Trump, to First Lady Melania, to Vice President Vance" following the incident.

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defence of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations," she posted on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has had frequent run-ins with Trump, described the shooting incident as a "disturbing event".

"I am relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington tonight. Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney said in a post on X.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to social media to condemn the incident, stating he was "deeply shocked" to hear the news.

"Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe," Sharif said.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung asserted that political violence "can never be justified under any circumstances."

"The Government of the Republic of Korea firmly opposes all forms of violence and extremism that erode the values of democracy and the rule of law," he said in a social media post.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world".

"I am relieved to hear that President Trump is safe following the terrifying gunfire. Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world," she posted on social media.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident "an attack on all the democracies."

"This wasn't just an attack on Donald Trump. This was an attack on a candidate for the presidency of the United States. This was an attack on America. It was an attack on democracy, it was an attack on all the democracies," he posted on social media.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said it was "good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events".

"We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased to hear all attendees were safe. "We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action," he said in a statement.

Delcy Rodriguez, the acting President of Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, condemned the attack against Trump.

"We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent's dinner. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace," she wrote on X.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha also condemned the shooting incident.

"We condemn the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Relieved that President Trump @POTUS, @JDVance, and other attendees have not been harmed. Such violence has no justification and must have no place in a democratic society," he posted on X.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years  first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
Global leaders are condemning the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, emphasising that political violence has no place in a democratic society and expressing relief that President Trump and other officials are safe.

Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Key Points World leaders condemn the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, expressing relief that President Trump and other officials were unharmed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other global leaders assert that violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

Several leaders, including those from the UK, France, and Canada, voiced their support for democratic institutions and condemned the attack.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident an attack on all democracies, highlighting the broader implications of political violence.

World leaders expressed relief on Sunday that US President Donald Trump and his top officials were unharmed following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, asserting that political violence has no place in a democracy.

Trump and other top US officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening.

Global Leaders React To White House Shooting

Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was relieved that President Trump, First Lady Melania and Vice President J D Vance were safe and unharmed after the shooting at the hotel.

Modi said violence has no place in democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," Modi said in a post on X.

Expressing shock at the incident, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that any attack on democratic institutions must be condemned.

"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight. Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he posted on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron extended his full support to Trump, calling the attack unacceptable.

"The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump," he said on social media.

International Condemnation of Political Violence

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "full solidarity and most sincere closeness to President Trump, to First Lady Melania, to Vice President Vance" following the incident.

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defence of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations," she posted on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has had frequent run-ins with Trump, described the shooting incident as a "disturbing event".

"I am relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington tonight. Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney said in a post on X.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to social media to condemn the incident, stating he was "deeply shocked" to hear the news.

"Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe," Sharif said.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung asserted that political violence "can never be justified under any circumstances."

"The Government of the Republic of Korea firmly opposes all forms of violence and extremism that erode the values of democracy and the rule of law," he said in a social media post.

Reactions From Other World Leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world".

"I am relieved to hear that President Trump is safe following the terrifying gunfire. Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world," she posted on social media.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident "an attack on all the democracies."

"This wasn't just an attack on Donald Trump. This was an attack on a candidate for the presidency of the United States. This was an attack on America. It was an attack on democracy, it was an attack on all the democracies," he posted on social media.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said it was "good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events".

"We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased to hear all attendees were safe. "We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action," he said in a statement.

Delcy Rodriguez, the acting President of Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, condemned the attack against Trump.

"We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent's dinner. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace," she wrote on X.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha also condemned the shooting incident.

"We condemn the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Relieved that President Trump @POTUS, @JDVance, and other attendees have not been harmed. Such violence has no justification and must have no place in a democratic society," he posted on X.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years  first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
Following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, world leaders are united in condemning political violence and expressing relief that President Trump and other officials are safe.

Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Key Points World leaders condemn the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, expressing relief that President Trump and other officials were unharmed.

Prime Minister Modi and other global leaders assert that violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

Several leaders, including those from the UK, France, and Canada, voiced their shock and support, emphasising the importance of protecting democratic institutions.

The incident prompted widespread condemnation of political violence and reaffirmation of democratic values from leaders around the world.

World leaders expressed relief on Sunday that US President Donald Trump and his top officials were unharmed following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, asserting that political violence has no place in a democracy.

Trump and other top US officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening.

Global Leaders React to the Incident

Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was relieved that President Trump, First Lady Melania and Vice President J D Vance were safe and unharmed after the shooting at the hotel.

Modi said violence has no place in democracy and must be unequivocally condemned.

"Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned," Modi said in a post on X.

Expressing shock at the incident, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that any attack on democratic institutions must be condemned.

"I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington overnight. Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he posted on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron extended his full support to Trump, calling the attack unacceptable.

"The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump," he said on social media.

International Solidarity After the Attack

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "full solidarity and most sincere closeness to President Trump, to First Lady Melania, to Vice President Vance" following the incident.

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defence of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations," she posted on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has had frequent run-ins with Trump, described the shooting incident as a "disturbing event".

"I am relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington tonight. Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event," Carney said in a post on X.

Condemnation from Across the Globe

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took to social media to condemn the incident, stating he was "deeply shocked" to hear the news.

"Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe," Sharif said.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung asserted that political violence "can never be justified under any circumstances."

"The Government of the Republic of Korea firmly opposes all forms of violence and extremism that erode the values of democracy and the rule of law," he said in a social media post.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world".

"I am relieved to hear that President Trump is safe following the terrifying gunfire. Violence must never be tolerated anywhere in the world," she posted on social media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident "an attack on all the democracies."

"This wasn't just an attack on Donald Trump. This was an attack on a candidate for the presidency of the United States. This was an attack on America. It was an attack on democracy, it was an attack on all the democracies," he posted on social media.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said it was "good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events".

"We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way," she said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased to hear all attendees were safe. "We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action," he said in a statement.

Delcy Rodriguez, the acting President of Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, condemned the attack against Trump.

"We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent's dinner. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace," she wrote on X.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha also condemned the shooting incident.

"We condemn the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Relieved that President Trump @POTUS, @JDVance, and other attendees have not been harmed. Such violence has no justification and must have no place in a democratic society," he posted on X.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years  first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Sunshine early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 37F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
BENNINGTON  Before the first day of April, the processing operations of Henrys Market, Inc., shared space with the stores kitchen in the ba
WASHINGTON -- A gunman charged through security at a gala dinner attended by President Donald Trump, prompting brief panic as security agents tackled the man and rushed Trump from the hotel ballroom.

Police said a 31-year-old California man had been taken into custody late on April 25 after he fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.

Secret Service agents rushed Trump from the stage as armed police rushed onto the stage. Guests in tuxedoes and gowns were seen ducking under tables amid widespread confusion.

The man was believed to have been targeting Trump and other administration officials who were at the black-tie event, along with scores of Washington journalists, business leaders, and other political figures, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

"It does appear that he, he did, in fact, have set out to target folks that work in the administration, likely including the president," Blanche told NBC News.

Shouts Of 'Shots Fired'

The incident unfolded shortly before Trump was scheduled to deliver his keynote speech at the White House Correspondents' Association gala, a staple of Washingtons political and media calendar.

There were multiple loud bangs followed by shouts of shots fired, which triggered momentary panic across the ballroom. As police sealed off the hotel, helicopters hovered overhead while tactical units blocked off surrounding streets.

In a late-night briefing at the White House, Trump -- still dressed in his tuxedo -- said the suspect had been armed with multiple weapons and that at least one law-enforcement officer was shot but protected by a bulletproof vest.

No shots were fired at the gunman who got through two checkpoints before being brought down.

Washington interim police chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters the man was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, and was not known to city police.

He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job, Trump said, describing the officers condition as stable and in great spirits.

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi later said the officer had been released from the hospital.

Man Armed With Multiple Weapons Charged At Security Checkpoint, Trump Says by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:55 0:00

In his interview with NBC News, Blanche said the man traveled from California to Chicago, then to Washington where he checked in as a guest at the Washington Hilton.

Investigation Ongoing

Officials said the investigation is ongoing, with federal agents conducting witness interviews and searching the suspects residence, south of Los Angeles.

Trump said authorities believe the suspect was a lone wolf and that there was no immediate indication of a broader conspiracy or foreign link.

The man was due to be arraigned in court on April 27 on firearm and assault charges, officials said.

The shooting adds to growing concerns about political violence in the United States. Trump has previously survived at least one assassination attempt: at a 2024 campaign rally shooting in Pennsylvania.





With reporting by Reuters and AP
More than a week after the United States announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to put pressure on Tehran to reach a peace deal, analysts say the effects have been mixed. Iran's oil exports are being affected but millions of gallons are also still being sold in Asia, one expert says. Many Iranian vessels are also reportedly getting around the blockade, another points out. And Iran is still insisting that the blockade be lifted as a precondition for cease-fire talks. It also says it is seizing ships that have come from US-friendly Persian Gulf ports.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is one of the

10 Best Performing Dow Stocks So Far in 2026.

On April 1, 2026, Reuters reported that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and its approved bottlers want to invest 17.6 billion rand ($1.05 billion) in South Africa by 2030. It referenced comments made by Africa operating unit president Luis Felipe Avellar at an investment conference in Johannesburg. The corporation stated that the investment will increase production capacity, boost distribution, and expedite innovation across its value chain.

Separately, on March 23, 2026, Reuters reported that The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)s largest Indian bottler, SLMG Beverages, has warned of potential price increases due to rising packaging costs associated with the Middle East war. Deputy CEO at SLMG, Rahul Kumar, stated that rising prices for plastic, caps, labels, and cardboard may necessitate selected price increases based on competition and consumer response.

SLMG accounts for around 22% of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)s India volumes. The firm aims to invest between 10 billion rupees ($106.58 million) and 12 billion rupees in each of the four additional factories it plans to build over the next five years. In fiscal year 2025, the bottlers sales increased by 49% to 67.73 billion rupees, while net profit rose 76% to 2.06 billion rupees, according to the company database Tofler.

Coca-Cola (KO) Plans to Invest in South Africa by 2030

Pixabay / Public Domain

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) manufactures and markets non-alcoholic beverages. It operates in the following regions: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments.

While we acknowledge the potential of KO 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.
Irans foreign minister held talks with the leader of Oman, a day after the two lead US envoys abruptly pulled out of planned talks aimed at ending the nearly two-month old war in Iran.



Abbas Araqchis meetings in Muscat on April 26 were part of the latest shuttle diplomacy and zig-zagging negotiations aimed at resolving the Iran war, which has reverberated around the globe, sending energy prices skyrocketing.

The talks, scheduled in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, had been seen as potential progress in reaching an deal to end the conflict.

The talks were slated to include Araqchi, as well as the two White House envoys: Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

However, Kushner and Witkoffs trip was called off at the last minute on April 25.

It wasnt entirely clear why President Donald Trump canceled the trip, however, in a social media post he suggested Irans negotiators were at odds with authorities at home.



"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership, he said.

The United States and Israel have paused offensive operations against Iran, under a cease-fire declared by Trump, and extended on April 21.

In a brief interview later with the news outlet Axios, he said the cancelation of the US envoys trip did not automatically mean US operations would resume.

Araqchi did travel to Islamabad on he called a "timely tour" for meetings with Pakistani officials, who have played a central role in trying to negotiate and end to the fighting.

In his talks with Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Araqchi conveyed Iran's "views and considerations for ending the war" as well as its reservations about US demands, the Reuters news agency reported, citing an unnamed Pakistani official.



On April 26, Araqchi met with the sultan of Oman in the capital Muscat, where both sides discussed the regional situation and mediation efforts, Oman's state news agency reported. No further details were released.

Iran's Foreign Ministry released a statement quoting Araqchi as saying that US military presence in the Middle East was fuelling insecurity and division and he called for a regional security framework free of outside interference.

Iranian media have reported Araqchi could also travel to Moscow. Russia has close ties with Tehran and has provided some critical intelligence that has helped Iran target US forces in the region, but has largely played a back-seat role in the peace talks.

Iran has demanded Washington lift a US blockade of its ports, a demand Trump has so far rejected. Tehran has also dismissed Trump's unilateral extension of the cease-fire as "meaningless" so long as the blockade remains in effect.

The US naval blockade, combined with Irans own effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, has sent global energy prices soaring, leading to fuel shortages in some countries, and disruptions to international airline travel.





In recent days, Iran seized two vessels near the strait and fired on a third after the US seized an Iranian-flagged ship.

Iran's joint military command warned on April 25 that it would respond if the United States continued its blockade.



With reporting by Reuters, RFE/RL's Radio Farda, and RFE/RL Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu
The FBI says it is investigating following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 25. A man opened fire on security personnel with a shotgun, witnesses said, sparking chaos as US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out unharmed. The officer who was shot was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was not seriously injured, the president said.
Ukraines president lashed out at Russia, accusing it of nuclear terrorism, as Kyiv observed the 40th anniversary of the explosion and meltdown at the Chernobyl power plant, the worlds worst civilian atomic disaster.



Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Moscow citing Russian drone flights over the remnants of the destroyed plant in northern Ukraine. Last year, a Russian drone hit the protective structure built to try and seal off the radioactive debris.



Russia is "again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster, he said in an April 26 post to Telegram.

"The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks," he wrote.

The incident at Chernobyl occurred in the early morning of April 26, 1986, when a routine test at the Soviet-designed plant went awry, sparking an explosion and a meltdown that sent a cloud of radioactive dust and fallout across northern Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and into Scandinavia.



The immediate explosion killed only a handful of plant technicians, but tens of thousands of emergency workers, soldiers, nearby residents were also exposed to a high level of radiation.

There is no definite consensus of how many people died as a result of the disaster.

In a 2005 report, the United Nations put the number of confirmed and projected deaths in the three worst-affected countries at 4,000. Greenpeace estimated that the disaster had caused close to 100,000 deaths.

Immediately after the explosion, Soviet authorities built a concrete "sarcophagus" to limit the spread of radioactivity. Years later, an international effort designed a massive arch that covered the plant's debris, as well as the sarcophagus.

In February 2025, a Russian drone hit the roof. No leaks were detected, and workers have since patched up the hole.



But the structure needs at least 500 million euros' worth of more repairs to prevent permanent damage, according to the the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

"We believe that repairs should start as soon as possible, and that leaving the situation as is now is problematic," Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said at an event in Kyiv on April 26.

North Of Ukraine

Belarus, the country that suffered the worst after Ukraine, had large swaths of its southern regions irradiated, leaving them uninhabitable.

Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko did not immediately issue any statement on the anniversary.



However, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition leader whom many countries recognize as rightful leader of Belarus, issued a statement saying the disaster changed Belarus forever.



Chernobyl showed what happens when those in power are not accountable, she said in a social media post.



There was no immediate statement from Russian officials in Moscow.



With reporting by AFP
RFE/RL's senior Washington correspondent, Alex Raufoglu, was at the White House Correspondents' Dinner when a gunman breached security at the black-tie gala attended by US President Donald Trump.

Security agents quickly tackled the suspect, prompting brief panic as they rushed the president from the Washington Hilton ballroom. Raufoglu recounted the chaotic scenes inside the hotel during and after the incident.

RFE/RL: Where exactly were you when the gunfire was heard? And what did you see first? Did you see the shooter or anything that could help describe what happened?

Alex Raufoglu: I was actually seated pretty close to one of the main entrances to the ballroom. My table number was 219, which was positioned along the central pathway leading directly to the stage.

The way this room is designed every table has a clear view of both the stage and the entrances. So we were very aware of every movement in that area.

We didn't actually see the shooter, but the main doors were open. So when the gunfire started outside, it was incredibly loud and unmistakable.

At first, there was a split second where some of us thought maybe something had dropped outside because servers were coming in and out. This was a time when dinner service was under way.

But the confusion disappeared almost instantly, when the first loud bang was followed by several more in rapid succession.... That's when it became clear that something serious was happening out there.

RFE/RL: How did people inside the ballroom realize that this was gunfire and not something else?

Raufoglu: It took actually a few seconds, I want to say. The repetition of the shots, quick, sharp, and back to back, made it clear that this was not an accident because the doors were wide open and the sound carried directly into the room.

You could actually feel the shift immediately, I want to say, because people went from confusion to recognition almost at once. Some ducked under the table right away. Others froze briefly, trying to process what was happening. But within moments, the entire room understood that this was gunfire.

RFE/RL: What was the immediate reaction among journalists, officials, and guests?

Raufoglu: There was actually a mix of instinct and professionalism. Remember, this was a room full of journalists. So after that first moment of shock, many people reached for their phones almost automatically, to document, to report, to understand.

At the same time, there was a real sense of urgency inside the room. People were checking on one another, asking if everyone was OK, making eye contact, staying close. We'd all spent hours together already that evening. We had several pre-events. So there was a sense of familiarity inside the room.

Very quickly, reporters shifted into reporting mode, sharing information with one another. Normally there's a competition in that environment to get the news out first, but, in that moment, accuracy and safety mattered more than speed, I want to say. Also, with limited Wi-Fi, we were relying on each other at that moment.

RFE/RL: How quickly did the Secret Service move Trump out of the room?

Raufoglu: It actually happened extremely fast. Within seconds, I want to say. You could see that the Secret Service was already strategically positioned throughout the room. From where I was sitting, it looked like Vice President [JD Vance] was moved first, likely because he was closer to his side of the exit.

I saw President Trump. He was on stage, engaged in conversation, and almost immediately agents moved him out.... And then, obviously, he was escorted out very quickly and they also followed him. It was a highly coordinated response at that moment.

RFE/RL: Did security give clear instructions to attendees?

Raufoglu: Yes, the instructions were clear: Stay down and stay quiet. Security wanted to assess the situation without any added confusion. At one point, even a few people I heard started shouting, "USA, USA." But they were quickly told to stop because noise could create more panic and interfere with security efforts.

After a few seconds, we were informed that the suspect had been neutralized, but we were still told to remain in place and wait for further instructions.

RFE/RL: What did you see near the security checkpoint or the main screening area, if anything?

Raufoglu: The ballroom itself is located in the lower level of the hotel. It's a basement and getting in requires [going] through a heavily controlled security checkpoint. There's an escalator going down, obviously after a security checkpoint. And then there's another second layer of security, right outside the gate.

This year, because the president was attending, the security was...tighter than usual. This is my 12th year attending this event. And clearly this year, they were better prepared. Also, the streets were closed off and we had to walk a couple of blocks to reach the entrance. There were also protesters outside. I saw them, but I had to walk through. It was a rainy day. But the access to the hotel was extremely restricted. You couldn't even approach the main entrance without showing your credentials to the Secret Service. Everyone had to hold tickets in their hand. From what I saw it was very secure.

RFE/RL: How long did the panic and lockdown last inside the venue?

Raufoglu: Lockdown actually lasted close to an hour, maybe a bit less. Initially, there was uncertainty about what would happen next. [There was] even some talk that the event might continue. Eventually, we were told that the president would not be returning and would instead address the situation in the White House from the White House podium. The area outside was still heavily secured.

RFE/RL: Did you see injured people or emergency responders treating anyone?

Raufoglu: Yes, briefly. You know, when some of us stepped out toward the hallway to use the bathroom, we saw maybe like one individual on the ground and emergency responders interacting with security personnel. I saw that. However, of course, we were quickly instructed to return to the ballroom. The restroom was closer to the main door, so we didn't get a full view of what was happening.

RFE/RL: And can you say more about the security measures ahead of and during the event?

Raufoglu: Security was significantly heightened, compared to previous years. Like I said, the president being present this year, there were road closures, I want to say, a few blocks more than usual outside, and then the multiple screening layers before even reaching the ballroom. Inside, Secret Service presence was very visible with agents positioned throughout the room. In a way, the intensity of the security and the incident itself created an unexpected moment of unity. You had journalists, government officials, and staff, people who don't always see eye to eye, suddenly all in the same situation, focused on safety and looking out for one another. It was a stark reminder of the stakes surrounding events like this and broader concerns about security.
By Claudia Savage, Press Association

An explosive device in a car that detonated outside a police station on the outskirts of Belfast was sent to kill officers, the chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has said.

Forensic officers were examining the burnt-out vehicle on Sunday morning in a side street beside the PSNI station in the Kingsway area of Dunmurry.

Homes in the area have been evacuated and a cordon is in place.

Policing board chairman Brendan Mullan said the device was sent to kill officers and cause maximum harm in an attack which was in the heart of a residential area.

Those responsible had callous disregard for people living close to the station and who so easily could have been caught up in this explosion, he said.

It is a miracle no one was seriously injured and we thank the officers, ATO and emergency services who initially responded, and have been working to ensure everyones safety since.

This is the second incident at a police station in recent weeks which is depressing. The people have spoken when they overwhelmingly endorsed the Good Friday Agreement.

Such acts of violence have no place in a society committed to peace. We stand united in condemnation of those responsible for this terror, and in voicing support for the work of the officers and staff of the PSNI.

The scene in Dunmurry (Niall Carson/PA)

First Minister Michelle ONeill said those behind the attack speak for absolutely no one.

She posted on social media: They have no vision, no support, and have nothing to offer our society.

Our communities deserve peace.

No-one is going to deny our young people and future generations that.

We will keep progressing and we will keep moving forward to a better future.

(Niall Carson/PA)

DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the reports as deeply concerning.

He said: If this was another attempt by dissident republicans to intimidate communities and target the police, then it must be met with the full force of the law.

Robinson added: Our police officers and the wider public should never have to face this kind of danger.

Those responsible must be identified and brought before the courts.

Homes in the area, which is on the outskirts of Belfast, have been evacuated (Niall Carson/PA)

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the attack was a cowardly attempt to cause injury and destruction.

By targeting a police station in the heart of a residential area, those responsible have shown a total disregard for the lives of local people and for the men and women who work to keep our communities safe, he said.

We are resolute in our commitment to peace, and these actions will only strengthen our collective determination.

UUP leader and former police officer Jon Burrows said the explosion was a display of cowardly criminality, almost certainly committed by dissident republicans.

The PSNI are often the target of these dissident groups, but these groups dont care who else gets hurt or traumatised, he said.

They are desperate, depraved and morally bankrupt gangsters seeking to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days. They will fail, just as their predecessors did.

A white Audi car parked inside the police station in Lurgan, Co Armagh after a delivery driver was threatened at gunpoint and forced to drive with an object inside to the towns police station, sparking a security alert (Liam McBurney/PA)

In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: Police are currently at the scene of a security alert in the Kingsway area of Dunmurry this morning, Sunday April 26.

Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. Cordons are in place and an evacuation operation is under way. An update will follow in due course.

Last month, an explosive device that police described as crude but viable was at the centre of an attempted attack on another PSNI station in Northern Ireland.

A delivery driver was forced at gunpoint to transport the device to Lurgan police station in an incident blamed on dissident republicans.

The device did not explode on that occasion.
With a market cap of $26.9 billion, Dollar General Corporation (DG) is one of the largest discount retailers in the United States, focused on delivering everyday essentials at low prices to value-conscious consumers, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the company operates over 19,000 stores across the U.S., making it a critical player in the small-box discount retail segment.

The discount chain giant is expected to release its fiscal Q1 2027 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts forecast the company to report an EPS of $1.90, up 6.7% from $1.78 in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, it has surpassed Wall Street's earnings estimates in all of the last four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For the current year, analysts predict the discount retailers EPS will grow 6.4% to $7.29 from $6.85 in fiscal 2025. Its EPS is likely to increase 9.6% annually to $7.99 in FY2028.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Dollar General have climbed 28.7% over the past 52 weeks, trailing the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 30.6% gain but outpacing the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLP) 2.7% rise over the same period.

www.barchart.com

On Mar. 24, shares of Dollar General dropped about 5% after the company announced a CEO transition, with Jerry W. JJ Fleeman Jr. set to succeed Todd Vasos in January 2027. Despite recent improvements in same-store sales, the lengthy transition timeline and a softer start to the current quarter raised uncertainty about the companys near-term direction, weighing on investor sentiment.

Analysts' consensus view on DG stock is moderately optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 29 analysts covering the stock, 13 recommend "Strong Buy," one suggests "Moderate Buy," 14 advise "Hold," and one gives Strong Sell. The stocks mean price target of $144.80 implies an upswing potential of 20% from the prevailing price levels.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Forty five Roscommon students missed out on school bus tickets for the 2025/26 school year, according to new figures.

Of those affected, 16 were concessionary pupils who applied on time but did not receive a ticket. Concessionary seats are spare seats that may be available after all eligible children have secured their seats.

A further ten students were concessionary applicants who missed the application deadline, while the remaining 19 cases involved eligible pupils who submitted their applications late.

The information was supplied by Junior Minister for Education Michael Moynihan in response to a parliamentary question from Roscommon/Galway Fianna Fail TD Martin Daly.

Under the terms of the mainstream School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport if they live at least 3.2 kilometres from and attend their nearest primary school, or at least 4.8 kilometres from and attend their nearest post primary school.

The Minister explained that due to the nature of concessionary transport there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. He said in these cases Bus Eireann allocates tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

In the 2025/26 school year 2,586 mainstream tickets were issued to pupils in County Roscommon.

The deadline to apply and pay for the 2026/2027 school transport scheme is Friday, May 8th through Bus Eireann's online School Transport Family Portal.
A young County Roscommon farmer and contractor whose back is against the wall having seen the cost of filling his fuel tanks double, attended the recent fuel protest at the Galway Docks and is critical of the governments handling of the situation.

Owen Hester from Castlerea was at the protests on the Wednesday night, Thursday night, Saturday morning and into Sunday. When Micheal Martin came out and criticised the men and women who were out protesting, it really encouraged me to put work on hold and attend. All we were trying to do was protect our livelihoods. I cant believe how we have been treated and villainised. The Government escalated it, none of us wanted to be there, we all had better things to be doing. But they wouldnt listen.

The people who were there were all honest, and hard working. The way we were treated was nothing short of appalling, Owen said. "I am very happy to say I stood with the people there on the bridge. And they should be very proud of themselves for standing up for the right thing." He said the situation got completely out of control for no reason at all.

My back is against the wall. To fill my tanks with diesel in January was 2,200, it's now 4,250, he said. And in the work I am doing, I cant pass that increase on. I know from running the farm at home that the margins arent in it for that extra money. I really dont know what I am going to do, he said.

He described the recent package of measures announced by the Government as an absolute insult and an attempt to divide the protesters. Out of the 4,250 that I spend on fuel, I get 125 back, he said.

I cant believe how we were villainised by RTE and the mainstream media for peacefully protesting about the real threat to our livelihoods, he said.

The Government are always spouting on about every other country and war and that there needs to be dialogue, but they turned the army on their own people. It wasnt people in suits and ties that built the country, it was working people." He added that a huge amount of employment is dependent on the hauliers and agriculture sectors.

The building sector is also massively under pressure, and they been forgotten about. So have people trying to heat their homes. Thats the biggest shame of all, he said. The money that has been squandered in this country would get us out of this problem.
Virgil Madgearu

The economist and sociologist Virgil Madgearu, the theorist who bet on the development of industry and industrialized agriculture, shaped economic thought in Romania during the first half of the 20th century.

RRI Encyclopedia

Steliu Lambru, 26.04.2026, 14:00

The economist and sociologist Virgil Madgearu, the theorist who bet on the development of industry and industrialized agriculture, shaped economic thought in Romania during the first half of the 20th century. He was equally well known for laying down the peasantist doctrine, a doctrine that was not only economic but also political and cultural. Both pre-1918 and post-1918 Romania, which had doubled its territory and population, had a high percentage of rural population engaged in agriculture. Starting from demographic realities, from the experience of the Romanian states functioning and the inherited dysfunctions, Madgearu outlined a path for economic development in which the state played a predominant role. In international economic policy, Madgearu advocated for open doors, that is the free movement of capital and goods between countries, a stance that placed him on the left of the political spectrum at the time. On November 27, 1940, a Legionnaire squad abducted the 53-year-old Virgil Madgearu from his home and took him to the Snagov Forest, 30 kilometers north of Bucharest, where they shot him.

He was born in 1887 into the family of a local politician from Galati and had five sisters and three brothers. He studied economics at the University of Leipzig, Germany, graduating in 1910. On the eve of Romanias entry into the First World War in 1916, he became a professor at the Academy of High Commercial and Industrial Studies in Bucharest. His academic work is quite diverse and ranges from fiscal philosophy to economic history and the banking and credit system, from doctrine to the development of economic sectors, state interests, and the protection of workers and other producing categories. The most debated theory he launched was Peasantism, which was presented in the volumes Peasantism, published in 1921, The Peasantist Doctrine from 1923, The Agrarian Revolution and the Evolution of the Peasant Class from the same year 1923, and Agrarianism, Capitalism, Imperialism from 1936. Besides his teaching and academic activities, Madgearu was also a prolific journalist, authoring texts on economic and political commentary, as well as economic policy.

Madgearu was not content with scientific, journalistic, and teaching activities alone; he was also a politician within the National Peasants Party, formed in 1926. One of the partys key doctrines was Madgearus own, which was embraced by both the Peasants Party of the Old Kingdom led by Ion Mihalache and the Romanian National Party of Transylvania led by Iuliu Maniu. Between 1928 and 1933, when this party led Romania, Madgearu served as Minister of Industry and Commerce in the government led by Iuliu Maniu in 1929. During the period when Gheorghe G. Mironescu was Prime Minister from 19301931, he served as Minister of Agriculture and Domains. Later, during the period when Alexandru Vaida-Voevod was Prime Minister in 1932, he held the portfolio of Minister of Industry and Commerce.

However, politics, as was understood and practiced by fascism, was what brought about his end. In the spring of 1940, he was detained by the Siguranta (the secret police) and placed under house arrest. In September of the same year, the Iron Guard formed the government and began the policy of liquidating former adversaries. On the night of November 26-27, 1940, a group of armed Legionnaires killed 64 political prisoners held at Jilava Prison, south of Bucharest. The following day, on November 27, 1940, Virgil Madgearu and historian Nicolae Iorga were to share the same fate, being murdered by the same Legionnaire death squad led by Traian Boeru.

Dimitrie Paceag was a student when he first encountered the Legionary Movement at the end of the 1930s. In 2000, answering a question from the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporations Oral History Center regarding the assassination of Virgil Madgearu, Paceag admitted that the aggression that took Madgearus life remains an indelible responsibility of the Iron Guard. However, he insisted that even today, not all the circumstances of what happened then are known.

Dimitrie Paceag: The assassination of Iorga and Madgearu is a stain on the face of the Legionary Movement. Within the Movement, anyone who punished someoneas Duca was punished, as Stelescu was punished, as Calinescu was punishedthose people, those squads, eventually surrendered. Meanwhile, regarding the assassination of Iorga and Madgearu committed by Traian Boerus squad, he did not surrender; moreover, I heard that afterward, in 1941, he managed to leave for Germany, even in what later became the German Democratic Republic, with his entire family, and lived there just fine.

Virgil Madgearu was a member of the Association for Social Study and Reform, a member of the Royal Institute of Administrative Sciences of Romania, a member of the Romanian Statistical Society, and, following the 1989 Revolution, a post-mortem member of the Romanian Academy. He was a recipient of several decorations, seven colleges and high schools in Romania bear his name, and two streets, one in Bucharest and the other in Timisoara, are named after him. (LS)
April 26, 2026

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 26.04.2026, 13:28

Talks. President Nicusor Dan will hold talks on Monday with the leaders of pro-European parties and groups in Bucharest, namely the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania and the parliamentary group of national minorities, on the implementation of the major programmes for Romania, SAFE and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The president has in recent days reiterated his intention to remain a mediator after the Social Democrats withdrew their support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and resigned from government. Nicusor Dan has signed their resignations and the proposals for interim ministers submitted by the Prime Minister.

Attack. Panic in Washington, where a serious security incident interrupted the White House Correspondents Dinner. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were evacuated after multiple gunshots were heard. Hundreds of guests, including journalists and senior officials such as Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, took shelter under tables as Secret Service agents secured the area. The suspect, Cole Thomas Allen, described by CNN as an individual with an exceptional academic background and no criminal record, opened fire at a checkpoint, wounding an agent. After being arrested, the man told the authorities that he intended to shoot Trump administration officials, CBS News reported, citing two sources. Cole Thomas Allen was detained and is to be charged Monday with multiple federal crimes.

Nuclear. Ukraine marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, amid persistent fears that Russias war started four year ago may trigger a repeat of the worlds worst nuclear accident. Millions of people were exposed to radiation and vast areas of land were contaminated after the Soviet plants Unit 4 reactor exploded in the early hours of April 26, 1986. Thousands died later from radiation-related illnesses, but the exact toll and long-term health effects remain difficult to assess. A major international effort led to the installation in 2016 of a giant steel and concrete cover of the original sarcophagus, hastily built to contain the tonnes of radioactive waste. Kyiv says that during the current conflict, Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones close to the plant to attack Ukrainian cities and allegedly damaged a protective shield in one of those attacks last year. No leaks have been detected, but the cover needs at least 500 million euros worth of repair work to prevent permanent damage, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Drone. President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan have firmly condemned Russias irresponsible behaviour, after a drone used in the attacks on Ukraine recently fell in south-eastern Romania. The fresh violation of Romanian airspace by Russia is an irresponsible act and a serious violation of international law, said the two officials, as well as the Minister of Defence, Radu Miruta, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Toiu, who after the incident summoned the Russian ambassador to Bucharest. The Romanian president said in a statement that this is the first incident in which Romanian property was effectively damaged, a threshold that, he says, we view with utmost concern. Romania is not a party to the conflict but it bears its consequences, generating challenges and vulnerabilities that must be treated most seriously, Nicusor Dan also said. As a NATO and EU member state, Romania actively participates in efforts to strengthen common security and this incident highlights the need to speed up the armys equipment and modernisation programmes, for which the SAFE acquisition plan is essential, the president emphasised. Following the incident, the Defence General Staff is considering reorganising its monitoring devices on the border with Ukraine.

Letter. Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu has sent an official request to the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, calling for strengthening European mechanisms for monitoring and rapid response to airspace violations. He said the Russian drone that violated Romanian airspace on Friday night and fell on Romanian territory in a populated area in the city of Galati (southeast), once again raises questions regarding the level of protection and the capacity to react to such threats at European level. This incident is not an isolated one, said Victor Negrescu, but part of a dangerous pattern of escalation in the vicinity of the European Unions and NATOs borders, adding Romania is at the frontline of the Union and directly bears the consequences of the conflict in its vicinity. The protection of European citizens cannot be fragmented; it must be supported by a common, coordinated and credible effort, the Romanian MEP said. (CM)
Valued at a market cap of $6.1 billion, The Campbell's Company (CPB) is a leading packaged food manufacturer with a portfolio centered on meals, snacks, and pantry staples. Headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, the company has evolved from its iconic canned soup roots into a broader branded food business with strong positions in both grocery and snacking categories.

CPB is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings results shortly. Ahead of this event, analysts expect Campbell to report adjusted earnings of $0.47 per share, a 35.6% decline from $0.73 per share in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, the company has surpassed Wall Street's earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, while missing on another occasion.

More News from Barchart

For fiscal 2026, analysts expect Campbell to report an adjusted EPS of $2.19, down 26.3% from $2.97 in fiscal 2025. But, adjusted EPS is projected to rebound in FY2027, rising 5.9% annually to $2.32.

www.barchart.com

CPB stock has declined 43.9% over the past 52 weeks, considerably trailing both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 30.6% surge and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLP) 2.7% return over the same period.

www.barchart.com

Campbell's has trailed the broader market over the past year primarily due to muted growth and margin pressures typical of the consumer staples sector. While demand for its products remains relatively stable, volume softness, as consumers trade down to private labels or shift toward fresher alternatives, has limited revenue momentum. Additionally, in a market increasingly driven by high-growth, tech-oriented stocks, Campbells defensive, low-growth profile has made it less attractive to investors, contributing to its relative underperformance.

Analysts' consensus view on Campbells stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating overall. Among 20 analysts covering the stock, two recommend a "Strong Buy," 12 suggest "Hold," one advises "Moderate Sell," and five "Strong Sells." Its mean price target of $22.53 indicates an upswing potential of 9.3% from the prevailing market prices.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
When it comes to the U.S. automotive industry, collectively known as the Big 3, Wall Street has a clear favorite: General Motors.

As recently as last week, analysts at Deutsche Bank raised their GM rating to buy from hold heading into next week's print (GM is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings before the opening bell on April 28). Meanwhile, analysts at Morgan Stanley named GM its top pick in the sector, citing "a strong execution track record of managing its business and delivering strong results through supply chain disruptions and volatile operating environments."

But Ford has one major thing going for it that GM and Stellantis do not: the Blue Oval makes the overwhelming majority of its vehicles in the U.S. and since import costs add $5,000 to $8,900 per vehicle, original equipment manufacturers that produce domestically have a leg up on the competition.

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently said in an interview that Ford is doing well despite tariff costs because 83% of the vehicles it sells in America are assembled domestically.

GM imports more vehicles than even foreign competitors do

S&P Global has new data showing exactly how large the domestic production gap between Ford and its competitors is.

Of the 2.2 million new vehicles it sold in the U.S. last year, Ford imported 378,123 of them, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing S&P Global Data. Meanwhile, of the 2.85 million vehicles General Motors sold in the U.S. in 2025, 1.17 million were imported. Stellantis imported 514,000 of the 1.26 million vehicles it sold in the U.S. last year.

GM imported more vehicles than foreign competitors like Hyundai and Honda, and GM and Stellantis both imported more vehicles than Volkswagen, Nissan and BMW did last year.

Ford estimated a net tariff impact of $2 billion in 2025, about $1 billion higher than the company expected as recently as October. Meanwhile, GM says tariffs cost the company over $3.1 billion last year.

Despite the tariff headwinds, carmakers such as Ford played the change in the U.S. economic policy perfectly. Ford rode dealer incentives, combined with consumer anxiety about tariffs, to become the top-selling brand in the U.S. during the years first half. Ford said total sales in the second quarter rose at a rate seven times that of the overall auto industry.

It sold 1.1 million units in the first six months, a 6.6% year-over-year increase.

But Ford wasnt the only beneficiary. GMincreased its U.S. market share above 17%, representing the most substantial presence in the U.S. since 2017, while other brands also saw sales rise.
Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE:FSM) is one of the

10 Best Gold Stocks to Buy for the Long Term.

On April 19, 2026, Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE:FSM) entered into an earn-in agreement with Qstone, a private Guyanese company, under which it can earn up to a 70% interest in the 29,600-hectare Quartzstone Project in north central Guyana. The project lies within a greenstone belt and has seen 183 diamond drill holes totaling 23,190 meters between 2010 and 2017, with drilling across a five-kilometer corridor identifying multiple zones of high-grade near-surface gold mineralization. Located about 120 kilometers west of Georgetown and 35 kilometers northwest of G Minings Oko West project, the asset hosts an orogenic gold system along the contact between a granitoid complex and Lower Proterozoic greenstone rocks.

Fortunas initial $5.5M exploration program will focus on advancing existing targets and identifying new ones along a 26-kilometer shear zone, including airborne magnetic surveys, satellite imaging, geochemical sampling, auger drilling, mapping, and an initial 5,000-meter diamond drilling campaign.

Under the agreement, Fortuna can earn an initial 51% interest by completing at least 60,000 meters of drilling within four years while covering license fees and expenditures, after which a joint venture with Qstone will be formed. The company can increase its stake to 70% by funding a feasibility study within three years of exercising the first option and continuing to cover license costs. Upon signing, Fortuna paid Qstone a non-refundable $5M option premium.

Fortuna Mining (FSM) Signs Earn-In Deal for Quartzstone Project in Guyana

Pixabay/Public Domain

Earlier in April, Fortuna Mining reported Q1 2026 production of 72,872 gold equivalent ounces from its operations in West Africa and Latin America, compared to 70,386 ounces in Q1 2025 and 65,130 ounces in Q4 2025, and maintained its FY26 production guidance of 281,000 to 305,000 gold equivalent ounces.

Fortuna Mining Corp. (NYSE:FSM) engages in precious and base metal mining across Argentina, Cote dIvoire, Mexico, Peru, and Senegal.

While we acknowledge the potential of FSM 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.
Spring at South Dakota Mines marks a time to celebrate achievement and recognize the student leaders who have made a lasting impact on campus and the community.

The university recently held its Hardrocker Honors ceremony, a combined version of the 75th Annual Honors Convocation and Leadership Hall of Fame awards. Each year, the ceremony recognizes students for their distinguished academic and leadership achievements.

This is one of the most meaningful times of the year at South Dakota Mines, said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. We have the opportunity to recognize students who not only excel academically, but who lead with purpose and leave a lasting impact on our campus and community. Their contributions help shape the future of Mines, and we are proud to celebrate all they have accomplished.

More than 160 students were honored for achievements spanning academics, research, leadership and personal growth.

Joseph Tunge, a sophomore biomedical engineering major from Sioux Falls, S.D., received the Cushman Clark Rising Star Award. The $500 scholarship, funded by Samuel Cushman Clark, honors his grandfather, Samuel Cushman, who served as the university dean from 1890 to 1891.

Victoria Verhey, a junior pre-professional health science major from Rapid City, S.D., received the CHAD Award - Caring, Helping, Aspiring and Developing. The award, named in honor of Chad Nienhueser, a distinguished student leader and 2005 Leadership Hall of Fame inductee, recognizes individuals who embody Nienhueser's passion for leadership and service.

Grace Pridgeon, an electrical engineering major from Gillette, Wyo., was awarded the $900 Gustafson Student Leadership Scholarship. Established by Jim Gustafson, a 1987 electrical engineering alumnus, recognizes a junior or senior who excels academically and in leadership roles.

The Leadership Hall of Fame, a prestigious award established in 2000, honors individuals whose contributions have significantly shaped the Mines campus community.

Each year, four to six students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and have made a meaningful impact on and off campus are chosen for the Leadership Hall of Fame. Portraits of the 2026 inductees will be added to the Leadership Hall of Fame display outside the Beck Ballroom in the Surbeck Center.

The impact of this years inductees touches nearly every area of the university and community, ranging from community service, peer mentorship and youth outreach to Student Associate Senate, CAMP and Greek Life.

The 2026 Leadership Hall of Fame includes:

Allan Dade Gomez  Gomez is a mechanical engineering major from Kersey, Colo. His university involvement includes president of Triangle Fraternity, where he logged more than 600 hours of community service, founded the Cornhole Club, was the brakes design lead for the Baja team and participated in the President's Leadership Academy.

Duram C. Kelly  Kelly is a mechanical engineering major from North Mankato, Minn. His involvement includes Supermileage, Circle K International, Swing Dance, Wind Ensemble and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. During his time, he also helped organize six blood drives and collected more than 1,000 pounds of food for Feeding South Dakota. As philanthropic chair for Lambda Chi Alpha, Kelly revitalized a declining fundraiser, created a new event and oversaw more than $2,400 raised for charity and over 1,300 hours of community service.

Bayler J. Larson  Larson is a metallurgical engineering major from Ethan, S.D. Over his four years, Larson has served as a peer mentor and a first-year master mentor, guiding incoming freshmen. He also held several leadership roles on the Baja SAE team and shared his skills and craftmanship at the Foundry and Makerspace.

Madelyn Maddy Siekmann  Siekmann is a biomedical engineering major from Chaska, Minn. She served on the Student Association Senate, vice president of the South Dakota Board of Regents Student Federation and served as a student representative for the 2024 Presidential Search Committee. She was also president of the Hard Rockin Drama Club, a Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) peer mentor and a student ambassador.

Clive E. Uy  Uy is a mechanical engineering major with minors in aerospace and systems engineering from Bellingham, Wash. He served as vice president of the Student Association Senate, chassis subsystem lead and media manager on the universitys Baja team and worked on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) where he developed tools that improved laboratory efficiency. Uy also mentored youth through Campus Kids, served as a mechanical engineering ambassador, participated in the Presidents Leadership Academy and contributed to SOULs charitable outreach in the Rapid City community.

Jacob Vostad  Vostad is a chemical engineering major from Sioux Falls, S.D. He served as president of the Student Association Senate, founded SOUL, a service club that connects students with underserved community members, and headed up the creation of the Hardrocker Huddle and IN PHASE. His vision and leadership also helped to bring back the community Rocker Days Parade.

You can find the full list of award winners here and view a photo album of the Hardrocker Honors here.
Is NSP a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Insperity, Inc. on Valueinvestorsclub.com by madler934. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on NSP. Insperity, Inc.'s share was trading at $31.42 as of April 20th. NSPs trailing and forward P/E were 70.12 and 13.97 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

25 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates in the World

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

Insperity, Inc. (NSP) is a leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO) operating in a complex, underfollowed industry that combines elements of HCM software, HR outsourcing, and insurance. The opportunity exists largely due to limited investor awareness, sparse sell-side coverage, and temporarily depressed earnings that inflate valuation multiples.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

While the stock trades at 13.2x 2025E EBITDA and 35.0x earnings, these figures are distorted by short-term headwinds, including elevated healthcare claims and significant Workday implementation costs, which together represent a substantial drag on profitability. As these pressures normalize, EBITDA is expected to inflect meaningfully, with potential 2.5x growth between 2025 and 2027.

Insperitys core business serves U.S. SMBs through bundled HR solutions, leveraging its scale of over 300,000 worksite employees to offer competitively priced insurance via a self-funded model. This scale advantage creates a virtuous cycle of lower insurance costs, higher service investment, and market share gains. Despite clear value propositions, PEO penetration remains low, with only 17% adoption among target SMBs, leaving a long runway for growth. Historically, Insperity has demonstrated strong execution, delivering consistent WSE growth, margin expansion, and high capital efficiency, while returning substantial capital to shareholders.

The current earnings trough is primarily driven by cyclical healthcare cost pressures, which are industry-wide and expected to normalize through repricing and a new contract with UnitedHealth, alongside declining Workday-related investments. These factors alone could drive significant EBITDA recovery in 2026, with further upside in 2027 as margins fully normalize. Additionally, a rebound in employment-driven change in existing growth could provide incremental upside to consensus expectations.

Overall, the investment offers an asymmetric risk/reward profile, with normalized earnings implying substantial upside, while downside appears limited given Insperitys historically resilient business model and consistent profitability across cycles.
Advertisement

BusinessCompaniesFinance Mental health becomes a financial battleground as insurance premiums soar Colin Kruger April 26, 2026  6:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Personal risk insurance is adding more pain to the cost of living crisis as premiums for life, total and permanent disability (TPD), and income protection soar in response to a massive rise in mental health claims on these policies. Australias largest super fund, AustralianSuper, informed members this month that after its insurance premiums had fallen for three years, premiums for its total and permanent disability cover would jump by as much as 40 per cent due to rising claim payments over the past year. CALI chief executive Christine Cupitt is among those warning that soaring mental health claims are threatening the affordability and sustainability of personal risk insurance products like total and permanent disability insurance. Oscar Colman Other super funds, such as CareSuper, have also confirmed premiums are rising. The fund said premiums for its most common type of cover were rising by almost 30 per cent after three years of no increase. Zurich Australia retail head Tim Kane is among those pointing to mental health claims, which are rising in number and severity.

Advertisement

We are witnessing a profound increase in the prevalence and severity of mental illness in Australia. This is placing significant pressure on the nations mental health protection systems, particularly those that exist downstream, such as insurance, he said. At Zurich, mental health accounts for a quarter of TPD claims, with almost half of all TPD claims also mentioning mental health as an associated struggle or secondary issue to the primary claimed condition. The Council of Australian Life Insurers said the significant rise in younger Australians making claims was placing pressure on affordability and sustainability across the whole insurance ecosystem and drastic action was needed after mental health claims doubled over five years to $2.4 billion. Mental ill-health is now the No.1 reason why Australians are turning to life insurers to claim when theyre permanently unable to work. The life insurance industry is seeing consistent year-on-year increases in these types of claims, CALI chief executive Christine Cupitt, said. A growing number of people, particularly Australians in the prime of their working life, are becoming permanently unable to work due to their mental health. Australians in their 30s are now more likely than ever before to make a claim for permanent disability due to mental ill-health. The rate of claims for this age group has spiked by more than 700 per cent over the past decade.

Advertisement

Advisory group HLB Mann Judd backed the claim that mental health expenses were the most significant driver of rising premiums for personal risk insurance products like death and TPD  and its broader impact on insurance premiums. Younger workers are among those driving a surge in mental health claims on personal risk insurance products. Getty Images In a pooled system, when claim frequency rises, claim durations lengthen or claim sizes increase, insurers must reprice the pool to ensure they can continue meeting obligations to policyholders. That repricing is often experienced as premium increases across cohorts, particularly where claims experience has deteriorated over multiple years, Mann Judd said in an analysis of insurance premiums earlier this year. An AustralianSuper spokesperson said the funds insurer, TAL, had one of the highest proportions of claims paid and the lowest rates of dispute in the superannuation industry for the year to June 2025. Even with these increases, most members with basic age-based cover will be paying lower insurance premiums than they were in 2022, the spokesperson said. A CareSuper spokeperson also pointed to the impact of rising insurance claims. In its submission to the Life Insurance Code of Practice Review  which covers the code of enforceable standards that life insurers agree to uphold when dealing with customers  CALI says insurers should be able to apply blanket mental health exclusions in standard policies.

Advertisement

It says this would help with the affordability and sustainability of these insurance products. Related Article Opinion

Income protection The one insurance you cant afford to skip (and one you definitely can) Victoria Devine Money columnist Current life insurance rules state that companies cannot automatically restrict mental health coverage for everyone who buys a standard policy. Insurers are expected to review each applicants individual situation to offer tailored coverage where it can either exclude them from cover, charge a higher premium, cap payments, or introduce a longer waiting period before customers can claim. CALI wants insurers to be able to do this up-front and for them to not be forced to automatically offer coverage.

Advertisement

Consumer advocacy groups oppose this. A submission by the Joint Consumer Groups, representing a diverse range of voices including the Consumer Action Law Centre and the UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health, were critical of CALIs proposed changes Mental health-related cover and claims are one of the most pressing consumer issues in life insurance. While insurers have raised concerns about rising mental health-related TPD claims, consumers face widely inconsistent and often harsh policy tests and conditions, the submission says. The advocacy groups also say customers with existing conditions are already finding it difficult to get coverage. There is an extant wealth of evidence in the public sphere demonstrating that people living with mental health conditions, or who have experienced a mental health condition or symptoms of a mental health conditions, find it more difficult than others to access many forms of insurance, these groups say in a joint submission to the Life Insurance Code of Practice Review.

Advertisement

In September 2025, the Life Insurance Code Compliance Committee released a report into whether life insurers were meeting the commitments that they had made under their code of practice. The inquiry found that insurers underwriting processes too often default to exclusions or denials when applicants disclose a mental health condition, the Joint Consumer Groups say. Final recommendations for the Life Insurance Code of Practice Review are due by June 30. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Finance Colin Kruger is a senior business reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Connect via email
Advertisement

BusinessThe economyWorld markets How bad is the energy crisis? Three factors are pushing the world towards the cliff edge April 27, 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

Traders of oil futures are a sunny bunch. On April 17, after Irans foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz completely open, the price of Brent crude fell by 10 per cent, to $US90 ($126) a barrel. Within hours Iran reversed course and attacked an Indian tanker. The next trading day the global benchmark rose by just 5 per cent. It has gone back up above $US100 since but remains around $US15 below its high in late March, even though an American blockade has trapped even more oil in the Gulf. About fifty days into the Iran war the world has lost 550 million barrels of Gulf crude  nearly 2 per cent of last years global output. Every month Hormuz stays closed, the world misses out on 7 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), worth 2 per cent of its annual supply. Yet in Western countries, which host the largest futures markets, pain remains limited. Petrol is a bit pricier, but most households can still afford to drive. Trucks keep trucking. Planes continue to fly. Fuel stocks remain close to pre-war levels. This comforting picture is deeply misleading. By April 20 the last few oil tankers to cross Hormuz before the war began reached their destinations, in Malaysia and California. There is no buffer left to protect the world from the supply shock, at a time of the year when demand from holiday drivers starts to pick up. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already inflicted significant economic damage. AP To gauge how close the world is to energy catastrophe, The Economist has collected a dashboard of indicators. It shows grave harm has already been done. Worse, without a reopening costs could soar, triggering events that cause the fuel system to seize up. A reopening of the strait now would  just  avoid calamity. But some additional pain is already inevitable.

Advertisement

Three factors are pushing the world towards the cliff edge. Oil cargoes available to buy are drying up. Refineries are slashing output of fuel. And demand remains artificially high, especially in Europe. Something big must give somewhere large for energy markets to balance. Related Article Opinion

Gas Dont let gas giants scare you  they need to cough up Millie Muroi Economics Writer Take trade first. One reason the largest supply shock in petroleum history has not triggered global panic is that a near-record amount of oil was already at sea when the war started. As American warships set sail for the Gulf in February, countries there cranked up exports. After the latest deliveries, those excess seaborne stocks are now exhausted. So are most cargoes of Iranian and Russian oil, which were loitering at sea but found buyers after America eased sanctions on the two countries. Total volumes on water have fallen at record speed. For jet fuel and petrol they are well below historical norms, and possibly close to the minimum required for seaborne trade to function. This leaves Asia, which used to receive four-fifths of Gulf exports, in a particular bind. Commercial inventories in a few other Asian countries are running out. South Korea is due to taper releases from its strategic reserves in the coming days. Japans will be exhausted in May. Crude stocks in Asia excluding China fell by 67 million barrels, or 11 per cent, in the month to April 19, according to Kayrros, a firm that estimates inventories using satellite imaging. A shortfall of raw materials has forced Asian refiners to cut throughput by over 3 million barrels a day, or 10 per cent of their combined capacity. That could accelerate to 5 million barrels a day in May and, if the strait stays shut, 10 million barrels a day in July, says Neil Crosby of Sparta Commodities, a data firm. China could help by releasing some of the 1.3 billion barrels of crude it holds in reserve. Instead it has suspended exports of refined products. A trader familiar with its energy strategy reckons it will not open the taps before a lasting truce. All this compounds shortages created by the loss of Gulf exports of finished fuel, on which Asia also relies.

Advertisement

Refined-fuel prices are already high. In Asian spot markets, petrol nears $US120 a barrel, diesel $US175 and jet fuel $US200, up from $US80, $US93 and $US94, respectively, before the war. Demand is adjusting, partly by government decree. Seven countries have imposed work-from-home mandates and at least five are rationing vehicle fuel. High prices are doing their bit, too. Small miners, fisheries and other firms without adequate diesel stocks are working part-time. Unable to afford naphtha, another oil product, some plastic makers have shut units. The combination of state and self-imposed rationing may cause Asian crude demand to shrink by nearly 3 million barrels a day in April, compared with February. Prices of refined fuel, including for aviation, have also soared. AFP Europe has so far avoided demand destruction, as governments try to preserve citizens purchasing power. Of the 27 European Union countries, 16 are using taxpayer money or cutting fuel taxes to shield consumers from higher prices. European refiners have thus barely slashed production. But, like their Asian counterparts, they, too, must buy crude at a much higher cost than Brent futures suggest. A better gauge is Dated Brent, the price for real cargoes delivered in the next few weeks. The spread between the two  usually $US1-US$2  widened greatly in April, reflecting fears of near-term shortages, according to Platts, which produces the benchmark. It has narrowed since but remains bigger than usual (and does not include eye-watering freight rates and other costs).

Advertisement

Related Article Energy Fire-ravaged Geelong oil refinery charts path back to 90% output Raw material at $US130 to $US150 a barrel has pushed European refiners margins into the red, reckons Benedict George of Argus Media, a price-reporting agency. Extreme backwardation  when commodity spot prices are much higher than those for futures  crush their profits: they must pay up for crude now but sell their products at lower futures prices. Before long they will need to cut output. If Europe keeps subsidising consumption, markets will get more out of whack. For one thing, prices for products will keep rising. America, where demand tends to jump in a period of summer road trips, will push them further. Competition for LNG, the shortage of which was mostly absorbed by Asian consumers self-deprivation and a switch to coal, will also increase when Europe starts restocking gas for the winter. Competition for LNG, a big Australian export, is likely to increase when Europe starts restocking gas for the winter. Fast-depleting stocks make matters worse. Europes reserves of jet fuel cover some 50 days of consumption, their typical level. But modelling by Michelle Brouhard of Kpler, a data firm, for The Economist shows that European stocks will fall precipitously if Hormuz flows do not normalise by June. Those in other importing regions may disappear even faster. The outlook could worsen if America, seeking to tame domestic prices, emulates China and bans exports of refined products, which have risen by nearly half since the start of the war.

Advertisement

Futures markets are in denial about all this. Even if Hormuz reopened today, it would take months for Gulf crude output, shipping and refining to resume in full. Saad Rahim of Trafigura, a trader, thinks a cumulative loss of 1.5 billion Gulf barrels, or 5 per cent of annual global output, is almost unavoidable. If the strait stays closed, it could easily reach double that. The last time oil demand fell by 10 per cent in short order was during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, a shock that also brought about a fall in world gross domestic product of more than 3 per cent. The time to avoid a similar tumble is running out. The Economist The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: World markets

Inflation

Petrol prices
SanDisk (SNDK) shares pushed higher on Friday as Intels (INTC) strong Q1 earnings and upbeat future guidance buoyed the entire semiconductor and storage sector.

Even after the surge, SNDKs relative strength index (RSI) is hovering around 68 only, indicating the stock still hasnt slipped into overbought territory.

More News from Barchart

SanDisk stock has been nothing short of a blockbuster investment in 2026, currently up more than 250% versus the start of this year.

www.barchart.com

Significance of Intels Q1 Earnings for SanDisk Stock

Intels Q1 earnings release provided a significant read-through for SNDK shares as it highlighted a massive 22% year-over-year growth in the firms data center and AI (DCAI) business.

This confirms that hyperscalers are aggressively expanding AI infrastructure, which directly benefits SanDisks enterprise SSD and NAND storage solutions.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tans commentary on the next wave of AI moving toward edge inference signals a prolonged demand cycle for high-density storage.

As Intel ramps up its Xeon 6 processor deployments, it creates a symbiotic pull-through effect for SNDKs premium memory products, validating the stocks advance on April 24.

Where Options Data Suggests SNDK Shares Are Headed

Despite a meteoric year-to-date run in SanDisk shares, options traders remain convinced they arent out of juice just yet.

According to Barchart, the put-to-call ratio on contracts expiring early May sits at 0.11x currently, indicating a strong bullish skew, with the upper price suggesting continued upside to about $1,166.

Interestingly, SNDK is scheduled to report its quarterly earnings on April 30. The aforementioned data, therefore, suggests the derivatives market expects this AI stock to be trading over 17% higher from here after earnings.

And for good reason too; consensus is for SanDisk to earn $13.40 a share in its Q3, an exceptional increase from a loss of $0.60 per share in the same quarter last year.

How Wall Street Recommends Playing SanDisk

Wall Street analysts also remain bullish as ever on SanDisk for the remainder of 2026.

According to Barchart, the consensus rating on SNDK stock sits at Strong Buy currently, with price targets as high as $1,800, indicating potential upside of a remarkable 80% from here.
Advertisement

Eating outBest of Five one-of-a-kind restaurants no ones talking about in Melbourne  yet Unless youre dining at someones home, its hard to find Mauritian, Bhutanese and Ecuadorian food in Melbourne. But these restaurants offer a taste. Heres what to order when you visit. Quincy Malesovas April 27, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Trends dont just dominate fashion: food follows cycles too. As soon as one venue starts doing tableside tiramisu or extra-filthy martinis, suddenly every place is doing it. But not at these restaurants. Come for Bhutanese pizza, hearty South American breakfast, and other dishes youre not going to find anywhere else. The Mauritian platter at Baz Kreole in Richmond. Mauritian: Baz Kreole Mauritius may be small, but its culture incorporates French, Indian, Chinese and African traditions, resulting in a distinctive Creole cuisine. To try it in Melbourne, head to Dandenong, home to a large Mauritian community, or North Melbournes hatted Manze and its bar Boire, where influences are woven into broader menus. Then theres Richmonds Baz Kreole  less than a year old  where owner Yashley Chukourey sets out to showcase dishes rarely seen locally. Dholl puri, a thin, supple flatbread filled with chana dahl, will be familiar to those who know the cuisine. Less common is halim, a variation on the savoury Indian porridge often eaten during Ramadan, that combines lamb, five types of lentils and cracked wheat, slow-cooked for six hours. Tuna and potato croquettes hint at French influence, and mine frire  a wok-tossed noodle dish  reflects Chinese migration to the island.

Advertisement

Must-order dish: Dholl puri wrap with yellow chana dal, lima bean curry, Creole tomato sauce and pickled vegetables. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up 270 Bridge Road, Richmond, bazkreole.com.au 1 / 5 Apa's Canteen glows on Little Collins Street. Chege Mbuthi 2 / 5 Sikam onigiri at Apa's Canteen. Chege Mbuthi 3 / 5 Chana fried rice (top left), cheese dumplings and iced butter cream foam matcha at Apa's. Chege Mbuthi 4 / 5 Inside Little Collins Street eatery Apa's Canteen. Chege Mbuthi 5 / 5 "Rice pizza" with air-dried beef at Apa's Canteen Chege Mbuthi Previous Slide Next Slide Bhutanese: Apas Canteen Until recently, Melbourne had no Bhutanese restaurants. But in December, along came Apas Canteen, where owner Sonam Thinley draws inspiration from her father, the cook in her family. (Apa means father in Dzongkha, Bhutans official language).

Advertisement

The menu translates Bhutanese flavours into more familiar formats to Australians such as onigiri, Japanese in name but similar to the Bhutanese rice balls typically eaten alongside other dishes. Here, they are flavoured like ema datshi, a chilli and cheese stew thats the countrys national dish, or sikam, an air-dried pork product. Rice pizza, a pressed rice base topped with ingredients such as air-dried beef, is popular with younger generations back home, says Thinley. Suja, Bhutans distinctive butter tea, is offered traditionally or in playful two-toned variations such as banana-butter matcha. Must-order dish: Ema datshi onigiri. 4/353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/apascanteen

Advertisement

Jamaican: Mama Blus Stephanie Kamener has trained with culinary heavyweights including Stephanie Alexander, London chef Sally Clarke, and Phillippa Grogan of Phillippas Bakery. But, homesick for the food she grew up eating as a Jamaican-Brit in London, she turned her focus to Caribbean cooking, most recently opening Mama Blus. Aside from a handful of caterers and food trucks, it remains one of Melbournes few dedicated Jamaican venues, and Kamener is committed to cooking as closely to tradition as possible. Jerk chicken may be the most recognisable dish to newcomers, but its just the start. Ackee and saltfish, Jamaicas national dish, pairs soft, buttery ackee fruit with salted cod. Curried goat showcases Kameners house-blended spice mix and sits alongside sides such as callaloo, a leafy green common across the Caribbean, and a distinctly Jamaican take on mac and cheese. Desserts rotate regularly, with past offerings including rum-spiked sweet potato tiramisu and mango creme Catalan. Must-order dish: Curried goat. 61 Glen Huntly Road, Elwood, mamablu.com.au

Advertisement

Ecuadorian: Ecuadorian Corner Chef Leo Bravo first cooked for Melbournes small Ecuadorian community from his CBD apartment, sending WhatsApp messages every fortnight announcing the menu. A stall at Il Mercato Centrale food hall on Collins Street has since brought those dishes to more people. Hornado is the hero, featuring whole roast pork served both shredded and as crisp rinds of chicharron, alongside the corn dish hominy and the potato pancakes llapingachos. Bolon, a roadside staple traditionally eaten before a long days work, combines mashed green plantain with pork crackling and cheese, shaped into balls and fried. It arrives topped with cheese sauce, a fried egg and your choice of pulled chicken or beef, lifted by a punchy aji chilli and peanut sauce. For something lighter, ceviche comes two ways  prawn in a subtly sweet tomato-based marinade or calamari dressed in a sharp herb mix.

Advertisement

Must-order dish: Hornado  pulled pork, chicharron, potato pancakes, avocado and hominy. Il Mercato Centrale, 546 Collins Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/ecuadoriancorner Fatteh at Meso Bites. Iraqi: Meso Bites Meso Bites grew from owner Haider Karim Al-Baghdadis desire to introduce Iraqi food to the CBD, where there are no dedicated restaurants. His inspiration? His countrys history as Mesopotamia, one of the worlds oldest recorded civilisations, as well as family recipes passed down through generations.

Advertisement
Advertisement

LifestyleHealth & wellnessParenting Two in five kids have a health condition. What about their siblings? Shona Hendley April 27, 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

Jumping on the trampoline, riding bikes and playing games with your siblings are among the joys of childhood. However, for nearly half of Australian families, their reality looks very different. According to the 2022 ASB national health survey, two in five Australian children live with at least one chronic health condition, ranging from asthma and mental health disorders to cancer, cardiovascular and congenital disorders. Emma and Adam Maly and their kids, Will, Ollie and Grace race each other (a favourite past-time of Graces) at home in Sydney. Sam Mooy While the child with the chronic health condition faces challenges, another group is also directly affected yet often overlooked: their siblings. When a child has a complex health condition, it reshapes the entire family, says Dr Shannon Schedlich, chief executive of Siblings Australia, a national support organisation for siblings of children and adults with disability or illness.

Advertisement

Parents are often navigating hospital appointments, and systems with which they are unfamiliar. Uncertainty, fear and high levels of stress, can impact their capacity, relationships, and wellbeing. As a result, Schedlich says that family routines shift and roles change, often leaving very little space left for anyone elses problems.The needs of the brothers and sisters of children with complex health conditions can be deprioritised as parents and caregivers understandably focus on keeping their siblings alive. Related Article Family No more nanna: Why grandparents are choosing their own monikers For Emma Maly, a Sydney-based registered nurse and mother of three, whose 10-year-old daughter Grace was diagnosed with the rare chronic health condition ADCY5related movement disorder (ADCY5RMD) at age three and a half, this accurately describes her and her familys situation. Grace is challenged every day with unpredictable movements; it affects her whole body, so she is a full-time wheelchair user, and needs help to get out of bed in the morning, to feed, to dress, to toilet  everything, Emma says.

Advertisement

The primary carer for Grace, having given up her job to support her daughter full-time, Emma says she is acutely aware of the impact Graces health has on her two sons, 18-year-old Will and 15-year-old Ollie. My life is shaped by love, but theres also a constant undercurrent of worry that I have that doesnt switch off, she says. Its that guilt that their life is not simple or carefree, and that they have a sense of duty on their shoulders that you didnt wish on them; its just part of their circumstances. Ten-year-old Grace has ADCY5-related movement disorder, a rare condition characterised by involuntary movements. Sam Mooy While Emma and her husband, Adam, try to carve out one-on-one time with their sons, Emma says it isnt always possible. I try to give them each their time, but its not always easy because Graces needs are so great at times, and her disorder is very unpredictable, Emma says. There is a level of uncertainty that other families dont even have to think about.

Advertisement

For Ollie, this uncertainty makes even everyday activities like meeting up with friends or taking part in extracurricular activities difficult. Editor's pick Parenting More kids are being diagnosed with ADHD. So are their parents Because Grace gets tired easily, she goes to bed early, and you cant be too loud or come home late, he says. Schedules are also made around her, so when I plan something with my friends, I worry about how its going to affect my family and Grace. Its definitely on my mind a lot because I dont want to make it harder for my parents. Siobhan Rogers, practice lead at Canteen, says that although every siblings experience is unique, Ollies situation is commonly reported by those in similar positions.

Advertisement

Some siblings may try to be the child who does not make things harder, and hold a lot in, she says. This can also make siblings feel on the sidelines or want more information about what is happening. Ollies older brother, Will  who was eight when Grace was born and 11 when she was diagnosed  says this was the case for him, especially at the beginning. It was very confusing. I didnt really understand what was going on. My parents were very stressed, and they shielded us. The doctors wouldnt tell us [either], so we had no idea what was going on, he says. Now that hes older, Will says he is now heavily involved in his sisters healthcare, taking on a more hands-on role, helping bathe, feed and toilet Grace. Being the oldest, I was expected to step up, especially now, as Grace is bigger and I can help mum lift, so she doesnt destroy her back.

Advertisement

For Will, this role means greater responsibility than that of his friends his age. Im a bit more mature than all my friends because thats just been required as an early carer for a complex disorder, he says. I always have to consider my family, while my friends can just do whatever they want, whenever they want. For me, its less carefree. Will (right) is studying medicine, inspired by his sister Grace (centre). He and brother Ollie (left) help care for their sister now theyre older. Sam Mooy While Will and Ollie sometimes confide in each other or pursue escapism through video games and physical exercise, neither has sought professional support. To be honest, I feel like the support is a bit lacklustre, Will says. I didnt really know where to find support. None of the medical professionals involved with Grace ever told us.

Advertisement

Although currently limited, Schedlich says that dedicated professional support is available through external charities and non-governmental organisations such as Siblings Australia, Canteen and Drenched, for those in Will and Ollies position. Siblings Australia is the only organisation nationally focused on supporting the needs of the brothers and sisters of people with chronic illness and disability, with a range of programs and supports available across the lifespan, including peer support, counselling, and parent programs, she says. [But] we are also seeing a growing awareness [from hospitals and support organisations] that family support needs to include siblings and not just focus on supporting parents. For Will and Ollie, despite the challenges, they both see positives in their circumstances. There are a lot of things that you miss out on, but theres also a lot of good that comes out of it, says Will.

Advertisement

It was what inspired me to study medicine and has influenced the way I see the world; Im so much more empathetic, more grateful. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
Opinion A floozy clause in a will: Can you really protect your money from the grave?

Real Money, a free weekly newsletter giving expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money, is sent every Sunday. Youre reading an excerpt  sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.

Early last year on business podcast Trading Secrets, fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff disclosed that she had inserted a floozy clause in her trust. This clause states if her husband decides to move on with some new hot young thing after she dies, or they divorce, all her assets are immediately passed on to her kids.

So that girl has no chance of getting anything that I make, Minkoff said at the time.

There are a few ways you can dictate how your inheritance is spent after youre gone. Aresna Villanueva

While I cant imagine a huge number of people are racing to insert floozy clauses into their prenups or wills, Minkoffs bombastic declaration does invite an intriguing question: can you really rule from the grave?
Advertisement

NationalRacism Editorial Booing Welcome to Country does not honour the fallen The Herald's View Editorial April 26, 2026  7:30pm

April 26, 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

Uncle Ray Minniecon is precisely the kind of person in whom Australia should take deep pride. His grandfather, Private James Lingwoodock, was with the 11th Light Horse Brigade, whose members fought at Gallipoli. He had two brothers in Vietnam, and he himself served for two years as a driver in the CMF. Uncle Ray Minniecon comes from three generations of Diggers. Getty Images Three generations of Diggers. But not enough to impress a Neo-Nazi. Blinded by hate and intolerance, the man started booing when Minniecon began his Anzac Day dawn service Welcome to Country at the Sydney Cenotaph. The man was quickly arrested, but the booing echoed across Australia at Anzac Day commemorations in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Advertisement

They were orchestrated by the anti-immigration group Fight for Australia, formerly known as March for Australia. Theyve been encouraging supporters to contact RSL branches to ditch Welcome to Country. Related Article Indigenous Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies are overdone Despite the public odour at their Anzac Day actions, they gathered in Melbourne and Canberra on Sunday with Senator Pauline Hanson speaking at their Rally To End Mass Immigration in the national capital. Australia cannot allow this sort of racist bigotry to shelter behind patriotism. And in the current climate, it may not be too much of a stretch to consider the gunfire outside the White House Correspondents Dinner at Washingtons Hilton Hotel an illustration of what can happen when social cohesion is abused for political purposes. The Anzac Day booing was, rightly, condemned widely.

Advertisement

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said it was disgraceful and deeply disappointing. The federal opposition leader, Angus Taylor, told ABCs Insiders that booing was absolutely inappropriate and un-Australian, but added that he could understand the frustration Australians feel about over-use of welcomes to country. Premier Chris Minns said while he had before heard booing like that at a dawn service, Ive also never heard a crowd spontaneously applaud as they did for Uncle Ray Minniecon. Related Article Updated

Anzac Day War never solves anything: Veterans honoured across Australia on Anzac Day Minniecon is a descendant of the Kabi nation and the Gureng nation of South-East Queensland and a descendant of the South Sea Islander people with strong connections to his people of Ambrym Island. He helped start the first Coloured Digger ANZAC Day Event in 2007, lobbied for the Yininmadyemi, Thou didst let fall memorial in Hyde Park and has long been behind eradicating the whitewashing of First Nations veterans from Australias military history. He is a healing force that, like Anzac Day, creates a better nation.

Advertisement

We may have different views of war and different feelings about the Anzac tradition; however, dawn services are sacrosanct. The booing is a disturbing symptom of the growing boldness of the nationalistic far right and the division, tension and fear its causing within our democracy. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion 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: Racism

Opinion

Editorial

For subscribers The Herald's View  Since the Herald was first published in 1831, the editorial team has believed it important to express a considered view on the issues of the day for readers, always putting the public interest first.
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Advertisement

Two children have been killed in a ferocious fire that swept through their Hawkesbury home on Monday morning, hours before they were due to relocate to Queensland with their parents and four siblings. The children were reported missing by their family in the blaze at their two-storey house on Lieutenant Bowen Drive in Bowen Mountain about 2.10am. Their father and four siblings escaped the property with minor injuries, while their mother had already left for Queensland. The fire tore through the home at 2am on Monday and was out of control for two hours. Nine News A neighbour was woken by the childrens father banging on the door and screaming out for help. He told Channel Nine he tried to help rescue the two remaining children but the house was already fully engulfed by fire.

Advertisement

Hes like, the house is on fire, the house is on fire. Theres still two of them missing, we just kept doubling back around trying to get up to the top, and the house was just engulfed so fast. It was an absolutely painful thing to see. Responders were forced to wait for hours before they could search the property, as the fire burnt out of control. The bodies were discovered on separate storeys of the house in searches that began after the fire was contained at 4am. Emergency services at the scene of the fire in Bowen Mountain. SMH More than 50 firefighters faced a very overwhelming situation when they arrived to find flames tearing through the home, collapsing the roof and other internal structures. Emergency responders made the incredibly tough safety decision to retreat after an early assessment suggested the walls could also collapse. The ages of the six children in the family ranged from three to 16, according to Hawkesbury Police Area Command Superintendent Nadine Roberts.

Advertisement

The father and four children who escaped the blaze are still in Nepean Hospital being treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns as of Monday evening. Its an incredibly confronting situation not only for the community and families but the first responders who had to attend, said Roberts, who did not confirm the ages of the children killed. Police have established a crime scene at the home and are working to formally identify the bodies. They do not believe the fire is suspicious. Loading RFS Superintendent Jonathon Hill, one of the first firefighters on the scene, said words cant really describe the difficulty of the morning.

Advertisement

Its a situation that you really cant comprehend until youre in it, Hill said. We want to help the community, we do our best. And again, theres a human side of this that you cant always explain. Drones and dogs were deployed to assist with rescue efforts at the property, which continued to smoulder for hours after the fire was extinguished. Fire and Rescue NSW Assistant Commissioner Andrew Faunce said an investigation would determine the origin of the blaze and circumstances leading to the fire, as well as the number of smoke alarms and other safety devices in the property. Residential homes now can be very quick to go from low-level fires to significantly involved, Faunce said, referring to the severe stage of the fire. Were not aware of when the fire started but when firefighters arrived it was significantly involved, and that led to the decision not to do an active fire attack.

Advertisement

Lieutenant Bowen Drive is a long residential street with homes on its western side directly bordering the Blue Mountains. The fire has caused no damage to neighbouring homes. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In the confusing and distressing hours after he was booed at the Anzac Day dawn service in Martin Place, Uncle Ray Minniecons phone lit up with two important calls. The first was his granddaughter, furious about what the softly spoken Sydney elder had been subjected to. The second was from the actor and television presenter Ernie Dingo. Hes a good man, a good brother, Ray says of his long-time friend. He was worried about me, which meant a lot. Ernie has seen a lot of racism in his time, too. Uncle Ray and I are talking at a Glebe cafe the morning after the morning before. Hes in good spirits but seems to be holding back the true hurt of what he has just been through. More than 24 hours have passed since the 75-year-old pastor was heckled by a group of loudmouths while delivering the Acknowledgement of Country, shocking much of the nation. In that moment, Minniecons dignity shone through; he took a beat when the booing began but continued with his speech honouring Australias war dead. Despite his stoicism  and the loud applause by the vast majority of the crowd when he finished  the scene was and is painful to watch. Ray Minniecon has been a huge contributor to life in Sydney for decades. Edwina Pickles It was not just disrespect but outright racism. It came from a very dark space, Ray says. And what really cuts for me is that it was at a sacred place during a sacred ceremony. But that is what our people often have to deal with. For some of us, it was just another Saturday in Sydney. Saturday was Rays first time delivering the dawn service Acknowledgement of Country, taking over from Uncle Harry Allie, who had done it for the past decade but couldnt in 2026 due to age and ill health. Minniecon was the perfect stand-in given his lifetime of community service and close ties to the Australian Defence Force. Minniecon is no military outsider, serving for two years as a driver in the Citizens Military Forces of the 51st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment. His grandfather, Private James Lingwoodock, was a member of the 11th Light Horse Brigade during World War I, and his brothers, Sonny and Phillip, served in Vietnam. During one march in Sydney, a woman tipped a bucket of white paint over Sonny.

Advertisement

Related Article Indigenous Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies are overdone Meanwhile, Phillip came back from service a bit damaged. Before Phillip was due to return to Australia, he met the man who would replace him in the unit as a forward scout. The man was soon killed, and was on the same flight back to Australia as Phillip. But only one of them was in a body bag, and Phillip felt very guilty about that, Minniecon recalls. Despite spending decades in Sydney as a pastor, activist, community organiser and elder, Minniecon is perhaps not as widely recognised as he should be. Federal cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek has known Ray and his wife, Sharon, for years, and is not short of praise for the couple, and disdain for the dickheads who booed him. Hes such a beautiful, gentle man, Plibersek tells the Herald. So modest, kind and respectful. When a constituent recently contacted the Sydney MPs office about a bad experience with the Commonwealths Stolen Generations redress scheme, the first person she called was Ray. Because I knew Ray would sit with him and take the time and support him through it in the most practical and most loving way. Thats the sort of work he and Sharon do every day. You would not be able to count the number of people that they have helped in their lifetime. Loading Plibersek was sitting in the crowd when the booing rang out and is deeply angry. Most of the Australian community dont see this sort of organised racism, she says. Its not directed at us, so we dont see it.

Advertisement

But the fact that this happened on Anzac Day I hope is a wake-up call. Just because its not directed at you every day doesnt mean its not happening in our community every day. Theres really something about three generations of his family having served that adds to the level of disgustingness of the behaviour at the dawn service. I would be amazed if any of those people booing him have ever lifted a finger to help their country. Minniecon was born in the Queensland city of Bundaberg in 1949 and has three heritages: Kabi Kabi nation on his fathers side and Goreng Goreng on his mothers. His grandfather was taken from Ambrym Island in Vanuatu as part of the so-called blackbirding trade. Related Article Updated

Anzac Day Boos mar Melbournes Anzac Day dawn service Uncle Ray still remembers his parents telling him to run for his life should the police or government officials arrive in a black car seeking to take him away. Each time the cars arrived, he would hear women screaming to their children to run into the bush and hide. One day, some nearby children were happily playing; the next, they were gone. His sustained work with members of the Stolen Generations forms a core part of his decades of service in Sydney as an Anglican Church pastor and elder. One of his biggest achievements is co-founding the annual Coloured Diggers March in Redfern on Anzac Day which commemorates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who served in overseas conflicts.

Advertisement

He is so committed to the service of others, says Gamilaroi journalist and former Today presenter Brooke Boney. Of Saturdays ugly scenes, Boney is scathing: This is the best country in the world, not least because its home to the oldest continuing culture of anywhere in the world. If your choice is to boo its survival and those who are brave enough to serve to protect it, you are not only a fool but also a coward. Minniecon was instrumental in the creation of Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall, the large standing bullets in Hyde Park which form a memorial to Indigenous service members. He founded Scarred Tree Ministries in Glebe and was a driving force in the 2007 creation of the Gawura School at St Andrews Cathedral School. He has been involved in climate change activism, suicide prevention and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. He does all this on the smell of an oily rag, says Julie Leask, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney who has been friends with Ray and Sharon Minniecon for 15 years via St Johns Church Glebe. Hes very generous with his time and very under-resourced. He carries his challenges with enormous grace and humour. Theres a justifiable anger that you would often expect from First Nations people because of all the injustices that have been committed against them. But what I notice about Uncle Ray is that he has a real desire to see justice prevail by bringing black and white together. He has is always looking at new ways of thinking. But he does it with this enormous grace. Former NSW minister Victor Dominello got to know Minniecon between 2011 and 2015 while the then Liberal MP held the Aboriginal and veterans affairs portfolios. Asked about Minniecons contribution to Sydney, Dominello replies: The booing he faced on Saturday was disgraceful. Heckling a man who has actually served in our defence forces on Anzac Day reveals a profound ignorance of his personal military service and his lifelong dedication to Indigenous Diggers. Uncle Ray Minniecon during the Coloured Diggers service at Redfern. Getty Images Similar booing occurred in Perth and at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne in a seemingly coordinated attempt to disrupt proceedings. In Sydney, a 24-year-old man was arrested over the Martin Place incident and charged with committing a nuisance at a war memorial.

Advertisement
Advertisement

NationalQueenslandCinema Martin scored the lead role in a movie. There was just one problem Nick Dent April 26, 2026  8:59am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A year after moving to Los Angeles in 2013, former Home and Away actor Martin Dingle Wall landed what looked like his big film break. He was cast as the lead in a Russian rom-com titled All That Jam. It wasnt until the first table read that he realised there had been a serious miscommunication. His part did not have just a few lines in Russian. It was all in Russian. So I had a meltdown, Dingle Wall says. His fee had already been spent. There was no backing out. Larry Cedar (Josiah Ballard) and Martin Dingle Wall (Ned Campbell) in This Bloody Country, with Maggie Gwin and Rainey Qualley. I had that moment where you look yourself in the mirror and go: Mate, the whole world is bilingual. Australians, Americans, British  were the only ones that dont speak at least two languages. The brain has this capacity.

Advertisement

With the help of his director, he soldiered through. And f--- me dead, eight weeks later, there now exists a film which is me in the romantic lead speaking full Russian. That fish-out-of-water feeling came back to haunt the Bondi-raised, Gold Coast-based performer when he was cast as an Australian frontiersman in the American West in This Bloody Country. The low-budget film became the most popular western on Amazon Prime for five weeks when it dropped in the US last year. Now its having its big-screen premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on April 29, with Dingle Wall in attendance. In This Bloody Country, a Mormon preacher, Josiah Ballard (Larry Cedar), his three wives (Maggie Gwin, Rainey Qualley and Cameron Meyer) and multiple children leave Salt Lake City to cross the Arizona badlands to reach a frontier settlement in 1869.

Advertisement

Ballard trusts in the good book rather than the Winchester, but the family hires an Australian gunslinger, Ned Campbell (Dingle Wall) to protect them  bandits and Paiute traditional owners stand in their way. When you think of antipodean characters in American westerns, it can be both strangely right (Zoe Bell in The Hateful Eight) and utterly cringe (Paul Hogan in Lightning Jack). Dingle Wall in his pin-up days. Courtesy Martin Dingle Wall Happily, Dingle Wall is a revelation in a role that the one-time soapie heartthrob has aged into like a confident blend of Clint Eastwood and Gary Cooper. His Campbell is a classic loner, haunted by conscience but willing to do what a mans gotta do.

Advertisement

Its not courage, Jack, Campbell tells the preachers younger brother, Nathaniel (Jacob Ward). You just pull the trigger. Or you dont. Dingle Wall says the battle for his character is against blind faith and the resistance to anything logical. True blue grit: Martin Dingle Wall plays an Australian in the Wild West in This Bloody Country. As portrayed by Cedar, who played the opium addict Leon Stalsworth in Deadwood, the Mormon patriarch is small-minded and sanctimonious, scornful of his wives ability to do anything but cook, rear children and perform their conjugal duties. When Campbell proposes teaching the women to shoot, Ballard thinks hes out of his mind. Its an inconvenient truth, Dingle Wall says, that Mormon wives were largely cutting the western trails.

Advertisement

That doesnt suit the narrow Hollywood narrative, but they were the actual pioneers  In the world of open lies that were now living in, give us a movie that speaks a bit of truth to power, you know? The films American writer and director, Craig Packard, believes Dingle Wall is a movie star in the old Steve McQueen model. He has all the swagger and confidence, yet at the same time, hes an actor with a capital A, Packard wrote in an email. Packard says he wrote the part of Campbell to be Australian, inspired by his Seattle-based Australian actor friend Paul Eenhoorn, who died in 2022.

Advertisement

Id never seen an Aussie in the Old West, and it struck me as interesting because it implies quite a journey to get there, as well as some history to get familiar enough with the territory to serve as a guide. Dingle Wall came to acting while backpacking around Europe in his early 20s. Late at night in a small Italian town, he stumbled across a person he thought was being bullied. It turned out to be street theatre. It was the women, really, that were cutting the trails. Dingle Wall and Maggie Gwin (Lilith Ballard). Affected, he attended drop-in improv classes, was rejected by NIDA, and landed an agent anyway. I eventually started to get into audition rooms, which is where you really learn. Thats where you fail spectacularly and constantly, where the rubber hits the road, he says.

Advertisement

I think some casting agents were just quite patient with me because they could sense my enthusiasm. Landing Home and Aways young doctor, Flynn Saunders, thrust him into another universe and scored him a Logie nomination, but he left after two years. Roles in Underbelly, Satisfaction, Cops: L.A.C., and the Nicole Kidman film Strangerland followed. In Hollywood, where he lived for eight years, he quickly realised a fondness for beer was holding him back, and the part in All That Jam came five weeks after he got sober. That led to the lead in an Egyptian-American spy series, Cypher. He was also in The Dry and Upper Middle Bogan. Its all a conga line of insanity, he laughs. He goes where the work is, but joint custody of his 11-year-old son anchors him in Currumbin. On reading Packards This Bloody Country script Dingle Wall couldnt quite believe his luck that they were looking for an Australian to star in it.

Advertisement

And to everyones absolute delight, we shot to number one and stayed there for a month, he says. Related Article Good Weekend Forty years on, Paul Hogans Crocodile Dundee is still our biggest film. Heres why it could have been a disaster It could have been a question of, How dare they put an Australian frontiersman in what is clearly an American role. The writer had dug around and gone, No mate, there were Australians there. It was filmed on the vast Deer Springs Ranch in Utah, where the terrain didnt allow for trailers; the cast slept in cabins without running water or electricity. Flash floods crashed the set, making it into the film. The filmmaking experience mirrored the characters gruelling cross-country crawl. Dingle Wall wrote a 10-page backstory for his character, but otherwise, his preparation for the role was simply a love of the genre.

Advertisement

I had, by default, been preparing my entire life. Gold Coast Film Festival runs until May 3. This Bloody Country streams on Prime later in 2026. Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
Advertisement

NationalVictoriaCrime Three boys charged over Melbourne bars second arson attack in a week Ashleigh McMillan April 26, 2026  9:18am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Three teenage boys have been charged over the second arson attack on Melbourne CBD venue Bar Bambi in a week, while investigators probe another suspicious firebombing and an unrelated drive-by shooting in South Yarra overnight. At 5am on Saturday, City of Melbourne staff saw a suspicious vehicle on CCTV near the corner of Flinders and AC/DC lanes. Bar Bambi in the hours after the arson attack on April 25. Penny Stephens When police arrived, the front of Bar Bambi was alight. Officers chased down two of the alleged offenders and arrested them, while another was arrested in a nearby laneway shortly after. Police have since charged a 17-year-old from Darebin, a 16-year-old from Hume and a 15-year-old from Merri-bek with a raft of offences, including criminal damage by fire, burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

Advertisement

The trio is expected to appear in a childrens court at a later date. Saturdays incident follows an earlier attack on Bar Bambi on April 18, when several men forced entry and tried to torch the venue, but fled before the fire could take hold. Loading A wave of firebombings, shootings and attempted kidnappings has afflicted Melbournes hospitality scene for the past two months, with at least 19 attacks on Melbourne venues since February 4. Police are now probing another firebombing of a licensed venue in the early hours of Sunday, after Bar Up on Chapel Street, South Yarra, was set on fire just before 5am.

Advertisement

Related Article Crime Its become a war zone: Popular Melbourne bar firebombed twice in a week Emergency services received reports that a male offender started the blaze before fleeing on foot, causing significant damage to the building, according to a spokeswoman for Victoria Police. The venue was closed when the blaze took hold. A man was treated for smoke inhalation after unsuccessfully trying to extinguish the fire. The offender was not located following patrols of the area, and is still on the run.

Advertisement

Related Article Exclusive

Organised crime Burning up the dance floor: Mysterious gang targeting clubs, promoters in new extortion scheme Nearby on Commercial Road in South Yarra, popular bar and club The Emerson was targeted in a drive-by shooting just before 2am on Sunday. A vehicle allegedly pulled up outside the venue before several shots were fired towards the bar. No one was injured and the offenders drove away from the scene. A small stretch of Commercial Road between Porter and Izett streets remains closed to traffic on Sunday morning.

Advertisement

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour, with CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

CORRECTION An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the bar set on fire. It was, in fact, Bar Up that was firebombed on Chapel Street.
Woman ambushed by violent gang on remote road

Tamara Anderson says she was attacked by a gang who smashed their way into her car in South Australia.
For the election of directors, Nord listed the 10 nominees reflected in the proxy statement: William Christensen, Antonella Franzen, Catherine Halligan, Michael Hilton, Tracey Joubert, Cynthia Marshall, David Nord, Bruce Taten, Roderick Wendt, and Steven Wynne.

With Hayes advising that a quorum was present, Nord declared the meeting duly and lawfully convened. Stockholders were asked to vote on four proposals:

Nord said Jas Hayes, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, served as secretary of the meeting and recorded the proceedings. Hayes received an affidavit from Broadridge Financial Solutions stating that on or about March 12, 2026, the notice of the meeting and notice of internet availability of proxy materials was mailed to stockholders of record as of Feb. 23, 2026, which was the record date for the meeting. Nord also noted that John Mirva of American Election Services was appointed inspector of election and signed an oath to act in that role.

JELD-WEN (NYSE:JELD) held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in a virtual format, with Chair of the Board David Nord saying the online format was intended to increase accessibility for all of our stockholders. Nord was joined by members of the companys board and executive leadership team, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Samantha Stoddard, as well as PwC lead engagement audit partner Daniel Swigut.

3 construction stocks you need to know about

The company will file final voting results on a Form 8K with the SEC within four business days, and the inspectors final report will be appended to the meeting minutes.

CEO William Christensen said the company is prioritizing operational excellence, cost discipline, footprint optimization and workforce realignment to address persistent headwinds, and announced a strategic review of its Europe business .

Stockholders preliminarily approved all four proposals  the election of 10 directors, a non-binding say-on-pay vote, ratification of PwC as auditor, and approval of the 2026 Omnibus Equity Plan .

Story Continues

Nord said the companys bylaws require stockholders to provide advance notice of intent to nominate director candidates, and no such notice was received. He then declared nominations closed and stated that the board recommended voting for each of the 10 nominees.

Say-on-pay, auditor ratification, and equity plan

Nord described the executive compensation proposal as a non-binding advisory vote and directed stockholders to the compensation discussion and analysis section of the proxy statement. He said the board recommended voting in favor of the advisory proposal on named executive officer compensation.

 3 Stocks Poised to Grow on European Rearmament Spending

For the third proposal, Nord said the board recommended ratifying PwC as the companys independent auditor for 2026. For the fourth proposal, he said the board recommended approval of the 2026 Omnibus Equity Plan.

Preliminary results and next steps

After opening and closing the polls, Nord reported that a preliminary tabulation indicated all four proposals were approved by the required votes cast. He said the final voting results would be reported in a Form 8-K to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days of the meeting, and requested that the final report of the inspector of election be filed with the meeting minutes.

Following the completion of formal business and adjournment, the company moved to the question period, with Nord noting that only stockholders were permitted to submit questions. The transcript then turned to a brief business update from CEO William Christensen.

CEO business update: operations, costs, and Europe review

Christensen told stockholders the company is focused on delivering reliability, quality, and performance customers can count on. He described the environment as challenging and said operational excellence remains a daily priority as the company works to improve execution, rebuild trust through action, and deliver a more consistent experience for our customers and partners.

Christensen said that amid persistent headwinds and price cost pressures, JELD-WEN advanced strategic efforts to strengthen the company. He cited decisive actions to optimize our operating footprint, realign production, rebalance workforce levels, and improve cost discipline, while maintaining a focus on safety, quality, and delivery.

Looking ahead, Christensen said the company intends to execute with discipline through uncertainty, accelerate operational improvements, and assess a range of options for our Europe business through a strategic review. He also referenced targeted cost actions aimed at positioning the company to strengthen performance, better serve customers, and build a more resilient foundation.

Christensen added that the companys values-based culture emphasizes safety, urgency, accountability, and continuous improvement, and reiterated a commitment to building a more resilient and sustainable future for employees, communities, and the environment while creating long-term value for shareholders. He closed by thanking stockholders for their support.

The operator then concluded the meeting.

About JELD-WEN (NYSE:JELD)

JELD-WEN is a global manufacturer of windows and doors and related building products, serving both residential and commercial markets. The company's portfolio includes wood, vinyl and aluminum windows; interior wood doors; and exterior doors crafted from steel, fiberglass and composite materials. JELD-WEN's products are designed for new construction and remodeling applications, with an emphasis on quality, durability and energy efficiency.

Founded in 1960 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, JELD-WEN has grown through a combination of organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to establish a manufacturing footprint in North America, Europe and Australasia.

The article "JELD-WEN Virtual Annual Meeting: Shareholders OK Directors, Say-on-Pay, PwC, and 2026 Equity Plan" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Advertisement

Exclusive PoliticsFederalAustralia votes One Nation byelection candidates former Labor links revealed Rob Harris April 27, 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

Pauline Hansons candidate for next months Farrer byelection sought to run for Labor under Anthony Albaneses leadership and personally donated to the partys election fund, in a blow for a One Nation campaign built on attacking the major parties. David Farley, the Narrandera-based irrigator selected by One Nation for the May 9 contest triggered by the resignation of deposed Liberal leader Sussan Ley, is a frontrunner for the seat in both published opinion polls and corporate betting markets. One Nation candidate David Farley (left) and Barnaby Joyce campaigning in Farrer last month. SMH/Age But this masthead has confirmed the 69-year-old  also a one-time NSW Nationals member  approached state Labor figures in 2021 seeking to help depose the Coalition government at the 2022 federal election, having applied to join to become a branch member a year earlier. Labor sources, not authorised to speak on behalf of the party, said the former chief executive of the countrys largest cattle business, Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), met local branch members and even completed a candidates expression of interest, which was lodged to the NSW partys Sussex Street headquarters in Sydney.

Advertisement

The ALPs 2022 platform included support for net-zero emissions by 2050, an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and doubling the nations refugee intake  all policies vehemently opposed by Hanson. One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson speaks at the Australia Marches Rally To End Mass Immigration in Canberra on Sunday. Alex Ellinghausen Farleys potential candidacy was not considered viable by party officials after low-level vetting, sources said. Their concerns were tied to elements of his personal history and background, including his 2012 remarks about former prime minister Julia Gillard being a non-productive old cow and campaigning to fill hundreds of jobs at a Northern Territory abattoir with workers hired from India on 457 visas. His membership application was also rejected. Despite failing to gain Labors endorsement, sources said someone with Farleys same details had also donated to Labor as recently as March 2023, making a small personal contribution to the partys Aston byelection campaign, where the Albanese government boosted its majority with a shock win. One source said Farley had donated about $100 in response to a call-out for donations from Labor HQ amid claims they were being outspent by the Liberals.

Advertisement

Farley did not return calls or messages on Sunday, apart from texting: at church. Talk latter [sic]. ALP national secretary Paul Erickson declined to comment when asked about Farleys applications and donor history. The revelation cuts against One Nations outsider message in a byelection being closely watched as a test of the partys rising support nationally, and of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor as the Liberals fight to hold the sprawling rural southern NSW seat. Farleys main challenger for the seat is Climate 200-backed community independent Michelle Milthorpe, who whittled Leys lead down to just 6.2 per cent at last Mays federal election. She has fought hard against claims that shes beholden to Climate 200, arguing that only 2 per cent of donations made to her campaign came from the funding vehicle. Independent candidate for Farrer Michelle Milthorpe (centre) with Independent member for Indi Helen Haines and Independent Senator David Pocock after a press conference in Albury in February. AAPIMAGE

Advertisement

Support for Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski, according to several published polls, has fallen to 16.1 per cent, well behind One Nation (30.9 per cent) and Milthorpe (30 per cent), according to a uComms poll published last week in The Conversation. Both Coalition parties have directed preferences to Farley ahead of Milthorpe. Related Article Opinion

Byelection This crucial byelection looks nothing like the battle in Canberra. Thats a good thing James Massola Chief political commentator Farley has been campaigning as a regional conservative focused on irrigation, energy and cost-of-living pressures, as One Nation seeks to convert its polling momentum into a breakthrough result in Farrer. The Labor links are not his only connection to a major party, and he was reportedly floated in 2013 as a potential replacement for Barnaby Joyce in the Senate. After departing AACo suddenly in 2013, he later became a financial member of the NSW Nationals Party from November 2015 to November 2020, when he allowed his membership to lapse.

Advertisement

A senior Nationals figure said relations within the party were not always cordial. In May 2018, he wrote an email to party officials asking for a commission in return for the amount of new members he had signed in the region. In August 2019, he unsuccessfully sought to be nominated for an NSW upper house casual vacancy after by the retirement of Niall Blair, a cabinet minister in both the Berejiklian and Baird governments. Pre-polling in Farrer opens on Tuesday. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
Advertisement

Exclusive PoliticsQueenslandPublic service Creates a smell: Top bureaucrat urged to detail shares in uranium miner Matt Dennien April 27, 2026  5:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

One of Queenslands most senior bureaucrats has been urged to outline the timeline and scale of his shareholdings in what would be the largest uranium miner in the state if a politically seesawing ban on mining the metal was lifted. Integrity and anti-corruption figures have warned there is a strong case of a conflict of interest risk for Department of State Development director-general John Sosso, meaning he should go beyond just declaring he holds the shares. As many details as possible should be given, barrister and Centre for Public Integrity director Geoffrey Watson SC told Brisbane Times. The director-general should answer these questions. Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning director-general John Sosso. Economic Development Queensland This mastheads public sector column, Public Circus, last week highlighted Sossos shares in Paladin Energy, a Perth-based miner with major operations in the United States.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sosso first disclosed the shares publicly in November 2024 after being enlisted as department head by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, the Newman-era attorney-general under whom Sosso also served at that time. While his declaration of interests form was updated in March 2025, there was no change to the public-facing content of the document. Sosso also holds several other key government roles. Asked questions through his department about the number of shares he held, when they were first obtained, and how, when  or if  his holding had changed, Sosso refused to answer. In response, but only as background and not attributable to either Sosso or a department spokesperson, this masthead was told staffs personal finances were private matters.

Advertisement

Related Article Public service From kids netball to uranium mining: Top bureaucrats other interests Transparency International Australia chief Clancy Moore said given the significant state-based interests of the company and Sossos corresponding responsibilities, there is a strong case for a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest. In these cases, disclosure is the first step, but its also important how the conflict  perceived or actual  is managed, said Moore, head of the global anti-corruption organisations Australian arm. Watson, when asked if he considered dismissal of such questions as private matters acceptable, said: Totally not. The corruption-busting lawyer said while it was sad, but true that people surrender some privacy by taking on such senior government roles, that is known when you take on the job.

Advertisement

He said the lack of public detail around the timing and scale of Sossos shareholding in the company creates a smell that could be addressed by answering such questions. He said in cases where a senior official might have a potential conflict of interest, if current rules dont require further disclosure, they should be changed. As many details as possible should be given  The director-general should answer these questions. Geoffrey Watson SC It shouldnt be regarded as private matters, it should be regarded as public, Watson said. The LNP government has, as it did during its last term in power before ending the ban, repeatedly said reinstating uranium mining was not part of our plan. Any decision to reverse the ban is for the government, not Sosso  though his department could have some role in any work that followed.

Advertisement

In response to questions to Sosso via his department last week, a spokesperson said only that all public sector employees are required to declare any perceived, potential or actual conflicts of interest when they begin in their roles, and whenever a relevant matter arises. Related Article Uranium mining: Campbell Newman's two week turnaround To address declared conflicts, a management plan is developed and mutually agreed upon by the employer [in the case of directors-general, their minister] and employee. This plan outlines strategies to appropriately manage the identified conflicts, which may include assigning delegates to handle matters related to the declared conflicts, they said. The departments director-general [Sosso] ensures that his declaration of interests and associated management strategies are updated and maintained whenever new or changed circumstances occur. Queensland Public Sector Commissioner David Mackie, a deputy director-general under Sosso and Bleijie in the Newman government who  unlike Sosso  remained in the public service throughout the former Labor governments term, also held Paladin shares.

Advertisement

Until an update in February, Mackies previous interest declaration of June 2024 had disclosed shareholding and shares in two other uranium miners  including two others on Sossos declaration  Bannerman Resources and Peninsula Energy. Related Article Perspective

Queensland government All you need to know from two weeks of government scrutiny Mackie continues to hold shares in Peninsula Energy, disclosed alongside department directors-general despite him not being required to do so. Neither Bannerman nor Peninsula have interests in Queensland. Integrity and transparency in government is an important part of maintaining public confidence, Mackie said in response to questions from this masthead. This is why I elected to publish my interests. Like many other public servants, I possess some shares in a personal capacity. None of these shares pose any conflict of interest to my role in government.

Advertisement

But Mackie, again, declined to answer questions about when he first acquired Paladin shares, along with why and when he disposed of them. Bleijie, through his office, declined to respond to questions, deferring to the department, for which a spokesperson said only: We have no further response. Premier David Crisafullis office did not respond to questions. This masthead suggests no wrongdoing by Sosso, Bleijie, Mackie or Crisafulli, only that questions around Sossos public shareholding declarations  in particular  have not been answered, and that some have suggested they should be. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Advertisement

PoliticsQueenslandALP The Palaszczuk party rival who doesnt get a mention in her new book Matt Dennien April 27, 2026  5:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuks post-politics memoir aimed at encouraging young women into politics has been highly anticipated since her sudden retirement from state parliament in late 2023. The book, titled The Politics of Being Me, details Palaszczuks path from a Labor-strong household to running the state, referencing many friends, colleagues and foes along the way. One who straddles at least one of those categories, however, does not appear once in the 320-page book releasing publicly on Tuesday: long-time cabinet colleague Shannon Fentiman. Palaszczuk at a national cabinet meeting just days before announcing her resignation in December 2023. In her book, she reflects on this time  with all but one other pandemic-era leader gone  as crystallising her decision to quit. Alex Ellinghausen Fentiman, the now-shadow treasurer who had been attorney-general and minister for health and women under Palaszczuk, was one of three figures widely touted as a future leadership contender as questions built about the partys future across 2023.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Other elected party figures who appear in the book include, Jackie Trad, Leeanne Enoch, Di Farmer, Wendy Bourne, Mark Ryan and Curtis Pitt. In one chapter, titled The painful past returns, Australias longest-serving female premier offers new insight into then opposition leader Deb Frecklingtons 2019 princess Palaszczuk attack. Punters watch the Peoples Forum between then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and opposition leader Deb Frecklington in Brisbane during the October 2020 election campaign. Attila Csaszar The comments, given by Frecklington in an extensive interview with News Corp 10-months out from the looming state election, suggested Palaszczuk had become focused on appearances and designer labels while Frecklington had to remain grounded with a husband and kids. Many leapt to Palaszczuks defence at the time, including friends who noted Palaszczuk had openly spoken about miscarriage, IVF and endometriosis. Palaszczuk largely declined to be drawn in.

Advertisement

In her book, Palaszczuk addresses the negative reactions aimed at Frecklington, while noting she was, at the end of the day, the LNP leader and responsible for decisions which were made. Related Article Australia Day AC for AP: Annastacia Palaszczuk awarded top Australia Day honour I had watched Deb in parliament over the years, and this seemed out of character for her. I dont think it was her idea. I dont believe it was her own strategy, Palaszczuk writes. Youd have to ask her yourself, but it just didnt seem like her. I think it was the men behind her who were directing the strategy, and I believe it was a deliberate LNP strategy. Its certainly not atypical for that sort of strategy to be used against a woman. Look what our first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, copped.

Advertisement

In an exclusive pre-publication interview with News Corp, Palaszczuk said she wrote the book mostly to encourage other women, particularly young women, to back themselves in life and consider a political career. Editor's pick Perspective

Queensland government A fragile truce, and a funeral, launch parties scramble for Stafford An excerpt published on Sunday detailed her decision to step down, said by Palaszczuk to have been 100 per cent her own decision despite speculation otherwise. In it she also writes about being pursued by media while on a trip to Naples with partner Dr Reza Adib in September 2023. I wouldnt say Naples was the catalyst for my decision to leave politics, because Id been thinking about it for months, but it certainly gave me more food for thought, Palaszczuk writes. After the last parliamentary sitting of the year in late November, media speculation emerged that Palaszczuk might be moving on promoting this person or that person as the next premier, she writes.

Advertisement

All Id say about that is: every single backbencher wants to be a minister. And every minister wants to be premier. Theres always going to be ambition. Theres always going to be people who are openly ambitious, and people who would never be suited to the job but who think they can do the job. Acknowledgments at the books end begin with a thank you to incredible friend and business mentor Sarina Russo, the rich-list regular and Queensland businesswoman who Palaszczuk writes organised her meeting with Max Markson, the celebrity agent who would go on to represent her. They both convinced me to undertake this work after a lunch in Sydney, Palaszczuk writes. I hope this book inspires the next generation to make a difference and contribute to their community in any way that they can. Annastacia Palaszczuk: The Politics of Being Me, published by Harper Collins, is out Tuesday. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Advertisement

Exclusive PoliticsVictoriaInvestigations He was quietly appointed Victorias defence advocate. Concerns have been raised Clay Lucas April 27, 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 former federal Labor MP appointed as Victorias key intermediary to the defence industry is also working at a lobbying firm that has clients in the sector, raising potential conflicts in the taxpayer-funded role. David Feeney, a former Victorian senator, was late last year installed by the Allan government as Victorias Defence Industry Advocate. The part-time role, which pays a salary of $130,000, is designed to serve as the primary point of contact for global defence companies seeking to expand their footprint in Victoria and engage with government. David Feeney on the tank deck of the landing ship HMAS Choules during military exercises in 2014. ADF Simultaneously, Feeney continues to work as a consultant with lobbying firm Dragoman, which notes his defence credentials on its web page. Until mid-2025, Feeney was also an adviser to munitions and small-arms specialist Nioa, one of two contractors on a $19 million ammunition contract with Victoria Police. Dragoman managing director Tom Harley confirmed Feeneys ongoing role with Dragoman and said that they had discussed potential conflicts of interest.

Advertisement

He wouldnt take on a client that had a conflict with his advocate role, Harley said. He made it very clear when he was appointed to the defence advocate position that he would have potential conflicts of interest, and so we make sure to go nowhere near any sort of conflict. This masthead is not suggesting Feeney or the government has failed to appropriately manage any conflict of interest between his positions. Feeney previously served as the nations assistant defence minister, and was also once a powerful factional figure within Victorian Labor  his influence peaking with the removal of Kevin Rudd as prime minister in 2010. Feeneys appointment is the latest high-profile example of a trend identified by The Age on Sunday, in which roughly one in 10 top public board seats in Victoria is filled by a Labor-linked figure. As well as being the state defence advocate, Feeney is also the board chair of the Defence Council Victoria. On Sunday, asked about the board appointments, Premier Jacinta Allan defended the current process. There is a thorough process that is always followed for board appointments and Victorian government boards have on those boards the best people for the job, she said.

Advertisement

While the government argued Feeneys recruitment was merit-based, the appointment comes amid broader concerns about transparency and a growing culture of political patronage across the state. Catherine Williams, the executive director of pro-transparency think tank the Centre for Public Integrity, said in respect of public sector appointments generally that there needed to be robust guardrails. This was, she said, both to ensure that the best people are appointed to these important and often well-paid roles, and to ensure the public have confidence in appointments. Feeney has defence policy credentials  he was a parliamentary secretary for defence and later shadow assistant defence minister in Canberra  but his appointment was not marked by a formal Premiers Office announcement. Others, including the 2017 appointment to the role of another former Labor MP, Greg Combet, were publicly promoted.

Advertisement

Advertisement

OCallaghan said the role was officially part-time, but that the reality of the position often demanded a full-time commitment. Even though I was part-time, I was travelling to Melbourne [from a regional area] two or three times a week. OCallaghan said the position was crucial for the Victorian economy, and acted as a vital conduit between local and international defence giants seeking to work with the Victorian government. Youve got Thales in Bendigo, youve got Lockheed Martin, BAE, Raytheon. Under each of them, they develop their own supply chains involved in advanced technology  there is a swag of companies that are subcontracted to BAE and Lockheed Martin. He said the advocates job was to be the direct contact with defence companies in Victoria, to assist them in their advocacy with both the Victorian government and the federal government. There are defence industry advocates in every other state of Australia, with each state battling for federal defence funding. Youre representing the interests directly of defence industry companies, and assisting ministers to understand the critical role of the defence industry in Victoria, OCallaghan said. These are massive international players. And increasingly they are doing more work in Australia.

Advertisement

A spokesman for Brooks said Feeney brought strong capabilities and experience to the Victorian Defence Industry Advocate role. As a former federal parliamentary secretary for and member of the Defence Council of Victoria, Dr Feeney will ensure Victoria is well positioned to deliver on the Victorian Defence Vision Statement and secure increased investment and trade opportunities for the state, he said. The spokesman said a public recruitment process was undertaken, including independent assessment and robust merit-based selection to ensure impartiality. He said Feeney had submitted himself to comprehensive probity and background checks, including a full declaration of interests. Extensive processes have been put in place to mitigate any impacts of lobbying activities, the spokesman said, noting that Feeneys role with munitions company Nioa had finished several months before his state appointment.

Advertisement

Feeney has also held roles at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Australian War College. He is married to state coroner Liberty Sanger. Feeney left federal parliament in 2018 after he was unable to locate documents renouncing his British citizenship. He was the ninth MP at the time to lose their seat for being in breach of section 44 of the constitution. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Advertisement

TechnologyFunding Meet the Melbourne-built robot now in dozens of aged care homes David Swan April 27, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In a Mecwacare residential home in Ballarat, staff work alongside a four-foot robot that is brightly coloured, speaks up to 90 languages, occasionally blows bubbles and remembers details such as the songs residents grew up with. Grace Brown built the first of these machines, called Abi, in her bedroom during a Melbourne lockdown because she felt lonely. Five years on, the 26-year-old mechatronics engineer is chief executive of Andromeda Robotics, a Melbourne-headquartered company valued at roughly $100 million with offices in San Francisco, and convinced that the robot she started as a hobby will become something far larger than aged care. The hardest part is not what people expect, Brown says. Its not the engineering. Its not the fundraising. Its the fact that we are effectively writing the rule book for how a robot should behave around someone who is lonely, grieving, confused, or dying  in real time, in real homes, with real families watching. There is no textbook for that. Andromeda co-founder Grace Brown. Jessica Hromas

Advertisement

This month, Andromeda deployed its 22nd Abi across Victorian not-for-profit provider Mecwacare, completing what the company calls the largest rollout of empathetic humanoid companion robots in Australian aged care. More than 1500 residents are now sharing their days with one. An undisclosed first US customer, on the West Coast, goes live shortly. Australia faces a projected shortfall of at least 110,000 aged-care workers by 2030, according to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. In Browns own research, 40 per cent of Australian residents do not get a single visitor in a given month; in the US, its 60 per cent. Loneliness at the end of life isnt the absence of people, she says. Most residents are surrounded by people. Its the absence of someone who knows you. Who remembers the name of your first dog. Who notices youve gone quiet today in a way you werent yesterday. Andromedas Abi with residents in a Mecwacare facility. Andromeda is not alone in the market. Israels Intuition Robotics makes ElliQ, a lamp-like tabletop companion that last month became the first social AI robot fully reimbursed by a US Medicaid program, in Washington state. Japans Paro therapeutic seal has been deployed in care homes globally for two decades. Groove Xs Lovot offers a furry, pet-like alternative, and South Koreas ChatGPT-powered Hyodol dolls are in more than 12,000 homes.

Advertisement

Related Article Software Inside Canvas $100 billion gamble on an AI-first rebuild Andromedas bet is that a full-sized humanoid designed explicitly for empathy, closer in spirit to Pixars fictional healthcare robot Baymax than a lamp, is the form factor that wins. Its $23 million Series A funding round last September, led by San Franciscos Forerunner Ventures with CSIRO-linked Main Sequence, Rethink Impact and Perth-based Purpose Ventures, funded Browns move to the US and Andromedas American launch. The company has not disclosed its current valuation. Mecwacare says the early evidence is positive: the companys research found 74 per cent of staff reported observing reduced resident agitation when Abi was present, with the robot rated nine out of 10 for overall satisfaction. Mecwacare chief executive Anne McCormack says staff now call Abi their happiness assistant. That is not the same as a clinical trial, however. A 2024 Nature feature flagged a thin evidence base, risks of infantilisation for dementia residents, and the possibility such technology ends up affordable only to the best-resourced homes.

Advertisement

Brown acknowledges all of it. The pushback usually comes before Abi arrives. Not after, she says. The people most sceptical in theory are frequently the ones who, within a week of deployment, are asking when Abi can sing a specific song their mother used to know. Theres also the not insignificant question of harm. Andromeda has had what she calls minor incidents, interactions in which something Abi said did not land well. None, she says, has injured a resident, and every home has a named support lead who can pause the robot at any moment. We run post-incident reviews the same way a hospital does after a clinical event. The more pressing issue for Brown, and for Andromeda, is regulatory silence. Abi is not a medical device, not a toy, and not a member of staff, so it currently sits in a grey area. Andromedas Abi with residents in a Mecwacare facility. The defaults being set right now will shape how billions of people eventually experience these machines, she says.

Advertisement

Aged care, she argues, is just the first step in a much larger goal. Shes confident that billions of robots are about to enter human environments, and almost none are being built to read a room. Andromeda wants to be the social operating system every one of those machines eventually needs. If the social OS works here, it works anywhere, she says. The scale of what were building is a $100 billion company at minimum. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Funding David Swan is the technology editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously technology editor for The Australian newspaper. or email. Connect via X
Advertisement

InspirationLuxury holidays Inside legendary New York hotel after a $2.84 billion revamp Fiona Carruthers April 27, 2026  5:12am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

There are few finer feelings when in a strange city than walking into the lobby of a hotel thats so loved and lived in, its part of the citys timeline. When its the original Waldorf Astoria  fresh from an eight-year, $US2 billion ($2.84 billion) total refurbishment  you might have to sink into a velvet armchair in fabled Peacock Alley and realise you just checked into one of New Yorks most famous hotels. Peacock Alley and Cole Porters piano. The alley  more like an exceptional lounge room with its distinctive fish-motif carpet in oceanic blue, and a boulevard-style entrance  is named after the promenade that once connected the Waldorf and Astoria hotels, and was the citys place to strut. Today, you can sit at the mahogany art-case grand piano once used by former hotel resident Cole Porter, now part of Peacock Alley. This 1907 Steinway & Sons piano (on which he composed Ive Got You Under My Skin) still features the many ring marks from his Martini glasses. When Porter died in 1964, Frank Sinatra took over his Waldorf apartment, along with his piano. The alleys famous American oak bronze-and-gilt Queen Victoria Grand Clock  commissioned by Queen Victoria for the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and later purchased by John Jacob Astor  stands a few metres from the piano. Its all so New York, isnt it? says hotel assistant director Danny Harpaz, when I meet him by the clock for a hotel tour. So New York! I chime, thinking this is the closest Ill ever come to a brush with High Society. Its an investment, not a purchase

Advertisement

A fashion editor friend from Sydney in the early 2000s used to insist that an expensive blazer was an investment not a purchase. Looking back, she was most likely parroting that other grand dame of New York, Anna Wintour. As I recline on the well-padded chaise in my 620-square foot (57.5-square metre) junior suite, which overlooks a Mad Men-style building on Park Avenue, I take her advice. Surely, a stay in this $US1700-a-night suite could be also written off as an investment, if only in bragging rights. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. The Waldorfs rebirth is exemplified by the Park Avenue entrance. The hotels backstory is one of New Yorks best: the Waldorf Astoria brand originated in New York after two hotels built side-by-side in the 1890s on Fifth Avenue were finally merged by feuding Astor family relatives  more specifically, feuding cousins William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV. The current hotel opened on Park Avenue in 1931, after the original hotel was demolished for the Empire State Building. In 1949, the Waldorf Astoria was bought by Conrad Hilton, who declared it to be the greatest of them all. The property reopened only in mid-2025, and its long refurbishment is touted as Americas most expensive. It also puts the four-year (2012-2016) $US620 million overhaul of the Paris Ritz in the shade; ditto, the $US200 million spent on Raffles Singapore over almost three years from 2017. The eight-year makeover took the original 1930s 47-storey art deco tower built of granite, brick and limestone, capped with signature bronze-clad cupolas, from a 1400-room hotel to a centre with 375 luxury rooms and 372 private residences.

Advertisement

Who wouldnt want to road test the results? These rooms in midtown Manhattan are blue chip The lounge area of a Waldorf Astoria junior suite. The design brief of restrained, modernised art deco-inspired elegance and gilded glamour has been dutifully followed. The light and bright rooms are a triumph of stylish neutral tones and low-fuss technology. And the built-in bookshelf in the lounge area of my junior suite is graced with the sort of coffee table tomes, sculptural vases and well-dusted trinkets you can only dream of replicating at home. Architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill led the project, and Pierre-Yves Rochon did the interiors, which feel like a classic blue-chip choice that definitely taps your best travelling self.

Advertisement

On the bed are 400-thread-count cotton sateen sheets by Italian linen maker Frette, while Australian brand Aesop is a pump press away in the large spa-style bathroom. This is a complimentary media stay, but Im a complete sucker for epic nostalgia and have long considered a couple of nights in a heritage hotel akin to an artwork for the soul. Im anticipating a paid return to the Waldorf Astoria New York even before Ive killed the soft mood lighting on the first of my two nights in residence. The foyer from the Park Avenue entrance of the revamped Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Not least after a quick check of nightly rates for early 2027 reveals during New Yorks low season (January to early March), two people can enjoy a 53.4-square metre Deluxe King entry-level-room from $US1295 ($1806) a night. And if youre staying at the Waldorf in winter, who even needs to go outside? The impeccable renovation preserves the vibe of all that history with practical, contemporary flair, and its all matched by thoughtful, generous service from fully engaged staff  from the quick-witted concierge to the cheeky wait staff and the zen masseuse I had for a facial in the Guerlain Wellness Spa. From Queens, she explains that coming to work here is like a heavenly dream once shes up out of the subway, and I can only agree.

Advertisement

If an overnight stay is out of credit-limit reach, at least head for lunch or dinner at the hotels lower-level fine diner Lex Yard, helmed by chef Michael Anthony. Upstairs is seriously swanky, degustation territory. Downstairs, not only is the menu more affordable, but youre far more likely to rub shoulders with busy New Yorkers dropping in for a plate of the $US34 mushroom tagliatelle with bacon, black pepper and Alpha Tolman sauce, or the $US38 Lex Yard burger. The bar bites start from $US17 for pickled vegetables, and the impressive global wine list includes Australian and New Zealand drops. A seat at the bar in Lex Yard. Still too expensive? A freshly brewed piping hot cup of Joe is $US8 in Peacock Alley. Sip and ponder those dreams as clouds in your coffee. But dont forget, this is investment coffee  its at the Waldorf. Even if you are wearing a thrift-shop blazer to help fund it. THE DETAILS STAY

New York tends to be cheapest during January, February and sometimes early March. Hilton Honours members enjoy the cheapest rates, with rooms starting from $US1295 ($1806) on the Waldorfs website. See waldorfastorianewyork.com

Advertisement

EAT

The all-day restaurant Lex Yard is the hotels flagship eatery. You can also dine at kaiseki-style Yoshoku, and Peacock Alley is perfect for a quick breakfast, lunch or supper. PAMPER

The worlds largest Guerlain Wellness Spa has 16 treatment rooms and is on the hotels fifth floor. Youll also find a Cryotherapy Chamber, an infra-red sauna, steam room, Moroccan hammam, arctic snow cave, and three lounges. The Deep Muscle New York Signature massage is priced from $US380 for 90 minutes. FLY

Air New Zealand flies direct into New York City via Auckland. See airnewzealand.com.au The writer stayed as a guest of the Waldorf Astoria, and flew to the US courtesy of Air New Zealand.
Advertisement

InspirationUSA The quirky, little-known US town that should be a famous destination Rob McFarland April 25, 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

Only two men were killed the day I arrived, reported a newcomer to Elko in 1869. Back then, this dusty settlement in north-east Nevada was a rough and ready cowboy town, newly accessible by the Central Pacific Railroad and gripped by gold rush fever. It had 45 bars and probably just as many brothels. Elko, a surprising find in Nevada. iStock Today, people still come for gold (one of the northern hemispheres largest gold mines is nearby), but less so for iniquity. Youre also unlikely to be challenged to a gunfight for double-parking your horse. Im in Elko out of sheer curiosity. When I was deciding where to stop in Nevada while taking the California Zephyr Amtrak train from San Francisco to Chicago, my only criteria was that I wanted to go somewhere I knew nothing about. Having spent two days here, Im astonished that Elko isnt more renowned. Thanks to an influx of Basque shepherds from the Pyrenees in the late 1800s, it offers an intriguing fusion of Western and Basque culture, plus its flanked by the stunningly scenic Ruby Mountains, an Alps-like explosion of soaring peaks and glacial valleys. The drive into Lamoille Canyon is especially spectacular.

Advertisement

Its also endearingly quirky. The city centre is dotted with 36 colourful 1.8-metre-high cowboy boots, all decorated by local artists to celebrate Elkos centennial in 2017. There are also more than 100 murals, ranging from photorealistic portraits to artworks celebrating the citys cowboy, mining and railroad heritage. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Inside the Northeastern Nevada Museum. Travel Nevada The Silver State Stampede is the oldest rodeo in Nevada. Travel Nevada /Sydney Martinez The oddities continue in the Northeastern Nevada Museum, where alongside first editions by celebrated Western author Will James is a mountainside diorama of more than 180 stuffed animals, including lions, musk ox and polar bears. There are more surprises downstairs in the History Gallery, where its revealed that celebrated crooner Bing Crosby was such a fan of Elko that in 1948 he was made honorary mayor. Although youre more likely to spot a mining truck cruising through downtown than a cowboy on horseback, western culture is still celebrated at events like the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where 6000 people descend on the city every January for a week of music, crafting and story-telling.

Advertisement

Elko also hosts the states oldest rodeo, the Silver State Stampede, in June, and it still has traditional outfitters like JM Capriola, a 96-year-old store that specialises in artisan leatherwork. When I drop in, Oscar is putting the finishing touches to a $US6000 ($8656) saddle. Originally from Mexico, hes worked here for 45 years and proudly shows me a photo of the most expensive saddle hes made  an elaborate custom commission that sold for $US40,000. Saddle-making at JM Capriola Co. Sydney Martinez Pioneers remembered at the California Trail Interpretive Centre. Travel Nevada Basque culture is also alive and well. Many descendants still speak the regions original dialect and the annual National Basque Festival in July is a high-spirited gathering with folk dancing, wood chopping and strength contests. The cultures most enduring legacy is its hearty, family-style cuisine, which you can sample at several restaurants, including the Star Hotel and Toki Ona. My visit to the Star Hotel begins with a Picon Punch, a knee-buckling concoction containing grenadine, brandy and Picon Amer bitters, followed by a buckle-straining platter of cabbage soup, spaghetti, Basque beans, French bread, pasta, slow-cooked beef and fries. Its delicious, but having not spent the day mustering sheep, I can manage only half.

Advertisement

My final stop before re-boarding the train is the California Trail Interpretive Centre, an immersive museum that depicts the hardships endured by the 250,000 pioneers who attempted the gruelling 3200-kilometre westward trek in search of a better life. Related Article USA The ass end of the US, where donkeys rule the Wild West Its something I ponder later as I recline in my air-conditioned private roomette on the Zephyr, the Nevada high desert rushing past in a scenic blur outside. Transcontinental travel still has the same intoxicating allure as it did in the mid-1800s, but thankfully its now a hell of a lot easier. THE DETAILS TRAIN

Departing daily from San Francisco to Chicago (and vice-versa), the California Zephyr makes three stops in Nevada, including Elko. See amtrak.com

Advertisement

STAY

Located in the city centre, the Ramada Hotel at Stockmens Casino has spacious rooms from $US90 ($130) a night, breakfast included. See wyndhamhotels.com FLY

Delta Air Lines flies to Elko via Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. See delta.com The writer was a guest of Brand USA and Travel Nevada. See visittheusa.com.au; travelnevada.com

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: USA

North America After abandoning a sensible career in IT, Rob McFarland now divides his time between Sydney, the US and Europe. Hes won seven writing awards, including Australian Travel Writer of the Year, and offers writing courses for tourism operators, PR professionals and aspiring travel writers. While not averse to a 5-star hotel, his most memorable travels include scaling the mountain behind Machu Picchu and rafting Patagonias Futaleufu River. Follow his travels on Instagram @mctraveller. Connect via email
Advertisement

WorldEuropeFalkland Islands King Charles faces another challenge ahead of visit to meet Trump David Crowe April 26, 2026  8:59am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: Britain is standing firm against US President Donald Trump over a Pentagon plan to change its stance on European colonies such as the Falkland Islands, more than four decades after the UK went to war with Argentina to assert its claim to the remote territory. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asserted the British sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic after a leaked Pentagon memo raised the idea of punishing European countries that the US claimed were not doing enough to help in its war with Iran. Relations are poor between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump. Getty, AP The dispute adds another challenge for King Charles during his imminent state visit to see Trump in Washington DC, including meetings on Monday and a banquet at the White House on Tuesday. The aggressive approach outlined in the Pentagon memo, authored by top policy adviser Elbridge Colby, also raises the idea of suspending Spain from the NATO alliance because it is not supporting the Iran war.

Advertisement

A key part of the memo, obtained by Reuters and revealed on Friday, says the US could reassess its diplomatic support for the imperial possessions claimed by major European nations. While the leak has triggered headlines about the Falklands, the approach set out in the Pentagon proposal could be used against several European countries given their longstanding ties to former colonies. King Charles hosted Donald Trump for a state visit at Windsor Castle late last year. The King will be in Washington this week. AP The memo calls for a tougher diplomatic stance against NATO allies that have not delivered the support Trump sought for the war, especially in their decisions to deny US forces the ability to use European bases. Starmers office said the sovereignty of the Falklands Islands was not in question despite the US proposal.

Advertisement

The government of the Falkland Islands, which is structured as a British territory with an elected ministry and a governor who represents King Charles, has also dismissed the US proposal. The Falkland Islands has complete confidence in the commitment made by the UK government to uphold and defend our right of self-determination, it said in a statement. The people of the Falklands voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the UK in a 2013 referendum. The Falkland Islands are about 500 kilometres east of Argentina and have been the subject of rival claims by Argentina and Britain for at least two centuries, but their residents have long favoured self-government as a British territory, endorsed most recently in a 2013 referendum. When Argentina launched an invasion of the islands in 1982, during a period of military rule in Buenos Aires, the UK responded by sending a naval force that sank Argentine vessels and landed troops on the islands to reclaim the territory.

Advertisement

While the Pentagon proposal is not official policy and canvasses options that might be used against European nations, the suggestion about the Falkland Islands has hit a nerve in Britain and sparked headlines about the backlash against Trump and his administration on the issue. Related Article Royal family Australian flag in mix-up as Washington prepares to welcome Charles Colby, the author of the memo, is the under-secretary for policy at the Department of War and has made other provocative moves over the past year, including a decision last July to launch a review of the AUKUS pact with Australia and the UK. The Colby review questioned whether AUKUS met the America first policy of the Trump administration, and it required a major diplomatic effort by the UK and Australia to ensure the pact went ahead. Trump confirmed his support for AUKUS in October, but Colbys move led to months of doubt over the vast submarine project. Argentina has kept up its claims to the Falklands for decades after the 1982 war, calling them Las Islas Malvinas.

Advertisement

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno seized on the US proposal to post a message on social media calling for talks with the UK on a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Trump is in no rush for an Iran deal, but he cant wait forever One source of concern for the British government is the close friendship between Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, a philosophical ally of the MAGA movement. In its official statements, the US has emphasised its neutrality on the sovereignty question and acknowledged the competing claims of the UK and Argentina. A US State Department spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that the US recognises de facto United Kingdom administration of the territory without taking sides.

Advertisement

The Colby memo centres on American doubts about the support from NATO at a time when European leaders are criticising the war with Iran, declining to send forces to assist the US in the Persian Gulf and, in some cases, calling the war illegal. American forces continue to have practical support in Europe. US bombers are using the Royal Air Force base at Fairford in the UK to mount some of their strikes. Germany hosts a mammoth logistics hub, hospital and airfield at Ramstein. France is hosting US refuellers at the Istres-Le Tube air base near Marseille, while Italy has done the same thing at Aviano, north of Venice. After initially refusing to allow the use of UK bases, Starmer has approved the use of bases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for defensive operations that can include strikes on Iranian military assets. European criticism has mounted, however, as the Iran war has dragged on. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called the war a breach of international law and blocked US forces from using any bases in Spain for the attacks on Iran. Sanchez has maintained his objections to the Iran war despite the leaked memo, and he has argued that Spain is fulfilling all its NATO responsibilities.

Advertisement

From my point of view, this war is illegal, Sanchez told reporters. Its a big mistake. 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.
Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaTrump's America Opinion America is burning with political violence. Its a fire that Trump keeps stoking Cory Alpert Former White House staffer Updated April 26, 2026  5:00pm , first published 4:58pm

Updated April 26, 2026  5:00pm ,first published 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

The White House Correspondents Dinner is a fixture of the Washington calendar  perhaps the only night where every corner of the political spectrum gathers to celebrate free speech. Its centrepiece is a roast of the president: proof that no citizen, however powerful, stands above any other. The office may command respect, but its occupant can be lampooned like anyone else. Even for just one night, it reminds the American political world that the free flow of ideas matters more than the ego or office of any individual. US President Donald Trump speaking after the shooting at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington. AP We live in poor times for such ideals. Political violence has risen sharply over the past decade  more so than at any of the five moments in US history where a sitting president has been shot, leaving four dead and one gravely wounded. US President Donald Trump has been the leading accelerant of that rise, throwing fuel on the fire at every opportunity.

Advertisement

Just days ago, he was posting threats to erase an entire civilisation from above. In November, he wrote that six politicians who had criticised him had committed an offence punishable by death. Related Article Middle East at war Trump dinner shooting as it happened: US president evacuated from White House Correspondents Dinner after gunshots heard In 2018, a Trump supporter mailed pipe bombs to 16 Democratic politicians and their supporters  killing no one, by luck alone. That year, I was running an event for the Democratic candidate for governor of Florida when law enforcement found the bombers van nearby. I had less than a minute to get my candidate out. In 2022, Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul, was attacked with a hammer by a man who prosecutors described as a far-right conspiracy theorist who was seeking to kill the then-Speaker of the House. A year later, at a fundraiser for California Republicans, Trump mocked both: Well stand up to crazy Nancy Pelosi, who ruined San Francisco  hows her husband doing, anybody know? In 2025, Melissa Hortman  the first woman to be the Speaker of the House in Minnesota  was shot and killed at her home by an assailant who found himself firmly in the middle of the dangerous and conspiratorial world that Trump has fanned for his own politics.

Advertisement

While Democrats and liberals have overwhelmingly been the targets of political violence, the wildfire has not stayed contained. Trump was the target of two assassination attempts while running for re-election in 2024, and Trump ally Charlie Kirk was killed in front of a crowd last September. We all now pay the price for Trumps naive and callous political logic. He is at once convinced that his word should be final on any topic, and also that he bears no responsibility for any bad outcome that might arise. That logic has made the Secret Services job harder. Agents are being asked to maintain order in an increasingly dangerous political environment, for substantially less pay than the private sector would offer. They are being asked to work alongside newly hired ICE agents with reduced vetting standards  some with reported ties to neo-Nazi groups or domestic violence charges. And they are doing all of this through a months-long administrative shutdown that has left parts of the agency unpaid and furloughed. Loading These same agents operate in a country where every attempt to address the epidemic of gun violence collides with the lobbying power of Americas firearms industry. On his first day in office, Trump disbanded the White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention. His administration subsequently moved to restore gun access for convicted domestic abusers  something explicitly prohibited by federal law  and scaled back the governments capacity to track and prosecute illegal arms dealers.

Advertisement

We dont yet know what motivated the attack at the Correspondents Dinner. We may not for some time, particularly given the turmoil engulfing Trumps Justice Department and his embattled FBI Director, Kash Patel. What is notable is that neither Trump nor anyone on his team rushed to assign a political motive  a restraint conspicuously absent in comparable incidents over the past decade. Related Article Opinion

Trump diplomacy All of his assumptions proven wrong, Donald Trump is Irans newest hostage Maureen Dowd New York Times columnist Trump, predictably, has already turned the attack to his own purposes: in his press conference after returning to the White House, it had become an argument for why his new ballroom must be built. We cannot know whether the gunman was headed for the president, the cabinet, or the press gathered in their thousands. In the end, it doesnt matter. Violence committed against any of them sends a message that being involved in politics now carries a risk. This is exactly why political violence of any kind is so abhorrent, and why it must be condemned at every turn  regardless of its source, its target, or its accelerant.

Advertisement

The political violence now woven into American daily life has found much of its oxygen from Donald Trump. Perhaps this attack  thwarted by the Secret Service and their partners  will serve as a warning. Fire does not discriminate. Every time that Trump makes violence more normal, more acceptable, he only makes it more likely. This is a fire that consumes everything in its path, making no distinction between the person who lit the match and the ones trying to put it out. Cory Alpert is a PhD researcher at the University of Melbourne looking at the impact of AI on democracy. He previously served the Biden-Harris administration. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
Advertisement

Washington: The accused gunman who tried to storm the ballroom at the White House Correspondents Association dinner with guns and knives travelled across the country before the event and is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. Blanche also said officials believe the suspect travelled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington, where in recent days he checked in as a guest to the hotel where one of Washingtons glitziest events was being held on Saturday night. Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him to The Associated Press as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California. Loading Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunmans electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, President Donald Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

Advertisement

It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president, Blanche told NBCs Meet the Press. The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday. The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage, along with other dignitaries. US President Donald Trump shared a photo of the alleged gunman. Truth Social Trump, safe and still in his tuxedo, said at a White House press conference two hours later that he guessed he was the target, saying he had studied assassinations and they tended to go after people who made a difference.

Advertisement

When youre impactful, they go after you. When youre not impactful, they leave you alone, Trump said. I hate to say Im honoured by that, but Ive done a lot. The alleged gunman is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon. More charges are expected to follow. Related Article Trump's White House Shots fired: How the aborted gala for White House journalists unfolded The annual dinner for White House journalists was just getting under way when armed security rushed in. Attendees were eating a spring pea and burrata salad, and waiters were preparing to bring out the next course, when a security detail appeared on the ballroom floor and yelled for everyone to get down. People were seen hiding behind chairs about 8.30pm Washington, DC time when Secret Service agents rushed the stage to escort Trump and other dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance and first lady Melania Trump, from the long table at the front of the room.

Advertisement

Secret Service agents yelled shots fired, stay down and out of the way, sir! as Trump and cabinet members were rushed out. No one was injured. Journalists in gowns and tuxedos ducked near tables as wine splattered onto white tablecloths and glasses clinked in the hurry to seek safety. Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Trump in place before escorting him and the first lady from the room. Trump briefly stumbled on the way offstage, before being assisted by his security detail. White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino jumps over a chair in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Getty Images Trump was held for some time in a secure presidential suite at the hotel while he and organisers initially sought to resume the event. Hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president, but he was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.

Advertisement

The banquet hall, where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trumps speech, was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building, where people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Secret Service agents rush to the stage where Trump was seated at the White House Correspondents Dinner. AP FBI director Kash Patel said the agency was examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward. Interim police chief Jeff Carroll said the alleged gunman was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives when he charged a security checkpoint outside the Hilton ballroom. The suspect was not shot during the exchange of gunfire, police said, but he was still taken to hospital for assessment.

Advertisement

A Secret Service agent took a bullet to his bulletproof vest, but was released from hospital early on Sunday US time. Trump said at the press conference that he had spoken to him. Hes doing great. Hes in great shape, Trump said. He was in very high spirits and we told him we love him and respect him and he is a very proud guy. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased to hear that the president and first lady and all attendees at the dinner were safe. We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action, Albanese said. Trump has been the subject of prior assassination attempts, including at a Pennsylvania rally in 2024, when his ear was grazed by a bullet.

Advertisement

The president said he would not change the way he went about his job despite another act of violence that was seemingly politically motivated. He was adamant the dinner would be rescheduled and that it would be bigger and better. Were not going to let anybody take over our society. Were not going to cancel things out, Trump said. I dont like to let these sick people, these horrible thugs, change the fabric of our lives, change what we do. He also praised Melania Trump for her poise during a traumatic time.

Advertisement

Trump used his press conference to advocate for the new ballroom he is in the process of having built at the White House, saying he believed tonights venue wasnt particularly secure. We looked at all of the [security] conditions that took place tonight, and I will say it is not a particularly secure building, Trump said. I didnt want to say this, but this is why we have to have all the attributes of what we are planning at the White House with a larger room, and it is drone-proof, bulletproof, he said. Melania and Donald Trump at the dinner before the security incident. Bloomberg via Getty Images We need the ballroom. That is why Secret Service and the military are demanding it.

Advertisement

Gallery Gallery icon 24 images Donald Trump In pictures: Trump, politicians flee after shots fired at Washington hotel Generally, the Washington Hilton, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the White House Correspondents Dinner. Security has typically been focused on the hotel ballroom itself. In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security removed guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations. In 1981, then-president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the Hilton in an event that prompted a redesign of the property. With AP, Bloomberg Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) was among Jim Cramers latest stock calls, as he suggested investors balance portfolios with hot and cold stocks. Cramer noted that the stock declined even after reporting a good quarter because it was already up significantly for the year.

When Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, that was terrible for the global economy. We all know that, right? But its also great for the price of oil and the price of petrochemicals, for that matter. This has been tremendous for American chemical companies to get all the supplies they need domestically. And thats why Dow, the big chemical company, has gone from being the sixth worst performer in the S&P 500 last year to one of the top 20 this year, up nearly 65% for 2026. What have they done for me lately? How about go up? Now, this morning, Dow reported a solid quarter, a healthy revenue beat paired with a smaller-than-expected loss. Even though this company doesnt give formal guidance, managements conference call commentary, I thought, was very upbeat. Unfortunately, maybe for today, it wasnt enough. The stock slipped 7% because I think when youre up nearly 65% for the year, that means expectations went skyward.

Stock market data. Photo by Photo by Alesia Kozik

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) develops chemical and material products used in packaging, construction, transportation, and consumer industries.

While we acknowledge the potential of DOW 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.
Advertisement

Updated WorldNorth AmericaCrime What we know about the alleged shooter arrested at the presidential dinner Staff reporters April 26, 2026  4:38pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The California man arrested in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump. A photo of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, posted to social media last year shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. His face appears to match the appearance of the alleged attacker taken into custody at the dinner Saturday night in Washington that was attended by Trump and top members of his administration. A search of state and federal court databases showed no indication Allen had ever previously been charged with a crime. Donald Trump shared an image of the alleged gunman, who was arrested at the Washington Hilton. Truth Social Voter registration records from California lists Allens home address as his parents house on a tree-lined street in one of the most historic neighbourhoods in Torrance, a city within the Los Angeles metro area. Public records show he is the oldest of four adult siblings, with two younger sisters and a brother.

Advertisement

Two cars were parked in the driveway on Sunday morning (California time). A blue scooter that a neighbour said Allen rode was on the front lawn. No one answered the door when an Associated Press reporter knocked. Allen contributed $US25 ($35) to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records. A yard sign displayed at the family home supported a local candidate for judge who was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. FBI agent near his home in Torrance, California on Sunday. AP Law enforcement officials told the AP that Cole Allen legally bought a .38-calibre semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun last year. Allen earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his profile on the social networking site LinkedIn. He also listed his involvement there in a campus group that battled with Nerf guns and a Christian student fellowship.

Advertisement

The suspects father, Thomas Allen, is listed as an elder at Grace United Reformed Church Torrance. The webpage for the congregation describes it as a Bible-believing church following the infallible Word of God. Security guards posted at the sanctuary during worship services on Sunday escorted parishioners to the door and kept reporters at bay. Media in front of a house connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged gunman. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Bin Tang, a computer science professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, told the AP that Allen took a few of his classes before graduating last year. He was a very good student indeed, always sitting in the first row of my class, paying attention, and frequently emailing me with coursework questions. Soft-spoken, very polite, a good fellow. I am very shocked to see the news, Tang wrote in an email. A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Advertisement

Allens online resume says he worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counselling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. A 2024 post on the companys Facebook page listed Allen as the companys teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night. Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allens name said he was working to develop a new top-down shooter combat game set in outer space. With AP, Bloomberg 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.
Trump cancels envoys' trip to Iran talks in Pakistan



Washington, United States, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2026



US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had ordered his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iranian officials, but also that the move didn't mean resuming the war.

Trump made the announcement in individual phone calls with reporters, and later in a post on social media, shortly after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad.

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff had been scheduled to leave for Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, on Saturday for a second round of peace talks with Iran.

"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is (sic) Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!" he wrote on his Truth Social media platform.

"Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.' Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," he continued.

However, Trump left the door open to further negotiations, saying if the Iranians "want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"

Asked earlier Saturday by Axios whether the cancellation of the envoys' trip meant he would resume the war, Trump said: "No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet."

The United States has extended indefinitely a truce with Iran that took effect on April 8.

Speaking Saturday afternoon on the tarmac at Palm Beach airport in Florida, Trump said the Iranians "gave us a paper that should have been better, and interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it -- within 10 minutes -- we got a new paper that was much better."

When asked by a journalist what was in the new document, he said: "We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple."

Iran's state television said Tehran's envoys had no immediate plans to hold face-to-face talks with the Americans, and that Pakistan would serve as a bridge to convey Iranian proposals.
New strikes reported in Lebanon after six killed in south of country



Beirut, Lebanon, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2026



Lebanese state media reported a series of new Israeli strikes in the country's south on Saturday night, after attacks earlier in the day killed six people despite a recently extended ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah

The new attacks followed orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "forcefully attack Hezbollah targets" after the army accused it of breaching the truce.

Lebanon's health ministry had said earlier that "Israeli enemy strikes on a truck and a motorbike in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqeef in the Nabatieh district killed four people".

Another attack "on the town of Safad al-Battikh, in the Bint Jbeil district, resulted in two fatalities and 17 injuries", it reported.

Israel's military said it "eliminated" three Hezbollah operatives on Saturday who were driving "a vehicle loaded with weapons", as well as another one riding a motorcycle, and two more armed members of the group elsewhere.

It also said it identified two projectiles launched from Lebanon, decrying "a blatant violation of the ceasefire understandings" by Hezbollah, and later intercepted another "suspicious aerial target".

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it targeted an Israeli army vehicle in south Lebanon in retaliation for the attack on Yohmor al-Shaqeef.

Following Netanyahu's order to attack the group, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported a pair of strikes in quick succession in a town in Bint Jbeil district, another on a town in Tyre district, and strikes on two more towns in Nabatieh district.

The Israeli military said that it had "struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure used for military purposes across southern Lebanon", and would "continue to operate decisively against threats".

Israel says it reserves the right to respond militarily to imminent threats under the terms of the ceasefire.

An AFP correspondent reported that some people fled Beirut's southern suburbs -- a stronghold of Hezbollah that has been repeatedly bombed during the war -- after Netanyahu's statement.



- Explosion in Khiam -



US President Donald Trump had announced on Thursday that a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon that began on April 17 had been extended for three weeks.

Tehran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

The NNA reported Israeli artillery shelling on several south Lebanon locations on Saturday.

It also reported a "violent explosion" in Khiam, a strategic town along the east of Lebanon's border with Israel where the agency has previously said the Israeli army has been "systematically" destroying houses and other buildings.

An AFP correspondent saw a huge cloud of smoke billowing over the town.

Israel's military on Saturday reissued a warning to residents not to return to dozens of south Lebanon locations within the so-called "yellow line", which demarcates a ribbon of Lebanese territory around 10 kilometres (six miles) wide running along the length of the border.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,496 people in Lebanon since March 2, according to authorities.

On Friday, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayad said the group maintained the right to respond to any Israeli aggression, adding that extending the ceasefire "makes no sense" in light of the continued "hostile acts".
Trump cancels Pakistan talks trip, says Iran war on hold



Washington, United States, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2026



US President Donald Trump cancelled his envoys' trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday, saying there was no point "sitting around talking about nothing" but adding the war would not immediately resume.

Trump said he scrapped the visit after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position, adding that a revised proposal followed within minutes of his decision.

"They gave us a paper that should have been better and -- interestingly -- immediately, when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better," he told reporters, without elaborating.

The White House had said Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran aimed at moving "towards a deal" but Trump told Fox News he had scrapped the trip.

"We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing," the president said he had told his team.

Asked separately whether the cancelation meant a return to hostilities, Trump said: "No, it doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet."

Shortly beforehand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up a visit to Islamabad after meeting Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Iran said Araghchi had left for Muscat and would return to Pakistan after meetings in Oman before travelling on to Russia for talks on ending the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Araghchi described his Pakistan trip as "very fruitful" but signalled scepticism over Washington's intentions.

"Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," he said.

Even before Trump's move, prospects for talks were uncertain, with Iranian state television saying Araghchi had no plans to meet US officials and that Islamabad would act as a conduit for proposals.

Sharif said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and reiterated Islamabad's commitment to facilitating "durable peace".



- Hormuz blockade deepens -



Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital oil and gas route -- remains closed.

But Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US "blockading, banditry and piracy" would draw a response.

Efforts to resume US-Iran talks have stalled, with Tehran refusing to engage while the naval blockade remains. Iran has allowed only limited shipping through the strait.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the waterway "must immediately reopen without restrictions and without tolling," insisting that it was "vital for the entire world."



- Israel strikes Lebanon -



On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah after accusing the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire extended earlier this week.

Lebanese state media reported Israeli attacks in at least four locations in the south -- a pair of strikes in quick succession in a town in Bint Jbeil district, another on a town in Tyre district, and strikes on two more towns in Nabatieh district.

The strikes in Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil killed six people, according to the health ministry.

Israel's military said it "eliminated" three Hezbollah operatives who were driving "a vehicle loaded with weapons," as well as another one riding a motorcycle, and two more armed members of the group elsewhere.

Trump had announced the three-week truce extension on Thursday and voiced optimism about peace after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys.

But Mohammed Raad, the head of the parliamentary bloc for Hezbollah, urged Lebanon to withdraw from talks and warned any deal would lack national consensus.

Netanyahu has accused Hezbollah of trying to "sabotage" the peace process.

In the coastal city of Sidon, Ahmad Shumar and his family were preparing to head back to their hometown in the south, after giving up on a previous attempt due to fears of Israeli attacks.

"We are going home now, not knowing whether there will be war or peace," the 74-year-old said, surrounded by bags and mattresses.

burs-ft/mlm
Trump says shooting won't 'deter' him from Iran war



Washington, United States, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Saturday a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner would not deter him from the Iran war, although he believed the incident was unlikely linked to the conflict.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters in a briefing at the White House after the shocking security incident.

Trump had earlier said, however, that "you never know" if it could be linked to the Iran war, and said investigators were working on the motive of the shooter whom he described as a "lone wolf."

The US leader earlier Saturday canceled his envoys' trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, after being unimpressed with Tehran's negotiating position following nearly two months of war.
Iran executes man over membership of jihadist group, armed rebellion



Tehran, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Iran on Sunday executed a man convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and involvement in attacks on security forces in the southeast, the judiciary said.

Amer Ramesh was arrested during a counterterrorism operation in the Pirsahrab area of Chabahar county in Sistan-Baluchestan province, the judiciary's Mizan Online website said.

The dates of his arrest and sentencing were not immediately clear.

He was convicted of "armed rebellion through bomb attacks and ambushes targeting military forces", as well as membership of Jaish al-Adl, an outlawed militant group designated a terrorist organisation by the United States.

A court sentenced him to death and the ruling was later upheld by the Supreme Court after an appeal by his lawyer, according to the judiciary.

"The execution sentence of Amer Ramesh was carried out early this morning," the judiciary said Sunday.

Iran has carried out a string of wartime executions during its conflict with Israel and the United States, which is currently paused under a ceasefire.

On Saturday, Iran executed a man accused of carrying out a "mission" on behalf of Israel's spy agency during mass protests in January, the judiciary said.

Iran is the world's second most prolific user of the death penalty after China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for clashes between Iranian security forces and armed groups, including drug traffickers and separatists.

The province, which is home to a large Sunni Muslim Baluch minority, is one of the poorest regions of Shiite-majority Iran.
Zelensky accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' on Chernobyl anniversary



Kyiv, Ukraine, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism" on Sunday, as Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster amid deadly new drone attacks.

Three people were killed across Ukraine after Moscow launched more than a hundred drones overnight, one of the relentless barrages the country has faced almost nightly since the beginning of the war in 2022.

In a social media post marking the Chernobyl anniversary, Zelensky said Russia, through its invasion, was "again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster".

He highlighted how Russian drones regularly pass over Chernobyl and that one had hit its protective shell last year.

"The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks," he added.

The 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history and changed global perceptions of nuclear energy.

Thousands are estimated to have died as a result of exposure to the radiation, though assessments of the precise human toll vary. Some 600,000 people involved in the clean-up operation -- known as "liquidators" -- were exposed to high levels of radiation.

A 2005 UN report put the number of confirmed and projected deaths at 4,000 in the three worst-affected countries. Greenpeace in 2006 estimated that the disaster had caused close to 100,000 deaths.



- Overnight strikes -



Russian strikes across Ukraine killed three people and wounded at least four others, Ukrainian officials said Sunday.

In the northeastern Ukraine border region of Sumy, a Russian drone attack killed two civilians, according to the head of Sumy's regional military administration.

"The enemy struck civilians in the territory of Bilopillia community -- near one of the settlements, less than five km from the state border with the Russian Federation," Oleg Grygorov said in a post on Telegram.

He said two men aged 48 and 72 were killed.

Drone and artillery attacks in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, meanwhile, killed one person and wounded four more, the region's military administration head Oleksandr Ganzha said, adding that homes and vehicles were damaged.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired 144 drones overnight, of which 124 were downed.

Earlier Sunday, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol in Russian-annexed Crimea said a man was killed in a vehicle during a Ukrainian drone attack that damaged several homes and a dance school in different neighbourhoods of the port city.

The governor said Russia shot down 43 drones in the attack.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities said at least eight people were killed in Dnipro, which was hit by waves of Russian strikes for 20 hours straight.
Philippines says two US citizens among 19 killed in raid



Manila, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Two US citizens were among 19 people killed in a raid on an alleged communist stronghold in the Philippines that has sparked a probe by the country's rights commission, a government task force said.

More than 300 residents in the Toboso municipality of Negros island fled their homes on April 19 as gunfire rang out in the remote sugar cane-farming region, the municipal disaster management office told AFP last week.

The number of people killed in the firefight, in which only one soldier was wounded, sparked calls for an investigation.

The two Americans, identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, arrived in Negros Occidental province about a month before they were killed, the task force said in a statement late Saturday.

"The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) notes with serious concern the confirmation that a second American national was among those killed in the April 19, 2026 armed encounter," the statement said.

"This brings to two (2) the number of US citizens... who died in the same incident," it added, identifying all 19 killed as "combatant" members of the New People's Army (NPA), which has been fighting a long-running insurgency for nearly 60 years.

Prijoles' name had been released shortly after the clash.

The US Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



- 'Not a massacre' -



"The military operations carried out by the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion ... warrant an urgent investigation," Congresswoman Leila de Lima said Saturday.

She pointed to the deaths of a young student and a community journalist in the raid.

In a separate statement, local rights monitor Karapatan said the "sheer number of those killed triggers significant questions and conclusions on the conduct of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) operations".

The Philippine military, which handed out medals to a number of soldiers involved, said the raid was "a legitimate armed encounter, not a massacre", noting the seizure of 24 firearms.

Addressing a probe launched by the country's Commission on Human Rights, Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala told reporters on Sunday the military was "open to investigation and the evidence will speak for us".

The military told AFP last week it had been fighting "remnants" of the NPA near the Toboso municipality.

Dema-ala said the area was "one of the more active remnants of the (guerrilla) front in the central Philippines".

The military estimates the rebel group has fewer than 2,000 armed members left.
Trump cancels Pakistan talks trip, says Iran war on hold



Washington, United States, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



International efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran were in the balance on Sunday, after President Donald Trump canceled his envoys' planned trip to Pakistan for talks.

Trump said there was no point "sitting around talking about nothing" and dismissed Tehran's negotiating position, but added that Iran had revised its proposal within minutes of his decision.

"They gave us a paper that should have been better and -- interestingly -- immediately, when I canceled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better," he told reporters, without elaborating.

The White House had said Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff were to set off for Pakistan on Saturday for talks with Iran aimed at moving "toward a deal," but Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip.

"We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing," the president said he had told his team.



- 'Very fruitful' -



Asked separately whether the cancelation meant a return to hostilities, Trump said: "No, it doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet."

Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him "from winning the war."

Shortly beforehand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up a visit to Islamabad after meeting Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Iran said Araghchi had left for Muscat and would return to Pakistan on Sunday after meetings in Oman, before traveling on to Russia for talks on ending the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Araghchi described his Pakistan trip as "very fruitful" but signaled skepticism over Washington's intentions.

"Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," he said.

Even before Trump's move, prospects for talks were uncertain, with Iranian state television saying Araghchi had no plans to meet US officials and that Islamabad would act as a conduit.

Sharif said he had spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and reiterated Islamabad's commitment to facilitating "durable peace."

Iranian state TV said Pezeshkian told Sharif the Islamic republic would not be coerced by Washington's "hostile actions."



- Hormuz blockade deepens -



Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital oil and gas route -- remains closed.

But Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US "blockading, banditry and piracy" would draw a response.



- Israel strikes Lebanon -



On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah after accusing the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire extended this week.

Lebanese state media reported Israeli attacks in at least four locations in the south -- a pair of strikes in quick succession in a town in Bint Jbeil district, another on a town in Tyre district, and strikes on two more towns in Nabatieh district.

The strikes in Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil killed six people, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Israel's military said it "eliminated" three Hezbollah operatives who were driving "a vehicle loaded with weapons," as well as another one riding a motorcycle, and two more armed members of the group elsewhere.

Trump had announced the three-week truce extension on Thursday and voiced optimism about peace after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys.

But Mohammed Raad, the head of the parliamentary bloc for Hezbollah, urged Lebanon to withdraw from talks and warned any deal would lack national consensus.

burs-ft/dc/axn
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) was among Jim Cramers latest stock calls, as he suggested investors balance portfolios with hot and cold stocks. Noting the markets reaction to the companys recently reported quarter, Cramer said:

Alright, what just happened to the stock of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the arms dealer to the life sciences industry that Ive liked for so long? This morning, Thermo Fisher reported what looks like a very solid set of numbers, a modest revenue beat paired with a healthy 19-cent earnings beat off a $5.25 basis. Management also raised their full-year forecast substantially, but their guidance for the current quarter came in light. In response, the stock got obliterated today, plunging $47.28 or 9.2% to the point where the stocks now down nearly 20% I think that the market has this wrong This is a great American company.

A stock market graph. Photo by energepic.com

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) provides instruments, reagents, consumables, software, and lab services that support scientific research, diagnostics, and drug and vaccine development.

While we acknowledge the potential of TMO 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.
Pope says atomic energy must only be used for peace



Vatican City, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Pope Leo XIV marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster with an appeal for atomic energy only to be used for peaceful purposes.

The deadly explosion at the Soviet-era plant "marked the conscience of humanity" and "remains a warning of the risks inherent in the use of increasingly powerful technologies," the US pontiff said at the end of a prayer service at the Vatican.

"I hope that at all levels of decision-making, discernment and responsibility will always prevail, so that every use of atomic energy may be at the service of life and peace," the 70-year-old said.

The 1986 explosion at Chernobyl, in current day Ukraine, was the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history.

A 2005 UN report put the number of confirmed and projected deaths from radiation exposure at 4,000 in the three worst-affected countries. Other NGOs and bodies have given higher tolls.

Some 600,000 people involved in the clean-up operation -- known as "liquidators" -- were exposed to high levels of radiation.
Australian minister to raise energy security on Asia tour



Sydney, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Sunday she will tour Japan, China and South Korea this week to shore up trade and energy ties as an oil supply squeeze pressures the Asia-Pacific region.

Iran choked off crude oil shipments through the key Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched a war against the Islamic republic on February 28, sparking a worldwide surge in energy prices.

"The Middle East conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy markets, with Asian refineries and the Indo-Pacific region disproportionately affected," Wong said in a statement.

"Direct, in-person engagement with counterparts across our region will help ensure we are coordinating effectively as these disruptions continue to unfold," she said.

Leaving on Monday for Japan, a major importer of Australian coal and natural gas, Wong said she would discuss energy security and the Middle East conflict with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The Australian minister, who will be in China on Wednesday for strategic talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, stressed the importance of trade ties and a "stable and constructive relationship" with Beijing.

On Thursday, Wong will visit South Korea -- one of Australia's key sources of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel -- for talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun.

"Australia will continue working with international partners to help secure the supplies we need -- including diesel, petrol and fertiliser -- and ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner," she said.
Russia, North Korea agree 'long-term' military cooperation



Seoul, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Russia and North Korea have agreed to "long-term" military cooperation, Russia's defence ministry said Sunday, as Moscow's military chief visited officials in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops -- as well as missiles and munitions -- to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food and energy from Russia, helping Pyongyang circumvent heavy international sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes.

The two countries signed a military treaty in 2024, obligating both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the event of an attack on the other.

"We agreed with the DPRK Defence Ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing," Moscow's Defence Minister Andrey Belousov said, using the initials of North Korea's official name.

"We are ready to sign a plan this year for Russian-Korean military cooperation for the period of 2027-2031," he added.

Russian officials are in Pyongyang for the opening ceremony of a memorial complex honouring those killed while supporting Moscow's war effort against Ukraine.

Belousov met North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and Defence Minister No Kwang Chol on Sunday, while Russia's parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also met Kim and thanked him for the role of North Korean troops in "the liberation of Kursk".

Pyongyang has deployed troops to Russia's western Kursk region to fend off a months-long counter-offensive by Kyiv's troops.

Belousov presented military awards to North Korean servicemen who took part in the Kursk operation, the Russian defence ministry said.

"Korean soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers and officers, liberating Russian soil from the Ukrainian Nazis," Volodin said.

Seoul estimates about 2,000 North Koreans have been killed in Moscow's war with Ukraine.

North Korean soldiers are said to have been instructed to kill themselves rather than be captured in battle.

Only two North Korean troops have been captured alive and are currently in custody of Ukrainian authorities.
Drone attack hits Sudan aid truck: UN



Khartoum, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



A drone attack hit an aid truck in Sudan's North Darfur state, destroying all the supplies on board, the UN refugee agency said on Sunday, without identifying who was responsible.

Drone strikes by both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been locked in a brutal war since April 2023, have escalated in recent months, often killing dozens at a time.

The UNHCR-operated vehicle "came under drone attack" on Friday while transporting emergency shelter kits to Tawila, home to more than 700,000 displaced people who fled fighting elsewhere in the western Darfur region, the agency said.

The driver escaped unhurt, but all supplies were destroyed in the resulting fire, it added.

UNHCR condemned the attack, warning that it would "leave 1,314 families living in desperate conditions in Tawila without shelter" at a time when humanitarian needs are already overwhelming.

More than 127,000 people fled El-Fasher, North Darfur's capital and the army's last stronghold in the region, after it fell to paramilitary forces in October, with reports of mass killings, sexual violence, looting and rape following the takeover.

Fighting has since spread to neighbouring Kordofan, now the main theatre of the war, and the southeastern Blue Nile state, raising fears of a longer and increasingly fragmented conflict.

According to the UN, nearly 700 civilians have been killed in drone strikes by both sides since January alone.

UNHCR voiced "deep concern" over the rising use of drones, calling repeated attacks on humanitarian operations "particularly abhorrent".

According to an assessment by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, 28.9 million people, around 62 percent of Sudan's population, are facing acute food insecurity.

That includes 10.2 million who face severe food insecurity, in particular in the wider Darfur region and South Kordofan state.

Famine was declared last year in El-Fasher and Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, with 20 other areas at risk in Darfur and Kordofan, a UN-backed assessment found.

The conflict has already killed tens of thousands, uprooted over 11 million and created the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Iran FM back in Pakistan -



Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan following a brief visit to Oman, Iranian state news agency IRNA said.

Araghchi had left Islamabad the day before, leading US President Donald Trump to cancel a planned trip to Pakistan by his own envoys, leaving the prospect of talks in limbo.



- Netanyahu accuses Hezbollah -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah's actions were threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledged to "vigorously" target the Iran-backed group.

"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," he said.



- Israeli strikes -



Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.



- Trump undeterred by shooting -



Trump said a shooting at a Washington media dinner on Saturday would not divert him from the Iran war.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters at the White House after the incident.



- Iran executions -



Iran on Sunday executed a man convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and involvement in attacks on security forces in the southeast, the judiciary said. On Saturday it announced the execution of a man accused of passing intelligence to Israel.



- Pakistan 'committed' to role -



Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad were called off.

"Pakistan remains committed to serve as an honest and sincere facilitator - working tirelessly to advance durable peace and lasting stability in the region," Sharif wrote on X.

burs/rmb/yad
Israel court orders govt to penalise ultra-Orthodox who refuse draft



Jerusalem, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Israel's Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the state to cut financial benefits to ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to answer conscription call-ups.

"Since no concrete steps have been proposed indicating an intention to enforce the obligation to enlist... there is no alternative but to order practical measures," the court said in its ruling.

There is a long-standing exemption from compulsory national service for ultra-Orthodox men who engage in full-time religious study, which dates back to Israel's founding in 1948.

However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly challenged the exemption this century culminating in a 2024 ruling that the government must conscript ultra-Orthodox men.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties to sustain his government and so has fought efforts to end the exemption.

With the latest ruling on Sunday, the court is effectively ordering the removal of subsidies granted to the ultra-Orthodox that give them reduced rates for local taxes, public transport and childcare.

Judge Noam Solberg said the ruling did not amount to "sanctions" but a "loss of benefits".

Military service was a "legitimate" objective and should be taken into account when determining "the eligibility conditions for a given benefit", he wrote.

The ultra-Orthodox community, known as the Haredim in Hebrew, was once a small fraction of Israel's population, but population growth means it now accounts for 14 percent of all Jewish Israelis.

That growth has combined with long call-ups for thousands of Israelis fighting in the country's recent wars to generate resentment of the Haredi exemptions, including among religious Jews.

The government had been due to debate a bill on conscripting them, but Netanyahu has fought to delay it.

Instead he has leaned towards an alternative bill that would largely allow Haredim to continue avoiding military service, dubbed by critics the "draft dodging bill".

There are around 1.3 million ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, and roughly 66,000 men of military age currently benefit from the exemption -- a record number, media reports say.

Military figures show only two percent of ultra-Orthodox Jews respond to conscription orders.

Students in yeshivas, Jewish seminaries, who previously benefited from exemption are now automatically called up but most refuse to report for duty, without facing any sanctions.
CORRECTED: Israeli military orders evacuation of seven south Lebanon villages



Jerusalem, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



The Israeli military ordered the evacuation of seven villages in southern Lebanon on Sunday, saying it would respond to what it said were Hezbollah's violations of a recently renewed ceasefire agreement between the countries.

"In light of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is compelled to take decisive action against it," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee said on X, naming seven villages north of the Litani River.

bur-hmw/jd/amj
Hezbollah says Israel violating truce, rejects Netanyahu accusation



Beirut, Lebanon, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Hezbollah on Sunday rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation that it was jeopardising a ceasefire and said it would keep responding to Israel's own violations and occupation of south Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel were "a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the announcement of the temporary truce".

"Hezbollah affirms clearly and firmly that the enemy's continued ceasefire violations... and above all its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of its sovereignty will be met with a response and a resistance that is present and ready to defend its land and people," the statement said.

Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that "Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire", and said that "we are acting vigorously in accordance with arrangements agreed with the United States and, incidentally, also with Lebanon".

Under the terms of the truce, which came into force on April 17 and was recently extended for three weeks, Israel reserves the right to respond to "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

It has kept up deadly strikes on Lebanon and its troops are operating inside what it calls the "yellow line", which demarcates a ribbon of Lebanese territory around 10 kilometres (six miles) deep along the length of the border, where Lebanese have been warned not to return.

Hezbollah said that the extension of the truce "was supposed to, according to Lebanese authorities, lead to a real ceasefire... but instead (Israel) escalated its aggression and attacks".

The group has strongly criticised Lebanese authorities and urged them to end their direct engagement with Israel after the two countries' ambassadors to the United States met in Washington twice this month.

US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire days after the first landmark meeting between the representatives of the two countries -- which have no diplomatic relations -- and the truce extension at the second encounter on Thursday.

Hezbollah said that Lebanese authorities had gotten themselves into "a dangerous predicament when they chose to appear together in a disgraceful photograph" with Israeli representatives.

It said the government had "remained silent and been incapable of fulfilling their most basic national duties towards their land and people, watching as the enemy blows up homes and burns" Lebanese land, Hezbollah said.

Authorities must "provide a clear explanation to their people about the pretext the enemy uses from an agreement that grants them the freedom to attack, destroy and kill".

"We will not wait for or bet on disappointing diplomacy that has proven its failure, nor on an authority that has failed to protect the nation," Hezbollah added.
Attacks in Mali: What we know



Bamako, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Mali has been plunged into an unprecedented security crisis after an alliance of Tuareg rebels and a jihadist group carried out synchronised attacks against the West African country's military leadership.

The two groups are the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the al-Qaeda-linked Jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). The FLA is made up of mainly Tuareg groups who want independence for Azawad, a territory in northern Mali.

Defence Minister General Sadio Camara, a key figure in the military regime, was killed in one attack, his family and government sources said Sunday.

Mali's army says it has been engaged in fierce fighting against the attackers since Saturday morning.



Here is what we know:



- Tuareg rebels in Kidal -



FLA fighters said Sunday they had full control of Kidal, a key town in the north.

Fighting appears to have stopped for the moment in Gao, another northern town, with rebels positioned on the outskirts.

The situation remains "confusing" in Sevare, central Mali, where gunfire was still ringing out in some areas, said one local official.

On Sunday afternoon, calm returned to Kati, a junta stronghold just 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the capital Bamako, after gunfire in the morning, one resident told AFP.



- Defence minister killed -



General Camara, 47, was killed Saturday when an explosive-laden car detonated outside his home, an attack claimed by the jihadist JNIM group.



- Tuaregs cut deal with Russians -



FLA fighters said they had reached an agreement to allow Russian Afrika Korps soldiers to withdraw from a camp where they had been entrenched since Saturday.

"The Russian fighters in Kidal have decided to leave their position," a diplomatic source told AFP. "They are coordinating their departure with the FLA rebels."

A resident of Kidal told AFP he had seen a military convoy leave the town.



- The junta leaders -



General Assimi Goita, the head of the junta, has neither been seen nor heard from since the attacks began.

A Malian security source told AFP he had been "evacuated from Kati on Saturday and is in a safe location" at a "special forces camp" near Bamako.

Security sources said head of intelligence General Modibo Kone and military Chief of Staff General Oumar Diarra were wounded during Saturday's attacks in Kati.



- 'Hunt' -



Mali's army said statement Sunday: "The hunt for armed terrorist groups continues in Kidal, Kati, and other locations across the country."

The military has imposed curfews, stepped up patrols and reinforced checkpoints across the country.

On Saturday evening, Mali's military rulers said the attacks had resulted in 16 civilian and military injuries and "limited material damage".

mk-sd-lar-str-bdi/gv/jj
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Israeli soldier killed -

The Israeli army said one of its troops was killed "during combat" in south Lebanon, where a ceasefire has been in place since mid-April.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have accused each other of breaching the truce.



- Hezbollah accuses Israel -

Hezbollah rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation that it was jeopardising a ceasefire, saying in a statement that its attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel were "a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the announcement of the temporary truce".



- Iran FM to meet Putin -

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow on Monday, the ISNA news agency reported.

- Iran FM back in Pakistan -

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan following a brief visit to Oman, Iranian state news agency IRNA said.

Araghchi had left Islamabad the day before, leading US President Donald Trump to cancel a planned trip to Pakistan by his own envoys, leaving the prospect of talks in limbo.



- Netanyahu accuses Hezbollah -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah's actions were threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledged to "vigorously" target the Iran-backed group.

"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," he said.



- Israeli strikes -

Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.



- Trump undeterred by shooting -

Trump said a shooting at a Washington media dinner on Saturday would not divert him from the Iran war.

"It's not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, I really don't think so, based on what we know," Trump told reporters at the White House after the incident.



- Iran executions -

Iran on Sunday executed a man convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and involvement in attacks on security forces in the southeast, the judiciary said. On Saturday it announced the execution of a man accused of passing intelligence to Israel.

burs/yad/gv
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was among Jim Cramers latest stock calls, as he suggested investors balance portfolios with hot and cold stocks. Cramer mentioned that despite the company reporting the best managed care earnings Ive seen in ages, its stock still went down.

Okay, finally, were going to get to the one that youre going to buy tomorrow, alright, UnitedHealth Group. Heres a company that just reported its first solid beat and raise quarter in a very long time. Returning CEO, Steve Hemsley, who turned UNH into a juggernaut before he retired in 2017, is back, and he is doing the same thing he did for years the last time he was CEO. Produced the best earnings and biggest upside surprises in the real. Theyre not chimerical. Theyre not made up. Theyre none of that jack stuff.

Yet after all of that, after putting up the best managed care earnings Ive seen in ages, stock still sells for just 19 times earnings. Boy, this group is hated. The man is just getting started. The stock deserves to be much higher. Okay, heres a little clue. UNH, well do a little cinema-verite here The UNH is at $354. This stock was at $600 last April, April of 2025. You know why I like these stocks so much? Because if they come down further, you can just keep buying them hand over fist. Because you know what? When they go down, they actually get cheaper.
Israel, Hezbollah trade accusations over Lebanon truce violations



Jerusalem, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Israel and Hezbollah traded blame over violations of the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon on Sunday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the military was "vigorously" targeting the Iran-backed militia as both sides claimed new attacks.

The accusations came as the foes said they carried out fresh attacks in southern Lebanon, with AFP correspondents reporting residents in heavy traffic heading north to flee an Israeli warning and strikes, while Israel's army reported one soldier killed.

Tehran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, with Israel responding with strikes and a ground invasion.

But claims that both sides have breached a 10-day ceasefire agreed earlier this month have continued even after US President Donald Trump announced its extension for three weeks on Thursday.

"Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting.

"We are acting vigorously in accordance with arrangements agreed with the United States and, incidentally, also with Lebanon."

Hezbollah released several statements on Sunday saying its fighters targeted Israeli troops and positions in response to Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanese villages, vowing to keep up the attacks.

"The enemy's continued ceasefire violations... and above all its continued occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of its sovereignty will be met with a response and a resistance... to defend its land and people," it said in a statement.

Israel's military said Sunday evening that one of its soldiers was killed "during combat" in southern Lebanon, and six were wounded, four of them severely.

Earlier, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for residents of seven villages in south Lebanon, pledging "decisive action" following what it called Hezbollah violations.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli warplanes "launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the villages -- causing casualties, Lebanon's National News Agency said.

An Israeli strike on Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, another of the flagged villages, destroyed a mosque and another religious building, the news agency said.

It had earlier said an Israeli "drone hit a motorcycle" there.

Shelling was also reported in several border villages, it said.

Elsewhere, AFP correspondents saw clouds of grey smoke rise over Nabatieh al-Fawqa and several other locations after the Israeli strikes.

The Israeli military said in Sunday's operations, it had struck "rocket-launching terrorist cells and weapons storage facilities".

Earlier it had conducted "artillery and aerial strikes targeting terrorists and military infrastructure sites" used by Hezbollah "north of the forward defence line" -- the so-called yellow line.

Shortly after Netanyahu's remarks, the military said it had intercepted three drones heading for Israeli territory.

Under the terms of the truce, which was recently extended, Israel reserves the right to respond to "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" and has been striking targets in south Lebanon almost every day.

"This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks... but also to pre-empt immediate threats and even emerging threats," Netanyahu said.

Lebanon's health ministry has raised the toll in Israeli attacks since the war erupted on March 2 to 2,509 dead and 7,755 wounded.

The United Nations' UNIFIL peacekeeping force said it held a memorial in Beirut for an Indonesian peacekeeper who died on Friday after being wounded in a blast in south Lebanon last month.

A preliminary UN investigation found that an Israeli tank shell caused the explosion.

burs-hmw/lba/jfx
Iran minister returns to Pakistan despite US cancelling talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Iran's foreign minister returned to Islamabad on Sunday, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the United States alive.

Abbas Araghchi visited Oman's Muscat on Saturday after leaving Pakistan, and is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, but there remained no indication that direct US-Iranian talks would resume.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump scotched a planned trip to Islamabad by his negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

But in a sign that indirect efforts were ongoing, the ISNA news agency reported that Iran had transmitted "written messages" to the Americans via Pakistan that were "about some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz".

Those messages were not, however, part of any negotiations, ISNA said.

While a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on April 8 has so far held, the economic shockwaves of the war continue to reverberate around the globe.

Iran has sealed off the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vast quantities of oil, natural gas and fertiliser from the global market, sending prices soaring and raising fears of widespread hunger across the developing world.

There had been hopes for a new round of talks on Saturday, with Witkoff and Kushner due to visit Islamabad, but Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point "sitting around talking about nothing".

On Sunday, Trump told the channel: "I said, we're not doing this anymore. We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, you know there is a telephone, we have nice secure lines."

The president is under growing domestic pressure, with petrol prices in the United States pushed up by Iran's closure of Hormuz and midterm elections scheduled for November.



- 'Very fruitful' -



Asked earlier whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: "No, it doesn't mean that."

Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him "from winning the war".

On Saturday, Araghchi met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, before flying on to Muscat.

He is expected to go to Moscow after the talks in Islamabad, with Russia's foreign ministry confirming that he would meet President Vladimir Putin.

Araghchi described his initial Pakistan trip as "very fruitful" but signalled scepticism over Washington's intentions, saying he had "yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy".



- Hormuz blockade deepens -



Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

But Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US "blockading, banditry and piracy" would draw a response.



- Israel strikes Lebanon -



On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah and accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that was extended this week.

"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," Netanyahu said, during Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting.

Hezbollah itself said it would respond to Israeli ceasefire violations and its "continued occupation of Lebanese territory".

Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite the ceasefire with the Iran-backed group.

"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

burs/dcp/smw
CORRECTED: Iran minister returns to Pakistan despite US cancelling talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Iran's foreign minister returned to Islamabad on Sunday, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the United States alive.

Abbas Araghchi visited Oman's Muscat on Saturday after leaving Pakistan, and is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, but there remained no indication that direct US-Iranian talks would resume.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump scotched a planned trip to Islamabad by his negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

But in a sign that indirect efforts were ongoing, the Fars news agency reported that Iran had transmitted "written messages" to the Americans via Pakistan that were "about some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz".

Those messages were not, however, part of any negotiations, Fars said.

While a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on April 8 has so far held, the economic shockwaves of the war continue to reverberate around the globe.

Iran has sealed off the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vast quantities of oil, natural gas and fertiliser from the global market, sending prices soaring and raising fears of widespread hunger across the developing world.

There had been hopes for a new round of talks on Saturday, with Witkoff and Kushner due to visit Islamabad, but Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point "sitting around talking about nothing".

On Sunday, Trump told the channel: "I said, we're not doing this anymore. We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, you know there is a telephone, we have nice secure lines."

The president is under growing domestic pressure, with petrol prices in the United States pushed up by Iran's closure of Hormuz and midterm elections scheduled for November.



- 'Very fruitful' -



Asked earlier whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: "No, it doesn't mean that."

Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him "from winning the war".

On Saturday, Araghchi met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, before flying on to Muscat.

He is expected to go to Moscow after the talks in Islamabad, with Russia's foreign ministry confirming that he would meet President Vladimir Putin.

Araghchi described his initial Pakistan trip as "very fruitful" but signalled scepticism over Washington's intentions, saying he had "yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy".



- Hormuz blockade deepens -



Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

But Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US "blockading, banditry and piracy" would draw a response.



- Israel strikes Lebanon -



On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah and accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that was extended this week.

"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," Netanyahu said, during Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting.

Hezbollah itself said it would respond to Israeli ceasefire violations and its "continued occupation of Lebanese territory".

Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite the ceasefire with the Iran-backed group.

"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

burs/dcp/smw
Iran FM departs for Moscow from Islamabad: ministry



Tehran, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad for Moscow on Sunday, his ministry said in a statement, with Tehran's ambassador to Russia saying he would meet President Vladimir Putin.

Araghchi was on his second visit to the Pakistani capital in less than 24 hours on Sunday, having also travelled to Oman, as mediators pushed to keep peace talks with the United States alive.

There has been no second round of direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran, despite a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran beginning more than two weeks ago.

Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Tehran's ambassador Kazem Jalali as saying: "Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow."

The meeting would take place on Monday, Jalali said, adding that Araghchi would "consult Russian officials regarding the latest status of the negotiations, ceasefire, and surrounding developments".

Russia's foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday that Araghchi would travel to Moscow "with the aim of holding talks", the RIA Novosti news agency reported, without specifying with whom.

Russia and Tehran, who are both subject to fierce Western sanctions, have developed an increasingly close relationship in recent years.
Iran minister leaves Pakistan, heads to Russia for more talks



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



Iran's foreign minister departed Islamabad for Moscow on Sunday, his ministry said, ping-ponging from capital to capital as mediators hoped to keep peace talks between Tehran and the United States alive.

Abbas Araghchi sandwiched a visit to Oman's Muscat in between trips to the Pakistani capital, and was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, according to the Iranian ambassador, but there remained no indication that direct US-Iranian talks would resume.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump scotched a planned trip to Islamabad by his negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

But in a sign that indirect efforts were ongoing, the Fars news agency reported that Iran had transmitted "written messages" to the Americans via mediator Pakistan that were "about some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz".

Those messages were not, however, part of any negotiations, Fars said.

While a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on April 8 has so far held, the economic shockwaves of the war continue to reverberate around the globe.

Iran has sealed off the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vast quantities of oil, natural gas and fertiliser from the global market, sending prices soaring and raising fears of widespread hunger across the developing world.

There had been hopes for a new round of talks on Saturday, with Witkoff and Kushner due to visit Islamabad, but Trump later told Fox News he had scrapped the trip, saying there was no point "sitting around talking about nothing".

On Sunday, Trump told the channel: "I said, we're not doing this anymore. We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, you know there is a telephone, we have nice secure lines."

The president is under growing domestic pressure, with petrol prices in the United States pushed up by Iran's closure of Hormuz and midterm elections scheduled for November.



- 'Very fruitful' -



Asked earlier whether halting the trip meant a return to open hostilities, Trump said: "No, it doesn't mean that."

Later, after a gunman was arrested at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Trump said he did not think the incident was related to Iran but that it would not deter him "from winning the war".

On Saturday, Araghchi met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, before flying on to Muscat, then returned to Islamabad on Sunday.

He later left for Russia, his ministry said, adding he would speak with "senior officials".

Russia's foreign ministry confirmed he would visit Moscow, but did not say if he would meet Putin.

Amid the flurry of meetings, Araghchi signalled scepticism over Washington's intentions, saying he had "yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy".



- 'Definitive strategy' -



Pressure to end the war has intensified as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

But Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said they had no intention of lifting their blockade, which has roiled energy markets.

"Controlling the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White House's supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran," the Guards said on their official Telegram channel.

The United States has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation.

In a statement carried by state media, Iran's military warned that continued US "blockading, banditry and piracy" would draw a response.



- Israel strikes Lebanon -



On the war's Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Hezbollah and accused the Iran-backed group of violating a ceasefire that was extended this week.

"It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire," Netanyahu said, during Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting.

Hezbollah itself said it would respond to Israeli ceasefire violations and its "continued occupation of Lebanese territory".

Lebanese official media said Israel's military began striking the country's south after issuing an evacuation warning for seven locations, despite the ceasefire with the Iran-backed group.

"Israeli warplanes launched a strike" in Kfar Tibnit -- one of the locations included in the warning -- the state-run National News Agency said, adding that there were reports of casualties.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

burs/dcp/smw
Mr Blanche said: Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what theyre supposed to do.
News Corporation (NWS) is a diversified media and information services company based in New York. Valued at $16.9 billion by market cap, its global footprint spans news publishing, digital real estate services, book publishing, and subscription-based content platforms.

The global media and information powerhouse is gearing up to report its fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, May 7. Ahead of the event, Wall Street currently forecasts a profit of $0.14 per share on a diluted basis, down 17.7% from $0.17 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company beat the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion.

More News from Barchart

Looking beyond the immediate quarter, the broader trajectory appears more constructive. In the current year, analysts expect NWS EPS to climb 9% to $0.97 from $0.89 in fiscal 2025. Additionally, its EPS is expected to rise 5.2% annually to $1.02 in fiscal 2027.

www.barchart.com

NWS stock has dropped 2.5% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 30.6% gains and the State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLC) 23.2% uptick over the same time frame.

www.barchart.com

News Corporation has lagged the broader market over the past year largely due to a mix of cyclical pressures and structural headwinds across its portfolio. A key drag has been its digital real estate segment, where platforms like REA Group and Realtor.com are sensitive to housing market activity.

At the same time, its News Media division continues to face structural decline in print advertising, and while digital subscriptions are growing, they havent fully offset the erosion in legacy revenues. Investor sentiment has also been tempered by uneven earnings momentum, including occasional misses and expectations of short-term profit declines,

Analysts consensus opinion on NWS stock is reasonably bullish, with a Moderate Buy rating overall. Out of the three analysts covering the stock, two advise a Strong Buy and one suggests a Hold rating. NWS average analyst price target is $37, indicating a potential upside of 22.4% from the current levels.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
U.S. airmen work on a B-1 bomber parked on the apron at RAF Fairford, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Alastair Grant/AP)



No one was injured when a fire broke out at a storage building on RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom early Sunday, according to U.S. military and British officials.

The base in Gloucestershire, in the west of England, hosts a small permanent U.S. Air Force presence and in recent months has been used by the U.S. in operations against Iran.

There were no injuries sustained, the fire has been contained and currently poses no risk to the base [populace] or local community, 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs told Stars and Stripes in an email Sunday.

An investigation into the fire is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available, the 501st said.

Early indications suggest the cause of the fire was nothing other than accidental, according to a statement by the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after getting a call just before 2 a.m. local time, the rescue service said in a statement.

The fire involved a single-story industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties, the statement added.

Crews remained at the scene throughout the morning as a precaution, the service said.

United States Air Forces in Europe confirmed in an email Sunday morning that RAF Fairford emergency services and partners from surrounding communities, were responding to the incident.

Together, we ensure the safety of our personnel, families and the surrounding community remains our top priority, USAFE said.

Residents had been advised by local authorities to keep their doors and windows closed due to the smoke.

The U.S.s 420th Air Base Squadron, part of the 501st Combat Support Wing, is based at RAF Fairford, USAFEs only bomber forward operating location.

Because of its long runway, the base can host long-range B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers and has been used by the U.S. Air Force nearly continuously since it was first built for D-Day operations in 1944.

In March, shortly after the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran, the U.K. government announced that it had agreed to allow the U.S. to use British military bases for defensive operations in the campaign.

U.S. bombers were spotted at RAF Fairfield shortly after the announcement.

On Saturday, some 200 people gathered outside the base to protest the war in Iran, some holding placards and pictures of children killed in the conflict, the BBC reported.

The war is deeply unpopular in the U.K. Sixty-five percent of Britons disapprove of the U.S. strikes and roughly 86% of the population is worried about the conflicts impact on gas and energy prices, according to IPSOS polling published earlier this month.

The International Monetary Fund this month predicted that the energy shock wave from the Iran war will hit the U.K. the hardest of the worlds advanced economies.

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF cut its estimate for U.K. growth this year to 0.8%, from the 1.3% prediction made in January before the war began.

Jennifer Svan contributed to this report.
U.S. forces operating under Joint Task Force Southern Spear on Friday, April 24, 2026, struck a vessel allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement. (U.S. Southern Command via X)



U.S. forces operating under Joint Task Force Southern Spear on Friday struck a vessel allegedly engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Southern Command said in a statement.

The command said the vessel was operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations and that two alleged narco-terrorists were killed in the strike, using similar language to previous statements about such strikes.

No U.S. forces were harmed in the operation, the command said.

Operation Southern Spear, the Pentagons name for the campaign against drug trafficking in Latin America, has continued despite the U.S. militarys focus on the Middle East. Strikes under the operation have increased in frequency in recent weeks, after a relative lull that followed the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January.

The strikes, which began in early September, have killed at least 183 people in total in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Is DRS a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Leonardo DRS, Inc. on Dannys Substack by Danny Green. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on DRS. Leonardo DRS, Inc.'s share was trading at $44.24 as of April 20th. DRSs trailing and forward P/E were 42.95 and 35.34, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Is DRS a good stock to buy?

Angelo Giampiccolo/Shutterstock.com

Leonardo DRS (DRS) operates in a highly specialized corner of defense electronics, focusing on mission-critical subsystems such as advanced infrared sensing, electric propulsion for submarines, and space-based tracking. The companys economic moat is anchored in technology leadership, long-term regulatory and security clearances, and embedded program knowledge.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

Its infrared sensing suite, spanning ground, air, sea, and space, represents decades of classified R&D, while sole-source positions like the Columbia-class submarine propulsion systems create significant switching costs for the U.S. Navy. DRS also benefits from FOCI mitigation, allowing it to participate in sensitive U.S. programs that foreign-owned competitors cannot access. The companys IP and proprietary technologies, including quantum-secure space radios and licensed quantum lasers, reinforce its structural advantage and enable premium pricing on differentiated programs.

DRS demonstrates strong operational leverage, maintaining 12.4% EBITDA margins despite a 40% increase in R&D investment, while the new Charleston naval propulsion facility enhances efficiency and delivery reliability. Free cash flow remains healthy, growing to $226 million in FY2025, even amid elevated capex for strategic facilities and IR&D expansion. Management, under CEO John Baylouny, emphasizes continuity, disciplined capital allocation, and long-term growth, with investments in the Charleston facility, counter-UAS systems, and space programs validating the strategy.

The defense electronics market offers favorable tailwinds, including rising U.S. defense budgets, space-based missile defense, naval modernization, and NATO-aligned demand. Risks include germanium supply constraints, concentrated U.S. government dependence, and Italian parent ownership. At a market cap of ~$9.7 billion, DRS trades at ~21.8x EV/EBITDA with modest FCF yield, reflecting growth potential. With mid-teens EBITDA margins achievable by 2027 and expanding program wins, DRS offers 1520% upside while maintaining a structurally defensible position in a high-barrier-to-entry industry.
An employee of Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. (1st L) introduces products to visitors during the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 18, 2026. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Recently, some Western media have been peddling the "China Shock 2.0" narrative, portraying China's ascent in high-tech sectors as a new wave of disruption to the global economy.

This catchphrase risks overlooking realities. China's high-quality, competitively priced products have long been a key factor in making advanced technologies more accessible, offering greater certainty in an increasingly uncertain world.

The narrative, in a way, points to growing unease in the West over China's swift rise, as well as the tangible success of China's development strategy, according to experts.

NARRATIVE BORN FROM UNEASE

"For some, China's rapid rise in high-tech sectors where Western economies have long held a clear lead has proven difficult to reconcile," said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank under the Ministry of Commerce.

Against this backdrop, the notion of a "China Shock 2.0" appears less an analytical framework and more a narrative shaped by unease, Bai added.

China's success in the high-tech sector has been underpinned by its long-accumulated industrial strengths and sustained push toward innovation-driven growth. High-tech innovation has long been central to the country's policy agenda, with its 15th Five-Year Plan targeting to increase its total research and development spending by an average of more than 7 percent annually, and raise the value added of core digital economy industries to 12.5 percent of GDP over the next five years.

The effects are already visible. In 2025, the country's high-tech manufacturing showed strong momentum, with profits rising 13.3 percent year on year, 12.7 percentage points faster than the overall industrial sector.

Some critics attribute these gains entirely to extensive state subsidies, accusing China of creating "unfair competition." Such claims, experts said, tend to frame China's success narrowly as achieved via distortionary state intervention.

Mao Keji, a policy expert at the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China's support mechanisms are structured differently from what is typically described as subsidies in Western analyses. Such support is broad-based, embedded across the broader economic system, rather than direct financial transfers, Mao said.

He cited the government's investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social protection as an example. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China allocated nearly 3.4 trillion yuan (about 495.09 billion U.S. dollars) in central budget investment to support public sector projects. It also issued roughly 16 trillion yuan in local government special bonds to finance infrastructure and related development projects.

These investments have created conditions conducive to business development, improving labor quality and strengthening overall productive capacity, ultimately enabling large-scale, high-quality supply, Mao said.

"Reducing this model to 'subsidies' is not only misleading, but it also obscures the underlying drivers of China's competitiveness," Mao noted, adding that such an accusation does little to address structural weaknesses in Western economies, and risks slowing their own technological progress.

A BOON, NOT A SHOCK

China's rise has taken place within a deeply interconnected global economy and is rooted in mutual benefit, according to experts.

"The country's development has not been directed at squeezing out other economies, but instead generated broader benefits for the global economy," said Dong Yan, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China's products are providing more affordable alternatives for many developing countries, helping them upgrade industrial capabilities while supporting infrastructure development and technological progress, she explained.

This trend is reflected in China's expanding trade ties with emerging markets. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, China's trade with Belt and Road partner countries went up 14.2 percent year on year, accounting for more than half of the total. Trade with ASEAN and Latin America both rose 15.4 percent during this period, while trade with Africa increased by 23.7 percent.

Growth has been particularly strong in exports of high-value-added products. For instance, China's exports of photovoltaic products to sub-Saharan Africa regions surged approximately 2.5-fold in Q1, while exports of inverters, wires and cables increased by 56.1 percent.

The power projects built by Chinese companies in sub-Saharan Africa are providing stable and reliable electricity to local communities, said Wang Jun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs.

Beyond robust exporting, China has also become a vast market in its own right. As the world's largest trader in goods and the second-largest consumer market, China has become a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions. Platforms such as the China International Import Expo have further contributed to global demand by expanding access to the Chinese market.

While some still portray China's rise as a challenge to the existing trade order, many countries are treating it as an opportunity and moving to capture new sources of growth.

For example, the British government has signaled that it "should not fear" the rise of Chinese imports, after a plug-in hybrid compact SUV produced by Chinese automaker Chery became the country's best-selling new car in March, the BBC said.

"I don't want to prevent UK consumers from having access to the cars of their choice," Peter Kyle, British secretary of state for Business and Trade, told the BBC. He added that the government is also focused on the "significant opportunities" for jobs and investment as Chinese automakers consider setting up factories in the country.

Experts have noted that in an increasingly fragmented world, cooperation is more critical than confrontation.

"A clearer understanding of China's development, alongside the use of complementary strengths, could offer a pathway for countries around the world to achieve more sustainable growth," Bai said. 

An employee of Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. (1st L) introduces products to visitors during the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 18, 2026. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Recently, some Western media have been peddling the "China Shock 2.0" narrative, portraying China's ascent in high-tech sectors as a new wave of disruption to the global economy.

This catchphrase risks overlooking realities. China's high-quality, competitively priced products have long been a key factor in making advanced technologies more accessible, offering greater certainty in an increasingly uncertain world.

The narrative, in a way, points to growing unease in the West over China's swift rise, as well as the tangible success of China's development strategy, according to experts.

NARRATIVE BORN FROM UNEASE

"For some, China's rapid rise in high-tech sectors where Western economies have long held a clear lead has proven difficult to reconcile," said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank under the Ministry of Commerce.

Against this backdrop, the notion of a "China Shock 2.0" appears less an analytical framework and more a narrative shaped by unease, Bai added.

China's success in the high-tech sector has been underpinned by its long-accumulated industrial strengths and sustained push toward innovation-driven growth. High-tech innovation has long been central to the country's policy agenda, with its 15th Five-Year Plan targeting to increase its total research and development spending by an average of more than 7 percent annually, and raise the value added of core digital economy industries to 12.5 percent of GDP over the next five years.

The effects are already visible. In 2025, the country's high-tech manufacturing showed strong momentum, with profits rising 13.3 percent year on year, 12.7 percentage points faster than the overall industrial sector.

Some critics attribute these gains entirely to extensive state subsidies, accusing China of creating "unfair competition." Such claims, experts said, tend to frame China's success narrowly as achieved via distortionary state intervention.

Mao Keji, a policy expert at the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China's support mechanisms are structured differently from what is typically described as subsidies in Western analyses. Such support is broad-based, embedded across the broader economic system, rather than direct financial transfers, Mao said.

He cited the government's investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social protection as an example. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China allocated nearly 3.4 trillion yuan (about 495.09 billion U.S. dollars) in central budget investment to support public sector projects. It also issued roughly 16 trillion yuan in local government special bonds to finance infrastructure and related development projects.

These investments have created conditions conducive to business development, improving labor quality and strengthening overall productive capacity, ultimately enabling large-scale, high-quality supply, Mao said.

"Reducing this model to 'subsidies' is not only misleading, but it also obscures the underlying drivers of China's competitiveness," Mao noted, adding that such an accusation does little to address structural weaknesses in Western economies, and risks slowing their own technological progress.

A BOON, NOT A SHOCK

China's rise has taken place within a deeply interconnected global economy and is rooted in mutual benefit, according to experts.

"The country's development has not been directed at squeezing out other economies, but instead generated broader benefits for the global economy," said Dong Yan, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China's products are providing more affordable alternatives for many developing countries, helping them upgrade industrial capabilities while supporting infrastructure development and technological progress, she explained.

This trend is reflected in China's expanding trade ties with emerging markets. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, China's trade with Belt and Road partner countries went up 14.2 percent year on year, accounting for more than half of the total. Trade with ASEAN and Latin America both rose 15.4 percent during this period, while trade with Africa increased by 23.7 percent.

Growth has been particularly strong in exports of high-value-added products. For instance, China's exports of photovoltaic products to sub-Saharan Africa regions surged approximately 2.5-fold in Q1, while exports of inverters, wires and cables increased by 56.1 percent.

The power projects built by Chinese companies in sub-Saharan Africa are providing stable and reliable electricity to local communities, said Wang Jun, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs.

Beyond robust exporting, China has also become a vast market in its own right. As the world's largest trader in goods and the second-largest consumer market, China has become a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions. Platforms such as the China International Import Expo have further contributed to global demand by expanding access to the Chinese market.

While some still portray China's rise as a challenge to the existing trade order, many countries are treating it as an opportunity and moving to capture new sources of growth.

For example, the British government has signaled that it "should not fear" the rise of Chinese imports, after a plug-in hybrid compact SUV produced by Chinese automaker Chery became the country's best-selling new car in March, the BBC said.

"I don't want to prevent UK consumers from having access to the cars of their choice," Peter Kyle, British secretary of state for Business and Trade, told the BBC. He added that the government is also focused on the "significant opportunities" for jobs and investment as Chinese automakers consider setting up factories in the country.

Experts have noted that in an increasingly fragmented world, cooperation is more critical than confrontation.

"A clearer understanding of China's development, alongside the use of complementary strengths, could offer a pathway for countries around the world to achieve more sustainable growth," Bai said. 
Given that so many blue chip dividend stocks are old companies from defensive or value sectors, investors can be forgiven if they don't readily associate dividends with rapid short-term gains.

On that note, it's not a stretch to say Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) usually isn't atop investors' "millionaire maker" lists. The telecom giant may not be on those lists at all, particularly as so many newer market participants come of age amid extended leadership by growth stocks.

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 

Verizon's free cash flow supports a dividend that could be a wealth-enhancer. Image source: Getty Images.

Still, even the most growth-enthused investors ought to consider some dividend exposure. From 1957 through May 2025, dividends accounted for nearly a quarter of the S&P 500's average monthly return. Sometimes the percentage is higher, and sometimes it's lower, but the point is that dividends are helpful in investors' quest to reach the seven-figure club, which could heighten the allure of Verizon.

Dial up dividend yield, growth with Verizon

One reason Verizon stock has so many fans in the equity income community is its 6.12% dividend yield, nearly 6x what investors earn on a basic S&P 500 index fund.

Dividend yield can be seductive, and not always in a positive way. Sure, when that metric is high, it can drive eyeballs to a stock, but yield alone doesn't paint a full picture of a company's payout sustainability. Actually, elevated yields can be red flags, signaling to investors that the financially strapped companies to which those yields belong may be nearing dividend cuts or suspensions.

Fortunately for investors evaluating Verizon as a potential wealth enhancer, this stock isn't a yield trap. It's actually a dividend growth story, as highlighted by a 19-year payout increase streak. That's the kind of dependability dividend investors crave, and that reliability is crucial in evaluating Verizon's wealth-building chops.

Good news: This dividend and its potential growth are backstopped by an impressive free cash flow trajectory. In 2025, Verizon generated free cash flow of $20.1 billion, up from $19.8 billion the year prior. The company forecast 2026 free cash flow of at least $21.5 billion, which would be good for the highest level since 2020.

A dividend call worth answering

Among dividend stocks that can help patient investors boost their net worth, Verizon is a call worth answering. The aforementioned growing free cash flow confirms this, as last year the company directed 60% of that cash flow to dividends.
Zelensky accuses Russia of 'nuclear terrorism' on Chernobyl anniversary



Kyiv, Ukraine, April 26 (AFP) Apr 26, 2026



President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "nuclear terrorism" on Sunday, as Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster amid deadly new drone attacks.

Five people were killed across Ukraine after Moscow launched more than 100 drones overnight, the latest in an almost nightly barrage the country has faced since the beginning of the war in 2022.

In a social media post marking the Chernobyl anniversary, Zelensky said Russia's invasion was "again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster".

He highlighted how Russian drones regularly pass over Chernobyl and that one had hit its protective shell last year.

"The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks," he added.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu joined the commemorative events.

Commenting on damage to the shell, which the environment group Greenpeace says raises the risk of a radioactive leak, Grossi said that "repairs should start as soon as possible and that leaving the situation as it is now is problematic."

Any repairs to the massive metal outer structure, which may potentially take up to four years, are virtually impossible due to Russia's invasion, according to Greenpeace.



- Worst nuclear accident -



Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom, the successor of the Soviet atomic energy ministry, which managed the facility, said: "To remember Chernobyl means to remember the people who bore the brunt of the disaster, and to take that experience into account in every decision we make today, to prevent a similar catastrophe."

Rosatom took over the plant in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, Europe's biggest civilian nuclear power complex, after it was occupied by Russia early in the invasion. The plant is now in shutdown mode. But Moscow and Kyiv repeatedly accuse each other of targeting the plant during the conflict, and Ukraine has called for sanctions against Rosatom.

Including Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine has four nuclear power plants, which are vital for the country's power supplies amid constant blackouts caused by relentless Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

The 1986 explosion at Chernobyl was the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history and changed global perceptions of atomic energy.

Thousands are estimated to have died as a result of exposure to the radiation, though assessments of the precise human toll vary. Some 600,000 people involved in the clean-up operation -- known as "liquidators" -- were exposed to high levels of radiation.

Hundreds of thousands more were evacuated due to the radioactive contamination. The zone around the plant has become an exclusion zone, with abandoned towns, fields and forests.

In total, the disaster made large swathes of land in northern Ukraine and southern Belarus effectively uninhabitable.

- Overnight strikes -



Moscow and Kyiv exchanged drone barrages ahead of the anniversary events, causing civilian deaths in both countries.

Russian night-time strikes across Ukraine killed five people and wounded at least four others in the east, Ukrainian officials said.

In Russian-occupied Crimea and the Lugansk region, four people were killed in Ukrainian drone strikes, said local Moscow-backed authorities.

Meanwhile, the death toll from a 20-hour Russian barrage Saturday on Ukraine's central-eastern city of Dnipro rose to nine, authorities said.

Diplomatic efforts to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II are at a standstill with US mediation efforts diverted by the outbreak of the Middle East war in February.
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

Oh God, oh seriously, this is really starting to bother me, said an 18-year-old Jodie Foster in 1981, on the phone with the man who had been stalking her. Do you mind if I hang up? A few months later, in a twisted attempt to win her love, that man would shoot the president of the United States.

Ask someone what comes to mind when they think of Jodie Foster, and they might mention her role as a prickly rape survivor in The Accused, for which she won her first Oscar, or as FBI trainee Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, for which she won her second. Maybe theyll say the home-invasion thriller Panic Room, or Bugsy Malone, or Freaky Friday. It is a testament to Foster that John Hinckley Jr did not come to define her.

It all began with Taxi Driver. In 1975, at the age of 12, Foster played a teenage sex worker called Iris in Martin Scorseses unflinching exploration of urban decay. Iris catches the attention of Robert De Niros alienated Vietnam vet Travis Bickle, who, after failing to assassinate a presidential candidate, shoots Iriss pimp and is hailed a hero. Foster hated the halter tops and platform shoes she had to wear  I was a tomboy who wore knee socks, she told Vanity Fair  but it was worth it. Taxi Driver was acclaimed, frequently appearing on lists of the best films of all time and launching Fosters career. But it was also the unwitting catalyst for a bizarre and traumatic series of events.

In Hollywood, a young man called John Hinckley Jr would watch Taxi Driver for the first time. Estranged from his family, hooked on Valium and recently expelled from a neo-Nazi group for being too extremist, he would see a reflection of himself in Taxi Drivers disturbed, discontented protagonist. In the character of Iris, and by a warped extension Jodie Foster, he would see his salvation. He began to dress like Travis Bickle, wearing army clothes and boots and keeping a diary just like Travis did. He became obsessed with Foster.

Foster, meanwhile, left school and began studying at Yale in 1980. At a time when the publics sense of entitlement towards celebrities was starting to swell, she was resolutely uninterested in being known. She wanted to be normal. It wasnt that Id lost my childhood or become jaded; I just didnt have a clue as to how it felt to be out of control, completely lost, without prior experience, she would later explain. She adopted a screw-the-world dress code, hung out with nonconformists, enrolled in the college play  all the while unaware that Hinckley Jr had followed her to Connecticut.

Foster didnt even know that John Hinckley existed until he started hand-delivering letters to her doorstep. She ignored them  he was far from the only person who sent her intense fan mail. He wrote more. He left her dozens of poems, letters, messages, all professing his love for her. When they went unanswered, he started to call her. Who is this? she asked on their first telephone conversation, which he recorded. This is the person thats been leaving notes in your box for two days. Eventually, Foster handed Hinckleys letters over to the dean.

Women are told that if they take no notice of mens unwanted advances, they will be left alone. Most of us know that the opposite can be true. The more Foster ignored Hinckley, the more his obsession grew. In a recording on New Years Eve 1981, he said: Jodie is the only thing that matters now. Anything I might do in 1981 would be solely for Jodie Fosters sake. He added: I think Id rather just see her not on earth than being with other guys.

In March of 1981, Hinckley wrote Foster one final letter. In it, he outlined his plan for a historical deed that echoed the plot of the film with which he was so besotted. He was going to try and kill the president. As you well know by now, I love you very much, he began. Jodie, I would abandon this idea of getting Reagan in a second if I could only win your heart and live out the rest of my life with you, whether it be in total obscurity or whatever. I will admit to you that the reason Im going ahead with this attempt now is because I just cannot wait any longer to impress you. Ive got to do something now to make you understand in no uncertain terms that I am doing all of this for your sake.

Hinckley never posted the letter. He left it in his hotel room, walked to the Washington Hilton Hotel where President Reagan had just finished a speaking engagement, and lay in wait. When Reagan emerged, Hinckley opened fire. He fired six times in 1.7 seconds  but he was not a good shot. The first bullet hit the White House press secretary, James Brady, who would become permanently disabled and eventually die from his injuries 33 years later. Police officer Thomas Delahanty was the next victim, followed by Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, who threw himself in the line of fire. Hinckley was wrestled to the ground and arrested, but not before the sixth and final bullet ricocheted off the presidents limousine and hit him under his arm. In all the chaos, Reagan didnt even notice he had been shot  until he started coughing up blood. When he arrived at George Washington University Hospital, he was minutes from death.

That same afternoon, Foster was skipping hand in hand across campus with her best friend. Someone yelled to them: Reagan had been shot. She continued about her day, her broken radio preventing any further updates. It wasnt until later that evening  when she arrived back at her dorm room and the first word out of her roommates mouth was John  that she learnt who the assailant was. Her bubble of normality was shattered.

John Hinckley Jr is tackled to the ground by Secret Service agents after attempting to assassinate Ronald Reagan ( Zuma/Shutterstock )

In a 1982 piece for Esquire, in which Foster recounted the experience in depth for the first and last time, she cut to the quick of the delusion around celebrity. A man can buy a poster, pin it on his locker, and imagine the most minute details about a slinky starlet, she wrote. Hell know her through and through. Hell possess her external reality. So of course Hinkley knew me. That woman on the screen was digging in her bag of tricks and representing herself for everyone to assess, to get to know, to take home.

After the shooting, there followed press conferences, meetings with Yale bigwigs, conversations with lawyers and the FBI, a run-in with a copycat stalker who only abandoned his plans to shoot Foster because she was too pretty. Reporters followed her everywhere. They scooped up headlines and swarmed through the campus like a cavalry invasion, she recalled in Esquire. I couldnt protect myself from being trampled. She didnt speak to the press, except to say that she planned to resume my normal life. At trial, Hinckley yelled Ill get you Foster! when she told the court she had no relationship with him. He was found not guilty of 13 charges by reason of insanity and detained in a psychiatric hospital. (He was released in 2016, under the condition that he not contact Foster.)

In an interview with Foster in 2018, The Guardians Hadley Freeman observed: Imagine how much self-control you would need to survive a life like Fosters and still be functional. Foster is not just functional, she is thriving. In the 40 years since Hinckley nearly torpedoed her life, she has won Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, the Cecil B DeMille Award  all the while avoiding easy labels. None of the women she has played could be put in a box  and nor could she. To this day, she is uninterested in being known.

Accepting the Cecil B DeMille Award at the 2013 Golden Globes, as the tabloids waited with bated breath for her to say that she was gay, Foster announced that she was... single. Without denying herself  she had lived privately but not secretly with her ex-partner Cydney Bernard for many years  she denied the press an easy headline. I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age, she continued, in those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met. Those last few words were pointed and precise.

Later, she added: If you had been a public figure from the time that you were a toddler, if youd had to fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds, then maybe you too might value privacy above all else. Privacy. Some day, in the future, people will look back and remember how beautiful it once was.

We will never know whether Fosters mantra of privacy above all else was caused by Hinckley, or if he was simply a violent confirmation of it. In that Esquire piece, she spoke of him with a mix of anger, sympathy and disgust. I am sorry for people who confuse love with obsession and hurt by those who have inflicted their confusion on me, she said. Obsession is pain and a longing for something that does not exist. John Hinkleys greatest crime was the confusion of love and obsession. The trivialisation of love is something I will never forgive him. His ignorance only prods me to say that hes missing a great deal. Love is blissful. Obsession is pitiful, self-indulgent. This is a lesson Ive learnt. Ill always be wary of people who proclaim their love for me.

I know what love is. Do they?
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

The nation still hasnt quite recovered from the Im a Celebrity: South Africa final on Friday  arguably the most chaotic and nastiest live telly weve seen in recent years.

Filmed back in September, the spin-off saw 12 celebrities and ex contestants tackle the show again but in South Africa, with the winner being chosen via a live final in London on Friday (24 April). However, with various clashes taking place in camp and the cast stewing over them for the last seven months, the final saw these feuds quickly become an unstoppable shouting match between contestants Jimmy Bullard, David Haye and presenters Ant and Dec.

At the heart of the row was Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullards explosive row during a trial, which saw Thomas scream at Bullard for failing to try in a trial and therefore costing both of them a place in the competition. In the final, Bullard repeatedly accused Thomas of being abusive, aggressive and intimidating before claiming that ITV didnt show any of Thomass alleged c-bombs in the broadcast.

open image in gallery Adam Thomas looked downcast as the cast argued over his behaviour ( ITV )

As a result, Ant and Dec began defending Thomas, David Haye  who had his own run-ins with Thomas  called him a victim and both Sinitta and Gemma Collins stormed off set. Thomas was eventually crowned the ultimate King of the Jungle, looking like the most dejected person to ever do so after the on-screen drama.

A day and a half on and the row has spilled over into social media, with Thomass wife calling his cast members a pack of vultures, Bullard and Haye revealing they were kicked out of the final and Ant and Dec even speaking up. As the fallout continues, heres everything thats happened since the uncomfortable Im a Celebrity: South Africa final.

David Haye and Jimmy Bullard kicked out

open image in gallery Jimmy Bullard claimed that he had been kicked out of the Im A Celebrity final ( ITV )

Having constantly interrupted Ant and Dec throughout the live final, its no surprise that David Haye and Jimmy Bullard were asked to leave ahead of the companion show, Unpacked, airing on Friday.

Viewers noticed that immediately after the final ended on ITV, both Haye and Bullard were missing from Unpacked, which started immediately after and was meant to feature all of the contestants. Thomas was also absent from the show.

In footage shared by The Sun on Saturday (25 April), Haye and Bullard were seen walking out of the studio, with Bullard saying: We got kicked out! After a paparazzo asked why they were kicked out, Haye said: For trying to tell the truth.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

A show source told The Independent: Some campmates were uncomfortable being on stage with David and Jimmy, so we sent them home during Unpacked.

The video also shows Thomas leaving the venue shortly afterwards alongside his brothers.

Meanwhile, in pictures shared by Metro, Bullard is seen speaking with Ant McPartlin outside of the final. The Independent understands that the pair briefly had a calm chat about the show as McPartlin was leaving the final.

The Independent has contacted ITV, Bullard and McPartlin for comment.

A vile display and an embarrassment: the stars whove spoken out

open image in gallery Gemma Collins gave her take on the drama ( Getty )

A number of the cast and their relatives have taken to social media since the dramatic night, describing the live argument as upsetting and a glimpse of a real jungle.

Adam Thomas shared a post after his win  but didnt directly reference the drama that happened the night before. I have realised that when people try to dim your light, it says more about them than it ever will about you, he wrote. After thanking his friends, family and fans, he concluded: And to those who doubted me or tried to bring me down, I carry no negativity towards you. I have already won in the ways that matter most. I have love, I have happiness and I have stayed true to myself, and that is something no one can ever take away from me.I hope one day you can do the same.

Thomass wife was more direct with her criticism of his campmates, writing: What should have been a night of celebration for everyone, turned into a glimpse of a real jungle, watching a pack of vulture attack! I have never ever seen anything like the vile display that was demonstrated live on national television last night, on what is supposed to be a loved family show full of laughter and fun!

Not one bit of that was fun, or banter, as a wife my heart is breaking and I will forever be horrified at what I had to sit and watch my husband go through.

Gemma Collins was also firmly in Thomass camp, writing on Instagram on Saturday: What a show up !!! Absolutely disgusted with jimmy and Davids behavior [sic] the biggest show up in tv history !!! What an EMBARRASSMENT ! To all the took part in the show it was a discredit to the production crew cast Ant and Dec biggest disrespect ever !!!

Last night was meant to be a celebration instead it was very upsetting !! X Lets hope Adam will find some energy to absorb his victory ! X

Sinitta  who stormed off during the show and backed Bullards claims that Thomas was abusive and aggressive  opened up about Bullard and Thomass row in camp, saying that she found it very uncomfortable and disturbing.

open image in gallery Sinitta walked out of the live final on Friday ( ITV )

It was very explosive, very aggressive, she told The Sun on Saturday. I was so visibly upset and shaken by it. I was saying to anyone who would listen: Why isnt anyone stopping this? Please make it stop. This is not right. She added that she cried about it afterwards and that she supported Adam by voting for him to stay, because she felt sorry for him.

However, it did feel like rewarding a child for throwing a massive tantrum, but worse because it was so disturbing and he is nearly 40 years old.

The next day, she addressed her walking off the show, saying: I really wish everyone had been given a proper chance to speak last night, so it didnt end up feeling hectic with people trying to talk over each other. Before I walked out, all I wanted to say was this: I hate that people are being called bullies and that theres bad blood between us. I had a wonderful time with everyone, despite one difficult incident, and I truly hope we can hold on to the life lessons and the incredible experience we shared together. I adore them all.

Sinitta added that calling someone a bully is a very serious accusation, appearing to reference the audience reportedly shouting that at Haye during the final. Adam apologised, and I thought that was a very grown-up thing to do. I also believe friendships and banter can sometimes be misunderstood when viewed from the outside. I simply ask people to try and see both sides.

Ant and Dec poke fun at row on Britains Got Talent

While Ant and Dec deserved a lengthy break after the madness of Friday, they were back on TV the next night for Britains Got Talent  and couldnt resist speaking about the chaotic moment.

Ant said at the start of the show: To be serious for a second, we had quite enough drama on the telly last night. So can you please, you four, be on your best behaviour tonight, referring to BGT judges KSI, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden.

The panel laughed, as Cowell remarked that the duo were very, very naughty, before Dec added: If you misbehave, youll be out quicker than Sinitta.
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

Attendees of a new immersive exhibit in New York City of the most infamous murder scenes in history must sign a waiver before they enter to acknowledge the risk of emotional distress.

A severed head propped in a refrigerator. Bodies wrapped in plastic, hanging from the ceiling. A bathtub sloshing with blood.

The Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience  which opened April 17 in Greenwich Village  depicts the aftermath of crimes by Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and others that still haunt the public imagination.

Why do visitors, who must be 18 or older due to the graphic content, want to delve into the minds of serial killers and wander their crime scenes? The popularity of exhibits like this  and the explosion of true crime podcasts and documentaries  points to something deeper, experts say.

The first comparison that came to mind was roadkill, Stephanie Johnson, a clinical psychologist who has experience treating acute psychiatric disorders, trauma, and PTSD, told The Independent. You know you do not want to look, but you look anyway.

Experts often trace the fascination in true crime to a mix of fear, control and understanding  a desire to make sense of the incomprehensible, to study danger from a safe distance, to ask whether monsters are born or made.

Humans have always been interested not only in the light side, but also in the dark side  what psychology might call the shadow side, she continued. A lot of the fascination comes from trying to understand why someone would do something horrific and how it could happen.

Playing the role of investigator

Just beyond the entrance of the New York exhibit looms a massive floor-to-ceiling wall of black and white mugshots.

Among them, a strikingly familiar face: Rex Heuermann, who recently admitted to being the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Only days before the expos opening, he pleaded guilty to the murders of eight women.

open image in gallery A bathtub sloshing with blood is just one of many graphic scenes attendees will see on their visit to the new exhibit ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

Downstairs, the experience begins in a brightly-lit mock investigation room, where visitors tap away on vintage typewriters, snap their own mugshots and attempt to solve crimes through criminal profiling and behavioral analysis techniques.

Speaking about the popularity of true crime, former FBI Agent Andrew Bringuel told The Independent that analyzing these cases allows us to rationalize how we would avoid being a victim. It offers comfort that we would avoid being a victim.

But it also goes beyond that. There is, Bringuel explained, a rollercoaster effect to watching a murder mystery that can provide an adrenaline rush or dopamine when coming up with an answer or finding a piece of the puzzle.

Now, a judge serving the Town of Willet in New York, Bringuel said he thinks that many amateur detectives are interested in high profile cases  such as the ongoing disappearance of Savannah Guthries mother Nancy Guthrie, and the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students  because they want moral clarity and order.

Analyzing these cases allows them to reinforce their world view of law and order, he said. When a bad guy is found and prosecuted it provides clarity of right vs wrong.

Inside the mind of a killer

Back at the exhibit, staff pull back another heavy black curtain to the next room.

On the other side: a replica of Ted Bundys 1968 yellow Volkswagen Beetle is idling in the dark, smoke curling into the air. The headlights are aimed at a patch of soil in the corner of the room, with dozens of white cards sticking out of the ground. Each is inscribed with a victims name.

open image in gallery The first scene includes a haunting replica of Ted Bundys Volkswagen Beetle, which he used to lure women and transport their bodies after he killed them ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

open image in gallery Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious serial killers, is pictured shortly after his initial arrest on a charge of theft. He later admitted to 30 murders ( AFP/Getty )

Bundy, one of the most prolific serial killers in United States history, used the infamous vehicle to abduct young women across Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado in the 1970s, transport their bodies and store weapons.

He confessed to 30 murders before his 1989 execution, but investigators believe the true number is significantly higher, with some estimates suggesting up to 130 victims.

One of the most shocking scenes at the exhibit was the reconstruction of Jeffrey Dahmers kitchen.

Visitors audibly gasped as an open refrigerator revealed a severed head, and other body parts on plates. On the stove, a bloody heart was sauteing in a skillet. Another decapitated head was stuffed in the freezer.

Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, killed at least 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He would lure his victims to his home with promises of money or sex. After strangling them to death, he would dismember their bodies, often keeping body parts as souvenirs.

He was sentenced to 16 consecutive life terms for the crimes but was killed in prison in 1994.

open image in gallery One of the most shocking scenes was just through another curtain and into the reconstruction of Jeffrey Dahmers kitchen ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

open image in gallery There were audible gasps from visitors as an open refrigerator revealed a severed head, and body parts on plates ( The Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience )

open image in gallery Dahmer, was also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, killed at least 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He would lure his victims to his home with promises of money or sex. After strangling them to death, he would dismember their bodies, often keeping body parts as souvenirs ( AFP/Getty )

Figuring out whodunit

Nicole and Margaux, friends who live in New York City who enjoy watching true crime, wandered the exhibit together.

I love true crime  its just really interesting, the mystery behind it, Margaux told The Independent. I also loved Mindhunter just because of how it gets into the mind of a killer. Im definitely interested in the psychology of it all.

Nicole added that shed always enjoyed figuring out the whodunit and why in a true crime show.

It's so crazy to think that any one person can do what these people have comfortably done and to understand the mind of someone who has done that. Are they born this way, did they grow up this way, are there certain factors in their life that made them be this way?

open image in gallery The scene was meant to represent the home of the Otero family, the first known victims of BTK as he terrorized Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1991 ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

open image in gallery Dennis Rader, aka 'BTK', was married and had two children when he was arrested in 2005 after a killing spree between 1974 and 1991 ( Wichita Police Department )

Figuring out those questions is a focus of the exhibit.

This isnt about glorifying the killers  its about the psychology, the warning signs, celebrity host LaKendra Tookes told the media prior to opening night of the expo.

She added that when it comes to serial killers, theres a question people cant let go of  how does someone become capable of this?

What often gets lost is the reality behind it, and thats what we bring back into focus, she said.

Nicole and Margaux recognized the next killer immediately upon approaching a recreation of Dennis Raders home, where he bound and murdered his first known victims.

Rader, the BTK serial killer whose self-given nickname stands for Bind, Torture, Kill, played a cat and mouse game with investigators and reporters for decades before he was caught and convicted for 10 murders.

An eerie silence hung in the room as the friends walked into the 1970s-style living room with shag carpet and walls covered in wood paneling. Bodies wrapped in black plastic and bound with rope hung from the ceiling and were posed on the recliner.

The scene was meant to represent the home of the Otero family, the first known victims of BTK as he terrorized Wichita, Kansas between 1974 and 1991.

Charlie Otero was only 15 years old when he came home in January 1974 to find his entire family killed and strung up like meat. Rader wouldnt be arrested until 2005, three decades later.

open image in gallery John Wayne Gacy, who worked as "Pogo the Clown," was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys in the 1970s. Authorities found most of his victims remains in a crawl space under his Chicago house - which was replicated for the expo ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

Why are we so obsessed with serial killers?

Sigmund Freud first described how we all come into this world with inborn drives towards violence. If we are raised in a loving home, the drive for violence matures into ambition, forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman told The Independent. But, if we are raised in a dysfunctional home, such as where there is abuse, our propensity towards violence flourishes.

Lieberman, who has been a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness for over 20 years in criminal and civil cases, fears that viewing this kind of content in exhibitions could encourage the very violence it depicts.

In fact, if studies are done in the cities where the expos are located, they would find an increase in violence during and after the expo takes place, Lieberman said. Being enmeshed in the serial killer experience will undoubtedly influence people to try it at home.

open image in gallery The experience begins in a brightly-lit mock investigation room, where visitors tap away on vintage typewriters, snap mugshots and attempt to solve crimes through criminal profiling and behavioral analysis techniques ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

Organizers have defended the expo, stating that it examines the cultural fascination with true crime while shedding light on the victims stories and the pursuit of justice.

Weve seen immersive experiences reshape how audiences connect with history, science, art, and pop culture, said John Zaller, Creative Director at Exhibition Hub.

With this opening in New York City, were delving into one of todays most popular phenomenons: true crime, which is a theme deeply rooted in human nature and storytelling throughout history. This new exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in discovering the psychology of serial killers and the investigations that uncovered their crimes.

open image in gallery For those who want more, a virtual reality component on the upper level puts guests in the role of investigator, face-to-face with the killers ( Exhibition Hub/Fever )

A final moment to reflect

After touring 20 murder scenes, the exhibit ends not with shock, but with silence.

Matt, who did not give his last name, said his girlfriend dragged him along, left with a different perspective.

Its mind boggling how someone can look so normal, but this is whats going on inside their head, Matt told The Independent on the way out. That this is what theyre capable of.

A mirrored room lined with candles invites visitors to decompress  and honor the victims.

The Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience is now open at 526 Sixth Ave. through June. Tickets start at $27.90. Entry is restricted to visitors 18 and older.
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is one of the best rare earth stocks to buy right now. On April 20, analysts at Wedbush initiated coverage of MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) with an Outperform rating and a $90 price target.

Is MP Materials Corp. (MP) The Best Rare Earth Stock Right Now?

The coverage comes as MP Materials is the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the US, backed by its Mountain Pass Mine in California. It acquired the mine out of bankruptcy in 2018 for $20.5 million and has expanded downstream through midstream separation. The company also owns an independent magnet manufacturing facility in Texas.

Wedbush has touted the companys long-term prospects, noting that Mountain Pass is a low-cost producer of rare-earth concentrate outside China. The mine consists of the highest-grade bastnaesite deposit in the Western world. The research firm expects the company to become a national champion amid renewed efforts to reduce the USs reliance on China for rare-earth supplies.

MP Materials Corp. (NYSE:MP) is the leading American producer of rare earth materials, focused on restoring the full supply chain to the U.S. by mining, refining, and manufacturing high-strength neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. It supplies critical materials for electric vehicles, defense systems, robotics, and clean energy technologies.

While we acknowledge the potential of MP 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: Top 30 S&P 500 Stocks by Index Weight and 10 Best Ethereum Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Advertisement

BusinessCompaniesCommercial real estate California Club, Melbournes biggest brothel, is for sale Nicole Lindsay 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

Capital Gain Melbournes biggest brothel, the California Club, is on the market looking for both a new freehold owner and operator. Its only the second time in more than 40 years that the brothel  now a designated sex service premises  has gone on the market. The California Club at 30 St Kilda Road, St Kilda. The pleasure palace, at 30 St Kilda Road, uphill from the junction, has 18 rooms designed to accommodate a range of tastes and interests.

Advertisement

The current owners recently deceased partner was the manager for many years and now they are not keen doing the job solo, California Club spokesman William Albon said. Interested parties are advised to call the California Club directly, Albon said. The likely price for the property and business is between $5.5 million and $6.5 million. The freehold of another long-running brothel, the Candy Club, is also changing hands for around $2 million, but with a lease in place to the current operator. Sutherland Farrelly agents Grant and Paul Sutherland, acting for the mortgagee, declined to comment on the price or buyer. Trash is treasure

Advertisement

The days are numbered for one of the citys few trash and treasure markets  itself now the priciest item up for sale. The 3.41 hectare super-site in Thomastown also has a super price and is likely to fetch around $22 million. The land at 26 Wood Street and 261-273 Settlement Road was the Reservoir Village Drive-In in 1964, entertaining up to 700 cars at a time. The trash and treasure market took over a few years later, ushering in a near 60-year era of selling thrift seekers junk, jam doughnuts and vintage tools. Thomastowns Trash & Treasure at 261-273 Settlement Road and 26 Wood Street. The sites recent inclusion as a state significant industrial area has paved the way for a new commercial lease on life. However, it is zoned Commercial 2 giving it a multitude of potential uses.

Advertisement

Closing time wont arrive too quickly. The market still has a short-term lease. Gray Johnsons Matt Hoath and CBREs Daniel Eramo have the listing. Little pets The Petstock outlet in Prahran will soon be dog meat after it was bought by Little Projects. The property developer is paying $12 million for the 1206 square metre site at 476-478 High Street, close to the Williams Road intersection, in an off-market deal. The Petstock outlet at 476-478 High Street, Prahran.

Advertisement

It was on the market about 18 months ago, along with a portfolio of Petstock outlets around the country, but did not sell. Related Article Commercial real estate Property play: Woolies extends warehouse lease derailing billionaires $155m deal The deal reflected a tight yield of 2.16 per cent  a sure indicator of its future as a development site. Records show a joint venture between Perth-based Ascot Capital and Linfox director David Fox bought the property in 2022 for $10.2 million. CBRE agents Darren Beehag, Justin Kramersh and David Napoleone negotiated the transaction with Colliers agents Ben Baines and Alex Browne acting for the purchaser.

Advertisement

The lease to Petstock contains a termination clause, which is lucky because the dog-food retailer, which is owned by Woolworths, has a 10-year lease until 2032. It pays $217,350 a year in rent. Fire station sale The state government is flogging off more assets, putting a group of ageing and vacant fire stations and land on the market. The portfolio of nine, mostly suburban, properties is expected to fetch around $20 million in total. They range from vacant land  a 2478 square metre carpark at 23-29 Dean Street, Moonee Ponds  to a former station at 88 Boundary Road, Sunshine West on 5080 square metres. Gross Waddells Danny Clark, Nick Meadows and Glenn Ye are running the campaign via a mixture of auctions and tenders.

Advertisement

Part of the Fire Services portfolio: 23-29 Dean Street, Moonee Ponds. Two bidders The Toorak Village renaissance continues with two bidders vying for two shops at 456-460 Toorak Road, pushing the price to $4.55 million and a skinny yield of 1.5 per cent. The two shops were sold by the Blatt family who had held them for 50 years. Fitzroys agents Mark Talbot and Lewis Waddell handled the auction which started with a $3.9 million bid.

Advertisement

Both leases have an expiry date of late 2027, giving the new owner plenty of options. 456-460 Toorak Road, Toorak. In Brighton, two shops at 99-101 Church Street sold after auction for a price believed to be around $7.5 million. Despite passing in at $7.4 million, there were four bidders for the shops on the tightly held strip and the deal reflected a 3.5 per cent yield. Gross Waddell ICR agents Glenn Ye, Danny Clark and Michael Gross ran the campaign.

Advertisement

The next blue-chip property on the market is the CBA bank branch at 333 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn. The 1747 square metre building includes three retail spaces, including the bank branch, six commercial suites and six rooftop apartments. 333 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn Built in the 2000s, it returns $782,000 a year in rent and is on a 1014 square metre parcel of land. It sits between two supermarkets: a new Coles under construction at 259-281 Whitehorse Road and the Woolies across the street which sold for $45 million in 2021. The Dan Murphys up the road fetched more than $11 million in 2024.

Advertisement

Stonebridge agents Nic Hage, Rorey James, Ian Lam and Chao Zhang have the listing. Supermarkets Speaking of supermarkets, Berwick Marketplace, which is anchored by a Woolies supermarket and a BWS bottleshop is up for sale. Records show it last changed hands in 2000 for $12.85 million when Woolworths development arm Fabcot sold it to a private family investor. The 4647 square metre centre is on 6528 square metres of land at 6-8 Lyall Road, with four extra shops, and returns $1.62 million in rent.

Advertisement

Berwick Marketplace back on the market for the first time since 2000. Woolies has a 10-year lease with options. Ryder Commercials George Harris and Mark Ryder and Savills Steven Lerche and Stephen Bolton have the listing and are expecting in the high $20 million price range. In the north-west, a supermarket anchored by new operator Fresco, at the Hillside Shopping Centre, is for sale. The 1340 square metre supermarket is expected to fetch around $4 million, reflecting a 6 per cent yield. It returns $241,605 a year in rent.

Advertisement

CBREs Alex Brierley and Scott Hawthorne, with Biggin & Scott Commercials Stan Sidiropoulos, are running expressions of interest. Back on the market is the Aldi in West Melbourne which last changed hands in 2023 for $14.41 million. Related Article Commercial real estate Pub price slump: Former Espy owners second go at selling historic Fitzroy hotel MPG Funds Management bought the 1595 square metre supermarket at 512 Spencer Street, which is at the foot of a new apartment building. Colliers Tim McIntosh and Will Heffernan are running the campaign and looking for more than $15 million.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, a Woolies Metro and BWS at 358 Orrong Road sold for $8.7 million on a 6 per cent yield. CBREs Darren Beehag and Justin Kramersh sold the 1042 square metre centre which had a long 17.5-year lease. The IGA at 62-64 Main Street, Upwey, sold before auction last month for $3.91 million, to an international buyer. The supermarket, which had two offices upstairs returned a total $241,945 a year in rent, giving the deal a 6.18 per cent yield. CBREs David Napoleone and Sam Mercuri did the deal, with Greville Pabst acting as transaction advisor. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
Advertisement

BusinessCompaniesOnline gambling Hairdryer used to trick weather sensor to win $47,600 bet James Titcomb April 26, 2026  3:08pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

French police are investigating suspicions that a hairdryer may have been used to tamper with official weather readings to make thousands of dollars in Polymarket bets. Temperature readings at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport have unexpectedly spiked twice in the past month, reaching levels much higher than expected. Temperature readings at Charles de Gaulle airport have unexpectedly spiked twice in the past month. Bloomberg On both days, gamblers on Polymarket, the worlds biggest prediction market, appear to have made huge sums by betting on unlikely weather patterns. The site relied on readings from the Charles de Gaulle temperature sensor. Meteo-France, the countrys official weather agency, said it had complained to police after noticing a change to one of its temperature sensors.

Advertisement

In view of physical findings on one of our instruments and the analysis of sensor data, Meteo-France was indeed led to file a complaint for alteration of the operation of an automated data processing system with the Air Transport Gendarmerie Brigade of Roissy, a spokesman said. As the investigation is ongoing, we do not wish to make any further comments in order to ensure the proper conduct of the procedure. Betting on the weather has become popular on prediction markets such as Polymarket. Bloomberg On April 6 and April 15, temperatures at the airports weather sensor unexpectedly spiked late in the day, with the peak temperature reading significantly higher than forecast. On April 6, the sensor recorded a peak temperature of 21 degrees at 7pm and on April 15, the peak temperature of 22 degrees was reached at 9:30pm.

Advertisement

On both days, the peak temperature had hovered around 18 degrees during the day. Related Article Online gambling US soldier charged with using classified intel to win $560,000 bet on Maduro raid Polymarket, where people can use cryptocurrency to bet on thousands of different markets from politics to war, ran a daily market on the peak temperature in Paris using the airport weather station. On both days, the markets put the chance of a 21 degree or 22 degree day at less than 1 per cent, meaning people who bet on the outcome earlier in the day would have made a substantial return on their initial stakes. On April 15, one trader made $US21,000 ($29,400) betting that the maximum temperature would not be 18 degrees, data from Polymarket show. A temperature of 18 degrees was seen as a 99.6 per cent probability before the temperature spiked later in the day.

Advertisement

Successful bets on the temperature reportedly netted around $US34,000 ($47,600). While it is unclear how the temperature might have been manipulated, one possibility shared on weather forums was that a battery-powered hairdryer could have been used, according to Le Monde newspaper. The station is on a public road, making it easy to access. The French Air Transport Gendarmerie and Polymarket were contacted for comment. There are no indications so far that the successful punters have had to return their winnings. However, the data source for Pariss hottest temperature has since moved to a sensor at the smaller Paris-Le Bourget airport.

Advertisement

The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share More: Online gambling

World markets
Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

A childcare worker is alleged to have slapped two children with an open hand while they slept at their childcare centre in Sydneys west.

Nepalese national Jayendra Jung Shahi, 24, was arrested on Saturday following reports he had assaulted the two boys, aged three and four, at a Panania Childcare centre about 1pm on Thursday.

The childcare sector has come under increasing scrutiny after a series of scandals. Louie Douvis

A court heard on Sunday that the incident was caught on CCTV. Shahi was charged with two counts of common assault.

They are pretty serious examples of common assault, as they were committed in circumstances where the accused was meant to care for children in a childcare centre, and whilst two of those children were sleeping, aged three and four, he slapped them across the face, acting Judge Amanda Coultas-Roberts said.
Kidneys are the most in-demand organs for transplants.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The kidney and liver waiting for Frank Giamarelos were still alive when he arrived at the Austin Hospital in the middle of the night for an Australian-first double transplant. No longer inside a human body and sitting in a plastic box, the liver was being fed sugars and nutrients it would normally receive from the digestive system through normothermic machine perfusion. Austin Health transplant surgeon Graham Starkey and his patient Frank Giamarelos. Justin McManus The dark reddish-brown organ was also being pumped with warm, oxygenated blood through plastic tubes, allowing the liver to make its own bile and clear it of any toxins. Related Article Explainer

Healthcare A second chance: How do organ donations work? Nearby, another machine hummed away, keeping a donor kidney in active hibernation; its cells still breathing and processing oxygen as if it had never left a body at all. Austin Healths kidney transplant services medical director, Associate Professor John Whitlam said perfusion technology was transforming every aspect of organ transplants in Australia and across the world.

Advertisement

This included the way surgeons operate, the types of patients who can donate organs, and even the outcomes for recipients. Its quite science fiction this idea that basically you have an organ outside the body, and its being kept alive by a machine, Whitlam said. It is super cool, its super weird. Crucially, organ perfusion is allowing doctors and transplant surgeons at the Austin Hospital to test the viability of donated organs before they are transplanted. The technology works by being able to replicate the conditions inside a human body. It is super cool, its super weird. Austin Healths kidney transplant services medical director, Associate Professor John Whitlam Related Article Exclusive

Healthcare They didnt match for a transplant. A new drug allowed Ondie to give Rob her kidney For the first time in Australia, a team at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne used pioneering perfusion technology to undertake a double transplant for 51-year-old father of two Frank Giamarelos, who was on the brink of organ failure. Giamarelos had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as hereditary polycystic liver and kidney disease. He was living in debilitating pain, his stomach protruding as his liver swelled to more than nine kilograms, while his kidney grew to 1.2 kilograms.

Advertisement

He was left struggling to breathe, suffering from severe back pain, and some days he was so exhausted he could barely move. Giamarelos kidney function was hovering at six per cent. He had been on the organ waitlist for almost two years, until a late night phone call in October last year, when he was told a kidney and liver from a donor had finally become available. Before this call, Giamarelos had consented to being part of landmark research at the Austin Hospital, which meant he could be the first recipient in the country to have both organs perfused before transplantation. An example of a normothermic perfusion machine. The machines keep organs alive outside the body. OrganOx Giamarelos, who works in medical diagnostics, did not hesitate to sign up to the study. I was aware of the risks, but I was willing to take those risks, he said. These experiments, if you want to call them that, are crucial to modern medicine, and they can help so many people in the future. Austin Health transplant surgeon Graham Starkey said by the time Giamarelos underwent the gruelling and complex 16-hour surgery, his kidney and liver were enlarged and riddled with fluid-filled cysts.

Advertisement

The cysts were like little water balloons, he said. It looked like an alien thing, like the surface of the moon. Starkey said perfusion allows organs to be safely stored for many hours longer, extending the window of time in which they can be transplanted. The main thing is this is stripping away barriers to someone like Frank getting a transplant, he said. It means we can do complex cases that take a longer time without compromising the outcome for the patient. Whitlam said while normothermic machine perfusion was used for the liver, (which keeps the organ at the human body temperature of 37 degrees) hypothermic machine perfusion was used for the kidney. Thats a simpler technology because it uses a cold fluid, sort of like a fancy salt water and oxygen is added to that fluid, and its perfused through the organ, and it keeps it in a state of hibernation, he said. The benefit is that it doesnt deteriorate at the same rate as it would at room temperature.

Advertisement

This meant kidneys can be stored safely for up to 30 hours. Previously, he said the process for storing organs was essentially keeping them in a cardboard box with ice. We call that static cold storage, and it is sort of basically like an esky, he said. Austin Health is the first hospital in the country with both liver and kidney perfusion machines, incorporating normothermic and hypothermic oxygenated technologies that keep organs preserved so more transplants can be successfully performed. Frank Giamarelos recovering in the Austin Hospital following surgery. Following Giamarelos landmark surgery last year, staff at the hospital have successfully performed another double transplant where both organs were perfused before being transplanted. Since the technology was introduced to the hospital it has been used for more than 200 transplants. In some instances, the hospital has perfused organs before shipping them to other transplant centres across Australia to save lives. Victoria is facing critically low organ donation registration rates, with only about 23 per cent of eligible people registered as organ donors, compared to the national state average of 36 per cent and South Australias 72 per cent.

Advertisement
Atlanta-based railroad company Norfolk Southern reported profits were down more than a quarter for the start of 2026.

According to the companys latest earnings report, the first quarter of 2026 saw a 27% decrease in profits due to adjustments related to the East Palestine derailment in 2023 in Ohio.

The Associated Press reported this was due to Norfolk Southern not collecting insurance payments from the derailment this quarter.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Expenses related to Norfolk Southerns planned merger with Union Pacific also contributed to decreases in profit, the company said.

In a statement with the earnings report, Mark Georgia, Norfolk Southern president and CEO, said conditions for the company were getting better.

TRENDING STORIES:

In the first quarter, our team stayed focused on what we could control, operating with discipline amid volatile volumes, severe winter weather, and a rapidly shifting macroeconomic environment including the dramatic rise in fuel prices in March, George said. Despite these challenges, our employees safely delivered a solid service product, managed costs effectively, and earned the continued trust of our customers. As conditions improved, we captured momentum exiting the quarter, reinforcing the strength of our operating foundation and the dedication of the entire Norfolk Southern team.

The company reported revenue from railway operations were flat, or mainly unchanged, though they reported a $5 million increase in revenue, staying near the $3 billion it took in last year.

The revenue level from railway operations was down 23% compared to the same period in 2025, at $877 million versus 2025s roughly $1.15 billion.

Norfolk Southerns income from railway operations was down 2%, at $939 million compared to 2025s $961 million during the same period.

All of the different adjustments and fluctuations led to diluted earnings per share going down $0.88, or 27%, the company said.

Compared to 2025, Norfolk Southern said it was a 1% difference due to adjustments for Eastern Ohio derailment impacts and merger-related expenses, which brought diluted earnings per share down by four cents.

The merger effort between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific hit a stumbling block with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in the most recent attempt.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

A teenager has been charged over an alleged stabbing on a bus in Joondalup that left a 16-year-old in critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital.

WA Police allege a physical altercation occurred between a group of youths and the teenage victim on a bus travelling along Grand Boulevard on Saturday afternoon.

A teenager has been charged after an alleged stabbing incident on a bus in Joondalup. Night News

In a statement, a WA Police spokesperson said a 16-year-old from Carramar had been charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm or prevent arrest wounded or caused grievous bodily harm.

During the altercation, it will be alleged the accused stabbed the victim with a knife, they said.
Advertisement

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies have been devalued through overuse after Indigenous figures were booed at Anzac Day dawn services when delivering speeches. Taylor condemned the booing on Sunday, as rallies were held in Canberra and Melbourne to protest Australias migration policies. The Liberal leader said it was un-Australian to act in such a manner at a solemn event, though he made a broader point that he could understand the frustration Australians feel about over-use. Opposition Leader Angus Taylors remarks echo those of former Liberal leader Peter Dutton. Dominic Lorrimer I feel that at times  often, actually. I think it is overused and as a result they are devalued, he said on ABC. I would like to see them used less and therefore not devalued, as I think they have been over time. Its up to individual organising committees to decide whether they want to do it or not. But the general principle should be: lets do this less and make it more special when it happens.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Days before the services, organisers of the anti-immigration group Fight for Australia posted on social media to ask supporters to attend services and make known their displeasure with Indigenous ceremonies. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the scenes disrespected everyone who fought and died for our freedoms. University of Melbourne academic Marcia Langton. James Brickwood NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was disappointed by booing from a small number of people. Indigenous academic Marcia Langton called on morons to be banned from future ceremonies, though it is unclear how such a move would be put into practice.

Advertisement

The majority attending the services raised their voices and clapped to support the speakers and drown out the vandals, she wrote in Guardian Australia. What Uncle Mark, Uncle Ray and Aunty Di know, and what the elders of the RSL know, is that more than 118 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men served in the Australian Light Horse during the first world war. Supporters of Ben Roberts Smith, accused of war crimes during his time during the war in Afghanistan, rally on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne in a public protest organised by the right-wing group, National Workers Alliance. Chris Hopkins The morons who tried to snatch the sacred moment away from them, and those of us who observe with them at dawn services, deserve more than contempt and a few words of rancour. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson joined Nationals leader Matt Canavan and Queensland MP Bob Katter to address a crowd of about 400 people on the lawns of Parliament House, Canberra, on Sunday, at an anti-mass migration rally staged by the Australian Lobby Group.

Advertisement

We are already in a housing crisis with 4.8 million non-citizens in the country, yet the government continues to add more with mass migration, Hanson said. I am not against migration at all, but you have to do it in the right way and bring in the right people. Katter rallied the crowd about the treatment of SAS corporal and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been charged with war crimes in Afghanistan, while Canavan said the nation was focusing too much on diversity and not enough on unity. Australia Marches organiser Scott Challen said the timing of the rally was deliberate: Australia currently holds one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. This is not a question of culture or character, it is a question of capacity. In Melbourne, about 300 people attended a rally  organised by former boxer Matt Trihey and his ethno-nationalist and anti-migrant group, the National Workers Alliance  to protest against Roberts-Smiths charging. Roberts-Smith attended a dawn service on Saturday after he was released on bail. As Trihey led a minutes silence on the steps of parliament on Sunday, a voice from a counterprotest yelled Always was always will be Aboriginal land. Boos followed from the crowd gathered for Roberts-Smith and several men tried to approach the counterprotesters, but others yelled: No violence! Youll ruin the whole movement and restrained them.

Advertisement

Vietnam War veteran Newton Reynolds was among those who went along and said he didnt support the National Workers Alliance views but believed Roberts-Smith was innocent. For people to judge Ben Roberts-Smith or other soldiers in that sort of situation, its very difficult, he said. Reynolds said he did not support those who booed at dawn services. I just think that its ignorant. You can have a protest about something but you have to do it in the right way, 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.
Advertisement

WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Ceasefire in doubt as US cancels trip and Irans top diplomat leaves Pakistan Josh Wingrove and Galit Altstein April 26, 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

Islamabad: Attempts at ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran fell flat after Tehrans top diplomat left Pakistan and US President Donald Trumps envoys stayed away, after he told them not to travel to Islamabad. Trump indicated the ball was now in Irans court. If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! Trump said on social media. In this photo released by the Pakistan Prime Minister Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) greets Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi before their meeting in Islamabad this weekend. AP The negotiations were meant to follow historic face-to-face talks earlier this month between the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

Advertisement

But Iranian officials have questioned how they can trust the US after its forces started blockading Iranian ports, in response to Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump on Saturday (US time) told his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff to skip the trip, adding in a social media post that there has been too much time wasted on travelling. Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership. Nobody knows who is in charge, including them, Trump wrote. Trump later told reporters he hasnt even thought about what this means for the tentative ceasefire, as all sides try to figure out whats next in the conflict. Even as the outlook for more US-Iran talks remained unclear, a separate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon appeared to be breaking down, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering his countrys military to strike Hezbollah targets.

Advertisement

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called his visit to Pakistan very fruitful but added in a social media post that Iran has yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a social media post that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior leaders met with Araghchi for about two hours. Araghchi left the city after those talks, according to two sources and Iranian state-run media IRNA. US President Donald Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One that Iran had offered a lot but not enough in a written document. AP Araghchi went on to Oman, on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz and a country that had mediated peace talks in the past. He said he would return to Pakistan the following day before heading to Russia, IRNA reported. Trump told reporters on Saturday (US time) before boarding Air Force One  and prior to the security incident at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner  that Iran had offered a lot but not enough in a written document. He added that Iran responded quickly to his decision to cancel the trip by US envoys.

Advertisement

Interestingly, immediately, when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better, Trump said, without offering additional details. Iran didnt immediately acknowledge that any fresh offer was made. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said earlier that the Iranians originally reached out to the US to arrange the fresh round of talks. But Araghchi had said the purpose of his travel was to consult with partners on bilateral matters and his office refrained from portraying the meetings as mediation by Pakistan. US envoys Jared Kushner (left) and Steve Witkoff at the first Islamabad meeting on April 12. AP The US has been trying to increase pressure on Iran with a continued naval blockade aimed at forcing Tehran into a deal that would end a war that has already killed more than 5000 people, mostly in Iran. Trump ordered the US Navy to fire at any boat putting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, after the military intercepted two oil supertankers trying to evade the blockade.

Advertisement

In nearby Lebanon, there were fresh signs that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants  which Trump announced on Thursday would be extended by three weeks  was breaking down. Netanyahus office issued a statement Saturday that the prime minister had ordered Israeli Defence Forces to forcefully attack militants targets in Lebanon, but offered no additional details. Related Article State of Palestine Palestinians vote in Gaza for first time in more than two decades The ceasefire, which originally went into effect on April 17, came after almost two months of fighting, was triggered by Hezbollahs decision to join Tehrans retaliation against the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran by targeting Israels northern communities. Fighting escalated as Israel invaded southern Lebanon, killing over 2000 and displacing over 1 million, to create what it calls an extended security zone. During the ceasefire, Israel and Lebanon kicked off direct talks in Washington  the first in over three decades  led by the countries ambassadors to the US. But no significant progress was reported after the first two rounds.

Advertisement

The ceasefire started to crack last Tuesday  on Israels Independence Day  when Hezbollah attacked Israeli soldiers, setting off sirens in Israel. In the days that followed attacks spilled further across the border targeting Israeli communities. Bloomberg, AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Advertisement

WorldMiddle EastState of Palestine Palestinians vote in Gaza for first time in more than two decades Sam Metz and Wafaa Shurafa April 26, 2026  3:05pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip: Palestinians voted in the first elections held in part of Gaza in more than two decades, while tens of thousands of Palestinians cast ballots in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The vote on Saturday (Gaza time) in Gazas central city of Deir al-Balah was a largely symbolic pilot election, officials said, part of the Palestinian Authoritys effort to politically link Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  unpopular in the West Bank and frozen out of US-led postwar plans for ending Hamas rule in Gaza  hopes to establish an independent state in both territories. Palestinian men gather in front of a polling station to participate in local elections in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday. AP Hamas did not field candidates in Deir al-Balah, which in more than two years of war has been damaged by airstrikes but spared an Israeli ground invasion. More than 70,000 people were eligible to vote for the municipal government.

Advertisement

Though turnout was low, voters said they were driven to the polls amid a near-total absence of public services. There and throughout the West Bank, voting determines the makeup of local councils tasked with overseeing water, roads and electricity. I came to vote because I have a right to elect members to municipal council so they can provide us with services, said Ashraf Abu Dan in Deir al-Balah. A Palestinian man voting in the West Bank in the weekends local elections, the first in two decades in Gaza and the first in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. AP The West Bank turnout was near the level of previous local elections, surprising observers who expected that a low participation rate would signal apathy and eroded faith in elected office. Election officials reported a preliminary 53.4 per cent overall turnout after polls closed and 22.7 per cent in Deir al-Balah. Results in individual races are expected on Sunday, Gazan time.

Advertisement

Voters said they wanted a say over local decision-making. Municipal laws need to be enforced so people feel theres justice, said Khalid al-Qawasmeh, a voter in the West Bank city of Beitunia. The Palestinian Authority, which was formed as part of interim peace accords in the 1990s, is the internationally recognised representative of the Palestinian people. It administers semi-autonomous areas of the West Bank but was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2006. The election committee sorting the lists of candidates in the weekends Palestinian local elections. AP The authoritys popularity has been weakened by corruption and autocratic rule, its failure to establish an independent state while Israel expands West Bank settlements, and divisions with Hamas. Abbas, 90, was elected to what was supposed to be a four-year term in 2005.

Advertisement

Though it has not held presidential or legislative elections since 2006, the Palestinian Authority promoted the local races after reforms it enacted last year in response to demands from international backers. Were talking about geographically linking the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said Rami Hamdallah, chair of the Ramallah-based Central Election Commission and a former prime minister. With Gaza mostly decimated by war, the commission chose to hold its first vote in Deir al-Balah but had to improvise because it was unable to conduct traditional voter registration. A Palestinian woman voting in the West Bank on Saturday. AP Hamdallah said Israel blocked the entry of materials like ballot paper, ballot boxes and ink into Gaza. The commission repurposed materials instead, using wooden ballot boxes and ink from a vaccination drive last year.

Advertisement

The commission said it did not coordinate directly with Israel or Hamas ahead of the vote. Associated Press footage showed security officers keeping order outside polling stations. COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees humanitarian affairs in Gaza, did not respond to questions about blocking materials. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict The government has warned Juliet and her daughters not to join this group. Theyre going to anyway Abbas signed a decree last year reforming elections that now allow voting for individuals rather than slates. In January, another decree required candidates to accept the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which leads the Palestinian Authority. It calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions. Many cities  including Ramallah and Nablus  did not have contested elections. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 and violently seized control of Gaza from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority a year later. Hamas did not prevent Saturdays vote from taking place in Deir al-Balah.

Advertisement

Hamas controls the half of Gaza that Israel withdrew from last year, including Deir al-Balah, but the enclave is preparing to transition to a new governance structure under US President Donald Trumps 20-point ceasefire plan. That plan excludes both Fatah and Hamas. The plan established an international Board of Peace and a committee of unelected Palestinian experts supposed to operate and govern under it. Progress toward further phases, including disarming Hamas, reconstruction and transferring power, is stalled. The elections did not include Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, a recurring point of tension between Israel and Palestinian leaders. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaTrump diplomacy Opinion All of his assumptions proven wrong, Donald Trump is Irans newest hostage Maureen Dowd New York Times columnist April 26, 2026  3:30pm

April 26, 2026  3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

It looked like a good thing: but wait till I tell you. Thats the opening of the classic O. Henry short story The Ransom of Red Chief. The tale, written in 1907, is the ultimate parable about the perils of trying to seize and control a troublemaker so devious, so maniacal, so awful that the captors become the captives. US President Donald Trump. Bloomberg The story is about two small-time crooks who think they can make some easy money by kidnapping a 10-year-old boy, the son of an affluent landowner in a sleepy Alabama town.

Advertisement

They underestimate badly. When they go to abduct the red-haired, freckle-faced boy, he is throwing rocks at a kitten and hurls a brick at one of his kidnappers. Related Article Opinion

Trump's White House Dont worry about it: Welcome to Trumps voyage of the damned Maureen Dowd New York Times columnist Red Chief, the terror of the plains, as the boy calls himself, runs his captors ragged. He relishes tormenting the men and doesnt want to go home. In the end, they have to drop their demand for a $2000 ransom, pay the boys father $250 to take the demonic child off their hands and run for the hills. US President Donald Trump went along with Bibi Netanyahus Panglossian case for slamming Iran. It looked like a good thing: but wait till I tell you. After nearly two months of tangling with the demonic Iranian leadership and its allies, Trump looks desperate to run for the hills. He constantly says he has defeated the mullahs and that he has obliterated their military power, and yet Iran refuses to be subdued.

Advertisement

Trump says theres a new regime thats easier to deal with, but actually, its the same regime only worse  run by hardened, fanatical generals. Iran has not turned over its enriched uranium, and negotiations are touch and go. The Strait of Hormuz, which Trump keeps saying is open, is closed. Trump is blockading the Iranian blockade. Iran has proven to be far more resilient and resourceful than he was prepared for, Richard Haass, a foreign policy adviser for former president George W. Bush, wrote in his newsletter, Home & Away. Almost all the administrations assumptions have been proven wrong. Loading Aside from the weakening of Irans conventional military capability, Haass said, virtually every other metric shows the United States, the region and the world to be worse off. The Iranians are tormenting Trump  even as they out-troll the master troller, viciously mocking the president as a L.O.S.E.R. and as a Bibi puppet who wants to distract from the Epstein files.

Advertisement

One viral Iranian rap addressing Trump calls the conflict a trap you couldnt see. Welcome to the graveyard of your vanity. Conceding that Iran is winning the meme war, the Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng keened about Trump, Whats the point of electing a cyberbully if he sucks at cyberbullying? Now that Iran has flexed power in the strait, Trump has to bargain with it to get back to where things were before. He is pinioned in a weird nook and cranny of the planet that seems almost medieval, sitting next to a backward, villainous theocracy. And yet ships carrying over 20 per cent of the worlds oil must traverse the narrow passage to get to the Arabian Sea. Trump, who grew overconfident after his adventurism in Venezuela, is being driven to distraction.

Advertisement

He got so rattled when the two US airmen were shot down, Josh Dawsey and Annie Linskey reported in The Wall Street Journal, that he screamed at aides for hours. Last month, Trump talked about the danger of becoming another Jimmy Carter, spiralling amid the hostages and a failed rescue with eight helicopters lost. Related Article Opinion

Trump's America America is burning with political violence. Its a fire that Trump keeps stoking Cory Alpert Former White House staffer One of my first big stories as a reporter was covering those hostage families for a year and then going to West Point to see the hostages come home in 1981. So I had a front-row seat to the Iranians jujitsu tactics, using 52 Americans in the US embassy to gain leverage over Carters presidency, reputation and re-election. Trump tried to scare the Iranians with a profane post at Easter and a wild threat to destroy their civilisation. But Iran is not Afghanistan or Iraq. The Iranian mullahs and generals are the terrors of the strait. Trump has forsaken the one good Middle East policy he had: avoiding the mirage of quick wins while getting sucked once more into blood and sand, as he dismissively called it during his first term.

Advertisement

When he was running in 2016, Trump deemed the invasion of Iraq a big, fat mistake that destabilised the Middle East and cost too much, in money and lives. But, seduced by the detestable Bibi, he got suckered into the blood and sand. Unlike W., who had the good grace to trump up a case for war, Trump let Bibi lead him by the nose into this one, blowing off Congress, US allies and many furious MAGA acolytes. Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reveal in their forthcoming book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, that the president brushed aside General Dan Caines warnings that a war with Iran would drastically deplete US weapons stockpiles and jeopardise the traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. As The New York Times reported on Thursday, the US has burned through half  about 1100  of its long-range stealth cruise missiles built for a war with China. The president with the attention span of a gnat posted on Truth Social that I have all the Time in the World, but Iran doesnt  The clock is ticking! But he is the one who has lost control of the timeline, and himself.

Advertisement
Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaTrump's White House Shots fired: How the aborted gala for White House journalists unfolded Michael Koziol April 26, 2026  3:01pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: Shots fired! Those were the words that sent White House journalists, lobbyists, political staffers and the most senior members of the Trump administration ducking for cover under tables on what was supposed to be the night of nights for Washingtons media and political class. The stage was set for a tantalising, record-breaking evening. Donald Trump, who had never attended the event as president, was at the long table at the front of the Hilton Hotel ballroom, alongside the first lady. Only moments earlier, one of his staffers was telling me how excited he was to deliver his speech  traditionally a comedic roast. A lot of time and effort went into crafting something memorable. Melania and Donald Trump with Weijia Jiang (right), the White House Correspondents Association president, at the dinner. Bloomberg It wasnt to be. Barely had the evening started  guests had just been told to sit for dinner  when gunshots were heard inside the ballroom. Trump later said it sounded like the clatter of a tray. But to reporter Juan Merlano, it sounded like gunfire. The dinner hadnt even started yet and we heard shootings, like bangs, the Colombian TV correspondent said. I heard them from inside the room but we knew that it was just outside. Someone said, Shots fired, shots fired. Then everybody just went under the table. People were screaming and nobody knew what was going to happen.

Advertisement

The Secret Service went into the ballroom, heavily armed. The police also went in. They took the president, ushered him out, and they start to search for each of the Cabinet members at the tables. Law enforcement officers respond during an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner. AP Merlano, like many other journalists, got out as soon as he could. Not necessarily because of instinct but because, being reporters, they needed to file copy and video about this huge breaking news  and the phone reception inside the Hiltons underground ballroom is notoriously bad. Fox News Peter Doocy stood on the same corner doing a live cross as others waited for word about whether the event would resume. Trump soon posted on social media: as much as he would like to go back inside, the Secret Service recommended against it. Guests and hotel workers outside the Washington Hilton after they were forced to evacuate. AP

Advertisement

Instead, he would return to the White House and hold a live news conference in just 30 minutes. Reporters high-tailed it downtown, some running along 18th Street. Trump was whisked away at lightning speed  a reporter from the daily press pool travelling with the president said it was the fastest motorcade Ive ever been in. As always with breaking news, there were conflicting early reporters about what had happened. CNN initially reported the shooter was dead  the Secret Service quickly said he had, in fact, been apprehended. A 31-year-old man from California, Cole Tomas Allen, spent the night in custody. Trump said he was caught with multiple weapons. Trump shared an image of the alleged gunman, who was arrested at the Washington Hilton. Truth Social The shooters dash towards the ballroom was brazen and shocking, although it seems that ultimately, the security set-up  enormous at functions such as these  did its job. Still, at an after party at the Swiss ambassadors residence later in the night, many attendees expressed shock at how relaxed the entry screening was at the correspondents dinner. The only thing guests needed to show was a printed invitation to reach the security perimeter where the gunman was taken down.

Advertisement

At the White House, Trump, with his tuxedo still on, appeared unfazed by the whole experience. It wasnt his first time, he noted drily. The president was adamant he would not allow another act of apparently politically motivated violence to change the way he performs his job or lives his life. These crazy people could not be allowed to change the fabric of our lives, he said. Were not going to cancel things out. Indeed, his main message was that the show would go on  the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days, and he would be there. Loading He also took the time to praise the spirit of unity and camaraderie that was evident in the room before the disruption.

Advertisement

You had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives, Trump said. There was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I was very, very impressed by that. No doubt the US president will go back to lashing the fake news and sparring with reporters shortly. But not tonight. Tonight they were as one  victims of an all-too-familiar pattern in America and no closer to changing it. 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.
Trump calls off sending envoys to Iran peace talks

Peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have been called off, with a meeting that was planned in Pakistan today now not going ahead.
Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrapup April 18-25, 2026





The Auto Channel  Trusted automotive reporting for 31 years. This article is part of The Auto Channels independent automotive coverage library  one of the longest-running automotive publications online (since 1995). Our editors test, research, and document vehicles, technologies, recalls, and ownership experiences to help drivers make informed decisions. Unlike short news blurbs, our content is written for long-term usefulness  explaining what the vehicle is, why it matters, and how it affects real owners. Coverage includes reviews, specifications, safety data, recall history, industry context, and real-world driving impressions collected over decades of reporting.







The full version of todays News Nuggets  along with hundreds of thousands of additional articles, reviews, and editorial insights  can be found in The Auto Channels Million-Page Automotive Library, built and indexed over three decades. To dive deeper, simply copy any headline and paste it into this or any Site Search box on The Auto Channel.

LEARN MORE FROM THE WEB'S LONGEST RUNNING AUTOMOTIVE COLUMN

* Earth Day 2026 was Wednesday, April 22, 2026, marking the 56th annual celebration focused on environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, to promote environmental awareness, Earth Day has grown into a global, annual event observed by millions to champion sustainability and environmental protection.

* Route 66. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which ran for roughly 2,400 miles, from Chicago to Los Angeles---and now running pier-to-pier from Chicago's Navy Pier to the Santa Monica pier. An event billed as the national kickoff celebration will take place this coming week in Springfield, Mo., from April 29 to May 3, but all along Route 66, cities and towns have been gearing up for the centennial this year. Get your kicks right here with more info. HERE

* It's over. For generations, working- and middle-class Americans could find an inexpensive, reliable set of wheels to get around. In the 1970s oil crisis, such modest models came to be known as econoboxes and surged in popularity, particularly among a large and vibrant middle class. That era is over. What happened? Read this NY Times opinion guest essay. Yes, bring back the appliance car. HERE

* Backlash over outdated Tesla hardware. Tom LoSavio, a retired attorney, is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit alleging Tesla misled customers about its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) product. The lawsuit, which won class-action status for 3,000 people in California, seeks refunds for customers who paid for autonomous add-ons. Tesla faces a similar class-action case in Australia, while a Dutch Tesla owner launched a campaign to organize European buyers. HERE

* High gas prices to remain. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that gasoline prices in the United States had probably peaked but acknowledged that they could remain elevated for months, undermining President Trumps earlier claim that high fuel prices would be short-term. Before the Iran war, the average national price for a gallon of regular gas was $2.98. Last Sunday, the average was $4.05, according to the AAA motor club. HERE

* Spend, spend, spend. GasBuddy.com says: Americans have collectively spent ~$17.6 billion dollars more on gasoline than they did on March 1, roughly $15 billion more, in my (GasBuddy's) estimation, due to the US attacks on Iran. One day this week added ~$388 million more to the total, down from a peak of $455 million more on 4/8.

* Best electrified vehicles. U.S. News & World Report unveiled the 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards. The 2026 awards include 15 newly expanded categories, recognizing 19 winners chosen for their mix of quality, efficiency and value. The 2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars awards are designed to help consumers make informed choices and save money with vehicles theyll like. See the list HERE

* Reduce road deaths. The United States top road safety agency unveiled the most extensive and comprehensive behavioral traffic safety program in its history. The initiative from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, called Pathways to Safer Streets, will focus on the leading causes of U.S. road deaths: impairment, speeding, distraction and lack of seat belt use. Read more on this HERE

* Too tipsy to drive? . Automotive suppliers Aumovio SE and trinamiX, a startup from BASF SE, have developed an in-car alcohol sensor that integrates into vehicle touchscreens, allowing drivers to check their blood alcohol levels by simply placing a fingertip on the sensor. The system, whose results have been scientifically validated, uses near-infrared light and AI-based analysis to measure ethanol molecules under the skin and delivers results within seconds. Read what might be coming HERE

* Beijing Auto Show. The highly anticipated 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) will be held from April 24 to May 3, 2026. Under the theme Future of Intelligence, Auto China 2026 will, for the first time, adopt a dual-venue format, hosted at China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi) and Capital International Exhibition Center of China. With a total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters (4.09 million sq.ft.), the show will become the largest auto exhibition in the world, further reinforcing its position as a global industry leader. A total of 1,451 vehicles will be on display, including 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars. International automakers doing business in the worlds biggest auto market are shifting the local development and manufacturing strategy from in China for China to in China for China and the world, a trend in the spotlight at this weeks Beijing auto show.

* AM/FM radio dominant in Stellantis vehicles. AM/FM radio accounts for 55% of Stellantis drivers' in-car audio time, outpacing ad-free SiriusXM at 17% and Spotify at 5%, with all other platforms in the single digits, per Edison Research data shared by Cumulus Media. The findings highlight a strong attachment to broadcast radio among Stellantis drivers, even as the automaker's leadership explores removing built-in access from entry-level vehicles. Tune in HERE

* Anantara Concorso Rome. Last weekends inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma was the first in the Eternal City since 1960. A total of 70 cars, all of them Italian, gathered April 16-19 for three days of celebration of Italian automotive elegance and sport. See them in this report from Autoweek. HERE

* Jaguar/Land Rover recall. Jaguar Land Rover is recalling 170,169 vehicles in the U.S. due to loss of drive power, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The recall affects multiple models including Land Rover Range Rover, Discovery and Defender, and also Jaguar E-Pace from the 2019 to 2024 model years. A failure of the DC-DC converter will stop the vehicle's 12-Volt system from charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.

* Kia recall. Kia America is recalling certain 2022-2026 Carnival minivans for a possible fuel leak. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. The recall affects 141,032 vehicles.

* Genesis recall. Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain Genesis 2022-2026 GV70, 2023-2025 G90, 2021-2025 G80, and GV80 vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail. The recall affects 94,760 vehicles.

* Ford recall. Ford is recalling 140,201 Ranger vehicles in the U.S. as damaged wires can create an electrical short and cause a fire in the A-pillar area, increasing the risk of injury or a crash, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. The sun visor or headliner wiring harnesses may be improperly positioned or have excessive tape thickness, which can result in damaged wires, the regulator said.

* Harley-Davidson recall. Harley-Davidson is recalling certain 2025-2026 Softail models because of a potential loss of rear brake fluid. The recall affects the Street Bob, Heritage Classic, Low Rider S, and Low Rider ST, models but not the Breakout, Fat Boy, or the Gray Ghost. The recall affects 16,994 motorcycles.

* Formula 1 rules change. The FIA announced a round of tweaks to the somewhat controversial 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The changes werent sweeping and mostly centered on the deployment of electric energy. "The Drive" does a good job of explaining things HERE

Stay safe. Be Well.

Kind regards,
New Yorkers have always been willing to risk money. Lottery tickets at the bodega, square pools at the corner bar, FanDuel parlays at noon on a Sunday. The city's relationship with gambling is as old as its taxi medallions and just as transactional.

But the city itself has never had a real casino. Not a slot-only racino with flashing screens and no dealers. Not an electronic table-game terminal floor. A real casino, with green felt, live dealers, a pit boss watching the action, and a guy in a vest calling out "place your bets."

For 400 years of New York history, anyone who wanted that experience had to leave the five boroughs. That meant a drive to Atlantic City, a bus to Mohegan Sun, or a flight to Vegas. New York's gambling dollars have been quietly funding other states' road budgets for decades.

That ends Tuesday, April 28. Resorts World New York City, the existing slot-machine racino sitting next to Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, is opening the city's first full-scale commercial casino, marking the first time live table games will operate inside the five boroughs.

What opens at Resorts World in New York City on April 28

Resorts World New York City's reimagined third floor will feature more than 240 live table games at launch, including blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette, alongside more than 2,500 slot machines, according to CBS New York. The opening still hinges on final testing this week from the New York Gaming Commission.

The man running the show is not shy about the moment.

Related: Sports Gambling Expansion Continues

"New York City has never seen anything like what we're planning for April 28. Once the Gaming Commission's final testing is complete, live table games will be open and operating right here in Queens for the first time in the history of New York City," said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, in remarks reported by CBS New York.

Resorts World is owned by Malaysia-based Genting Berhad and has operated as a "racino" at the Aqueduct site since 2011. The full commercial gaming license, awarded in December 2025, is what unlocks live dealer games. The casino has already doubled its workforce to more than 2,200 employees ahead of opening day, the company stated in a press release.

For New York gamblers, the practical change is simple. No more weekend drives to the Borgata. No more bus rides to Foxwoods.

The first full-scale commercial casino will open in New York City.Photo by Arturo Calderon on Getty Images

Why Resorts World gets a four-year head start in New York

I ran the numbers on the opening timeline myself, and the head start is the entire investment story. The other two NYC casino license winners, Bally's Corporation (BALY) at Ferry Point in the Bronx and Hard Rock International at the planned Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, are both ground-up construction projects with anticipated opening dates around 2030, according to CasinoBeats.
Is PDD a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on PDD Holdings Inc. on Chop Wood, Carry Water Investment Journals Substack by Alexandru Dragut. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on PDD. PDD Holdings Inc.'s share was trading at $104.20 as of April 20th. PDDs trailing and forward P/E were 10.60 and 8.55 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Is PDD a good stock to buy?

PDD Holdings is a high-ROIC e-commerce platform operating two distinct engines: Pinduoduo, a domestic social group-buying platform connecting price-sensitive Chinese consumers directly to manufacturers and farmers, and Temu, an international marketplace sourcing from China to serve 80+ countries.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

Pinduoduos domestic business is highly profitable, benefiting from a cost-efficient consumer-to-manufacturer model, deep agricultural supply chain integration, strong social network effects, and embedded customer loyalty across 880+ million active buyers.

It generates revenue through marketing and transaction fees with minimal capital requirements, producing ROIC exceeding 70%, operating margins of 2527%, and robust free cash flow, while accumulating a net cash position of nearly $59.5 billion. Temu powered extraordinary international growth from 20222024, but geopolitical developmentsU.S. de minimis elimination, high tariffs, and EU regulatory pressureshave disrupted the model, introducing nearly unquantifiable risk that complicates valuation.

Despite Temus challenges, Pinduoduos core business remains structurally strong, with revenue and profitability continuing to expand, merchant loyalty programs deepening operational moats, and agricultural data assets creating near-irreproducible advantages. The companys domestic performance underpins a compelling risk-adjusted investment case, with the current market price implying near-zero real growth for one of the worlds highest-ROIC businesses. Optionality in Temus international expansion exists but is binary and difficult to model.

Insider alignment is high, with 31% ownership by founder Colin Huang and 49% insider participation, and management demonstrates long-term discipline, prioritizing platform investment and ecosystem development over quarterly optics. In summary, PDD combines a dominant, cash-generative domestic engine with high optionality international exposure, presenting a rare combination of quality, cheap valuation, and geopolitical uncertainty that defines both the opportunity and risk for investors.
KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals to host CME programme today





Business Reporter :

KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, Nagpur, is set to host Pulmonology Update 3.0, a focused half-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on April 26. Organised by the hospitals Centre of Excellence for Pulmonology in association with the Vidarbha Chest Association and the Association of Physicians, Nagpur, the academic initiative aims to bring together leading pulmonologists, physicians, and postgraduate students.

The distinguished experts include- Dr Anant Mohan, Senior Prof and Head, Pulmonary Medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr Richa Gupta, Senior Prof and Head, Pulmonary medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore; and Dr Rupak Singla, Senior Prof, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi.

Dr Abhishek Faye, Organising Chairperson, said, Our department is also planning to initiate a post-doctoral training course with a special focus on Interventional Pulmonology. Dr Sameer Lote, Organising Chairperson, stated: Our hospital aims to provide start-to-end treatment facilities for all pulmonology-related issues. Dr Rohit Vadala, Organising Chairperson, added: We are among the very few centres in Central India offering comprehensive diagnostic for a wide range of respiratory conditions. Dr Tushar Gawad, Unit Head, KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, added: At KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals, we strongly believe that continuous academic engagement is essential for maintaining clinical excellence.
Maharani Gayatri Devis astronomical computer to be auctioned in UK





LONDON :

A RARE 17th century brass astrolabe, a hand-held astronomical supercomputer, from Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipurs collection is set to fetch millions at a Sothebys auction in London next week. The astrolabe, which forms the centrepiece of the auction houses Arts of the Islamic World and India sale on Wednesday, went on display this weekend and is estimated to fetch between 1.5 and 2.5 million pounds. Dating back to 1612, it is believed to be the largest of its kind and was created by two brothers for a powerful Mughal nobleman in Lahore. The intricate device was part of the royal collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and by descent his wife Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, before passing on into private collection.

It was commissioned by Aqa Afzal, a really powerful Mughal nobleman who at the time was overseeing the administration of Lahore under Emperor Jahangir, and the object was clearly conceived as something befitting a man of his considerable standing, the auction notes revealed. The craftsmanship is quite staggering: 94 cities catalogued inside with their longitudes and latitudes, 38 star pointers connected by floral tracery, five precision-calibrated plates, and degree divisions so fine they are subdivided down to a third of a degree. The inscription describes it as an asturlab-e tam, a complete astrolabe referring to the fact that its plates carry a full 90 altitude circles, it added. The astrolabe is inscribed with the Persian names of the stars and the Sanskrit names in Devanagari script with plates including the locations for Mecca, Bijapur, Ajmer, Kashmir and Lahore.

From a single brass disc, the ancient device could be used to tell the time, map the stars, calculate the position of the Sun, find the direction of Mecca, and navigate. This rare historic nod to astronomy lands on the auction circuit soon after the recent Artemis II space mission. These astrolabes are works of artistry as much as instruments of science and many now describe them as olden day smartphones, Sothebys reflected. According to the official literature referenced, Lahore in the early 17th century was the epicentre of astrolabe-making in the Mughal world. Known as the Lahore School, the craft was kept within a single family and passed down from father to son across four generations.

The two brothers who made this particular instrument, Qaim Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, were among the most celebrated makers the school ever produced. Between them they made a number of astrolabes that survive, but they only ever worked together on two and the one on display in London now is one of them. The only other astrolabe they collaborated on, now in the National Museum of Iraq, has a diameter of just 12 centimeters. The one coming up for the auction next week is at a different scale, at 29.5 cm diameter and nearly 50 cm in height. Other key highlights of the auction include a Mughal painting of Jahangir estimated to fetch between 150,000 and 200,000 pounds and 19th century paintings from India expected to go under the hammer for around 80,000 pounds.
Need to create job opportunities via skilled-based educational economic model: CA Shwetali Thakare





Business Reporter :

CA ShwEtAli Thakare, Secretary of Swadhinta Gram Vikas and Peace Foundation on Saturday said that Indias social economic strength has to be rebuilt by establishing tradional skill-based educational institutions. After years of invasion by foreign powers the Indian economy and traditional businesses were destroyed. Speaking at press conference she further said, Now we must transition towards a skill-based, inclusive and ecentralised economic model, where society rises above caste divisions and reorients around skills, productivity, and dignity of labour. CA B C Bhartia, President of Swadhinta Gram Vikas and Peace

Foundation, Abhishek Deshpande, Advisor, Rajesh Londhe, Director of Londhe Jewellers and Sonali Nakshine, Media Professional were also present at the meeting. CA Shwetali Thakare is also the Chairman at Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority said that for the country to progress the next phase of reform must focus on establishing large-scale skill-based educational institutions. Strengthening MSMEs and small entrepreneurs which already contribute 30% to GDP and 45% to exports of the country. Ensuring funding for skill economy at par with infrastructure investment. Creating market linkages, digital platforms, and export access and promote social acceptance and dignity for artisans and service providers.

This approach will enable individuals to build independent livelihoods, generate mass employment, reduce dependency on welfare, and strengthen the governments fiscal capacity. Since most financial support is repayable, this creates a self-sustaining, win-win model that enhances State GDP and overall economic growth. In order to revive skill-based circular economy Swadhinta Gram Vikas and Peace Foundation is working on establishing the Institute of Indian Economics and Research Centre at Wardha. This institute will develop India centric economic models integrating with technology and global challenges. CA B C Bhartia said that currently, Inida is among the worlds largest economies, yet nearly 80 crore people depend on welfare schemes while a significant workforce remains in the informal sector reflecting high income disparity.
Nikhil Sharma takes charge of Chairman of IIF Nagpur Chapter





Business Reporter :

Nikhil Sharma was recently elected as the new Chairman of Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF), Nagpur Chapter. This was announced at the recently held annual meeting of the chapter at Maharaj Bagh Club, Nagpur. The meeting held in presence of Sushil Sharma, National President, IIF. Nikhil Sharma was introduced by Sourabh Mohta. His appointment marks a significant milestone for the chapter, signalling renewed vision, stronger leadership, and greater unity within the foundry fraternity. The other newly elected office-bearers of the IIF Nagpur Chapter are:- Vice Chairman Irfan Makki, Kapilansh Dhatu Udyog; Secretary - Taha Fidvi, C P Foundry; Treasurer - Anush Narnaware, Deepshikha Castings; and Joint Secretary - Himanshu Tikhe, Deepshikha Castings.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Taha Fidvi, who acknowledged the active participation of members and reaffirmed the collective spirit of the foundry community. With Nikhil Sharma at the helm, supported by a dedicated team of office-bearers, the IIF Nagpur Chapter looks forward to a dynamic year of growth, innovation, and collaboration. Addressing the members, Nikhil Sharma said: The foundry industry is the backbone of manufacturing, and Nagpur has always played a vital role in shaping its future.

As Chairman, my focus will be on fostering innovation, encouraging skill development, and building stronger collaboration among members. Together, we will work to enhance sustainability, adopt modern technologies, and ensure that our fraternity continues to contribute meaningfully to the nations industrial growth. The programme featured a welcome address by Mansi Bhatt, felicitation of the National President by Mankar, presentation of the annual report by Irfan Makki, and a financial overview by Anush Narnaware. Dignitaries were felicitated by Anuja Sharma, Kaushal Mohta, Sushil Sharma, and Sourabh Mohta.
In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP) AP In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, shakes hands with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during their meeting, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP) AP Iraqis Muslim women hold portraits of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP Iraqi Muslim women hold portraits of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a protest against U.S. and Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hadi Mizban/AP A woman walks past an anti-U.S. graffiti painted on the wall of the Tehran University on Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP Men ride a scooter while waving a Hezbollah flag during a small gathering in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP

Pakistan's leaders sought Sunday to revive peace talks between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump canceled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations.

Pakistan-led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between the U.S. and Iran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iran still insists on ending the U.S. blockade on its ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said.

Trump said he told his top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Pakistan this weekend to negotiate with Iran.

If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! Trump said on social media.

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

As the U.S. enforces its blockade of Iranian ports, a standoff also remained on in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels, with Iran restricting movement through the key waterway.

Early on Monday, the U.S. militarys Central Command said it has so far turned around 38 ships during the blockade.

Here is the latest:

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oil prices rise after US-Iran talks in Pakistan fail to materialize

Oil prices rose when the market opened Sunday as traders absorbed the news that talks between the U.S. and Iran about a potential ceasefire have stalled again.

West Texas Intermediate, the U.S.-produced light, sweet crude, was selling for $96.50 a barrel Sunday, up 2% since the market closed on Friday. The price was 44% higher than before the start of the Iran war, when oil was selling for about $67 a barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $107.75 per barrel Sunday, up about 3% since Friday and 48% since the war began, when oil was selling for $72 a barrel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began and tankers full of crude became stranded in Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels.

Irans foreign minister leaves Pakistan for Russia

Abbas Araghchi made a brief visit to Islamabad a day after leaving the city and throwing the prospect of a second round of talks with the United States into question.

He had gone to Oman, located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, before his latest three-hour visit to Islamabad. He then left for Russia late Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. didnt send envoys to Pakistan for a second round of talks, but Pakistan continues to mediate, and two officials there said indirect talks are still ongoing. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Araghchis low-profile visit contrasted with his earlier one, when he met with Pakistans military and political leaders and presented Tehrans proposals to end conflict in the region.

Pakistan lifts Islamabad lockdown after stalled US-Iran talks

Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said late Sunday that the government has lifted all restrictions around the high-security zone in the capital of Islamabad.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian and U.S. delegations held rare face-to-face talks there earlier this month. The area had remained under lockdown for more than a week as Pakistan hoped to host a second round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Dars remarks signaled that there was no immediate prospect of further direct talks between the United States and Iran. Still, Pakistans government says it continues to mediate by conveying messages between the two sides to promote lasting stability in the region.

In a post on X, Dar thanked residents of Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi for their patience and cooperation.

Trump says US, Iranian officials can talk by phone

In an interview Sunday on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.

Talks appeared to fall apart on Saturday, with Tehrans top diplomat leaving Pakistan, and Trump soon afterward saying he had told envoys not to travel to Islamabad.

Asked about NATO, Trump said he was very, very disappointed in the military alliance, which he has suggested the U.S. may consider leaving after member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz.

Weve been serving them for many years, spending trillions of dollars, and when we wanted to help they were not there, so we have to remember that, Trump said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The U.S. militarys Central Command said early Monday that it had turned around 38 ships so far during its blockade of Iran.

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon

The Israeli military says it carried out artillery and airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

They targeted Hezbollah militants and weapons sites, including rocket launchers and storage facilities, north of what it calls the Forward Defense Line, as fighting has picked up in recent days despite a ceasefire.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Israeli strikes raise death toll to 2,509 in Lebanon

The countrys health ministry added in figures released Sunday that 7,755 people were wounded in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2.

The war broke out after Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on April 17. The ceasefire was extended by three weeks on Thursday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Hezbollah calls its attacks on Israel a legitimate response

The Iran-backed group on Sunday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ceasefire remarks, in which he said Hezbollahs actions are threatening the truce between Israel and Lebanon.

Hezbollah said its shelling of Israeli targets is a legitimate response to what it described as Israels violations of the ceasefire.

The group also criticized Lebanese authorities, saying they have placed themselves in a dangerous predicament when they chose to be photographed in a disgraceful image alongside representatives of a usurping and illegitimate entity that violates its land and sovereignty and continues killing its people.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended for three weeks, with Trump hosting talks flanked by Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.

Israeli girl wounded in Iran missile strike dies weeks later

An 11-year-old Israeli girl who was critically wounded in an Iranian missile strike earlier this month has died of her injuries, according to Sheba Medical Center.

The girl had been hospitalized at Sheba since the attack. She died on Friday after several weeks in critical condition.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

She was wounded when a missile struck a residential area in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak on April 1 and had remained in critical condition for several weeks.

Her death raises Israels death toll from the war to 39.

Top Iranian diplomat arrives in Pakistan in effort to resume peace talks

Irans foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on Sunday after a visit to Oman, Pakistani officials said, as Islamabad steps up efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Abbas Araghchi will hold more talks with Pakistani officials during the visit and is expected to travel to Moscow afterward, two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media on the record.

Top diplomats for Iran and Qatar speak by phone about peace efforts

Irans top diplomat has briefed his Qatari counterpart about his countrys latest initiatives and diplomatic efforts to end the war in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone Sunday with Qatars top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The two ministers affirmed the importance of diplomatic coordination to back peace efforts, Araghchi wrote in his channel on Telegram.

Egypts foreign minister speaks with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts

Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed efforts to relaunch negotiations between the United States and Iran with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts.

In separate calls with the ministers, Abdelatty affirmed the importance of the diplomatic path to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire in a way that leads to an end to the war.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Israeli president delays decision on Netanyahu request to halt trial

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delayed a decision on a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt his corruption trial.

Herzogs office said the president has stated on several occasions that a settlement between Netanyahu and prosecutors is the best way to resolve the case and this position hasnt changed.

The president therefore believes that before addressing the pardon request itself, efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties, outside the courtroom, the office said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The announcement marked a setback for Netanyahu, who faces new elections later this year. It also came despite multiple calls by Trump for Herzog to end the trial.

Netanyahu filed his request in November, saying that dropping corruption charges against him would help unify the country. His office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza

At least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces Sunday morning in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Two men were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of people in the Kuwait roundabout in southeastern Gaza City, according to Shifa hospital, which received the casualties.

Another man was shot and killed close to the Saqqa mosque in central Gaza, the hospital said.

Nasser hospital said a 40-year-old woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces close to the Turkish slaughterhouse in the southern part of Khan Younis city.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fired on Palestinians near military-held zones.

At least 811 Palestinians have been killed including at least 226 children and 179 women, according to Gaza health officials.

Israeli military tells Lebanese in 7 towns to flee ahead of strikes

Israels military on Sunday warned Lebanese living in seven southern towns to flee their homes ahead of strikes in the area.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Col. Avichay Adraea, a military spokesman, claimed without evidence that Hezbollah violated a ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel. He didnt provide evidence.

Adraea said in a social media post that the military will operate in the area south of Zahrani river and ordered the residents to leave.

Israel previously issued a sweeping warning for people in southern Lebanon to flee their homes during its war against Hezbollah.

Analyst says indirect US-Iran talks progressing

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran were progressing despite Trumps decision not to send envoys to talks that had been set to begin this weekend.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The delay in the second round of Islamabad talks must not be seen as a setback to ceasefire negotiations and peace efforts, which remain on track, Ali told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Ali said ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires wisdom and patience from both sides.

This is a sensitive and complicated process, and there will be ups and downs, which are normal in such matters. But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

Pakistan mediation attempts moving forward

Pakistans top political and military leadership is continuing to mediate between the United States and Iran, with indirect ceasefire talks still alive despite mounting tensions between the sides, two Pakistani officials said Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistans capital Islamabad on Sunday evening for a second visit in as many days after a short trip to Oman.

Araghchi was in Islamabad on Saturday and presented Tehrans position on ending the regional conflict to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials.

There were no immediate plans for U.S. envoys to return for talks, according to the Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Netanyahu expresses shock after shots fired at event attended by Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, said Sunday morning he was shocked by what he called an attempted assassination at an event attended by Trump.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump was uninjured and rushed off the stage at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night after a man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the event in Washington.

Police believe the man opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. He was taken into custody.

One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said.

We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action, Netanyahu wrote on X.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Islamabad resumes normal life

Life began returning to normal in Pakistans capital on Sunday morning.

Authorities in Islamabad eased near-lockdown measures imposed during a week of heightened security prior to planned ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.

The restrictions enforced across Islamabad and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi disrupted daily life for hundreds of thousands. Commuters were forced to make long detours, traffic thinned along major arteries and parents struggled to reach schools.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

By Sunday, barriers were being lifted and traffic was gradually building on the citys main roads. Residents described a sense of relief after days of gridlock and uncertainty.

The government said in a social media post late Saturday that tourist destinations, parks and bus terminals were being reopened.

Security remained tight around the heavily guarded Red Zone, home to key government buildings and the site where U.S.-Iran talks were held earlier this month.

Iran hangs man convicted of terrorism

Iran on Sunday hanged a man who was convicted of carrying out terrorist activities in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, state media reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Amer Ramesh was hanged after the countrys Supreme Court upheld a death sentence issued by a primary court, according to Irans judiciary news outlet, Mizanonline.

Mizanonline did not report where he was hanged or when and where he was arrested.

Mizanonline said Ramesh received training in a regional country and was a member of militant group Jaish al-Adl, which reportedly aims to achieve greater rights for people in the Baloch ethnic group.

Iran has executed other people over similar charges and in recent weeks has hanged more than a dozen people accused of terrorist activities.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Irans president tells US to end blockade to negotiate

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country wont negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports, according to Iranian media.

Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies reported.

The Pakistani premier described the call as a warm and constructive discussion.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a one-day trip to Pakistans capital Islamabad on Saturday after meeting with Pakistani military and government officials.

The trip did not produce a breakthrough in efforts to relaunch negotiations after Trump canceled a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad.

Iranian foreign minister plans a return to Pakistan

Irans state-run IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will return to Pakistan after his current visit to Oman on his way to visiting Russia.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Crew members of the USS Idaho stand on the hull of the Virginia-class fast attack submarine during rehearsal for the sub's commissioning at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Pilot Ryan Ciriegio, left, and co-pilot Ark Lumen, right, sit at the controls of the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the new Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A crew member of the USS Idaho looks out from an observation platfom next to the Virginia-class fast attack submarine's antenna, periscope and other communications during rehearsal for the sub's commissioning at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Interior view of the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Crew members of the USS Idaho stand on the hull of the Virginia-class fast attack submarine during rehearsal for the sub's commissioning at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Commander Chad Guillerault speaks next to the USS Idaho during media day at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Interior view of the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A plush potato is seen in the Executive Officer's cabin in the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media The Executive Officer's cabin in the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Crew member sleeping quarters inside the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media The wardroom of the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Idaho Gov. Brad Little speaks to the media next to the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Navy Culinary Specialist Wes Whitson works in the galley of the USS Idaho at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media Commander Chad Guillerault speaks next to the USS Idaho during media day at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Friday, April 24, 2026. The Navy will hold a commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class fast attack submarine on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

GROTON  The Big Spud was a battleship that served during World War II. Now, there is a Silent Spud, a submarine that will set out on missions around the world from its base in Connecticut.

On Saturday, the USS Idaho, which was built by Groton-based General Dynamics Electric Boat, will be accepted into the U.S. Navys fleet during a commissioning ceremony at the submarine base in Groton. On Friday, crew members met with reporters to discuss their expectations for the newest member of the Virginia class of fast-attack submarines.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Were going to introduce the newest multi-mission predator, the newest gem of the fleet, Commander Chad Guillerault, a Chester resident, told reporters at Naval Submarine Base New London, the official name for the Navy's facility on the Thames River in Groton. She is a warship ready to go out there and do good things for the country.

Guillerault will lead a crew of approximately 150 people, who will operate a nuclear-powered ship that measures 377 feet long and weighs about 7,800 tons. The USS Idahos capabilities include covert intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as a range of warfare operations. Its weaponry includes advanced torpedoes, anti-ship cruise missiles, naval mines, as well as land-attack missiles.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ive been in the Navy for 24 years. This is the culmination of my career, said Guillerault, who has served in officer roles on three other submarines. To be the commissioning captain of the Idaho is a rare opportunity, so it means everything to me.

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

The Idaho will be stationed at the base in Groton. It will be able to operate around the world, but Navy officials declined to comment on its scheduling, including whether it might be involved in the war with Iran.

Regardless of the trajectory, crew members said that they were looking forward to serving on the submarine.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

This is one of the best boats that Ive been on, said Petty Officer Michael Perez, of Brooklyn, New York, who will be serving on his second submarine. Its very exciting to go out to sea.

A number of crew members, such as Petty Officer Jahseim Taylor, of Houston, will be making their inaugural submarine deployments.

Im really excited to work with this crew, Taylor said.

That means that Taylor and his crewmates are unfazed by the prospect of working and living for months at a time in the ships tight quarters. One of its rooms with a six pack of bunk beds could fit into a walk-in closet on land.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Its pretty easy once you get into it, Taylor said of life on the submarine. And the menu is really good.

A kitchen, known as the galley, will serve three meals every day. The fare will include omelets for breakfast, stir-fry meals on Fridays, burgers and pizzas on Saturdays, and surf-and-turf servings on Sundays.

The submarine will have a three-month-plus supply of food, according to Supply Officer Alex Weisker. The provisions will include the most-famous export of its namesake state. During a tour of the ships interior on Friday, this reporter saw several boxes of Idaho-grown potatoes in the can room.

When you get off from watch for eight hours, the one thing youre really looking forward to is a nice, hot, home-cooked meal, said Weisker, of Charlotte, North Carolina, another of the crew members serving on a submarine for the first time. After a meal, you see a lot of the crew members go up to my cooks and give them thanks and praise for a wonderful meal. It just makes everyone feel a little bit happier when theyre down underwater.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

While the crew members are eating and working, they will constantly see reminders of the ships namesake state. For instance, the tabletops in the crew mess are decorated with the logos of Boise State University, Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. Throughout the rest of the vessel, there are pictures of Idaho landscapes, maps of the state, prints of the states seal, as well as plush-toy potatoes.

Other Idaho homages include water from several of the states lakes that was used during the submarines christening ceremony.

The USS Idaho is the fifth Navy vessel named for the state of Idaho and the first submarine to bear the state's name. The previous ship named after the state was the USS Idaho battleship, the Big Spud, which served from 1919 to 1946. During World War II, she was deployed in the Pacific Ocean, earning seven battle stars for her service.

Idaho earned another naval tribute when the USS Boise, a Los Angeles-class submarine, was commissioned in 1992.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Despite the fact that Idaho is landlocked, we have a long, long history with the Navy, Gov. Brad Little told reporters at the media day. The USS Boise is set for retirement, so it couldnt be better timing to have the USS Idaho, the worlds most-lethal submarine, being commissioned.

The USS Idaho represents the 26th member of the Virginia class of submarines. Electric Boat, whose Groton shipyard is a few miles south of the submarine base, has done the final assembly and testing, and then delivered, 14 of those ships. The previous Virginia-class ship delivered by Electric Boat was the USS Iowa, which was commissioned in April 2025.

Newport News Shipbuilding, based in the Virginia city of the same name, is Electric Boats partner in Virginia-class construction. Its output includes delivery of the USS Massachusetts, which was commissioned last month in Boston.

Several more Virginia-class submarines are under construction, including the future USS Utah and the future USS Arizona, which Electric Boat expects to deliver, respectively, later this year and in 2028.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A Virginia-class ship costs approximately $2.4 billion to produce, according to some defense analysts estimates.

At the same time, Electric Boat is building the first group of the Columbia class of ballistic-missile submarines.

The Navys need for more submarines is spurring a hiring boom at Electric Boat, which has more than 26,000 employees, including about 16,000 in Connecticut. This year, it aims to hire 8,000 people, more than double its number of hires last year.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Is QCOM a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on QUALCOMM Incorporated on Forexs Substack by ImmaculateTony.eth. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on QCOM. QUALCOMM Incorporated's share was trading at $137.52 as of April 20th. QCOMs trailing and forward P/E were 27.73 and 12.61 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Analysts Remain Optimistic About ASML Holding (ASML)

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Qualcomm Incorporated ($QCOM) is a leading U.S. semiconductor and wireless technology company, powering the backbone of modern smartphones, 5G networks, and connected devices. Its Snapdragon processors dominate Android phones, while its modems and connectivity chips serve phones, laptops, cars, and IoT devices.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

Qualcomms licensing business is highly profitable, generating royalties from manufacturers using its wireless patents, and providing strong free cash flow that supports consistent dividend growth. The companys long-term positioning in 5G, AI-enabled devices, and semiconductor innovation gives it durable growth potential, making it a candidate for future Dividend Aristocrat status.

Technically, key support lies between $105$120, a zone considered undervalued relative to the current price range of $135$162, while resistance is near $205 with an all-time high around $230. Historically, Qualcomm has demonstrated strong cyclical upside, moving from roughly $104 to $230 in 2023, underscoring the potential for long-term accumulation at lower levels. Dividend investors can benefit from a 23% yield, which would naturally rise if shares retrace toward the $105$120 support range.

Options strategies, including cash-secured puts near $120, covered calls against 100+ share positions, and defined-risk vertical put spreads, allow investors to generate income, accumulate shares at attractive levels, and manage downside risk while maintaining long-term exposure.

Overall, Qualcomm presents a compelling investment case for long-term investors seeking growth, dividend income, and optionality, with a favorable risk/reward profile if the stock re-engages its structural support and executes on its technology leadership. Strategic accumulation around support zones, combined with premium generation from options, provides a multi-faceted approach to benefiting from both capital appreciation and recurring income.
File photo of a Norwalk police vehicle. A home health aide worker is accused stealing $229,000 from a vulnerable couple. Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK  A trusted home health aide is accused of preying on a vulnerable couple, allegedly stealing approximately $229,000 in a scheme that included fake business deals, questionable wire transfers and even a new dryer delivered to her own address, police said.

Sheila Beard, 59, of Stamford, is scheduled to make her next court appearance in June. Norwalk police arrested Beard on Oct. 27, 2025, and charged her with first-degree larceny and illegal furnishing of money, goods or services on payment card. She remains held on $50,000 bond, according to court records.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In August 2023, Beard was hired to care for an ailing Norwalk man and assist his wife, but ultimately drained the couple's accounts while they were under her care, according to the warrant.

The victims, who were in their mid-70s at the time, were in no condition to protect themselves and their son told police his father was immobile and required constant care before his death in April 2025, while his mother suffered from a stroke that left her disoriented and struggling with severe memory issues, investigators said.

During that time, Beard was given access to their phone and bank accounts, according to police.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Red flags were raised in late 2024 when a bank flagged suspicious wire activity tied to the wife's account. A social worker later warned the family to remove Beard from the home. Once she was gone, the financial damage became clear, according to the warrant.

Norwalk Detective David Hudyma alleges in the warrant that Beard funneled $30,520 through 132 Zelle payments to a man identified as her son, with only $1,000 ever returned.

In addition, police said Beard convinced the wife to loan her $250,000 for a supposed luxury car business. The paperwork backing the deal was riddled with a number of errors, including a fake phone number that led to a message offering free medical alert devices.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A search for the business came up empty and the listed Delaware address was home to a restaurant and not a high-end car company, the warrant said.

Also, nearly $196,000 from the couple's accounts were wired to a Maryland woman's business account before being quickly sent overseas to recipients in Ghana, according to police.

The victim's account was eventually left with a zero balance, police added.

Beard is also accused of using $2,295.07 of the couple's money for personal spending sprees, including restaurant meals, gas, retail shopping and nail salon visits. The expenses took place in New Jersey while she was supposedly on vacation.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In another instance, she allegedly used their credit card to buy a $1,185 dryer from Lowe's and had it delivered to a New Jersey address linked to her and her son.
FBI agents walk door to door to try to speak with neighbors as members of the media follow them, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. Damian Dovarganes/AP A reporter and cameraman stand outside the door of a house connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who has been identified as a suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner early Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Torrance, Calif. Damian Dovarganes/AP FBI agents work, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. Damian Dovarganes/AP FBI agents walk door to door to try to speak with neighbors, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. Damian Dovarganes/AP FBI agents work in a neighbor's yard, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. Damian Dovarganes/AP

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP)  The California man arrested in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump.

Authorities say Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was taken into custody at the dinner Saturday night in Washington that was attended by Trump and top members of his administration. A social media profile for a man with the same name and a photo that appears to match that of the suspect show he worked part-time for the last six years at a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

In a message sent to family members minutes before the attack, the 31-year-old the described himself as Friendly Federal Assassin and railed against recent actions taken by the U.S. government under Trump, though he did not name the Republican president directly, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press.

The writings ran more than a thousand words and read as a rambling, deeply personal message, opening almost jarringly with a casual hello everybody! before shifting into apologies to family members, co-workers, fellow travelers and even strangers he feared could be caught in the violence. The note moved between confession, grievance and farewell, with Allen thanking people in his life even as he sought to explain the attack.

Elsewhere, the document veered between political anger, religious justifications and rebuttals to imagined critics, at times reading as if he were arguing with detractors in real time.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Authorities said Allen will face charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer, as well as other potential counts. A search of state and federal court databases showed no indication Allen had ever previously been charged with a crime.

He signed the document using a moniker that matches social media accounts that have since been taken offline. A defunct account using the same name on the platform Bluesky reposted others who offered commentary critical of Trump as well as members of the media who attend the annual black-tie dinner.

The AP limits the use of attackers writings and social media posts to avoid amplifying their views or encouraging copycat actions. The AP chooses to summarize their words and focus mainly on the victims and investigations.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Allen was arrested Saturday night trying to rush past a security checkpoint with two firearms and knives. Law enforcement officials told the AP that Allen legally bought a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun last year.

Canvassing the suspect's neighborhood

Voter registration records from California lists Allens home address as his parents house on a tree-lined street in one of the most historic neighborhoods in Torrance, a city within the Los Angeles metro area. Public records show he is the oldest of four adult siblings, with two younger sisters and a brother.

Two cars were parked in the driveway Sunday morning. A blue scooter that a neighbor said Allen rode was on the front lawn. No one answered the door when an Associated Press reporter knocked. By the afternoon, several people who appeared to be law enforcement agents were canvassing the neighborhood, with one wearing an FBI sweatshirt.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

A yard sign displayed at the family home supported a local candidate for judge who was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. Federal campaign finance records show Cole Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and listed his employer as C2 Education.

A 2024 post on the C2's Facebook page listed Allen as the companys teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night and an office in Torrance was closed on Sunday.

Allen's profile photo on LinkedIn shows him wearing a cap and gown when graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. The photo appears to have been taken May 2025. Bin Tang, a computer science professor at the school, told the AP that Allen took a few of his classes.

He was a very good student indeed, always sitting in the first row of my class, paying attention, and frequently emailing me with coursework questions. Soft-spoken, very polite, a good fellow. I am very shocked to see the news, Tang wrote in an email.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his profile on the social networking site LinkedIn. The small university is academically prestigious with a very low acceptance rate. He also listed his involvement there in a campus group that battled with Nerf guns and a Christian student fellowship.

The suspects father, Thomas Allen, is listed as an elder at Grace United Reformed Church Torrance. The webpage for the congregation describes it as a Bible-believing church following the infallible Word of God. Security guards posted at the sanctuary during worship services on Sunday escorted parishioners to the door and kept reporters at bay.

Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allens name said he was working to develop a new top-down shooter combat game set in outer space.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

___
Law enforcement officials respond to an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Torrance, Calif.

President Donald Trump arrives at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after a shooting incident outside the ballroom at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026.

People are seen outside the West Wing driveway entrance of the White House, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

Law enforcement officials respond to an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner, as people stand and watch on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Torrance, Calif.

A law enforcement officer sets up police tape near an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Torrance, Calif.

Guest evacuate the Washington Hilton after an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

Law enforcement respond to an incident at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026, as Vice President JD Vance, FBI director Kash Patel, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche listen.

President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump, walks in to speak in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026.

An abandoned wine glass sits in a bowl after an incident occurred at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

Security rapidly escort Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. out during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

Guests are assisted and whisked away during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump, third from left, as he is taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

President Donald Trump, left, is seated on stage as U.S. Secret Service agents respond to take him from the ballroom after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump as he is taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington.

President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026.

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump was unharmed and other top White House officials were evacuated from an annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association after a man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby and opened fire.

The shooting suspect was taken into custody and identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. A motive was not immediately known, and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges related to Saturday nights attack will be filed shortly.
A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on Saturday night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. DANNY KEMP, AFPTV TEAMS/AFP via Getty Images Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. ULYSSE BELLIER/AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is making a statement after the cancelation of the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner after a possible shooting. Andrew Leyden/Getty Images

Connecticut politicians expressed shock and sadness about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday evening.

Gov. Ned Lamont decried the incident on social media, saying "Violence has no place in our democracy."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Relieved that everyone at last nights White House Correspondents dinner is safe," Lamont wrote on X Sunday. "Grateful for the brave Secret Service officers and law enforcement who acted quickly to protect lives."

State Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, called the shooting that prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other top leaders from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night "scary" and "shocking."

"We thank the security, the police and the National Guard for their work," Harding said in a statement Saturday night. "We are thankful for the free press, and for all the people who keep our country safe."

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Others who weighed in on the incident included U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"Thanks to swift, skilled law enforcement, tragedy was averted last night," Blumenthal posted on X. "Violence has no place in our politicsor anywhere."

Trump was uninjured after the unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting. The Associated Press reported that the accused gunman is believed to have been targeting Trump and members of his administration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.

Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, the AP reported.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

New London police said that a person "who expressed concern" about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' dinner called the department Saturday night to share information the person believed was "pertinent to the matter."

The call came in at 10:49 p.m. and the person was immediately interviewed by New London police and federal investigators, police said in a news release. New London police directed further inquiries to federal investigators.

Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunmans electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner, the AP reported. He attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being hurried off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The event was canceled and will be rescheduled.
In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, shakes hands with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during their meeting, in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP) AP A woman walks past an anti-U.S. graffiti painted on the wall of the Tehran University on Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP A woman holds an Iranian flag for a pro-government campaign in downtown Tehran, Iran, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Iran 's foreign minister briefly visited Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistan's political and military leadership scrambled to reignite ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington, but U.S. President Donald Trump said they could talk by phone instead.

Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistans capital late the previous day, creating confusion around an expected second round of talks there, but he returned before continuing on to Moscow on Sunday, Iranian state media said. He had been in Oman, which previously mediated talks and is on the other side of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The White House last week said it would dispatch envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to follow up on historic face-to-face talks earlier this month. But shortly after Araghchi's departure Saturday, Trump said he had called off the mission because of a lack of progress with Iran.

If they want, we can talk but were not sending people," Trump told Fox News on Sunday. He said earlier on social media: All they have to do is call!!!

Indirect talks between the two sides were ongoing, two Pakistani officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The Hour Logo Want more Norwalk Hour? Make us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search. Add Preferred Source

Trump last week indefinitely extended the ceasefire the U.S. and Iran agreed to on April 7 that has largely halted the fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. But a permanent settlement remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

Strait of Hormuz at center of Irans discussions in Oman

A standoff remained on in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passes, as Iran has restricted movement through it and the U.S. enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

Omans response wasnt immediately clear.

The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before a new round of talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries.

Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Even before Saturdays developments, Irans Foreign Ministry said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens, reflecting Tehran's wariness after rounds of indirect talks last year and earlier this year ended with Iran being attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump said Iran has offered a much better proposal

The economic fallout is growing two months into the war as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the strategic strait.

Both sides have continued to make military threats. Irans joint military command Saturday warned that if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy it will face a strong response.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Trump last week ordered the military to shoot and kill small boats that could be placing mines in the waterway.

Trump told journalists on Saturday, before a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, that within 10 minutes of him canceling Witkoff and Kushners trip to Islamabad, Iran sent a much better proposal.

He did not elaborate but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. The status of Iran's enriched uranium has long been at the center of tensions. Tehran has 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said the delay in the talks must not be seen as a setback and that indirect talks were progressing. He said tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires patience.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

"But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

A growing toll even as fragile ceasefires hold

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 people in Lebanon, where the Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed two days after the Iran war started.

Also, 23 people have been killed in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Another ceasefire  between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant Hezbollah group  has been extended by three weeks. Hezbollah has not participated in the Washington-brokered diplomacy.

Oil prices rise again as Pakistan talks fail to materialize

Oil prices rose when the market opened Sunday as traders absorbed the news of the stalled ceasefire talks.

West Texas Intermediate, the U.S.-produced light, sweet crude, was selling for $96.50 a barrel Sunday, up 2% since the market closed on Friday. The price was 44% higher than before the start of the Iran war, when oil was selling for about $67 a barrel.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $107.75 per barrel Sunday, up about 3% since Friday and 48% since the war began, when oil was selling for $72 a barrel.

Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began and tankers full of crude became stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

___

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Debbie Lerma, of Edwardsville, tries to find a book during annual Book Fair at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edwardsville. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois Martha Hurt, from Granite City, looks at some of the 20,000 books available during the annual Book Fair at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edwardsville. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois Ed Hosey, of Freeburg, browses the selections during the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Book Fair on April 25 in Edwardsville. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois Ian Gray, of Hamel, looks at books joined by his 3-year-old son Noah on April 25 at Afterwords Books in Edwardsville, which offered special deals to observe Independent Bookstore Day. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois Ashley Mayernik, of Bunker Hill, and her 7-year-old daughter Avery browse the children's section on April 25 at Afterwords Books in Edwardsville, which offered special deals to observe Independent Bookstore Day. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois A patron of the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Annual Book Fair makes a selection on April 25. David Blanchette/For Hearst Illinois

Cicero famously said that a room without books is like a body without a soul, and there was plenty of soul at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Edwardsville over the weekend as the church had its annual book fair.

The book fair rooms were full of more than 20,000 used books, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, vinyl records, puzzles and more. The book fair also included a special section with rare, autographed and collectible items. Martha Hurt from Granite City was one of the patrons who came to the event on April 25.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I like all kinds of books, although I like mysteries the best because they keep you involved until the end of it, Hurt said. Ive been coming to this book fair for years, and the large selection of books keeps me coming back.

Edwardsville resident and book fair patron Debbie Lerma likes to try reading different authors, although she is drawn to science fiction or murder mysteries.

I find that when I read at night before I go to sleep its a stress reliever because I find myself dreaming about the book rather than work, said Lerma, who added that the large variety and low cost of the book fair keep her coming back. So Id rather dream about a book than the other issues that can keep me awake at night.

Ed Hosey, of Freeburg, was another repeat customer at the book fair, and he looked over all of the genres to find some good reads.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

I think a book is good by the story it tells or the way it reads, Hosey said. I try to read broadly and comprehensively, and reading keeps my mind sharp.

Book Fair Coordinator Elizabeth Donald said she was pleased with the response to the 20th annual event.

We consider this part of our mission to keep books out of the landfill and in the hands of people who enjoy what we can offer, Donald said. We take donations for this book fair on the first weekend of each month, and we get many more books than we can sell, so we take whats left over to the Greater St. Louis Book Fair, which is coming up next weekend.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks from the church, Afterwords Books in Edwardsville was observing the 13th annual Independent Bookstore Day, and a steady stream of visitors stopped by to browse the stores offerings both inside and outside.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Ian Gray, of Hamel, and his 3-year-old son, Noah, were looking at an outdoor table full of childrens books, and Gray said he likes to support independent, local bookstores like Afterwords.

Reading is one of the coolest things, I especially like thrillers and fantasy books, said Gray, who added that Im currently in the process of writing my own book, so Im also looking to see how others have done it.

7-year-old Avery Mayernik, of Bunker Hill, dove into the outdoor childrens book table as she and her mother looked for new reading material.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
But first, we want to hit this multibillion-dollar lead story, and that's a QXO is acquiring TopBuild for a reported $17 billion. QXO is primarily a roofing business. What was so interesting to me is its market cap only about 18 billion. Probably better to call this more of a merger than an acquisition, but this isn't even the first acquisition it's made this month, earlier this month, announcing it's acquiring Kodiak Building Partners for $2.25 billion. This is just wow.

Jon Quast: Are robotaxis coming to a city near you? This is Motley Fool Money. Welcome to Motley Fool Money with the Hidden Gems team. I'm Jon Quast, and I'm joined today by Fool contributors Matt Frankel, and filling in for us this week is Jason Hall. We're going to talk about Tesla . We're going to answer questions from our Mailbag about selling stocks.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $500,572 !* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,223,900 !*

Story Continues

Jason Hall: Jon, no, this is an acquisition. Let's make no bones about that whatsoever. For those that haven't followed the QXO story, this is really, and I'm a shareholder here, and the reason I'm a shareholder is I want to invest along with CEO Brad Jacobs. This is one of the greatest value creators for investors in his companys in history. He's founded something like eight different companies that reached a value of at least $1 billion. A few of those, United Waste, which was acquired, and XPO Logistics and United Rentals, which are still public, were massive winners for shareholders. With QXO, we're expecting the Jacobs playbook to work again in a different industry. The playbook is you take an industry that has dozens to hundreds of players, acquire a bunch of them at reasonable prices, consolidate them together where it makes sense, and then apply a layer of technology to those businesses to drive efficiencies and process improvements. Repeat that playbook and be very disciplined and do it for many years, and a lot of people are going to make a lot of money.

Jon Quast: Well, it certainly made the top of the headlines that I was looking for this morning, and that's why it made it onto the show. And I get it. Acquisitions are always exciting. But, Matt, there are just so many instances where a business pays too much to buy another company, and it winds up destroying long-term shareholder value. I don't know. Does this QXO deal for TopBuild make sense to you?

Matt Frankel: Jason mentioned Brad Jacobs has a great history of value-added acquisitions, paying the right price, and adding value afterwards. The deal does make QXO the second-largest publicly traded buildings product developer in North America. This is QXO's largest deal by a mile. It's bigger than all of its previous acquisitions combined. We're really betting on the Brad Jacobs playbook to work here. But I do like this one for QXO. TopBuild, they have very solid margins. It's trading for a reasonable valuation, considering its growth and recent results, even after the acquisition premium. I think there are going to be a lot of synergy opportunities between the companies. Jason knows it better than me, but I think this looks like all the makings of an accretive acquisition right off the bat.

Jason Hall: Yeah, I think that's right. TopBuild, I followed it for a while, and they're an excellent, excellent operator. Our good friend Lou Whiteman and I were in a text group, and we've been chatting a little bit about this. He really stressed that. Lou is maybe the biggest Brad Jacobs fan of anybody at The Fool. He's followed him and invested with him for a long time, and finding maybe an even better operator than Jacobs is pretty special.

The other thing, though, is that TopBuild is in a niche, but pretty big industry in the installation distribution business, but they also have a big installation business, as well. You take that, you combine it with XBO's access to capital. That's why this deals happening because there's a lot of money out there that wants to go along with Brad Jacobs. That could be some secret sauce here. Giving TopBuild paired with Jacobs more firepower to expand into more markets, both organically and through other acquisitions, Matt's absolutely right. This is by far the biggest deal that Jacobs has made at QXO, but it's now a player in multiple parts of the building distribution industry.

Before, its biggest business was roofing products. The Kodiak deal got it into lumber and building materials. Now it's in insulation. I expect we're going to see further expansion into other segments of the construction and building products distribution industry. It's an $800 billion industry. Again, I'm a shareholder because Jacobs does this. He does this incredibly well and doesn't just build empires. He builds value for shareholders. We're going to see a very fragmented industry get consolidated more.

There's so much opportunity to do these deals. Everybody was expecting another roofing business because that looked like that was where he was going to start. I think this caught a lot of people off guard, and it's a reminder that the goal is just to take this fragmented industry and consolidate it in ways that makes sense. Now you get to cross-sell, you get to combine customers across these businesses. There's a lot of ways that Jacobs can create value here.

Jon Quast: Is this one of those businesses that does better in a hotter real estate market, or is it just one of those tried and true, it doesn't really matter what the real estate market is doing?

Jason Hall: It's going to be a little bit like, Matt, you'll love this. It's going to be a little bit like investment banks in a way that nothing's always working great. Parts of it do great when the economy and the market's going hot. Other parts, when there's a lot of struggle. You think about the roofing products business, for example, we have an aging housing stock in the U.S. There's a lot of deferred maintenance. There's opportunity there. That installation business, that's largely a bet on new home construction. That's the largest thing there, and their niche because of their doing the installation of that. It's a dirty, ugly, installation sort of business to do. Having that business is the thing that Home Builders, they're building a community. They want the whole community done. They're going to have one company that's going to come in and be the contractor and do all the installation. That's how it's going to win. Different things are going to be working better when the market's great, and other parts are going to be doing fine when the housing markets not doing great.

Jon Quast: Well, it's certainly a trophy acquisition here for this company that's been known to make acquisitions. We'll have to wait and see how competitors respond in the space that this big move, this big swing that it just took. We'll just have to monitor that in the months and years ahead. But after the break, we'll be taking a look at what is new with Tesla's robotaxis. You're listening to Motley Fool Money.

Welcome back to Motley Fool Money with the Hidden Gems team. This is quite interesting. Tesla, over the weekend, it's announcing that its robotaxis are entering into new markets. They've been operating in Austin, Texas, since June of last year. Now they're saying that they're going into Dallas and Houston. But I just have to wonder, is there anything really to care about here? Because there's some reports saying that there's only one car in each of these two new markets. It feels a little bit crazy to talk about this one. There's only one car map.

Matt Frankel: I read the reports that only one car has been registered so far in each of these markets. Of course, having a single vehicle in Dallas and Houston is not material to Tesla's business at all. So far, the robotaxi business isn't material to Tesla's business, but this is an important milestone. They're a long way away from the Cyber Cab becoming the highest production vehicle in its lineup, as Elon Musk has predicted. But the reality is that building a robotaxi service is extremely hard. Just ask GM, which is great at what they do. Tesla's doing a pretty solid job of it so far.

Jon Quast: Well, what is the case that we should pay attention to this here? Because if I'm looking at this, I'm saying Tesla's already worth over $1 trillion. It's all based pretty much on the auto business that it has right now. Shouldn't we focus on that and not this potential robotaxi business that seems really far off in the future?

Matt Frankel: Yes and no. I would first argue that the trillion-dollar valuation does have a lot of this thing baked in. It's this. They have the energy business. There's a lot in the robotics business. There's a lot that they're planning to do. But it's really tough to overstate what a big opportunity robotaxis could be. As time goes on, it's looking like there are going to be fewer and fewer big winners as companies like GM have thrown in the towel. Tesla is going to have to compete for market share, but not with a ton of companies. Auto executives have called this a multi-trillion-dollar market opportunity. I think GM was throwing around a $5 trillion figure for a while, and I think that might be pushing it. But I read an outstanding research report recently.

They made a realistic case that robotaxis are going to be $190 billion revenue opportunity 10 years from now. For context, Tesla's entire revenue in 2025 was about $95 billion. If there's not that many different major competitors, that's a big pie. Robotaxi revenue, and here's the key point, could have much higher margins than Tesla's core auto-making business, and that's really where the opportunity is. It makes sense that Tesla is investing heavily here. Don't read too much into the only-one-car narrative. As long as Tesla keeps making forward progress at a reasonable rate without any major setbacks, like their cars running over somebody, like GM had that essentially killed their business, it's good news for investors.

Jon Quast: Jason, when we talk about competition in this space, we look at the different players that are out there. Not all of these autonomous vehicles are built in the same way. There are technical differences between them. I'm just curious, do you think that Tesla, as it's looking to scale, it's saying maybe 8-10 metro areas this year, but does it have the technical expertise, the technical advantages to scale this technology?

Jason Hall: Yeah, so this may not be a popular take before I get to my take here. Let's talk about really the difference in what Tesla's doing from anybody else. That's really what it comes down to. It's sensor focus. It's mostly camera-based, optical sensor-focused. Most of the rest of the industry is using LiDAR, other technologies. Radar is pretty popular across pretty much everybody. But what we're finding is that the benefit of doing that is that it's from hardware perspective, should be substantially cheaper, even though LiDAR has gotten much, much lower cost. But I think, again, as much as Musk's had this long history of promising things are going to happen next year, they eventually happen, but it's four or five years later. I think, as much as anything, that might be promoting, but also, I think it's largely just how aggressive Musk is. Eventually, a lot of these things do happen.

But that technical approach that Tesla is taking, we're seeing the challenges of it in real time, how much longer it's taken to get outside of Austin. Is much, much longer than Musk initially promised. The decision to not use technologies like LiDAR require the software and the hardware that's doing the processing to do a lot more heavy lifting. It's clearly been the biggest challenge, I think, to scaling up autonomous taxis, compared to like Waymo, which is definitely the leader in terms of, they have like 11 markets they're in. They do a half a million paid rides a week. Now they're geofenced. They're only in very specific areas. Tesla says, look, our goal is to try to get into more places quicker over the long term. We have billions of miles of cars driving autonomously in the wild, and that data is helping inform the decisions that we're making. But the reality is, it's been a much harder process. The slow expansion of the auto taxi business for Tesla does concern me that its technical approach might be, if not a failure, certainly ends up putting it far behind other competitors that just have a substantial lead.

Jon Quast: I guess maybe the other thing there, to your point there, and I'm going to just throw Matt here on the spot, if it is a more data software play here, Matt, do you think that Tesla with xAI, a sister company, does it have that software advantage to make a really strong competitive case here in the market?

Matt Frankel: I would say yes. How long has Elon been promising full self-driving, but they've been developing autonomous vehicle software, essentially, since the Model S came out? Every mile Model S has driven, essentially, has been recorded in one way or another. They have a ton of data. They've had more cameras on their vehicle than anyone else. They've had more sensors on their vehicle than anyone else. They do have somewhat of a technical advantage, and like I said. Jason just mentioned this, too. It's really hard to build a robo taxi service a lot harder than companies originally thought. But it looks like it's going to be a two-horse race, essentially, right now, and I'd rather them do it slow and steady than to go too fast, like I think GM did and have a game-changing setback. Both of these companies are doing a good job, and there's room for both to be winners.

Jason Hall: I would bet on Uber and Lyft to be winners from autotaxi before I would bet on anybody making the hardware. I'll throw that hot take in there.

Jon Quast: Well, it may be time to bet on the technology when I finally ride in one. I don't know when that'll ever happen. But when we come back, we're going to be taking a question from your mailbag. This is Motley Fool Money.

Welcome back to Motley Fool Money with the Hidden Gems team. One quick note. We want to make you part of the conversation. If you have a stock or investing question for Matt, myself, Jason, when he's on, Rachel the other time that she's on most weeks. If you have a question for anybody, you can now email us at podcast@fool.com. We'd love to have mailbag segments whenever possible, so send in your questions, but remember to keep them Foolish. That email again is podcast@fool.com, and that is where we're going right now from your Mailbag questions sent in.

This is from Patricio Venturi from Argentina, country that I love and used to live in for a short time. Here's the question. Hey, Motley Fool podcast team, as you mentioned, sometimes in the podcast, deciding to sell a stock is not always so easy to do, and it's what I struggle with the most. He goes on to detail how he developed an investment thesis for one company, and he decided to sell that position. I'm not going to read the whole thing. It's a little bit long here. But basically, fast forward. He says, when I first bought, the tech and the product seemed cutting edge. It was promising. But as I followed the results, started to see that maybe it was struggling and didn't seem to have as much opportunity for the future. Wound up selling this stock at around $17 a share, and that was in December. Now the stock is trading at $20. Really feels like he made the wrong choice here by selling that stock. But to me, gentlemen, it sounds like Patricio was assuming he's made the wrong decision here because the stock went from $17 to $20 in four months. But my question here for you, Matt, is, can it be the right move to sell a stock, even if you didn't time the top perfectly?

Matt Frankel: I understand why it seems like that. The stock went up after he sold, and that's despite the market generally falling over that time. But I love this question because it brings up a great point that all investors should understand. I can't say this loudly enough. You are not going to sell at the top. If you do, it will be because you got extremely lucky, not because your analysis was that spot on. In simple terms, stocks move for a variety of reasons, including for no logical reason at all over the short term. In fact, when I'm reading it, the listener's analysis sounds solid at first glance, and it sounds like they indeed sold for a good reason. There are some excellent reasons to sell a stock and move on. Your original thesis for buying no longer applies. You're seeing material weakness or increased risk, which seems to be the case here, or simply because you need the money for something, just to name a few of them. But because the stock went up, and I think we're at a peak, is not one of them.

Jason Hall: Matt, that's so true. I have a couple of thoughts that are going to tie in a little bit to what you already said there. The first one is, I want to caution anyone, as you were saying, who's putting in the work to study the businesses that they own or want to own, to not fall into the precision trap. As you said, you can't sell the top. At best, we can just hope to be directionally on the right track. Even six months after selling a stock, we haven't collected enough data to find out if the broken thesis is really true or not, and the business is going to struggle. Right now, we're still in the voting booth. We haven't moved on to the weighing of the value of the business part. It takes years to happen. That's an important thing to remember. I think this is just especially true on selling. Personally, I tend to be really glacial on selling with two exceptions. Number 1 is if a stock becomes such a large portion of my portfolio that I want to reduce the downside risk. I don't want to fall in love with my investments because I love them. I bought them to grow my wealth, and sometimes take a little bit off the table because of the downside risk. But that has to be pretty large for me. My experience is that selling just on price usually doesn't work out in my favor. It doesn't sound like that's what this listener did, but now they're measuring themselves on the price and not what the business is doing. Looking at the business performance six months later versus the stock performance is probably a better way to measure whether your analysis was right on.

This brings me to my second thought. When it comes to selling, Matt, you talked a little bit about this. If you've reached a financial goal and you don't need a stock, you need money, that's easy. But if you're planning on selling a stock and then reinvesting it, you got to get two decisions right. Number 1, you have to be right in your analysis that this is a business I should sell. Then you have to be right in your analysis that the proceeds that I'm reinvesting, that this is a business that I should be buying. For me, that's one of the reasons I'm glacial and selling unless there's a clear reason that it's time to sell. Sometimes I don't want to rush myself because it's really hard to get one decision right as an investor in stocks. Getting two decisions right even harder.

Jon Quast: I want to just summarize the question that Patricio had was, what are the key signals? Patricio, what I hear Jason and Matt saying here is that the things that you listed out, you talked about the tech, you talked about the product when you bought, and you thought it was cutting edge and promising, that's a good directionally thing to look at when you're buying a stock. You had a investment thesis, we call that. But then you said that you were looking at the earnings per share, the profit margins, the revenue, and it wasn't living up to your expectations, and that's why you sold. What are the key signals? You're mentioning all the things right there. You're talking about the product that the company sells. You're talking about the financials of the business. Those are the key things. When it's no longer playing out as you intended, then yes, that is something that you say, hey, I had an idea here and it doesn't seem that my idea was right. Maybe it's time for me to move on.

The closing thought, and maybe you each can weigh in on this. The closing thought I had was, it seems like Patricio really likes buying stocks, like researching and buying things, and that's the fun part for him. I wanted to mention one of the key tenets in The Motley Fool Investment Philosophy is add new money regularly to your portfolio, if you can. What that does is it prevents you from needing to sell something in order to buy something else because you have new money that you're putting to work. Just a thought from each of you on that. Matt.

Matt Frankel: Adding new money to my portfolio, it's definitely part of the way I invest. Even when it comes to my retirement accounts, I'm not, you know, make a lump sum once a year contribution type of person. I am a contribute a few hundred dollars here, a few hundred dollars there, and it adds up over the course of the year. It prevents me from trying to time the market, both in terms of selling and in terms of buying, because I can buy incrementally, too, and not have to worry about missing the boat on a run or anything like that. I agree with what Jon said. It's definitely a great idea to contribute overtime if you can.

Jason Hall: Yeah, I agree on the adding new money. One other perspective, and sometimes just a little shift in our perspective that's useful in analysis, and this might be something Patricio and other people listening can add to their process if they're not, I constantly ask myself, What am I missing? In a case like this, what did I miss? What did I get wrong? Not what am I right about. You can always find why you're right. It's finding the one thing that we're wrong about or that we missed that can save us from making a bad investment or questioning the decision that we made. In this case, Patricio, you may go back and take a look at this and say, well, what did I miss? You may see the same concerning trends with the business, and that might reassure you that you made the right decision. You might find something that you missed and say, you know what? I have conviction in this business again, and maybe I should be thinking about adding it back to my portfolio. That's the hardest part, and to me, that's one of the most fun part about what we do.

Jon Quast: Indeed, indeed, and it is fun. Let's make sure we always keep investing fun. Patricio, thank you for the question. As always, people on the program may have interest in the stocks they talk about, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don't buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. All personal finance content follows Motley Fool editorial standards and is not approved by advertisers. Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. To see our full advertising disclosure, please check out our show notes. Thanks to our producer, Dan Boyd, and the rest of the Motley Fool team. For Matt, Jason, and I, thank you so much for taking time to listen to the show today. We'll see you again next time.

Jason Hall has positions in QXO and has the following options: short August 2026 $30 calls on QXO. Jon Quast has positions in Lyft. Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in General Motors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lyft, QXO, Tesla, TopBuild, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors and XPO. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Are Robotaxis Coming to a City Near You? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Is ROL a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Rollins, Inc. on Beyond's Substack by Beyond the Heard. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on ROL. Rollins, Inc.'s share was trading at $54.49 as of April 16th. ROLs trailing and forward P/E were 49.99 and 44.64 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Citi Raises its Price Target on Rentokil Initial plc (RTO) to 575 GBp from 550 GBp

janews/Shutterstock.com

Rollins, Inc. (ROL) is a leading pest control and wildlife services company built a resilient compounding business model centered on recurring revenue, brand power, and disciplined acquisitions. Through its family of brands structure anchored by Orkin alongside HomeTeam Pest Defense, Western Pest Services, it has created a decentralized yet scalable platform that preserves local customer trust while benefiting from centralized expertise and technology.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

Its revenue mix is balanced across Residential, Commercial, and Termite services, with strong subscription-driven residential demand and sticky commercial relationships reinforcing predictable cash flows. The companys moat is underpinned by high switching costs, route-optimization and AI-driven systems, and strong pricing power in a fragmented market of small operators. Over the past two decades, Rollins has delivered roughly 8% annual revenue growth with gross margins above 50% and operating margins near 19%, reflecting exceptional operating leverage.

Net margins around 15% and a ROIC approaching 30% highlight elite capital efficiency in a traditionally low-growth industry. Financial strength is supported by low leverage near 1x EBITDA and consistent free cash flow generation, enabling acquisitions and steadily growing dividend. The company continues to consolidate a fragmented industry of thousands of local players, expanding its footprint and reinforcing scale advantages.

While valuation trades at a premium, durability of earnings, defensive demand characteristics, and long runway for compounding. Structural tailwinds urbanization, climate-driven pest expansion, and increasing outsourcing of pest services support sustained mid-to-high single digit growth. Overall, Rollins represents a high-quality compounder with predictable cash flows, expanding scale advantages, and long-term compounding potential.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on APi Group Corporation (APG) by Kairos research in November 2024, which highlighted inspection-led recurring fire safety revenues, acquisition-driven growth, and regulatory tailwinds. APGs stock price has appreciated by approximately 20.10% since our coverage. Beyond the Heard shares a similar view but emphasizes Rollins recurring pest control model, brand-led consolidation, and durable compounding within a fragmented, services-driven industry.
Gary Krueger and his children, from left, Benjamin Krueger, Carisa Cook, and Christopher Curt Krueger. Courtesy of Carisa Cook

JERSEYVILLE  Carisa Cook wants people in Jersey County to remember her late father as a good person who cared about his community and the county as a whole.

He wanted the county and the community to strive and do well and be successful, she said about Jersey County Board Chairman Gary Krueger, who died of natural causes at his Dow home Monday night at the age of 75. He wanted to represent the people of Jersey County to the best of his ability.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Cook said a housekeeper who came to Kruegers home regularly discovered his body when she arrived Tuesday morning. The housekeeper called 911.

Jersey County Coroner Kevin Ayres estimated Krueger died during the evening hours on Monday, with preliminary indications that a heart attack probably was the cause.

A visitation for Krueger will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at Crawford Funeral Home, 1308 State Highway 109 in Jerseyville. His funeral service will be held there at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, with burial to follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville. A luncheon will be held afterward at Delhi Baptist Church.

Gary Krueger built a life in Jersey County farming, politics

Rhonda and Gary Krueger Courtesy of Carisa Cook

His daughter said politics had always been part of her fathers life since she was a child.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Growing up as a kid, we were going to fundraisers and functions  the Republican committee, he was always into stuff like that, Cook said.

A farmer, Krueger spent 18 years working for the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he retired as a supervisor. Cook said Krueger also worked for the Mississippi Township, where he lived.

Jersey County Clerk Pam Warford said Krueger was first appointed to the County Board in January 2015. In 2020, his fellow board members elected him vice chairman, and then elected him chairman after the November 2022 election.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Krueger remembered for sharp mind, political touch

Gary Krueger working on his tractor. Courtesy of Carisa Cook

Cook talked about her fathers intelligence.

He could do math in his head like you wouldnt believe, she said. He was just naturally book smart and common sense smart.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

He liked being busy. He wasnt much for sitting at home a whole lot.

Kruegers daughter said his natural affinity for people served him well in his political career.

You could be in the grocery store line, and hed strike up a conversation with a person behind him, she recalled. Then youd say, Who was that? And hed say, I dont know.

I mean, you would have thought he knew that person for years. He didnt know a stranger.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Cook said that after her mother, Rhonda Krueger, died in October 2025, her father wasnt sure whether he wanted to run for the County Board again this year. Gary and Rhonda Krueger were married for 54 years.

I know that others at the Courthouse were saying, We want to keep you, we want you to stay, Cook said. He decided to run again, and I was thrilled that he was going to continue to do it and to keep himself busy and on the go.

Every morning, he was up at either the doughnut shop or the restaurant, mingling with his group of people. He kind of enjoyed a little bit of the town gossip.

Gary Krueger was a devoted grandfather

Kruegers daughter also said she wants her three children to remember their grandfather as the grandpa that they love and theyve been close with and enjoyed their time on the farm."

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

Cook said that her oldest son became quite close with both Gary and Rhonda.

"Hes 15, and hes having a very hard time," Cook said. "He spent all his free time with my Dad. He enjoys the farm stuff, equipment, and things like that. And hes one of those social kids; he doesnt know a stranger, either.

Along with Cook, who lives in Greenfield, Krueger is survived by two sons, Benjamin Krueger of Broadheadsville, Pennsylvania, and Christopher Curt Krueger of Godfrey, as well as seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and five siblings.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad
It was a week from hell. For British prime minister Keir Starmer, setbacks came in threes and on three frontsdefence, economy and politics. A week earlier, no one would have expected controversies to send the boring lawyer-turned-PM on a roller-coaster ride, desperately clinging on to his seat. Opposition Tory leader Kemi Badenoch declared Starmer is incompetent or lying. All roads lead to his resignation.

The third scandal was the worst. Like the grim reaper, sex offender Jeffrey Epstein struck from his graveagain. The Guardian revealed Epsteins buddy, Peter Mandelson, had failed his security vetting in 2024 when Starmer appointed him Britains ambassador to the US. Last year, Starmer had sacked Mandelson after Epstein files showed Mandelson had borrowed money, even leaked sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a minister. Following police investigations, Mandelson was arrested and bailed this February.

But The Guardians latest disclosure contradicted Starmers earlier claim in parliament that Mandelson was duly vetted. Lying or misleading the parliament warrants resignation. To pre-empt this dire outcome, Starmer quickly sacked his top foreign office official, Olly Robbins, for the unforgivable lapse of not informing him about the vetting failure. But this only inflamed opposition leaders who accused Starmer of scapegoating a bureaucrat to save his own skin. Now they demanded his scalp. Epstein and Mandelson were not Starmers friends. The twice-sacked Mandeslon was controversial, but also a star, close to Donald Trump and acclaimed for successfully rebranding the stodgy Labour party that catapulted Tony Blair to power in 1997. But Starmer appointed Mandelson to this all-important ambassadorship without the vetting verdict.

Keir Starmer, British prime minister | AP

The Epstein nightmare erupted immediately after a scathing strategic review by the government-appointed George Robertson, a former defence minister. He declared Britains security was in peril because the nation was spending way more on welfare than defence. Accusing the government of corrosive complacency he said Britain was underprepared, underinsured and under attack. Then came the IMF stinger that Britains economy would perform the worst among developed economies. It blamed high taxes and Iran war for exacerbating Britains low growth and high prices.

Volatility is now a global contagion. Starmer won a landslide victory in 2024, but since then, domestic drift dashed his popularity with bungles and bumbles, bad decisions and worse implementation. But the Iran war revived his fortunes because he stood up to Trumps threats and insults. Starmer refused to drag Britain into Trumps illegal war which had neither clear purpose nor exit plan. Voters liked Starmer showing some spine. As Trumps war tantrums, bullying, contradictions and unreasonable demands rose, so did Starmers popularity.

But he now faces a credibility crisis. Opposition parties clamour, but they lack the majority to eject Starmer. Labour MPs can, but they are inclined to retain Starmerat least until after the important Scottish, Welsh and English council elections on May 7. Labour expects an electoral thrashing and fear Starmers removal now would aggravate internal turmoil. Some MPs say the Trump-induced geopolitical turbulence favours Starmers steady hand. Besides, There Is No AlternativeTINA, an acronym first coined for Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher.

Britain has seen iconic prime ministers like Churchill, Disraeli and Gladstone. Today, Labour has no alternative to its uncharismatic prime minister. If Starmer clings on, he will in true British tradition, keep calm and carry onto what? Britain is important. But from the top, it has slipped to a middle power. In these messy times, Britains challenge is not to become a muddling, middling power.

Pratap is an author and journalist.
A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE WEEK would not have been around if Naxals had their way. Her father came from a family of planters, and they were marked by Naxals.

Her father used to sit up and read at night, after the family had gone to bed. Those were the days of wan 40-watt bulbs and hurricane lamps. He had a routine. Before going to bed, he would go to check the study, which had a door leading outside.

On a rainy night, he put down his book and went straight to bed. The next morning, the milkman found the study door ajar and alerted the family. The study was strewn with documents and files. The culprits were arrested and were found to be Naxal sympathisers.

The culprits said they were in the study when the father was still awake. If he had entered the study that night, things would have ended differently. The police recovered a blueprint of the house from the culprits. Guess how they got it? From the electrician who wired the house!

I grew up on college campuses influenced by spring thunder, and it is quite surprising to watch Naxals giving up weapons and joining the political process. For this issue, Chief of Bureau (Delhi) Namrata Biji Ahuja travelled to Sukma, Bastar, Kanker, Dantewada and Warangal, to bring you the story of the Maoists and their fading revolution through the eyes of top commanders and ideologues.

Namrata also interviewed Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the states DGP Arun Dev Gautam and Telangana DGP B. Shivadhar Reddy. Lawyer Mahesh Chandra, whose father was killed in Chhattisgarh, told Namrata that he studied law to bring social justice, while his father chose the gun.

Speaking of law and legislation, the next big article is about the political drama that rode on the back of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Senior Assistant Editor Pratul Sharmas main article is followed by veteran politician Margaret Alvas article tracing the legislations history and the long struggle for rights. Namrata and Manira Alva interviewed Beatriz Merino, Perus first woman prime minister.

Our coverage of the West Bengal elections continues with Special Correspondent Prema Rajarams article on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees confidantes.

We also cover THE WEEK Ayush Conclave in Delhi. My thanks to Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav, who holds independent charge of the Ministry of Ayush, for inaugurating the conclave.

Then there is also Chief Subeditor Anirudh Madhavans take on the latest episode of CEAT BTS, with Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Do check out the video on our YouTube channel, and I am happy that Srikkanth agrees with my view on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The sensational batter is more than ready to join the big boys.

Coming back to the cover, my wifes family has a bit of history with the Naxals. My father-in-law, C. Kurian, escaped two attempts on his life. He lived on-site to manage the family-owned Velimalai rubber plantation in southern Tamil Nadu, but spent Sundays with the family in Thiruvananthapuram.

On April 30, 1969, an armed Naxal squad headed to the estate. Their aim was to kill him on May 1, International Workers Day. But, during the trek one of the country bombs went off, killing a Naxal. The squad buried him, called off the action and went back into hiding. The next year, they turned up at the bungalow early on a Saturday, confident that he would be there. Thankfully, he had left the previous day to attend a nephews wedding.

Jovial and strikingly handsome, Kurian would later tell me, If they had chopped off my head and put it on the compound wall, they themselves would have felt sorry for separating such a handsome face from its body!

Bina, of course, did not think it was funny.
Sigmund Freud died without answering it. Hollywood tried to answer it with a sexist fantasy in 2000 about an MCP of a Chicago advertising executive suddenly gaining an ESP skill to read female minds. Just like the infamous Peeping Tom of Coventry who spied on Lady Godiva riding naked, he eavesdrops into a colleagues mind to find out What Women Want, and steals her ideas for selling womens goods. Cheap!

Our netas dont have to eavesdrop into eves minds. They claim to know what women wantnot just free fridges, TV sets, bicycles, bus rides, monthly doles and schools for kids, but also a third of the seats in the law-making bodies. MPs a generation or two ago would have said, Cheek! Rouged cheek!

Indeed, they did. The idea was resisted, even by the most gallant of maidens men in Parliament, right from the time when Gita Mukherjee, Margaret Alva et al asked for it in the 1990s. Many a hair-raising debate was done over it since a blunt-talking Sharad Yadav trashed the idea as a fad of the bob-cut class, and a frail Hamid Ansari expended all his house-keeping energy in 2010 to get an orderly debate in the Rajya Sabha and get a Manmohan Singh government bill passed. Then, in 2023, Narendra Modi, as is his wont, got a constitutional change in Hindi, called it Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, linked the seat quota issue to the next post-census delimitation, and got an enabling law passed by both houses.

Women MPs of the BJP protest after the bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures was defeated | PTI

All remained well with the amrit-kaaled gods in the political heavens, and there was shanti on the toxic earth of unwashed millions. Only the southern netas, who had cut their population growth and spent funds on schools and hospitals, kept their fingers crossed, worried the northern multitudes would crowd them out of the Lok Sabha if the seats got apportioned on headcount basis.

Then the Centre got a bright idea. Why wait for the headcount? Why not offer half more seats to every state, mark a third of the total for women and get the needed laws made in two days?

Fair and square, isnt it? But the opposition thought it a rummy affair. The numbers werent getting writ into the law, but were being offered as an assurance by the home minister. Soon their number nerds found the northern states would gain around 200 more seats collectively, while the south and east states might gain 66-90. Such a distribution, feared the Congress and regional parties who rule the south and east, would skew law-making into a privilege of the north. The opposition saw red, got their act together and showed the red card to the government.

Now, what tax-paying mortals would like to know are: with about three million elected men and women strutting around from panchayats to the presidential house enjoying pay, perks and pensions, do we need more or fewer netas? Two, if 543 men and women cant get our voices heard in the house, how can 850 make us heard? The more the merrier? The more can be medley and bedlam, too.

Three, as for women being given their share, isnt there an easier way out? Make a law right now to reserve a third of the current 543 seats for women, and keep our better halves happy. Hold the headcount by all means, but put off the delimitation for another 25 years.

Sounds fair and square to us, and to most of those in the fair sex. But therein lies the catch. For all the gallantry thats claimed by all sides, few of these men would give up the seats that they have been holding. If women want assured seats, let them come with their own chairs, they think.

Take it from me, ladies and maidens, youre on your own!
The intellectual landscape in India today is marked by a dynamic debate over the place of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in our contemporary curriculum. This is not merely an academic skirmish; it is a profound discussion about how a civilisation that gave the world the concept of zero should engage with the universal march of modern science. How can we justly celebrate our intellectual heritage while defending the universalism and sanctity of scientific temper?

Our deep-seated pride in our historical contributions is justified. Why shouldnt we credit the land and the thinkers who developed path-breaking concepts, whether it is the calculations of the Kerala School of Mathematics or the meticulously documented surgical procedures of the worlds first rhinoplasty, performed by Sushruta? Indias intellectual traditions constitute one of the worlds oldest continuous streams of inquiry. From the metaphysical reflections of the Upanishads to the logical precision of the Nyaya school; from the holistic medical science of ayurveda to the astronomical and mathematical brilliance of Aryabhata and Bhaskara; from Bharatas Natya Shastra to Paninis extraordinarily sophisticated grammatical systemour civilisation has regarded knowledge as sacred and systematic. Acknowledging this intellectual provenance is an act of historical honesty and cultural preservation. It enriches the global narrative of human progress, ensuring that Indian contributions are not footnotes, but foundation stones.

However, the moment this pride transforms into an assertion of present-day exclusivity or superiority, we veer into hazardous territory. Knowledge, at its most rigorous and useful, is ultimately a universal human endeavour. To speak of Indian molecular biology or Indian artificial intelligence is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of modern knowledge. A scientific law discovered by an Indian scientist becomes simply a universal law of physics; an algorithm developed in Bengaluru is a global computational tool. Attempting to confine these truths within national borders only diminishes their greatness. Replacing the boundless ambition of scientific inquiry with the limiting lens of nationalistic pride is a substitution that is philosophically weak and intellectually dangerous.

Shutterstock

The gravest risk in the contemporary debate is the deliberate confusion of historical legacy with present-day validated knowledge. Our curriculum must always prioritise scientific temperthe freedom to question, the insistence on empirical evidence, and the willingness to revise ones conclusions in the face of new data. Any system, irrespective of its antiquity, that seeks to impose a framework on what to think rather than nurturing the freedom of how to think, is inimical to education and progress. The core tenet of modern science is that it is self-correcting and evidence-based. If an insight derived from traditional texts, such as an ayurvedic formulation or an ancient engineering principle, is to be deployed today, it must be subject to the same universal standards of rigour, verification and empirical testing as any finding from a modern laboratory. In other words, the past must be celebrated, not canonised. We must teach the achievements of ancient India as a glorious history of science and philosophy, providing context for modern advancements. But we cannot permit the past to dictate the present value of our knowledge systems.

The path forward is one of critical integration. We must pursue a strategy that both honours our heritage and upholds the highest standards of universal science. Yes, we should recognise that certain practices, particularly in the realm of applied systems like ayurveda, are deeply rooted in our cultural and geographical contexts. Studying them systematically can offer valuable hypotheses for modern research. But, once a traditional insight generates a hypothesis (say, a specific compounds medicinal property) it must immediately enter the universal laboratory. Its validation must rely on modern clinical trials, pharmacological analysis and established scientific methodologies. We should welcome this process: success validates the traditional insight, failure saves us from practising ineffective methods.

The history of IKS can be seamlessly woven into our curriculum: teaching the decimal system is more engaging when the role of ancient Indian mathematicians is highlighted. But the ultimate goal of knowledge, whether derived from ancient palm leaf manuscripts or supercomputer simulations, is to understand and improve the human condition. We must ensure that our intellectual heritage serves as a launchpad for the future, and not a handcuff to the past.

editor@theweek.in
When 'Operation Epic Fury' was at its height, an Iranian F-5 fighter jet attacked Camp Buehringa US defence base in Kuwaitan operational report said. Camp Buehring was heavily protected by a multi-layered US air defence deployment, including Patriot systems, but suffered numerous damages in the bombing mission carried out by the Cold War-era supersonic jet.

According to reports, storage warehouses, hangars, satellite communications infrastructure, airstrips, radar systems, and dozens of military aircraft were among the targets hit by the Iranian aerial assault. It is thus another feather in the cap of the Islamic Republic, which scored a rare hit at a major US military base protected by a multi-layered defence system using a manned fighter aircraft. Earlier, the country had also become the first to register a successful drone hit at an operational US base.

ALSO READ | Why Iranian missiles destroying THAAD radars are a blow to Donald Trump

On the other hand, the incident contradicts claims by US President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu regarding having taken out the Iranian Air Force and Navy in the initial weeks of the war.

Embarrassment for US, moral booster for Iran

The success story is even greater because the F-5 aircraft is not equipped with modern radars or sophisticated guidance systems that could help with precision bombing. The aircraft has no stealth qualitiesmeaning it should be regular prey for the likes of Patriot systemsand thus a conventional bombing mission on a US airbase was considered suicidal.

ALSO READ |How US air defence protects the UAE, Kuwait, and other Gulf states from Iranian ballistic missiles EXPLAINED

It is said that the Iranian F-5 aircraft flew at a low altitude and succeeded in evading detection and response from Patriot systems and close-range air defence networks. The multi-layered defence systems were designed to form overlapping interception zones but failed epically to stop the incoming bombing.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

"This is particularly important because Patriot batteries are typically optimised for high-performance missile threats, while short-range interceptor systems are supposed to cover weaknesses against low-altitude aircraft threats. The fact that the F-5 aircraft, considered an old platform, is still capable of exploiting the gap raises serious questions about the limits of the radar horizon and the response time of operational command," Defence Security Asia said in a report.

ALSO READ | Israeli Air Force shoots down a fighter jet after 40 years as F-35 downs Iran's Yak-130

The fate of the aircraft and pilot involved in the attack remains unknown. However, whether the jet made its way back home or was shot down midway doesn't change the fact that it scored a historic victory against great odds. The bombing mission was not just a strategic victory for Tehran but also an underlining of the fact that even the most advanced multi-layered defence systems remain vulnerable.
Three people, all belonging to the same family, were shot dead in a gym on Subhash Road in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr. The victims were rushed to a hospital only after the police arrived at the spot, and all of them were declared brought dead by doctors, a news report said.

According to media reports, a rivalry existed between two groups of bodybuilders who used to work out at the gym. Area dominance and local bodybuilding competitions are said to be the causes over which the enmity developed.

On Saturday night, one of the two groups was celebrating the birthday of one of their members called Jeetu. An argument erupted between the two rival groups at the same time over the smearing of the birthday cake on Jeetu's face, The Indian Express said in a report. It was not clear if it was one of the three victims who smeared the cake on his face.

As the argument escalated, Jeetu drew a gun and firedhitting all three victims in the head, The Indian Express said. Occupants of the gymnasium scrambled in the mayhem that followed, and the police were notified shortly after.

The police team that arrived to probe the shooting found the three men reportedly lying in a pool of blood. They were identified as Amar Saini (26), Manish Saini (23), and Akash Saini (22).

Four people have been detained in connection with the case, while a case has been lodged against ten people. Bulandshahr police have formed multiple teams to nab the remaining accused who are at large.
A SWISS aircraft caught fire at the Delhis IGI airport, bound for Zurich, caught fire in one of its rear engine gears early on Sunday. The flight LX147 had to abort take-off after smoke rose out of one of its engines. The Airbus A330-300 aircraft was carrying approximately 232 passengers and crew, the Economic Times reported.

Six passengers were hospitalised after sustaining injuries during evacuations through the chute.

Around 2 am today, the takeoff of Swiss Air Flight LX147 (Delhi-Zurich) was aborted after smoke was observed from the left-side wheel. An Emergency declared by the crew. There were a total of 232 passengers onboard. 4 passengers sustained minor injuries during evacuation via https://t.co/qiTy1UsquV  ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2026

The flight registered as HB-JHK bound for Zurich was on its take-off roll on Runway 28 at approximately 1.08 am local time when the engine number one failed and caught fire.

According to information from Flight Rader, the aircraft took off as at a speed of 104 knots when the engine failure happened, and the crew abandoned take-off.

In a statement, SWISS said that the crew rejected the take-off and, after the assessment, decided to evacuate the aircraft.

"All passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides. Six passengers are currently undergoing medical evaluation. For a small number of individuals who were unable to use the slides, stairs were provided," the spokesperson said.
In an attempt to woo the Matuas, a Hindu minority community in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Thakurbari Temple before embarking on his public meeting at Thakurnagar in the North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society. pic.twitter.com/spKlzwDhZC  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026

Thakurbari, in Bongaon, has a sizeable Matua population that migrated to West Bengal from Bangladesh after facing religious persecution. Other Matua-dominated places include the South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts.

BJP MP Shantanu Thakur is the face of the Matua community, while TMC MP Mamata Bala Thakur is the ruling partys Matua leader.

Comprising around 17 per cent of the state's population, the Matua community plays a deciding factor for about 50 Assembly seats in the state. After the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) saw several deletions, PM Modis visit to Thakurbari aimed to soothe fears of the Hindu minority community.

The support of the Matua community played an important role in the rise of the BJP in the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The saffron party has been encouraging the Matuas to apply for citizenship status using the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Those who speak about removing CAA, can they think about your well-being? questioned the PM while referring to the TMC opposing the CAA.

If anybody votes for the TMC by mistake, it will hurt their (the Matuas) ancestors.

The PM went on to speak about infiltrators, creating a demarcation between illegal immigrants and those who were living in the state with legal documents.

Today from Bongaon, I want to fearlessly give a warning. Those who have entered Bengal illegally, those who are living here with fake documents, they should leave Bengal and India before April 29th. Else after May 4, every infiltrator will be chased away, the PM added.

He also spoke about his visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh a few years ago, which is the Matua communitys founder Sri Sri Harichand Thakurs birthplace, and considered as the pilgrimage site of the Matua community.

Terming it a unique experience, the PM spoke about the opportunity to offer prayers at the temple.

I remember when I went to seek Boro Maas blessings, her love enriched me ... I relived those precious moments once again, I got the opportunity to offer prayers at Thakurbari temple before coming here," reminisced the PM, saying that the experience of offering prayers to the founders of the Matua community would always stay with him.

After his next public meeting in the Howrah district, PM Modi was also seen offering prayers at the three-centuries-old Thanthania Kalibari temple in North Kolkata later in the day, where Ramakrishna Paramahansa is said to have frequented to worship Goddess Kali in her form of Goddess Siddeshwari.

Joi Maa Kali!



Joi Maa Durga!



In Kolkata this evening, I prayed at the Thanthania Kalibari.



This ancient Temple has a very close connection with Bengali culture and Kolkata in particular. It also has a very close association with Sri Ramakrishna, who used to pray there very pic.twitter.com/WgbSrCTQ78  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026

Modi then embarked on his 2km roadshow from the BK Pal Avenue to Khanna crossing, while wooing voters, and campaigning for two BJP candidates.

Standing atop a saffron vehicle with the lotus symbol, donned with flowers too, chants of Jai Shree Ram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai could also be heard.

Though the TMC terms BJP as the outsiders, the saffron party is sending out a strong message.

From the rural Matua heartland to the urban pockets of Kolkata, PM Modi is within the masses reach across the length and breadth of Mamatas West Bengal.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) have been jumping recently after the company posted some impressive quarterly results. For a company that's been on the wrong side of analyst expectations for a while, it's welcome news for frustrated investors, who have experienced significant losses over the past few years.

But investing is based on the long term, and how a company did during its most recent three-month period is not necessarily indicative of where it may be heading in the future. Is it a good idea to invest in UnitedHealth Group today, and has it done enough to prove that it's a safe stock to own?

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.

Lower costs enabled the business to deliver a strong beat

A big problem for health insurance companies in recent years has been rising costs. Utilization rates are up, and that's led to higher-than-typical costs. A key metric for UnitedHealth is the medical benefit ratio, which is how much it pays for medical expenses in relation to the premiums it collects. This past quarter, analysts expected the rate to be at 85.5%, and it came in at 83.9%, which was lower than what it was a year ago -- 84.8%.

The reduced costs enabled UnitedHealth to post better-than-expected profits, as its adjusted earnings per share for the quarter were $7.23, well below expectations of $6.57. Its revenue also totaled $111.7 billion, which was higher than the $109.6 billion that Wall Street was estimating.

The big question, however, is whether UnitedHealth can build off these results and prove that the strong quarter wasn't an anomaly. Poor performances in the past are a big reason why the stock has been an underwhelming buy. Last year, shares of UnitedHealth crashed by 35%.

There's still some risk with the stock

Although UnitedHealth's recent results were encouraging, investors may still want to tread cautiously here. There are, after all, investigations going on into its billing practices.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been particularly worried about the company's Medicare Advantage operations. Based on an investigation he launched, a report found that UnitedHealth has been using "aggressive strategies" to boost risk adjustment scores, which can lead to greater revenue.

If the government imposes restrictions or tighter regulations that impact the way UnitedHealth conducts its operations, that can have a drastic impact on the business, at a time when its financial position isn't looking as strong as it once was. That's why, while it may be tempting to jump on the bandwagon, I'd take a wait-and-see approach with the healthcare stock, as it still has a long way to go in proving that it's a safe buy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Thakurbari Temple (also called the Matua Thakur Temple) at Thakurnagar in the North 24 Parganas districta move that has gone viral ahead of the second phase of Assembly elections in the state on April 29.

"Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society," Modi wrote in an X post on Sunday.

Prayed at the Matua Thakur Temple earlier today. The ideals of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Ji and Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur Ji continue to illuminate our society. pic.twitter.com/spKlzwDhZC  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026

The shrine serves as the spiritual centre of the Matua Mahasangha, a socio-religious movement aimed at uplifting the Namasudra community through social reform and education.

Originating in Orakandionce in undivided Bengal, and now a part of Bangladeshthe Matua Mahasangha's founders, Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, have an important place in the temple.

It is the timing of the temple visit that has gone viral. PM Modi visited the central shrine of the Matua community ahead of a rally at Bongaon in the North 24 Parganas district, which contains parts of significant constituencies among the 142 that will head to the polls on April 29.

This highlights the BJP's renewed focus on the politically influential Matua community, which played a significant role in the saffron party's surge in the 2021 elections in the state.

               -         pic.twitter.com/Oy1EqQS71y  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026

In a speech at the rally earlier today, he reiterated the BJP's promise that all refugees who once took shelter in Indiafollowing religious persecution in Bangladeshwould be granted citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"I pledge before Matua Namasudra community members that they will receive citizenship through CAA," he said at the rally.

This comes as the Matua-dominated constituencies of North 24 Parganas and Nadia have been complicated by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, which led to about 3.25 lakh names cut from North 24 Parganas alone.

In several constituencies such as Gaighata and Bagda, deletion rates were about 67-80 per cent for flagged voters.

It is these post-SIR deletions that have polarised the political equation within the Matua community.

For years, BJP courted the Matua community with the promise of citizenship under CAA. That promise was the bait. And now the trap has been revealed.



The very same BJP leaders are today saying it is perfectly acceptable for lakhs of Matua names to be deleted from the electoral pic.twitter.com/aIWHKbK3Gj  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 13, 2026

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) has repeatedly hit out at the BJP over the removal of the Matuas, Rajbanshis, and other such minority communities from the voter rolls.

The TMC has also claimed earlier that the Matua community was being used for its political sway, after which the BJP would allegedly "brand (them) infiltrators", and has also promised that it would stand with the minorities if elected for a fourth term in the state.
A Mediterranean power! This is how some depict the Islamic Republic. There is no geographic proximity between Iran and the Mediterranean, and Iranians would have to cross at least two sovereign statesIraq and Syriabefore reaching the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. However, such a big and dangerous claim reflects not only Irans political ambitions but also its strong presence in Lebanon, a Mediterranean littoral state, through its proxy, Hezbollah, the Party of God.

Experts and specialists alike conveniently ignore the deep-seated dichotomy and the contest between the Shia militant group and the Lebanese state. Yes, the Shia militant group was formed with the political and ideological support of the Islamic Republic as a response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. For nearly two decades, Hezbollah has been at the forefront of the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli occupation, and the unilateral Israeli withdrawal of May 2000 was a victory of Hezbollah. When even Arab countries could not reverse the Israeli occupation, the militant group emerged as a role model, especially for the Palestinians.

The Islamic Republic, which is instrumental in the formation, consolidation, and solidification of Hizballah, has benefited from the resistance label and has used it to advance its regional interests. Hezbollah thus serves as the pivot of Iran's Mediterranean ambitions. As the prime voice of Lebanon's Shia community, the militant group has consolidated its influence through electoral politics and alliances and has become a political force independent of the Lebanese state and its policies.

What is conveniently forgotten in the victory narrative is that the Israeli withdrawal removed the raison d'etre for the resistance tag. Much to the discomfort of several states and non-state actors in the region, the UN has recognised that the Israeli action fulfilled the withdrawal demand in UNSC Resolution 425. Still, even after Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah and its supporters continue to view the militant group as a force of resistance.

Thus, Hezbollah became immune to the key demand of the 1989 Taif Accord, which ended the 15-year Lebanese civil war: the disarmament of all militant groups in the country. The militant group was not ready to relinquish the resistance tag after 2000 and pursued an Iran-directed policy vis-a-vis Israel, which contributed to periodic retaliation and violence. Weakened by the civil war, consociationalism, and periodic external interference, the Lebanese state lacked the political will and military capacity to disarm Hizballah. Thus, the militant group became an Iranian proxy, furthering Iranian interests rather than Lebanons national interests.

In recent years, Israeli strategy vis-a-vis Iranian proxies has changed fundamentally. For a long time, it focused on fighting Hezbollah and, of late, the Houthis of Yemen. Its operations against these groups gave Israel only a limited breather before the next round. Hence, rather than confining itself to fighting the proxies, it sought to go after their patron directly. This manifested in last year's 12-day war and in the current violence that began on 28 February. From a military standpoint, downgrading the larger patron's capacity is preferable to fighting the smaller, dependent proxies.

At the same time, Iran was able to use Hezbollah more effectively by capitalising on the latters geographic proximity vis-a-vis Israel. Tied down to multiple frontsArab and non-Arab targetsIran used Hezbollah to strike Israel with lethal effect. Unable to develop an effective strategy against non-state actors, Israel pursued its policy of targeting Lebanese civilian infrastructure in the hope that this would drain support for the militant group.

Contrary to the views of a segment of Middle Eastern scholarship in the country, there is significant disagreement over Hezbollah and its actions. Hezbollah is not Lebanon, and it does not even represent all the Shias of that country. Rather, it represents Iranian interests in Lebanon, which often run counter to Lebanon's national interests. Indeed, amid the war in the Gulf, Lebanon declared Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani persona non grata and asked him to leave Lebanon by 29 March for his interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs. Tehran openly defied this demand and insisted that he remain at his post. Tehran respects only its own sovereignty, not others. Can an Arab diplomat be so defiant and remain in Tehran?

For over three decades, all efforts to disarm Hezbollah and domesticate it have failed. Though the Lebanese state still lacks the means to enforce its national demands, popular discontent and anger vis-a-vis the militant group over its role as the agent of an external power have grown. Not just Christians and Sunni Muslims, but also a section of the Lebanese Shia are aware of the disastrous consequences of this Iranian proxy. The fragile Lebanese ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic negotiations in Washington signal a long-held Lebanese yearning: Good or bad, let the Lebanese decide their fate.

The author teaches contemporary Middle East at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Amid questions of Mojtaba Khamenei's health as the war in the Gulf nears two months, a new video has surfaced online, sparking claims that Iran's current Supreme Leader had died.

The viral video allegedly shows a mural, titled 'Martyrs', being unveiled, showing portraits of those killed in the war between Iran and US-Israel forces.

Iran's ex-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can be seen in a large portrait at the centre of the mural, with four smaller portraits around him, and a number of even smaller pictures around the five of them.

While the first three portraits beside Ali Khamenei seem to show Iran's first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Rouhalla Khomeini, former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, it was the fourth portrait that sparked the buzz around Mojtaba's health.

INTERESTING: A new mural in Mashhad, Iran was unveiled honoring deceased Islamic Revolution figures.



Some users were confused after current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khameneis face appeared alongside deceased leaders, including his father. pic.twitter.com/imeEf8eEPd  Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 26, 2026

The fourth portrait allegedly shows the current Supreme Leader, leading to speculations that he had succumbed to his injuries from the airstrike on the supreme leaders' compound in Tehran.

However, THE WEEK could not independently verify the allegations of his death.

The lack of clarification from Iranian officials about the mural video has also raised questions of whether Iran was hiding the potential death of their Supreme Leader in a bid to control the narrative.

Often touted as Iran's Supreme Leader from the shadows in order to project strength, Mojtaba's health was last discussed in a New York Times report, which stated that his lips had face had been "burned severely" after the airstrike, making it difficult for him to speak.

As the war has progressed, Mojtaba's injuries have also had a major impact on the country's administration.



(us iran war israel, trump mojtaba health, irgc us navy hormuz blockade ceasefire)https://t.co/dYByURJj8f  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 23, 2026

He had also been awaiting a prosthetic leg and plastic surgery, but was still reportedly "mentally sharp and engaged".

The Supreme Leader's health concerns have also led to a significant change in Iran's administration, with senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials now having a major say in decisions that Mojtaba offers his guidance on, the report added.

This also comes amid attempts by war meditators Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey to get Iran and the US to the negotiating table again for a ceasefire deal, after Wasshington pulled out of the Islamabad talks altogether, and Tehran continues to cite the US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a ceasefire violation.
The on-again, off-again diplomatic track between the US and Iran suffered yet another setback on Saturday after President Donald Trump called off his top officials trip to Pakistan for peace talks. The delegation, which was to have included Steve Witkoff, Trumps special envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser, was grounded before it departed for Islamabad. Vice President JD Vance, who had been on standby to intervene personally should a significant breakthrough materialise, remained in Washington. Trump, offering his characteristically undiplomatic reasoning, said the Iranian officials in Pakistan were insufficiently senior to warrant the journey  "people that nobody ever heard of". The cancellation was announced on Truth Social, Trump's preferred platform for statecraft, where he declared with evident satisfaction: "We have all the cards, they have none." Telephone negotiations, he suggested, would suffice.

Trump wanted to send his team after an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Pakistan on Friday. However, Tehran made it clear that its team was in Pakistan for a bilateral visit only and was not planning to engage with the US. No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X. And the Iranian team left Islamabad on Saturday.

The episode follows a pattern that has come to define this latest chapter of American engagementor disengagementwith Iran. A fortnight ago, Vance walked out of a 21-hour negotiating session in Islamabad after presenting what his team described as a final offer. The Iranians declined it. The cycle of raised expectations and abrupt retreat has now repeated itself, leaving mediators across the region to manage the consequences of a process that appears structurally incapable of producing agreement.

At the heart of the impasse are demands that each side regards as existential. Washington is insisting on the complete and permanent cessation of Iran's uranium enrichment programme, the surrender of its existing stockpiles of enriched material, the dismantlement of its ballistic missile capabilities and an end to its material support for armed groups operating across the Middle Eastfrom Lebanon and Gaza to Yemen and Iraq. American officials have been at pains to emphasise that these are not preliminary negotiating positions. They are, the administration insists, the irreducible minimum.

Tehran's response has been unequivocal. Iranian negotiators have argued, with some justification, that the American demands are more sweeping than anything required under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionan agreement that Trump unilaterally abandoned during his first term, to widespread international criticism. To accept Washington's current terms, Iranian officials contend, would be to negotiate away the country's sovereign rights and strategic deterrent simultaneously. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme serves civilian energy purposes, a position that American intelligence agencies continue to dispute.

The diplomatic confrontation is unfolding against the backdrop of an economic and maritime conflict of considerable severity. The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports that Tehran says is costing the country approximately $400 million a day in foregone revenuesa figure, if accurate, that represents an extraordinary degree of sustained economic warfare. Iran, in turn, has leveraged its geographic position to considerable effect, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally transit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that his government will not enter into meaningful negotiations "under pressure, threats, and blockade." It is a position with considerable domestic political logic in Tehran, where any appearance of capitulation under duress would carry high costs for a leadership already navigating complex internal pressures.

The mediation architecture that has developed around the crisis now encompasses a broad coalition of regional powersOman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkeyeach engaged in the delicate work of maintaining communication between parties who have demonstrated limited willingness to speak directly. The Emir of Qatar, in a sign of growing regional alarm, contacted Trump personally to urge restraint and adherence to the existing ceasefire. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have repeatedly raised the spectre of past episodes in which military action by the United States or Israel coincided with active diplomatic engagement, severely eroding whatever trust existed.

Analysts who have tracked the relationship across several administrations are increasingly sombre in their assessments. With formal negotiations suspended, the blockade intensifying, and both governments locked into publicly stated maximalist positions, the conditions for miscalculation are, by most reckonings, alarmingly present.

The strategic logic animating Washington appears to rest on the assumption that sustained economic pressure will, in time, compel Tehran to accept terms it has so far rejected, and that too, within a political window that doesn't hurt the November midterm elections. Iran, for its part, has demonstrated across decades of sanctions, military strikes and diplomatic isolation a capacity for institutional endurance that has consistently outlasted the patience of its adversaries. Its government may be under strain. It has not, however, shown any sign of the fundamental reorientation that Washington is seeking.

Diplomacy, however, still stands a chance. Araghchi, who had left Islamabad for Oman as part of a multi-leg regional tour, also expected to include Moscow, was confirmed by Iranian state media to be returning to the Pakistani capital. He is to be joined by other members of the negotiating delegation who had returned to Tehran specifically to seek guidance from senior leadership. Before leaving Islamabad, Araghchi said he had provided Pakistani mediators with what he called a "workable framework to permanently end the war"while pointedly expressing doubt about whether Washington was negotiating in good faith.
Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect who was arrested in the White House Correspondents' shooting on Saturday, is a software developer and teacher, according to social media sites and his online profiles.

Officials say that the 31-year-old is a resident of Torrance, California, the coastal South Bay town where the Correspondents' Dinner also took place.

According to the chief of the District of Columbia police department, Cole was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel where the event was being held.

A Facebook profile showed that Cole was teacher of the month in December 2024 at C2 Education's Torrance office. The service is known for providing a nationwide private test preparation and tutoring for students who are applying for college.

The suspect's LinkedIn profile said that he was a mechanical engineer and a computer scientist by Degree, an independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth."

1st video of moving Trump shooter '31yo Californian Cole Tomas Allen' being detained https://t.co/D33GaTMDEu pic.twitter.com/Jv3wNMtb7g  RT (@RT_com) April 26, 2026

He did his bachelors degree in Mechanical engineering from the California In California Institute of Technology in 2017, and a master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. The California Institute has confirmed that a person by the same name graduated in 2017.

In 2019, he created and released a skill-based game on Steam and registered the domain name Bohrdom. It is described as 'loosely based on a Chemistry model' that is 'loosely based on reality'.

While he was an undergraduate student, he was also a member of the school's Christian fellowship and the Nerf club. In his graduation picture, he holds a picture of himself with a stuffed rabbit.

Allen previously also worked as a mechanical engineer for UK Controls in South Pasadena and was a teaching assistant at Caltech. In 2016, he competed in a robotics competition at the school.

A month before Donald Trump won the elections in 2024, Allen had donated $25 to the political action committee Act Blue, a fund for the democrat party in the US, the Los Angeles Times reported. It was his only political donation on the FEC website in the past decade.

He is also registered to vote with no party preference.
According to initial reports from the probe into White House Correspondents' Dinner (WHCD) shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old had planned to kill President Donald Trump and as many of his inner circle officials as possible.

However, law enforcement is still probing Allen's motive for infiltrating the WHCD (held at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C.) on Saturday night (local time), trying to rush past security, and shooting a Secret Service agent before he was subdued.

Allen is still not cooperating with the investigation, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC News.

The initial probe into the alleged WHCD shooter also involves "some writings" which are being reviewed, and indicate that the man travelled from his home in Torrance, California, to Chicago, and then to Washington by train over the past several days.

What was supposed to be a fun night at the @WHCA dinner with President Trump delivering jokes and celebrating free speech was hijacked by a depraved crazy person who sought to assassinate the President and kill as many top Trump administration officials as possible.



I was with  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 26, 2026

At Washington, he reportedly checked into the Washington Hilton hotel as a guest about 1-2 days before the high-profile dinner.

"We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there," said Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department.

Carroll added that the investigating authorities could not find any criminal records on Allen prior to his Saturday arrest, while Blanche noted that the two guns he had been carrying in the attacka handgun and shotgunhad been purchased within the last couple of years".

However, Blanche did not reveal further details about what kind of writings they were, or where they were found.

Trump has since termed the suspected shooter a "lone wolf whack job", indicating that he was likely acting alone, and has also called for the development of a new ballroom inside the White House to host such events with the "highest level security".

Cole Tomas Allen is expected to face preliminary charges of assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He is expected to make his first appearance since the incident at a federal court in Washington on Monday, as per US Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

(Allen) was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could, Pirro said, adding that she expected many more charges to be levied against him over the course of the probe.
The gunman who breached security at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night has been identified as a 31-year-old California teacher, according to reports. Cole Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives as he ran into that checkpoint before opening fire at a Secret Service agent.

Allen was arrested after barging into the Washington Hilton hotel and charging toward the ballroom where Trump and roughly 2,500 guests had assembled. The incident happened around 8:30 pm when the dinner was ongoing, and salad was being served.

Police said Allen was a guest at the hotel where the dinner was ongoing and is said to have acted alone. "We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there," Jeffery Carroll, interim police chief for the Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters.

Trump hosted a press conference at the White House shortly after the incident, joined by first lady Melania Trump. The President said he heard the gunshots, but did not realise it was a bullet. I heard a noise and thought it was a tray going down, he said. We heard that noise, and it was either a tray or a bullet. I was hoping it was a tray.

 BREAKING: Trump just posted security footage of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner



The Suspect was running WILD through the heavily secured corridor at the WHCD



This is insane... https://t.co/sWNGqjKL2C pic.twitter.com/K0qD0IQP9g  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 26, 2026

He described Allen as a "sick person" and looked pretty evil. You know, he charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room. He was moving. He was really moving," Trump added.

The President also shared a video on Truth Social of the incident. It shows a person running through a hallway where several security personnel are standing. Seven law enforcement personnel were seen drawing their guns and charging after him.

A report by the New York Post quoted a witness who said the suspect appeared to emerge from a makeshift room near the entrance where bar carts were being stored. There was no security at the time. He was in that room [] he grabbed it out of a bag or something, said Helen Mabus, a volunteer, to Post. She added that the weapon was long and didnt look like a typical gun.

Meanwhile, Allens neighbour, Jeff Smith, told The Post that maybe he could be on the spectrum.

Though Allen opened fire at the Secret Service agent, he was not shot back at. He has since been moved to a local hospital for evaluation. He is being treated for injuries.
PHOTOS BY BHANU PRAKASH CHANDRA AND KRITAJNA NAIK

SUKMA, BASTAR, KANKER, DANTEWADA, WARANGAL: Barse Singe is busy collecting fallen Mahua flowers. The Mahua is celebrated by the tribal communities in rural Chhattisgarh as the tree of life and spirit. Its flowers are dried, consumed or fermented into an elixir worthy of these hardy deciduous trees. Before the flowers fall on the moist forest floor, controlled fires are lit through the night, tracing pathways for forest dwellers and leaving behind fine ash that will cradle the blossoms by morning. At daybreak, the dry ash makes it easier for dwellers to pick flowers. Singe, in her late 70s, is gazing into the forest. But her eyes are not focused on the fire pathways. She longs for her son Barse Devas homecoming.

The state expanded police infrastructure, established interior camps, deployed units like the District Reserve Guard and Special Task Force, and, crucially, recruited local youth who knew the terrain, the language and Maoist tactics.

The dreaded Deva, commander of the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Armys (PLGA) battalion number one, has been gone for 24 years, moving through forested hillocks and carrying out more than two dozen ghastly attacks on security personnelwiping out a convoy of 23 Congress leaders and two security personnel in Jheeram Ghati in Bastar in 2013; killing 76 security personnel in the 2010 Tadmetla attack. The killings were carried out on the orders of his childhood friendcomrade Madavi Hidma, commander-in-chief of the PLGA.

THE WEEK met Deva after his recent surrender. He was born in Puvarti, along the Telangana border in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district: a village that has bred some of the deadliest military commanders of Indias Maoist insurgency. Deva and Hidma played kabaddi, and ran, climbed and moved through the forest terrain together. They would go on to steal US-made Colt rifles, AK-47s and grenade launchers from the police and make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to spread terror across the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border regionsthe largest and last fallen bastion of left-wing extremism in India.

When Hidma was killed by security forces last November, the news travelled fast to Puvarti, where his mother Madavi Pojje, alongside Devas mother, was sending out a message asking them to return. Hidmas elder brother Madavi Muya says his mother had done so after meeting Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma (who holds the home portfolio). But, Hidma did not respond immediately, laments Muya. He lives in a small settlement in the poverty-stricken village that is a four-hour drive from Abujhmad, where the red corridor has made way for forest roads dotted by security force camps that sprang up last monsoon. The last stretch remains cut off, stones and boulders making it difficult to reach Puvarti. Here, in this remote realm, Singe hangs on to the hope of reuniting with her son. I heard he surrendered, she says. I dont know what will happen next. They say he will return, but I have not heard from him yet.

Barse Deva's mother Barse Singe

Hidmas killing brought Deva out of the jungles four months later and he surrendered to Telangana Police. Hidmas death also shocked villagersthe much-feared Maoist who left home at 15 was considered invincible, much like the movement. Now, the return of commanders and ideologues is prompting villagers to demand a life better than what was promised by the so-called guardians of the jungles.

In 2002, Deva had left behind not just his mother, but a wife and two childrena son and a daughter. My daughter stays home but my son goes to school, he says sheepishly. He wants to educate his son to pursue a life outside the forests. When we were growing up, there were no schools, roads or facilities, he says. From a young age, I attended meetings: members of CPI (Maoist) would talk about working for the people, fighting for justice and standing up for the common mans rights. I thought I should also do something for the people.

Deva joined the outfit and later became part of its military arm, eventually rising to command. He neither dramatises nor denies violence and admits that roads, schools and mobile towers were among their targets, arguing that these went against peoples interest. Wider roads, for instance, would enable government and security forces to extend their footprint deeper into the jungles. For decades, IED blasts targeting civil works, kidnappings and the killing of local administrators were commonplace in the liberated zones of the CPI (Maoist).

Deva, who has diabetes, swelling in his hands and feet, and pain in his knees, admits that times have changed. People want facilities like water, food and livelihood, he says, before adding, almost angrily, but, there are still many problems. Schools are very farchildren have to travel long distances, sometimes 70km.

Deva last met his family in 2022 during a clandestine visit to Puvarti. On learning that THE WEEK met his mother and that she expressed hope of his return, a smile lit up his forlorn facealmost like the Mahua flowers on ash-laden forest floors.

THE FAILED REVOLUTION

The genesis of left-wing extremism in India was the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in West Bengal. The movement, rooted in land reform and tribal issues, spread across Odisha, undivided Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, gradually turning into an armed insurgency. In Bastar, cadre fleeing intensified operations in Andhra Pradesh arrived in the 1980s and 1990s, exploited tribal grievances and, over time, resorted to forced recruitment. By the late 2000s, the movement had evolved into a sophisticated network sustained through extortion. In 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah committed to eradicating left-wing extremism through a coordinated strategy spanning operations, development, connectivity and confidence-building.

Waiting season: Barse Deva

By March 2026, it had effectively ended in Bastar and most of the country. More than 2,000 cadre had surrendered in the past 26 months and are being rehabilitated. During the same period, 600 Maoists were neutralised in encounters, including senior leaders like Basavaraju and central committee members Sudhakar, Kata Ramchandra Reddy and Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy. The central committee and politburo had 24 members at the start of 2024; just two remain now: Misir Besra in Jharkhand, and Muppala Lakshmana Rao aka Ganapathy, general secretary from 2004 to 2018, who has been inactive for six to seven years.

Across Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma and Kanker in Chhattisgarh, and Warangal in Telangana, disillusionment runs deep. Yet returning cadre are being greeted with garlands, even as old comrades nostalgically chant laal salaam.

The Maoists had initially benefited from several structural advantages. Dense forests, difficult terrain, sparse population and significant language diversity, where dialects change frequently across short distances, had long protected the movement. Limited police presence and poor infrastructure allowed Maoists to expand, attack and loot weapons. The state closed these gapsexpanding police infrastructure, establishing interior camps, deploying units like the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force and Central forces, and, crucially, recruiting local youth who knew the terrain, the language and Maoist tactics.

Pandum Cafe

Basanti, 28, a political science postgraduate from Kanker, is part of Bastar Fighters, a unit in the DRG. For her, the job is not just duty, it is about reclaiming opportunities she believes violence has long denied young people in the region. The killings have taken away the freedom and choices that youngsters in other states enjoy, she says. She is among the 340 women commandos in the 3,000-member strong DRG, working in some of the most difficult conflict zones. Raveena Suri, 29, a BTech graduate, shares a similar story. My father is a farmer but I wanted to study and build a career in the police force, she says. The transition from civilian to combatant has been demanding but satisfying. We killed five Maoists in a night-long operation near the Gadchiroli border a few months ago, says Suri. You cant afford casualties, but we are prepared to fight back.

At Pandum Cafe (in pic) in Bastar, surrendered Maoists, victims of Maoist violence and specially abled youngsters work together. The initiative is the first of its kind in the country.

In 2000, when Chhattisgarh was formed, around 20,000 officers policed 42,000sqkmgiving Maoists an upper hand. Bastar alone is larger than Kerala and even some Scandinavian countries, says Sundarraj Pattilingam, inspector general of the Bastar Range. Over the years, police strength has increased to 60,000 plus. This, along with the creation of new police stations and deployment of specialised and Central forces, has improved operational and administrative reach. Maoists no longer have the space or capability to sustain their presence.

It was Sundarrajs idea to open Pandum Cafe in Jagdalpur, Bastar, where surrendered Maoists alongside victims of Maoist violence and specially abled youngsters serve cafe lattes and mushroom risottosmaking it one of the most cheerful sights of the governments surrender and rehabilitation policy. The initiative is the first of its kind in the country.

I was 15 when I joined the Maoist movement inspired by their call to fight for jal, jangal and zameen (water, forest and land), says Lakhmu Poyam, a cafe employee formerly of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee. His wife Phoolmati Pyam, a petite 35-year-old, can handle an INSAS as well as hot chocolate. They formed an ideological bond when they met in the jungles, held hands in a brief ceremony and got married. The couple surrendered after contacting Phoolmatis sisters husband, a police officer. It felt odd working in the cafe initially, says Lakhmu. But, it has been our best decision so far. Denied the chance to raise a family in the jungles, Lakhmu now looks forward to a vasectomy reversal to start one with Phoolmati. Their excitement is shared by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepmala Kurrey, who has assured them a new beginning.

THE JUNGLE ARITHMETIC

The Maoist movement drew its legitimacy from unresolved questions of land, forest rights and tribal autonomy. It embedded itself within local grievances in regions where the state was absent or distant. Villagers recall how a motley band of tribal activists, cultural leaders and ideologues wandered from home to home, singing paeans in praise of their lands, invoking local goddesses and offering produce and water, while settling land disputes. The corrupt and troublesome were punished; the promising recruitedgiving unbridled power to the few who wielded the gun.

Reclaiming the land: District Reserve Guard patrolling and clearing mines in Chhattisgarh.

Ranita from Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, served as Maad division in-charge of the military wing of the CPI (Maoist). She says that when land ownership in forest areas was not regulated, it was the Maoist party that gave them the freedom to cultivate crops by distributing equal portions. They were our first point of contact, so either some of us joined them or stayed in villages and supported them, she says. This is how the Maoist and tribal movements got joined at the hip.

The fair-skinned, 55 woman with black hair has muscles to challenge any city-bred youth. We followed a tough routine, she says. Up at four, exercise, meetings and strategising our next move, says Ranita. Observing her surroundings to ensure she isnt overheard, she reveals that while she stayed in hiding, most of the time she knew what was happening in the outside world. I bought a tablet with my sisters help, she says. Maoists were banned from carrying mobile phones. But I could download some reading material on my tablet whenever I got a chance, she says. It was as easy as using an AK-47.

In October 2025, Ranita surrendered along with 140 Maoist leaders in Chhattisgarh. Much to her amusement, she was handed a kit that included a mobile phone.

THE WARANGAL STORY

If Barse Deva represents the foot soldier, Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji represents the ideological core. Having spent more than four decades in the CPI (Maoist), he rose to become a member of the central military commission and politburo. Today, he is the highest-ranked surviving Maoist leader. Devji, 65, speaks Telugu, Hindi and English, and is a suave, well-read and argumentative ideologue who earned the title strategist of the south within Maoist ranks for his ability to make the ideology resonate across Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

Still standing: Chandu and wife, Soni, at their home with photos of Karl Marx and Che Guevara, respectively.

I joined the movement in the early 1980s and became associated with the CPI(ML) Peoples War and its frontal organisation, the Radical Students Union, he says. His motivation came from socioeconomic inequality and what he believed was a system built on exploitation. I was drawn to the idea of building a society where everyone was equal, he says. That vision led me to commit to the organisation. His student days were spent reading what were then seen as the universal theories of Marx, Lenin and Mao. Lenin applied them successfully with the top to bottom approach, Mao the bottom to top approach, he says. There were other examples, such as Nepal. But, in India, applying these was not straightforward.

Over time, he realised that following a protracted peoples war without adapting it for Indian conditions was not sufficient. There were also debates on using parliamentary democracy as a means of change, he says. International support also proved elusive.

The leadership, especially from undivided Andhra Pradesh, shaped the ideological direction. Across the Maoist belt of Warangal, homes of ideologues, like Macherla Yeshobu alias Jagan Ranadeva, have images of Che Guevara and Karl Marx. Outside, walls bear a painted hammer and sickle. Over the years, economic policies shiftedliberalisation, the growth of the stock market, and changes in the rural economy altered social and economic relations, says Devji.

Another failure was the movements increasing militarisation. The movement drew inspiration from militant movements like the LTTEfor military trainingand the Naga insurgencyfor negotiation, says Devji. Ultimately, both models failed: they could neither build a leadership capable of sustaining a disciplined armed movement, nor fit the mould of a separatist struggle that could negotiate with the state.

This brought the Maoists back to a fundamental question. While we had rejected the parliamentary path earlierbelieving it could never bring real transformationlater, questions emerged about whether that position needed reconsideration, says Devji.

AFTER THE INSURGENCY

Today, Devji is debating how the organisation can continue its ideological work in political and social spaces. Some leaders, like central committee member Rupesh alias Satish, 54, who gave up arms last October, even nurse political ambitions. I recently visited my village in Warangal and all my friends and supporters came to greet me, he says. My friends, comrades and family members do not think I chose the wrong path. We still have grassroots support and we will work for the people. Rupesh, like several notable Maoists, is an alumnus of the Regional Engineering Collegenow National Institute of Technology Warangal. There was a strong left political atmosphere in the region, and many social problems, he says. We believed revolution was needed.

Like Devji, Rupesh insists he has not surrenderedunlike comrades in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra commanded by Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupati, or Sonu, who was offered a job in a mining plant in Gadchiroli last October.

The rift in Maoist ranks is open. While Bhupati and several surrendered leaders allegedly gave information on Maoist hideouts and dumps of weapons, gold and money, others reject the rehabilitation plan and want to begin life on their own terms. The word surrender is wrong, says Rupesh. We have decided to adopt an alternate route to continue the struggle. People will always struggle to secure their rights in some form. The Maoist ideology or left ideology will continue as a form of struggle.

The struggle is already taking new shape. While leaders like Rupesh are looking to enter politics, for Mogilicherla Venatraju alias Chandu, head of the cultural wing of the banned outfit, it remains deeply personal. As a child, I was deeply interested in songsespecially cultural and revolutionary songs, he says. Through songs and cultural programmes, we raised awareness against feudalism and injustice.

Chandu says that while the performances were earlier often the first point of contact for recruiting youthespecially in regions with low literacy and strong oral traditionshe is keen to continue cultural outreach, albeit for a different purpose. In 2020 and 2022, we discussed how to reorient the movement, but there was division among the cadre and the central leadership failed to arrive at a consensus, he says. Change is inevitable. We will continue to sing to raise awareness of jal, jangal and zameen, but we will appeal to the masses to embrace development to build better lives.

Chandus life took a turn in 2019 when he met Soni, an area committee commander operating in the jungles between the two states. Their love flourished amid constant fearsof encounters, of losing people, of being surrounded. The couple was trapped at Karregutta hills as security forces rained bullets on the Maoist stronghold last year, forcing them to hide in caves before surrendering. Sonis path to the Maoist fold was different from Chandus. Women faced double the oppressioninside the home and outside in society, she says. The movement, at least initially, offered an alternative. I could choose my life partner. But, in hindsight, Soni admits there were challenges within. There were hierarchies and gender issues as decisions were mostly taken by male leaders, she says. Today, she is studying elementary books to learn Telugu and plans to start a family.

As more Maoist leaders attempt to negotiate their lives after laying down arms, it is an uphill task for the government to ensure that the former military commanders and ideologues stay overground. Around 100 cadre are still in forests of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Telangana. There are also missing foot soldiersyoung men, women and children, untraced after the hierarchy broke down leaving low-rung cadre, who worked on a need-to-know basis, out in the cold.

Another big challenge is the few hundred Maoist leaders in jail. A senior security official said that the courts will need to balance the soft approach with provisions under the stringent anti-terror law and that the state will have to study in detail which cases to pursue and whom to pardon. Already, ideologues such as Devji and Rupesh say they will not be forced to join security forces like the DRG. And, there is unanimous demand among surrendered rebels to lift the ban on the outfit and its fronts, and to free jailed Maoists.

But, the security official said not all conditions of the Maoists can be met, especially since many do not have remorse for killing innocents. Bastar military commander Papa Rao, who surrendered in Bijapur in March, is one among them. I have agreed to give up the armed struggle and work within the tenets of the Constitution, he says. Then why should I go to jail? Held at an undisclosed location, he asks for a new shirt as he sits down to speak to THE WEEK.

I did not surrender, he says. I was contemplating joining my family as many top leaders were killed or surrendered. I was apprehended while going for treatment. An insider had leaked information to the police. He says the movement failed because it did not expand into urban areas and remained confined to forests.

For commanders like him, it may be the end of the road. For ideologues, like Rupesh and Devji, there could be reinvention. Rupesh speaks of the Leninist idea of strategic retreat. Retreating, regrouping and, if necessary, working through the very structures it once sought to dismantle, he says quietly.

It is getting dark, a slight drizzle settles in and we switch on the cameras flash light to catch the last strains of our conversation. Did you know, Rupesh asks, almost casually, a flash light is the best to carry out an IED blast?

Devji spoke of resetting of the movementshifting from arms to engagement. I need inputs on the way forward, he says.

A starting point may well be internal reform in the CPI (Maoist), including revisiting the party constitution. The document reflects a classical revolutionary framework: the party, the armed wing and the united front are termed three magic weapons. With one of those weapons now blunted, what remains is rewriting the grammar of the revolution itself.
I was born into a movement I did not choose. My father, Macherla Yeshobu alias Jaganknown underground as Jagan Ranadevawas a prominent figure in the Maoist movement in the Warangal region. Long before the CPI (Maoist) took its present form, he was already deeply involved in radical politics. His revolutionary life began at 25, inspired by leaders like Puli Anjanna. The movement then operated under different banners but with the same essence: resistance, rebellion and a promise of justice for the oppressed.

He led anti-landlord struggles and was jailed multiple times. Our family paid a heavy price. Security forces raided our home more than once, burning our crops and destroying our livelihood. I was only a year old when my father went underground.

I grew up, in many ways, an orphan. I studied in convent schools and later pursued a law degree. My father remained a distant figuremore myth than memory. I met him for the first time in 2004, during peace talks between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Maoists. I was 14. That brief meeting stayed with me, but it did not bridge years of absence. I saw him again around 2012 or 2013. After that, he was gone.

In September 2024, the police told us that he had been killed in Chhattisgarh. They sent photographs of his body. I could not even recognise him.

LAW OVER LAWLESSNESS

My father believed completely in the revolution. He wanted me to join. I refused. I had seen what it did to families, especially to my mother.

Ironically, a Maoist leader, Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji, inspired me to study law. Media reports highlighted his education and intellect, and I realised that knowledge could be a more powerful tool than violence. I chose to fight for justice, but within the framework of the Constitution. Today, as a lawyer, I want to be a voice for the voiceless, to support weaker sections of society.

DID THE MOVEMENT FAIL?

Yes. But, not because of its ideology, but its leadership. The politburo made flawed decisions. Had they chosen negotiation or mainstream engagement earlier, many lives could have been saved. Instead, thousands suffered. Many cadre remain in jail. The leadership surrendering now knew the state would not accept their demands. Yet they continued on a path to inevitable defeat.

THE MOVEMENT STOOD STILL

One of the biggest mistakes was geographical concentration. Confinement to pockets like Bastar made things easier for state forces. How could they believe Indian forces, operating in terrains like Kashmir, would struggle in these areas?

The leadership failed to connect with evolving realities. People like me are the forgotten casualtieswe lost fathers, brothers, loved ones. For what?

I WANT A DIFFERENT LIFE

If alive, my father might still have stayed in the movement. He was deeply committedpeople likened him to a Japanese soldier who would never retreat. He cited global revolutionary figures like Stalin to explain how leaders brought their children into the struggle.

I want a different lifeto serve society without destroying families.

As told to Namrata Biji Ahuja
Naval mines bobbing in the waters of the Persian Gulf, threatening oil tankers. Iranian speed boats raking ships with machine-gun fire in the Strait of Hormuz. And the United States right in the middle of the fight.

This isnt the current conflict between Iran and the U.S., paused by a shaky ceasefire. Instead, its the Tanker war, when Iran targeted shipping during its 1980s war with Iraq, and U.S. warships stepped in to escort Kuwaiti tankers to ensure the flow of crude oil to the global market.

The U.S. could follow that model now and become more aggressive to protect ships passing through the strait, through which 20% of the worlds traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. It conducted more limited escorts of ships that came under attack in the Red Sea in recent years, and President Donald Trump said this week that he has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill small Iranian boats.

But offering escorts in the Strait of Hormuz wouldnt be so easy. Military technology has advanced since the Tanker war. The U.S. hasnt defined the same clear, narrow goals in this war as it did in the 1980s. And its not clear international shippers would feel safe even with an American Navy escort given it is a combatant now.

The U.S. Navy has long been familiar with the small boat tactics deployed by Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has adapted to international sanctions blocking its ability to access military vessels by using smaller civilian ships for military purposes.

For years, the Guard has used vessels the size of small commercial fishing boats to shadow American aircraft carriers whenever they pass through the strait. Instead of bearing fishing poles, most have Soviet-era heavy machine guns bolted to their bows with a small rocket launcher atop.

Using those small boats, Iran seized two cargo ships this week. A video released by the Guard showed its forces aboard patrol boats dwarfed by the massive container ships. Guardsmen opened fire on the cargo ships, then stormed the vessels, carrying assault rifles.

Beyond their propaganda value, the seizures showed that nearly eight weeks into the war with the U.S. and Israel, with the American Navy imposing a blockade on Irans coasts, the Guard can use limited resources to effectively shut down the strait and hold the global economy hostage.

The Tanker war grew out of the fierce eight-year war between Iraq and Iran in the 1980s.

Iraq first targeted Iranian oil infrastructure and tankers in the Persian Gulf. Iran eventually responded with a concerted campaign of its own against ships in the region, including laying mines.

Iraq ultimately would attack over 280 vessels to Irans 168, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. But Irans use of mines caused havoc in the region.

The U.S., which supported Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein with intelligence, weaponry and other aid, launched Operation Earnest Will and began escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers  which were reflagged as American.

It wasnt without danger. The Kuwaiti supertanker Bridgeton struck a mine while under U.S. escort at the start of the operation. An Iraqi missile strike on the USS Stark killed 37 sailors, while an Iranian mine attack wounded 10 on the USS Samuel B. Roberts. The U.S. also mistook a commercial airliner for a fighter jet and shot it down, killing all 290 people aboard Iran Air flight 655.

Despite the challenges, the Tanker war operation saw the U.S. Navy ships successfully escort some 70 convoys through the region.

But it would be hard to replicate that today.

The U.S. would have to guarantee that it could create a cordon that Iran couldnt pierce  a tall order since just one Iranian missile, drone or boat-borne attack would bring back the fear that now pervades the strait.

I think even if you compare it with the Tanker war, I think just in terms of the way military technology has evolved, especially on that asymmetrical side, its much more difficult to secure a waterway now than it was then, said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

Unless there is some sort of agreement or unless the U.S. can significantly curb Irans ability to launch fast boats, to launch drones, to launch short-range missiles, then this problem just remains unresolved.

Thats one of the reasons European countries, despite pressure from Trump, have said they wouldnt join a mission to escort ships until the war is over.

The Reagan administration also had narrower, clearer goals in its Cold War operation, such as keeping the strait open, according to Tom Duffy, a former U.S. diplomat and naval officer.

In contrast, the American goals (now) have been sort of a kaleidoscope of regime change to all sorts of very maximalist goals, said Duffy, who recently published a book called Tanker War in the Gulf.

In recent years, the U.S. Navy offered limited escorts of vessels through the Red Sea corridor to protect them from attacks by Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. But the Navy focused on U.S.-flagged ships or those carrying supplies for the American government.

In those operations, the Navy faced its most intense combat at sea since World War II. Using force to make the Strait of Hormuz safe to transit may see a similarly intense fight.

And Duffy noted that its not clear the Trump administration even wants the fight.

Theres a White House statement this week in which we said that the ceasefire is not in jeopardy because they arent attacking U.S. and Israeli ships. Thats a fundamental shift, he said. That goes past centuries of U.S. practice and statements about the needs for freedom of the sea.

(AP)
Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) is included among the 10 Best May Dividend Stocks to Buy.

Scotiabank Boosts Southern Copper (SCCO) Target, Says Upside Remains Limited

On April 23, Scotiabank analyst Alfonso Salazar raised the price recommendation on Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) to $133 from $125. It reiterated an Underperform rating. The firm said it increased its price-to-net-asset-value multiple for the companys Mexican open-pit assets. Even with that change, the analyst noted there is still no clear upside at current levels.

On April 10, Goldman Sachs upgraded SCCO to Neutral from Sell and raised its price target to $178 from $142.79. The firm said the copper scarcity premium is larger than ever, pointing to expectations of tighter supply and demand over time. It added that Southern Copper, as one of the largest pure copper producers with long-life reserves in stable regions, should trade at a premium to peers. The analyst also said the company has strong defensive positioning during a downturn, supported by its low cost structure and relatively lower operating leverage.

Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) is an integrated copper producer. It produces copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. Its mining, smelting, and refining operations are based in Peru and Mexico, with exploration activities in those countries as well as Argentina and Chile.

While we acknowledge the potential of SCCO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Russian drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least five people and wounded 46, authorities said Saturday.

The bodies of four people were found in the ruins of a house destroyed in overnight attacks, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said.

The Russians have been hitting Dnipro and other cities and communities practically all night, Hanzha wrote on Telegram of the attacks, which caused fires to break out across Dnipro and partially destroyed several apartment buildings, businesses and a private house.

Another person was killed in a separate Russian attack on Dnipro Saturday afternoon, according to Hanzha, in the same residential area hit by the overnight strikes. He said that 46 people were wounded in total.

To the southwest, two people were wounded in overnight drone attacks on the Odesa region. Residential buildings, port infrastructure and cars were damaged in the south of the region, regional head Oleh Kiper said Saturday.

In Russia, a woman was killed and a man was seriously wounded by a Ukrainian drone strike in the border region of Belgorod, local officials said.

Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-installed governor in Ukraines Luhansk region  of which Russia earlier this month said it had taken full control, a claim denied by Ukraine  said Saturday that three people were killed in an overnight Ukrainian drone strike on a village. Ukraine did not comment on the attack, and the claim could not be independently verified by The Associated Press.

Following the overnight attacks, Romanias Defense Ministry said Saturday that drone fragments were found in a residential area of the southeastern city of Galati, as well as on a farm some 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) from Galati, near the NATO members border with Ukraine. No casualties were reported.

Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on multiple occasions.

The overnight attacks followed a prisoner swap Friday, in which Russia and Ukraine exchanged 193 service members.

Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russias invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth year.

While meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to continuing peace talks with Russia in Azerbaijan.

We have already held such talks  in Turkey and with our American partners in Switzerland, he said. We are also ready for upcoming negotiations in Azerbaijan, if Russia is ready for diplomacy.

(AP)
Okello Chatries cellphone gave him away.

Chatrie made off with $195,000 from the bank he robbed in suburban Richmond, Virginia, and eluded the police until they turned to a powerful technological tool that erected a virtual fence and allowed them collect the location history of cellphone users near the crime scene.

The geofence warrant police served on Google found that Chatries cellphone was among a handful of devices in the vicinity of the bank around the time it was robbed.

Now the Supreme Court will decide whether geofence warrants violate the Fourth Amendments ban on unreasonable searches. Its the latest high court case that forces the justices to wrestle with how a constitutional provision ratified in 1791 applies to technology the nations founders could not have contemplated in their wildest dreams.

Chatries appeal is one of two cases being argued Monday. The other is an effort by Bayer to have the court block thousands of state lawsuits alleging the global agrochemical manufacturer failed to warn people that its popular Roundup weedkiller could cause cancer.

Geofence warrants turn the usual way of pursuing suspects on its head. Typically, police identify a suspect and then obtain a warrant to search a home or a phone.

With geofence warrants, police do not have a suspect, only a location where a crime took place. They work in reverse to identify people who were in the area.

Prosecutors credit the warrants with helping crack cold cases and other crimes where surveillance cameras did not reveal suspects faces or license plates.

Civil libertarians say that geofences amount to fishing expeditions that subject many innocent people to searches of private records merely because their cellphones happened to be in the vicinity of a crime. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of the technique could unleash a much broader wave of similar reverse searches, law professors who study digital surveillance wrote the court.

Investigators used geofence warrants to identify supporters of President Donald Trump who attacked the Capitol in the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as in the search for the person who planted pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican party headquarters the night before.

Police also credit these warrants with helping identify suspects in killings in several states, including California, Georgia and North Carolina.

An academic group that works to bridge gaps between the police and communities wrote that the court should avoid an all-or-nothing approach in Chatries case.

The Trump administrations position would allow police to use geofence warrants and similar tools with no judicial supervision or constitutional safeguards, according to the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law. Chatries lawyers want the court to rule out any use of geofence warrants at all, impeding legitimate law enforcement activities, the group wrote.

In Chatries case, the geofence warrant invigorated an investigation that had stalled. After determining that Chatrie was near the Call Federal Credit Union in Midlothian around the time it was robbed in May 2019, police obtained a search warrant for his home. They found nearly $100,000 in cash, including bills wrapped in bands signed by the bank teller.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. Chatries lawyers argued on appeal that none of the evidence should have been used against him.

They challenged the warrant as a violation of his privacy because it allowed authorities to gather the location history of people near the bank without having any evidence they had anything to do with the robbery. Prosecutors argued that Chatrie had no expectation of privacy because he voluntarily opted into Googles location history.

A federal judge agreed that the search violated Chatries rights, but allowed the evidence to be used because the officer who applied for the warrant reasonably believed he was acting properly.

The federal appeals court in Richmond upheld the conviction in a fractured ruling. In a separate case, the federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled that geofence warrants are general warrants categorically prohibited by the Fourth Amendment.

In the Supreme Courts last case on digital-age searches, in 2018, the court divided 5-4 in favor of a defendant whose movements were tracked by authorities for nearly four months, without a warrant, through the review of cellphone tower data.

An issue in that case that also appears in Chatries is whether the defendant had an expectation of privacy that would trigger Fourth Amendment protections.

The Supreme Court has previously ruled that information shared with third parties cannot be considered private.

But Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his majority opinion about the extraordinary computing power of cellphones, describing seismic shifts in digital technology and the exhaustive chronicle of location information casually collected by wireless carriers today.

(AP)
A dramatic scene unfolded Saturday night at the White House Correspondents Dinner when gunfire erupted just outside the Washington Hilton ballroom, prompting the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and top administration officials.

The shooting began shortly after 8:30 p.m., approximately 20 minutes after the president and first lady made their entrance into the high-profile event, which was attended by more than 2,000 guests, including lawmakers, journalists, and senior White House staff.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The gunman  who reportedly assembled a long gun inside the hotel itself  was intercepted near the metal detectors outside the ballroom after trying to rush past a security screening. The suspect was taken into custody, with some reports indicating he may have been shot. Authorities have not yet released full details on his condition.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Secret Service agents quickly moved to secure the president and other officials, evacuating Trump, Melania, Vice President JD Vance, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and members of the Cabinet from the dais before clearing the rest of the ballroom.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Secret Service later confirmed that the president and all officials were safe, and no injuries were reported.

President Trump later released two photos of the suspect  reported to be 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a registered Democrat and teacher from California  after he was apprehended.

Inside the venue, panic broke out as multiple gunshots rang through the lobby area. Attendees scrambled for cover, with some diving under tables as law enforcement rushed in. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, who was present, described hearing several shots in rapid succession before being pushed to the ground by an officer for protection.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The annual event, often referred to as the nerd prom, had just featured remarks from White House Correspondents Association President Weijia Jiang, who noted Trumps return to the dinner after many years.

Initially, organizers indicated the program might continue, but by 9:45 p.m., the event was officially canceled. President Trump later announced that it would be rescheduled within 30 days.

Trump, speaking at a news conference afterwards, said: A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service One officer was shot, but saved the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and hes doing great.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump added: Its not a particularly secure building, and I didnt want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what were planning at the White House. Its drone proof, its bulletproof glass. Thats why Secret Service and the military are demanding it.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Trump: This is not the first time in the past couple of years that our Republic has been attacked by a would-be assassin who sought to kill In light of this evenings events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

FBI Director Kash Patel: We will be examining this individuals background thoroughly. That process has already started we will analyze all evidence immediately to make sure that we safeguard this country.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Businesses have doled out as much as $4 million for last-minute plans to move boats through the Panama Canal in recent weeks, the Panama Canal Authority says, as Iran wars effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz generates a seismic shift in global trade flows.

While passage through the canal usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without bookings can pay more to cross through an auction that awards slots to the highest bidder. The alternative would be waiting for days off the coast of Panama City.

The demand for slots skyrocketed and the auction prices ballooned in recent weeks as a standoff between the Iran and the United States over access to the strait kept traffic bottlenecked. Commercial vessels increasingly have traveled through the Panama Canal carrying shipments that were rerouted or purchased from different countries to avoid the waterway off Irans coast.

With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones  companies are saying its safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal, said Rodrigo Noriega, a lawyer and analyst in Panama City. All of this is affecting global supply chains.

Meanwhile, Panamas government is maximizing what it can earn from the Panama Canal, Noriega said.

The average price to cross through the canal ranges between $300,000 and $400,000 depending on the vessel. Previously, to get an earlier crossing, businesses would pay an additional $250,000 to $300,000. In recent weeks, the average additional cost has jumped to around $425,000.

Normally, about 6% of global trade passes through the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in Central America, according to Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University. The canal has recovered from several years of drought, he added.

Goods like car parts, grain and consumer electronics being shipped from China to Europe or vice versa, or from China to the U.S. East Coast, pass through the canal.

Some oil passes moves through the Panama Canal, but it isnt a viable large-scale alternative to the Strait of Hormuz because of its size. The largest ships that carry oil, known as ultra-large container vessels, are too big for the canal.

Ricaurte Vasquez, the canals administrator, said one company that he would not name paid an extra $4 million when its fuel vessel had to change its destination because of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

It was a ship carrying fuel to Europe, and they redirected it to Singapore, and it needed to get there because Singapore is running out of fuel, he said.

Other oil companies paid an excess of $3 million in addition to the crossing fee to accelerate their passage in the face of soaring oil prices.

The extra fees are becoming so high not because ships are piling up at the canal, but rather because of last-minute shifts and greater urgency for vessels to pass through in the wake of broader trade chaos, Vasquez said. He emphasized that these costs were temporarily being shouldered by companies based on their level of urgency.

They decide how high to go on the price, Vasquez said.

At the same time as Panamas government is earning more money from the newly brisk business in the canal, its shipping industry is being confronted by the geopolitical struggle in the same way as those of other countries.

Panamas foreign ministry on Wednesday accused Iran of illegally seizing a Panama-flagged vessel from the Italian company, MSC Francesca, in the Strait of Hormuz. Panama, which has one of the worlds largest ship registries, said the ship was forcibly taken by Iran. It wasnt immediately clear if the boat remained in Iranian custody.

This represents a serious attack on maritime security and constitutes 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 coercion of any kind, it said.

Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may continue to go up if the conflict stretches on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil briefly jumped above $107 this week, soaring from around $66 a barrel a year ago.

Nobody expected the war to have quite so much effect on global trade, Noriega said.

(AP)
A Jewish resident of Brussels was assaulted on the Brussels metro by three assailants who beat him while violently pulling off his necklace with a Magen Dovid pendant.

The victim, David Sierzant Acitores, 41, wrote about the disturbing incident on social media, describing how three men approached him and asked for directions, which he now believes was just a ploy to distract him.

They then attacked him, knocked him to the ground, and repeatedly punched his faceknocking off his glasseswhile ripping his Magen Dovid necklace off his neck.

They talked about Jews while they were hitting me, and it wasnt exactly a compliment, David wrote, noting that the thugs didnt try to steal his wallet or phone.

David filed a complaint with the police following the attack. He also posted on Facebook asking the public to keep an eye out for his Magen Dovid necklace, which was a gift from his late father.

After describing the necklace, he wrote: This model is not standard. If you see this piece of jewelry at a jewelers, in a goldbuying shop, or on a selling platform (2ememain, Vinted, Marketplace), please notify me by private message or contact the police.

It had been in the family for nearly 30 years and was a gift from my late father, who wore it for a long time. Thank you very much for your help.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
York Regional Police are investigating a suspected hate-motivated assault after a man allegedly punched a Jewish man outside the Sephardic Kehila Centre in Vaughan, Ontario, on Shabbos morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:35 a.m. The suspect, described as a man of Middle Eastern background, first attempted to enter the building but was turned away by security after behaving suspiciously and admitting he was not there to pray. Upon leaving, he allegedly discarded papers that appeared to contain verses from Tehillim.

The suspect then blocked the path of a man walking with his son to Shacharis. When the congregant moved past him, the suspect punched him in the face from behind. Thankfully, the victim did not suffer serious injuries.

York Regional Police announced on X that its hate crime unit was investigating and urged anyone with information to contact authorities.

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca called the incident deeply disturbing and said protecting Jewish residents remained a top priority. At a time when antisemitism and Jew hatred is on the rise, we must be vigilant and do everything possible to support and protect our Jewish residents, Del Duca said.

The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto said it was relieved the victim was not seriously injured but said the attack reflected a continued pattern of antisemitic violence targeting our community. The organization warned that as such incidents become more normalized, they erode public safety and our way of life as Canadians.

No arrests have been announced. The investigation is ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Ohio has a contested Republican primary for governor fast approaching, but there are few signs that the top candidate sees it as a competitive race.

Vivek Ramaswamy has parlayed his national name recognition, tech industry connections and alliance with President Donald Trump into a record fundraising haul that he is tapping for advertising spots aimed at the November election. He is using campaign rallies and advertising to criticize his would-be general election opponent, Democrat Amy Acton, the states former public health director.

Ramaswamy feels so assured of gliding through the May 5 primary that his campaign has all but ignored his GOP opponent so far.

I believe this year we face the single greatest contrast between two candidates in the history of governors races in Ohio, he told Republicans at a recent party fundraising dinner, referencing the general election. We face the most consequential election for governor in the history of our state.

Nonetheless, the primary season has exposed potential vulnerabilities for the 2024 presidential candidate.

Ramaswamy faces growing headwinds within a GOP base disgruntled over the rising cost of living, the disjointed release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the burgeoning demands of data centers and the war with Iran. Ramaswamy is also under criticism for some of his proposals, such as consolidating the states university system and raising the voting age to 25. Critics say those ideas suggest the Ivy League-educated biotech billionaire is out of touch with average Ohioans.

The criticism has veered into the personal, surfacing as ethnic and racial animosity toward Ramaswamy, a child of Indian immigrants.

If Ramaswamy is the nominee, his supporters worry less that Republicans will switch sides and vote for a Democrat than about the factors that could depress conservative turnout. If enough voters stay home in the fall, Ohio could see its first Democratic governor in 20 years.

We have three opponents right now in this race, Ramaswamys running mate, state Senate President Rob McColley, said in remarks to Republicans in rural Marion County that were shared by WGH Talk. We have Amy Acton, we have the national political environment and then we have complacency. I would argue the third opponent is the most dangerous opponent we possibly have.

Hes a guy like me

Discontent among a segment of Ohios conservative voters is being funneled into curiosity about Casey Putschs campaign.

An engineer and vehicle designer who calls himself The Car Guy, Putsch has attracted fans with provocative YouTube videos that troll Ramaswamy and criticize national Republicans over their handling of the Epstein files, positions on energy-guzzling data centers and support for Israel.

His events are sparsely attended and his campaign has raised only $123,000, but Putsch has won over some conservative voters. Tyler Morris, an ambulance manufacturing worker from central Ohio, is among them.

When I hear people like Casey speak, hes a guy like me, Morris, 32, said as he was on his way to see Putsch speak at a Columbus park. Hes just a guy that got pissed off one day. Hes not a politician. Hes like, do you know what  I want to speak for the average, everyday Ohioan.

Morris said he used to support Trump, but has since soured on him and will not back a candidate endorsed by the president, as Ramaswamy is.

I say Im politically cynical, because its just like regardless of who I vote for, I feel like as an average Ohioan, it seems like things are just getting worse and worse for everyone, he said.

A campaign that has exposed racial animosity

Putschs messaging has gone beyond the pitch to make life better for working-class Ohioans. He has been accused of contributing to the spread of ethnic hatred toward Ramaswamy, including repeatedly taking issue with the candidates Indian heritage and Hindu faith.

As he was beginning his campaign, Putsch said Ramaswamy had contempt for American cultural values. In one online video, he called for Ramaswamy to be destroyed.

The day after Putschs launch, a Ramaswamy opinion piece in The New York Times asked Republicans to reject the far-right, white nationalist element within the Republican Party in favor of a vision of American identity based on ideals.

No matter your ancestry, if you wait your turn and obtain citizenship, you are every bit as American as a Mayflower descendant as long as you subscribe to the creed of the American founding and the culture that was born of it, he wrote. This is what makes American exceptionalism possible.

Ramaswamy, who was born and raised in Cincinnati, followed up the column by rebuking racism and antisemitism within Trumps Make America Great Again movement during a speech at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest, angering some members of his party.

Amid the fallout from that speech, Ramaswamys social media posts were drawing increasingly ugly and racist reactions. Putsch also has pushed racial epithets, including depicting Ramaswamy as a stink bug he is spraying with insecticide and challenging him to a game of cowboys and Indians.

In January, Ramaswamy announced he was getting off Instagram and the social media site X.

Leaders who depend on social media to gauge public opinion are looking through a broken mirror, he wrote in a Wall Street Journal column.

Putsch mocked Ramaswamy for the decision, posting to X that his rival cant take the heat.

National star power, but will it be enough?

The Ohio Republican Party chairman, Alex Triantafilou, dismisses Putschs attacks as typical for a primary election.

The online right these days, its meaningless to the message of where we are as a party on the ground, Triantafilou said.

He cited Ramaswamys national profile, his political skills and his fundraising prowess  a record $50 million in total contributions, though roughly half is from Ramaswamys own fortune.

In every possible category of what we want in a candidate, he has it, Triantafilou said.

Aaron Baer, president of the Columbus-based Center for Christian Virtue, also rejects Putschs disparagement of Ramaswamys background, including questioning Ramaswamys ability to lead a Christian state.

The bottom line is Vivek Ramaswamy, while he doesnt share the Christian faith with me and millions of other Ohioans, he very much shares our values, Baer said.

Ramaswamy has been running what looks like a general election campaign, drawing impressive crowds during visits to each of Ohios 88 counties. His strategy appears to be working for voters like Pam Koch, a 70-year-old pharmacy worker who attended a Lincoln Reagan Day dinner where Ramaswamy was the featured speaker.

Koch described herself as an anti-abortion Christian and said she came to the event just to see where he stands, you know, spiritually and (on) everything that we value. Afterward, she said she was delighted with what she heard.

I think he lines up with all of our values, so Im excited about that, she said.

Ron Eckles, a retired communications worker, is sticking with Putsch, partly for qualities the candidate shares with Ramaswamy, such as being a native Ohioan and building his own business. But he believes Putsch is stronger on gun rights and likes that Putsch is an Ohio State University alumnus; Ramaswamy attended Harvard and Yale.

Putschs stark financial disadvantage in the primary doesnt bother him.

I believe in miracles, Eckles said.

(AP)
Cole Allen, the 31-year-old California teacher who opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, sent a detailed anti-Trump manifesto to family members roughly 10 minutes before the shooting began, the NY Post reported.

In the document, Allen identified specific targets: Trump administration officials, ranked by seniority, whom he called targets he was willing to kill.

I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes, Allen wrote, apparently referring to President Trump.

Allens brother provided the manifesto to police. The document, signed Cole coldForce Friendly Federal Assassin Allen, offered a window into his radicalization and his planning. He justified the planned violence on religious grounds, arguing that turning the other cheek in the face of others oppression amounted to complicity.

Turning the other cheek when someone else is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressors crimes, he wrote, citing victims he claimed included detained immigrants, executed fishermen, and abused children.

Allen also revealed tactical decisions designed to limit collateral damage. He said he would use buckshot rather than slugs to reduce wall penetration, hoping he would not need to fire through bystanders who he considered complicit by attending a speech by Trump.

The manifesto provides details about how Allen breached security at the Washington Hilton. He mocked what he called the insane lack of internal security, noting that he had walked in with multiple weapons without anyone questioning whether he posed a threat. He suggested that a foreign adversary could have brought far more devastating firepower undetected.

The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before, he wrote.

Secret Service interviews with Allens sister in Rockville, Maryland, revealed that he had made politically radical remarks for some time and spoke of doing something to fix the worlds problems. Authorities confirmed that Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun, storing them at his parents home, and regularly trained at a shooting range.

Allen is believed to have been part of a group called The Wide Awakes and attended a No Kings protest in California.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
An internal Pentagon email has outlined a range of options for punishing NATO allies the United States believes failed to adequately support American operations during the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance and reassessing longstanding U.S. diplomatic backing for Britains claim to the Falkland Islands, a U.S. official told Reuters.

The email, which the official said was circulating at senior levels within the Pentagon, expresses frustration at what American officials view as allies reluctance or outright refusal to grant the United States access, basing, and overflight rights  known as ABO  for the Iran war. The document states that ABO is just the absolute baseline for NATO, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe its contents.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson did not deny the emails existence. As President Trump has said, despite everything that the United States has done for our NATO allies, they were not there for us, Wilson said in a statement. The War Department will ensure that the President has credible options to ensure that our allies are no longer a paper tiger and instead do their part.

Among the options outlined is the suspension of difficult countries from important or prestigious positions within NATO  a move the email describes as having limited operational impact but significant symbolic weight. A second option would involve reassessing U.S. diplomatic support for longstanding European territorial claims, specifically citing the Falkland Islands, currently administered by Britain but claimed by Argentina  whose President Javier Milei is a close Trump ally. Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982, in which roughly 900 soldiers on both sides were killed before Argentina surrendered.

The email does not propose U.S. withdrawal from NATO or the closure of American bases in Europe, the official said. The official declined to say whether the options included a widely anticipated drawdown of some U.S. forces from the continent.

Tensions with Spain have been particularly acute. The countrys Socialist-led government announced it would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for strikes on Iran  a position that placed its two major American military installations, Naval Station Rota and Moron Air Base, effectively off-limits for offensive operations. The emails options, the official said, are intended to convey a strong signal aimed at decreasing the sense of entitlement on the part of the Europeans.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez brushed off the reports Friday, saying his government does not work off of emails, we work from official documents and positions. Germanys government also weighed in, with a spokesperson saying Berlin saw no reason why Spains NATO membership should be in question.

Britain has faced its own friction with Washington. The Trump administration initially requested permission to use two British bases to strike Iran  a request London initially denied before agreeing to allow defensive missions aimed at protecting civilians in the region, including British nationals. Trump has repeatedly mocked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling him No Winston Churchill and dismissing British aircraft carriers as toys.

The broader tensions reflect a deepening crisis of confidence in the 76-year-old alliance. European members, including Britain and France, have argued that joining the U.S. naval blockade would constitute entry into the war, while expressing willingness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz once a durable ceasefire is in place.

Trump administration officials have rejected that framing. You dont have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this month.

Trump himself has declined to rule out withdrawing from NATO altogether. Wouldnt you if you were me? he told Reuters in an April 1 interview.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israels right-wing camp is fracturing further, as senior politicians from the Likud partyincluding former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, and Likud MK Yuli Edelsteinare in quiet talks to form a breakaway party that could reshape the next election, N12 News reported.

But the initiative faces a fundamental problem: no one can agree who should lead it.

The informally named Likud B is designed to appeal to right-wing voters frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some backers favor Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot as a prime ministerial candidate. Others still support Netanyahu. That irreconcilable divide threatens to undermine the entire project, sources told N12.

It makes it harder for voters to understand the new partys purpose, the report noted.

The emerging faction has already drafted basic principles for what it calls a statesmanlike right-wing alternativea party that would not automatically commit itself to Netanyahus political bloc or to any opposition alliance. But without a clear prime ministerial face, the party risks appearing as a vehicle for personal ambitions rather than a coherent political vision.

Gilad Erdan, former UN ambassador and minister, has emerged as a critical figure. Political sources assess that Erdan is using the talks to weigh whether to join the breakaway initiative or preserve his leverage for a future Likud leadership contest after Netanyahu.

The push to create an alternative comes as Likuds grip on Israels right-wing voter base erodes. A recent Maariv poll found that Likud lost its position as Israels largest party for the first time since June 26, 2025. The party now runs neck and neck with Bennett 2026, Naftali Bennetts political vehicle.

Broader polls show no decisive shift between Israels left and right blocs, creating an opening for a repositioned centrist-right party that could tip the balance in coalition negotiations. That calculation underlies the entire initiative.

Yet internal divisions over Netanyahu himselfand whether a post-Netanyahu right wing is even viableappear insurmountable at present. Until the organizers resolve the prime ministerial question, the project remains a conversation among elites rather than a coherent political offer.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Is SEM a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Select Medical Holdings Corporation on Show me the incentives...s Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on SEM. Select Medical Holdings Corporation's share was trading at $16.41 as of April 21st. SEMs trailing and forward P/E were 14.15 and 13.02 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Natallie Adams/Shutterstock.com

Select Medical Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics in the United States. SEM is positioning itself at the center of the Silver Tsunami demographic trend, with founder and Executive Chairman Robert A. Ortenzio leading a take-private initiative. Ortenzio, together with his consortium, controls roughly 12.415% of the company and has committed financing in place from JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and WCAS for a $1616.20 per share buyout.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

The proposal follows the 2024 spin-off of SEMs occupational health business, Concentra, which halved debt and generated $516 million in net proceeds, enabling a $1 billion buyback representing over half of market capitalization. SEM now focuses on its core operations across critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics, operating a combined 2,059 facilities across 39 states and D.C.

SEMs critical illness recovery hospitals generate $2.47 billion in revenue, roughly 53% of total 2025 revenues, with 10.7% EBITDA margins and a substantial Medicare exposure of 32%. The rehabilitation hospital segment contributes $1.29 billion in revenue with 22% EBITDA margins, while the outpatient segment adds $1.28 billion with 7% margins. Collectively, these businesses produce strong free cash flow, supporting both operational growth and deleveraging initiatives.

Ortenzios refined take-private proposal signals urgency, with an expedited due diligence timeline and management participation in the rollover equity. Corporate governance reforms, including declassified boards and the elimination of supermajority voting, further enable the transaction.

With long-term debt at $1.85 billion and enterprise value of $3.63 billion, the deal presents a compelling risk/reward for shareholders, offering liquidity at a premium and the potential for substantial operational upside under concentrated insider ownership. SEM is thus uniquely positioned to capitalize on aging population trends while delivering near-term shareholder value through a strategic buyout.
An unusual message that security officers in communities near Israels southern border received on Sunday morning caused outrage among the residents: the Egyptian army is expected to conduct exercises and live-fire drills over the coming week at a distance of only about 100 meters from Israels border.

The drills proximity to the border has raised significant concern among security officials and residents, especially given the heightened sensitivity since the October 7 massacre.

Residents expressed great anger over the drills proximity to Israel, saying that it could create a dangerous precedent and increase the sense of insecurity among residents.

The Israel Border Area Forum issued a sharp statement saying, It is unacceptable to allow the Egyptian army to train in such proximity to the fence. This comes after numerous Egyptian pickup trucks approached the fence just a few weeks ago. This is a painful reminder of our enemies method of conducting exercises on the fence before October 7.

We warn against creating dangerous norms that led us to October 7. The residents of the border area are not a testing ground for the State of Israel, nor a training ground for the Egyptian army.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided not to issue a pardon to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

The report says that Herzog will instead push for a mediation process to reach a plea deal, quoting two senior Israeli officials.

According to the officials, Herzog believes that the main role of Israels president is to foster unity so he does not plan to say yes or no to Netanyahus request for a pardon.

It is unlikely that Netanyahu will agree to mediation since a plea deal requires an admission of wrongdoing, something that the prime minister has repeatedly said he will not agree to. The cases against Netanyahu have fallen apart one by one in the courtroom, with multiple claims disproven or withdrawn. In addition, multiple incidents of police investigators acting illegally in the cases have been revealed in the courtroom.

The report follows months of pressure from US President Donald Trump on Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon.

In response to the report and inquiries from media outlets, Herzogs office issued a statement saying: As he has stated several times in the past, President Isaac Herzog sees reaching an agreement between the parties in the cases of Prime Minister Netanyahu as a proper and appropriate solution. Negotiations toward an agreement are an essential part of the effort to bring the parties to a consensus.

Therefore, the president believes that it is right first, before discussing the pardon request itself, to exhaust a process that could lead to formulating an agreement between the parties, outside the walls of the courtroom.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Government ministers expressed fury at the Attorney Generals Office during Sundays Cabinet meeting, following a letter she sent earlier Sunday morning demanding that the government make concrete decisions on imposing economic-civil sanctions against bnei yeshivos who fail to enlist in the IDF.

The meeting took place before the High Courts dramatic ruling on Sunday, demanding that the government impose draconian sanctions on Bnei Torah and their families.

In the letter, the Attorney Generals Office wrote that the meeting that will take place today must end with the adoption of operative decisions and instructions to government ministries to act as soon as possible to promote concrete steps to implement the duty of conscription.

The practical meaning of the letter is a demand to government ministries, primarily the Ministry of Labor, Welfare, and Finance, to withhold benefits and subsidies from Bnei Torah in order to increase recruitment rates through economic persecution of Chareidi families.

A source from the UTJ party told Kikar Hashabbat: This is a blatant attempt to turn government ministers into policemen against the Chareidi public. Instead of looking for solutions through dialogue, the legal advisory system is pushing to starve families and harm lomdei Torah.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi began the discussion by clarifying that the governments policy is that whoever isnt learning Torah should enlist, but has no interest in harming lomei Torah. Why are we considering measures against Lomdei Torah? he asked.

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs noted that officials at the relevant government ministries have expressed opposition to the Attorney Generals demands to impose economic sanctions on lomdei Torah and their families.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed that he is opposed to such sanctions, saying that the measures directly contradict government policy and also harm the economy.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir slammed the Attorney General for its discrimination against Chareidim: I say as a father to a son in the special forcesare you also asking for sanctions against Arabs?

He added: Secondly, you will not be forgiven for alienating the Chareidim who do want to enlist.

Settlement Minister Orit Struck, the mother of a large family, emphasized the importance of government support for families: Without day care centers, I would not have reached the point where I am sitting here, she said.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin called the Attorney General and her colleagues a gang of anarchists, saying that their efforts to topple the government failed, so now they want to destroy the country.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Israels High Court issued a ruling on Sunday ordering the government for the first time to take operational steps to revoke a series of benefits from draft-eligible bnei yeshivos who have not regularized their military status.

The justices claimed that in the absence of concrete steps by the government to enforce the enlistment obligation, they had no choice but to intervene.

The decision outlined a series of measures:

Discounts on apartment purchase  the Israel Land Council is required within 21 days to determine how to condition the benefit on regularizing status with the military authorities.

Day care subsidies  the Ministry of Labor is required within 21 days to examine an amendment to the support criteria so that regularizing military status becomes a threshold condition. This means making military service or its regulation a prerequisite and basic condition for receiving the subsidy, even before examining the familys income level or earning potential.

Subsidies for after-school programs  a similar amendment will also be required within 21 days.

Public transportation discounts  the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transportation are required within 35 days to examine amending the regulations so that those obligated for enlistment who have not regularized their status will not be eligible for discounts.

Arnona (municipal tax) discounts  the Minister of the Interior is required within 35 days to consider amending the regulations so that the discount is conditioned on regularizing military status.

The kippah-wearing Justice Noam Sohlberg, who signed the ruling, noted that this is only a first step and does not exhaust all the actions required to enforce the law. He added that any attempt to create bypass funding channels contradicts the ruling.

In addition, he sharply criticized the lack of criminal enforcement against Bnei Torah, writing that the level of enforcement is negligible relative to the scale of the violation and emphasized that this may be only the tip of the iceberg. He also slammed police policy, which avoids detaining draft evaders in routine encounters and does not sufficiently assist the military police.

According to the ruling, manpower constraints or concerns about public disorder do not justify a complete lack of enforcement, and the police must assist the IDF and detain evaders during chance encounters.

In conclusion, the justices ruled that the state must act swiftly and diligently to initiate real criminal proceedings, in an equal manner, toward the entire population.

The ruling ordered the government to submit a detailed report by June 1, 2026, on the implementation of all the courts instructions, including the progress of the examination of additional measures that have not yet been formulated.

Degel Hatorah chairman Moshe Gafni responded to the ruling by stating, The State of Israel is gradually losing its identity as a Jewish and democratic state. From decision to decision, from hearing to hearing, and from ruling to ruling  the High Court is acting consistently and systematically to harm Lomdei Torah learners and minimize their place in the country. We will not allow this. Lomdei Torah are the foundation of our existence as a nation, and we will continue to learn Torah and bear the spiritual protection of Am Yisrael on our shoulders  in every situation and under every condition.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
An Israeli soldier was killed and six others were wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning, the IDF announced.

The fallen soldier has been identified as Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19, of the 7th Armored Brigades 77th Battalion, from Petach Tikvah.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the attack involved explosive-laden drones launched by Hezbollah targeting troops operating in the southern Lebanon town of Taybeh.

In the same incident, an officer and three additional soldiers were seriously wounded. One soldier sustained moderate injuries, while another was lightly hurt. All wounded troops were evacuated to hospitals for treatment, and their families have been notified.

The IDF further revealed that during the evacuation of the injured, Hezbollah launched two additional explosive drones toward the forces. One drone was successfully intercepted, while the second struck near the troops but did not cause further casualties.

Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was carried out in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

Sgt. Fooks is the third Israeli soldier to be killed in southern Lebanon despite the ongoing ceasefire in the region.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Rav Zevadia Cohen, the Av Beis Din of the Rabbinical court in Tel Aviv, won the election on Sunday for the position of the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo, with a majority of 37 votes out of 61.

Rabbi Cohens election is considered a victory for the Shas party and comes after eight years during which the city had no chief rabbi. The party has recorded successes in appointing city Rabbanim across the country over the past year.

The only other serious candidate on the list was Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, who received only 21 votes.

Rabbi Cohens candidacy was supported by Gedolei Yisrael. He was also supported by members of the city council, including those from non-religious factions. According to senior officials in the municipality, Mayor Ron Huldai, who claims that he does not officially interfere in the elections, effectively supported Rabbi Cohen due to his long acquaintance with him from his position as the Av Beis Din of the rabbinical courts in the city.

Rabbi Cohen studied as a bochur in the Porat Yosef Yeshivah and was close to HaGaon Chacham Shalom Cohen, ztl. Later, he learned dayanus at Yechave Daas under HaRav Dovid Yosef, where he also served as a Rosh Kollel for dayanim. He was later appointed as a dayan at the request of HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, ztl, and years later, HaRav Yitzchak Yosef appointed him to serve as the Av Beit Din of Tel Aviv. Today, he is considered one of the leading dayanim in Israel who paskens on complex cases of mamzeirus and yuchasin.

The newly elected rabbi in Tel Aviv automatically becomes a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Following the publication of the results, former Minister of Religious Services MK Michael Malkieli said: At the end of a complex election campaign, during which various elements tried to incite against the selection of a rabbi for the city, Rabbi Zevadiah Cohen was chosen for this important role. There is no doubt that this choice will allow many city residents to connect to religion with a welcoming approach, alongside the excellent religious services operating in the city. The election results show that this is the will of the majority of the citys residents who seek tradition and Judaism. Thanks to the energetic efforts of Aryeh Deri, we will continue strengthening and reinforcing religious services in Israel.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Irans government is still in power. Hezbollah and Hamas havent been defeated. U.S. President Donald Trumps interests may be diverging from Israels.

Wars with Iran and its proxies havent gone according to plan for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that could mean trouble for Israels longest-serving prime minister in elections scheduled for later this year. Many Israelis are dissatisfied with the Netanyahu governments wartime leadership, according to a recent poll.

At the start of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran in late February, Netanyahu said the goal was to degrade the Islamic Republics military, eradicate its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and create the conditions for its overthrow. While Irans military has been badly damaged, it is still a threat to neighbors and ships in the Strait of Hormuz  and Netanyahus other goals remained unfulfilled when a ceasefire was announced earlier this month.

Israels latest war with Hezbollah in Lebanon has also been cut short. Netanyahu said he agreed to a truce at the request of Trump but that Israel was not finished yet with the Iran-backed militant group; Israeli forces are still occupying a 10-kilometer- (6-mile-) deep swath of southern Lebanon.

The recent poll showing Israelis dissatisfaction comes on top of the unresolved war in Gaza  another instance in which Trump pressured Netanyahu to wind down military operations. More than two years after Hamas October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, the Iran-backed militant group is weakened but still standing.

After 925 days of fighting since October 7, Israel has failed to achieve decisive victory on any front, wrote Yoav Limor, a prominent military affairs commentator. At the end of yet another war, it is perceived as a country whose decisions are not made in Jerusalem, but in Washington.

For his part, Netanyahu has cast the war with Iran as a success, a preemptive strike against an existential threat. We crushed the Iranian regimes destruction machine in advance, he recently said.

Frustrations with Netanyahus government have persisted

Trust in Netanyahus government nose-dived after the deadly 2023 Hamas attack. He spent the next two years waging a fierce retaliatory campaign against Hamas and its allies and secured the release of dozens of hostages from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal.

Israel has also enjoyed a number of military successes against Iran and its Lebanese proxy, the Hezbollah militant group. But these gains do not appear to have benefited Netanyahu personally. While the latest wars against Iran and Hezbollah were widely supported, the inconclusive outcomes have left many Israelis feeling fatigued and disappointed.

People were disappointed because it hadnt achieved the goals, said Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst in Tel Aviv.

A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, a centrist think tank in Jerusalem, during the first week of the war against Iran found a solid majority of respondents, 64%, trusted Netanyahu to direct the campaign. But a second poll in the days after the April 8 ceasefire found that Israelis rated the management of the war by the government  not just Netanyahu  more negatively than positively.

The poll, which was conducted before the U.S. brokered and extended the ceasefire in Lebanon, also found that a majority of Israelis thought the fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah should continue.

Pushed into two ceasefires, back to back

Since the ceasefires with Iran and Hezbollah, Israelis have begun to question whether the relationship between Netanyahu and Trump  and Israel and the United States  is as strong as it was before the wars began.

Though Trumps interests have at times diverged from those of Netanyahu, the U.S. president has continued to publicly laud Israel. He wrote on Truth Social recently that whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America.

He said Thursday that hed host Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future for talks on the truce, describing it as an honor.

Israelis have their doubts.

In the Israel Democracy Institutes poll, most Israelis said there was a fairly or very low likelihood that the agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran would take Israels security into account to an appropriate degree.

Asked about the leaders relationship, Netanyahus office declined to comment. But an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations said Trump and Netanyahu still speak every day.

Late last year, Netanyahu announced he would award the Israel Prize, one of the countrys highest honors, to Trump, making him the first foreign leader to receive it. Israel invited Trump to formally accept the award in Jerusalem on April 22, as part of the countrys 78th celebration of its independence.

The day came and went without a Trump visit.

In northern Israel, anger and fear are palpable

The ceasefire with Lebanon has stoked deep disappointment in Israeli towns near the border that have endured a month and a half of missile fire from Hezbollah.

I live 100 meters from the border, said Asaf Oakil, a resident of Kiryat Shmona. The ceasefire? Its a mistake.

Shops are still closed and protests have broken out in recent days, with much of the anger directed at Netanyahu.

I really hope that the residents of the north will learn from this and vote for someone who can help us here, not someone who brings us down and buries us, said Shosh Tsaoula, another resident of Kiryat Shmona.

Netanyahus government is in the final months of its four-year term and is required to hold elections by the end of October.

Two opposition politicians  Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid  announced Sunday that they would join forces in the next election. Another popular opposition figure, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, is also expected to team up with the two men.

Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the Israeli Yediot Ahronoth daily newspaper, said that Netanyahu is in big trouble if he cannot convince Israelis that the wars with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas have led to lasting security gains.

With unstable ceasefires that can lapse at any given point, voters will be not happy about it.

(AP)
In a dramatic address delivered Sunday evening at the Ponovezh Yeshiva, the Gadon HaDor, Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau made clear that Yeshiva Bochrim will not enlist in the Israeli army under any circumstances, amid growing tensions over proposed conscription measures.

Yeshiva students will not go to the army under any circumstances, neither by coercion nor voluntarily, whether there is a law or not, Rav Landau declared before thousands of bochurim and avreichim gathered in the Bais HaMedrash.

Following the speech, Rav Landau visited Ponavezh Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Berel Povarsky at his nearby home, where the two held an extended private discussion. Also present was HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rosh Yeshiva at Ponovezh.

During their meeting, the Gedolim discussed pressing communal issues, with a primary focus on the ongoing controversy surrounding the draft law and recent High Court rulings imposing potential sanctions on those who do not serve.

In his remarks, Rav Landau slammed the Supreme Court justices, stating, The judicial authorities continue in their wickedness the end of the wicked is to face judgment.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

At the same time, he called on Bnei Torah to remain steadfast and even strengthen its commitment to Limud HaTorah. All these difficulties will not hinder our Torah study; on the contrary, we will increase Torah study, increase Lomdei Torah, increase houses of study, he said.

He further emphasized that the community would not be deterred by government actions. We will not pay attention to their decrees, we will ignore them, and they and their decrees will vanish like a passing wind and like a fleeting dream.

HaRav Landau concluded by expressing confidence that the challenges facing the Torah world would ultimately be resolved. It is the authorities role to regulate this and not to make it difficult, and if they insist, relief and salvation will come from another place, he said.

The developments come amid escalating tensions following a High Court directive to impose stricter measures on those eligible for military service who do not enlist, intensifying the debate over the future of the draft law.
Danaher (NYSE: DHR) has been wildly successful for a long time. The stock has returned over 52,700% since its 1969 founding as DMG.

Unfortunately, investors may question, or even forget, the company's rich history, given the stock's poor performance following the COVID-19 pandemic. Shares are down over the past five years, which can be hard to stomach while the broader market rides the artificial intelligence (AI) boom to new heights.

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 

Even now, Danaher stock is 36% below its all-time high. Should investors buy the legendary healthcare stock now in anticipation of a comeback?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why the stock has struggled

Danaher is one of the world's leading life sciences companies. Its 15 businesses across biotechnology, diagnostics, and life sciences operate independently, but all fall under the Danaher Business System. That has made Danaher very successful over the years, but the past five have included a couple of challenges.

First, Danaher's business soared during COVID-19 as testing and vaccine manufacturing surged. The company felt a hangover effect once business normalized as the pandemic passed. Additionally, sales from China, which accounted for approximately 11% of Danaher's revenue last year, have been soft over the past several years.

You can see the massive drop-off in Danaher's sales.

Although Danaher has been successful for a very long time, years of declining revenue have turned sentiment against the stock.

Looking at Danaher's latest blockbuster acquisition

It appears that the worst is over for Danaher. Revenue bottomed and began growing midway through 2024.

Then, in February, Danaher announced it was acquiring Masimo for $9.9 billion. Masimo is a leader in pulse oximetry technology, primarily used in those devices you can put on your finger to measure the oxygen levels in your blood. It complements Danaher's other diagnostics businesses.

Financially, Masimo brings just over $1.5 billion in annual sales to Danaher's $24.5 billion, and management expects Masimo to add $530 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in 2027. Importantly, it's a cash deal, so there's no dilution from new shares used to fund the acquisition. The incoming revenue and profits add to Danaher's per-share financials.

Now is a good time to buy

Before the market turned sour on Danaher, the stock typically traded at a pretty lofty valuation. Danaher's price-to-earnings ratio averaged about 32 over the past decade. But today, shares trade at just over 22 times this year's estimated earnings.
This weekend the newspaper cheers for a sport that ALMOST NOBODY WANTS TO WATCH and mostly exists as a social justice experiment for a more successful league . . . Check-it:

Metropolises like Kansas City, long on the outside looking in when it comes to pro hoops, are finding themselves back in the conversation  with momentum thats beginning to feel real.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

As women's basketball booms, Kansas City is finding itself back in the game The WNBA plays an exhibition game on Monday night at T-Mobile Center.

Skip the paywall and read by way of Internet archive or public library card.
More than a few things to consider tonight as we review local public safety news, police action and, as always, community outreach.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

One person injured after shooting Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said a shooting occurred Saturday on Chestnut Avenue. One person was hit by gunfire and taken to an area hospital.

Police closing in on suspect after man found dead in Kansas City Police are closing in on a suspect after a man was found dead in Kansas City.

Home improvement store reopens after Merriam police responded to potential threat The Merriam, Kansas, Police Department investigated a potential threat at Home Depot in Merriam on Saturday.

Former Smithville daycare worker sentenced to 7 years for endangering children A former Smithville daycare worker has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for endangering children.

Suspect charged in 2024 deadly hit-and-run on The Paseo Police say the victim was killed trying to stop the suspect from stealing his truck in the area of East 29th Street and The Paseo

KCK Police search for 2 people detectives tied to assault case Investigators said the assault happened shortly before 7 p.m. near N. 38th Street and Leavenworth Road on April 22.

Lee's Summit man arrested after police chase, fight with officer A Lee's Summit man was arrested after a police chase and a fight with an officer.

Dozens walk for crime victims' rights at Kansas Capitol Dozens gathered at the capitol to support crime victims in Kansas.

What's behind the $5.9 million vote to cover KCPD legal claims | Opinion The Kansas City Council debates paying for police lawsuits centers on one-time versus annual funding and accountability for officer liabilities. | Opinion

Woman last seen in Ruskin area has been missing for a week If located, contact the Kansas City Missouri Police Department Missing Persons Unit at (816) 234-5043 or call 911.

From barriers to businesses event helps formerly incarcerated individuals overcome roadblocks, rebuild futures April marks Second Chance Month, and a local event Saturday focused on turning past barriers into new beginnings for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Developing . . .
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has shared a post on his X social media page about the shooting in Washington, Trend reports.

"Deeply disturbed by the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. Such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.

Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and all attendees are safe. Wishing them continued safety and well-being," the post reads.

Earlier, a shooting occurred in Washington during an official dinner attended by President Donald Trump at the Washington Hilton hotel.

One Secret Service officer was wounded and taken to the hospital.

According to official reports, the suspect is a 31-year-old man from California.

The detained suspect is scheduled to make his first court appearance on April 27.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The message of peace and reconciliation arising from the history of Gernika carries profound significance for all peoples. The memories and experiences of peoples who have endured the dire consequences of war must serve as a crucial lesson for new generations, enabling them to live in a more stable and secure world, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation ceremony, Trend reports.

The head of state also noted: The people of Azerbaijan, who have experienced the grave ramifications of war and lived in a conflict environment for nearly 30 years, understand the value of peace and reconciliation all too well. Today, Azerbaijan is learning how to live in an atmosphere of peace. For us, it is a novel and extraordinary feeling, as we have not had the opportunity to experience this since regaining our independence.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The preparation phase for the next stage of the EFES-2026 multinational exercise, held in Istanbul and Izmir cities, Turkiye, is ongoing, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense.

A group of servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army, who will take part in the live-fire practical training of the exercise, has departed for the brotherly country. Our servicemen were welcomed at the Chighli Air Base of the Republic of Turkiye.

It should be noted that the main objective of the EFES-2026 multinational exercise is to strengthen coordination among the units of participating countries during large-scale operations, enhance combat training, and improve practical skills.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Last week, a number of key indicators were announced in Azerbaijan, and decisions were made in the financial and economic sphere. The execution of the state budget, the level of strategic foreign exchange reserves, changes in financial sector regulation, and steps toward international cooperation demonstrate the countrys continued macroeconomic stability.

State Budget and Fiscal Indicators

In the first quarter of 2026, state budget revenues amounted to approximately 9.6 billion manat ($5.64 billion), while expenditures totaled 7.8 billion manat ($4.58). This resulted in a surplus of 1.7 billion manat ($1 billion).

Tax revenues (49%) and transfers from the State Oil Fund (33.4%) account for the largest share of revenue. A positive trend in terms of economic diversification is the fact that the share of the non-oil and gas sector reached 57.7%. 73.7% of expenditures were allocated to current needs, while social expenditures accounted for 54.1% of total expenditures.

Public Debt and Reserves

As of April 1, 2026, external public debt stood at $4.7 billion (6.1% of GDP), while domestic debt amounted to 16.5 billion manat ($9.7 billion) (12.6% of GDP). These figures remain within the low-risk range according to international criteria.

The countrys strategic foreign exchange reserves reached $85.2 billion. Of this amount, $73.5 billion is held in the State Oil Fund, and $11.6 billion is held by the Central Bank.

Activities of the State Oil Fund

The assets of the State Oil Fund in the first quarter of this year amounted to $73.5 billion. In the first quarter, the funds revenues amounted to 3.18 billion manat ($1.8 billion), while expenditures totaled 3.22 billion manat ($1.9 billion). Although there was a slight decline in the investment portfolio due to market changes, total assets remain at a high level.

Regulation and Decisions in the Financial Sector

The Central Bank adopted a series of decisions to strengthen oversight of the financial sector. Consequently, the license of NBCI Optimal Financing was revoked for failure to meet capital requirements; new capital and liquidity requirements were introduced for investment companies; the bonus-malus system in compulsory auto insurance was abolished and a new mechanism based on insurance history was introduced, and the license of OJSC Atasigorta was suspended upon its voluntary request.

International Cooperation and Projects

Azerbaijan is expanding its cooperation with international financial institutions. Macroeconomic issues were discussed with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during meetings held in the United States.

At the same time, preparations are underway for the annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group, which will take place in Baku in June.

In the infrastructure sector, an international tender has been announced for a major project to modernize the Bilajari-Yalama railway line. It was noted that this project will contribute to the development of the North-South transport corridor.

Overall, the financial picture of the past week shows that Azerbaijans macroeconomic stability is being maintained, and the resilience of the financial system is strengthening. The main factors ensuring economic security are the budget surplus, high foreign exchange reserves, and low debt levels.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 26.Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Italy amounted to $79.0 million in January-February 2026, increasing by 16.5% compared to $67.8 million in the same period of 2025.

Data obtained by Trend from Uzbekistans Statistics Agency show that at the same time, the figure slightly declined by 1.9% compared to $80.5 million recorded in January-February 2024, reflecting minor fluctuations in bilateral trade dynamics over the two-year period.

Despite this variation, Italy remained among Uzbekistans key trading partners, ranking within the top 20 countries by trade volume.

Overall, Uzbekistans foreign trade turnover reached $11.6 billion in JanuaryFebruary 2026, with the country maintaining active trade relations with more than 160 countries worldwide.
Premium content

Get full access to in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and weekly briefings.

Welcome offer $10 $1 first month Then $10 / month

Already have an account? Login
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, the Turkish Presidential Administration's Public Relations Department said in a statement, Trend reports.

During the conversation, the Turkish president expressed support for his American counterpart in connection with the attempted attack during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington.

Erdogan said he viewed the events as a monstrous act against democracy and press freedom and wished the injured security officer a speedy recovery.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The U.S. Secret Service is working with police to investigate the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association reception attended by President Donald Trump, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said, Trend reports.

"The U.S. Secret Service and D.C. police are investigating a shooting near a major magnetometer checkpoint during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner," he said.
Find winning stocks in any market cycle. Join 7 million investors using Simply Wall St's investing ideas for FREE.

Four Corners Property Trust now carries a blended fair value estimate of $28.11, a slight move from $28.00 that keeps attention on how tightly clustered price targets have become. That narrow range mirrors recent analyst commentary, where modest $1 to $2 target shifts and a mix of upgrades, trims, and neutral calls suggest opinions are closely balanced around current levels. As you read on, you will see what is shaping this evolving narrative and how to track it over time.

Stay updated as the Fair Value for Four Corners Property Trust shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Four Corners Property Trust.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Citizens upgraded Four Corners Property Trust to Outperform from Market Perform, which signals increased confidence in execution and the companys ability to create value compared with its prior standing in their coverage.

Evercore ISI lifted its price target to US$27 from US$26 and kept an In Line rating, indicating that, in Evercores view, current valuation sits close to what the firm sees as fair while still supporting a modestly higher target.

Raymond James maintained an Outperform rating while adjusting its target to US$28, showing that, even with a recalibrated number, the firm still sees upside potential relative to its coverage group of net lease REITs.

 Bearish Takeaways

BMO Capital initiated Four Corners Property Trust with a neutral view, suggesting that at current levels the stock, in BMOs opinion, does not stand out as either clearly undervalued or overvalued on execution and growth prospects.

Raymond James reduced its price target to US$28 from US$29 as part of a broader reset across net lease REITs, a reminder that sector level factors can limit how much valuation expansion some analysts are willing to underwrite.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

NYSE:FCPT 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 1 risk for Four Corners Property Trust. See which could impact your investment.

What's in the News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. No US administration officials were injured in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association reception, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, Trend reports.

He noted that US First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and all Cabinet members are in perfect condition.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. One person has been detained in connection with the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association reception, U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

One person is in custody," he said.

The shooting occurred at a White House Correspondents' Association reception attended by US President Donald Trump. The US Secret Service is investigating the incident.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported the detention of an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Trend reports.

The ship was carrying oil products and natural gas worth billions of dollars.

The Central Command said that 37 Iranian vessels had been detained since the blockade began and that the blockade against Iran would continue.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 26. The American side is discussing the removal of nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials from its territory during negotiations with Iran, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with local media, Trend reports.

He said the issue concerns what he calls "nuclear dust," which must be removed, and this issue is part of the negotiation process with Iran. Trump emphasized that the United States does not want these materials to remain in Tehran's possession.

He explained that by "nuclear dust" he meant nuclear fuel and other materials that he claimed were almost completely destroyed as a result of the strikes on Iran's nuclear industry facilities in June 2025.
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Cole Allen, WH Correspondents' Dinner Shooter, is Award Winning Teacher



The American Security Agencies Saturday April 25, 2026 identified the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter as Cole Thomas Allen, and soon reports surfaced that he is a highly educated person and had even won the best teacher award in 2024

Washington: The American Security Agencies Saturday April 25, 2026 identified the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter as Cole Thomas Allen, and soon reports surfaced that he is a highly educated person and had even won the best teacher award in 2024.

Cole Allen became known to the world after the shooting incident outside a Washington hotel where White House Correspondents Association dinner was hosted.

Among others, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other cabinet ministers were present.

Even as the event was yet to reach its zenith, the shooting incident took place.

Shots fired, the US Secret Service agents screamed, and rushed to evacuate Trump, Melania, Vance and other US officials from venue.

Videos online showed US Secret Service agents holding JD Vance from his shoulders while pushing him out.

The next after JD Vance was Donald Trump. The US Secret Service agents pulled him off his chair. In the melee, Trump fell on the ground as US Security Service agents helped him off the stage, videos showed.

The American Security Agencies later identified the shooter as Cole Allen Thomas from Torrance, California. Trump later also released his photographs.

Who is Cole Allen?

Minutes after the identity of the WH Correspondents Dinner was revealed, social media users came out with more images and details about him.

It was found that Cole Allen is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer. A May 2025 profile photo of Cole Tomas Allen, appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged shooter. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University-Dominguez Hills, according to Greenwich Times.

Allen, 31, earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Some social media users claimed that Cole Allen had won the Teacher of the Month award by C2 Education of Torrance in December 2024. Allen's online resume also says he worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counseling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. Moreover, a 2024 post on the companys Facebook page listed Allen as the companys teacher of the month.

Saturday's shooting incident outside the Washington Hilton Hotel took place amidst the huge anger against Donald Trump and his administration for their controversial policies, and war mongering and blind support to Israel and Zionist lobbies.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye working to revive Ottoman-era Hejaz Railway



Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are working on a project that will not only connect the two countries via high speed Railway network but will also revive the Ottoman-era Hejaz railway-line that once aimed to link Istanbul to the holy cities Makkah and Madinah

Riyadh/Ankara: Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are working on a project that will not only connect the two countries via high speed Railway network but will also revive the Ottoman-era Hejaz railway-line that once aimed to link Istanbul to the holy cities Makkah and Madinah.

Studies focusing the railway link that would connect Saudi Arabia to Turkiye via Jordan and Syria are set to be completed before the end of the year, Saudi Arabias Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh al-Jasser said.

Speaking to Saudi television Al Arabiya, Saleh al-Jasser said the project would "enhance regional integration, support trade, and develop a sustainable land transport system between countries of the region."

Saudi Arabias national railway network currently extends to the Jordanian border via the al-Haditha crossing, making it a strategic focal point for future expansion into regional and international connectivity, Saleh al-Jasser said.

The minister emphasized that Saudi Arabias ports and corridors "were working in an integrated manner to ensure the continuation of regional trade and facilitate the movement of goods between countries."

Saudi Arabia "could receive over 17 million containers annually," he said, stressing the importance of the Saudi ports in receiving containers transferred from Gulf states.

Hejaz Railway

The Hejaz Railway was one of the regions most prominent historical infrastructure projects, built between 1900 and 1908, stretching about 1,322 kilometers from Damascus southwards to the City of Prophet (Peace be upon him) Madinah, with Damascus serving as a key hub. From there, lines branched north towards Aleppo and Turkey, and west towards Lebanon, particularly Beirut, making the network an interconnected regional system.

Designed to facilitate pilgrimage to Makkah, the railway also served strategic military and administrative purposes, bolstering Ottoman control over distant provinces.

The line featured engineering feats such as stone viaducts, desert stations and narrow-gauge tracks adapted to harsh terrain. Though largely dismantled or damaged during World War I and subsequent conflicts, portions of the railway remain intact and have long been the subject of restoration efforts.

The project announced by al-Jasser is seen as a revival and modern extension of Hejaz Railway. It revives a route linked to a historic railway connecting Turkey to Saudi Arabia via Jordan and Syria, with branch lines that also extended to Lebanon known as Hejaz Railway in Ottoman Caliphate.

Back in September 2025, Turkiye, Syria and Jordan had signed an agreement to revive the historic Hejaz railway line, marking a major step toward restoring regional connectivity and preserving shared heritage, according to Turkiye's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, according to Daily Sabah.

Abdulkadir Uraloglu had earlier also said that Ankara was planning to establish a wider transport corridor stretching from southern Europe to the Gulf as part of efforts to revive the historic Hejaz Railway.

Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the first phase would focus on upgrading the Turkey-Syria-Jordan line as the backbone of the project. The route would then extend southwards, eventually linking with Saudi Arabias rail network and reaching Riyadh.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani confirmed the latest development.

"We have established a new phase by signing the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkey to activate land corridors. We are working on reviving the Hejaz Railway, restarting the Arab Gas Pipeline, and implementing electrical interconnection, alongside coordination with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding regional digital connectivity", he said.

[Aneequa Sabahat Faizee is Staff Writer at ummid.com]

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic
TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) is included among the 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends.

Is TELUS (TU) One of the 10 Canadian Stocks with Highest Dividends?

Photo by Viacheslav Bublyk on Unsplash

On April 14, Barclays analyst Lauren Bonham lowered the firms price recommendation on TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) to C$19 from C$20. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating as part of a Q1 preview. The firm said the attractiveness of defensive in the cable sector is being weighed down by ongoing promotional pricing pressure and weaker volumes across core telecom segments.

On April 10, Scotiabank downgraded TU to Sector Perform from Outperform and reduced its price target to C$21.50 from C$23. The firm said the stocks outlook remains too clouded by what-if scenarios to offset the continued high and unsustainable dividend distribution model. The analyst added that continued pressure on subscriber growth and pricing in the Canadian telecom market could force Telus to cut its dividend to placate the market. Scotiabank also noted that while asset sales may help reduce leverage, they do not address the companys payout ratio.

TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) operates as a communications technology company. It provides broadband services to consumers, businesses, and the public sector through its TELUS technology solutions, TELUS digital experience, and TELUS health segments.

While we acknowledge the potential of TU as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Food Stocks with Highest Dividends and 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks to Buy in 2026

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Is TYL a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Tyler Technologies, Inc. on Andvaris Substack by Douglas Ott. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on TYL. Tyler Technologies, Inc.'s share was trading at $345.93 as of April 20th. TYLs trailing and forward P/E were 48.05 and 27.55 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Unity Software (U) Climbs 6% as Analyst Hikes PT, Rating

Copyright: welcomia / 123RF Stock Photo

Tyler Technologies, Inc. provides integrated software and technology management solutions for the public sector in the United States. TYL has experienced a sharp correction, with its share price declining from over $600 to $304 as of February 2026, driven largely by market concerns that artificial intelligence could disrupt its business model. However, the underlying fundamentals of Tyler Technologies suggest a more resilient and potentially advantaged position.

Read More: 15 AI Stocks That Are Quietly Making Investors Rich

Read More: Undervalued AI Stock Poised For Massive Gains: 10000% Upside Potential

As the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on software solutions for state and local governments in North America, Tyler has built a highly defensible niche, growing revenues from $50 million in 1998 to over $2.3 billion in 2025, with cash flow and operating profit compounding even faster. The company benefits from a stable and recurring revenue base, nearly 100% client retention, and long-duration customer relationships, often lasting decades due to high switching costs and complex implementation cycles.

Tyler Technologies has consistently outgrown its addressable market, which itself expands at 4%6%, by leveraging disciplined capital allocation and an effective acquisition strategy in a fragmented industry. Its expanding product breadth and deep domain expertise create a competitive moat that larger players have historically avoided due to long sales cycles and limited scalability. While the market fears that AI could commoditize software offerings, the current view appears overly pessimistic.

Instead, Tyler is well positioned to integrate AI into its existing platforms, enhancing value for its government clients while improving internal productivity. Its role as a trusted steward of sensitive public-sector data further strengthens its positioning as the preferred partner for AI adoption. As Tyler continues transitioning toward a cloud-first model, margins are expected to expand, with free cash flow projected to grow from $621 million in 2025 to $1 billion by 2030, supporting a bullish long-term outlook despite near-term sentiment pressures.
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.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND)  The Illinois Insurance Association hopes the Illinois Senate will not move forward with a massive reform plan for auto and homeowners insurance. Industry leaders told WAND News that new data shows Illinois has the sixth cheapest auto insurance rates in the country.

State representatives passed a bill in late March to require insurance companies give homeowners at least 60 days notice before non-renewal, changes in coverage, and premium increases over 10%. Insurers could also have to use state specific data to set rates for homeowners.

"Insurance isn't a luxury. It's a necessity," said Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City). "And yet, the way rates are determined often feels disconnected to our residents, constituents, and from peoples' actual behaviors."

Illinois Insurance Association Executive Director Kevin Martin said this plan could cause homeowner insurance premiums to increase on average up to 20% or $230.

"The more regulatory burdens you put on through legislation, that will do nothing more than increase costs and increase premiums that people are going to have to pay," Martin said Friday.

This also comes as the WAND Weather Team reports Illinois leads the nation in tornadoes, hail and wind reports so far this year. Martin said Illinois has seen 80 tornadoes, nearly 150 reports of hail and 245 high wind reports.

"When you throw all of those into a homeowner's market, that's increased costs and claims," Martin said.

New! The latest from WAND in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters to receive breaking news and daily headlines. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

The Illinois Department of Insurance could be responsible for ensuring auto rates are not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.

However, Martin notes U.S. News and World Report found Illinois has an average annual rate of roughly $1,650 and the lowest auto premium is set by Travelers Insurance at $1,208 per year.

"If they think the company they're with now is charging them too much for their homeowners or auto insurance, you've got a lot more companies you can turn to and look for them to provide you with another product that might be cheaper," Martin said.

The Illinois Senate returns to Springfield Tuesday, but sponsors are continuing negotiations with the industry before calling the bill for a vote.

Senate Bill 1486 passed out of the House on a 66-40 vote with two representatives voting present on March 24.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
Meloni's message for Trump comes at time of strained relations between the two leaders.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday expressed her full solidarity with US president Donald Trump following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC the previous evening.

Trump and vice president JD Vance were rushed off the stage after shots were fired during the event. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen, was detained and taken into custody.

Trump and all cabinet members present were confirmed safe. The incident took place at the Washington Hilton - the same hotel where former US president Ronald Reagan was shot in an attempted assassination in March 1981.

Meloni's message

Writing on social media on Sunday morning, Meloni said she wished to express her "full solidarity and most sincere closeness" to President Trump, First Lady Melania, Vice President Vance, and all those present at the dinner.

"No political hatred can find space in our democracies" - Meloni wrote - "We will not allow fanaticism to poison the places of free debate and information. The defence of the culture of confrontation must remain the insurmountable bulwark against every intolerant drift, to safeguard the values that found our Nations."

Strained relations

The message of solidarity comes at a strained moment in the relationship between the two leaders.

Meloni, long considered one of Trump's closest European allies, had been expected to serve as Europe's bridge to Washington following Trump's return to power 15 months ago, however the relationship has deteriorated markedly in recent weeks.

When asked in an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera whether the two had spoken recently, Trump replied: "No, not in a long time."

The rift sharpened after Trump decried Meloni as "unacceptable" following her public criticism of his attacks on Pope Leo XIV, adding: "I'm shocked by her. I thought she had courage."

Italy has also refused to participate in the US-Israel war on Iran, and last month declined to authorise US bombers to land at a key air base in Sicily.

Photo credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com
Littering

On Easter Monday, a group of dedicated volunteers came together to clean up the village and surrounding areas, giving their own time for the benefit of the entire parish. Their efforts are greatly appreciated by the community.

Irresponsible dumping at the clothes bank in Touraneena Village.

It is therefore disappointing to note that a black bag was recently dumped at the clothes bank in the village, undermining the goodwill and hard work shown by those involved in the cleanaup. We kindly ask everyone to respect our community and dispose of waste responsibly. Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy has advised that if bins are full or an area requires attention, people should not hesitate to contact him directly on 086 3991153, and he will report the matter to the relevant section.

Sliabh gCua Lotto

There was no winner of the Sliabh gCua Lotto jackpot last Sunday night. Numbers drawn: 3, 22, 27 The five 20 prize winners were Darragh Gleeson, T Casey, Sean Power, David Meaney and Sean Devoy. The Promoters Prize was won by Dunnes Bar. The jackpot for next Sunday nights draw is 1,800.

Local Link

A very welcome addition has been made to the 365 Local Link route, with the longaawaited extra stop in Kilmacomma commencing on Monday, April 20th. This new stop will greatly improve accessibility and make daily travel much easier for many people in the area. 45 Card Drive The 45 Card Drive takes place every Monday night at 8pm in the Community Centre, Modeligo. All are welcome, especially beginners. A fun and sociable card game enjoyed by all ages  beginners will be well looked after. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Scam Update

Very Rev Fr Michael Toomey P.P., St Carlo Acutis Parish Pastoral Area, Waterford and Lismore, has issued a warning regarding scam calls from a UK number: +44 7956 257753. This is a dangerous impersonation scam. Callers may pretend to be Amazon, claiming a highavalue purchase has been made, and attempt to obtain security codes, banking details, or payment via gift cards. Immediate advice: Do not provide any codes hang up immediately. Forward suspicious messages to reportascam@amazon.com If you engaged, change your Amazon password directly on the app or website and please remain vigilant.

Tidy Towns

A very successful Cathaoirleachs Reception was recently hosted by Cllr Niamh ODonovan, Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan/Lismore, in honour of Ballymacarbry Tidy Towns, following their Gold Medal award in the 2025 National SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition. Congratulations and well done to everyone involved in this outstanding achievement.

Sympathy

We extend our sincere sympathy to the Keogh family on the recent passing of Conal Keogh, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath, and formerly of Ballymacarbry. Conal was predeceased by his son Conal and sister Ann. Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Paula, daughters Fiona, Caroline and Anne, brother Michael, grandchildren Sophie, Conal, Olivia and Morgan, sonsainalaw Fergal and Michael, brothersainalaw, sistersainalaw, nieces, nephews, extended family and wide circle of friends. Requiem Mass for Conal took place in St Patricks Church, Trim, followed by burial in St Lomans Cemetery. May Conal rest in peace.

Riddle for the Week

Last weeks riddle: Imagine you are in a box. It is airtight sealed. You have nothing with you. How do you get out? Answer: Stop imagining you are in a box. This weeks riddle: I have an eye but am blind, a sea but no water, a bee but no honey, tea but no coffee, and a why but no answer. What am I? Answer in next weeks notes.
Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has said recent comments by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are deeply misguided and risk creating a false and damaging divide between urban and rural Ireland.

Framing rural Ireland as somehow dependent on urban taxpayers is both misleading and unhelpful. It ignores the reality that our economy is interconnected, with each sector relying on the other, he said.

Continuing, Mr Phelan said, While farmers do receive CAP supports, these reflect the realities of food production in a highly competitive market where farmers have little influence over the prices they receive, while production costs continue to rise.

"These payments help sustain viable food production in a highly regulated system and support farm incomes that would otherwise not be sustainable.

"In sectors such as beef, suckler, and sheep farming, incomes remain persistently low despite these supports.

He said the agri-food sector continues to make a significant contribution to the Irish economy through exports and employment.

Agriculture is one of the countrys largest indigenous sectors, with agri-food exports now worth over 20 billion annually.

"Its impact goes far beyond the farm gate, and the idea that one part of the country is paying for another does not reflect how the economy actually works, he said.

Concluding, Mr Phelan said, The focus must be on ensuring farmers are properly supported to meet the expectations being placed on them.

"Farmers are being asked to take on additional costs and responsibilities, often without any clear pathway to make that pay.

"Attempts to portray rural Ireland as a burden on the rest of the country are wrong, divisive, and show a complete lack of understanding of how the Irish economy actually works.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar apologised for the comments he made on rural Ireland in a recent podcast, saying he over-stated his case.

On the Path to Power podcast, the former Fine Gael leader said: Whats in the interest of farmers and the agriculture industry is by and large not in the interest of Ireland as a nation.

He said people in rural Ireland often suggested they were the real workers and paying all the bills, but in fact urban Ireland was paying more while rural residents are in receipt of a lot of subsidies and a lot of tax benefits that other people dont get.

He faced criticism, including from Fine Gael TDs  especially those representing largely rural constituencies.

Mr Varadkar told The Irish Times that he stood over some of the points he made, arguing the vast majority of tax is paid in urban Ireland while 80 per cent of food is imported to Ireland, but added that he "went too far and over-stated my case on certain other points.
Causeway Group, one of Waterfords largest property management companies, has earned 8.05 million in state contracts for the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees since 2022.

The group owns the Sands Hotel in Tramore and Greenway Manor, as well as a host of commercial properties and hospitality venues.

The group began netting funds in 2022 Q2, coinciding with Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

All transactions from 2022-2024 between the State and Causeway Group went through Causeway Hospitality Ltd, registered at Station House, Railway Square.

At the beginning of 2025, transactions changed to Broad Street Hospitality Ltd, a company registered at Station House and in the directorship of Causeway founder and CEO Sean Johnston.

Causeway Group did not respond to requests for comment for the article.

The Sands Hotel previously made news in 2024, when the now-dissolved Department of Integration wrote to 46 Ukrainian refugees residing in the hotel, informing them they must leave the property.

Causeway Group had told the Department that they would lower the rates of their contract in order to avoid the displacement of Ukrainian families.

The Sands Hotel also functions as one of Waterford City and County Councils primary outlets for emergency accommodation.

The hotel has previously attracted criticism from Waterford councillors who have argued the hotel is unfit for purpose, and the conditions are disgraceful.

The use of private companies in the States efforts to provide ample accommodation for Ukrainian refugees has stirred controversy across the political aisle.

While some have argued the hotels are providing a vital service in the accommodation of refugees, others have cited concerns with value for taxpayers money and impact on local communities.

In 2024, figures released at the Public Accounts Committee showed the State had been paying more than twice as much per night for refugee accommodation from private providers than state-owned housing.

Reacting to an article published by the Waterford News & Star examining how Waterford hoteliers earned 36 million from State contracts, Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane described the findings as stark reading.

Hotels were never the right long-term solution for IPAS and Ukrainian accommodation, Deputy Cullinane said.

This approach is not fair on taxpayers, is not sustainable, and means local hotels are taken away from community use and tourism.

Let me be clear: the Ukrainian community in Waterford is very welcome and they are not to blame for the situation or for where they have been placed.

The problem is with a Government policy that is not fit for purpose and has allowed private operators to profit heavily from an emergency accommodation model.

Party colleague Conor McGuinness accused Government of adopting an "ad hoc" approach that's overly reliant on private hoteliers.

"This is not about the people seeking refuge here. They are not responsible for the system that has been created," Deputy McGuinness said.

"In Waterford, there is also a clear local impact. Tourism accommodation has been taken out of use, affecting local economies, yet there is no support equivalent to the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) to recognise that loss."

Government Ministers of State Mary Butler (Fianna Fail) and John Cummins (Fine Gael) did not respond when approached for the original article.
Burford Capital Ltd. (NYSE:BUR) is one of the 10 oversold small cap stocks to buy now.

On March 30, Wedbush downgraded Burford Capital Ltd. (NYSE:BUR) stock rating to Neutral from Outperform. The firm also cut down the target price from $6 to $4.75. This came after the company released a press statement regarding their stance on the decision by the U.S. Appeals Court concerning YPF.

campaign-creators-pypeCEaJeZY-unsplash

In the statement, the company indicated that any fair value marks would trigger net worth requirements, which would prevent further debt issuance. Although there is no problem now, the limitation may lead to changes in the companys growth plans to generate more cash. It introduces another dimension of risk in terms of financial considerations, along with legal risks that have been discussed earlier.

On March 30, Mark DeVries from Deutsche Bank decreased the price target for Burford Capital Limited (NYSE:BUR) from $17 to $15, while reiterating a Buy rating on the stock. Despite the downward revision in price target, the stock still yields more than 207% upside potential, which should garner investor interest in this oversold small-cap name.

DeVries reflected on the reversal issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit against a previous ruling issued by the District Court, which held the Argentine Republic accountable for a contract breach.

According to DeVries, the markets performance since the first appeal hearing already suggested that this result was very likely. However, based on the facts of the case, the analyst still sees the final judicial reversal as highly unexpected and disappointing. Despite these immediate legal obstacles, DeVries asserts that the company remains significantly oversold at current trading levels.

Burford Capital Ltd. (NYSE:BUR) is a provider of legal finance goods and services globally. Its services include providing capital against the high-value litigation and arbitration cases, legal risk management, managing legal finance assets on behalf of third-party investors, and providing other services to the legal industry.

While we acknowledge the potential of BUR 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.
Review: Trio Bohemo at The Large Room

Tonight is the last of the spring concerts for Waterford-Musics season and what a concert Trio Bohemo performed. The large attendance gave a well-deserved standing ovation to the Trio for an emotion-packed programme that brings sustained applause all night.

Czechia group Trio Bohemo is recognised now as a real force on the international classical music scene with appearances all over Europe and Australia where they have received multiple awards. Their 2024 album, featuring works by Shubert and Smetana, was named Debut Album of the Year. The Trio features Matous PAruska on violin, Kristina Vocetkova on cello and Jan Vojtek on piano and are recognised for the intensity, energy and emotion of their performances.

Certainly, The Large Room witnessed a performance tonight that was punchy, intense and packed with emotion.

British composer Dame Judith Weir (born 1954) was appointed Master of the Kings Music in 2014 and was the first woman to hold this office. Her O Viridissima was inspired by Rhineland abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). Its a complex but immensely engaging composition that, despite its brevity, is full of texture and contrast. A rich, full-bodied melody on cello fills the room despite subtle bass chords from the piano sounding somewhat ominous.

The Beethoven Piano Trio No. 3 is a real crowd-pleaser, although Haydn advised against publishing for fear of its complexity and because it was so different. He neednt have feared because the trios, published in 1795, were a big hit with the buying public and announced a new composer on the block.

Elements of the drama of the Beethoven Fifth appear in the energy and power of the opening Allegro. The Andante gives us a time-out with its gentle piano theme and restrained strings entry. A boisterous Minuet thats full of attack would prove an impossible gig to dance to. Incredibly, despite the contrast between the melody of the strings and the pianos unstoppable downward scales, there is never a hint of tension here. The furious, driving closing returns to the intense opening mood and a finale with a difference.

Theres an eerie undertone to Amanda Feelys Gone to Earth thats created by insistent repetition of deep piano chords over constant attempts to create melody from strings. The tension and sense of danger thats created by repeated single notes from the piano mirrors the composers desire to capture the ominous threat of two mens desire to take what they feel is their own from a woman. Feelys brief composition is dangerous, intimidating and brilliant.

Shuberts Notturno in E-flat major is a beautifully crafted delight. A gentle harp-like opening from strings gives way to a flow of demanding piano phrases that grow in intensity and inject energy and passion into the piece.

The Ravel Piano Trio opens with a dazzling piano attack that shakes the Large Rooms audience. Ravels Piano Trio was born in that idyllic summer of 1914; that last glimpse of the old world before the slaughter in the trenches changed everything.

The outbreak of the Great War changed all that. Ravel, like so many millions of others, was seized with patriotic fervour and, though he was manifestly unfit for active service, he grimly set about the business of joining the armed forces. But first he had to finish the Trio: I am working with the certainty, the lucidity of a madman I have done five months work in five weeks.

Its genius work from the Trio Bohemo. Dazzling piano attack, a constant feel of improvisation, pumping energy, warm, deep, earthy solos from cello, piercing melodies from fiddle, gritty irregular rhythms in a Basque dance, plinkity-plonk pizzicato over devil-bass piano chords all make for a massive, melodic, triumphant rhapsody.

A triumphant trumpet-like conclusion sends us out into the night with that magical feeling of having witnessed something special from Trio Bohemo.
Review: Dancing at Lughnasa at Brewery Lane, Carrick-on-Suir

Whenever I see Brian Friels Dancing at Lughnasa I am filled with anger and sorrow in equal measure that the de Valera state not merely condoned the appalling treatment of women, but actively promoted it. Friels iconic tale of five sisters, all victims of the post-colonial state, was well told by Brewery Lane Theatre to a full house last week.

Set in Friels Ballybeg - small town, small mentality - the five sisters are utterly dependent on their sisters small salary as a local teacher to maintain them. The return of Fr Jack from the leper colony changes everything. Jack has gone native in Uganda and connects with their pagan ways. He is now an embarrassment to the church and this is 1936.

His return in disgrace leads to Kates dismissal from the local school by the local parish priest. Guilt by association and punishment for an entire family. Church and state in total harmony. North Korea now does the same to families if one member falls foul of the regime.

Friels script asks us to remember where we were, what we were, and warns against repeating that experience.

Director Maria Clancy makes the brave decision to opt for accents and the entire production sizzles under her care. Well thought out, it was picture-perfect. If five sisters are going to live together, the simple decor of kitchen and yard is always going to be spotless and feminine. A Marconi radio that doesnt always work is a nod to a changing world as music spins from a raucous reel to Cole Porter classics.

Performances throughout are a joy and the interpretation of the actors was beautifully understated - as it should have been.

Barry Comerford owns the stage as he ambles and narrates his way through the generational history of the five Mundy sisters and, by extension, the social history of living in Devs fledgling Irish Free State. Friels final curtain speech for Michael in Act 1, however, reveals what happens the Mundy sisters in the end and takes from the drama. Its never a good idea when the audience is ahead of the author.

Suzanne Shine is superb as the weary, "teacherly" teacher Kate, who cannot allow herself to ever forget her sense of duty "God, I am a righteous bitch, amnt I?"

Her role as matriarch of the family seems to wear her out and her gradual loss of presence and authority as events pan out is beautifully understated. Her face carries the weariness of a woman who has seen one dawn too many.

Pat Quinn Bolger gives a very moving performance as Aggie, the eldest and most caring of the sisters, who is constantly kind and concerned - an invisible presence that maintains the family.

Julie LaFontaine as Maggie, the man-and-cigarette-hunter, is full of fun and brings a sense of joy to the role - if I had brought a packet of Woodbines, I would have left them for her.

Sheenagh Raggett is a delight as the flighty Christina who loves a feckless rogue but is also a loving mother to Michael.

Jayne Tennyson is a delight as the simple sister Rosie, who is never afraid to assert her own independence. She exists somewhere between the rational and the not-quite-so; the audience loved her.

John ODriscoll as Father Jack catches the mood well as the pagan, unchristian world he celebrates turns out to be a more caring and loving land than Donegal in the thirties.

These two characters represent the significant others - the simple minds with a cosmic understanding that expresses truth and insight.

Colm Power as Christinas lover Gerry Evans is an interesting mix of principle, blather and daring-do with a spot-on Welsh accent. He joins the Communist Brigade to fight Franco as an adventurer and is injured falling off his bicycle. Heroes should be made of sterner stuff.

When Agnes declared: "I want to dance Kate. I want to dance," everyone in the audience knows exactly what she means. Sometimes words are not enough. The Mundy girls want a life and the glorious moment in Lughnasa when the sisters dance is a primal scream for a world that is falling apart. Kate loses her job because her brother, a priest, has gone native; her loss of income leads to the break-up of the family, with Agnes and Rose dying homeless and destitute in London.

One year later de Valera placed the family as the modular unit of society in his 1937 Constitution. Clearly the Mundys did not feature in his vision of post-colonial Ireland. Ultimately, Michael takes the boat, repudiating a state that allowed such injustice. Over one million people took the boat between the thirties and the fifties.

Director Maria Clancy and her cast give us a sensitive, thought-provoking two hours of theatre that is both moving and joyful. I love the subtle hints of a society approaching change - the radio, the picture-house, American classic songs - that speak of a different way of living.

Iconic plays such as Lughnasa deserve as much.
Drowning in plastic: How hard can it be to live for a week without plastic?

Single-use plastic is ubiquitous, but alternatives are growing. It should be simple for an environment reporter to live for one week without it, right? Wrong.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Here are some places microplastics have been found: human breastmilk and human semen. Antarctic penguins and the lungs of wild birds in Japan. Fresh fruit and vegetables. Bottled water. Clouds. The world creates around 450 million tonnes of new plastic each year, about half of which is designed to be used for moments before being thrown away. Less than 10 per cent of it is recycled. Which got me thinking: how hard would it be to avoid using any single-use plastic for a week? Couldnt I just opt out of the entire thing? Preparation Ive long been a bit of a hippie. Ive got a soft spot for patchouli and natural fibres, and a reflexive dislike of waste. I use beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap, refuse to use plastic produce bags in supermarkets, and avoided plastic shopping bags even before packaging companies skirted the ban on single-use by making them thicker and rebranding them as reusable. This should be a breeze, I think. Its not like Im trying to replicate A.J. Jacobs experiment for The New York Times, when he tried to go without even touching plastic for an entire day; going so far as to take a wooden chair onto the subway, and handwriting his observations by candlelight. To prepare for my week without single-use plastic, I head to Ceres, a sprawling environmental hub in Melbournes inner north.

Advertisement

I stock up on tooth powder in a glass jar ($20.95) and a toothbrush ($4.95), a shampoo bar ($13.95), conditioning bar ($20.95), and soap ($7.50). Despite my editors weird insistence on me using a hog-bristle toothbrush for the week, I can find no such thing. The bamboo toothbrush comes with plastic bristles, and so Ive failed before Ive even begun. Plastic isnt just ubiquitous, its cheap. My haul costs $68, more than double what youd expect to pay for equivalent mass-produced products encased in single-use plastics. Day one The tooth powder is awful. The cream-coloured powder contains various clays and salts, and ingredients like lime, clove, lemon myrtle, pepper berry and liquorice. Its cardboard packaging promises Ill be able to brush my teeth 200 times with the powder, saving 2.5 plastic toothpaste tubes from landfill. (It also promises to detox my breath and support my brain function; promises strangely lacking any scientific evidence.)

Advertisement

Using the powder is a disconcerting experience. I wet my toothbrush as directed, and dunk it into the powder. The salty and pungent powder adheres to the toothbrush and quickly turns to clay in my mouth. The flavour makes me gag and, when I spit out the paste to rinse, the whole mess has turned into a greyish-green mush. The prospect of doing this a further 199 times does not appeal. Later, my daughter and I head to the Queen Victoria Market to shop for fruit and veg. Im smug in the knowledge my cloth bags and metal nanna cart, as she calls it, will make skipping the ubiquitous plastic packaging found in supermarkets a breeze. Related Article Explainer

Pollution Why is there still so much plastic in the world  and what could replace it? We load up on fresh produce, and then  to her eternal mortification  I take my clean glass containers to the deli section, where store holders obligingly fill them without batting an eyelid. Maybe more people do this than Id realised. So far, by avoiding supermarkets and planning ahead, avoiding single-use plastic has been a breeze. But the day is not yet out. A friend comes over to deliver a beautiful, handmade recycled timber loft bed hes passing on to my son. Theres only one problem.

Advertisement

While my son had been sleeping on a double bed, this bunk has only space for a single mattress. I head over to a big box shop to pick up a new one, chosen both for the softness of the mattress, and also because it comes packaged in a cardboard box. Opening it at home, I discover the thing is wrapped in metres upon metres of thick plastic packaging. Its more plastic than I would bring home from a supermarket in weeks. Day two I have better luck with the shampoo, conditioner and soap bars, which are straightforward to use and lend the sweet and familiar scent of patchouli and rose. But then its time to walk the dog. This throws up a serious ethical and moral conundrum. Do I take the usual single-use biodegradable bags (which are designed to break down in landfill but still contain plastic) to pick up her droppings? Or do I follow A.J. Jacobs lead and bring along a metal spoon? Even by the standards of the inner north, this would mark me as a certified weirdo.

Advertisement

I often wonder  as Im getting yanked along on a walk by our highly strung dog  what generations to come will make of us when they start excavating all the billions of bags of dog poop we have so carefully interred in plastic. Will they think we were trying to preserve it? Either way, my conundrum is resolved when, as Im walking the dog with a metal spoon secreted up the sleeve of my jumper, she poops on a nature strip while theres no one in sight. We run for it. Day three The whole family is on board with the no-new plastic challenge. Tooth powder now coats our bathroom, and whenever one of the kids spills water onto the cabinetry, grey clay patches form. Unable to find glass bottles of milk, weve switched to milk cartons. They probably contain small amounts of plastic, but its the best I can find. Im failing in small but frustrating ways, despite the fact single-use plastic is living rent-free in my head (its probably in my brain for real, according to a 2024 US study that showed microplastics comprised about 0.5 per cent of the weight of an average brain). The most irritating single-use plastic, my editor and I agree, are the fruit stickers we both so detest. Its only as I peel a sticker off my Nashi pear  smugly bought at the market on day one that I realise theyve cost me failure number three.

Advertisement
Advertisement

PropertyNewsProperty downsizing Holiday of a lifetime: Maria is going on a golden gap year Sue Williams April 26, 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

When 65-year-old Maria Buzzo sold her big family house to downsize into an off-the-plan apartment, she knew shed have about 12 months to wait before the new home was ready. She could rent somewhere for the interim, she thought. But instead she decided to put everything into storage and buy a plane ticket to take a golden gap year. Why not? she asks, bags packed for her May 13 solo departure to Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. Maria Buzzo has sold her home and bought an apartment. Wolter Peeters I thought that this is a great opportunity to go away and travel, Buzzo says. I couldnt do that before, when I had a big house and pool and lawns to look after. But now this move has given me the freedom to do exactly as I like before coming back to settle into my new place. Buzzo sold her old home in the north-western Sydney suburb of Castle Hill and bought into a house-and-apartment development called Highforest, by Mirvac, in West Pennant Hills. She is part of a trend of downsizers taking the holiday of a lifetime between their old lives and new.

Advertisement

Were now seeing this happening a lot in both Sydney and Melbourne, says Warwick Bible, Mirvacs general manager of residential development in NSW. Its such a great thing. Theres a gap between exchange and settlement, and these buyers are seeing a wonderful chance to get away in the interim. Related Article Interior design Room service: Why you should steal these hotel design ideas Travel is so much part of the attraction of apartments for downsizers, so they can lock up and leave, but now theyre getting into it early and going on a wonderful holiday rather than waiting around for their apartment to be finished. Its marvellous to see downsizers setting off on these adventures, both international and domestic. At another downsizer-focused development  Wahroonga Estate on Sydneys upper north shore  a number of property buyers are indulging their wanderlust after selling their old homes, and taking off for excellent adventures. One couple put everything into storage, bought a camper trailer and set off on a 12-month tour around Australia. The construction period of new apartments tends to be two years and, rather than rent somewhere or move in with family, they decided to take advantage of that downtime, says developer Capital Corporations managing director, Jim Hunter.

Advertisement

Then a lot of the downsizers plan to carry on travelling once theyve moved into their new homes, Hunter says. Thats the beauty of apartment living; they wont have a lot of maintenance or looking after houses and lawns and pools to worry about. But this travelling for a golden gap year is a great idea, and its really picking up momentum. Research from insurance company Australian Seniors, on how Australians aged 50 and over are spending their money, found that older empty-nesters are keen to travel and are taking every opportunity to do so. An artists impression of the Highforest development. Mirvac Nearly two in five, or 39 per cent, had their last big holiday in the past year  a jump from 18 per cent in 2022  while 64 per cent feel comfortable about using their retirement savings for travel. At the same time, 43 per cent of the 1200 people surveyed believe creating travel memories is more important than leaving a financial inheritance. Thats absolutely true, says Murray Wood, director of Belle Property International, which is selling a number of projects to downsizers, including the Sydney CBD building 111 Castlereagh, Cbus Propertys 98-unit tower on top of the old David Jones mens store.

Advertisement

I know of a couple just off-hand, Wood says. One man and woman sold their business and their family home, ready to downsize into another of our projects  The Collective in Crows Nest  and, while theyre waiting for completion, have gone off touring the world. Theyll be back just before theyre due to move in, in October or November this year. Related Article Interior design Welcome to the world of Tom Dixon, where restlessness is a virtue Wood says that the hardest part of downsizing for anyone is navigating the sale of their house and the purchase of a new apartment, and trying to match dates. Instead, agents at regular downsizer seminars recommend selling their house and then waiting  as thats far simpler and more stress-free. But, even better, were seeing so many of them now taking that golden gap year and travelling, Wood says. Its really taking off, in both senses. Certainly, Buzzo cant wait. I was going to rent for a while, and then my eldest daughter said I could stay with her, she says. But going off overseas on the trip Ive been dreaming about all my life is the much more perfect solution.

Property listings
Advertisement

WorldEuropeAnzac Day Princess Catherine joins veterans at Anzac Day ceremony in London David Crowe April 26, 2026  2:38am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

London: Princess Catherine has marked Anzac Day by laying a wreath for Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in war, as hundreds of people gathered for the ceremony in central London. The Princess of Wales led the wreath-laying at the Cenotaph before joining a commemoration at Westminster Abbey, where she spoke briefly to some of the children attending the service. Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the wreath laying and parade service as part of the Anzac Day commemorations at Cenotaph. AP Earlier on Saturday in London, Princess Anne laid a wreath at the customary dawn service at the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. The ceremonies in Britain followed those at Gallipoli, where an estimated 1600 people gathered for the dawn service at the scene of the landings in 1915, with many people sleeping near the site overnight to ensure they could attend.

Advertisement

While the dawn services in Sydney and Melbourne were disrupted by booing during the Welcome to Country, those in Europe went smoothly. In London, hundreds of people stopped on Whitehall to watch the Princess walk to the Cenotaph after the Royal Marines Portsmouth Road Band marched to the main thoroughfare near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Loading Tourists joined Australians and New Zealanders in the crowd to watch the ceremony at 11am (8pm, AEST) and mark the minutes silence for those who died. The service began with a Maori welcome spoken by Reverend Dr Lyndon Drake, a college chaplain at Oxford University and previously the Maori Anglican Archdeacon of Tamaki Makaurau in New Zealand.

Advertisement

In a longstanding practice, Australia and New Zealand alternate the management of the service, and this year was the turn of the New Zealand High Commission. Related Article Perspective

Anzac Day He died at the moment the war ended: The young Australian who helped the Czech partisans The high commissioners for Australia and New Zealand, Jay Weatherill and Hamish Cooper, walked together to the Cenotaph to lay wreaths. While the ceremony was held to honour Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in conflict and recognise all who served their countries, it included many from the United Kingdom. The Royal Marines band played the national anthems of all three countries. Australian troops landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, as part of a combined force that numbered hundreds of thousands of soldiers. The military campaign failed, and the forces withdrew in December that year, at which point the operation had led to 26,111 Australian casualties, including 8,141 deaths.

Advertisement

While records vary, the Gallipoli campaign led to the deaths of an estimated 2779 soldiers from New Zealand, 21,255 from Great Britain and Ireland, about 10,000 from France and 1,358 from India, among other nations. The Turks and the Ottoman Empire suffered 251,000 casualties, including 86,692 dead. The Princess of Wales laid a wreath with a handwritten message from the Prince of Wales and herself, signed by Catherine and William. It said: In memory of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. A crowd gathered along Whitehall to watch the wreath-laying ceremony. AP The Princess of Wales attended the service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. AP The wreath was laid on behalf of King Charles, who is due to arrive in America on Monday for a four-day visit that includes meetings with US President Donald Trump and a state dinner at the White House.

Advertisement

Following the ceremony and parade on Whitehall, veterans and official guests walked to Westminster Abbey for a service that included prayers read by children from each country and a Maori song performed by Ngati Ranana. Princess Anne, also known as the Princess Royal, attended the dawn service where the Last Post and Reveille were played. The Princess Royal lays a wreath at a dawn service commemorating Anzac Day at the New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, London. AP The dawn service included a reading of In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, a poem written for those who fell on the Western Front during the First World War. At the Cenotaph hours later, Reverend Drake read from For The Fallen, by Laurence Binyon: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Advertisement

Anzac Day services have been held in London since King George V attended the first at Westminster Abbey in 1916 to mark the anniversary of the landings. 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.


Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaTrump's White House Shots fired: How the aborted gala for White House journalists unfolded Michael Koziol April 26, 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

Washington: Shots fired! Those were the words that sent White House journalists, lobbyists, political staffers and the most senior members of the Trump administration ducking for cover under tables on what was supposed to be the night of nights for Washingtons media and political class. The stage was set for a tantalising, record-breaking evening. Donald Trump, who had never attended the event as president, was at the long table at the front of the Hilton Hotel ballroom, alongside the first lady. Only moments earlier, one of his staffers was telling me how excited he was to deliver his speech  traditionally a comedic roast. A lot of time and effort went into crafting something memorable. Melania and Donald Trump with Weijia Jiang (right), the White House Correspondents Association president, at the dinner. Bloomberg It wasnt to be. Barely had the evening started  guests had just been told to sit for dinner  when gunshots were heard inside the ballroom. Trump later said it sounded like the clatter of a tray. But to reporter Juan Merlano, it sounded like gunfire. The dinner hadnt even started yet and we heard shootings, like bangs, the Colombian TV correspondent said. I heard them from inside the room but we knew that it was just outside. Someone said, Shots fired, shots fired. Then everybody just went under the table. People were screaming and nobody knew what was going to happen.

Advertisement

The Secret Service went into the ballroom, heavily armed. The police also went in. They took the president, ushered him out, and they start to search for each of the Cabinet members at the tables. Law enforcement officers respond during an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner. AP Merlano, like many other journalists, got out as soon as he could. Not necessarily because of instinct but because, being reporters, they needed to file copy and video about this huge breaking news  and the phone reception inside the Hiltons underground ballroom is notoriously bad. Fox News Peter Doocy stood on the same corner doing a live cross as others waited for word about whether the event would resume. Trump soon posted on social media: as much as he would like to go back inside, the Secret Service recommended against it. Guests and hotel workers outside the Washington Hilton after they were forced to evacuate. AP

Advertisement

Instead, he would return to the White House and hold a live news conference in just 30 minutes. Reporters high-tailed it downtown, some running along 18th Street. Trump was whisked away at lightning speed  a reporter from the daily press pool travelling with the president said it was the fastest motorcade Ive ever been in. As always with breaking news, there were conflicting early reporters about what had happened. CNN initially reported the shooter was dead  the Secret Service quickly said he had, in fact, been apprehended. A 31-year-old man from California, Cole Tomas Allen, spent the night in custody. Trump said he was caught with multiple weapons. Trump shared an image of the alleged gunman, who was arrested at the Washington Hilton. Truth Social The shooters dash towards the ballroom was brazen and shocking, although it seems that ultimately, the security set-up  enormous at functions such as these  did its job. Still, at an after party at the Swiss ambassadors residence later in the night, many attendees expressed shock at how relaxed the entry screening was at the correspondents dinner. The only thing guests needed to show was a printed invitation to reach the security perimeter where the gunman was taken down.

Advertisement

At the White House, Trump, with his tuxedo still on, appeared unfazed by the whole experience. It wasnt his first time, he noted drily. The president was adamant he would not allow another act of apparently politically motivated violence to change the way he performs his job or lives his life. These crazy people could not be allowed to change the fabric of our lives, he said. Were not going to cancel things out. Indeed, his main message was that the show would go on  the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days, and he would be there. Loading He also took the time to praise the spirit of unity and camaraderie that was evident in the room before the disruption.

Advertisement

You had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives, Trump said. There was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I was very, very impressed by that. No doubt the US president will go back to lashing the fake news and sparring with reporters shortly. But not tonight. Tonight they were as one  victims of an all-too-familiar pattern in America and no closer to changing it. 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.
Advertisement

Updated WorldNorth AmericaCrime What we know about the alleged shooter arrested at the presidential dinner Staff reporters April 26, 2026  2:38pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The California man arrested in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump. A photo of Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, posted to social media last year shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. His face appears to match the appearance of the alleged attacker taken into custody at the dinner Saturday night in Washington that was attended by Trump and top members of his administration. A search of state and federal court databases showed no indication Allen had ever previously been charged with a crime. Donald Trump shared an image of the alleged gunman, who was arrested at the Washington Hilton. Truth Social Voter registration records from California lists Allens home address as his parents house on a tree-lined street in one of the most historic neighbourhoods in Torrance, a city within the Los Angeles metro area. Public records show he is the oldest of four adult siblings, with two younger sisters and a brother.

Advertisement

Two cars were parked in the driveway on Sunday morning (California time). A blue scooter that a neighbour said Allen rode was on the front lawn. No one answered the door when an Associated Press reporter knocked. Allen contributed $US25 ($35) to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records. A yard sign displayed at the family home supported a local candidate for judge who was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. FBI agent near his home in Torrance, California on Sunday. AP Law enforcement officials told the AP that Cole Allen legally bought a .38-calibre semi-automatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun last year. Allen earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, according to his profile on the social networking site LinkedIn. He also listed his involvement there in a campus group that battled with Nerf guns and a Christian student fellowship.

Advertisement

The suspects father, Thomas Allen, is listed as an elder at Grace United Reformed Church Torrance. The webpage for the congregation describes it as a Bible-believing church following the infallible Word of God. Security guards posted at the sanctuary during worship services on Sunday escorted parishioners to the door and kept reporters at bay. Media in front of a house connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged gunman. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Bin Tang, a computer science professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, told the AP that Allen took a few of his classes before graduating last year. He was a very good student indeed, always sitting in the first row of my class, paying attention, and frequently emailing me with coursework questions. Soft-spoken, very polite, a good fellow. I am very shocked to see the news, Tang wrote in an email. A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Advertisement

Allens online resume says he worked for the last six years at C2 Education, a company that offers admissions counselling and test preparation services to aspiring college students. A 2024 post on the companys Facebook page listed Allen as the companys teacher of the month. The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday night. Allen also posted that he had developed a video game for the Steam platform based on molecular chemistry. A post under Allens name said he was working to develop a new top-down shooter combat game set in outer space. With AP, Bloomberg 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.
The iShares MSCI China ETF ( NASDAQ:MCHI ) is the most comprehensive single-fund way to own China. According to the iShares MCHI fact sheet, it tracks the MSCI China Index (Net) and includes A-shares via Stock Connect, H-shares listed in Hong Kong, and US-listed ADRs, which means the fund captures large-cap internet names, state-owned banks, insurers, consumer companies, and industrials in a single wrapper. Assets total $6.6 billion, and the expense ratio of 59 basis points is competitive for a dedicated single-country emerging-market fund.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks. Get them here FREE .

The three ETFs we are covering are the most popular ways to play this potential rebound. Each one gives you a different angle on China. You can go with broad market exposure, a specific bet on internet platforms, or a fund that tilts toward large, state-linked companies. Picking the right one is really just a matter of deciding which part of the recovery you believe in most.

But that story is finally starting to change. In January, the GDP numbers for the end of 2025 came in at 4.5%, enough to help the government hit its 5% target for the year. This shift toward a moderate recovery, rather than a total collapse, is making people who had written off the market take a second look.

Chinese stocks have spent the last five years really testing the patience of even the most hardcore contrarians. Between the property sector struggles, the crackdown on tech platforms, and the constant friction over chip exports and tariffs, valuations have been pushed down across the board.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE .

Chinas GDP growth of 4.5% and moderation in property struggles and tech crackdowns are prompting investors to reconsider the market after five years of underperformance.

iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) holds $6.6B in assets with a 59 basis point expense ratio and tracks large-cap internet names, state-owned banks, insurers, and industrials across A-shares, H-shares, and US-listed ADRs. KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) concentrates 83% in consumer discretionary and communication services with $6B in assets, tracking e-commerce, search, short video, and food delivery platforms. iShares FTSE China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) tracks the 50 largest Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies with a 74 basis point expense ratio and tilts toward state-owned enterprises in banking, insurance, energy, and telecoms.

Story Continues

The investment logic for a contrarian is straightforward. Sector weights tilt toward communication services at 20%, consumer discretionary at 14%, and technology at 8%, so the fund participates in domestic demand recovery, a platform-economy rerating, and any stabilization in bank balance sheets, without requiring a correct call on which of those three does the heavy lifting. Top holdings Tencent at 15% and Alibaba at 10% give the portfolio a clear mega-cap internet skew, balanced by positions in China Construction Bank, ICBC, Ping An, and BYD.

Performance tells the contrarian story. MCHI sits at $57, up 15% over the trailing year and roughly 47% from where it traded two years ago, yet it remains down about 22% over five years. The dividend yield of 2.2% is modest but real. The main caveat is that any single-country China fund carries concentrated geopolitical and currency risk, and Tencent and Alibaba together account for roughly a quarter of the portfolio.

KWEB: A Concentrated Bet on the Platform Economy

The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSEARCA:KWEB) is the purest liquid vehicle for the China internet thesis. Per the KraneShares KWEB fund page, the fund tracks the CSI Overseas China Internet Index and concentrates exposure in e-commerce, search, short video, food delivery, and online travel. Consumer discretionary and communication services combined account for more than 83% of the portfolio, which is the point of owning it.

The mechanism linking KWEB to a rebound is narrower than that of MCHI. This fund works if Beijing's posture toward platform companies continues to normalize, if antitrust enforcement stays predictable, and if consumer spending on the internet reaccelerates. Top holdings span the sector: Tencent at 10, Alibaba at 9%, PDD at 7%, Meituan at 7%, followed by Trip.com, Kanzhun, Kuaishou, and JD.com. Assets stand at roughly $6 billion, and the fund carries an expense ratio of 70 basis points.

KWEB is the most contrarian option on the list, trading around $28, down 55% over five years and essentially flat over a decade. Year to date, the fund is off about 16%, and the trailing twelve-month return is negative. The tradeoff here is concentration in every direction at once: sector, regulation, and ADR structure. Many holdings are variable interest entities listed in the US, which introduces a layer of delisting and conversion risk that broader China funds mute.

FXI: The Liquid, State-Linked Large-Cap Vehicle

The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI) tracks the FTSE China 50 Index, covering the 50 largest Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong, according to the iShares FXI summary prospectus. Geographic allocation is 91% China, with Hong Kong at 7%, which, by construction, tilts the fund toward state-owned enterprises in banking, insurance, energy, and telecoms, alongside a sleeve of the same internet names found in MCHI. The expense ratio is 74 basis points, and FXI has traded since October 2004, making it the oldest and typically the most liquid China ETF.

FXI's role in a contrarian portfolio is distinct from MCHI or KWEB. Its SOE weighting makes it more sensitive to Chinese fiscal stimulus, property-sector policy, commodity prices, and dividend payouts from banks, and less reliant on a platform rerating. It is also the fund most commonly used for tactical positioning because of deep options activity and tight spreads.

Shares trade around $36, up roughly 11% over the past year and about 54% from two years ago, while still down 12% over five years. The caveat is that FXI excludes A-shares entirely, so an investor using it is making an explicit bet on Hong Kong-listed state-linked champions rather than broad mainland equity exposure.

Choosing Among the Three

An investor wanting a single diversified line item for China exposure most naturally gravitates to MCHI, which spreads risk across sectors, share classes, and listing venues. KWEB takes a narrower view, arguing that the platform economy is the part of China most mispriced after the regulatory reset. FXI suits tactical or income-oriented positioning tied to state-owned enterprises, stimulus, and Hong Kong-listed large caps, and is the most common vehicle for options-based expressions of a China view.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

This analyst's 2025 picks are up 106% on average. He just named his top 10 stocks to buy in 2026. Get them here FREE.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  As excitement builds ahead of Derby week, thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks took over the Ohio River Saturday for a race with a purpose.

More than 37,000 ducks were released along the downtown waterfront during the annual Ken-Ducky Derby, creating a colorful spectacle as they floated toward the finish line.

The event supports Harbor House of Louisville, an organization focused on empowering people with disabilities and their families through programs and services.

Participants purchased ducks for a chance to win prizes, including a top prize of up to $1 million. Organizers offered options to buy a single duck for $5 or bundles of 30 for $100.

By the end of the event, more than $139,000 was raised to support Harbor Houses mission.

Organizers say the fundraiser continues to grow each year, combining fun and philanthropy as the city counts down to the Kentucky Derby.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  Gospel music will fill the riverfront this Sunday as GospelFest returns to Krogers Fest-a-Ville as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Presented by Passport by Molina Healthcare and Republic Bank, the event takes place Sunday, April 26 at the Waterfront from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission requires a 2026 Pegasus Pin.

The showcase will feature gospel choirs and artists from across the region, blending traditional and contemporary gospel performances.

Headliners include Tatiana Barnett, Nate Bean & 4Given, Antwaun Cooks and Jason Clayborn.

Other performers include IMMERSE, Sonz of Zion, Blessed, Jarrell White & Friends, Stewart Stiles, The True Worshippers (TTW) and Pat Mathison.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
Story Highlights Opening day blended first-time Derby experiences with long-standing traditions among returning fans.

Attendees embraced the atmosphere of Louisvilles signature event, from fashion statements to race-day betting.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  Churchill Downs was packed with people for opening day Saturday.

People showed up in their best outfits, and, after a full day of betting on races, some left with a little more money in their pockets than they came with.

"This is our first Derby," said Elena Pearson, who was in town for a work trip and attending Opening Day was a last-minute decision.

"We've always wanted to come so we were not going to pass up this opportunity to come," Mia Clark said.

"Derby is the one time of the year where everybody comes together whether you're from Kentucky or not," Francis said.

"The Louisville culture really shows up at Derby. It's one of the reasons I love living here," Felicia Smith said.

Many spectators, including Kenya Natsis, brought out their biggest fascinators.

"What we believe here is that you go big or you go home," Natsis said.

Aside from the excitement of seeing everybody dressed up, some were excited to bet on horse races.

"We may have won more than 50 percent of the races," Pearson said.

Adam Tobey comes to Derby every year to bet. He said he left Opening Day with more money than he came with.

"Its been a roller coaster of a day. I've won some money. I've lost some money, but the last couple of races, I've won a couple hundred bucks," Tobey said. "So, it's been a nice day."

Tobey said he's coming back most of next week to enjoy the festivities.

"Come on. Look around. Look at the people. Everybody's dressed up, having fun. You can't beat this. You can't beat it," Tobey said.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  Louisville Metro Police said a man was shot and killed Saturday in Louisville's Chickasaw neighborhood.

LMPD said it happened around 2:30 p.m. Saturday at a house in the 700 block of Dearborn Avenue. Officers were responding to "a report of a corpse" when they found a man's body.

Police said the victim was shot in the abdomen, and he died at the scene.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim Sunday as 64-year-old Jimmie Robertson.

LMPD's Homicide Unit is investigating.

LMPD asks anyone with information about the case to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673) or submit an anonymous tip on the Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
Amid the ongoing Iran war, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth has cautioned that air travel costs could surge, and flight availability may dwindle.

Wirth, on Thursday, expressed that the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz is causing instability in global markets, leading to a rise in fuel prices. Weve seen some upward pressure on gasoline prices now. I think aviation is clearly an area where its going to probably get worse over the next few weeks, he said on CBSs Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.

He also pointed out that the jet fuel market in Europe and Asia is tightening rapidly, compelling airlines to modify their flight schedules and hike fares. Were seeing it flow through into fares. I think thats one of the first places it will be felt most broadly, Wirth noted.

Don't Miss:

And yes, fares  fares could be higher, he said.

Wirth highlighted that a jet fuel shortage was already in effect in certain regions before the Iran war commenced on Feb. 28. In response, airlines have increased bag check fees and cut down routes. He noted that U.S. airlines are somewhat better positioned than European peers because the U.S. produces its own jet fuel.

As per AAA, the average gasoline price in the U.S. is $4.059 per gallon.

Hormuz Crisis Hits Airline Profits

Wirths comments come in the wake of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Chief calling the Hormuz crisis the biggest energy security threat in history. With the world losing 13 million barrels per day of oil supply, it surpasses the disruption caused by the 1973 and 1979 oil crises combined.

See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

North American jet fuel prices have jumped over 80% year-on-year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Rising oil prices are squeezing airline profitability, forcing carriers to rethink per-seat revenue strategies, while uneven demand persists as cost-sensitive travelers pull back and premium customers continue spending.

A March report by the Wall Street Journal stated that Delta Air Lines, Inc, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. were rapidly expanding premium seating, with business and first-class growth far outpacing economy since 2020, while Southwest Airlines Co. added extra-legroom options and fare tiers to boost revenue.
If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now!

Submit
A woman who was discovered with serious injuries at a house in Galway after an alleged assault on Friday night has passed away.

Gardai were alerted to a serious assault incident that occurred at a residential property in Ballybrit, Galway on Friday, April 24 at approximately 11.45pm.

A woman, aged 65 years, was removed from the scene to University Hospital Galway in a serious condition and passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A post-mortem examination has taken place the results of which are not being disclosed for operational reasons.

The scene remains preserved and is continuing to being examined by the Garda Technical Bureau.

A man, aged in his 30s, has since been arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region.

Investigations are ongoing.
Feedstock is based on 1/3 imported crude and 2/3 domestic crude supply. In February and March, Dangote imported an average 215,000 b/d of WTI Midland and WTI grades, reflecting both pricing advantages and compatibility with its configuration. But that flow is already being tested . With WTI increasingly pulled into Asia-Pacific markets amid the disruption of Middle Eastern supply routes and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, availability has become tighter. The result is a search of alternatives: Dangote has sourced a Suezmax cargo of Guyanese Golden Arrowhead crude (36 degrees API), around 145,000 tonnes sold by Chevron, marking the first such shipment from Guyana to West Africa. It is a small but telling signal of how flexible sourcing will need to become as Atlantic Basin barrels are getting pricier and less available. Domestic crude still anchors the system. In March, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) supplied around 380,000 b/d to the refinery out of total 580,000 b/d.

By March, the refinery was running at 94% capacity, producing around 303,000 b/d of gasoline against domestic demand of roughly 300,000 b/d. For the first time, a single facility was sufficient to cover national gasoline consumption. That alone would mark a structural break from the past. However, roughly one-sixth of gasoline output is now exported, with 45,000 b/d shipped in March primarily to neighbouring African markets such as Ivory Coast, the DRC, and Mozambique (for the first time ever). What used to be a regional redistribution model is increasingly turning into a platform for arbitrage.

The change in Nigerias refining system is concentrated in a single asset. Nigerias three state-owned refineries remain non-operational, constrained by a familiar mix of weak economics, governance failures, and infrastructure decay. Instead, the entire turnaround story rests on the 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery, which began operations in January 2024 and has rapidly scaled up operations to become the dominant force in the countrys downstream sector.

Nigeria is finally starting to fix a long-standing imbalance: a major crude exporter that couldnt meet its own fuel demand. That shift is now materializing in hard numbersand it is being driven entirely by the Dangote refinery, which is already running close to full capacity and shows little sign of slowing. In a market starved of refined products, this rising refining giant is quickly emerging as one of the few reliable sources in the current supply squeeze, particularly for Europe. In March, gasoline exports rose to 55,000 b/d while imports fell to around 40,000 b/dthe lowest import level in a decadeeffectively flipping the country to a net gasoline exporter for the first time in history. At a moment when global refining margins are soaring, with crack spreads across diesel and jet fuel hovering at record highs, the timing could hardly be more advantageous.

Story Continues

If gasoline tells the story of import substitution, jet fuel reveals the export opportunity. Domestic demand stands at just 13,000 b/d, yet Dangote exported around 100,000 b/d in March. Europe has emerged as a key destination, absorbing roughly half of these volumes. The pull is obvious: jet crack spreads have been trading in a crisis-inflated range of $86108/bbl through April, while inventories in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub have dropped to 597,000 tonnes  the lowest since April 2020. In early April alone, 1.6 million barrels of jet fuel were loaded for Europe (already exceeding March totals) with France, Spain and the UK among the key buyers.

This creates a straightforward arbitrage logic: Dangotes owner may feel tempted to redirect flows from lower-margin African markets toward Europe. In practice, Dangote could shift as much as an additional 40,000 b/d of jet exports away from regional buyers to Europe without straining domestic supply. The constraint is not demand  it is logistics. Freight rates from West Africa to ARA have surged to $8.5/bbl for a 60 kt Aframax cargo and close to $10/bbl for 40 kt cargoes, with voyage times stretching 1722 days. At current jet margins, the economics are still clear  even with freight prices at $8.5-10/bbl of jet selling to Europe is lucrative enough; for diesel, the picture is tighter.

Domestic diesel consumption in Nigeria stood at 90,000 b/d in March, while Dangote produced around 104,000 b/d. Only 15,000 b/d was absorbed locally (as country largely runs on gasoline), leaving roughly 65,000 b/d for export, primarily to South Africa, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast. With European diesel cracks also elevated  trading in the $4555/bbl range  there is a growing temptation to pivot away from regional markets. The question is whether freight costs continue to cap that shift or whether sustained margin strength forces a reorientation regardless. So far, no diesel cargoes are heading from Nigeria to Europe.

The strategy of the company extends beyond fuels. Dangote plans to double refining capacity to 1.4 million b/d by 2028 in partnership with Honeywell, integrating petrochemical production into the complex. The project targets 750,000 t/year of propylene and 400,000 t/year of detergents, effectively pushing the refinery into higher-margin chemical value chains. Upstream integration, while still modest, is also emerging. The Dangote group currently produces around 4,500 b/d from the Kalaekule field, with output expected to rise to 15,000 b/d in the coming months. On its own, this is not transformative, but it signals a broader ambition to control more of the value chain from crude to chemicals.

Still, the story is not frictionless. The refinery may be running near full capacity, but the system around it is far less stable. Crude supply is the first issue. Pipeline disruptions and theft continue to affect flows, while Nigerias domestic crude is often too light and sweet for optimal runs, pushing Dangote to import crude to balance its feedstock. That immediately exposes it to global price volatility.

Then there is the relationship with NNPC, where supply volumes, pricing and payment structures remain inconsistent, adding another layer of uncertainty. On the export side, the constraint is simpler: freight is expensive now and is predicted to stay so even after the blockade of Hormuz is over. Moving products from West Africa to Europe can quickly exhaust the margins, limiting how much can realistically be redirected even in a tight market. And over all of this sits policy risk. Nigerias fuel pricing and supply rules can shift quickly, and the pressure to prioritize domestic needs over exports never fully goes away. The result is a refinery that works  but operates in an environment that is highly unpredictable.

And yet, even within these constraints, Dangote still stands out. Europe needs barrels, urgently and structurally, and there are not many places left to source them at scale. That leaves Nigerias new refining giant one of the more credible answers to Europes fuel shortage answers  at least where freight still makes the trade work.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com

Oilprice Intelligence brings you the signals before they become front-page news. This is the same expert analysis read by veteran traders and political advisors. Get it free, twice a week, and you'll always know why the market is moving before everyone else.

You get the geopolitical intelligence, the hidden inventory data, and the market whispers that move billions - and we'll send you $389 in premium energy intelligence, on us, just for subscribing. Join 400,000+ readers today. Get access immediately by clicking here.
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.
The Israel-U.S. war with Iran is proving to be frustrating.

Not just for the combatants or the politicians.

Just ask any motorist who has to fill a gas tank regularly.

GasBuddy's daily report on gas prices shows U.S. prices jumped from $2.972 per gallon on Feb. 28, as the first Israel-U.S. attacks on Iran began, to an average $4.167 on April 8, a gain of nearly 40% and, at the time, an 83% jump for the year.

Then, there was a lull as peace talks were held; then, talk of a deal. Or President Trump was talking about a deal. And GasBuddy's U.S. average fell 4.6% to $3.977 on April 19.

Gas prices are rising again

Alas, the lull was short-lived.

The price is now about $4.07 per 42-gallon barrel because light sweet crude, the U.S. benchmark, rose 14% in the past week as worries grew the war and the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz were nowhere nearing an end.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, was up 17% to $105.33 a gallon.

Related: Exxon Mobil's future rests on massive play (it isn't Venezuela)

To underscore the point on frustration, a negotiation meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, between Iran and the United States was cancelled after President Donald Trump told his envoys the travel time was too great. Besides, the Iranians delegation had already left.

And Trump conceded in a social media post that he didn't know who was really in charge in Iran.

High prices rise even higher

The uncertainty has meant that gas prices in California, the highest-priced state, are nearing $6 on average and rising. Averages in two rural counties  Mono and Lassen  already are above $6.40 and prices counties near San Francisco are at or near $6.

The cheapest gas in the United States is still in Oklahoma, with a statewide average of $3.47, GasBuddy says.

Patrick DeHaan, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, told me at TheStreet.com that he doesn't see any big price breaks soon. The will to talk just doesn't seem to be there.

Metro area prices vary nationally

Rising prices across the United States couldn't come at a worse time.

Prices typically rise in the spring and early summer anyway as U.S. refiners build supply and change their recipes to make gasoline more environmentally friendly.

So, you see the average price in San Jose nearly $5.90 a gallon. In Portland, Ore., and Las Vegas, prices have now topped $5. The closer you get to the Gulf Coast the lower the price, however. New Orleans was averaging $3.64 on Friday; Nashville was at $3.73.

Why it may take time to bring prices down

The big problem consumers and businesses now face is that the crude oil increasingly isn't there, however, or not enough of it, GasBuddy's DeHaan said. Shortages are growing in gasoline, jet fuel and related products.
Helix ended the quarter with $501 million of cash and $612 million of liquidity, and Staffeldt said the company was maintaining its 2026 guidance despite an uncertain macro environment. Helixs 2026 outlook includes:

Staffeldt reported first-quarter revenue of $288 million and gross profit of $9 million, resulting in a net loss of $13 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $32 million, with operating cash flow of $62 million and free cash flow of $59 million. He highlighted strong utilization on the Q4000, improved well intervention rates, the Thunder Hawk workover and return to production, and the reactivation of the Seawell as the North Sea returned to a two-vessel market.

Helix Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Erik Staffeldt said the company delivered another well-executed quarter but noted that first-quarter performance reflected expected seasonal levels during the winter in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico shelf, which impacted well intervention, robotics, and shallow water abandonment. He also cited costs tied to the successful workover of Thunder Hawk Field.

Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX) and Hornbeck Offshore Services used a joint conference call to outline a planned all-stock combination and to review Helixs first-quarter 2026 financial results. Executives from both companies emphasized the strategic rationale of pairing Helixs well intervention, robotics, and subsea services with Hornbecks fleet of offshore support vessels, while also highlighting expected synergies and a broader end-market opportunity set spanning energy, defense, and renewables.

The pro forma business would operate a ~73vessel fleet with a fair market value of $2.8 billion and about $2 billion of combined backlog, increasing exposure to deepwater, defense and renewables markets and leveraging ROV and trenching capabilities.

Helix reported Q1 revenue of $288 million, a net loss of $13 million and adjusted EBITDA of $32 million, ended the quarter with $501 million in cash and $612 million of liquidity, and reiterated 2026 guidance of $1.21.4 billion revenue, $230290 million EBITDA, $7080 million capex, and $100160 million free cash flow.

The companies agreed an all-stock deal expected to close in 2H 2026 with Helix shareholders owning ~45% and Hornbeck ~55%; management expects the merger to produce $75 million+ in annual synergies within three years and the combined company will trade as HOS with Todd Hornbeck as CEO and Bill Transier as chairman.

Story Continues

Revenue of $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion

EBITDA of $230 million to $290 million, reflecting the Thunder Hawk workover and an upcoming Siem Helix 1 docking

Capital expenditures of $70 million to $80 million, focused on maintenance and robotics fleet renewal

Free cash flow of $100 million to $160 million

 Pipelines and Automation: 2 Energy Plays Built for Any Oil Price

Staffeldt said oil supply disruptions, higher commodity prices, and increased regulatory enforcement in the North Sea could support activity through 2025, 2026, and into 2027.

All-stock deal targets 2H 2026 close and $75 million-plus in synergies

Helix Chairman Bill Transier said the combination would create a premier integrated offshore services company and a recognized leader in offshore operations with a diversified, high-specification fleet backed by subsea robotics, well intervention, and technical services, including trenching pipelines and cables.

 3 Stocks Poised to Grow on European Rearmament Spending

Transier said the transaction is structured as an all-stock deal, with closing expected in the second half of 2026, subject to Helix shareholder approval, regulatory approvals, and customary conditions. At closing, Helix shareholders are expected to own approximately 45% of the combined company and Hornbeck shareholders approximately 55%. He added that parties representing a significant majority of Hornbeck ownership, including Ares Management funds, delivered written consents approving the transaction.

Management said the deal is expected to generate $75 million or more in annual revenue and cost synergies within three years after closing. In Q&A, Hornbeck Chairman, President, and CEO Todd Hornbeck said the companies had not yet provided a specific split between revenue and cost synergies, adding that more detail would be included in the merger proxy. Hornbeck said the majority would likely come from revenue synergies and efficiencies enabled by integrating service offerings.

Leadership, branding, and headquarters plans

Under the proposed governance structure, Todd Hornbeck would serve as president and CEO of the combined company, Transier would serve as chairman, and the board would comprise seven directors (three from Helix and four from Hornbeck, including Todd Hornbeck). Transier said the combined company would operate under the Hornbeck Offshore Services name and trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol HOS, while the Helix brand would be retained for well intervention services. Headquarters would be in Houston, Texas, and Covington, Louisiana.

Transier also noted that Helix CEO Owen Kratz, who previously announced plans to retire, agreed to support Todd Hornbeck through the closing and remain available thereafter as needed.

Combined fleet and market positioning: deepwater, defense, and trenching

Todd Hornbeck described Hornbeck as a provider of ultra-high spec marine logistics services with operations across the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. He said Hornbeck has approximately 71 vessels in its current fleet, with two multi-purpose support vessels (MPSVs) under construction for delivery in 2027. Hornbeck reported adjusted EBITDA of $288 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40% for fiscal 2025, and said the pro forma fleet would be 73 vessels with a fair market value of $2.8 billion.

Helix EVP and COO Scotty Sparks said the companies footprints are complementary, with Helix operating in regions including West Africa, Asia Pacific, and the North Sea, alongside the U.S. and Brazil, while Hornbeck is concentrated in the Americas. Sparks said about half of combined revenue is expected to come from the U.S., followed by Brazil and the North Sea.

Todd Hornbeck also emphasized increased exposure to defense markets, citing a fleet supporting military operations and emerging technologies such as marine autonomy and artificial intelligence.

Q&A: backlog, day rates, Mexico outlook, and ROV lead times

Executives said the combined companies referenced approximately $2 billion of backlog in the presentation. Sparks said Helixs backlog is close to $1 billion covering a significant portion this year and into next year, and Todd Hornbeck said Hornbecks backlog is also about $1 billion, including long-term military contracts.

On market conditions, Sparks said North Sea demand for decommissioning is high and rates are improving modestly, while the Gulf of Mexico remains relatively flat on rates but could tighten into 2026 and 2027 with increased rig activity. He added that Brazil is supported by long-term contracts.

Asked about Mexico, Todd Hornbeck said Woodsides Trion project began in earnest in February and that Hornbeck has four long-term contracts with Woodside, plus a 10-year commitment covering marine support for supply vessels. He also said the tone in Mexico appeared to be shifting toward bringing international oil companies back, calling the outlook promising over the next couple of years.

On offshore support vessel markets, Todd Hornbeck said the company focuses on ultra-deepwater classes and expects tightening supply-demand dynamics in the second half of the year, citing leading edge rates in the mid-$40s. He also said Hornbeck has 23 vessels available for reactivation, describing reactivation as minor capital.

On ROVs, Sparks said building a new ROV currently has about a six-month lead time, and that Helix could scale with a batch build every month after to add additional units. He also said Helix sees increased renewables-related ROV demand in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region, and that Helix plans to build an inspection, repair, and maintenance (IRM) division as the businesses come together.

About Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX)

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc (NYSE: HLX) is a Houston-based provider of offshore well intervention and robotics services to the global energy industry. The company specializes in extending the productive life of subsea wells through hydraulic workover systems, coiled tubing operations and riser-based wireline services. In addition, Helix offers remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support, inspection, maintenance and repair for subsea infrastructure.

Operating through three core business segmentsWell Intervention, Robotics & Subsea Services and Production FacilitiesHelix deploys purpose-built vessels, specialized equipment and engineering expertise to execute complex offshore projects.

The article "Helix Energy Solutions Group Q1 Results: Details All-Stock Hornbeck Deal, Sees $75M+ Synergies" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Brookfield Renewable owns a globally diversified portfolio of clean energy assets. It has exposure across the hydroelectric, solar, wind, and nuclear power sectors. It also owns battery storage assets. An active portfolio manager, it is always buying, building, and selling assets. It is partnered with tech giants like Google and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to provide them with clean energy.

Services are the real flywheel for the business, with the large services backlog suggesting years of strong revenue performance ahead. The big draw right now, however, is that Bloom Energy's fuel cells help to solve a problem. They allow companies to generate power on-site when a grid connection isn't quickly available or to provide backup power for situations where facilities, like data centers , can't afford grid-related downtime. Highlighting the company's attractive technology, it just inked an agreement with Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) for up to 2.8 gigawatts of fuel cells to support the tech giant's investment in data centers.

Bloom Energy stock is up over 1,000% in a year. It is only appropriate for aggressive growth investors. That said, the company's fuel cells are in high demand right now, and it is growing quickly. Revenues increased 37% in 2025, and the company's backlog sits at $20 billion, of which only $6 billion is product-related. The rest of the backlog is tied to services provided to owners of its fuel cells.

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 

If you can see past the oil-driven headlines, you might want to take a second look at the clean energy sector. Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) could be attractive for more aggressive investors. Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP)(NYSE: BEPC) is a solid choice for income investors who want broad clean energy exposure. And NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is a great option for conservative investors who aren't ready to jump in with both feet. Here's what you need to know.

Attention on Wall Street often focuses on the most notable events. This is why the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, which has driven volatile oil prices, is top of mind for most investors. Lofty oil prices aren't going to stop the green energy transition that's taking shape, and might even help it along.

Story Continues

Brookfield Renewable is an income investment, with management targeting dividend growth of 5% to 9% annually. That said, there are two ways to own it. The partnership share class yields 4.7%, while the corporate shares yield 3.9%. They represent the same business and have the same dividend; the yield difference exists because there is greater demand for the corporate shares. The dividend has grown steadily for years, and there's no particular reason why smaller investors should avoid the higher-yielding partnership units.

If you want a simple way to get the broadest possible exposure to the clean energy sector, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better option than Brookfield Renewable.

NextEra Energy is for those who want a middle ground

If you aren't ready to jump into the clean energy sector with both feet, then NextEra is probably the best choice for you. The core of the business is the company's regulated utility operations in Florida. This half of NextEra's business is a slow-and-steady grower. On top of that, it has layered a fast-growing solar and wind power operation. At this point, NextEra Energy is one of the world's leading players in solar and wind.

The dividend yield is 2.7%, with the dividend expected to grow by around 6% a year over the next couple of years. With decades of dividend growth behind it, NextEra Energy is a reliable dividend growth stock that even more conservative investors should be comfortable owning. It probably won't be exciting, but it lets you get some exposure to renewable power without having to own a business entirely reliant on the success of the green transition.

How deep do you want to go?

If green energy investments were a swimming pool, Bloom Energy would be the deep end. Only the most aggressive investors should consider this highly focused, fast-growing business. Brookfield Renewable is a middle ground where you could swim if you wanted, but the water is shallow enough that you could stand up if you needed to. It is a good balance of risk and reward. NextEra Energy is the shallow end of the pool, where you can't really swim, but you are still getting your feet wet.

Should you buy stock in Bloom Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in Bloom Energy, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Bloom Energy wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $498,522!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,276,807!*

Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 983%  a market-crushing outperformance compared to 200% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 25, 2026.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy, Microsoft, NextEra Energy, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Oil Boom Won't Last Forever. Here Are 3 Green Energy Stocks to Own in 2026. was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Diana Novak Jones

April 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Monday in Bayer's bid to limit thousands of lawsuits alleging that the German company's Roundup weedkiller causes cancer in a case that is one part of sprawling yearslong litigation over the product.

Here is a look at how the court's decision, which is expected by the end of June, could affect Bayer's overall liability.

The justices are hearing Bayer's appeal of a lower court's ruling in a case brought by a man who said he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, after years of exposure to Roundup. The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $1.25 million verdict that a St. Louis jury awarded the plaintiff, John Durnell, over his cancer diagnosis.

The company is facing tens of thousands of similar lawsuits over Roundup in both federal and state courts across the country.

At issue at the Supreme Court is whether a federal law dictating warning labels on pesticides takes precedence over similar state laws. Bayer argues that plaintiffs cannot claim it violated state laws by failing to warn about any cancer risk posed by Roundup because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found no such risk and requires no such warning on the product's label. President Donald Trump's administration has taken Bayer's side in the case.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

A decision in favor of Bayer would strike a major blow to the multitude of other lawsuits because plaintiffs would no longer be able to claim the company failed to follow state laws when it did not include a warning about cancer risk on its label.

Status of Roundup lawsuits

Bayer is facing claims over Roundup from approximately 65,000 plaintiffs in U.S. state and federal courts. In lawsuits filed beginning in 2015, plaintiffs have said they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other forms of cancer after using the weedkiller at home or on the job. Roundup is among the most widely used weedkillers in the United States. Bayer has said decades of studies have shown Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, are safe for human use.

Bayer settlement

In February, Bayer announced it had reached a $7.25 billion settlement with attorneys seeking to represent a nationwide class of people who have said Roundup exposure caused their cancer. The deal is aimed at resolving most of the remaining lawsuits as well as potential future lawsuits from people who already have been exposed to Roundup and develop cancer in the future. A state court judge in Missouri gave an initial green light in March to the proposed settlement. Final approval has not yet been granted, with a hearing scheduled for July.
A 32-year-old influencer from Southern California who went viral in 2022 for her budget wedding has died during childbirth.

Kiara Brokenbrough, the Los Angeles bride who bought her dress for just $47 and spent only $500 on the whole ceremony, passed away due to complications having her son, her family said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in West Virginia has yet to release the official cause of death. The Brokenbroughs were in the process of moving back to the Golden State.

A 32-year-old influencer from Southern California who went viral in 2022 for her budget wedding has died during childbirth. Instagram/@kiarabrk

Kiaras mother-in-law has started a GoFundMe to raise money to help her Jonah, newborn son and her husband Joel.

Advertisement Advertisement

They said: This tragedy has taken a devastating toll on Joel. He will need support (physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially) from his family and friends and the kindness of strangers. It has raised $120,000 of its $150,000 goal.

They added: As Joel begins this unimaginable next chapter as a single parent to a preemie in the NICU, and having to deal with the heartache of losing his beloved wife (whom he loves so much), he needs all the support he can get as he tries to navigate life without her.

The baby was due in June, and it is unclear if Brokenbroughs death triggered an early delivery or if early birth complications contributed to the mothers death.

Kiara Brokenbrough, the Los Angeles bride who bought her dress for just $47 and spent only $500 on the whole ceremony, passed away due to complications having her son, her family said. Instagram/@kiarabrk

The premature newborn is making remarkable progress in the NICU. Joel also confirmed his wifes death in an April 13 Instagram Story post. Instagram/@kiarabrk

The sudden death of the 32-year-old has sparked conversation about Black womens healthcare. Youtube/@KIARABRK

The premature newborn is making remarkable progress in the NICU. Joel also confirmed his wifes death in an April 13 Instagram Story post.

Advertisement Advertisement

He said: My beautiful, God-fearing, worshipping wife has gone home to be in the presence of the Lord.

The couple garnered a lot of attention for their $500 wedding four years ago. Kiara chose the Angeles Crest Highway area for its scenic setting and kept the guest list small  around 30 to 40 people.

They relied on support from friends and family, with their biggest expense being a $200 arch, while guests covered their own food and drinks at a casual lounge reception. Joels suit cost about $100.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain shared this week on her podcast "Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain" she much prefers the "tone" of President Donald Trump during his second term, revealing she had effectively buried the hatchet after receiving a kind message from him.

After years of a contentious relationship between the McCain family and Trump, the former "View" co-host and daughter of the late Sen. John McCain shared that they had made peace.

McCain, a friend of Tulsi Gabbard, said she was invited to the Trump White House when Gabbard was confirmed as director of national intelligence.

Advertisement Advertisement

There were "behind-the-scenes" conversations that occurred if it would be appropriate for her to attend, given their past acrimony, and it required Trump's permission for her to attend.

Mika Brzezinski Surprised By Backlash To Trump Meeting, Says It's Because 'People Are Really Scared'

According to McCain, Trump responded by saying she was welcome. She added Trump sent her and husband Ben Domenech a "very kind and very nice" private message that she would keep to herself.

Read On The Fox News App

"And I was like, of all the things that have gone on, of all the things that have been said and done, this is very gracious," she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump memorably said in 2015 that Sen. McCain was not a true war hero because he was captured in Vietnam and continued to criticize McCain before and after his death. John McCain, who died in 2018, did not support Trump's presidential campaign and famously was the deciding vote against his Obamacare repeal in 2017.

Meghan McCain once said Trump would never be a "great man" like her father in response to a social media post disparaging him during his first term. In 2024, she said she couldn't vote for Trump despite her opposition to Kamala Harris.

Why Trump Is Sticking With Gaetz, Hegseth Despite New Accusations  And His 'Morning Joe' Meeting

McCain added, "I have heard this from other people that [Trump] has sort of been very gracious to other people that maybe have had things that have happened in the past that haven't been positive."

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, McCain questioned if this could be because of his second term, age or the phase of life the president is in but said, overall, she has witnessed a "softer" side to Trump.

McCain surmised that these experiences and the softer side of the president might be from the assassination attempts against him.

President Donald Trump raises his fist as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 16, 2026. (Getty Images)

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Lara Trump said the president had told his family he believed people would come after him if he accomplished his goals in office.

"I think when you have these moments that truly your life could have ultimately been changed or ended, I don't think you can discount that at all," Lara Trump said. "I think that 100% had a huge impact on him."

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, in an assassination attempt that killed one of his supporters in the crowd. Another attempt on his life that year was foiled in Florida before any shots were fired.





Original article source: Meghan McCain reveals peace made with Trump, says he sent 'very kind' message
Seven years ago, Rick Martinez ditched New York City for a 20,000-mile road trip across Mexico, seeking to reconnect with his roots and capture the diversity of the countrys regional cuisines.

He never left. The journey resulted in the chefs James Beard award-winning cookbook, Mi Cocina, and a new home in the coastal city of Mazatlan, known for its fresh seafood and bountiful mercados. Pineapple, papaya, mango, coconut all grow within a mile of my house, he said.

Martinez, who has since published a second cookbook, Salsa Daddy, and writes a newsletter exploring Mexican cooking, Sazon, recently opened Ricks Cooking School. It is a series of virtual classes where the former Bon Appetit editor teaches how to make a perfect birria, chile relleno and pipian, live from his own kitchen.

Advertisement Advertisement

I make a point of telling people, I want you to feel like youre in my kitchen with me, he said. Its been really fun.

So what is in the chefs home kitchen? I spoke with Martinez about his tips on how to transport Mazatlan into your own home. He shared the regional sugar that completely changed his baking, the tool he swears by for homemade tortillas and why all his kitchen spoons are blue.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

If I want to cook more like a Mexican home cook, whats an essential tool to have?

I had regular griddles and cast-iron pans but no comals until I moved to Mexico. These thinner, lighter griddles heat up and cool down faster. Quick adjustments are important when youre making tortillas and have to get your heat just right.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

Ancient Cookware Mexican Carbon Steel Comal

$69.96 at Milk Street Store

The one I use the most is 13.5in in diameter, and I can fit seven corn tortillas or four large flour tortillas on it. Its also great for toasting dried chilies or charring vegetables, tomatoes, tomatillos and chiles, onion and garlic for salsa. I use it almost every day, and I find it hard to believe that Ive lived most of my life without it.

What do you use to make great tortillas?

Ive eaten tortillas all over this country and some really excellent heirloom corn varieties, but Masiendas yellow, red and blue corn masa harinas are so flavorful, and they really capture that flavor of good Mexican heirloom corn.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

Nixtamalized Heirloom Corn Masa Harina



Now $32, originally $40 at Masienda

How about homemade guacamole?

I dont know why, but to me, guacamole tastes better  or the texture is better  if I mash and mix it in a molcajete, a mortar and pestle made of volcanic rock. So I have a lot of them. The one that I use most is the one that my grandfather gave me when I was 19.

***

Masienda Molcajete

$95 at Masienda

If I want to incorporate more Mexican flavors in my cooking, what are ways?

Canned chipotle adobo sauce is, to me, liquid gold. You can take something youve cooked for 15 minutes, and add adobo sauce, which has been cooked for a lot longer, and all of a sudden you get that long-simmered flavor. Chipotles are generally good cooking hacks if you want a smoky flavor but cant grill.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

La Morena Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce

$5.36 for pack of two at Amazon

Pickled jalapenos are also really great cooking tools. Obviously you can put them on pizza and nachos, but that pickle brine is great for seasoning soups and stews. A tablespoon of that vinegary brine lifts everything up, and it brightens it. Ive used it in salad dressings, chopped up on fish tacos, and when I lived in Texas, a pickled jalapeno and bacon potato salad.

***

La Costena Nacho Sliced Pickled Jalapenos

$6.12 at Amazon

In my pantry, I also keep dried chiles: guajillo, ancho, pasilla, cascabel and morita  I love moritas. Major grocery stores carry many of these, but Duals Natural in New York is good and ships nationwide. For heat, I recommend chile de arbol, guajillo and ancho.

What are basic pantry upgrades that make all your dishes better?

Colima, an area on the Pacific coast about 150 miles south of where I live, is known for its sea salt, and its incredible.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

Colima Coarse Sea Salt

$19.99 at Amazon

I also adore piloncillo. The flavor is phenomenal and has completely changed my baking. If you are a fan of coffee, chocolate, coffee, butterscotch, caramel flavors, then I would highly recommend piloncillo as a substitute for brown sugar. Its widely available in the US and is sometimes also called jaggery. Use a cheap grater to grind it.

***

Badia Piloncillo Brown Sugar Crust

(Currently out of stock) at Amazon

And fresh manteca, or lard, adds so much flavor to your cooking and has pretty much become my cooking oil of choice. I buy mine from this sweet older couple in Mazatlans mercado. They sell mainly dairy things, but also delicious, fresh chicharones and the fat that its cooked in. It still has the little particles of pork suspended in it, and it has a really nutty, caramelly pork flavor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its difficult to find good lard in the US  its usually hydrogenated and has no flavor  but when I am in the US, I usually go to either Mexican or Latin butchers, or grocery stores.

What kitchen appliance have you bought for life?

I bought this Vitamix blender when I was writing recipes for Mi Cocina. The motor is incredibly strong, and the blades handle everything I throw at it  chiles, nuts, seeds, spices, even nut butters. Ive been using it heavily for almost six years now, making moles and guisos (stews), and its never given me a problem.

***

Vitamix A2300 Ascent Series Smart Blender

$489 at Amazon $549.95 at Vitamix

In general, what do you recommend to make food prep much easier?

I got this John Boos cutting board when I was working at Bon Appetit. Im really drawn to dark wood, and the grain on this one is especially beautiful. That matters more than people think, because in a professional kitchen you spend most of your time looking down at your hands and your cutting board. For me, that darker walnut has a calm, grounding quality.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

John Boos Walnut Cutting Boards 1-1/2 Thick (R-Board Series)

$239.95 at John Boos

Beyond the aesthetic, it performs exactly how you want a professional board to perform. Its durable and took a lot of wear and tear, including being moved constantly around the kitchen and into the test kitchen and AV studio. This also made it reliable on camera.

It has a solid weight, but its not overly heavy or cumbersome to move. And the size is a big part of why I like it. Theres enough surface area to work efficiently, chop one ingredient, move it aside, and keep going without needing extra bowls or stopping to clear space. That kind of workflow makes a real difference.

How can you tell a high-quality knife?

This Miyabi knife is my favorite. The blade and handle are both incredibly beautiful, and that caught my attention right away. But performance matters more than anything, especially if youre using a knife for hours every day.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

Miyabi Birchwood SG2 9in Chefs Knife

$419.99 at Zwilling

The first thing I do when evaluating a knife is check the balance. I try to find the center point and see if it can rest evenly on one finger. If the handle or the blade is noticeably heavier, youre going to feel that over time in your wrist, your hand and your arm. That kind of imbalance leads to fatigue and eventually discomfort. This knife is remarkably well balanced, which makes a huge difference in how it feels during extended use.

I also prefer a 9in blade. It gives you more versatility, especially when working with large ingredients, but even for something as simple as an onion or a tomato, that extra length lets you maneuver and slice in more ways.

Any tips for reducing kitchen waste?

I tried composting the old-fashioned way, and I just ended up attracting a lot of roaches and bad smells. I got a Lomi countertop food recycler and was happy with it until it broke, and now I have a Vitamix recycler. Its faster than the Lomi, takes about three hours, and turns waste into what looks like brown mulch or sawdust. I add it to my plants, and they are very happy.

Whats your favorite tableware when you want food to look as good as it tastes?

Ive mostly used oilcloths in photoshoots, but every time I do, it makes me happy. Its bright, colorful and has this sense of fun and ease that feels especially important. You put food on it, and it immediately lifts everything visually.

Advertisement Advertisement

***

Oil Cloths

From $13.95 at Etsy $22 at Oil Cloth

I also found an oil-cloth raincoat at a flea market in Mexico City and bought it immediately. Its one of my favorite pieces I own. Its heavy, very water-resistant, and surprisingly warm, so I only wear it in colder, rainy places like New York. But every time I wear it, people notice. They want to touch it, ask about it, talk about it. It has that same effect as the tablecloth, it just makes people happy.

Most of my serving spoons, cooking spoons and tasting spoons are blue peltre, which is traditional enamelware. The glossy blue or turquoise is especially popular in Mexico. For my smaller plants, I also replaced the little plastic catch plates with peltre saucers because it looks prettier.

***

Peltre Spoons

$12.90 at Utilitario Mexico

Ceramics in Mexico are incredible. When I was researching Mi Cocina, I bought a car and drove around the country, and every place that I went to, I always looked for handmade ceramics. I wanted to shoot the food on handmade plates from whatever region the food was from.

Related: 10 international kitchen staples most Americans havent caught on to yet

For Salsa Daddy, I looked for younger ceramicists that were doing less traditional and more contemporary pottery, and Hacha is one brand I love.

***

Hacha Ceramics Dinner Plate Set

$2,720 at Hacha

Youre known for always having beautifully manicured nails  whats your favorite nail polish?

I wear gel CND nail polish. I love all neons. Thankfully the lady who lives across the street from me does nails, and so I just go to her. Today, I am rocking neon orange. Sometimes Im in a sparkly mood and I need glitter.

***

$17.49 at Beyond Polish
Hundreds got their steps in today at FDR Park to support Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"The CHOP Foundation is a team that raises money to support all the amazing things that happen at CHOP and to support the community that takes care of all these amazing kids," said David Edwards, VP of Development for the CHOP Foundation.

"We'll have over 7500 people here today... over 430 teams... People can walk, run...join a team or they can support them with a gift and help them financially in any way they can...we're raising over $1.7 million today to support over 100 areas of the hospital, " he continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

Eagles Running Back, Saquon Barkley, joined them at the "I Heart CHOP Run, Walk and Virtual Challenge."

"Seeing how the community is coming together to make an impact and make a change for these kids... It's truly special and I'm just excited to be a part of it...I've been privileged to go to the hospital and meet some of these kids, and it's life changing," said Philadelphia Eagles Running Back, Saquon Barkley.

There were Patient Ambassadors present at the event, including the Bailey Family from Deptford, New Jersey.

"We raised over $10,000 with the Brody Street Bullies for this walk. It means the world to us to give back because there are so many people that have given before us. We're so looking forward to helping families in the future that come up to these diagnoses and go through the hardships that we've gone through," said Lauren Bailey.

For more information, check out the video above.

Also, check out their website.


Thousands celebrate Puerto Rican culture at 2026 parade and festival

Thousands of people lined Orlandos streets to enjoy a lively celebration of Puerto Rican culture and heritage at the 10th annual Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival.

The downtown area resonated with the sounds of bongos, timbales, and maracas as music became the focal point of the daylong celebration. Vibrant floats, cultural performances, and waving Puerto Rican flags showcased the communitys rich culture and collective pride.

This years festival was dedicated to Yabucoa, a small agricultural town on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico often referred to as the Sugar City. Mayor Rafael Surillo Ruiz described his hometown as a small piece of heaven.

Advertisement Advertisement

Festivalgoers also experienced Yabucoas roots through guarapo, a traditional drink made from freshly pressed sugar cane juice. This sweet and refreshing beverage is a staple that reflects the regions agricultural heritage.

There was no shortage of pride on display, with La Bandera Puertorriquena, the official flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, seen throughout the parade route. Each float represented different aspects of Puerto Rican culture, from music and dance to history and community traditions.

Grand marshal Philip Arroyo said the strong turnout reflected the diversity of Central Florida.

To see the community come out, not only the Puerto Rican community but the immigrant community coming out in full support, says a lot about the diversity in Central Florida, Arroyo said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Organizers state that the annual event consistently expands each year, gathering thousands to honor culture, heritage, and unity in downtown Orlando.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
ALS United estimates that over 5,600 people are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the U.S. each year. That equals 15 new cases a day.

ALS is a fatal neurodegenerative condition that progressively affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, it robs individuals of the ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe. The disease can affect anyone, and the average life expectancy following diagnosis is two to five years.

While there is currently no cure, organizations and community members across North Carolina continue working to raise awareness and support those affected.

Advertisement Advertisement

ABC11 extends an invitation each year to the community to join the station's Stogner Strong Team at the Triangle ALS Walk in honor of longtime colleague and friend Larry Stogner, who died from ALS in 2016.

This year's Triangle ALS Walk was on Saturday, April 25 at Halifax Mall (300 N. Salisbury St.) in downtown Raleigh.

Thank you all the participants who joined the Stogner Strong Team to help support efforts to raise awareness and critical funding for ALS research, patient care, and support services.

ABC11 Meteorologist Don Schwenneker with NC State mascots Mr. Wuf and Ms. Wuf at the 2026 Triangle ALS Walk.

For more information about ALS and ALS United NC, visit alsnc.org.
CHICAGO  A 20-year-man was killed and another 20-year-old man is in custody after an argument turned into a deadly shooting Saturday evening on the citys Northwest Side, according to Chicago police.

1 Chicago police officer killed, another critically injured in shooting at North Side hospital; suspect in custody

Police say the men got into an argument around 5 p.m. in the 3100 block of North Nottingham Avenue, in the Montclare neighborhood. The argument turned physical, and one of the men took out a gun and shot the other in the chest.

Advertisement Advertisement

The victim was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.

46-year-old man shot near elementary school in Edgewater late Saturday night, Chicago police say

Police say the suspect was taken into custody by responding officers, and area detectives are investigating the incident.

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 WGN-TV.
A spectacular brass astrolabe - or a hand-held astronomical computer - from the 17th Century, once part of the royal collection of Jaipur city in western India, will go under the hammer at Sotheby's in London on 29 April.

The object is "perhaps the largest in existence" and has never been exhibited before, Benedict Carter, head of the department of Islamic and Indian Art at Sotheby's, told the BBC.

Known to be part of the royal collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur, it was passed on to his wife Maharani Gayatri Devi, one of the most glamorous women of her time, after his death. It then moved to a private collection during her lifetime.

Advertisement Advertisement

Astrolabes are metallic disks with multi-layered, interlocking components that were historically used to tell the time, map the stars, the direction of Mecca and the motion of the sky.

"They are essentially a two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional universe. I compare them to modern-day smartphones because you can do so many things with them," says Dr Federica Gigante of the Oxford Centre for History of Science, Medicine and Technology.

"You can calculate the time of sunset, sunrise, the height of a building, the depth of a well, distance and even use them to predict the future. Along with an almanac they were once used to cast horoscopes."

Astrolabes are metallic disks with multi-layered, interlocking components used to tell the time and map the stars, among other things [Courtesy Sotheby's]

Astrolabes were first developed in ancient Greece in the 2nd Century BCE and spread to the Islamic world by the 8th Century. Over the following centuries, centres of production flourished across Iraq, Iran, North Africa and al-Andalus (in present-day Spain).

Advertisement Advertisement

This particular instrument was made in the early 17th Century in Lahore, now in Pakistan, at a time when the city had become a leading hub of astrolabe-making in the Mughal world. It was created by two brothers, Qa'im Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, for a Mughal nobleman.

The pair were part of the so-called "Lahore School", one of the most renowned centres of astrolabe production of its time. The craft itself was kept within a single family and passed down generations.

Only two astrolabes are known to have been jointly made by the brothers; the other, a much smaller one, is kept in a museum in Iraq.

This one was commissioned by Aqa Afzal, a nobleman who administered Lahore during this period. Originally from Isfahan in Iran, he held several senior posts under the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The object's massive size and opulence reflect the patron's stature.

Mughal nobleman Aqa Afzal commissioned the astrolabe while overseeing the administration of Lahore [AFP via Getty Images]

"It weighs 8.2kg, measures nearly 30cm in diameter and stands about 46cm tall - almost four times the size of a typical astrolabe from 17th Century India," said Carter.

Advertisement Advertisement

"It also has a striking cross-cultural element. The star pointers carry their standard names in Persian, alongside Sanskrit equivalents etched in the Devanagari script."

According to Sotheby's, the piece contains 94 cities inscribed within it, each marked with their respective longitudes and latitudes, along with 38 star pointers linked by intricate floral tracery. It also features five precision-calibrated plates and degree divisions "so fine they are subdivided down to a third of a degree".

This level of detail reflects the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Lahore School, which at the time was "at its most refined", Carter says. Here, technical precision, functionality and artistic beauty converged in a way that set it apart from earlier astrolabes produced in parts of the Middle East, which might have only been functional.

The object also speaks to the broader scientific impulse of the Mughal court, where rulers and courtiers showed a heightened interest in the advances in astronomy and astrology.

The astrolabe was passed down from Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II (R) to his wife Maharani Gayatri Devi (L) [Getty Images]

"It is not only big, beautiful and heavy, it is so incredibly accurate that it will give you the exact degree of altitude [of a celestial body]," said Gigante.

Advertisement Advertisement

She added that the only comparable instrument was likely one made for Abbas II of Persia.

Sotheby's says the piece's pristine condition and royal provenance is expected to attract keen interest from museums and collectors, with the piece coming to the market at an estimate of 1.5-2.5m.

The current record is held by a Ottoman astrolabe made for Sultan Bayezid II, which was a much smaller piece sold in 2014 for just under 1m.

The astrolabe will be exhibited in Sotheby's London galleries from 2429 April.

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
Frist introduced the director nominees in attendance and their current roles, including John Chidsey (president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Limited), Nancy-Ann DeParle (founding and managing partner of Consonance Capital Partners), William Frist (principal of Champion & Company, Inc.), Samuel Hazen (CEO of HCA Healthcare), Hugh Johnston (senior executive vice president and CFO of The Walt Disney Company), Michael Michelson (retired member of KKR Management, LLC), Dr. Wayne Riley (president of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University), Andrea Smith (retired chief administrative officer of Bank of America Corporation), and Frist himself (founder and managing principal of Frist Capital, LLC).

Franck reported that, as of the record date of Feb. 23, 2026, the company had approximately 224 million shares issued and outstanding. As of noon on the day of the meeting, about 210 million shares were virtually present or represented by proxy, representing roughly 94% of outstanding shares. Thomas Frist III, chairman of the board, declared a quorum present and opened the polls.

John Franck, vice president and legal and corporate secretary, opened the meeting and outlined the five proposals included in the proxy statement: the election of nine directors; ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm; an advisory vote on executive compensation; a shareholder proposal requesting a report on healthcare consequences; and a shareholder proposal seeking the right for shareholders to act by written consent.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually, where shareholders voted to elect directors, ratify the companys auditor, approve an advisory resolution on executive compensation, and consider two shareholder proposals focused on operational and governance issues.

Both shareholder proposals were defeated  one requesting a report on alleged healthcare problems at Mission Hospital after multiple immediatejeopardy citations and staffing losses, and one to permit writtenconsent shareholder actions  while CEO Samuel Hazen defended HCAs response, citing about $750 million of investment and a CMS fourstar rating.

All nine directors were elected and shareholders ratified Ernst & Young and approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, with roughly 94% of shares represented at the virtual meeting.

Story Continues

 Pipelines and Automation: 2 Energy Plays Built for Any Oil Price

MarketBeat Week in Review  07/28 - 08/01

Frist also recognized Robert Dennis, who was retiring from the board at the meeting. Dennis has served as a director since 2014 and, according to Frist, chaired the Compensation Committee and served on the Finance and Investments Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Shareholder proposals focus on Mission Hospital and written consent

Two shareholder proposals were presented during the meeting, both of which the board recommended shareholders vote against.

 3 Stocks Poised to Grow on European Rearmament Spending

Julie Mayfield, a shareholder and private investor who said she is a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, serving her third term in the North Carolina Senate, presented Proposal 4 requesting the board publish a report on healthcare consequences. Mayfield said her concerns stem from HCAs management of Mission Hospital and cited two additional immediate jeopardy citations in October 2025 and January 2026, describing the facility as having four immediate jeopardy citations in the last five years and two EMTALA violations. She said each immediate jeopardy citation involved multiple patient deaths and described a six-month compliance period involving an outside consultant.

Mayfield also raised staffing concerns, saying an exodus of hundreds of nurses led to increased reliance on travel nurses and signing bonuses reaching $50,000. She said a third of the nurses currently working at Mission are travelers, up from a quarter the prior year, and that Mission relies on traveling physicians to offset the 200-plus physicians that have left since 2019. She argued that reputational, regulatory, and legal risks could affect shareholder value and said the requested report would help investors assess whether issues at one facility are isolated or part of a broader pattern.

John Chevedden, a shareholder and private investor, presented Proposal 5 seeking to permit shareholder action by written consent without discrimination or restriction based on length of stock ownership. Chevedden disputed what he described as the companys framing of the proposal, arguing shareholders are best served by having both the right to act by written consent and the right to call a special meeting. He also characterized HCAs existing special meeting provisions as weak and contended that written consent effectively requires majority support based on all shares outstanding.

Preliminary results: directors elected; shareholder proposals fail

After voting closed, Frist read the preliminary results provided by the inspector of election. Shareholders elected all nine director nominees and approved the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the companys auditor for the year ending Dec. 31, 2026. The advisory vote on named executive officer compensation was also approved.

Both shareholder proposals were not approved, including the proposal requesting a report on healthcare consequences and the proposal regarding the right to act by written consent. Frist said the company would file a Form 8-K with final voting results within four business days.

Q&A: CEO addresses Mission Hospital concerns

During the question-and-answer portion following adjournment, shareholders asked whether CEO Samuel Hazen would come to Asheville to discuss community concerns and why Mission Health has faced repeated controversies, including what a question described as a fourth immediate jeopardy.

Hazen responded by calling Mission Hospital a great hospital and said HCA recognizes its important role and special responsibility in western North Carolina. He said, Today, CMS grades Mission as a four-star hospital, and highlighted programs including trauma, cardiac, and stroke care. Hazen also said HCA has invested heavily in the area, totaling almost three-quarters of a billion dollars since we took over Mission Hospital, and added that the company established a nursing school to address workforce shortages.

Hazen said he travels to Asheville frequently and has visited community leaders, stakeholders, and hospital staff, adding that he would continue doing so. He said he is encouraged by the progress teams are making to address areas of concern and enhance the quality of care.

About HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA)

HCA Healthcare is a forprofit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.

The company's core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA's services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.

The article "HCA Healthcare AGM: Directors Elected, Pay Vote Passes as Shareholder Proposals Fail" was originally published by MarketBeat.
After more than 100 years, is 2026 the year that Tampa gets a direct hit from a hurricane? How about Miami, 34 years since Andrew hit? Or could it be southern New England's turn for the first time in decades?

While none of these questions can be answered now, experts say these three locations are all among the nation's most "overdue" locations for a direct hit from a hurricane.

AccuWeather forecasts have highlighted the unusual "hurricane hiatus" in those three locations, and research compiled by Michael Ferragamo, a freelance hurricane researcher and soon-to-be graduate of the University of Oklahoma, shows those locations haven't had a hurricane in an unusually long time.

Advertisement Advertisement

"In all of these regions, populations have grown substantially since the last major impacts," AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva told USA TODAY. "Many residents have never experienced a hurricane and may not be familiar with evacuation zones or proper preparation, which increases the risk."

Why are these locations so vulnerable?

In Florida, both Tampa and Miami are "very vulnerable," DaSilva said. "Both are low-lying and highly prone to storm surge flooding, and both have seen rapid development in recent decades. Tampa was very fortunate when Hurricane Milton passed just to the south. If that track had shifted slightly north, the impacts could have been catastrophic."

In the Northeast, areas from New York City through Providence, Rhode Island, are also highly susceptible to storm surge.

A flooded street with debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, in Siesta Key, Florida, on October 10, 2024. Although Tampa sustained some damage from Milton, the city escaped a direct hit.

Tampa: 'Very, very lucky'

Florida's second-most populous metro area (behind Miami) hasn't taken a direct hit since 1921, when an unnamed storm slammed into the city, killing eight people and leaving behind $10 million (equivalent to $170 million to $185 million today) in damages.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hurricane Milton in 2024 was a very close call for Tampa. However, "Tampa's remarkable streak of avoiding a direct hit from a major hurricane continued with Milton," DaSilva said.

While Milton brought impacts, the worst of the storm  and the storm surge  missed the city. DaSilva said there's no geographical or topographical reason  or even a meteorological reason  for Tampa's long streak. "They got very, very lucky," he said.

"The typical 'return interval' there is around 10 years, so depending on how you classify Milton, Tampa could still be considered overdue for a more direct and severe hit." (A return interval, or return period, is the average amount of time between hurricanes at a specific location, based on historical data  not a schedule or prediction.)

Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach agreed with DaSilva: "Tampa is another good example of a city with several close calls but no direct landfalls in recent years," citing Hurricanes Charley (2004), Irma (2017), and Idalia (2023).

A satellite image shows Hurricane Andrew making landfall in South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992, with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph.

Miami: 'Eerily quiet'

"Miami and the entire east coast of Florida has been eerily quiet since 2004," Klotzbach said. "The only hurricane landfall along the Florida east coast since Jeanne in 2004 was that sprawly mess Nicole in 2022. Of course, Miami had quite the scare from Irma in 2017," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

DaSilva said, "Miami is one of the most overdue areas. The average return interval for a hurricane there is about every six to eight years, yet it has been since 2005 since a direct hit. That puts South Florida well beyond its historical frequency."

1992's Hurricane Andrew remains South Florida's worst storm on record in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, and it remained the costliest in monetary terms until Hurricane Irma topped it 25 years later.

Ferragamo also said that Florida's east coast has had very few hurricane landfalls recently, "which is quite the contrast from the seven hurricanes that struck between 1945 and 1950!"

Hurricane Bob hit Onset, Mass., hard on Aug. 19, 1991.

Southern New England: 'It will be catastrophic'

Southern New England, including Providence, is also significantly overdue, DaSilva said. "The typical return interval is about 17 to 20 years, but the last direct hurricane landfall there was Hurricane Bob in 1991. That is more than three decades ago."

Advertisement Advertisement

A former resident of Massachusetts, Klotzbach said: "I can attest that it's been a long time since a significant hurricane impacted that region."

While Bob brought destruction, the scale and severity of the death and devastation from the ferocious hurricane of 1938 remain mostly unmatched in New England.

The 1938 hurricane killed as many as 682 people and hit as a Category 3, with winds of 115 to 120 mph. In addition, it moved at nearly 50 mph, leaving little warning and producing a catastrophic surge and wind across Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

DaSilva said, "Last summer, our team highlighted how the Northeast is overdue for a hurricane and ran a scenario. If the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 hit the same region with the same storm surge, flooding and wind impacts now, AccuWeather experts estimate the total damage and economic loss would be $440 billion."

Advertisement Advertisement

More recently, the last landfalling hurricane was Bob in 1991, Ferragamo said. "Since then, kids have grown up and are in their 20s & 30s in the region, and still haven't experienced a hurricane strike."

"My biggest concern for New England comes in the form of major hurricanes  the once-in-a-lifetime monsters, like in 1938 or Carol in 1954. Residents have absolutely no idea how bad a hurricane can be in the region, and when another one does hit, it will be catastrophic, even if it's a Category 2."

What are the worst cities, locations for hurricanes in the US?

A map shows the hurricane "return periods" of the coastal United States. A return period is the average amount of time between hurricanes at a specific location, based on historical data  not a schedule or prediction.

The map (above) displays the hurricane "return periods" of the entire coastal United States. A return period, also known as a "return interval," is the amount of time between hurricanes at a specific location. It is based on historical data, and is not a schedule or a prediction.

The more frequent the return period (red on the map), the more often hurricanes historically hit that area.

Advertisement Advertisement

The map was for Ferragamo's capstone project in his last semester at the University of Oklahoma. "For the return period map, I implemented a 30-mile radius around counties (to account for the average diameter of hurricane-force winds in a storm)."

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, with a focus on weather and climate.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Worst cities for hurricanes? Map shows risk; some places 'overdue'
Indonesian environmental activist Muhammad Rosidi shudders as he recalls the horrific moment two men on a motorbike threw acid through the open window of his car as he was driving on Sumatra island in February.

He was instantly consumed by a burning pain as the corrosive liquid ate into his hands, legs and groin.

"I knew right away it was acid. It felt like being doused in boiling water," the 43-year-old told AFP.

Advertisement Advertisement

No arrest has been made weeks after the attack that Rosidi is convinced was triggered by his campaigning against illegal tin mining and smuggling in the Bangka Belitung islands off Sumatra.

He is one of an increasing number of activists and government critics rights groups say are being targeted in ever-more vicious attacks in the world's third-largest democracy.

The latest victim was 27-year-old Andrie Yunus, an activist from the KontraS human rights group who risks losing vision in one eye after two men on a scooter threw acid at him while he rode a motorbike in the capital Jakarta last month.

In an environment Amnesty International described this week as "rife with repression of dissent", protesters, journalists and even academics are also coming under threat.

Advertisement Advertisement

"After the attack on Andrie, the threats actually increased... also death threats," Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the CELIOS economic think tank, told AFP of his own experience.

He is being targeted for critiquing government programmes including President Prabowo Subianto's signature school feeding scheme, a major budget outlay.

A stranger recently texted Bhima to say that his name had appeared on the same hit list as Andrie's.

"We've been stepping up security... adding more CCTV and body protection. When going out, we don't go alone, we travel in pairs," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

- 'Hostility to criticism' -

Activists and observers say a climate of repression is taking root under a government that baulks at criticism under the leadership of ex-general Prabowo -- himself accused of human rights violations in the 1990s. He was never convicted, and he denies the accusations.

Andrie had been a vocal critic of what many perceive as the military's expanding role in government, and was attacked shortly after recording a podcast on the topic.

"We cannot separate the growing attacks on activists from the broader context of the current government's hostility to criticism," Amnesty International Indonesia spokesman Haeril Halim told AFP.

Advertisement Advertisement

In a report this week, Amnesty said nearly 300 human rights defenders suffered intimidation or violence in Indonesia in 2025.

During mass anti-government riots last August, more than 4,000 people were arrested, it added, with hundreds assaulted by police and 10 civilians killed.

The media has also come under fire, with the Tempo media outlet receiving a rotting pig's head and six decapitated rats at its office last March in an apparent warning to stop asking uncomfortable questions.

"Attacks on critical civil society groups fighting for human rights are happening because democracy in Indonesia is steadily regressing," Arif Maulana, a human rights lawyer with the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, told AFP.

Advertisement Advertisement

"The methods used... have become very serious threats to people's safety and lives," he said.

For Amnesty International Indonesia chief Usman Hamid, Indonesia "will truly become an authoritarian country if left unchecked".

The government denied claims of repression and said it welcomed criticism as "a valuable form of public participation that ensures the governance process runs smoothly".

Kurnia Ramadhana, a senior legal adviser in the Government Communications Office, pointed AFP to a recent poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute which found a vast majority of respondents were satisfied with the functioning of democracy and freedom of expression.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Essentially, according to scientific data, the repression phenomenon, as found by Amnesty, is not proven," he said.

- 'Terrorism' -

The attack on Andrie sparked global outrage and calls for an independent investigation amid widespread fears of a cover-up in a country where such crimes are rarely punished.

Four military intelligence officers were arrested and the agency's chief resigned without his alleged role in the crime being disclosed.

Activists say the decision to try the four soldiers in a military court without the possibility of public scrutiny bodes ill for the pursuit of justice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Kurnia insisted Prabowo was "making every effort to eliminate impunities for the perpetrators, even those from the military" in the Andrie case.

The choice of acid as a weapon, said University of Indonesia criminologist Adrianus Meliala, is meant to send a message not only to the victim but also to warn others.

"Acid always leaves scars," he told AFP.

Rosidi still has nightmares and struggles with recurring infections, but he insists he will not be deterred.

"If no one is critical, who will care about our environment and our country?" he asked.

dsa/mlr/lga
Ben Sasse on "prayer and a miracle drug" 00:37

Ben Sasse is "on extended time." The former Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer in December and was told he had three or four months to live.

He credits "providence, prayer and a miracle drug"  a clinical trial that has shrunk his tumors by 76%  for buying him more time. Patients who typically would have had about six months to live are living around 13 months with Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib.

Advertisement Advertisement

Sasse talked at length about his diagnosis, his family and his faith in an interview with Scott Pelley, which airs Sunday on "60 Minutes." You can watch even more of their conversation in a special edition of "Things That Matter," which will be available Sunday night on Paramount+, CBSNews.com, and YouTube.

The former senator also had plenty to say about the state of American politics, and Congress in particular.

"Neither of these parties really have very big or good ideas about 2030 or 2050," he said. "The Congress is not wrestling with bigger important questions right now."
Los Angeles police are searching for suspects after a Lake Balboa family returned home Saturday evening to find thousands of dollars in valuables stolen, the latest burglary in a recent string of crimes across the San Fernando Valley.

Police said an unknown number of suspects broke into the home in the 7000 block of Shoshane Avenue while the residents were away and took about $15,000 worth of jewelry and another $10,000 in miscellaneous items.

Neighbors say the break-in is part of a troubling pattern in the area over the past several weeks.

Advertisement Advertisement

"There's this one, there was one a couple blocks down, then a few blocks after that. It's all really shocking and it really makes you be very well-aware of your surroundings and who's hanging around that shouldn't be and things like that," said Joey Licata, who lives in Lake Balboa.

Licata said neighbors have responded by forming an informal neighborhood watch as concerns about safety grow.

"I've known many people on this block for many years and everybody on this block is not afraid to protect themselves and protect their families, so I would obviously hate for anything bad to happen to anybody," he said.

The Lake Balboa burglary is one of several recent crimes reported throughout the Valley. The map below shows an uptick in burglaries over the past two weeks, many of them near Ventura Boulevard and in the communities of Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Encino and Tarzana.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced increased police patrols on April 17 in an effort to curb the crimes. Since that announcement, there have been at least five burglaries reported in the San Fernando Valley.

Advertisement Advertisement

"No one's immune to it. It can be in a really rough part of town, or it can be a super high class part of town. It doesn't matter. If they're out looking for trouble and looking for places to rob, they'll find them," Licata said.

Investigators are using a number of tools to try to stop the thefts, including automated license plate readers, as they continue searching for those responsible.
Law enforcement in a Georgia county says its seized several products containing illegal intoxicants from several businesses.

The operation, dubbed Operation 420, swept businesses in Towns County and Hiawassee. These businesses are now accused of selling illegal recreational hemp and cannabis-type products.

Many of these products were packaged and marketed to appear similar to legal hemp products but are not legal for retail sale in Georgia when they exceed allowable THC limits or contain prohibited substances, the Towns County Sheriff Office said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Law enforcement said they seized high-THCA cannabis flower, intoxicating gummies and edibles, THC vape cartridges, cannabis-derived products and enhanced kratom products such as 7-hydroxymitragynine tablets.

Law enforcement also took into possession $21,900 in cash that they say are connected to the sale of the products and a pistol.

The law enforcement operation was conducted by SCOUT  the Special Criminal Operations Unified Team, a joint investigative effort between the Towns County Sheriffs Office and the Hiawassee Police Department.

They were assisted by the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Agriculture, which helps with investigations involving hemp and consumable product regulations.

Advertisement Advertisement

Operations like this are part of SCOUTs mission to identify and stop illegal activity that threatens the safety and well-being of our community. We appreciate the support and cooperation of the citizens of Towns County as we continue working together to keep our community safe, authorities say in a news release.

Investigators are still cataloguing the products taken in the sweep, as of last week, so a cash value was not yet available.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

TRENDING STORIES:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The Democratic primary for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat is quickly becoming a preview of where governance could go if Democrats win in November.

Republicans would be wise to take it seriously.

For proof, look no further than what happened at the Michigan Democratic Partys nominating convention in Detroit, where Congresswoman Haley Stevens  once viewed as the safe, inevitable choice  was met with audible boos from her own party.

Surrounded by supporters U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens answers questions from reporters during the Michigan Democratic Party nominating convention at Huntington Place on April 19, 2026 in Detroit.

Democrats, I love you, even when we disagree, Stevens said.

Advertisement Advertisement

It was a rather startling moment that shouldn't be ignored.

In the old political order, Stevens would have been a shoo-in. Shes a three-term member of Congress, tied to the Obama administration and aligned with the kind of institutional Democratic politics that used to dominate primaries.

But that version of the party is losing ground.

Instead, the energy  and increasingly the polling  is behind state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed.

McMorrow has built a national profile, outraising Stevens after a highly publicized statewide tour and cultivating a following through cable appearances and viral moments. El-Sayed, meanwhile, is tapping into a deeper base that is far more ideological, far more online  and far less interested in moderation.

Advertisement Advertisement

At the convention, it was El-Sayed who drew the most enthusiasm.

That shouldnt be dismissed as a fluke.

El-Sayed has long advocated for sweeping expansions of government, including Medicare for All, laid out in his book. His politics are rooted firmly on the progressive left, and his rhetoric often aligns with the activist energy that has reshaped Democratic primaries nationwide.

He is also, importantly, charismatic, and increasingly competitive.

McMorrow, for all her visibility, has yet to demonstrate the kind of grounded, policy-driven campaign that typically sustains a frontrunner. Her campaign has leaned heavily on branding and exposure, which raises questions about whether it can hold up under the weight of a general election.

Advertisement Advertisement

But that may not matter as much as it once did because the Democratic electorate is changing  and fast.

One of the most underappreciated dynamics heading into November is the expected surge in young voter turnout. In 2022, youth turnout, ages 18 to 29, jumped significantly compared to previous midterms, and early projections from groups like CIRCLE at Tufts University suggest 2026 could build on that trend, particularly in highly polarized environments.

Younger voters seem not just more engaged, but wildly more progressive.

They are the voters powering candidates like El-Sayed and McMorrow. They are fluent in the digital ecosystem that now shapes campaigns. And they are motivated less by party loyalty than by ideological clarity and confrontation  especially when it comes to opposing President Donald Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Even with that kind of messy primary unfolding, Republicans shouldnt fall into the trap of assuming these candidates are unelectable.

If anything, the dynamics that helped fuel Trumps rise  outsider energy, populist messaging and dominance of digital platforms  are now being mirrored on the left.

If Democrats win in November with candidates forged in that environment, it will be a sharp turn in governance. The populism that reshaped the Republican Party under Trump wont disappear.

It will flip.

Policies once considered socialist or fringe will move closer to the mainstream. The appetite for expansion of government in health care, education and the economy will grow. And the tone of governance will reflect the same ideological intensity driving todays primaries.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Democratic primary is showing what is at risk if Republicans get complacent.

kbuss@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan primary reveals a changing Democratic party
California voters will decide in November whether to require photo identification to cast a ballot, making California the latest battleground in a long-running effort by conservatives to push voter ID laws that have been bolstered in recent years by Donald Trumps repeated and unfounded accusations of widespread voter fraud.

Nearly 1 million Californians signed on to support the ballot measure championed by Carl DeMaio, a Republican state representative from San Diego.

Voters will be able to restore election integrity in our state, citizenship verification, auditing voter rolls  and yes, requiring ID to vote, DeMaio said in a video statement posted to X.

Advertisement Advertisement

Democrats have historically opposed voter ID laws, viewing them as unnecessary obstacles to casting a ballot that are likely to disproportionately affect voters who are low-income and people of color.

If the ballot measure passes, California voters would be required to present a photo identification when voting at a polling place, or submit a four-digit pin when sending a mail-in ballot.

Related: Could this backfire on the GOP?  your questions about Trumps restrictive voting act answered

Efforts to impose voter ID in solidly blue California have failed in the past. A poll released last month by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, however, found voters deadlocked on the issue, with 44% supporting it, 45% opposing and the rest undecided.

Advertisement Advertisement

California is one of 14 states, along with the District of Columbia, that do not require voters to show ID when casting ballots, according to NBC News.

The California voter ID push has drawn national attention and money from Republicans, with the ballot measure committee raising $8.8m last year, according to Politico. Opponents are only beginning to mount a campaign to keep it from passing.

The California plebiscite comes as the White House is pushing for stricter federal requirements to cast a ballot. Trump demanded last week that Congress do away with the filibuster so Republicans can pass the Save America Act, which would impose a federal requirement to show proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.

Ron DeSantis, Floridas Republican governor, signed into a law on 1 April a state bill modeled on the stalled federal act.

Advertisement Advertisement

Opponents of voter ID laws have repeatedly challenged them in federal court.

Last month, US district judge Loretta Biggs upheld North Carolinas 2018 voter ID law after it faced challenges from civil rights groups who said it would unconstitutionally infringe on Black and Latino voting rights.

In a separate case last year, the ninth US circuit court of appeals struck down key provisions of voter ID laws passed by Arizona in 2022, after finding that several challenged provisions are unlawful measures of voter suppression.
A missing stuffed toy from the collection that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories is to be replaced by Queen Camilla, when she visits New York on this week's state visit to the US.

On public display at New York Public Library are the original stuffed toys from the 1920s - Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger - that were owned by AA Milne's son and inspired the famous book characters.

But missing from the line up is the original figure of the young kangaroo, called Roo, which the library says was lost in the 1930s.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Queen is bringing a specially-made Roo to complete the collection, which will travel on the royal flight to the US on Monday.

The state visit is going to be a serious diplomatic challenge, at a time of unusually tense political relations between the US and the UK.

King Charles will be addressing the US Congress in a bid to revive the special relationship and to restore support for the US and UK partnership.

But there will also be lighter moments, such as this literally fluffy story, which will see Queen Camilla give the library a toy Roo, made by the same firm, Merrythought, that made the original toys in the 1920s.

Advertisement Advertisement

Royal sources describe the gift as "royal soft (toy) power".

The Queen's visit to the library, and its Treasures collection, will also mark the centenary of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book being published.

AA Milne created the much-loved bedtime stories - which were later made into a Disney cartoon - based on the collection of stuffed toys belonging to his son, Christopher Robin Milne.

The toy animals already have a track record as transatlantic cultural ambassadors.

They had been in the Sussex home of author AA Milne, before touring the US in 1947, going on display in New York in 1956 and then becoming permanent residents at the library in 1987, after being donated by a US publisher.

Advertisement Advertisement

That might make them the only Sussex UK to US migrants who are seen by the royals on their visit.

But according to the New York Public Library, the kangaroo toy that inspired Roo "was lost in an apple orchard during the 1930s".

The famous toy bear Winnie took its name from a black bear in London Zoo, that was particularly popular with children, including the son of AA Milne.

While the New York library has the stuffed toys, London has the skull of the original Winnie, kept by the Royal College of Surgeons after the bear's death in 1934.

Roo will be joining the original stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh toys in New York [ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy]

The Queen's visit to the library will be part of her campaign to promote reading and literacy and will be part of the state visit's trip to New York on Wednesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

That day will begin with the King and Queen attending an event at the 9/11 Memorial to meet first responders and families caught up in the attacks of 25 years ago.

[BBC]

Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
At this point, Donald Trump has the hang of taking advantage of failed assassination attempts.

After all, people trying to kill Trump in public is almost old hat. Since his spur-of-the-moment, camera-ready reaction in Butler, Pa. in 2024, Trump has made it through at least two more would-be killings, and hes ready to cash in on the most recent one immediately. Mere hours after a gunman was arrested near the White House Correspondents Dinner in D.C. on Saturday, the president was using the failed attack to stump for his big, beautiful ballroom.

Still wearing his black-tie outfit and flanked by Kash Patel and Markwayne Mullin, Trump told reporters that the attempt only strengthened his resolve to finish the White House outbuilding.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its not a particularly secure building, he said of the hotel where the event was held. I didnt want to say this but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what were planning at the White House The military are demanding it. Theyve wanted the ballroom for 150 years.

Trump doubled down on his ballroom demands on Sunday morning, posting to Truth Social that this event would never have happened if the ballroom was already built.

What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, he wrote. It cannot be built fast enough!

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Legal challenges to Trumps plans have made construction of Trumps $400 million ballroom a stop-and-go affair. In his post, Trump mischaracterized a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, saying that it was brought by a woman walking her dog.

Advertisement Advertisement

[She] has absolutely no standing to bring such a suit, he said. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with [the ballrooms] construction.

The post Cannot be built fast enough: Trump uses shooting to stump for White House ballroom appeared first on Salon.com.
DeKalb County PD said one person has been arrested, and one person is being sought after a car chase ended in a crash on a major interstate Saturday afternoon.

Channel 2s Eryn Rogers and her photographer pulled over because they saw all the lights and a mangled Mercedes in the median.

The scene is cleared, but police have been looking for the man who got away.

Police said they started a traffic stop for a narcotics violation on Glenwood Road near Glenmar Drive at around 3:37 p.m.

Advertisement Advertisement

The driver chose not to stop, and DeKalb PD chased the driver. The vehicle crashed on Interstate 20 West near the Interstate 75 intersection.

One witness told Rogers the fleeing car hit one car, then hit the median, spun out, hit another car, then hit a truck head on.

Then he says he saw two men jump out of the car and run.

Police said they arrested the driver but are still looking for the other person.

They found marijuana, meth, promethazine and a stolen gun in the car.

Rogers spoke to one victim who says it all happened so fast.

We were in the far right lane, and all I saw was a blur of a white car hit me, and I was like, What was that? Harry Williams said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Georgia State Patrol is now handling the investigation..

DeKalb County police say the driver is facing several charges. His identity hasnt been shared yet.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The years-long legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) finally goes to court on Monday.

Jury selection in the lawsuit kicks off Monday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, with opening arguments expected to begin Tuesday.

The witness list for both sides is a whos who of tech heavyweights, including Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Depending on how the plaintiffs decide, Musk could take the witness stand as early as Tuesday.

The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the AI industry and, if it goes Musks way, could derail OpenAIs future IPO plans.

In his suit, Musk accuses Altman, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, and others of misleading him about the companys plans to transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit business. Microsoft (MSFT), which has invested billions in OpenAI, is also named as a defendant in the case.

Turning OpenAI into a for-profit entity would allow it to issue shares in the business, enabling it to raise billions more in external funding that it could then use to purchase the computing power needed to develop and run increasingly powerful AI models.

OpenAI co-founders Elon Musk and Sam Altman in 2015. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)  Michael Kovac via Getty Images

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman and Brockman, claims he donated more than $44 million to the company in its early years with the understanding that it would remain a nonprofit entity and says Altman and Brockman duped him when they moved to transition to a for-profit structure.

OpenAI has countered Musks claims, saying he was on board with the for-profit move but wanted to merge OpenAI with Tesla (TSLA) and become CEO. When Altman and Brockman balked at the suggestion, the company claims Musk decided to cut ties and form his own competing AI lab. Musks company, SpaceX (SPAX.PVT), recently acquired xAI in a deal ahead of its IPO.

OpenAI transitioned to a public benefit corporation (PBC) in October 2025. Microsoft, which Musk also names in his suit, received a 27% stake in the PBC, while OpenAIs nonprofit arm, the OpenAI Foundation, received a stake valued at $130 billion. OpenAIs most recent fundraising round valued the company at $852 billion.

The case is expected to run through mid-May. The jurys verdict in the case will be advisory, leaving the ultimate decision up to US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

If the defendants are found liable, Rogers will be tasked with ruling on potential remedies, which could include forcing OpenAI to roll back its for-profit transition.

The acrimonious relationship between Altman and Musk has frequently spilled into public view. Musk has repeatedly taken shots at the OpenAI CEO on his social platform X and offered to purchase OpenAI in February 2025 for $97.4 billion.
CBS senior correspondent Weijia Jiang is getting accolades for her cool composure on Saturday night.

Jiang was seated next to Trump when gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

She was later seen in the front row of the White House briefing room, back at the reporting grind.

CBS's Weijia Jiang is receiving praise for her poise under pressure during the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The network's senior White House correspondent is the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, which hosts the annual dinner. She was seated next to President Donald Trump onstage when bedlam broke out in the Washington Hilton ballroom, after gunshots were heard.

Advertisement Advertisement

Jiang later took a front-row seat in the briefing room and asked the first question when Trump took questions from the media.

"I came to the WH with President Trump, who is preparing for a press conference to brief reporters," Jiang posted on X before the briefing. "We hope to have more answers soon. A few of us are waiting in the briefing room. Thank God he, the First Lady, and everyone who was attending the WHCD was safe."

"This badass went from running the dinner to leading the questions from the briefing room. @weijia you are just the best," Kristin Brown, the White House producer for CBS News, posted on X.

"And phoning into CBS special coverage as she went from the ballroom to the briefing room!" Oklahoma State University media professor Dylan McLemore wrote on X.

Advertisement Advertisement

McLemore had earlier posted about watching Jiang "reporting by phone from the scene, which may explain why CBS is giving coverage an extended network window compared to their peers."

CBS executives praised Jiang and her colleagues' quick response in a staff memo shared online.

"We are so proud of our Weijia Jiang, who has dedicated so much care over the past few months to what should have been a beautiful evening. She handled the entire situation with grace and calm  and went directly from the dais to the White House lawn, where she is currently reporting," CBS's Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski wrote on Saturday night.

Most journalists at the White House press conference appeared to have come straight from the dinner, clad in black tie.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Absolutely baller moment from #WHCD President @Weijia, dressed to the nines, poised at a godlevel, asking first question of @POTUS after shooting event," Florida Politics publisher and editor Peter Schorsch wrote on X.

Jiang earned the praise online for her remarkable composure, a steadiness that became especially striking given how quickly the evening descended into chaos.

Just after 8:30 p.m., shortly after Trump had appeared for the first time as US president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, an individual breached the main doors of the event. In a security video, posted by Trump on Truth Social, officers in the video could be seen trying to grab the man, then drawing their weapons and pointing their guns at him.

Inside, shouting at the front of the stage gave way to pushing and chaos as people started running, guests threw themselves to the floor, and hid under tables, according to Tim Rohn, the senior editor of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, who was at the event. Business Insider is part of the network.

Advertisement Advertisement

While Secret Service ushered Trump and Vice President JD Vance off the stage, heavily armed officers emerged from behind the curtains onstage and pointed their rifles at the crowd.

For a short time afterward, video streams from inside the event room showed a lull as attendees appeared confused.

Shortly after the incident, Jiang took the stage to say the night's programming would continue. She later addressed the crowd again, saying law enforcement had requested that everyone leave the premises "consistent with protocol," and that Trump would hold a press conference shortly, addressing the night's events.

From there, she appeared at the press conference.

Advertisement Advertisement

Jiang's swift return to reporting became a striking visual of the night  a reminder that in Washington, even the most choreographed events can, without warning, turn into breaking news.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently searching for a reported crew member of a Norwegian cruise ship who fell overboard while the vessel was en route to Boston from Bermuda.

According to Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, authorities received a report from the C/S Norwegian Breakaway that a crew member was seen falling from the ship on security camera footage.

The incident occurred approximately 12 miles east of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The ship returned to the last known position of the individual and deployed its rescue boat and life rings in an attempt to assist.

Advertisement Advertisement

A Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene shortly after 1 a.m. to aid in the search. A crew from Coast Guard Station Provincetown is also assisting in the operation.

This morning, aerial searches are continuing, along with efforts from the Station Provincetown crew.

Late in the evening on April 25, 2026, a crew member went overboard east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Upon confirming the incident, the vessel immediately informed the United States Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Center, and a coordinated search and rescue operation was initiated, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement.

The United States Coast Guard has taken over the search and rescue operation and released the vessel to continue the voyage. The safety, security, and well-being of our crew is our highest priority. Our thoughts are with the crewmembers family during this difficult time.

Advertisement Advertisement

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
The death toll from a bombing on a Colombian highway on Saturday has risen to 20, with another 36 people injured, including minors.

Videos shared from the scene showed damaged vehicles and debris strewn across the Pan-American Highway in the southern Cauca region.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the attack on rebels linked to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), while local governor Octavio Guzman described the attack as the most brutal against civilians in decades.

Advertisement Advertisement

Peace talks between Farc and the government in 2016 ended in a deal under which thousands of fighters demobilised, but some broke away and refused to disarm.

"Those who carried out this attack... are terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers," Petro said on X.

"I want our very best soldiers to confront them," he added.

Guzman posted a video on X of upturned vehicles and craters littered along the highway and described the bombing as "indiscriminate".

"Cauca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone," he wrote.

On Sunday, he said in an update that 15 women and five men had been killed in the attack, which left a crater 200 metres in size.

Advertisement Advertisement

Witnesses told the AFP news agency that the blast was so powerful they were knocked back several metres.

A spate of smaller attacks have also been reported in Cauca since Friday, the governor added, including one that targeted a military base in the city of Cali that injured two people.

Emergency services responded at the scene on Saturday [Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP via Getty Images]

Defence Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez said a bus filled with explosives failed to detonate earlier in the day in the Cauca region, saying it was carried out by members of a drug-trafficking cartel.

The latest attacks come one month out from Colombia's presidential election on 31 May.

Petro, himself a former guerrilla fighter, has been pursuing a controversial peace strategy with various armed factions which has seen intermittent ceasefires and periods of relatively little violence. His term will end later this year.

Advertisement Advertisement

Multiple dissident offshoots of the Farc operate across Colombia, many of them with extensive involvement in drug trafficking. Efforts by Petro's left-wing government to start peace talks with them have been unsuccessful.

Colombia is holding presidential elections on 31 May. Left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda, who is endorsed by Petro, has called for more negotiation efforts with the rebels.

Opposition right-wing candidates Paloma Valencia and Abelardo De la Espriella have promised a crackdown on the insurgents.
A federal appeals court reversed a terrorism-related conviction for the 2017 New York City subway bomber in a decision that could have wide-reaching effects for the prosecutions of accused terrorists.

Akayed Ullah detonated a pipe bomb inside a busy Manhattan transit station in 2017, causing panic among commuters and injuring nearby civilians. Ullah later told investigators he carried out the attack in support of the terrorist group ISIS.

After a weeklong trial, Ullah was convicted of six charges, including one count of providing material support or resources to a terrorist organization. This week, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his conviction on that charge, finding although Ullah was inspired by ISIS propaganda online, he acted entirely independently of the terrorist organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

As a result, the evidence to convict Ullah of providing material support under the relevant statute was insufficient, the court found  though the panel upheld his convictions on the other charges, including committing a terrorist attack against mass transportation systems.

While the ruling will not affect Ullahs sentence of life in prison, experts say it could affect previous convictions and how prosecutors approach terrorism-related cases going forward.

The Second Circuits 2-1 opinion suggests in cases involving lone wolves, the statute can only apply where perpetrators are in or seek direct contact with a terrorist organization, making it obsolete in many terrorism cases, since ISIS and other groups rely on widespread propaganda to inspire global attacks from afar.

It will render the statute inapplicable to what is becoming the most common terrorist scenario  where a person becomes radicalized by watching videos or seeing propaganda put out over social media and then acts on it, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig said of this weeks ruling. That will no longer qualify as material support to a terrorist organization.

Advertisement Advertisement

The opinion also raises questions about recent high-profile cases brought under the statute, including the two men accused of trying to detonate makeshift bombs during protests near the New York mayors residence. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

This ruling, although it was in an individual case, could have an outsized effect on many other cases past and present, said John Miller, CNNs chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst.

It is unclear if federal prosecutors will appeal the courts ruling. A spokesperson for the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

Akayed Ullah is seen on a stretcher in the underground corridor where he set off a pipe bomb as part of an ISIS-inspired attack. - John Miller/CNN

I did it for the Islamic State

During the morning rush hour on December 11, 2017, Ullah, then 27, detonated a pipe bomb strapped to his body inside an underground walkway connecting two subway lines beneath the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a major transit hub that sees more than 200,000 passengers a day.

Advertisement Advertisement

Grainy surveillance footage captured at the scene shows the explosion and a plume of smoke erupting in the hallway, causing commuters to duck and take cover.

The investigation showed this was to be a suicide bombing, Miller said. The only reason Ullah and everyone around him wasnt killed or seriously injured was one critical mistake he made in his bomb construction.

After the explosion, Ullah said he was inspired by ISIS to carry out the attack, telling investigators, I did it for the Islamic State, according to a criminal complaint.

From that moment on, it was clear that he was acting in support of and on behalf of ISIS, said Miller, who interacted with Ullah at the scene in his role as the NYPDs deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

Advertisement Advertisement

Judge Myrna Perez, who authored the Second Circuits majority opinion this week, wrote although Ullahs attack was motivated by ISIS, that was not enough to support a conviction of providing material support to the terrorist organization. The relevant statute says individuals must work under the groups direction or control.

While Defendant was inspired by a general online exhortation by a foreign terrorist organization, the evidence did not prove that he worked or attempted to work under (the) direction or control of that organization or coordinated with the organization in any way, as would be required to prove a violation of (the statute), Perez wrote.

Ullah did not have direct communication with the terrorist group, the judge wrote, and his closest contact was watching online ISIS propaganda videos that encouraged followers to attack the United States but did not provide specific instructions.

A person cannot work under (ISISs) direction or control if he is acting alone, and if ISIS does not know he exists, has no expectation that he will hear ISISs messages or act on them, and will not know, or care, or have any recourse if he ignores the message completely, Perez wrote.

Akayed Ullah is seen lying on the ground shortly after his bomb detonated. - WCBS

In his dissenting opinion, Judge Steven J. Menashi wrote the jury rightfully found Ullah provided material support to the terrorist group and the other two judges had reached a counterintuitive conclusion.

Advertisement Advertisement

That is wrong, the judge said of the majority opinion, noting Ullah watched a video posted less than two weeks before the attack that portrayed bombs over the US and included the slogan Die in your rage, America, a phrase that was also written on Ullahs passport and a container with bomb-making materials. Ullah also told investigators he chose the location of his attack after seeing a report about ISIS threatening the area.

A person may receive a direction from a terrorist organization through a broadly disseminated video and attempt to act under that direction, Menashi wrote. Ullah did precisely that.

Miller, who previously worked in high-level counterterrorism positions, similarly said in an interview terrorist propaganda that urges followers to commit attacks is a form of direction.

From the point of view of a counterterrorism executive who worked on many of these cases, the idea that anyone who is inspired to violence by direct messages coming from the terrorist organization is acting entirely independently is not one that passes muster to me, he said.

Future cases could be affected

Although the material support statute has been around since the 1990s, its first conviction was not secured until after September 11, 2001, according to an academic study out of the University of Arkansas. After the World Trade Center attacks, the prosecutions and convictions under the law increased dramatically, as prosecutors widened the net for what they considered material support.

Advertisement Advertisement

The recent opinion will become law in the Second Circuit  which encompasses district courts in New York, Connecticut and Vermont  and may provide a pathway for some defendants convicted under the statute to appeal. Honig anticipates the issue will eventually reach the Supreme Court, whose ruling would ultimately be enforced across the country.

I do think the court of appeals got it wrong, Honig said. Unless and until the Supreme Court takes it and reverses it  and we dont know whether theyll do that  it means that this particular statute will be unavailable to prosecutors, at least in the Second Circuit.

A recent material support case in the Second Circuits jurisdiction involves the two men accused of tossing makeshift bombs into a crowd of protesters outside the New York City mayors residence in March.

Emir Balat flees after allegedly throwing a homemade explosive device near Gracie Mansion in New York on March 7, 2025. - Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both made statements to investigators indicating they were inspired by the Islamic State, with Kayumi saying he watched radical content online, according to charging documents. Prosecutors have not suggested either had direct communication with the terrorist group, although the case is still in its preliminary stages.

Advertisement Advertisement

The circuit courts recent ruling will be applied to prosecutions on a case-by-case basis, said criminal defense attorney Joshua Dratel, who has represented several accused terrorists.

Will it have an effect on cases? Probably some, he said. Itll probably force lawyers and prosecutors to reevaluate what the quantum of proof is for this particular issue.

Prosecutors can use different terrorism-related laws to charge alleged terrorists and will often bring various charges against a defendant, Dratel said.

In Ullahs case, he was also charged with committing a terrorist attack against mass transportation systems. His conviction on that charge was upheld by the appeals court.

Advertisement Advertisement

Honig echoed that sentiment:

Anyone who carries out a terrorist act, explosives or firearms, is going to be committing many, many crimes, he said. But this one (law) will become inapplicable.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
UPDATE @ 4:57 P.M.

All lanes are back open after a crash on eastbound Interstate 70 in Clark County.

-INITIAL STORY-

Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHSP) troopers are on scene of a crash on Interstate-70 that is blocking several lanes.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 2 p.m., OSHP troopers and medics were called out to I-70 EB on reports of a crash near the 47-mile marker in Clark County.

TRENDING STORIES:

Advertisement Advertisement

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) traffic cameras show a vehicle that has driven off the road into the grassy area and a semi truck that is pulled over in the far right lane.

OHGO is reporting that all lanes are blocked on I-70 EB beyond Spangler Road due to debris in the roadway.

Traffic is moving by way of the left shoulder.

Medics did respond, but details on injuries were not immediately available.

This is a developing story.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The controversial anti-colonial pan-African activist Kemi Seba is currently in detention in South Africa, days after his arrest while allegedly attempting to flee to Europe via Zimbabwe.

The 45-year-old is currently wanted in Benin for "inciting rebellion" after allegedly supporting the country's foiled coup in December 2025.

Known for his staunch opposition to French influence in Africa, backing of West African military leaders and pro-Russian propaganda, Seba has had multiple skirmishes with the law in several different countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

Born in the French city of Strasbourg to Beninese parents in 1981, Seba - whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi - has made a name for himself as a radical activist, having been arrested many times, including for inciting racial hatred and antisemitism.

In his youth, he travelled to the US, where he was influenced by the black nationalist movement, Nation of Islam (NOI), as he listened to sermons from the organisation where Malcolm X was once a prominent figure.

On his return to France as an 18-year-old, he became an ambassador for NOI.

Two groups set up by Seba have been banned by the French courts for inciting hatred and antisemitism [Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]

Shortly afterwards, a trip to Egypt made him a follower of kemetism, a belief system based on ancient Egyptian theology.

Advertisement Advertisement

Inspired by his travels, in 2004 he founded Tribu Ka, a radical black segregationist movement through which he platformed antisemitic sentiments. Two years later, it was banned by the French government and dissolved, and he was sentenced to one month in prison.

On 28 May, 2007, Seba and some of his followers marched through a predominantly Jewish area of Paris to "defend the interests of Black people", French daily newspaper Le Figaro reported at the time.

The following year, French courts sentenced him again, this time to six months in prison - four of which were suspended - for relaunching his Tribu Ka movement under a new name, Generation Kemi Seba, the paper added.

Faced with mounting pressure both from civil society activists and law enforcement, he left France for Senegal after his release.

Advertisement Advertisement

According to French media, he also joined a new group, Movement of the Damned by Imperialism (MDI), and was president when he resigned in 2010. The group described itself as anti-imperialist and focused heavily on online activism.

Paul Melly, a researcher for the Chatham House Africa Programme, said Seba has attracted a lot of attention in recent years with his "very critical" remarks on France and its role in Africa.

"His agenda is very much now focused on this anti-French, what he would call 'anti-colonial pitch', and the resentment of the continued French influence in West Africa," Melly told the BBC, in contrast to his early career 20 years ago, when there were a lot of accusations of antisemitism.

Advertisement Advertisement

In December 2015, Seba launched the NGO Pan-Africanist Emergency, which he still leads.

The group describes itself as a "black rights organisation with a geopolitical and humanitarian focus, specialising in issues related to sovereignty, neocolonialism, and the promotion of social justice".

As someone who opposes French influence in Africa, he is also critical of African nations which retain close ties with the former colonial power, such as those that continue using the CFA franc as legal tender.

One of Pan-Africanist Emergency's goals is to end the use of the currency.

France created the CFA franc in the late 1940s to serve as a currency in its then African empire and is one of the most prominent signs of continued French influence over its former colonies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Fourteen African nations including Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast still use the currency, which is pegged to the euro with financial backing from the French treasury.

Seba is among many activists calling for the CFA to be abandoned, saying it is a way for France to retain economic control.

In August 2017, he burned a 5,000 CFA franc note (6.60; $8.90) during a protest in Senegal, to denounce "Francafrique," a term used to describe France's post-colonial influence in Africa.

He was arrested but acquitted days later on a technicality, according to reports.

Seba's fans took to the streets of Dakar to celebrate his release after he set fire to a CFA banknote [AFP via Getty Images]

In an interview with the Ivory Coast-based news website Yeclo in 2019, he named seven reasons for "his fight" against the CFA, including the Bank of France having the "right of veto in your banks".

Advertisement Advertisement

"With regard to economic orientations," he explained, "the adage clearly states that whoever controls you economically will control you politically."

Criticism of the CFA franc on economic grounds is growing, particularly among "younger urban West Africans", according to Melly. "Kemi Seba is pretty popular, especially in the social media age with lots of young followers in West Africa."

A month after the incident, the self-styled "Afrocentrist" was deported from Senegal to France for posing a "serious threat to public order", French newspaper Le Monde reported, citing the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security in Dakar.

Some in West Africa criticise the use of the CFA as currency [AFP via Getty Images]

He has also faced trouble with the authorities in other Francophone nations.

Advertisement Advertisement

"He's perceived by West African governments - that have good, close relations with France - as a hostile figure," Melly explained.

In August 2018, Seba was expelled from Togo, months after being kicked out of Guinea, where he was to address a conference.

The following year, he was deported from Ivory Coast to Benin for attempting to hold a rally against French colonialism which the authorities said posed a risk of unrest, and his criticism of the president's defence of the CFA franc.

He is also a staunch critic of outgoing Beninese President Patrice Talon. Upon his arrival in Benin he was briefly arrested. A separate visit to the country in 2023 also saw him arrested and released.

Advertisement Advertisement

In July 2024, France stripped Seba of his citizenship, to which he responded by burning his passport in public, saying he had been "freed from the burden of French nationality".

A month later, Niger granted him a diplomatic passport, and made him a "special adviser" to junta leader Brig Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Seba has become "very, very prominent in West Africa since the wave of military coups" struck the region, Melly told the BBC.

Niger, and neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have all been taken over by military regimes that are "very hostile" to France, halting their military co-operation with the French in the fight against Islamist militants, and starting to work with Russia instead.

Advertisement Advertisement

"The Russians have taken advantage of the fact that France is unpopular" in these countries, Melly explained.

In 2023, Thomas Gassilloud, who was the chairman of the French National Assembly's defence committee at the time, accused Seba of acting as a mouthpiece for "Russian propaganda" and serving "a foreign power that fuels anti-French sentiment".

A year later, the activist was detained by French authorities on suspicion of "links" to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, but later released. At the time, Russia was two years into its war in Ukraine.

An African liberation mural in Senegal featuring Kemi Seba (L) and Winnie Manela (R) [Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]

After so many brushes with the law, he is once again in court, this time in South Africa.

Citing his lawyers, AFP news agency said the arrest was made for breaching immigration laws. He and his 18-year-old son, Khonsou Seba Capo Chichi were arrested during a sting operation in Pretoria last week.

A source close to him told AFP he had been living in the country for around five months, overstaying his visa by around two months.

Following the arrest, South African police said: "[Seba] is allegedly a wanted fugitive in France and Benin for criminal activities relating to crimes against the state."

South African authorities said an extradition process was under way but did not specify which country had filed the request.

Benin's special prosecutor Elonmario Metonou said the country was "currently preparing" an extradition request for him.

Benin issued two international warrants for the anti-colonial influencer on 12 December, 2025, after he allegedly supported a coup attempt against the outgoing president. Hours after the attempt, Seba declared it a "day of liberation" for the country in an online video. He is also wanted in the country for "money laundering".

He has not commented on the allegations against him.

However, Hery Djehuty, Pan-Africanist Emergency's international coordinator and second-in-command, told Anadolu news agency that Benin's accusations would not "stand up to scrutiny".

The second-in-command also called the money laundering charges - which he first heard of during the prosecutor's briefing - a set-up aimed at strengthening the request.

Djehuty also denied reports that Seba had applied for asylum in South Africa.

Kemi Seba (C) and his son (R) are accused of trying to flee to Europe with the help of South African national Francois van der Merwe (L) [AFP via Getty Images]

Meanwhile, Pan-Africanist Emergency urged its followers to "remain calm" in the face of what it called "numerous fake news stories and other disinformation campaigns spread by the French-African media outlets".

"Far from weakening him, these manoeuvres only strengthen the legitimacy and scope of his commitment to social justice, sovereignty, and African dignity," the group said in a statement.

"History teaches an immutable truth: you cannot silence a people by breaking its bravest voices. There is an eternal Benin, just as there remains an African DNA of insubordination," it added.

South African national Francois van der Merwe - who is the leader of Afrikaner nationalist group Bittereinders - was also taken into custody for helping them.

Seba's bail hearing has been set for 29 April.

[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
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a Somali illegal immigrant who authorities say is linked to a past piracy case and faces an outstanding warrant for passport fraud.

Said Jama Ahmed is being held in North Dakota on illegal entry charges after agents apprehended him near the U.S.-Canada border earlier this month.

Officials said his fingerprints match records collected during a 2012 U.S. Navy operation involving suspected Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, according to an announcement Friday from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Advertisement Advertisement

"Weak Biden administration border policies allowed this illegal alien to enter and remain in the country despite his multiple law enforcement encounters," DHS acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

Tom Homan: Not Surprised By Potential Terrorist Apprehended At Us-mexico Border

Said Jama Ahmed is being held in North Dakota on illegal entry charges after agents apprehended him near the U.S.-Canada border earlier this month. (Fox News)

According to DHS, Ahmed was first spotted April 14 by an off-duty Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer walking southbound with a backpack a few miles north of the border.

Read On The Fox News App

About two hours later, a U.S. Border Patrol agent located Ahmed and took him into custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

A fingerprint match tied Ahmed to a 2012 incident in which the USS Halsey, a Navy guided-missile destroyer, responded to a distress call from an Indian-flagged vessel hijacked by pirates, according to DHS.

California Illegal Immigrant With 49 Prior Arrests Tops Ices Latest Worst-of-the-worst List

DHS says Ahmed was first spotted April 14 by an off-duty Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.

A Navy boarding team encountered Ahmed and nine others who were allegedly armed and holding the ship hostage.

"A Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team conducted boarding operations and encountered Ahmed and nine other armed pirates who had taken the Indian ship hostage by force, where the Navy then logged Ahmeds fingerprint," DHS said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Authorities say Ahmed entered the U.S. in September 2022 near San Luis, Arizona, and has had multiple prior encounters with law enforcement.

Guatemalan Man Charged With Child Porn Possession Released By Fairfax County Despite Ice Detainer, Dhs Says

"Weak Biden administration border policies allowed this illegal alien to enter and remain in the country despite his multiple law enforcement encounters," DHS acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

In 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him during a search for fraudulent documents.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

A full extradition warrant was issued in April 2025, according to DHS.

"We are thankful for our hardworking U.S. CBP officers and Canadian officials for their cooperation in arresting this individual," Bis added. "DHS will continue to work to arrest criminal illegal aliens to protect the American homeland from all threats."





Original article source: DHS blames weak Biden border policies after piracy-linked Somali illegal immigrant nabbed at northern border
EXCLUSIVE: A major change to the National Park entry fee structure lambasted by Democrats as discriminatory has led to a moderate windfall for conservation efforts undertaken by the Department of the Interior.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., led a December letter co-signed by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and others slamming DOI Secretary Doug Burgums plan to increase national park annual passes to $250 for foreign visitors while the $80 rate for residents remains in place. An additional $100 is also tacked on to nonresident visitors at the most trafficked parks.

Padilla separately called the plan "discriminatory," while Schiff and his co-signers said the move fails to meet public notice guidelines, risks retention of visitors personal information and raises questions about how DOI would facilitate the discrepant fee structure when a carload of people show up at the gate.

Advertisement Advertisement

But the Interior Department went ahead with the plan, and in the first quarter of 2026, the disparate fee structure led to more than $2 million being collected from foreign visitors, Burgums office told Fox News Digital.

Kristi Noem's Firing Fails To Sway Democrats As Dhs Shutdown Drags On

Sen. Adam Schiff faces Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in this composite image. (Getty Images)

"The millions of dollars in new revenue generated from this administrations Non-Resident park passes is proof that President Donald J. Trump was right to put affordability for Americans first as we change how the Department of Interior raises money to support conservation from foreign visitors," said DOI press secretary Aubrie Spady.

Read On The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

"As we approach our great nation's 250th birthday, initiatives like America First pricing, along with the addition of the America the Beautiful pass featuring President Trump, are delivering meaningful benefits for both our parks and the American people by celebrating our nation's history while investing in its future."

In their letter calling on Burgum to stop implementation of the program, Padilla and Schiff expressed concern about the effect on "understaffed" park workers, what they said was an already cratering visitation rate from Canadian visitors  which Democrats have blamed on Trumps sparring with Prime Minister Mark Carney and conjecture about annexing the "51st state"  and what would happen to visitors who cannot produce ID.

American History Won't Be Displayed 'In A Woke Manner' At Smithsonian, Trump Says

Burgum previously legitimized the disparate fee structure by noting that DOI and national parks are already partially subsidized by every American taxpayer  and that by charging a lesser rate to U.S. residents, the agency is acknowledging that and giving back to American parkgoers.

Advertisement Advertisement

"These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations," Burgum said.

Pass sales in the first three months of 2024 totaled $13.7 million, and $14.3 million in 2025.

Grand Canyon Park Services Ranger Jill Staurowsky looks out from the South Rim while giving a tour to visitors in Grand Canyon, Ariz., on Feb. 22, 2025.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

As of this year, that figure increased to $16.7 million, with total nonresident revenue so far topping $4.9 million alone.

Padilla and Schiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.





Original article source: 'Discriminatory' National Park fee plan slammed by Democrats turns into conservation win, Burgum says
The federal government has targeted an ordinance passed by a North Jersey town that bans natural gas, propane gas and fuel oil infrastructure and appliances in certain new construction, calling it part of "a radical left effort" to weaken our national security and devastate Americans by driving up energy costs for families coast-to-coast.

The ordinance, passed in 2022 by Morris Township, applies only to newly constructed apartment complexes or apartment-style housing with 12 or more dwelling units, said Mayor Donna Guariglia. It does not apply to single-family homes, townhomes or existing residences.

The Department brought this lawsuit to protect American citizens the township abandoned by kowtowing to progressive fearmongering in passing its natural gas ban, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a Justice Department release announcing the lawsuit against Morris Township earlier in April.

Advertisement Advertisement

Guariglia vowed to defend the ordinance, which she described as "responsible local planning."

Story continues below photo gallery.

"Let me be clear, we stand by this ordinance, and, as such, we intend to defend it," she wrote in a statement released by the Morris County Democratic Committee.

Morris Township, a Republican stronghold in Morris County before Donald Trump's first term, now has an all-Democratic elected government.

The ordinance "does not require anyone to remove appliances from existing homes or buildings," the mayor wrote. "It simply sets standards for a narrow category of new construction so that growth in Morris Township reflects modern priorities and sound planning."

Advertisement Advertisement

But the Justice Department said Morris Townships natural gas ban "drives up energy costs for everyday American consumers and weakens our nations energy dominance."

"Such policies reflect a radical left effort to outlaw federally regulated gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and other appliances that American families rely on daily to cook their meals and heat their homes," the statement said.

Housing boom effect

The ordinance places limitations on new, larger-scale developments at a time when many New Jersey towns are required by state law to build more affordable housing. To meet the mandate, towns are compelled to approve larger developments proposed by builders who pledge to reserve up to 20% of their inventory as qualified affordable units. The rest can be sold at market value to ensure the builder can make a profit.

"Morris Township is experiencing significant apartment development," Guariglia said. "As new multi-family buildings are constructed, we have a responsibility to think not only about today, but about the long-term safety, health, environmental impact, and resilience of those buildings for decades to come."

Advertisement Advertisement

Morris Township is required to rehabilitate nine affordable residential units and build 375 new ones over the next decade. To meet those demands, the township is rezoning five privately-owned properties that would yield a maximum of 167 affordable units and a minimum of 67 bonus credits.

Successfully sued two Californian cities

The Justice Department described its lawsuit as "another example of the department hard at work in keeping President Donald J. Trumps promise to the American people to restore consumer freedom and cut energy costs."

The department has already successfully sued two California cities, Morgan Hill and Petaluma, over similar "progressive" natural gas bans.

Banning natural gas is illegal," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Where the federal government has exclusive authority to regulate appliances and infrastructure, we will fight state and local overreach."

Advertisement Advertisement

Guariglia countered, "Local governments should be able to make sensible decisions that help address climate change in ways that fit local needs. We respect the legal process, and we will respond through that process.

"But we will also continue to stand up for the right of local communities to make thoughtful decisions about their own development and public welfare," she said.

The full lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey, can be read online.

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: DOJ sues North Jersey town over 'radical left' ban on natural gas
Editors note: This story was updated with a statement from White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.

A company backed by President Donald Trump's son Eric Trump could cash in from a new contract from the Pentagon. The news has Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioning the contract and others involving the Trump family, her latest call-out against the president and his family.

Foundation Futures Industries Lands Pentagon Deal

Foundation Future Industries is the latest company that has either Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. or both as advisors, that is landing either a government contract or loan. The latest has caught the attention of the well-known senator after Eric Trump appeared on Fox News to discuss the deal.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Eric Trump went on FOX to brag about winning ANOTHER multimillion-dollar contract from the Trump administration. I've been sounding the alarm and pushing for answers. Is the Pentagon just a cash machine for Trump's kids now? This looks like corruption in plain sight," Warren tweeted.

Don't Miss:

Warren shared a tweet from journalist Aaron Rupar.

"Eric Trump  the president's son  is on Maria Bartiromo's show bragging about one of his companies landing a $24 million Pentagon contract," Rupar tweeted.

Advertisement Advertisement

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly pushed back on the criticism in a statement to Benzinga.

This is the same, tired narrative that Democrats have pushed against President Trump, his family, and his administration for a decade. President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public  which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media. There are no conflicts of interest, Kelly said.

Trump joined Foundation Future Industries CEO Sankaet Pahak for the virtual interview on Fox's "Mornings with Maria."

"We are America First. We have to win this race," Trump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

The duo highlighted the $24 million Pentagon award to test the company's humanoid robots.

"The uses are unlimited, and I think it's a very beautiful thing, but we must win this race," Trump added.

Trump put an emphasis on beating China when it comes to humanoid robots, drones and other advanced technology. The president's son said he invested in the company because of their robots and the necessity of needing to get ahead of China.

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Trump Kids Raise Ethics Questions

This isn't the first time that an investment or advisory position for a company from Eric Trump or Donald Trump Jr. has raised concerns. In some cases, this comes from government contracts or loans.

Advertisement Advertisement

Publicly traded drone maker Unusual Machines saw shares soar after Donald Trump Jr. joined its advisory board, receiving stock as compensation, according to Citizens for Ethics. The company later secured an Army order for drone motors following his appointment.

Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital is an investor in Vulcan Elements, a rare earth company that received a $620 million Pentagon loan. The loan helped boost the value of the company and Trump's stake, as reported by the Financial Times.

Both oldest Trump sons are also involved with Florida drone company PowerUps, which is hoping to land military contracts, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

Other publicly traded companies with ties to one or more of the Trump sons include Dominari Holdings, New America Acquisition I Corp, PSQ Holdings, GrabAGun Digital Holdings and Trump Media & Technology Group.

Advertisement Advertisement

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Benzinga there are no conflicts of interest when it comes to investments made by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, when asked about Trump Mobile.

"The media's continued attempts to fabricate conflicts of interest are irresponsible and reinforce the public's distrust in what they read. Neither the President nor his family have ever engaged, or will ever engage, in conflicts of interest," Leavitt previously said.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next:

Advertisement Advertisement

Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
AI startups are increasingly relying on consultants to distribute their technology to companies.

Working with AI startups has become a key survival tactic for consulting firms.

The result: partnerships galore.

Things are getting serious.

For consulting firms, partnering with AI startups has become a key survival tactic as the technology upends everything about their industry. And for AI startups, consulting firms have become an important channel for distributing their products to companies.

The love affair between the two was apparent in a flurry of recent dalliances.

Google announced Wednesday it was launching a $750 million fund to help consulting firms like McKinsey, Accenture, and Deloitte roll out agentic AI to their clients.

McKinsey and Google have also created a new working group to help companies go from identifying AI opportunities to building and scaling them across the business.

Also on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI was working with consulting firms like Accenture, Capgemini, and PwC to sell its AI coding assistant, Codex, to companies.

The rationale is simple: AI technology is moving so fast that Silicon Valley and the consulting industry need each other.

Ben Ellencweig, a senior partner at McKinsey who leads alliances, acquisitions, and partnerships for its AI arm, Quantum Black, told Business Insider in an interview that the firm has quadrupled its ecosystem of tech partners since the launch of ChatGPT.

He added that the depth of the firm's relationships and the level of collaboration have "grown dramatically" in the past few years.

He said McKinsey operates an "ecosystem of alliances and acquisitions" with hundreds of contributors, including key players such as AWS, Amazon, Nvidia, and OpenAI, that it leverages to tailor solutions for clients.

Amid the deluge of new products and AI startups, Ellencweig said the firm still adheres to a rigorous vetting process. "There's a bit of a dating period that we get to know each other," he said. "Partnering means a two-way street."

Given the pace of the AI boom, however, he said the firm is more willing these days to team up with smaller companies.

Former McKinsey consultants told Business Insider that these alliances also fill the talent gap needed to marry the raw models coming out of AI labs with the needs of corporate clients.

These consultants said their role is to bring these models to the enterprise level  customizing them with data, adding appropriate guardrails, and helping clients implement them in specific contexts. Many of the models fresh out of Silicon Valley simply aren't enterprise-ready, consultants said.
Tibetans outside Chinese control vote on Sunday for a government-in-exile, an election of heightened significance as they brace for an inevitable, eventual, future without their revered spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The India-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) -- condemned by China as "nothing but a separatist political group" -- is a key institution for the exiles, especially after the Dalai Lama handed over political power in 2011.

"Our votes matter," said Tenzin Tsering, 19, a first-time voter waiting to cast his ballot to push for greater youth representation.

Advertisement Advertisement

"We need voices that reflect where our community is going, not just where it has been", he said, speaking in Bylakuppe in India's southern state of Karnataka, one of the largest Tibetan communities outside the Himalayan plateau.

Polling is due to take place in 27 countries -- but not China.

The 91,000 registered voters include Buddhist monks in the high Himalayas, political exiles in South Asia's megacities and refugees in Australia, Europe and North America.

The 90-year-old Dalai Lama, based in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital Lhasa after Chinese troops crushed an uprising in 1959, insists he has many more years to live.

Advertisement Advertisement

But supporters of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate are acutely aware that self-declared atheist and Communist China said last year that it must approve the Buddhist leader's eventual successor.

The Dalai Lama says only his India-based office has that right.

Tibetan Buddhists believe he is the 14th reincarnation of a spiritual leader first born in 1391.

- 'Potential of young Tibetans' -

The five-year parliament, which sits twice a year, has 45 members from across the world: 30 representing three traditional provinces, 10 representing five religious traditions and five representing the diaspora.

Advertisement Advertisement

Headquartered in Dharamsala in northern India, it functions as a representative body for an estimated 150,000 Tibetans living in exile worldwide.

Lines of red robed monks and nuns lined up to vote in the Indian hill town on Sunday.

The government's "sikyong", or leader, Penpa Tsering, was elected for a second term on February 1, after taking 61 percent in the preliminary round -- a high enough threshold to win outright.

Tsering, like the government, does not seek full independence for Tibet, in line with the Dalai Lama's long-standing "Middle Way" policy seeking autonomy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Exiled voters represent only a fraction of ethnic Tibetans -- whom the CTA estimates at six million worldwide, compared with more than seven million China counted in its 2020 census.

Beijing, which in 1950 sent troops to the vast high-altitude plateau it calls an integral part of China, has condemned the elections as a "farce".

Its foreign ministry calls the exiled government an "illegal organisation that completely violates the Chinese constitution and laws".

Among younger voters, some were worried at the perceived underrepresentation of Tibet's next generation in the corridors of the exile government.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I want to see fresh faces, leaders who represent the potential of young Tibetans," said 25-year-old Tenzin Pema, expressing her weariness at the sometimes divisive arguments between older political leaders.

More than half of voters, about 56,000, live in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

The remaining 34,000 are scattered around the world, including roughly 12,000 in North America -- including New York and Toronto -- and 8,000 in Europe, including Paris, Geneva, Zurich and London.

Results are expected on May 13.

str-pjm/abs
Does a real MSNBC report identify the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting as "Kohl Jackson" with a picture? No, that's not true: The post is not authentic. MSNBC no longer exists; it was officially rebranded as MS NOW on Nov. 15, 2025, as part of a spin-off from NBCUniversal. Multiple news outlets identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the Roy Rogers account on Facebook on Apr. 25, 2026. It read:

BREAKING: White House Correspondents Dinner Shooter Identified The suspect has been identified as 'Kohl Jackson'. He survived the gunfire and is now in custody. Details on the incident remain limited as the investigation continues. President Trump and attendees were safely evacuated. More updates to follow. #MSNBC #BreakingNews

This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:

Image source: post by Roy Rogers on Facebook.

The old MSNBC account on X is no longer active. An example of the current account on Apr. 25, 2026, under the MS NOW (@MSNOWNews) moniker (archived here), appears below:

Image source: post by @MSNOWNews on X.com.

MSNBC changed its name to MS NOW (archived here), standing for My Source for News, Opinion and the World, on November 15, 2025, after it split from NBCUniversal into a new company called Versant. The NBC peacock logo and branding were removed, but the shows and on-air personalities stayed the same.

The suspect in the shooting was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke to the Associated Press (archived here). Trump described the suspect as a "sick person."
The son of a 80-year-old woman who died in a fire that tore through her Bronx apartment building hugged her extra tight when leaving her home a week earlier  not knowing it would be his last goodbye.

Ana Serrano was home with her other son when the blaze erupted on the second floor of her building on E. 169th St. near Morris Ave. about 2:45 p.m. April 16.

The octogenarian suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative neurological muscular disorder that left her unable to walk. She used a wheelchair to get around and a couple years ago doctors told her one of her lungs was not fully functioning, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Her 45-year-old son, Isai Serrano, had last seen her a week before.

Right before I left I gave her the strongest hug, he told the Daily News, choking up with tears.

I dont know what came over me. I question myself why I did this  Not knowing that was going to be the last time I saw her.

I spent the morning into the afternoon with her that day, he added. She had a doctors appointment and it was virtual. I said, Hey Im off [work]. Im gonna come to the house and well get on the virtual meeting together.

After the fire broke out, a neighbor knocked on Anas third-floor apartment door, alerting her to the blaze, Isai said.

Advertisement Advertisement

[My brother] was there when the fire broke and he was the one who did the best he could to get her out of the building, Isai said.

Its tough to endure something of this nature  to think about the way that it happened.

Medics rushed Serrano to BronxCare Health System in critical condition.

When we got to the hospital she still had a pulse, Isai said. She was breathing, but not on her own. We were able to sit with her until the last pulse.

Ana was declared dead close to midnight the day after the fire, her son said. Doctors told the family it was likely smoke inhalation that caused her death but they had not yet gotten an official cause of death from the city Medical Examiner.

Advertisement Advertisement

Despite her medical issues, the family had high hopes of longevity for Serrano. In recent years they set her up with an oxygen tank at home, which drastically improved her quality of life, the son said.

Fire marshals are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

Isai described his mother as a joyful person who never complained about the chronic pain she endured.

My brother told me they had just been joking around prior to this fire coming through. They were watching a show. They were joking around and he was making her laugh. That was her every day. Always smiling through it all, he said. Always a good thing to say. Always caring for everyone else. Thats the type of woman she was. Selfless.

Advertisement Advertisement

Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, Ana in the 1970s moved to New York, where she met her husband at a church event in Brooklyn, fell in love and married him shortly after.

Serrano was diagnosed with CMT in her 50s and her husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease around the same time.

With her own ailments, she was a trooper, Isai recalled. She picked [my father] up from the bed, helped him, because it was very immobilizing for him, even though she was going through her own levels of immobility.

Though she never formally worked, Serrano was a talented seamstress who would sew and mend clothes for people. Isai remembers as a young kid accompanying her to fabric stores buy patterns and watching her carefully as she taught him to sew and crochet.

Advertisement Advertisement

She liked to write poems, her son said. A birthday card, instead of just writing a message, she would write a poem. She loved doing that.

Widowed in 2005, she eventually she could no longer get herself to church.

To navigate her out of the building became very difficult to do, her son said. She would join the (church) Zoom meetings. Local church people would come over to her house and just be with her and hold prayer services with her. They were committed to still making her feel a part of it.

Serranos family celebrated her 80th birthday on Thanksgiving last year.

Advertisement Advertisement

We wanted to make a big event for her, Isai explained.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were big [for her.] I would bring her over to my house for Thanksgiving and she would make the stuffing ahead of time for the turkey. Funny enough, this past November she told me, Take a video of me making the stuffing. I want the family to know how I make it, because theyre always asking me. So we have a video of her making the stuffing.

Serrano leaves behind four granddaughters and two grandsons in addition to her two sons and a daughter.

Its hard for sure. Its not what we expected, Isai said. We knew she was 80 years old and we knew that time was fleeting so we cherish those moments.

With Sheetal Banchariya and Thomas Tracy
Fatah said it won most local councils, including Jenin, where the Palestinian Authority was previously accused of losing control to Hamas-linked Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Fatah claimed to have achieved a sweeping victory in the 2026 council elections, Palestinian Authority-run WAFA News Agency reported on Sunday morning.

Fatah announced it won in the majority of local councils, including in Jenin, a northern West Bank city where the Palestinian Authority was previously accused of losing control to the Hamas-allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. It also claimed to have formed 197 municipal and village councils by consensus in coordination with national factions.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission (CEC) published that voter turnout was around 53.44%.

For the first time since 2006, Palestinians were also able to vote in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, though the CEC noted that only 70,000 were eligible to vote there and that turnout was only 22.7%.

While the Palestinian Authority celebrated the elections as fulfilling PA President Mahmoud Abbass promise to make 2026 the year of Palestinian democracy, experts, activists, and international media outlets pointed to numerous failings in the electoral process.

A Palestinian man walks past an election campaign banner showing candidates ahead of municipal elections in the town of Beita, south of Nablus in the West Bank, on April 18, 2026. (credit: Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP via Getty Images)

In multiple West Bank cities, including Nablus and Ramallah, only one list has been submitted, meaning it wins automatically without needing a vote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Palestinian Marwan Ennabi told AP that he didnt think the elections were a sign of change. From Qalqilya, where there were no slates registered, Ennabi stressed, This isnt transparency. This is chaos.

Hamas was excluded from the Palestinian elections

CNN also reported that Hamas, among other terrorist parties, was excluded from the elections as participation required candidates running to recognize Israel, support a two-state solution, and accept the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

While Hamas was not allowed to run in the election, armed Hamas police forces surrounded the polling stations, according to footage published by the Associated Press.

Holding municipal elections in Deir al-Balah is a positive and important step, said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem on Saturday as he called for presidential and legislative elections. We see (the municipal elections) as an important and necessary step, and we hope they will expand to all governorates of the Gaza Strip.
A Florida mayor who was taken into custody Monday for allegedly violating her probation from an earlier DUI case said she "did not resist" when she surrendered to authorities.

Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann was arrested by the Collier County Sheriff's Office on a warrant issued for an alleged probation violation.

In February, she pleaded no contest to one count of DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 or higher from an Aug. 28, 2024, arrest.

Advertisement Advertisement

Her probation sentence included a promise not to consume alcohol and a requirement that she be subject to random screenings. In a statement Thursday on Facebook, Heitmann said she was screened March 26.

Dem Rep Mciver Expected To Make First Court Appearance After Newark Incident

Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann was arrested on a DUI charge on Aug. 28, 2024, and was arrested Monday for an alleged probation violation stemming from her August 2024 arrest. (Fox News)

"The test returned a result I disputed immediately," she wrote.

Read On The Fox News App

Two subsequent screens  a urine test and a hair follicle analysis  returned negative results, Heitmann said. She noted that she "did not wait to be asked. I acted."

Upon learning that she would be arrested, Heitmann said she attempted to voluntarily surrender to authorities on April 17 based on the earlier disputed test result. However, she said she was told "the system was not yet ready to process my surrender."

Advertisement Advertisement

She turned herself in Monday after her warrant became active.

Florida Woman Arrested For Ambush Murder In Killing Of Deputy, Claimed She Worked For God

Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann completes a field sobriety test in Naples, Fla.

"I did not resist," Heitmann wrote. "I did not hide. I showed up  because that is what I have always done. I will not shrink from this moment, and I will not allow a false story to define my character or my record of service."

Court documents cited by the Naples Daily News alleged Heitmann tested positive for cannabinoids.

Her attorney, Derek Verderamo, argued two samples collected from Heitmann tested negative on March 26 and March 30 for illegal cannabinoids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Fox News has reached out to the city government and Verderamo for comment.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Heitmann was originally arrested in August 2024, after breathalyzer tests determined that she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.155 and 0.169; the legal limit in Florida is 0.08.





Original article source: Florida mayor says she 'did not resist' arrest over alleged probation violation from DUI case
Years after DNA evidence linked a 1991 killing and a 1993 rape in Massachusetts, forensic genetic genealogy helped investigators identify the man authorities say was responsible for both cold cases.

Evidence from the killing of Cherie Bishop in 1991 and the rape of Donna Bell in 1993 was uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said Thursday.

"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."

Advertisement Advertisement

Investigators said Bishop, 28, was found strangled in a wooded area near her Brockton apartment in June 1991. Bell was raped in Brockton in 1993.

Robert Carey of Brockton, who died in 2025. Officials say he killed a woman named Cherie Lynn Bishop in 1991 and raped a woman named Donna Bell in 1993. (Fox News)

Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X

Bishop was found dead in nearby Mulberry Park, wearing only socks and a diamond earring, Cruz said. Her cause of death was ruled to be mechanical asphyxiation, and the manner of death was homicide.

Read On The Fox News App

Investigators collected DNA evidence through a rape kit and analyzed it at the time, but no suspect was identified. The evidence was later retested as forensic genealogy techniques continued to advance.

Advertisement Advertisement

Sign Up To Get True Crime Newsletter

A rape kit was also collected in Bells case.

Cruz said Bell was abducted from the street and sexually assaulted by a man in a vehicle, who threatened to strangle her if she resisted.

Send Us A Tip Here

She managed to escape after, authorities said, she seized a sharp object. Bell died in 2021.

On June 25, 1991, the body of Cherie Bishop, 28, was found face down and nude, wearing red socks and a single diamond earring.

Cruz said investigators had known since 2016 that the cases were connected, but available DNA evidence did not identify a suspect until advances in forensic genetic genealogy provided a breakthrough.

"Their exhaustive investigative work, combined with a DNA sample match, identified Robert Carey as the perpetrator," Cruz said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Like What You're Reading? Find More On The True Crime Hub

On April 4, 1993, Donna Bell was walking on Annis Avenue in Brockton, and a white man driving a van grabbed her, Plymouth County District Attorney Cruz said.

The district attorneys office said Othram, a Texas forensic genealogy lab, identified a likely relative of the suspect, helping investigators ultimately identify Carey.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Carey, who died of natural causes in June 2025 at 64, lived at the Brockton Veterans Administration Medical Center, about 1.5 miles from both crime scenes, the district attorneys office said.

LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST

"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.





Original article source: Forensic genealogy unmasks cold case suspect as strangler, sexual predator decades later: officials
Hotovely, who served as Israels ambassador to the United Kingdom between 2020 and 2025, was unanimously approved by the government.

Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely was appointed on Sunday as head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), filling the role after it had been left vacant for two years.

The appointment came after the government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus decision to have Hotovely lead the directorate. She is expected to assume the position next week on Tuesday.

Advertisement Advertisement

The role has been vacant since May 2024, when Moshik Aviv resigned after holding the position for only eight months.

Since then, the National Public Diplomacy Directorate has operated without a permanent head, despite multifront wars, sharp international criticism, and condemnation of Israel in recent years.

French immigrant Likud supporters and Tzipi Hotovely walk toward The Ari Fuld Lookout during a demonstration march demanding Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank in Oz VeGaon on February 27, 2020. (credit: GERSHON ELINSON/FLASH90)

Hotovely served as Israels ambassador to the United Kingdom between 2020 and 2025. She also previously held the portfolios of minister of settlement affairs, minister of diaspora affairs, and deputy foreign minister.

PMO: Hotovely worked to 'promote the image of the State'

In her various roles, she worked, among other things, to promote the image of the State of Israel, gave numerous interviews to international media outlets worldwide, and was active on the international public diplomacy front, including during the war, the Prime Ministers Office stated following the appointment.

Advertisement Advertisement

The government also approved the appointment of former Finance Ministry director-general Doron Cohen as Civil Service Commissioner.

His term is also expected to begin next week on Tuesday, or upon completion of the procedures required under a conflict-of-interest arrangement, whichever is later, the PMO said. The appointment is for a six-year term.
A Wellesley mother accused of murdering her two children was pursuing custody of them and their home, according to court records.

Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley was arrested and charged in Vermont with two counts of murder for the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Kai, and 6-year-old Ella.

On Friday night, police received a welfare check from Vermont, and found the kids deceased inside the home. Its still unclear who made the welfare check call.

Advertisement Advertisement

MacAusland is currently being held Vermont on a fugitive from justice charge.

MacAuslands husband, Samuel MacAusland, filed for divorce back in October of 2025, according to Norfolk Probate and Family Court records. MacAusland filed a counterclaim in November, and a Guardian ad Litem was appointed to investigate and make recommendations to the court to protect the best interests of Kai and Ella just last week.

We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of two of our WPS students, a second grader and kindergartener at Schofield Elementary School. This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community, Superintendent from Wellesley Public Schools said in a statement.

Our crisis team is planning support for students, staff, and families as we prepare for the reopening of school on Monday. I ask that we all keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Advertisement Advertisement

Cale Darrah, a former babysitter for Kai and Ella, said she remembered the two young siblings as full of life and laughter.

They were two beautiful children who were full of life and laughter, and it pains me to think that the world should remember them only by the way their lives were tragically ended, she said.

They are really lovely and active kids, really cute, its really hard to believe they are not here anymore. Im sad to hear that, neighbor Jerry Peng said.

I thought they had a pretty good family because I never had a chance to talk with the mom yet, Jerry Peng continued. Normally, I would talk with the dad on the street.

Advertisement Advertisement

One neighbor told Boston 25 off camera, that the children would play outside often and brought joy to the area.

They played a lot in the neighborhood, he said. I mean it seemed lovely, they always smiled, the parents always smiled, we watched them get a little older, they were riding their bikes, very surprising to hear.

Some residents described seeing who they assumed was the father, more often than the mother.

They were nice people, never aggressive or anything, Jeffrey Peng said. Always kind, always cheerful.

MacAusland is expected to be arraigned on Monday.

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
When Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, two days after Israel and the United States launched a war on Iran, the resulting Israeli operation to destroy the group quickly became a mission to flatten swathes of southern Lebanon.

As Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes across the country, soldiers seized more territory in the south. Ground operations began to take on the appearance of those seen in Gaza: bulldozers tearing down buildings and demolitions razing whole villages to the ground.

Even after last weeks ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, those ground operations have continued.

Advertisement Advertisement

A CNN review of satellite imagery reveals the scale of the destruction.

Hundreds of buildings  most of which appear to be homes  have been either completely flattened or rendered uninhabitable.

Satellite imagery and videos from after the April 16 ceasefire announcement show demolitions continuing apace, with excavators and armored vehicles clearly visible.

Rights groups have sounded the alarm, warning that Israels military offensive is mirroring tactics used in Gaza  from heavy strikes on critical infrastructure and healthcare facilities, to the targeting of journalists and psychological warfare.

Advertisement Advertisement

Israeli officials have outlined plans for a long-term security zone inside the border  though the preferred terminology now is a forward defense line area - with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his forces will expand their positions 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep inside Lebanon.

Following the Rafah model

Senior Israeli government figures have been clear about what that means.

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to destroy all homes in villages near the border, in line with what he called the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model.

Rafah and Beit Hanoun are cities at, respectively, the southern and northern ends of Gaza, which have been laid to waste by Israeli forces over the last two and a half years.

Advertisement Advertisement

After the ceasefire was announced last week, Katz doubled down, saying the destruction of houses in the Lebanese contact-line villages will continue, describing them as terrorist outposts.

The Israeli military says it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across the country in response to the launch of thousands of rockets, drones and anti-tank missiles towards Israel since 2023.

It says Hezbollah embeds and stores weapons in civilian homes, releasing images of arms and ammunition it says its soldiers have uncovered during searches, as well as what it said was an underground command center hidden under a clothes shop.

Senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials say Israel will impose what it calls a yellow line in Lebanon, barring residents from returning to areas occupied by the Israeli military.

Advertisement Advertisement

It is a tactic lifted straight from Israels renewed occupation of Gazas territory.

There, it started out as a temporary yellow line on a map  demarcating an area occupied by the Israeli military following the Trump-brokered ceasefire last October.

But after a few weeks, concrete blocks painted yellow started appearing on the ground, lending it a sense of permanence, which has only deepened. Crossing the line remains forbidden to residents, hundreds of whom have been shot dead for coming too close, Palestinian officials say.

Israels new yellow line in southern Lebanon appears similarly divisive, separating 55 towns and villages from the rest of the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

The IDF has told residents not to return, firing on people it said were approaching the yellow line on multiple occasions, and adding that it is authorized to continue destroying terrorist infrastructures even during the ceasefire.

Much of Lebanons south  a largely Shiite-Muslim area with a strong Hezbollah presence  had already been left damaged and depopulated after more than two years of war with Israel. But the destruction intensified after the latest offensive began on March 2.

CNN analyzed satellite imagery provided by Airbus to assess the growing scale of the damage as hostilities resumed.

In the first 10 days of Israels March offensive, CNN counted 523 buildings destroyed across 22 communities. As well as homes, CNNs analysis indicates Israeli forces have destroyed mosques, pharmacies, cafes and auto repair shops.

Advertisement Advertisement

Videos filmed by residents show controlled demolitions being carried out, while satellite imagery reveals a pattern of Israeli bulldozers and excavators operating in already heavily damaged areas, indicating ground forces moving into areas previously struck from the air.

Cycle of displacement

For residents of southern Lebanon, this latest war represents another chapter of displacement.

Nearly 1.3 million Lebanese have been displaced, according to the International Rescue Committee. Most are from Shiite communities, many of whom who had already been forced from their homes in 2024.

Hassan Rammal is one of those people.

Advertisement Advertisement

His village of Adaisseh is located right on the Israel-Lebanon border. Many of its residents, like Rammal himself, support Hezbollah.

The 62-year-old businessman fled with his wife and three sons to Beirut at the beginning of 2024, hoping he would be back once the war calmed down.

Displacement has a sense of tragedy. To leave your memories, your home, to leave everything you have planted; everything you have built and grown with your own hands, he told CNN.

Shortly after the family fled, Rammal said he got word that their home had been destroyed, likely by an airstrike.

I felt like someone stripped my soul and life of my memories, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Rammal also owned a multi-story commercial and residential building nearby that was partially damaged by the strike. There were shops on the bottom floor, and four apartments on the top floor. After Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a cessation of hostilities in November 2024, he returned to Adaisseh to rebuild the complex, hoping to live in one of the apartments with his family.

Construction began in February this year, only to be halted a few weeks later when war returned. Along with his family, Rammal left Adaisseh again.

A short while later, he received a video filmed from a drone, showing apocalyptic images of his village. Almost every building was reduced to rubble, including the one he was seeking to renovate.

A satellite image captured days earlier, on March 18, showed two excavators just meters away from his property, at that point still standing, indicating it was likely demolished through Israeli bulldozing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its a similar story elsewhere. In Khiam, about 5 kilometers north of the border, swathes of green have turned brown after Israeli earthwork. Satellite imagery from April 22 shows bulldozers and diggers at work in the area.

Twenty-year-old Ali Al-Abbani has only ever known Khiam and is too young to have lived through Lebanons previous wars with Israel. This is the first war Ive experienced, and I cant begin to describe how terrifying it is, he told CNN from Lebanons Bekaa Valley, where he finds himself displaced, along with his parents and brother.

Whenever an Israeli drone or fighter jet flies overhead, he told CNN, his body goes into shock, and he often runs for his mothers embrace. When he saw a satellite image of his home village, sent on a WhatsApp group earlier this month, it showed his home razed to the ground.

My mother spent the entire evening crying. I started cryingall my memories are in that house, every corner, he said.

There will be no buffer zone

The current ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is the second since war broke out in October 2023. After the first, in November 2024, Israel maintained a military presence in southern Lebanon, operating five Forward Operating Bases, confirmed by the IDF. What appear to be a further four Israeli positions were also established between October 2025 and January 2026, according to CNNs review of satellite imagery, though the Israeli military has not publicly confirmed these bases.

Jeremy Binnie, Middle East defense specialist at Janes, a London-based defense intelligence firm, told CNN the IDF was likely expanding its presence in order to provide better visibility of Lebanese territory than existing Israeli positions on the border.

He said this lined up with Israeli plans to occupy the new security zone for the long term, but warned that building additional positions deeper inside the country could leave Israeli soldiers manning isolated positions exposed to inevitable insurgent attacks.

For its part, Hezbollah says it will not recognize the ceasefire unless Israel withdraws, vowing to resist the occupation and expel it from our land.

The village of Adaisseh in southern Lebanon was formerly known for its green hills. - Adaissah Municipality

The future for 600,000 Lebanese in the south remains uncertain  both whether they will return home, and whether any homes will still be there to return to.

Rammal, the 62-year-old businessman, says Lebanon has never had a day of peace with its southern neighbor.

And he scoffs at Israels plans to occupy parts of Lebanons south.

It says it wants to keep its country safe, while making other countries unsafe. It can say whatever it wants  there will be no buffer zone, he says.

Even if we only build a tent, I will return this is my village, until my final breath.

CNNs Billy Stockwell and Gianluca Mezzofiore contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has joined fellow world leaders in condemning the shooting at a Washington press dinner attended by US President Donald Trump.

"Violence has no place in a democracy. We decide by majorities, not by the gun," Merz wrote on X on Sunday.

"I condemn the attempted attack in Washington and am relieved that President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and all those present are safe."

Advertisement Advertisement

Shots rang out while the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was taking place at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, leading security forces to swiftly evacuate Trump, his wife and other senior officials from the ballroom.

World leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have taken to X to react to the news that no officials or journalists were harmed, with a Secret Service officer who was hit by a shot saved by their bullet-proof vest.
Anthropic is reportedly on a hiring spree to secure European data center deals.

The Dario Amodei-led company has posted a job advertisement for a principal role based in London.

A source disclosed to CNBC that Anthropic is evaluating deals to directly acquire data center capacity from developers globally. The Transaction Principal role, with a salary range of 225,000 ($303,806) to 270,000 ($364427), will be instrumental in securing the infrastructure that powers Anthropic's advanced AI systems in Europe.

Don't Miss:

The role involves sourcing European data center deals, engaging developers, and negotiating commercial term sheets, the report said. The ideal candidate is reportedly expected to have experience in data center markets across major European hubs (FLAP-D cities) as well as the Nordics and Southern Europe.



The AI startup is also seeking to hire for a comparable position in Australia, it added.

Anthropic did not immediately respond to Benzingas request for comments.

Anthropics AI Push

Earlier this week, it committed to invest over $100 billion in Amazon Web Services, which includes the use of Amazons Trainium chips and Graviton cores to support the training and deployment of Anthropics AI models.

See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Before that, Anthropic signed a major deal with Broadcom Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google to secure multi-gigawatt TPU capacity starting in 2027, expanding compute infrastructure to support its Claude AI models and rising global demand.

Meanwhile, the Nordic region is emerging as a key hub for AI infrastructure in Europe, driven by low energy costs. In March, Microsoft launched its Denmark East datacenter region to provide secure, locally hosted cloud services within the EU, improving access to Azure and Microsoft 365 while keeping data under strict regional protections. The company and its partners plan to invest about $4.5 billion in Denmark over four years.

Photo Courtesy: Thrive Studios ID on Shutterstock

Read Next:

UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, with over 60 Italian and Spanish vessels, sets sail from Sicily to challenge Israels blockade of Gaza, aiming to raise awareness and mobilize activism."

The Global Sumud Flotilla is set to embark for Gaza from Sicily on Sunday, following an Italian activist contingent joining a Spanish armada.

More than 60 Italian and Spanish vessels are sailing from Augusta to attempt to run the Israeli blockade of the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, according to a GSF press release, with the hopes of raising awareness and mobilizing further activism.

Advertisement Advertisement

In the face of the repeated failure to comply with measures of international justice, the so-called ceasefire, the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, the aggression in southern Lebanon, the continued closure of land routes, and the persistent denial of humanitarian access to Gaza, mere denunciation of the State of Israel and its allies is no longer sufficient, GSF said on Sunday.

It is necessary to act in an integrated and differentiated manner, building an international front capable of targeting the system of complicity that sustains the blockade.

The 39 vessels that had departed from Spain on April 15 were joined by 25 Italian vessels on Thursday, which organizers said made the pro-Palestinian activist flotilla the largest of its kind. In addition to the maritime action, a land convoy is set to approach Gaza from North Africa. GSF said on Instagram on Friday that 1,000 people were set to join the North African Sumud Land Convoy on a journey that is expected to last 20 to 27 days.

Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, who participated in the 2025 Global Sumud Flotilla, speaks to the press as a humanitarian flotilla prepares to depart for Gaza from Barcelona, Spain, April 12, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Richard Matousek)

Whether you come by bus, by car, by motorcycle, or by foot, this is your chance to join the global uprising for Gaza, GSF said on Instagram.

Sexual misconduct allegation

The departure from Barcelona had been delayed due to stormy weather on April 12, as the GSF was rocked by allegations that a steering committee member had used their position to have sexual relations with volunteers. GSF denied any ethical issues, and the accuser deleted their original claims.

Advertisement Advertisement

On Monday, GSF claimed that it had disrupted the transit of the cargo vessel MSC Maya, claiming that it was part of a supply chain that facilitated the Israeli military.

This mission sends a clear message, GSF said in a statement at the time. If governments do not act to halt the machinery of violence, civilians will intervene. Corporate actors will be identified and challenged, and public attention will be directed toward what is too often ignored.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company did not respond to a query from The Jerusalem Post, but the Panamanian-flagged ship had arrived in Ashdod on Saturday.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has joined other New Jersey leaders in condemning political violence after a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night.

In a statement posted Sunday morning on X, Sherrill said she is thankful that President Donald Trump and everyone else who attended the dinner are safe.

Im grateful for the work of the first responders, particularly the brave Secret Service agent who reportedly was shot and saved by their protective vest, Sherrill said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Plain and simple, political violence should not be the answer in a democracy, she added.

The chaotic scene unfolded minutes after the annual event began. A man armed with guns and knives charged toward the ballroom, and guests dove under tables as shots rang out. Trump was uninjured, the Associated Press reported.

The man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was taken into custody. Police believe he acted alone, though his intended target and motive was not immediately clear, according to the Associated Press.

It was the first time Trump has attended the event, meant to honor journalism and the First Amendment, since he became president.

Advertisement Advertisement

In the hours after the shooting, several New Jersey leaders from both parties have taken to social media to denounce the shooting and all forms of political violence.

U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat, wrote on X that threats and violence fueled by broken politics is disturbing and unacceptable, noting he was shocked by images and first hand accounts from the event.

Even in the most divided of times, violence has no place, Kim said. Its time we realize that were a part of something bigger than any one of us, and come together as Americans to denounce such horrific actions.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., commended Secret Service and law enforcements swift response, and sent his well wishes to Trump.

Advertisement Advertisement

Praying for our President and our entire country, he wrote on X.

Trump also posted a statement Saturday night on his Truth Social media site, saying: Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and well just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP

Sherrill, Kim, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, former Gov. Phil Murphy, and former Gov. Chris Christie were not in attendance, their spokespeople confirmed.

The shooter is expected to appear in court Monday, the Associated Press reported.

NJ.com staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Friday, a jury found a 21-year-old East Moline man guilty in a fatal 2024 shooting near the sky bridge in downtown Davenport.

After a trial that began April 6 in Scott County Court, a jury found Johnathan J. Terrones guilty of first-degree murder, according to Scott County Court records. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 12 in Scott County Court.

Gunfire in downtown Davenport

Shortly before 12:25 a.m. Aug. 24, 2024, Davenport Police, Fire, and Medic EMS responded to a parking lot in the 100 block of West River Drive for a report of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found a mam with gunshot wounds who had died from his injuries.

Johnathan Terrones (Scott County Jail)

Davenport police later identified the victim as Mason Payne, 23, of Moline.

James Joslin Jr. (Scott County Jail)

In connection with the same incident, James Joslin Jr. appeared Jan. 7, 2026, in Scott County Court after pleading guilty to charges of solicitation to commit a felony, accessory after the fact and interference with official acts to obstruct prosecution.

Advertisement Advertisement

The court sentenced him to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections for the solicitation and accessory after the fact charges and two years for the interference charge.

The court suspended the sentences and placed him on two years of supervised probation. He was also fined a total of $2,905. Charges of accessory after the fact and obstructing prosecution were dismissed.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
President Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night after reports of gunfire triggered a rapid Secret Service response, sending hundreds of attendees scrambling for cover inside one of Washingtons highest-profile political events.

The incident unfolded roughly 30 minutes into the dinner, just as guests were being served their opening course. Attendees reported hearing a series of loud bangs  some describing them as gunshots, others as crashing plates  before security moved in.

[NOTE: The incident begins at 8:34 PM ET.]

Advertisement Advertisement

Within seconds, Secret Service agents evacuated the president and vice president, while armed personnel flooded the room. Guests, including journalists, administration officials, and cabinet members, were instructed to take cover, with many ducking under tables as exits were secured. Most senior officials were evacuated by protective details shortly after Trump and Vance and were placed in secure locations.

Reports from inside the room described shattered glass and at least one blocked exit as security teams worked to lock down the space. High-ranking officials, including cabinet members and senior advisers, were escorted out by their protective details.

Authorities later confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody near the events main security screening area. Law enforcement described the location as an active crime scene, though officials have not yet released details about the suspects identity or motive.

(ROBERTO SCHMIDT / Getty Images) An armed law enforcement officer oversees the evacuation of guests from the White House Correspondents Dinner after a gunman attempted to breach security. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT / Getty Images)

Advertisement Advertisement

The White House Correspondents Association initially indicated the event might resume, but within an hour, much of the room had cleared. The organization later said the dinner would be rescheduled.

The disruption cut short what had already been an unusual Correspondents Dinner. It marked Trumps first time attending the event as president, with no traditional comedian host. Instead, mentalist Oz Pearlman had been performing and was interacting with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the time of the incident.

In posts on Truth Social, Trump said he was safe and praised law enforcement for acting quickly and bravely, adding that officials would determine next steps for the evening.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The event took place at the Washington Hilton, the same venue where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, adding a historical echo to the nights events.

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking from the White House, President Donald Trump said the suspect charged a security checkpoint with multiple firearms from 50 feet before being apprehended by law enforcement.

Trump confirmed that one officer was shot during the incident but was protected by a bulletproof vest and is expected to be in good condition. He praised law enforcement and Secret Service agents for their response, emphasizing what he described as quick and brave action that prevented further harm.

Flanked by officials including FBI Director Kash Patel and interim Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump said the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities executing search warrants and working across multiple agencies, including local police, federal law enforcement, and the Secret Service.

Officials did not confirm a motive. Trump suggested the suspect may have acted alone, describing him as a possible lone wolf, but said investigators are still working to determine intent. He also said there was no indication at this time of any foreign connection.

Advertisement Advertisement

The president said the White House Correspondents Dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days, adding that the event  which he described as celebrating free speech  would return bigger, better, and safer.

Authorities have not yet released the suspects identity other than that he is a 31-year-old male from Torrence, California, an association with Cal Tech, and the social media of a techie without an apparent motive yet. The investigation remains active, and charges are expected to be filed by the Department of Justice within days.

As of late Saturday, all protected officials were reported safe. Trump is expected to deliver remarks from the White House following the incident, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.

The post Gunfire erupts at WHCA dinner, Trump evacuated appeared first on Salon.com.
BAMAKO, April 26 (Reuters) - Mali Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence, the government said on Sunday, a high-profile fatality during coordinated assaults staged the previous day by insurgents including the West Africa al Qaeda affiliate.

A car laden with explosives driven by a suicide attacker drove into Camara's residence in the town of Kati, the spokesperson, Issa Ousmane Coulibaly, said in a statement read out on state television.

A firefight ensued, and Camara sustained injuries from which he later died in a hospital, Coulibaly said, adding that Mali would observe two days of mourning.

Advertisement Advertisement

The statement followed media reports earlier in the day, including by Reuters, that Camara had been killed during the operation in Kati, roughly 15 km (about 9 miles) north of the capital Bamako, where the army's main base is located.

The regional al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM, cooperated with a Tuareg-dominated rebel group to carry out simultaneous attacks in over half a dozen places across the country, according to claims by both groups.

The government has not provided a death toll. Coulibaly on Sunday expressed condolences for "all civilian and military victims who died," without providing a number.

Analysts and diplomats described Saturday's insurgent operation as one of the largest coordinated attacks in the country in recent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

The United Nations called for an international response to violence and terrorism in West Africa's Sahel region.

"The SecretaryGeneral is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali. He strongly condemns these acts of violence," a U.N. spokesperson posted on X.

FATE UNCLEAR OF STRATEGIC CITY KIDAL

In addition to Kati, Saturday's strikes hit near Bamako airport and in localities farther north, including Mopti, Sevare and Gao.

The fate of the strategic city of Kidal, a former stronghold for the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, the Tuareg-dominated group that partnered with JNIM, was unclear on Sunday.

Advertisement Advertisement

The FLA said in a statement that Kidal had fallen, and a spokesperson for the group said on X that a deal had been struck to let Russian mercenaries leave a besieged camp outside the city where Malian armed forces were still entrenched.

But Mali's army chief of staff, General Oumar Diarra, told the state broadcaster on Sunday that the military had tactically repositioned forces in Kidal and that operations in the area were ongoing.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Germany-headquartered Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said the attack was a setback for Russia, which backed the military-led government after it kicked out French, U.S. and other Western forces.

"For Russia the attack has been a disaster, Laessing said. They were unable to prevent the fall of the highly symbolic Tuareg stronghold of Kidal and now need to leave this northern city."

Advertisement Advertisement

GOVERNMENT HAD PROMISED TO DELIVER GREATER SECURITY

Russian staterun broadcaster Vesti reported on Sunday that Russia's Africa Corps was repelling a largescale militant attack on Mali's government.

According to Vesti, Russian personnel were responding along with units of Mali's Presidential Guard and armed forces, preventing the presidential palace from being seized.

Vesti said some members of Russia's Africa Corps were wounded, without providing further details.

Saturday's attacks are the latest sign that Mali's government has not delivered greater security despite promising to do so.

Advertisement Advertisement

In September 2024, JNIM attacked a paramilitary police training school near the Bamako airport, killing about 70 people. More recently, it carried out a fuel blockade that has starved the capital's residents and businesses of power and supplies.

The government has recently pursued closer ties with Washington, which has sought to rebuild cooperation on security and explore mining opportunities.

Mali's foreign minister told Reuters this past Monday that neighbouring states and foreign powers were backing terrorist groups, but declined to name the countries.

(Reporting by Mali newsroom; Writing by Jessica Donati; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet, David Holmes and Ethan Smith)
Update, 9:28 p.m.: The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office announced late April 26 that Maya Barreto has been found safe and is back with family.

Previous coverage: The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is searching for a 15-year-old who was reported missing early this weekend.

Deputies say they are looking for Maya Barreto who was last seen at 3:45 p.m. Friday, April 24, at McNicholas High School on Beechmont Avenue in Mount Washington.

Advertisement Advertisement

She was walking eastbound on Beechmont and was believed to be heading across town to Fairview Park in the CUF neighborhood, deputies said.

Deputies state she has a history of self-harm and is considered a critical missing juvenile.

Barreto is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, has black hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 or the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office at 513-825-1500.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 15-year-old Maya Barreto found safe after going missing
It took just 30 minutes for Brytney Quinn to lose everything.

On Tuesday, the mother was going through the motions of a normal day in southeast Georgias Brantley County: getting her children ready for school as her husband prepared for work.

But around noon, multiple firetrucks and police cars swarmed their neighborhood, urging them to evacuate. A massive wildfire  believed to have been sparked by a childrens party balloon landing on a power line  was fast approaching, primed to destroy more homes than any wildfire in the states history.

Advertisement Advertisement

She grabbed her daughter and her pets and left the house around 12:20 p.m.

Around half an hour later, she checked her surveillance cameras and saw her home in flames.

My house is gone, Quinn said tearfully in a video she shared with CNN showing the burned remnants of her house.

The Highway 82 Fire that engulfed Quinns home has devoured thousands of acres in south Georgia, destroying dozens of buildings and forcing hundreds to evacuate from their homes. Its just one of several dangerous wildfires burning across Georgia and Florida, fostered by the worst spring drought conditions on record.

And Quinn isnt the only one facing huge losses from the massive blazes. The Highway 82 Fire and the larger Pineland Road Fire have together destroyed more than 120 homes, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday, when around 4,000 homes were still in the evacuation zone.

Advertisement Advertisement

We got the two most dangerous, biggest problematic fires anywhere in the United States within really just a very small area that were having to fight, he said.

Burned vehicles consumed by the Highway 82 wildfire are seen in Atkinson, Georgia, Thursday. - Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Glowing red flames raced through the dry vegetation of southern Georgia, whipping up massive clouds of dark smoke that hung heavily over the region. The fires left behind the desiccated husks of vehicles and homes and blanketed neighborhoods with ash.

Residents found themselves clutching medications and family heirlooms before racing away from their homes, unsure if therell be anything left to come back to.

Across the state line, a volunteer firefighter died after a medical emergency while fighting the Old Dixie Highway Fire in Hilliard, Florida, according to the sheriffs office.

Advertisement Advertisement

For Quinn, the losses are devastating.

My babies lost their home and the only place they felt safe, she said. Now we have nothing to go to but rubbish  how are we going to recover from this?

Firefighters respond to the Pineland Road Fire in southeast Georgia Wednesday. - Georgia Department of Natural Resources/AP

Weve just got to start over

Like Quinn, grandparents Elizabeth and Tony Spear had just minutes to evacuate from their Brantley County home Tuesday.

Firetrucks came down the road and said we had to leave immediately, Elizabeth Spear recalled. I threw a few things in a bag  our medicine, cellphone, charger, just very minimum  and went flying out the door, jumped in our little car and just left.

Originally thinking they were safe, the Spears didnt plan to evacuate.

Advertisement Advertisement

It wasnt until Thursday that they returned to the site where their house of 17 years once stood. Instead of seeing their family home, they were faced with ashen land, a destroyed shed and two burned-out vehicles.

All of my grandmas jewelry was lost and things from her mom who passed, their granddaughter Ashleigh Anderson said. All of their possessions were burned. They were only able to bring about two pairs of clothes.

The couple also lost three pets in the blaze: two chihuahuas and a black lab.

We lost everything, Elizabeth Spear said. Its just total ashes.

The Spears are striving to center their faith and love as they look to rebuild what they lost.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its just stuff. You can replace stuff, Elizabeth Spear reflected. It does hurt a little bit that I have a lot of stuff thats gone that Ill never see again  but I have my life. Ive got my life and Im going to be OK.

Well make it through, you know  weve just got to start over.

Annabelle Enke plays as her father Michael Gibson looks on after losing their home in the Brantley Highway 82 Fire, in Nahunta, Georgia, on Friday. - Mike Stewart/AP

A rush to preserve history as flames approach

When Kathy Hendrix was ordered to evacuate from Browntown Road in Waynesville, Georgia, her first thought wasnt herself or her own belongings.

Instead, her mind went to Confederate Park  a site her father built and the home of some of the countys historical records, Hendrix told CNN affiliate WTLV.

When they came around and said, Evacuate! You have to leave, you have to go now, I said, Ive got to have 15 minutes to save the history of our county, Hendrix said.

Advertisement Advertisement

With a black cloud of smoke rapidly approaching, Hendrix and her grandchildren raced to the park. They rescued a trove of documents that trace the ins and outs of over a century of life in Waynesville: newspapers, legal filings, marriage records and other files.

Some of the documents are marked with ash now  a testament to the fate they narrowly escaped.

Whats in the back of my car right now is the history of our county  our legal records, our happenings, Hendrix told WTLV, showing the yellowing stacks of paper stowed in the trunk of her car. This is Brantley County  insurance cant replace this.

Her granddaughters also saved another piece of history: A 100-year-old Bambi storybook.

A wedding chapel reduced to ash-covered ruins

Along with homes, the flames incinerated a site that once hosted countless happy days: a wedding chapel in Waynesville, which was once a Baptist church.

Advertisement Advertisement

The owner of the chapel, Ginger Hunter, told CNN she not only lost her entire business but her home as well.

Hunter has been running the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres for five years. She works as both an officiant and wedding photographer at the venue.

Couples tied the knot beneath the spire of the historic white chapel, surrounded by greenery. Now the green has turned to grey: The property is coated with a layer of ash. The chapel  along with the reception hall, bridal suite, and multiple storage buildings  is entirely gone.

The burned out remains of the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres on Thursday. - Mike Stewart/AP

I am so thankful we were able to get out safely. We saw the flames behind the chapel and knew we only had moments, Hunter said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hunter says they had no insurance on the buildings that burned.

We lost my wedding dress, my moms wedding dress, my daughters wedding dress, she added.

The blazes have affected Hunters children, too. Her daughter lost her entire business and her camper van, and her son, a senior in high school, lost his vehicle.

My mind still cant comprehend how in one moment life is happening, and instantly life looks differently, Hunter said.

Theyre still looking for two cats and two dogs that are missing.

The first step in the recovery process for Hunter is finding a new home. Then she and her family will start to rebuild their businesses.

Advertisement Advertisement

I am at a loss for words to describe my heart right now, Hunter added. So much loss and sadness.

Harrowing escapes and families in limbo

As some families mourn the losses of their homes, others are in limbo, waiting to see if their homes were destroyed  or if they will be the fires next victims.

Bobbi Enke didnt find out until Friday morning her home and the neighboring home of her father-in-law were consumed by the fires.

We got out what was sentimental to us, but we didnt get anything big, said Enke, who brought the familys two dogs and cat as they evacuated, along with her toddlers clothes and toys. Im also still nursing my daughter, and I had to leave all of my breast milk in the fridge.

She and her husband were still not able to return home as of Friday evening as an evacuation remained in effect. They learned about their homes fate from a video a neighbor sent, showing ashy land filled with charred remnants.

Her father-in-law, Johnny Enke, lives right next door, and they grabbed his wifes ashes before his home burned down. But he was refusing to leave.

A single father to five children, he built his home with the intent to pass it down to his family.

The house that he built is what he wanted to leave behind to his children, and its no longer here, Bobbi Enke said. He is in heart failure, and he is not able to work anymore. He wanted to stay back and protect what he could leave behind to his kids.

Her father stayed behind as well to make sure Johnny got out, leaving just 30 minutes before their house burned down.

Smoke rises from the Brantley Highway 82 Fire in Atkinson, Georgia, on Thursday. - Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Elsewhere in Brantley County, Drake Smith and his family evacuated their home earlier this week when the wildfire came too close for comfort.

It wasnt panic until we had seen the fire over the tree line, he told CNNs Derek Van Dam Thursday. The situation changed in a matter of twenty minutes  the temperature suddenly rising from cool to hot as the inferno approached.

Filled with fear, he and his family grabbed clothes and some sentimental stuff as they hurried to evacuate.

We knew the fire was coming. We knew it was bad  and we honestly thought the house was gone, he said. And we didnt know until the next day what was happening.

The family is still poised to evacuate again if the wind brings the fire their way again.

Well just have to stay in vehicles until we can figure it out and hopefully the house will still be standing, he said.

Chloe Cothren and her sister told WTLV Wednesday they were still waiting to find out.

Its really sad, she said. Everybody has worked so hard for everything they have, and were just all going to lose it. It just doesnt feel real.

We gotta do something together

Wimberly Rowell, 12, waves to traffic announcing free food Wednesday outside Twin Rivers Baptist church for people displaced by the wildfire near Nahunta, Georgia. - Mike Stewart/AP

Amid the wreckage of homes burned down and precious sentimental items destroyed, some local business owners are going out of their way to help their fellow community members.

Among them is Rosa Cosco, the co-owner of Tacos Del Ranchito, who offered free meals to evacuees Wednesday, according to WTLV.

We lost our home to a fire, so when we heard everything, we kind of all stuck together, and were like, We gotta do something together, Cosco said.

Similarly, Shelby Drummond, owner of Shelby and Shanes Country Cooking and Catering, said she felt inspired to give back, the same way that her own family once received help after a house fire.

Were just giving back to the community because they gave to us so much, she told WTLV.

CNNs Rebekah Riess, Graham Hurley and Maria Aguilar Prieto contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Utah Rep. Blake Moore, the fifth-ranked Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, lost a party nomination vote among precinct delegates on Saturday but will continue to a primary election in June.

Delegates backed state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Syracuse, who targeted Moores support for a redistricting commission and dismissed his leadership positions as Congress has overseen a soaring national debt.

Lisonbee won 61.5% of the vote among the 1,000 delegates representing party precincts across the 2nd Congressional District in northern Utah. Moore got 33.7% and former National Guardsman Colton Hatch got 4.8%.

Advertisement Advertisement

Moore had already qualified for the primary ballot by submitting over 7,000 verified voter signatures. Lisonbee opted to forgo the signature option, relying on delegates to give her at least 40% of the vote to qualify.

Utahs unique caucus-convention system often penalizes incumbents. In 2024, Moore lost by more than 10 percentage points at convention against a political newcomer. However, he later won by more than 40 points in the primary.

Saturdays vote reflected the deep anti-establishment sentiment of the GOP grassroots, even toward a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump and responsible for some of the presidents biggest legislative wins.

Rep. Karianne Lisonbee speaks as a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District during the Utah Republican Party State Nominating Convention at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, April 25, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Moore appeals to authority

Delegates welcomed Moore to the stage, and sent him off, with a chorus of boos. But the two-term lawmaker plowed ahead with prepared remarks, tallying his list of high profile accomplishments since entering office in 2021.

Advertisement Advertisement

Moore highlighted his status as one of the only Utahns to ever serve in congressional leadership and the first Utahn to sit on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which is the primary force behind tax policy in Washington, D.C.

Moores time on the committee coincided with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including expanded business tax breaks and child tax credits, permanent.

Moore played a role in shaping the tax cuts, and was also credited with drafting the legislation that became the "Trump Accounts  a government-funded savings account for kids  earning Moore a shoutout from Trump.

I passed more individual pieces of legislation than anyone else in what will be President Trumps most significant legislative achievement, Moore said.

Advertisement Advertisement

As the first ever Utahn elected to House GOP leadership, Moore said he is in the best position to continue supporting Utahs Sentinel nuclear launch silo sites and Hill Air Force Bases F-35 maintenance programs.

Moores reelection campaign has also become a referendum on Utahs new court-ordered congressional district map, tapping into frustration among some state lawmakers over Moores support for Utahs redistricting commission.

One of Moores greatest advocates in the state, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, did not address this line of attack, but instead reiterated how Moores leadership role has delivered huge dividends for northern Utah.

Adams told the Deseret News he expects Moore to be elected as chair of the House Budget Committee in the fall. Moore has been a member of the committee since 2022 but has not announced a bid for committee chair.

Advertisement Advertisement

Leadership means everything, youre making all the decisions, Adams said. When youre the budget chair, everything runs through you. And that gives you the ability to be able to negotiate with other legislators. So it is everything for northern Utah.

Support split by redistricting

However, Adams counterpart at the state Legislature gave an opposite prediction of Moores prospects.

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, told the Deseret News that he believes Moores involvement with the group behind Utahs redistricting law could potentially have negative implications for his leadership positions.

Before running for elected office, Moore served as one of the original Republican chairs of Better Boundaries, and as one of the original signatories on the application to gather signatures to put Proposition 4 on the ballot.

Advertisement Advertisement

Following a yearslong legal battle, advocacy groups successfully sued the state to toss out its 2021 map and to install one of their own design that created a Democratic-leaning district in Salt Lake County.

Schultz joined Lisonbee in blaming Moore for the original initiative that allowed groups to sue if they think lawmakers do not meet anti-gerrymandering rules. This law could determine the midterms and Moores future, Schultz said.

That cost Utah a Republican seat, thats going to possibly cost the majority in Washington, D.C., Schultz said. Thatll be used against him very heavily in a leadership race. So I dont see Blake winning another leadership race.

Met with big cheers, Lisonbee capitalized on her convention-only status and fiery condemnations of Moore. She lambasted her opponent for working with Democrats to turn a reliably red Utah congressional seat deep blue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Lisonbee focused the remainder of her remarks on her record of spending cuts, immigration law enforcement, and culture war victories on banning elective abortions, restricting transgender access and affirming gun rights.

The nation has continued on an unsustainable trajectory with the national debt increasing by more than $10 trillion, and unfunded Social Security obligations doubling while Moore has been in office, Lisonbee said.

That is not leadership. Fraud and corruption have seeped into our institutions. Government is too big, costs too much and has gone far beyond its purpose, Lisonbee said. Now, more than ever, we need real leadership.
A silver lining for House Republicans facing an increasingly grim midterm cycle: Theyve got money.

Democrats are still raking in big hauls and are outpacing the GOP in most key Senate races, despite having an uphill battle to flip the chamber. But in the far more competitive House map, vulnerable Republicans are also raising millions of dollars, creating relative parity in the most competitive battlegrounds  a marked difference from past cycles like 2018, when Republicans were outraised by Democrats in most competitive House districts.

That year, 36 of the top 50 House fundraisers were Democrats, according to FEC data. So far this cycle, top fundraisers are split roughly evenly between the two parties. Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)  the only two Republicans seeking reelection in districts won by Kamala Harris in 2024  are among the top fundraisers of any vulnerable incumbents of either party, respectively bringing in $6.7 million and $5.4 million so far this cycle.

Advertisement Advertisement

In 2018 we had a ton of candidates who hadn't run competitive races in many, many years, and so not only were you getting their campaigns up to tip top shape, but you were teaching them how to raise money in the modern era, said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist who was with the National Republican Congressional Committee at the time.

While Republicans digital fundraising still doesnt match Democrats operation, they have built it up substantially compared to a few cycles ago. Republicans still rely heavily on large donors, but theyve developed a network of joint fundraising committees that enable the party to direct those donors to the highest priority swing districts.

Republicans knew they needed to find a way to support these candidates, which are our majority makers, Gorman said. And it can't just have all the money flowing to the base. We need to make sure these guys who are winning in tough districts are actually the ones getting a ton of the money.

Democrats still raise more money in aggregate, and theyve also put up especially strong numbers in a swath of redder seats outside the core House battlefield. That could help the party as it seeks to expand the map in a wave year.

Advertisement Advertisement

People are pissed, motivated, and eager to reject Republican rule over their failure to lower costs, and Democrats massive fundraising hauls highlight the broad base of support our Frontliners and challengers have, said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton.

Ten candidates in districts the DCCC is seeking to target outraised Republican incumbents in the first quarter, while only one Republican challenger  Tano Tijerina, who is challenging Rep. Henry Cuellar in Texas 28th District  outraised a Democratic incumbent.

That suggests Republicans are going to be playing a lot more defense than offense this cycle. But they might be better positioned in seats they are defending this cycle. House GOP incumbents in particular have announced strong hauls, keeping them ahead of or within striking distance of their Democratic challengers.

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. This all points to the fact that this cycle is not a repeat of 2018, and Republicans are well-positioned to defy history and grow our majority in Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

One factor boosting Republicans money this cycle has been their widespread use of joint fundraising agreements. The largest group, Speaker Mike Johnsons Grow The Majority, has transferred an average of $675,000 so far this cycle to members of the NRCCs Patriot Program for vulnerable incumbents. For a handful of those members, that has accounted for more than 15 percent of their total fundraising this cycle.

Left out are a handful of Republicans in deeper-red districts that the DCCC has named as targets but the NRCC has not put in its incumbent protection program. Democrats have built up substantial fundraising advantages in a few of those districts, including Tennessee's 5th District, which Trump won by 18 points.

Republicans capitalization on joint fundraising committees reflects the two parties different approaches: Grow the Majority has raised $83 million since the start of last year from just over 1,300 individual contributors, according to a POLITICO review, with an average donation size of roughly $62,000.

Democrats have a smattering of joint fundraising committees too, but none that have raised that kind of money. Instead, the party relies more on online giving from millions of small donors who are often repeat givers, creating sustainable fundraising for candidates as the cycle continues.

Advertisement Advertisement

But breaking into the online donation space is an uphill climb for candidates without existing donor lists or strong name recognition. The top House fundraisers outside of party leadership are incumbents with strong brands, led by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

Most of the top-raising Democratic challengers so far this cycle are repeat candidates with both name ID and donor lists. Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsins 3rd District and Christina Bohannan in Iowas 1st District both raised more than $5 million as they seek rematches of 2024 races they narrowly lost. For newer candidates, its a steeper climb.

The candidates who need money the most  who are challengers in Trump districts  are from a business perspective in by far the worst position to reach that marketplace of 10 million donors, said Liam Kerr, co-founder of the Democratic group WelcomePAC, which rolled out a program earlier this month aiming to help raise money for Democrats in competitive seats.

Candidate fundraising in many competitive districts is still likely to be dwarfed by outside spending: The Congressional Leadership Fund, which supports House Republicans, announced a $153 million preliminary ad buy targeting competitive districts this week; its Democratic counterpart, House Majority PAC, pledged $272 million in ad reservations of its own.

Advertisement Advertisement

Other potential players include Trumps MAGA Inc. super PAC, which had nearly $350 million cash on hand at the end of March, and moneyed interest group super PACs, such as groups linked to cryptocurrency and AI, that have accumulated tens of millions of dollars and are already spending in congressional primaries.

But campaign cash still matters: Candidates have direct control over how it is used, and campaigns get lower rates than super PACs on television ads.
Five months ago, Indiana Republican legislators withstood pressure from President Donald Trump and rejected his urgent political demands. Now there are signs here on the ground that GOP voters may be poised to do the same.

Trump and his allies are out for revenge in the Hoosier states May 5 primary after the Republican supermajority in the state Senate voted down his demand to redraw Indianas congressional map to help the GOP win two more seats in Novembers midterm elections.

The president endorsed challengers to seven incumbent Republican state senators who voted against the redistricting measure. The outcome of those Senate primaries will test Trumps grip on the Republican Party, as voters decide whether to give their partys state lawmakers room to break with the president  or opt to oust those he sees as disloyal and damaging to his second-term agenda.

Advertisement Advertisement

Across several political events in Indiana in recent days, a significant share of Republican voters said they are willing to break with Trump.

At a recent candidate forum in Rockville, 75-year-old retiree Jack Butler said hed long been a Trump supporter  but the redistricting fight changed his message to the president.

Now, its leave us alone, he said of his opinion about Trump. You go do your thing, thats fine. But stay out of Hoosier politics.

Derailing Trumps plans

Trumps decision last year to lobby Republican-controlled states to redraw their congressional maps and boost the partys chances of retaining its narrow House majority has turned into a headache for the GOP. The Indiana Senates vote in December  despite months of lobbying from Trump, including an invitation to the White House, two visits to Indiana by Vice President JD Vance and a pressure campaign waged by Trumps political allies  offered an early indication that the national redistricting effort was not going according to plan for the president.

Advertisement Advertisement

What started with a new Texas map intended to help the party win five more seats has also been met with a series of Democratic countermoves, including Californias passage of new maps intended to cancel out Republicans gains in Texas and Virginia voters approval this week of a redistricting effort that could net Democrats multiple seats.

Republicans have had full control of Indianas government since 2011, and hold supermajorities in the state House and Senate  so the states most important political splits are those within the GOP, where an old guard that was in power long before Trump entered the political scene and an insurgent crop of newer figures elected within the last decade often agree on policy matters but are at odds on political tactics.

That schism has made the state an important test case for the durability of Trumps brand of politics as he approaches the final two years of his second term.

US President Donald Trump is silhouetted at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 21. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The electorates deciding each race could be as small as 10,000 voters  about the number that historically votes in competitive state Senate primaries in Indiana. And those voters might not all be die-hard Republicans: Indiana has open primaries, which means voters are free to choose which partys ballot they want.

Advertisement Advertisement

The slate of competitive races has resulted in a deluge of advertising spending in ordinarily lower-profile contests, with the state Senate GOPs campaign arm already spending $1.8 million between the start of 2026 and the April 10 pre-primary filing deadline. Hoosier Leadership for America  which is aligned with Sen. Jim Banks, a close Trump ally  has led the way for the pro-Trump forces, spending $4 million on television advertising this election cycle, per AdImpact data. Six of the competitive state Senate races have eclipsed $1 million in TV ad spending.

What would a successful outcome for the Trump-aligned forces look like?

At least three wins in those state Senate races, said Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, a pastor and Trump supporter who narrowly won an upset victory at a state party convention in 2024 to become the GOPs nominee for lieutenant governor.

Thatll be a good night. That would be, we made a good statement, Beckwith said. Five will be a great night  we now are taking back the Senate, essentially. If we win more than five, man, thats just even better.

You cant just avoid conflict

Perhaps the clearest window into a divided party, and the figures who lead it, comes in Indianas sprawling state Senate District 23, which stretches from West Lafayette to the Illinois border well to its south and west.

Advertisement Advertisement

First-term state Sen. Spencer Deery worked for the states most influential political figure of a generation, former Gov. Mitch Daniels, at Purdue University  where Daniels was president and Deery was his deputy chief of staff.

His challenger, the Trump-endorsed Paula Copenhaver, chairs the Fountain County GOP and is a staffer for another Indiana political figure: Beckwith, the lieutenant governor. Copenhaver declined two in-person requests for an interview.

Beckwith, who presides over the Senate in a largely ceremonial role but often clashes with its GOP leadership, was the first statewide elected official to endorse Trumps call for redistricting, and has campaigned with the Republicans challenging Senate incumbents.

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith announces the results of a vote to redistrict the state's congressional map, Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. - Michael Conroy/AP

In an interview, Beckwith described the stakes of the state Senate primaries this way: Is it going to be the party of the Bushes, or is it the Make America Great Again, America First agenda party?

Advertisement Advertisement

I do think the Republican Party is having sort of an identity moment, right  who are we, what do we believe, and also, what will we fight for? Beckwith said. And I think thats what President Trump has done so well, in my opinion, is hes taught us how to fight.

He argued that most Republicans  whether theyre members of its old guard or a pro-Trump new guard, moderate or conservative  agree on most principles. But the identity crisis thats going on in the Republican Party, he said, is over the question of how do you defend it.

I think what President Trump has shown us is that you cant just avoid conflict, he said. Thats not an option.

Deery, meanwhile, made the case that whats at stake is a much different issue: Its about our federal system and  how much control is Washington going to have over the states.

Advertisement Advertisement

He pointed to the deluge of advertising spending that has flooded Indiana, including digital ads by Hoosier Leadership for America attacking Deery on multiple issues.

Deery said Indianas primaries will test whether the federal government can meddle in the states politically, or whether voters will reject such pressure tactics.

If we can prove that theres significant backlash from voters to do that, then its not going to be a model that works, he said.

State Senator Spencer Deery, a Republican from Indiana, speaks at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, on Thursday, December 11, 2025. - Kaiti Sullivan/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Trump did better the first time

The battle over the future of the Republican Party was being waged on a recent weeknight at the candidate forum in Rockville  a rural town in western Indianas Parke County, the self-proclaimed Covered Bridge Capital of the World.

Advertisement Advertisement

First, though, Deery, Copenhaver and other local candidates lined up to address a far more pressing matter on the minds of the approximately three dozen voters who had gathered at Parke Heritage High School: Rezoning to bring a second Dollar General to the county.

Redistricting never came up at all on stage.

When CNN asked many of the voters who attended the event about the state Senate race, most said they planned to back Deery. A few said they were undecided. And none raised the issue of redistricting on their own.

Asked about the importance of the redistricting debate and Trumps role in the states Senate races, many of the Republican primary voters who attended the forum rolled their eyes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Some brought up concerns about the makeup of their own districts. Eric Thompson, 53, said he worried hed be drawn into a more competitive congressional district that Democrats might ultimately win. He said his vote is for me to know, but implied hed back Deery.

Ive gotten a lot of junk mail, mainly Copenhaver. Probably 10 times more of that. And Ive actually talked to Spencer, he said.

Beyond voters fatigue, several said they resented Trumps efforts to sway Indiana politics.

Katharine Marsolf, a 70-year-old retiree, said she plans to vote in the Republican primary, but hasnt decided who to vote for.

Advertisement Advertisement

I dont like redistricting. Im not in favor of it, she said. Its not broke. Dont fix it. Its like youre robbing Peter to pay Paul.

As for Trump, Marsolf said: I think he did better the first time than hes doing this time.

President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office of the White House, on April 18. - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP/File

The disappearing redistricting fight

One pattern across virtually all campaign events in the lead-up to Indianas primary: Though Trump is at the forefront of the contested Senate races, the issue that sparked these battles  redistricting  has entirely receded.

Television, digital and mail advertisements by pro-Trump groups have often used much broader language, accusing the targeted incumbents of failing to support conservative policies or the presidents agenda.

Even Trump-endorsed challengers arent mentioning it.

The shrunken role of the redistricting battle in the Senate primaries was on display last weekend in Franklin, where about 50 people attended a Turning Point USA rally featuring conservative activist Scott Presler  the largest crowd of the three events those groups had hosted on Saturday. Months after Turning Point USAs co-founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed, supporting Trumps bid for revenge in the Indiana primary has been one of the organizations major focuses, and the outcome of the slate of state Senate races is a significant test of its influence and organizing abilities.

The rally was held in District 41, which stretches from the suburbs just south of Indianapolis to former Vice President Mike Pences hometown of Columbus. There, state Rep. Michelle Davis, a Republican endorsed by Trump, is running against anti-redistricting Sen. Greg Walker.

Daniel Halfacre, a Trump supporter who lives in Johnson County and attended the rally, said hed come because he wanted to see Presler.

American conservative activist Scott Ryan Presler addresses the conservative Turning Point People's Convention on June 16, 2024 at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. - Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images/File

I mean, I understood the concept behind redistricting and why, he said. But he said he hadnt really researched the Senate candidates.

Brett Gentry, an actuary who attended the rally with his young daughter and planned to vote for Davis, said redistricting is a part of why hell vote for her. But it wasnt the only issue.

She seems like really common sense. You know, no girls in boy sports, and thats kind of important to me. We got our daughter whos coming up, and just want that all sorted out before she gets in school, he said of Davis.

Davis said she hears very little about redistricting on the campaign trail.

As Im door knocking and talking to people, redistricting does not come up, Davis said. Its not a conversation piece. Now I know why its a conversation piece at the national level with President Trump, of course. But when Im door knocking, people talk to me about property taxes, and they talk to me about their kids.

Redistricting, she said, is just not a topic that is that anyones talking about.

Indiana state Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, listens Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. - Christine Tannous/IndyStar/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

Brenda Wilson, the Trump-endorsed Republican challenging Sen. Greg Goode in his Terre Haute-based District 38 who drove to Franklin for the rally, said its very fair to say redistricting isnt at the forefront of voters minds.

More salient, she said, are concerns about utility costs and property taxes, particularly after Indiana lawmakers approved a law in 2025 aimed at reducing property taxes that has had little effect.

She said she has also encountered many voters who know shes endorsed by Trump and tell her a version of: Thats all I need to know. If hes for you, then so am I.

CNNs David Wright contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Beijing Bans Its Tech Companies From Accepting American Investment - Moby

THE GIST

China will forbid its leading tech firms, including ByteDance, Moonshot AI, and StepFun, from accepting American investment. The national security concerns and broader fallout from Meta's acquisition of Manus, an AI firm, means that all American investment will need state approval.

Beijing is sending a message to Washington, and it reads: Two can play this game.

WHAT HAPPENED

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other agencies issued a directive to its tech companies to reject U.S.-origin capital in funding rounds unless explicitly approved by the government.

Why? Because of Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus.

A quick primer: Manus is an AI agent startup founded by Chinese engineers that relocated to Singapore in mid-2025 to avoid geopolitical exposure. Beijing then launched a multi-agency probe into the deal for possible violations of export control and technology transfer rules, and has widely framed it as the loss of strategically valuable AI to a geopolitical adversary.

For years, Chinese founders relocated to Singapore to attract venture capital from the west while remaining nominally outside Beijing's jurisdiction. Theres a name for it  Singapore-washing." Manus did this and got acquired by Meta for billions, transferring advanced AI agent technology to a U.S. company.

Beijing isnt pleased. Its new restrictions are a direct response to this. And residency in Singapore won't insulate a Chinese-founded, Chinese-backed company from regulatory scrutiny anymore. The door is closing on that escape route.

WHY IT MATTERS

But theres another diplomatic play here, one thats more of a direct response to Washingtons policy actions. By forbidding its tech companies from accepting western money, China is doing to American investors exactly what Washington has been doing to Chinese companies for years.

The U.S. banned Huawei and ZTE from American networks in 2019, restricted semiconductor exports to China in 2022, finalized rules barring US investment in Chinese AI, semiconductor, and quantum firms in 2024, and banned new foreign-made drones from the U.S. market in 2025. And as of last month, moved to block TP-Link routers on national security grounds.

Each of those actions was justified by the same logic Beijing is now invoking: foreign capital in sensitive tech is an unacceptable security risk.

For two decades, Chinas tech giants and upstarts alike have been a favorite among U.S. pension funds, university endowments, and venture capital firms. The list includes Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and the current wave of AI startups.
A shooting at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, where President Donald Trump was in attendance for the first time as president, sent press and politicians  including a congressman from Indiana  scrambling April 25

Thankfully, no innocent person was hurt or, of course, killed tonight, Congressman Marlin Stutzman, who attended the dinner, told Fox59. But it was obviously a very scary moment, an unfortunate event, because it was a big night for our country to hear from the president at the correspondents dinner with all of the journalists and the press there.

After shots rang outside the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom, Secret Service agents rushed to escort Trump and other officials from the room. One officer was shot but is "doing great" because of a bullet resistant vest, Trump told reporters.

Advertisement Advertisement

A suspect armed with two guns and multiple knives was taken into custody that evening. He has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old tutor and video game developer from Torrance, California.

The suspect's potential goals or motivations are not yet clear. Allen does not have a criminal record, according to law enforcement officials. His California voter registration lists "no party preference," according to USAToday, though Federal Election Commission filings show he donated $25 to a political action committee supporting Kamala Harris for president in 2024. Todd Blanche, acting U.S. attorney general, told NBC that the gunman was likely targeting members of the Trump administration, though he noted that assessment could change as evidence is reviewed.

Stutzman told Fox59 that the national anthem had just wrapped up and attendees were beginning to eat their salads when he heard three to four shots fired. Stutzman then ducked under the table before leaving the building with his security team, U.S. Rep. Abe Homaday of Arizona and U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee.

Stutzman and other Republican politicians are now renewing their support for Trump's controversial White House ballroom project, which they argue would have been a safer venue for the dinner than the hotel.

"The Hilton hotel, its large, theres many entrances," Stutzman told Fox59. "Theres not a gate around it like there is at the White House."

U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman
Days after Irans leadership projected a unified front, undermining the long-cited moderate-vs.-hardliner divide, President Donald Trump canceled planned talks with Tehran in Islamabad, Pakistan, citing "infighting and confusion" inside the regime.

Iranian American experts argue that social media posts from Irans new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other key officials reveal that the "good cop, bad cop" tactic that the regime exploited to deceive adversaries and secure generous concessions in nuclear negotiations has collapsed.

In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump announced he canceled the trip, citing "too much time wasted on traveling" and "too much work!"

Advertisement Advertisement

"Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership,'" the president added, noting "nobody knows who is in charge, including them."

President Donald Trump speaks from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., April 1, 2026, updating the nation on the war in Iran. (Getty Images)

Exiled Prince Looks To Lead Iranian People In Ending Islamic Republic: 'Our Berlin Wall Moment'

"Also, we have all the cards, they have none!" Trump wrote. "If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"

Read On The Fox News App

The implosion of the hardline-moderate dichotomy within the regime could have profound consequences for Trumps approach to the atomic talks in Islamabad, experts said. Trump appeared to allude to a blurry divide between factions within Iran last week.

Advertisement Advertisement

"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!), and it is CRAZY!" Trump wrote in an X post Thursday.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran and second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran.

Morning Glory: President Trump Leads The West To A Big Win Against Iran

Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei quickly fired back, claiming "due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occurred in the enemy."

"With practical gratitude for this blessing, cohesion has become even greater and more steel-like, and the enemies will become more wretched and diminished," Khamenei wrote. "The enemy's media operations, by targeting the minds and psyches of the people, intend to undermine national unity and security; may our negligence not allow this sinister intent to come to fruition."

Advertisement Advertisement

Mariam Memarsadeghi, a senior fellow at The Macdonald-Laurier Institute and founder and director of the Cyrus Forum for Iran's Future, told Fox News Digital the Islamic Republic has, for decades, fooled Western policymakers by sending moderates to negotiations as a "window dressing for its terror and subjugation."

A poster of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is pasted on a motorcycle windshield as government supporters gather in Tehran on April 9, 2026, marking the 40th day since the killing of his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khameneis Death Opens Uncertain Chapter For Irans Entrenched Theocracy

The officials would then tell their counterparts that they are under pressure from hardliners, implying that the West must make concessions to strengthen them internally.

"Because of the war, the Trump administration is in a remarkably advantageous situation vis-a-vis the imperial terror state, one never before attempted, much less achieved," Memarsadeghi said.

Advertisement Advertisement

"But every time Trump says regime change has already happened, he denies America the opportunity to finally, truly be rid of the worlds top sponsor of terror and the existential threat it poses not just to the people of Iran but to all the world."

Navid Mohebbi, who worked as a Persian media analyst for the State Department's Public Affairs Bureau, cautioned that while rivalries and factions do exist within the Islamic Republic, they are united on the regimes core principles.

Yale Hosts Controversial Speaker Trita Parsi Accused Of Promoting Iranian Regime Interests

"Their disagreements are primarily over tactics, not fundamental direction," Mohebbi told Fox News Digital, stressing that real decision-making power in Iran has always rested with the supreme leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Advertisement Advertisement

"So-called moderates have never had the final say on key strategic issues and are often used to soften the regimes image abroad," he said. "From the perspective of the Iranian people, there has been little difference. Across administrations labeled 'moderate' or 'hardline,' the system has consistently relied on repression."

Mohebbi cited the example of Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani, who presented himself as a moderate but whose security forces violently killed 1,500 protesters during the November 2019 uprising.

Members of security forces watch over the crowd during a funeral procession for IRGC Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri and other senior naval commanders killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes in late March in Tehran, Iran, on April 1, 2026.

Iran's Supreme Leader Says Nuclear Talks With Trump Admin Would Not Be 'Wise'

"The same pattern has continued under Masoud Pezeshkian in the January 2026 protest massacre, reinforcing the reality that these labels have not translated into meaningful change on the ground," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

A regional official, however, insisted there are clashes between moderates and hardliners in Iran. The official told Fox News Digital that Pezeshkian is a moderate, but he "could not even make good on his campaign promise regarding internet freedom. To be honest, hes not even been able to do s---.

"The joint reaction by the heads of the three branches of power was in response to Trumps reference to the issue of rift and also to the fact that there are indeed hardliners and moderates," the official added.

"Look, whenever Iran wants to make concessions, they throw moderates under the bus so that the moderates make a deal, and then, the hardliners blame them for the same concessions all of them had agreed to make."

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

Lawdan Bazargan, who was imprisoned by the Islamic Republic in the 1980s for her political dissident activities, told Fox News Digital that what officials are seeing now is not the disappearance of the divide, but the exposure of what that divide actually was.

"In reality, all of these figures  Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf [speaker of Irans parliament], Saeed Jalili [member of the Expediency Discernment Council], Pezeshkian, Ahmad Vahidi [head of the IRGC], Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei [head of Irans judiciary]  operate within the same ideological framework," Bazargan said.

"They are all committed to the preservation of the system, the projection of power in the region and confrontation with what they define as the forces of evil, namely the United States and Israel."





Original article source: Irans good cop, bad cop game implodes as experts warn regime views US as 'evil'
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for nearly two months, causing oil and gas prices to surge around the globe.

In the United States, the cost of a gallon of gas has increased by over a dollar since the strait closed, and the cost of diesel is up nearly 50 percent. Gas prices in Europe have increased by around 10 percent, and the region is facing a jet fuel shortage and concerns about the flow of liquid natural gas (LNG). Asia is being hit even harder. Roughly 20 percent of the worlds oil and LNG passes through the strait. Over 80 percent of this fuel goes to Asia. Several Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea, are now facing a real energy crisis.

All of this is obviously bad news for consumer prices in the short term, but it might benefit the climate in the long term. China produces most of the worlds solar panels, and the countrys solar exports hit a record high in March. Its also exporting a lot more lithium batteries. Electric vehicle sales are increasing around the world.

Advertisement Advertisement

The fact that countries must import fossil fuels from faraway regions subjects them to uncertainties, Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, tells Rolling Stone. It is obvious that many countries want to reduce that reliance. The way to do that is to supply your own electricity and heat from clean renewable sources  primarily wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. Every country has the potential to do this for themselves.

Jacobson notes that the government of South Korea recently committed to reaching 100 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. The countrys energy minister has stated that the Iran war is serving as a significant turning point for South Korea to shift toward renewable energy and away from oil.

Many countries rely 100 percent on oil imports and do not produce their own, Jacobson says. These countries are especially vulnerable. It makes sense that they would want to transition to electrification.

Similar actions are being taken in Europe, Jacobson says, with some countries starting to focus on escalating their transition to renewable energy. The UK, for example, last month moved to require heat pumps and solar panels in new homes. Poland, meanwhile, just invested more in renewable energy and nuclear power. Jacobson says theres also been a notable surge in interest in rooftop solar across Europe.

Advertisement Advertisement

Federica Genovese, a professor of political science and international relations at the University of Oxford, who focuses on climate policy, tells Rolling Stone that its not yet clear how big of an impact this energy crisis will have in Europe.

The EU is trying to push member states  toward an energy transition  now framed as an energy security and economic resilience mechanism  but it remains to be seen if countries will follow through, Genovese says.

Genovese notes that Italy is the country most exposed to natural gas disruptions in Europe, but far-right politicians in Italy are not pushing for an energy transition. Germany is working on transitioning to renewables, but its also focusing on ways to reduce gasoline prices.

Europe was dealing with an energy crisis not that long ago, thanks to the war in Ukraine and the continents reliance on Russian oil, and Genovese says this got countries on a path to relying less on fossil fuel imports already.

Advertisement Advertisement

One of the reasons some European countries are somewhat insulated now is precisely because of the bitter pill they had to swallow with the energy shock that the Russian invasion caused, Genovese says. I am not saying that Europe is doing fine, and politically this Iran crisis is big, but in the raw economy  Europe is looking more resilient to this shock than they were in 2022, precisely because of the lessons from the Ukraine crisis.

Unfortunately, the U.S. government has no interest in increasing the development of renewable energy or scaling back its reliance on fossil fuels. President Donald Trump hates renewable energy and loves the fossil fuel industry. However, Americans are showing increased interest in EVs and solar power, so consumers might escalate the countrys energy transition anyway  especially considering the economic impact.

It is possible for every country in the world to transition to clean, renewable energy. The benefits include lower costs, less land use, more jobs, and reduced health damage from air pollution, Jacobson says. Regardless of whether people care about climate damage, renewables are more efficient and they save lives. Whats not to like?

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Seven people were killed and 24 injured in southern Lebanon in fresh attacks by Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia on Saturday, the Health Ministry in Beirut reported on Sunday.

Hezbollah said its forces had attacked Israeli troops in the region early on Sunday. Several people have been killed in the fighting, the militia said. The Israeli military did not confirm this account.

According to the military, three drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted before they were able to enter Israeli territory.

Advertisement Advertisement

Fighting has continued between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire in place in Lebanon since April 17.

Israeli soldiers are still stationed in southern Lebanon.

Under the current ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army is allowed to defend itself against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks, but is expected to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against targets in Lebanon.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israeli forces to "vigorously attack Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon, and the military warned residents in the south of the country not to return to their homes.

According to the Lebanese authorities, the recent fighting has resulted in 2,500 deaths and 7,700 injuries, including many civilians.
Israel has issued new forced evacuation notices for areas in southern Lebanon, ordering residents of seven towns that lie beyond its so-called buffer zone to leave, ramping up the conflict with Hezbollah despite a US-brokered ceasefire.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement on X on Sunday that the Lebanese armed group was violating the ceasefire and that Israel would act against it, telling residents to head north and west.

The towns are north of the Litani River, in an area where Israeli troops have continued military operations despite the ceasefire. They lie outside of what Israel has declared a buffer zone, an area stretching roughly 10km (6 miles) north of the border inside southern Lebanon where Israeli forces remain.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hezbollah rejected allegations that it is undermining the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, saying its continued attacks are a legitimate response to the enemys persistent violations of the ceasefire, which it claims have exceeded 500 incidents.

The Iran-aligned group said in a statement on Telegram on Sunday that it shouldnt be linked to a ceasefire that it didnt approve, as it had no say or position, adding that the group will not place out bets on a failed diplomacy that has proven its ineffectiveness.

It must be understood that Hezbollahs violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a weekly cabinet meeting.

The US-mediated ceasefire, which started on April 16 and has been extended to mid-May, has brought a significant reduction in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, though both sides have continued to fire at each other, trading blame over breaches.

Advertisement Advertisement

Al Jazeeras correspondent in Tyre, Heidi Pett, said there have been multiple airstrikes across south Lebanon on Sunday, with many people fleeing to the towns of Sidon and Tyre.

We once again have thousands of people leaving their homes, joining the hundreds of thousands who were already previously displaced, she said.

A displaced man, who fled his home after an Israeli evacuation order, sits in a university-turned-shelter in Sidon, Lebanon, April 13, 2026 [Aziz Taher/Reuters]

Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli troops inside Lebanon as well as the rescue force that came to evacuate them, targeting a newly established Israeli artillery position in the town of Biyyada with a swarm of drones.

It also claimed two drone attacks on a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Taybeh, saying casualties were reported among Israeli forces, without giving further details.

The security of Israel

The Israeli army said a 19-year-old soldier, Sergeant Idan Fooks, was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, while five others were injured.

Advertisement Advertisement

From our perspective, what obliges us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, the security of our communities, Netanyahu was cited as saying at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, by Reuters news agency.

Under the terms of the truce, Israel reserves the right to respond to planned, imminent or ongoing attacks and has been striking what it says are Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon almost every day.

The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollahs military infrastructure sites used to advance attacks, in a post on X.

Since the war was renewed between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2, at least 2,509 people have been killed and 7,755 wounded by Israeli attacks, according to Lebanons Health Ministry.




The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is searching for a suspect following a robbery at a Chase Bank on Atlantic Boulevard in San Marco Saturday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched to the bank at 1515 Atlantic Boulevard at around 1:30 p.m. JSO says the suspect entered the branch, demanded money from a teller and fled on foot heading north toward downtown after the teller complied and handed over an undisclosed amount of cash.

No firearm was displayed during the robbery, though JSO is considering the suspect armed and dangerous.

Advertisement Advertisement

The suspect is described as a white male in his late 20s to early 30s, approximately 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a neatly trimmed brown beard. He was last seen wearing a black hat, black hoodie, green pants and black shoes, and was carrying a blue backpack.

Robbery and Violent Crime investigators, along with Crime Scene detectives, are conducting the initial investigation. The FBI has been notified.

Authorities are urging anyone who spots the suspect not to approach him and to contact JSO immediately.

Those with information related to the incident may contact JSO at 904-630-0500, Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS, or submit an online tip to JSOCrimetips@Jaxsheriff.org.

Advertisement Advertisement

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
President Donald Trumps $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax returns ran into turbulence Friday as a judge ordered a hearing on whether the Constitution allows the president to sue the federal government he oversees.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams has asked Trumps private attorneys and Justice Department lawyers representing the IRS to address whether his control over the governments actions in the case means its the kind of dispute federal courts cannot consider.

Although President Trump avers that he is bringing this lawsuit in his personal capacity, he is the sitting president and his named adversaries are entities whose decisions are subject to his direction, Williams wrote in a four-page order. It is unclear to this Court whether the Parties are sufficiently adverse to each other so as to satisfy [the Constitutions] case or controversy requirement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Williams, a Miami-based appointee of former President Barack Obama, noted that Trump has personally acknowledged the novelty of the situation. Shortly after filing the suit in January, he agreed with a reporter that it was unusual to be on both sides of a lawsuit.

Its very interesting, Trump told reporters on Air Force One. We're thinking about doing something for charity, where I'll give money to charity.

Last year, speaking about a separate legal claim he filed with the Justice Department, Trump was even more blunt about the potential conflict. It sort of looks bad, I'm suing myself, right? he said about that demand, which seeks $230 million over the court-approved FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago and various federal investigations into him.

Williams also pointed to Trumps attempts to consolidate his power over the executive branch through executive orders. Several advance a legal theory known as the unitary executive under which the president wields full control over the actions of most, or perhaps all, executive branch employees.

Advertisement Advertisement

The judge noted that one such order Trump signed last year, essentially forbids government employees acting in their official capacity from advancing legal positions at odds with legal positions staked out by the president.

One such employee of the executive branch, the Attorney General, has a statutory obligation to defend the IRS when it is hailed into court, but then is ostensibly required by executive mandate to adhere to the Presidents opinion on a matter of law in such a case, Williams wrote. This raises questions here over whether the Parties here are truly antagonistic to each other.

An additional complication is that Trump is not the only plaintiff in the case: his sons Eric and Donald Jr. and a company that controls much of the family business empire also joined the suit.

Williams ordered both sides to submit briefs on the issue by May 20, and she set a hearing on the matter for May 27.

Advertisement Advertisement

An IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to giving journalists copies of Trumps returns and those of other wealthy individuals.

Asked about the judges order, a spokesperson for Trumps legal team sent a statement decrying the leak but not directly addressing the judges concerns.

The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization, the statement said. President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lawyer and activist Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., praised Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) late Saturday for protecting her during the chaos caused by a live shooter at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner.

I hit the floor at the White House Correspondents Dinner mid conversation with Rep. Jamie Raskin, who heroically protected me, whispering, Youre ok, youre ok, youre ok, while my host from The Boston Globe laid on the ground while furiously taking notes, and thousands of journalists, photographers, and editors took cover under tables and beneath chairs, Kennedy wrote in a Facebook post.

Kennedy said the incident was terrifying, echoing statements from other attendees at the event.

Advertisement Advertisement

Then the doors burst open, and scores of Secret Service agents rushed into the room, many with hands on holsters. They rushed for cabinet secretaries and pulled them to safety, she wrote in the social media post.

Then security started yelling, Go, go, go, demanding that we leave. It was terrifying. But I am still grateful to the brave Secret Service, to my friends at The Boston Globe, and most especially to Rep. Jamie Raskin, Kennedy added.

FBI officials are now investigating the shooting, which occurred above the ballroom, as reported by CBS News.

The alleged suspect, identified by multiple outlets as 31-year-old Cole Allen of California, was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, according to police.

Advertisement Advertisement

Following fire at the staple Washington event, the suspect was taken into police custody.

On Sunday, Raskin recounted the aftermath of the shooting. He told host Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union that he was speaking to Kennedy when loud booms and crashing sounds of plates, silverware and other items flying all over the place rang out.

People started yelling: Get down, get down, Raskin recalled. Somebody kind of grabbed me and pushed me from behind. I landed on Kerry and a couple other people, and then people were panicked.

The Maryland Democrat noted that he immediately thought back to the 1968 assassination of Kerrys father, Robert F. Kennedy.

Advertisement Advertisement

He also said that after the two got up from the ground after two to three minutes, the first thing that Kerry Kennedy remarked was, This is happening in schools across the country, and the kids have no resources to process their trauma.

Raskin added, She was talking about gun violence and thinking about other people. And shes a great human rights activist. And nobody wants to be in a situation like that. But I was glad to have been with her.

President Trump, who was making his first appearance at the dinner as sitting president, was evacuated with first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel.

Trump, Vance and Patel briefed the press moments later from the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

This was an event dedicated to the freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press and in a certain way it did, Trump said.

The room was totally unified, he said. It was a very beautiful thing to see.

Max Rego contributed

Updated at 11:52 a.m. EDT

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US will go ahead "as planned", Buckingham Palace has said, after a shooting incident in Washington DC raised security concerns.

A statement on Sunday said the decision had been made "after discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day".

It is understood there will be minor adjustments to some of the engagements to further minimise risks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Security concerns were raised after a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents' Dinner at a Washington hotel on Saturday night. The acting US attorney general says the suspect was likely targeting President Donald Trump.

The palace said the King was "greatly relieved" to hear the US president, Melania Trump and other guests had been unharmed.

It's understood the King and Queen privately reached out to the Trumps to express their sympathies for those caught up in the attack.

President Trump and other senior administration figures were evacuated from the dinner after a man fired several shots while attempting to enter the venue. The suspect, identified in US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was detained at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

That had prompted talks about the security around the King and Queen's four-day visit, which begins on Monday, concerning "to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit", the Palace had earlier said.

Announcing the visit will now go ahead, the Palace said the King and Queen were "most grateful to all those who have worked at pace" and were "looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow".

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was "very confident" the King and Queen will be safe during the four-day visit, telling NBC News that Saturday night's incident showed the US security system worked.

Senior government minister Darren Jones told the BBC earlier on Sunday that the King's state visit would have "appropriate security in place in relation to the risk".

Advertisement Advertisement

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, meanwhile, said that it was "vital" the King was properly protected, and urged US and UK teams to review the monarch's security overnight.

One Secret Service agent was shot during the incident on Saturday night but was saved by his bullet-proof vest, the president said. No other injures were reported.

Even before that incident, security for the King and Queen's state visit was going to be very tight. Now it will be going up another level.

Advertisement Advertisement

When Trump visited the UK last autumn, almost all the events happened inside Windsor Castle. He was carried by helicopter in and out of that secure bubble, and so was kept away from any contact with the public.

It is not yet clear what adjustments have been made to the trip. The King had been expected to address both houses of Congress, visit the 9/11 memorial in New York and attend a wreath laying to honour fallen US and UK soldiers in Virginia.

The state visit has already proven diplomatically challenging for those planning it.

It is due to take place days after reports emerged that the US could review its position on UK sovereignty over the Falklands Islands.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump has also been highly critical of the UK government and other allies over their response to the Iran war.

But despite these political differences, the US president has been steadfast in his admiration for the monarchy and the King, telling the BBC earlier this week that the state visit could help repair relations between the US and UK.

"I know him well, I've known him for years," the president said. "He's a brave man, and he's a great man."

Sir Keir Starmer offered his "best wishes" to Trump and Melania following the "shocking scenes" that unfolded on Saturday night.

Advertisement Advertisement

The UK prime minister expressed his relief that the president and first lady were safe in a phone call on Sunday, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured officer.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey likewise condemned the "really shocking scenes", writing on X: "Political violence is wrong. We must all condemn this attack and be thankful no lives were lost."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was a relief that all attendees were safe, adding: "However much we disagree about politics, if violence is used we all lose."
WASHINGTON  The Washington Hilton for the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner is one of the most tightly secured sites visited by the president of the United States and much of the capital's elite.

Hundreds of agents and more senior officials from the Secret Service, including the paramilitary Counter Assault Team that travels everywhere with President Donald Trump.

Secret Service snipers on the roofs of nearby buildings, who are part of a massive security contingent that has prepared for weeks, or even months for the annual event. Almost certainly drones flying overhead.

Advertisement Advertisement

And probably just as many officers and other personnel from Washingtons Metropolitan Police, who work hand in glove with numerous federal agencies to secure the building and create what is supposed to be an impenetrable perimeter in case anyone with bad intentions tries to do something.

Thats all according to A.T. Smith, a private security consultant who was deputy director of the Secret Service from 2012 to 2015 and has worked many events like this, including the annual dinner thats traditionally attended by the president, vice president, Cabinet officials, senior White House aides, lawmakers and hundreds of journalists.

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.



Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor. Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Katie Miller and Stephen Miller are escorted 1after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A Secret Service agent takes cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is escorted after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. People react after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents moving to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were heard as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton in the middle of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after loud bangs were heard, in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (C) is escorted out of a safe room after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. Agents escort people out of the Washington Hilton after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate the building after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026. Agents escort people after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. An agent draws his gun after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. A Secret Service officer directs people outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Attendees exit the venue after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. FBI agents stand outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) stands outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Marshalls walk through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. FBI Director Kash Patel (C) walks past after shots were reportedly fired during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside on, April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026. Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting 1 of 31 Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.



Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

The president and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the dinner and attendees dropped to the floor after gunshots were heard inside the hotel where the event was taking place on April 25. Several US Secret Service agents yelled, shots fired during the event, according to pool reports.

The man taken into custody in connection with the shooting has not been identified officially by authorities, but a federal law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told USA TODAY on April 26 said that he is Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

Advertisement Advertisement

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies.

The official said the FBI is taking the lead on the investigation, and the Secret Service, which was in charge of security at the dinner at the Washington Hilton, is profiling the shooter.

An operator at the hotel told USA TODAY a person named Cole Tomas Allen was staying at the hotel on April 25.

What security can look like at the White House correspondents dinner

The annual dinner is protected by one of the most extensive security operations outside of whats known as a U.S. National Special Security Event like a presidential inauguration or political convention, Smith said.

Advertisement Advertisement

The security of this building should be at the absolute highest level, Smith told USA TODAY soon after the incident. On a scale of one to 10, this should be a 10.

The Secret Service never says how it protects the president, including personnel deployed and technology used. The agency did not return a request for comment from USA TODAY.

But Smith said it was likely several hundred agents in total were on-scene at the dinner, which takes place at the same sprawling complex where a lone gunman tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan as he was leaving the hotel on March 30, 1981.

How did someone get close to the ballroom?

U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026, in this screen capture from video. REUTERS/Bo Erickson THIS IMAGE WAS PROCESSED BY REUTERS TO ENHANCE QUALITY, AN UNPROCESSED VERSION HAS BEEN PROVIDED SEPARATELY.

So how did someone get a gun so close in?

Advertisement Advertisement

Federal and local authorities will be reviewing that for days, weeks or even months, as per protocol, Smith said.

At a White House briefing April 25, Trump suggested the suspect was outside the most significant layer of the security perimeter, which is a bank of magnetometers that all guests had to go through outside the ballroom where the dinner was held.

Before that, anyone trying to enter the hotel had to show an invitation to the dinner itself or one of the many pre-parties hosted by media and other organizations in other parts of the building.

A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service, and they acted very quickly, Trump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

The room was very, very secure, Trump said later in the briefing when asked if he was concerned about his safety at indoor events. You know, he charged from 50 yards away, so he was very far away from the room.

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a post on X that the shots were fired near the main magnetometer screening area at the dinner.

Trump praised the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies for their work Saturday night.

You had to go through a lot to get to the dinner itself, he said. We had we had resources all over, resources sitting at tables," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump also said the suspect was moving, he was really moving. And the reaction time was great by officers who took him down and into custody, the president said.

One officer was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun but saved, Trump said, by his security vest.

Other VIPs, including Cabinet members, were grabbed and pushed down by two or even three agents, as photos emerging from the post-incident chaos showed.

Asked if he believed he was the target, Trump said, I guess. I mean, these people, they're crazy. They're crazy. And you know, you never know. It was very far away from me.

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

But Trump also noted that the suspect somehow found a way through the less secure layers of the security perimeter before getting to the lower level ballroom area where the dinner was held.

Advertisement Advertisement

It was not a particularly secure building, Trump said.

Based on preliminary information, local and federal authorities said they believe the suspect in the shooting was a guest at the hotel. Law enforcement secured a hotel room believed to belong to the suspect and is investigating, according to Reuters, ABC News and other media.

An operator at the hotel told USA TODAY a person named Cole Tomas Allen was staying at the hotel on April 25.

When asked corrective measures he thought might be needed to protect him, Trump suggested someone can always find a way to get close to him.

I don't care how many people you have, how good they are, they can be the greatest people you have, the greatest security in history, Trump said. But, If you have a whack job who's got a brain, but it's a little bit distorted, or a lot distorted, they can make trouble.

This story has been updated with confirmation of the identification of the suspect.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Security after White House Correspondents Association dinner shooting
Ramon Ferrer was driving his black Lamborghini Huracan through the parking lot of a Lake Nona shopping center on April 22, 2026, headed to the gym, when a lifted Chevrolet Silverado came around the corner, didn't slow, and drove up and over the front end of his supercar (1).

Ferrer was still inside, five months into owning the car (1). The truck climbed the Huracan's nose, shattered the windshield, gouged the hood and came to rest on top of the car like a monster-truck show stunt that wasn't supposed to happen at a strip mall. The Silverado's driver got out, put her hands on her head and stared at what she'd just done (1).

No one was hurt, which is the only reason this clip is everywhere instead of a tragedy.

Must Read

What the dashcam actually shows

The footage, which began circulating on social media on April 23, has been viewed millions of times across X, Reddit and Instagram (2). The Huracan is moving slowly, the way you'd expect anyone hunting for a parking space in a low-slung exotic to move. The Silverado enters the frame with noticeably more speed than the setting calls for. There's no obvious correction, no hard braking before contact. The truck just rides up and over (2).

A tow truck and a crane were eventually needed to separate the two vehicles (1). No criminal charges have been filed as of this writing (1).

The truck didn't need a short driver to make a Huracan disappear. It just needed to be a lifted full-size pickup.

The real reason this happened

Lifted pickups have a forward blind zone that grows with every inch of ride height, and the trucks themselves keep getting taller from the factory before anyone touches the suspension.

A June 2025 study from the European Federation for Transport and Environment found the average hood height of new cars sold in the EU, UK and Norway has risen by half a centimeter every year since 2010, reaching roughly 33 inches (83.8 cm) in 2024, with 46% of new vehicles now exceeding 33.5 inches (3). The trend is sharper in the US. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the average American passenger vehicle has grown roughly 4 inches wider, 10 inches longer, 8 inches taller and 1,000 pounds heavier over the past three decades (4).
Details are emerging about the identity of the man who stormed through a security screening at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, forcing US President Donald Trump's evacuation and prompting guests to take cover amid gunfire.

Several US media outlets reported overnight on Saturday that the suspect is believed to be a 31-year-old from southern California. The man is said to have worked as a teacher and a video game developer, according to his alleged LinkedIn profile.

Late on Saturday night, the FBI searched the suspect's home in Torrance, a south-western suburb of Los Angeles.

Advertisement Advertisement

US media report that the man received a bachelor's degree from the California Institute of Technology in 2017 and completed a master's degree at California State University in 2025.

Police believe, based on an initial assessment, that the suspect acted alone. He was said to have been staying as a guest at the Hilton hotel where the dinner took place.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told broadcaster NBC that preliminary findings indicated the suspect was targeting administration officials, but said that a motive is still under investigation.

During the attack, the man was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives, police said. Trump told a press conference at the White House that an officer was hit at close range by what Trump described as a "powerful gun," but was saved by a bulletproof vest.

The alleged perpetrator is due to appear in court on Monday. He is to be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Further charges could follow.
Pakistan's leaders sought Sunday to revive peace talks between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump canceled plans for his top envoys to travel to Islamabad this weekend for negotiations.

Pakistan-led mediators are working to bridge significant gaps between the U.S. and Iran, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Iran still insists on ending the U.S. blockade on its ports before launching a new round of talks with the Trump administration, the official said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said he told his top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Pakistan this weekend to negotiate with Iran.

If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! Trump said on social media.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran.

As the U.S. enforces its blockade of Iranian ports, a standoff also remained on in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels, with Iran restricting movement through the key waterway.

Advertisement Advertisement

Early on Monday, the U.S. militarys Central Command said it has so far turned around 38 ships during the blockade.

Here is the latest:

Oil prices rise after US-Iran talks in Pakistan fail to materialize

Oil prices rose when the market opened Sunday as traders absorbed the news that talks between the U.S. and Iran about a potential ceasefire have stalled again.

West Texas Intermediate, the U.S.-produced light, sweet crude, was selling for $96.50 a barrel Sunday, up 2% since the market closed on Friday. The price was 44% higher than before the start of the Iran war, when oil was selling for about $67 a barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at $107.75 per barrel Sunday, up about 3% since Friday and 48% since the war began, when oil was selling for $72 a barrel.

Advertisement Advertisement

Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began and tankers full of crude became stranded in Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage through which one-fifth of the worlds oil typically travels.

Irans foreign minister leaves Pakistan for Russia

Abbas Araghchi made a brief visit to Islamabad a day after leaving the city and throwing the prospect of a second round of talks with the United States into question.

He had gone to Oman, located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, before his latest three-hour visit to Islamabad. He then left for Russia late Sunday.

The U.S. didnt send envoys to Pakistan for a second round of talks, but Pakistan continues to mediate, and two officials there said indirect talks are still ongoing. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Advertisement Advertisement

Araghchis low-profile visit contrasted with his earlier one, when he met with Pakistans military and political leaders and presented Tehrans proposals to end conflict in the region.

Pakistan lifts Islamabad lockdown after stalled US-Iran talks

Pakistans foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said late Sunday that the government has lifted all restrictions around the high-security zone in the capital of Islamabad.

Iranian and U.S. delegations held rare face-to-face talks there earlier this month. The area had remained under lockdown for more than a week as Pakistan hoped to host a second round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire.

Dars remarks signaled that there was no immediate prospect of further direct talks between the United States and Iran. Still, Pakistans government says it continues to mediate by conveying messages between the two sides to promote lasting stability in the region.

Advertisement Advertisement

In a post on X, Dar thanked residents of Islamabad and the nearby city of Rawalpindi for their patience and cooperation.

Trump says US, Iranian officials can talk by phone

In an interview Sunday on Fox News Channel, Trump said he made that decision rather than send a delegation on a 17-hour flight.

We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us, Trump said, not indicating when the call would take place.

Talks appeared to fall apart on Saturday, with Tehrans top diplomat leaving Pakistan, and Trump soon afterward saying he had told envoys not to travel to Islamabad.

Asked about NATO, Trump said he was very, very disappointed in the military alliance, which he has suggested the U.S. may consider leaving after member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz.

Advertisement Advertisement

Weve been serving them for many years, spending trillions of dollars, and when we wanted to help they were not there, so we have to remember that, Trump said.

The U.S. militarys Central Command said early Monday that it had turned around 38 ships so far during its blockade of Iran.

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon

The Israeli military says it carried out artillery and airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

They targeted Hezbollah militants and weapons sites, including rocket launchers and storage facilities, north of what it calls the Forward Defense Line, as fighting has picked up in recent days despite a ceasefire.

Israeli strikes raise death toll to 2,509 in Lebanon

The countrys health ministry added in figures released Sunday that 7,755 people were wounded in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2.

Advertisement Advertisement

The war broke out after Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on April 17. The ceasefire was extended by three weeks on Thursday.

Hezbollah calls its attacks on Israel a legitimate response

The Iran-backed group on Sunday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ceasefire remarks, in which he said Hezbollahs actions are threatening the truce between Israel and Lebanon.

Hezbollah said its shelling of Israeli targets is a legitimate response to what it described as Israels violations of the ceasefire.

The group also criticized Lebanese authorities, saying they have placed themselves in a dangerous predicament when they chose to be photographed in a disgraceful image alongside representatives of a usurping and illegitimate entity that violates its land and sovereignty and continues killing its people.

Advertisement Advertisement

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended for three weeks, with Trump hosting talks flanked by Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.

Israeli girl wounded in Iran missile strike dies weeks later

An 11-year-old Israeli girl who was critically wounded in an Iranian missile strike earlier this month has died of her injuries, according to Sheba Medical Center.

The girl had been hospitalized at Sheba since the attack. She died on Friday after several weeks in critical condition.

She was wounded when a missile struck a residential area in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak on April 1 and had remained in critical condition for several weeks.

Her death raises Israels death toll from the war to 39.

Top Iranian diplomat arrives in Pakistan in effort to resume peace talks

Irans foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on Sunday after a visit to Oman, Pakistani officials said, as Islamabad steps up efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table.

Advertisement Advertisement

Abbas Araghchi will hold more talks with Pakistani officials during the visit and is expected to travel to Moscow afterward, two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media on the record.

Top diplomats for Iran and Qatar speak by phone about peace efforts

Irans top diplomat has briefed his Qatari counterpart about his countrys latest initiatives and diplomatic efforts to end the war in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone Sunday with Qatars top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The two ministers affirmed the importance of diplomatic coordination to back peace efforts, Araghchi wrote in his channel on Telegram.

Egypts foreign minister speaks with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts

Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed efforts to relaunch negotiations between the United States and Iran with his Qatari and Iranian counterparts.

In separate calls with the ministers, Abdelatty affirmed the importance of the diplomatic path to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire in a way that leads to an end to the war.

Israeli president delays decision on Netanyahu request to halt trial

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delayed a decision on a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt his corruption trial.

Herzogs office said the president has stated on several occasions that a settlement between Netanyahu and prosecutors is the best way to resolve the case and this position hasnt changed.

The president therefore believes that before addressing the pardon request itself, efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties, outside the courtroom, the office said.

The announcement marked a setback for Netanyahu, who faces new elections later this year. It also came despite multiple calls by Trump for Herzog to end the trial.

Netanyahu filed his request in November, saying that dropping corruption charges against him would help unify the country. His office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza

At least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces Sunday morning in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said.

Two men were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of people in the Kuwait roundabout in southeastern Gaza City, according to Shifa hospital, which received the casualties.

Another man was shot and killed close to the Saqqa mosque in central Gaza, the hospital said.

Nasser hospital said a 40-year-old woman was shot and killed by Israeli forces close to the Turkish slaughterhouse in the southern part of Khan Younis city.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently fired on Palestinians near military-held zones.

At least 811 Palestinians have been killed including at least 226 children and 179 women, according to Gaza health officials.

Israeli military tells Lebanese in 7 towns to flee ahead of strikes

Israels military on Sunday warned Lebanese living in seven southern towns to flee their homes ahead of strikes in the area.

Col. Avichay Adraea, a military spokesman, claimed without evidence that Hezbollah violated a ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel. He didnt provide evidence.

Adraea said in a social media post that the military will operate in the area south of Zahrani river and ordered the residents to leave.

Israel previously issued a sweeping warning for people in southern Lebanon to flee their homes during its war against Hezbollah.

Analyst says indirect US-Iran talks progressing

Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran were progressing despite Trumps decision not to send envoys to talks that had been set to begin this weekend.

The delay in the second round of Islamabad talks must not be seen as a setback to ceasefire negotiations and peace efforts, which remain on track, Ali told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Ali said ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires wisdom and patience from both sides.

This is a sensitive and complicated process, and there will be ups and downs, which are normal in such matters. But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home, Ali said.

Pakistan mediation attempts moving forward

Pakistans top political and military leadership is continuing to mediate between the United States and Iran, with indirect ceasefire talks still alive despite mounting tensions between the sides, two Pakistani officials said Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistans capital Islamabad on Sunday evening for a second visit in as many days after a short trip to Oman.

Araghchi was in Islamabad on Saturday and presented Tehrans position on ending the regional conflict to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials.

There were no immediate plans for U.S. envoys to return for talks, according to the Pakistani officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Netanyahu expresses shock after shots fired at event attended by Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally, said Sunday morning he was shocked by what he called an attempted assassination at an event attended by Trump.

Trump was uninjured and rushed off the stage at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night after a man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the event in Washington.

Police believe the man opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. He was taken into custody.

One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but was recovering, officials said.

We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the US Secret Service for their swift and decisive action, Netanyahu wrote on X.

Islamabad resumes normal life

Life began returning to normal in Pakistans capital on Sunday morning.

Authorities in Islamabad eased near-lockdown measures imposed during a week of heightened security prior to planned ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.

The restrictions enforced across Islamabad and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi disrupted daily life for hundreds of thousands. Commuters were forced to make long detours, traffic thinned along major arteries and parents struggled to reach schools.

By Sunday, barriers were being lifted and traffic was gradually building on the citys main roads. Residents described a sense of relief after days of gridlock and uncertainty.

The government said in a social media post late Saturday that tourist destinations, parks and bus terminals were being reopened.

Security remained tight around the heavily guarded Red Zone, home to key government buildings and the site where U.S.-Iran talks were held earlier this month.

Iran hangs man convicted of terrorism

Iran on Sunday hanged a man who was convicted of carrying out terrorist activities in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, state media reported.

Amer Ramesh was hanged after the countrys Supreme Court upheld a death sentence issued by a primary court, according to Irans judiciary news outlet, Mizanonline.

Mizanonline did not report where he was hanged or when and where he was arrested.

Mizanonline said Ramesh received training in a regional country and was a member of militant group Jaish al-Adl, which reportedly aims to achieve greater rights for people in the Baloch ethnic group.

Iran has executed other people over similar charges and in recent weeks has hanged more than a dozen people accused of terrorist activities.

Irans president tells US to end blockade to negotiate

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country wont negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports, according to Iranian media.

Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the U.S. should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade, to allow a new round of negotiations, the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies reported.

The Pakistani premier described the call as a warm and constructive discussion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a one-day trip to Pakistans capital Islamabad on Saturday after meeting with Pakistani military and government officials.

The trip did not produce a breakthrough in efforts to relaunch negotiations after Trump canceled a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad.

Iranian foreign minister plans a return to Pakistan

Irans state-run IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will return to Pakistan after his current visit to Oman on his way to visiting Russia.

The report said he was expected to be back in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Sunday and would join other members of his delegation who had gone to Tehran for consultations and instructions on the topics related to the end of the war.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top White House officials were evacuated from an annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association on Saturday night after an unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

Authorities said the incident occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated. It was not immediately clear what happened. The event was scrapped and will be rescheduled.

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump posted on Truth Social that he would give a statement at the White House tonight.

Compiling accurate and thorough information on a shooting takes time. Reporters are working to piece together the details from eyewitness accounts, authorities and other sources.

Here's the Latest:

Secret Service quickly escorted Trump and VP Vance out of ballroom

Secret Service agents, including the heavily-armed counter assault team, swarmed the stage after the incident. Vice President JD Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Trump in place, before escorting him and first lady Melania Trump from the room.

Trump briefly stumbled on his way offstage before being assisted by his security detail.

Advertisement Advertisement

He was held for some time in the secure presidential suite at the hotel as the president and organizers initially sought to resume the event  hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president  before Trump was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.

Washington Hilton also scene of Reagan shooting in 1981

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Hilton  an event that prompted redesigns of the property that increased security and added a special presidential suite near the entrance where chief executives could be taken.

Trump was dispatched there briefly after the incident Saturday night.

MS NOW opens doors for reimagined party after White House Correspondents dinner

The network notified guests to still come to its underground party in Dupont Circle to gather and have a bit to eat.

Advertisement Advertisement

While tonights event wont be what we originally intended, we still think it is important to provide a space for friends and colleagues to be together, the network said.

Its reporting teams were out covering the breaking news, the network said.

Police chief says suspects motivations unclear

Carroll, the interim police chief, said that he could not say at this point what the shooters motivation was, and that it is too soon to know who the suspect had intended to target in the shooting.

Suspect faces preliminary charges related to firearm possession, assault, Pirro says

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two charges related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but that there will be many more charges filed based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.

Advertisement Advertisement

Pirro said the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court.

Police say suspect was armed with multiple weapons

Interim Washington, D.C., police chiefPolice Chiefroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved.

Trump ends presser

Shortly after the president concluded his news conference, the White House called a lid, which means the press corps will not see him for the rest of the day.

Trump commends Secret Service, says being president is a dangerous profession

Trump struck a somber tone as he addressed reporters at the White House, saying being president is a dangerous profession and that attempted violence against him is part of the job.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said more details would be forthcoming about the shooters identity and motive, but said that the world was a violent place and, when it came to his own presidency, When youre impactful they go after you.

The president commended the Secret Service and suggested that the shooter wasnt close to breaching the ballroom where Trump was seated on stage at the time of the incident.

With most of the reporters dressed up for the dinner that was interrupted, Trump also noted: I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses.

Trump says rescheduled event will be safer

The president, who had repeatedly said he wanted to continue the dinner until law enforcement said otherwise, insisted it would be rescheduled and would happen. He stressed that the event will be better and well make it safer.

Advertisement Advertisement

I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses, Trump said. It was a little different evening than we thought. But were going to do it again.

Trump describes scene

As he described the sequence of events, Trump emphasized that the shooter still remained a far distance from the ballroom where thousands of people had gathered for the dinner.

He hadnt anywhere close to breached the doors of the ballroom, the president said.

WHCD extensively studied by Secret Service for decades

The USSS has for years used the annual event to put agents through their paces because the agency has studied the venue extensively for decades.

Shootng suspect identified

The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told the AP.

Trump describes moment shots rang out

Trump, describing what was going through his mind as the shots rang out, said he initially believed it was a tray being dropped, noting that the noise was quite far away. But the first lady, he said, was very cognizant that it was a shooting.

Advertisement Advertisement

I think she knew immediately what happened, the president said, recalling that his wife told him, Thats a bad noise.

The president said the motivation of the shooter was unclear, but said that he was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down.

Trump: I fought like hell to stay

The president also reiterated that he had wanted to continue the dinner, saying, I fought like hell to stay.

He said in an earlier social media post that law enforcement officials wanted the dinner to end.

Acting AG says investigation is ongoing, charges will be filed shortly

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed shortly and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started.

Advertisement Advertisement

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

Trump calls for tougher security measures

As he began the news conference, Trump called for tougher security measures, saying that today, we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before.

He cited Saturdays incident as a reason his ballroom, being constructed at the White House, is needed.

Trump says suspect was armed with multiple weapons

Trump, during a White House press briefing, said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service. One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest.

Advertisement Advertisement

He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job, Trump said.

Security footage posted by Trump shows a man sprinting through the metal detectors and past law enforcement, who turn toward him with guns raised. Officers then swarm toward the man off-screen.

At the White House

Correspondents, as well as Trump, have arrived at the White House briefing room for a news conference following a shooting incident at the annual correspondents' dinner.

Congressional leaders who attended dinner react to shooting

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife, Kelly, were at the event and grateful for the law enforcement and first responders who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control.

Praying for our country tonight, said Johnson, R-La., on social media.

FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, said the House GOP on its account on the social platform X.

House Republicans unite in praying for those who were in harms way, it said.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he was thankful for the swift law enforcement action to protect everyone at the dinner, as he also called for an end to violence.

The violence and chaos in America must end, said Jeffries, D-N.Y.

WHCA president addresses attendees, says the event will be rescheduled

Weijia Jiang, the senior White House correspondent at CBS News and president of the White House Correspondents Association, addressed the crowded room of journalists after the president had left.

She said the president would be holding a press briefing at the White House soon and that he insisted the dinner be rescheduled within the next 30 days. Jiang also said the president had wanted to continue with the event but had to follow security protocols.

Jiang, who had been sitting on the dais next to Trump when the incident unfolded, also emphasized the public service nature of journalism, saying that when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it.

On a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are, she said. Thank God everybody is safe and thank you for coming together tonight. Well do this again.

Shooter in custody, FBI says

The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting.

DC police say offi

cers are at the scene

The citys Metropolitan Police Department posted a social message that said its officers are at the scene and coordinating with federal law enforcement.

We will provide updated information once confirmed, the message said.

The event was getting underway when armed security rushed in

Attendees were eating a spring pea and burrata salad, and waiters had begun preparing to bring out the next course when a security detail appeared on the ballroom floor and yelled for everyone to get down. Journalists in gowns and tuxedos ducked near tables as wine splattered onto white tablecloths and glasses clinked in the hurry to seek safety.

Armed security burst through the doors of the ballroom and raced toward the dais where Trump sat as attendees ducked or crouched under tables. At one point, someone in the room shouted, USA!

Trump says the shooter has been apprehended

Trump said that a shooter has been apprehended in a post to Truth Social about 30 minutes following a security incident at the White House correspondents dinner.

Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance were uninjured in the incident.

Most WHCD attendees are closed inside the ballroom and cannot leave

Dinner organizers said there will be an announcement shortly, we will be resuming shortly from the stage. Most attendees are closed inside the ballroom and cant leave.

A block from the White House, party-goers headed to the Renwick Museum were instead gathered at police tape as the streets and sidewalks were blocked off. Police cars tore up and down the block, sirens blaring. A helicopter buzzed overhead.

Washington Hilto

n hotel commonly stays open to public, while security is focused on ballroom

Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the White House Correspondents Dinner. It has typically been focused on the ballroom  rather than the hotel at large  with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.

In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be 5 to 8 shots fired

The banquet hall, where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trumps speech, was immediately evacuated. Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not reenter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro says Secret Service in charge of building, DC mayor in route

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro posted a short video from the hotel after the incident, saying, I have been taken out of the ballroom after the sound of the shots fired. The Secret Service is now in charge of this building, this hotel. I just spoke to Mayor Muriel Bowser. She is on her way, and (Police) Chief Jeffery Carroll is on his way. He will be in charge as soon as he gets here.
Officers and deputies from several law enforcement agencies were gathered Sunday evening near where divers had been searching for the body of a missing USF doctoral student.

Nahida Bristy and her friend Zamil Limon both went missing on April 16. Limons body was found in a large trash bag on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday.

Rescue divers searched the waters near the bridge, and on Sunday deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, the lead investigating agency in the case, gathered in the area. Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office and officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department were also there, as were forensic investigators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez was at the scene and accompanied investigators into mangroves.

Law enforcement officials were seen just before 6 p.m. helping load something large into a Medical Examiners Office van. No law enforcement agency issued any news alerts about the activity or any updates about the case as of about 8 p.m. Sunday.

Though Bristy is still considered missing, the Hillsborough Sheriffs Office on Saturday morning announced that a suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, an indication that investigators believe she is dead.

Abugharbieh and Limon had lived together in an apartment north of the USF campus, where Limon was last seen April 16.

Advertisement Advertisement

Sheriffs deputies arrested Abugharbieh after a brief standoff at a home in the Lake Forest neighborhood, off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in North Tampa, on Friday morning. Investigators had questioned him on Thursday about the disappearances of Limon and Bristy, officials said.

Deputies were called for a report of domestic violence about 9 a.m. Friday at his familys home in North Tampa. The family was able to leave the home unharmed as Abugharbieh remained inside, refusing to come out, officials said.

Amid orders to surrender, Abugharbieh walked outside, shirtless and wrapped in a blue bath towel with his hands raised.

He was later booked in jail on charges that included battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death and unlawfully holding or moving a dead body.

Advertisement Advertisement

Two counts of first-degree murder were later added, and he remains jailed without bond. Prosecutors have filed a motion to keep him detained until trial, and they will also decide whether they want to seek the death penalty in this case.

A spokesperson for USF told the Tampa Bay Times that Abugharbieh pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in management from spring 2021 to 2023, but that he is no longer enrolled as a student.

Hillsborough court records show that Abugharbieh was twice arrested in 2023 on domestic violence charges, but both cases were later dropped. That summer, his brother filed a petition for an injunction prohibiting him from coming near him or his home. The document described an incident in which Abugharbieh allegedly attacked his brother and their mother.

From late April to May 8, he would start screaming in the middle of the night about how he is God and we should all bow down to him, the petition states. A judge granted a two-year injunction barring Abugharbieh from contact with his brother.

Bristy and Limon, both 27, went missing within hours of each other on April 16. Both were international doctoral students from Bangladesh who were in the U.S. on student visas. The locations where they vanished are a little less than a mile apart.

Advertisement Advertisement

Limon was last seen that morning at his apartment in the Avalon Heights student housing complex off East Fletcher Avenue, north of USFs Tampa campus.

His brother, Zubaer Ahmed, described him as very responsible and punctual in a message to a Times reporter. Limon had previously earned a degree in urban and rural planning from a university in Bangladesh.

He came to USF in 2024 and was pursuing a doctorate in geography, environmental science and policy.

Bristy was last seen about 10 a.m. the same day in USFs Natural and Environmental Sciences building, near the center of campus, according to USF police.

Advertisement Advertisement

She spoke by phone with her parents in Bangladesh shortly after noon April 16, her brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, told the Times. She was in her office, a campus laboratory, and spoke of how busy her days were.

That was the last time anyone heard from her. She missed a 3 p.m. class that day. She was supposed to go grocery shopping with a friend at 5 p.m., her brother said.

A person described by authorities as a family friend reported the pair missing the next day.

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office took the initial report about Limons disappearance. The USF Police Department handled the initial search for Bristy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Law enforcement officials initially described the pair as missing, but changed that description to endangered late Thursday without releasing more details. By then, the search spanned Hillsborough and Pinellas counties and drew assistance from several other law enforcement agencies.

The Florida Highway Patrol early Friday morning closed two northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland after Limons body was found.

Pranto described his sister as a very jolly person who got along with people.

She earned a bachelors degree in applied chemistry at a school in Bangladesh. She applied to USFs doctoral program in chemical engineering last year and was accepted with full funding, her brother said.

This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents Association dinner railed against Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a Friendly Federal Assassin in writings sent to family members minutes before an attack that authorities increasingly believe was politically motivated, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press.

The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions, including U.S. strikes on boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Investigators are treating the writings, along with a trail of social media posts and interviews with family members, as some of the clearest evidence yet of the suspects mindset and possible motives.

Advertisement Advertisement

Authorities uncovered what one law enforcement official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple guns and knives.

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump as he is taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Reporters dressed in evening gowns gala wait for President Donal Trump to speak in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after a shooting incident outside the ballroom at at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Journalists that were in attendance for the White House Correspondents Dinner work following a press briefing at the Washington Hilton following an incident that disrupted the event, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

The Washington Hilton hotel is seen on Sunday, April, 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Advertisement Advertisement

FBI agents work in a neighbor's yard, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

FBI agents walk door to door to try to speak with neighbors, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

FBI agents work, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A reporter and cameraman stand outside the door of a house connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who has been identified as a suspect in a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner early Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Torrance, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Advertisement Advertisement

FBI agents walk door to door to try to speak with neighbors as members of the media follow them, Sunday, April 26, 2026, near an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The empty stage is seen after President Donald Trump and other top leaders were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Zeke Miller)

Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump before he was taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Advertisement Advertisement

Guests take cover under tables after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump arrives at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after a shooting incident outside the ballroom at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

U.S. Secret Service agents surround President Donald Trump as he is taken from the stage after a shooting incident outside the ballroom during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Advertisement Advertisement

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

President Donald Trump arrives at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

President Donald Trump shared video of the suspected shooter.

Head table reacts to shooting sounds at White House correspondents dinner April 25, 2026.

Advertisement Advertisement

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House after an unspecified threat at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Shooting suspect at White House correspondents dinner

Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

Advertisement Advertisement

An ambulance responds to an incident at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Law enforcement responds to an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

An abandoned wine glass sits in a bowl after an incident occurred at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

U.S. Secret Service agents respond on stage during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Advertisement Advertisement

President Donald Trump's motorcade vehicle heads back to the White House from ehe annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Members of law enforcement respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Guests leave the White House Correspondents Dinner following an incident Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

The National Guard respond to an incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Advertisement Advertisement

Secret service agents respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Law enforcement are seen outside the White House Correspondents Dinner, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Suspects brother reached out to Connecticut police

Allens brother contacted police in New London, Connecticut, after receiving the writings, according to the law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The New London Police Department said in a statement it was contacted at 10:49 p.m., about two hours after the shooting, by an individual who wanted to share information related to it. The police department said it then immediately notified federal law enforcement.

Allens sister, who lives in Maryland, told investigators her brother had legally purchased several weapons from a California gun store and kept them at their parents home in Torrance without their knowledge, according to the official. She described her brother as prone to making radical statements, the official said.

RELATED STORIES:

The writings examined by the AP ran more than 1,000 words and read as a rambling, deeply personal message, opening almost jarringly with a casual hello everybody! before shifting into apologies to family members, co-workers and even strangers he feared could be caught in the violence. The note moved between confession, grievance and farewell, with Allen thanking people in his life even as he sought to explain the attack.

Elsewhere, he veered between political anger, religious justifications and rebuttals to imagined critics. He also made a taunting critique of security at the Washington Hilton, mocking what he described as lax precautions and expressing surprise he was able to enter the hotel armed without detection.

The AP limits the use of attackers writings and social media posts to avoid amplifying their views or encouraging copycat actions. The AP chooses to summarize their words and focus mainly on the victims and investigations.

Allen legally bought a .38-caliber semiautomatic pistol in October 2023 and a 12-gauge shotgun two years later, according to the law enforcement official and another one who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Acting head of Justice Dept. says Trump officials were targets

Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then onto Washington, where he checked himself in as a guest at the hotel where the gala dinner was held with its typically tight security, said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He is believed to have acted alone and is set to face criminal charges Monday.

Authorities say Allen attempted to charge toward the cavernous ballroom at the Washington Hilton but was tackled to the ground in a violent scene that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being hurried off the stage unharmed and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president, Blanche told NBCs Meet the Press.

A profile of the shooting suspect emerges

Social media posts that appear to match the suspect show he is a highly educated tutor and amateur video game developer.

A May 2025 profile photo of Allen appears to match the appearance of the man in a photo of the alleged attacker being taken into custody that was posted Saturday night by Trump. The photo, posted to the social networking site LinkedIn, shows him in a cap and gown after graduating with a masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Allen earned a bachelors degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He listed his involvement there in a Christian student fellowship and a campus group that battled with Nerf guns.

A local ABC station in Los Angeles included an interview with Allen during his senior year of college as part of a story about new technologies to help people as they age. He had developed a prototype for a new type of emergency brake for wheelchairs.

Allen contributed $25 to a Democratic Party political action committee in support of Kamala Harris for president in 2024, according to federal campaign finance records.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Chaotic scene unfolded minutes after gala began

The shooting at the security barricades happened minutes after the event got underway.

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the room as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. Gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists immediately got on phones to call in information.

Out of the way, sir! someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. From one corner, a God Bless America chant began as the president was escorted offstage. Outside the hotel, members of the National Guard and other authorities flooded the area as helicopters circled overhead.

After an initial attempt to resume the event, it was scrapped for the night and will be rescheduled.

Trump was unusually conciliatory after what he saw as a third attempt on his life in less than two years. He suggested that his personal politics had made him a repeated target, but he also called for unity and bipartisan healing in an increasingly violent world.

Its always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes, Trump told reporters in a hastily organized news conference at the White House late Saturday.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP)  A zoo in Florida has two reasons to celebrate  the first birth of a koala and a newly renovated habitat for the cuddly creatures is opening to the public on Saturday.

For the zoo and for us here, its the very big deal, said Amarylis Celestina, who oversees carnivores and koalas at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Florida. "We are trying the best that we can to help with a lot of the genetic diversity within the population that we have here in the United States. So thats why its important that we do have a joey and that we were successful this year.

The joey, born to Ellin and Sydney last fall, remains in its mother's pouch and has just recently started to become visible to zoo officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

They continue to monitor Ellin's weight, and are providing extra food as she cares for the baby.

Meanwhile, the koala population is enjoying a renovated habitat, which include more greenery, new perching for exercising, and solar tubes to bring in more natural light. The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. They are able to move between their climate-controlled indoor exhibit and the expanded outdoor area.

This new habitat is a milestone for our koalas, Margo McKnight, the zoo's CEO and president said in a news release. The deliberate design supports the voluntary, cooperative care our zoologists and koalas have developed together.

Koalas in the U.S. are on loan from the Australian federal government to help with conservation practices.

Advertisement Advertisement

Koalas are generally peaceful, have a calm nature and enjoy a slow lifestyle. They like to climb and hop between the trees in the habitat. The renovations are designed to help koalas express their natural behaviors, zoo officials said.

___

Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Milwaukee alderman Peter Burgelis is launching a campaign for Congress to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who immediately made his residency outside the district an issue in the race.

Burgelis was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2024 and represents District 11, which roughly borders Greenfield and West Allis. He previously served a term on the Milwaukee County Board, where he was the board's first openly LGBTQ supervisor.

Ald. Peter Burgelis speaks at a public meeting where local officials shared best practices when it comes with dealing with ICE presence on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 at Alverno College.

Burgelis took direct aim at President Donald Trump in an April 26 news release announcing his campaign.

Advertisement Advertisement

I cant sit by while Bryan Steil lets Donald Trump take aim at our neighbors, our pocketbooks and our values, Burgelis said. Congressman Steil has made a career working for the rich and powerful, from Speaker Paul Ryan to big law firms, and hes backed Trumps costly agenda 100 percent."

Burgelis, who is running as a Democrat, touted his experience in local office, saying he'd listen to constituents and "make their priorities my priorities" in Congress. He joins a handful of Democrats already in the race.

Steil, a Republican who is running for his fifth term in Congress, said Burgelis "has no business running in a seat he doesn't live in."

Republican Party of Wisconsin spokeswoman Anika Rickard cited a 2024 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report detailing accusations that Burgelis was "verbally abusive" with female staff when he was a Milwaukee County Board supervisor, though he said the issue was resolved and dismissed suggestions of a pattern of abuse.

Advertisement Advertisement

Rickard said Burgelis "needs to decide who he wants to represent: the people of Milwaukee, where he lives and serves as alderman, or the hardworking families of the 1st District, where he has never lived."

Burgelis lives on the south side of Milwaukee, according to his Common Council biography. He does not currently reside in the 1st Congressional District, which he is seeking to represent.

That district covers much of southeastern Wisconsin, from Janesville to Racine and Kenosha. At its furthest north, the district includes St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee and Franklin.

State and federal law do not require candidates for Congress to live in the district they are running in, only that they live in the state of Wisconsin. Unlike state lawmakers, they also do not need to live in the district once elected.

Advertisement Advertisement

Asked on WISN-TV's Sunday morning politics show "Upfront" if his residency poses a challenge, Burgelis says he's hearing the same message from voters, whether he's in his Milwaukee district or Beloit.

"People are hurting. They're scared, they're in pain," Burgelis said. "Voters don't care where you live or what the driver's license address is in my wallet. Voters care where you stand, voters care what your principles are."

Democrats have sought to flip Steil's seat in previous years, backing former congressman and state Assembly leader Peter Barca in 2024, who lost by 10 points.

Other Democrats running this year include Franklin veterans' administration nurse Mitchell Berman, Randy Bryce, who lost to Steil in 2018, and Miguel Aranda, the Whitewater Unified School Board vice president.

Advertisement Advertisement

Burgelis said he's entering the race because he sees no Democrat currently running that can beat Steil.

"We need a candidate who can get national attention, national money to counteract what Bryan Steil and his billionaire buddies are going to put in the race," Burgelis told "Upfront."

Burgelis grew up in Wauwatosa and attended Marquette University High School. He is a mortgage lender and was executive director of Latvian Center Garezers, a nonprofit in Michigan.

Joel Brennan, the new Greater Milwaukee Committee President. He's pictured at the University Club in Milwaukee on Monday, May 9, 2022. Photo by Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial election. Rodriguez speaks at a watch party for incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin on, November 5, 2024 at The Orpheum Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin. State Sen. Kelda Roys is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial election. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial election. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) is a Republican candidate in Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial election. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Missy Hughes, the former head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., is a Democratic candidate for governor. State Rep. Francesca Hong of Madison is a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor. Mandela Barnes is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin's 2026 gubernatorial election. Barnes was photographed while campaigning for U.S. senator on July 15, 2022, at Marshall High School in Milwaukee. Who's in the race? These candidates want to be Wisconsin's next governor 1 of 8 Joel Brennan, the new Greater Milwaukee Committee President. He's pictured at the University Club in Milwaukee on Monday, May 9, 2022. Photo by Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee alderman Peter Burgelis launches run to unseat Bryan Steil
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Two young people have been arrested in an alleged plot to attack a Texas synagogue that involved driving through the congregation to kill as many Jews as possible, according to authorities and court documents.

The arrests come a month after an armed man crashed his pickup truck into a major Detroit-area synagogue in another attack on Jewish people. Synagogues around the world have increased security and protections for worshippers since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran on Feb. 28.

Angelina Han Hicks, 18, of Lexington, North Carolina, was being held Thursday in the Davidson County jail under a $10 million bond, jail records show. She was arrested Wednesday and formally charged with conspiring with two male subjects to commit murder and assault against members of Congregation Beth Israel in Houston on April 21, 2028, according to warrants laying out two felony counts against her.

Advertisement Advertisement

The FBI office in Charlotte said Thursday in a social media post that a juvenile was arrested in relation to the plot and charged in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston. There was no immediate information on whether the juvenile was one of the two male subjects identified in Hicks warrants, which listed only their first names and noted their last names as unknown.

A Houston Police Department news release on Thursday announced a 16-year-old being arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder related to a threat directed towards certain Jewish institutions in our area that the agency learned about Wednesday. The department didnt identify Congregation Beth Israel specifically. The FBI and the Houston school district police department assisted in the arrest.

At this time, there is no other known credible threat, the release said.

Explaining why Hicks detention was necessary, District Court Judge Carlton Terry wrote Wednesday in part that the alleged conspiracy is to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.

Advertisement Advertisement

Allowing a co-conspirator a chance to communicate with either of those individuals or those who could relay a message puts lives at risk, Terry added.

The FBI said its Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force began the investigation Tuesday evening after a tip to a North Carolina law enforcement agency.

While Hicks warrants point to a potential attack two years from now, Alan Martin  a senior assistant district attorney covering Davidson County  said in an interview that there had been some concern that there could be an imminent event targeting the Houston synagogue. A potential motive for the planned violence wasnt immediately disclosed in North Carolina court documents. The investigation is continuing.

Attempts to speak by phone with Hicks court-appointed attorney were unsuccessful Thursday. The lawyer, Chad Freeman, told the Houston Chronicle that the case was in its early stages and Hicks youth could be a factor in her defense.

Advertisement Advertisement

I anticipate getting numerous experts involved in the case to look at both investigatory and possible forensic matters, Freeman told the newspaper. Her next scheduled hearing is May 13.

Congregational Beth Israel is the oldest Jewish house of worship in Texas, founded in the 1850s. It also operates a school going up to fifth grade. The Charlotte FBIs social media post Thursday mentioned an alleged planned attack at a Jewish school.

The potential threats communicated to congregation leadership by Houston police prompted Beth Israel to close on Wednesday out of an abundance of caution, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston wrote in a social media post. The campus reopened Thursday, the federation said.

The safety and security of the Houston Jewish community is of utmost importance to all of us, the federation wrote.

Advertisement Advertisement

Lexington is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Raleigh.

The FBI said Ayman Ghazali sought to inflict as much damage as he could on Jewish people when he drove his pickup truck March 12 into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Ghazali, 41, was armed when the truck smashed through doors and into the hallway of an early childhood education area, striking a security guard. He then exchanged gunfire with another guard before fatally shooting himself. No one else among the 150 children and staff was injured.

Ghazali, a Lebanese-born man who was a U.S. citizen, had learned a week before the attack that four of his family members were killed in an Israeli airstrike in his native country.

Advertisement Advertisement

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.
Last year, Jose Gonzalez hit his breaking point when bullets tore through his home, shattering his sons bedroom window.

The gunshots damaged the side of his home near St. Hyacinth Parish on Milwaukees south side, they damaged his car and they left his whole family feeling fearful, Gonzalez said.

We were inside our home, a space where we should have felt safe, but we werent, Gonzalez said, in Spanish. You no longer have the privilege of privacy or safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

In October 2025, Gonzalez joined a meeting organized by Common Ground, a community group that unites neighbors and community leaders around pressing issues to develop solutions. Along with over 800 Milwaukee residents, Gonzalez shared his story and urged them to join in on developing a safety plan for the community.

We want positive change, but as neighbors we have to support it, Gonzalez said. This problem isnt going to be resolved unless we all get involved.

On April 26, after months of research and neighborhood canvassing, over 70 community members from churches and neighborhood groups across the south side, united by Common Ground, gathered to reveal their five-step plan to make their neighborhoods safer.

The safety plan includes hosting community clean-ups, planning listening sessions and events with local law enforcement, creating youth engagement opportunities and pushing for policy reform to hold the owners of identified nuisance properties accountable, according to Kevin Solomon, senior associate organizer with common ground.

Advertisement Advertisement

During the meeting, 8 city officials including Ald. Jose Perez, Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa and Milwaukee Police Departments district 2 Captain Erin Mejia signed their commitment to the safety plan.

Common Grounds Senior Associate Advisor Kevin Solomon introduces a 5-point safety plan for the south side during a press conference on the steps of St. Hyacinth Parish on April, 26, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Crime and safety are paralyzing the community, Solomon said. We need to unite so that we have more power ... We need to be champions for change in our neighborhoods. We need to make sure that people feel safe to live, play, worship, go to school and interact.

Increasing nuisance property owner accountability

Ruben Rosales, president of the St. Hyacinth Parish Council, said he remembers feeling safe walking home at ten oclock at night to make it back in time for curfew as a child.

Neighbors on the south side would sit out on their porches or have cookouts in their yards, and kids could play on their block, he said. But in recent years, local drug houses, nuisance properties, reckless driving and gun violence have heavily impacted this sense of community.

Community members, including Ruben Rosales, president of the St. Hyacinth Parish Council (green jacket), take turns signing a 5-point safety plan for the south side after a press conference on the steps of St. Hyacinth Parish on April, 26, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Now everybody just prefers to stay home or inside, Rosales said. The neighborhoods pretty much gone.

Advertisement Advertisement

Rosales said he began his push for the community to join Common Grounds efforts to create a safety plan when St. Hyacinth Parish was broken into, and religious items were stolen.

Through the church, Rosales helped organize listening sessions with neighbors to hear their crime concerns and help identify nuisance properties in each community that were impacting residents sense of safety, he said.

For a property to qualify as a nuisance in Milwaukee, issues including harassment, drug activity or even littering must be frequent. There must be at least three calls about the property to the Milwaukee Police Department within a 30-day period for it to be officially declared a nuisance and for fines to be levied against the property owner.

According to Solomon, Common Ground has collected data on over 100 nuisance properties, both independently and with the help of neighbors. Most of these properties have over three calls for service but have not yet been legally declared a nuisance.

Advertisement Advertisement

With local law enforcement, elected officials and the district attorneys office, Common Ground hopes to declare these properties a nuisance when appropriate and start financially penalizing the property owners, Solomon said.

Common Grounds goal is to make sure the existing tools are refined through policy reform and leveraged so nuisance properties dont continue to impact neighborhoods on the south side, Solomon said.

We cant be on our heels, we need to be on our toes, Solomon said. Thats where we are going to push so that the levers of power are used when and where appropriate as proactively as possible.

Building relationships with local law enforcement and elected officials

Five years ago, Chris Logan, president of the Mitchell Court Resident Organization, said she and other members of the organization met with former Ald. Bob Donovan, to ask for an increase in police patrols around the neighborhood.

Advertisement Advertisement

Police patrols were increased, and for a time, crime in their neighborhood lessened, Logan said.

Once they see the police, they shy away from the area, Logan said of those who chose to commit crimes.

Then Logan said she noticed that the patrols were reduced, and crime levels started to rise again.

Logan and her neighbors continue to see issues like drug trafficking, sex trafficking, trespassing, theft and gun violence in their community, she said.

Now, with 8 city officials, including police district 2 Captain Mejia, signing on to support the safety plan, Logan said shes hopeful their efforts and commitment to partnering with residents will help reduce crime.

Milwaukee Police Department District 2 Captain Erin Mejia signs a 5-point safety plan for the south side on the steps of St. Hyacinth Parish on April, 26, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Common Ground will host listening sessions with neighbors and local law enforcement to improve relationships with residents and the police, with the hope that it will increase trust and encourage residents to report crimes, Solomon said.

Advertisement Advertisement

In our listening, it was abundant that the relationship with the police is frayed. We have to have trust and communication, and we have the opposite, Solomon said. We want to build proactive relationships.

Starting with local police leadership, Common Ground will host meetings in churches, food banks and schools to help the community get to know their police officers and open the door for productive conversations about crime, Solomon said.

In response to the safety plan, Common Council president Perez said he will also hold a public hearing on June 8 at city hall. There, residents will have the opportunity to share their crime concerns with city officials as well.

Community clean-ups for safer neighborhoods

In September 2025, Aubree Hansen, operations manager at Nourish MKE, was helping neighbors with intake outside its food pantry on South 22nd Street and West Lapham Avenue.

Advertisement Advertisement

The day was progressing as normal, when a fight broke out among a group of neighbors who were not visiting the pantry and a gun was fired inches from a mans head, Hansen said. Pantry guests scrambled to get inside and take cover, and pantry staff tried their best to secure the scene, ensuring that nobody was injured.

Aubree Hansen, operations manager at Nourish MKE, speaks during a press conference about safety in the south side outside St. Hyacinth Parish on April, 26, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After this incident, Nourish MKE joined in on Common Grounds efforts to create a plan for a safer south side. Part of its involvement will include participating in walk audits and neighborhood clean-ups to reduce crime, so neighbors feel safe coming to their pantries to get the resources they need, said Valerie MacMillian, executive Director of Nourish MKE

During the walk audits and community clean-ups, volunteers will pick up garbage and take note of issues like illegal dumping sites and broken streetlights to be reported and addressed, said Solomon with Common Ground.

The walk audits will begin in the communities surrounding St. Hyacinth Parish in the Lincoln Village neighborhood. Common Ground hopes to later expand those efforts out to other neighborhoods, Solomon said.

Advertisement Advertisement

You dont have to be a member of common ground to help out with this initiative, MacMillian said. Theres a lot of existential and real threats to the community right now  We really want this to be a call to action for people.

Alyssa Salcedo covers Silver City, Layton Park and Burnham Park for the Journal Sentinels Neighborhood Dispatch. Contact: asalcedo@usatodayco.com.

Neighborhood Dispatch reporting is supported by Zilber Family Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Journal Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: JS Community Journalism) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is made possible through our partnership with Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association, and EnMotive, LLC, a subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc. USA TODAY Co., Inc. is the parent company of this publication.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee south side neighbors make new safety plan for neighborhood
TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Two forest fires continued to spread toward residential areas in a northern Japanese town on Friday, prompting authorities to expand evacuation orders to more than 3,000 people, with the blazes still uncontained, media reports said.

The blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon in a mountainous area in Iwate Prefecture, followed by another fire about two hours later roughly 10 km (6.2 miles) away near Otsuchi town.

 The Fire Department has been battling the flames from both the ground and the air, but the fire remains uncontained, said public broadcaster NHK.

Advertisement Advertisement

 The wildfires have scorched more than 1,176 hectares (2,905 acres) and forced evacuation orders covering 1,541 households and 3,233 people, according to NHK.

 It is the second-largest wildfire in Japan, behind a 2025 Ofunato fire that consumed about 3,370 hectares, said TBS News.

 Seven buildings have burned, including one residence; no casualties reported, according to NHK.

 One evacuation shelter was closed on Friday morning as fire approached, NHK said.

(Reporting by Irene Wang and Mariko Katsumura; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Papier CEO Taymoor Atighetchi explains why he believes his brand is resonating in the age of AI.

The stationery company doubled sales between 2022 and 2025.

It is now expanding into board games, with backgammon and chess sets set to launch later this year.

In a world dominated by screens, Papier CEO Taymoor Atighetchi believes stationery has become a quiet form of escape.

Founded in 2015, stationery brand Papier has grown from a UK startup into a company serving 2.5 million customers globally. It doubled sales between 2022 and 2025, generating more than 40 million ($54 million) in the year ending January 2026.

The brand has been capitalizing on a broader push among millennials and Gen Z toward going analog. Atighetchi saw early signs of a "digital detox" among millennials when the company launched, but didn't anticipate how strongly Gen Z would later embrace it.

As more of life has moved online, digital fatigue has set in, driving renewed interest in offline hobbies like journaling, scrapbooking, and board games  a shift Papier is leaning into.

Now AI is adding another layer.

As concerns grow around job losses and the erosion of workplace skills , some consumers are seeking out experiences that feel more intentional and human.

AI is "going to accelerate the need for authenticity. It's going to accelerate people wanting human creativity," Atighetchi said.

"People will become sick of algorithms dictating everything they should do and say," he said. "Everything to do with writing  writing notes, letters  is very intentional. It's very human."

The handwritten note becomes more important than ever, he said.

This drive for authenticity is showing up in sales. Papier reported that notecards grew 33% year on year in 2025, while writing paper rose 23%. Notecards are particularly popular in the US, where sales in 2025 more than tripled those in the UK.

Atighetchi said notecards carry a sense of authenticity that texts and emails increasingly lack in the age of AI. Papier

Stationery is a novelty for Gen Z

After studying History of Art at the University of Cambridge, Atighetchi worked as a management consultant at Bain.

It was during his time there that he identified that the stationery market needed disruption.

"I realized that this is actually quite a big niche, and one that needed some disruption and had no real category leader  or at least one that was more relevant to modern consumers," he said.

Papier was set up to be digital-first, offering consumers ways to personalize and buy stationery online.

And despite its analog offering, Papier is still, in principle, a "tech-heavy business," Atighetchi said.
Houston police say they shot and killed a suspect inside a Sam's Club on Saturday night.

Officers say it happened at the east Houston location off the East Freeway near Market after 11 p.m.

ABC13 was at the scene Sunday morning, where hazmat crews could be seen cleaning up. A note on the Sam's Club entrance said that the store would be closed on Sunday due to the shooting.

Authorities said the suspect broke into a security guard's car, stole his gear, and then dressed up as a security guard, even though he wasn't one.

Advertisement Advertisement

Officers said they arrived at the scene after store employees reported a man vandalizing and breaking into cars in the parking lot.

Police said the suspect opened fire on store employees and got into a shootout with officers until they killed him.

No other injuries have been reported.
Oklahoma's Republican Senate leader has refused to consider Trump-backed bills that he says could deter undocumented mothers from applying for government assistance on behalf of their U.S.-born children.

Two controversial measures that would've had undocumented immigrants reported to federal authorities if they tried to receive government assistance have died after the did not receive a hearing in the Senate before a crucial deadline Thursday, April 23.

The situation put the two most powerful Republicans in the Capitol at odds over two contentious issues  immigration and the right to life. It also showed that even in deep red Oklahoma, where voters in every county voted for President Donald Trump three times, some GOP lawmakers are willing to push back against federal politics.

Advertisement Advertisement

House Bills 4422 and 4423 were authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who said the measures came at the request of the White House. Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the White House is just one place Oklahoma lawmakers take input from, adding that there are already laws in place that restrict undocumented immigrants from accessing government assistance programs.

Paxton said that he's worried about the potential harm the bills would create for children regardless of whether their parents are legal residents.

"Right now, whether that baby is being carried by an American citizen or not, to me it's still a baby, and there's a baby in a womb that needs to be protected," Paxton said. "I think the legislation, the way it is, would have scared people away from the services that are available to make sure that mother is able to take care of herself and be healthy to make sure that baby's healthy."

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tyttle, has refused to consider Trump-backed bills authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, saying the measures could deter undocumented mothers from applying for government assistance on behalf of their U.S.-born children.

More: ICE agreements netted Oklahoma agencies millions, data shows

How two Trump-backed bills died in the Oklahoma Legislature

The demise of the two bills follows a complicated and contentious history of the legislation that initially sought to require the state agencies in charge of SNAP and Medicaid to report undocumented parents with children who are U.S. citizens if they apply for benefits on behalf of their kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hilbert amended HB 4422 to nix that provision on Feb. 4 just before it was heard in the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee. He did the same to HB 4423 just before it was heard in committee on Feb. 19.

Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval, D-Oklahoma City, led the House Democratic Caucus' efforts to combat the bill, which included closed-door conversations with Hilbert. Sandoval, who's part of the Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus, told The Oklahoman he was grateful Hilbert amended the bills, though he believed they would still push people away from applying for benefits.

In their latest form, the bills would have required Oklahoma's Department of Human Services and Health Care Authority to verify the immigration status of SNAP and Medicaid applicants using the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements (SAVE) system.

The SAVE system was originally built to check whether someone qualifies for such benefits, including Medicaid, but since retaking office, Trump has expanded the program to allow it to check against Americans' Social Security numbers as he seeks to build a nationwide citizenship verification program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP or Medicaid, but parents of children born in the U.S. can apply for services on behalf of their kids who are U.S. citizens.

Sandoval said some constituents had told him they've refrained from applying for their children because of what they're hearing from the Oklahoma Capitol. He said these working-class families do not have the time to track legislation, so they're making decisions based off of what they're hearing.

"In the way they're seeing it, they're like, 'Well, if I apply for these benefits, there's a chance that I might be separated from my family,'" Sandoval said. "If it's being separated from your family or don't apply for benefits ... then they're going to choose to be with their loved ones. They're going to choose to be with their kids. They're not even going to risk it."

In February, Hilbert said that's the risk undocumented parents take.

Advertisement Advertisement

"If you're here and you're not an American citizen, and you're still going to apply to be a recipient of taxpayer-funded welfare, then that's a risk you take," he said.

The bills passed the House along party lines in February after Hilbert told representatives to stand if they believed The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens.

Hilbert's statement repeats a line from Trumps State of the Union address. Democrats remained seated, and one shouted, Thats bull**** and you know it.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert says welfare programs do not improve hunger rates

To reach the governor's desk, the bills would've had to have been heard in a Senate committee before April 23.

Advertisement Advertisement

In response to Paxton's concerns, Hilbert said welfare programs have not substantially improved hunger rates in the U.S. Studies have shown programs like SNAP are linked with improved food security, better health outcomes and lower health care costs.

"When LBJ passed the Great Society and all these welfare programs, it's pretty cool how no child's been hungry ever since that happened, right? No," Hilbert said. "These Medicaid programs, SNAP programs, obviously there are people who benefit from them, but they have not been the cure-all for society's woes."

More than 15% of Oklahoma households are food insecure, compared to the national household food insecurity rate of 13.5%, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the state's poverty rate was 14.9% in 2024, making Oklahoma the eighth-poorest state in the nation.

When asked whether he believes hunger rates would not be affected if food assistance programs were eliminated, Hilbert said, "My logic is if you're not an American citizen, you should not receive welfare."

Advertisement Advertisement

He said he was disappointed in the Senate's decision to let the bills die, but he plans to bring them back up before the end of the legislative session and hopes the Senate will reconsider.

Paxton said he spoke with lawmakers across the aisle amid the controversy over the bills, including Sen. Michael Brooks-Jimenez. Brooks, an Oklahoma City Democrat, also serves on the Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus and operates a law firm with a focus immigration.

Brooks said as a person of faith, he feels mandated to feed the hungry. He called the expiration of House Bills 4422 and 4423 a victory because Washington, D.C. failed to dictate how the state of Oklahoma treats its residents.

"We're very proud to have the Oklahoma Standard, and part of that includes taking care of our own," Brooks said. "These people who are here working and raising families, they are some of our own."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate blocks Trump-backed immigration bills
Nashville police are investigating an apparent attempted carjacking that led to a deadly shooting of the suspect at a side parking lot by a Walgreens in the Melrose area on April 25, according to initial information.

A 44-year-old food delivery driver had picked up an order from a restaurant next door and had walked back to his black Dodge. The driver told police he was then confronted by a gunman who demanded the car.

Metro Nashville Police Department vehicle on Lower Broadway Friday, April 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.

The driver retrieved his own pistol. The driver said he was shot in the leg by the attempted carjacking suspect. The driver then fired his weapon on the suspect who was killed, according to police based on the initial inforrmation.

Advertisement Advertisement

The driver is hospitalized for treatment of the leg wound, police said.

The shooting was reported at 12:51 p.m., at the 2600 block of 8th Avenue South, according to Metro's Emergency Communications Center.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

The Tennessean will provide more information as details are released.

This afternoon's fatal shooting in the side parking lot of Walgreens in Melrose appears to involve an attempted carjacking. A 44-year-old food delivery driver had just picked up an order from a restaurant next door & had walked back to his black Dodge when he said he was pic.twitter.com/2Enu9WCyIw  Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) April 25, 2026

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Police: Deadly carjacking attempt outside Nashville Melrose Walgreens
It would certainly be understandable if some constituents chose to take a very hot shower after reading about the alleged seedy activities of (now former) Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). Unfortunately, there is a growing fear that their vile conduct may be but the tip of a very toxic iceberg floating about the halls of Congress.

Described as a  cesspool , a  swamp  and a  sewer , Congress has morphed into the largest Animal House like fraternity on the U.S. campus, its members rarely facing any real consequences.

At what point are the American taxpayers who fund Congress allowed to declare Enough is enough? When do the sexual shenanigans , the shutdowns , the expensive junkets and the endless recesses become too much?

Advertisement Advertisement

And as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) pointed out on Facebook last December, over half of all Members of Congress are millionaires.  Many of our lawmakers have no lived experience of working paycheck to paycheck or trying to pay rent working a low-wage job.

If Ocasio-Cortez really wanted to call out the system to the working class, though, it would have been more illuminating if she also explained how some members of Congress can seemingly make millions of dollars via stock trades not available to the average American while in Congress.

A prominent example is former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Over the course of her more than 38-year congressional career, the high-ranking Democrat reportedly earned more than $130 million in stock profits for a return of 16,930 percent.

Most Americans dont even know what insider trading means. Congress could offer a symposium on the subject.

Advertisement Advertisement

When not dealing a culture of sexual harassment, curious stock trades, and hundreds of days off at the taxpayers expense, the day to day of Congress comes across to many Americans as a bunch of petulant children sitting in a sandbox throwing tantrums. This weeks example was Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was brutally brow-beaten as he took questions from both the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Anyone watching the hearings would quickly ascertain that certain Democratic senators had no interest in hearing Kennedys answer to their questions. It was all virtue signaling to the left, as well as payback time against Kennedy for daring to walk away from the Democratic Party to help the Trump administration.

It should be made clear that the Democrats in no way have a monopoly on this childish and counterproductive behavior. Republicans engage in it often when a Democrat occupies the Oval Office. And who ultimately pays? The public.

So, would the American people be better off without Congress ? Certainly, many believe so . Is it possible? Not really, because it would be the lawmakers themselves who would have to vote to limit their powers or eliminate Congress.

Advertisement Advertisement

But for just a second, imagine Congress to be an out-of-control machine shop making nothing of use while creating a deafening noise so loud it is literally painful to your ears. Then, for one brief moment, you step outside to a beautiful flower-filled meadow of almost complete silence, except for the faint melodic chirping of birds.

Its nice to imagine. Unfortunately, thats the only real recourse the public has with a Congress that still gleefully thumbs its nose at the laws and rules that apply to others.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official.

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 man who is part of a class-action lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is free and back home as advocates speak out against his recent arrest.

Isaac Villegas Molina was released from Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino County Thursday night, one week after a second arrest.

Supporters say his detention is linked to his participation in a lawsuit alleging that ICE raids are unconstitutional.

Advertisement Advertisement

Rep. Judy Chu joined Molina's supporters Friday in criticizing conditions at the Adelanto facility, which they described as inhumane.

"Isaac is feeling sick right now. It's because he came from Adelanto. This is a place with a horrific record," said Chu. "Since the start of Trump's second term, five people have died, either in Adelanto's custody, or shortly after being transferred from it."

The Department of Homeland Security responded by calling Molina a "criminal illegal alien," saying he overstayed an expired tourist visa by 13 years.

Molina was first arrested last June. He was later released on bond after a judge determined he was not a danger to the community or a flight risk.
US President Donald Trump has been rushed from the White House Correspondents' dinner as gunfire was heard inside a Washington DC hotel.

Some of America's most high-profile politicians, diplomats and journalists were gathered in the Washington Hilton ballroom when they were forced to take cover under tables.

The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, US media report - he will be formally charged in court on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

One US security agent was injured and received treatment in hospital, authorities said.

Here's how the night played out  in pictures.

Trump is rushed off stage by Secret Service agents as heavily armed officers survey the scene [Reuters]

[Getty Images]

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is escorted out of the ballroom [Getty Images]

[Getty Images]

Advertisement Advertisement

Stephen Miller, one of Trump's most senior aides, and his wife Katie take cover [Getty Images]

House Speaker Mike Johnson is taken out of the ballroom [Reuters]

[Reuters]

A photo shows a shirtless man on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back with secret service standing around him. Trump said at the White House he had directed it to be posted [@realDonaldTrump/ Truth Social]

Advertisement Advertisement

The scene of the shooting at the Washington Hilton [Reuters]

Shortly after sharing the Truth Social posts of the suspect, Trump took questions from the press at the White House press briefing room  still dressed in his tuxedo. [Anadolu via Getty Images]

Many of the WHCA guests were dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos for the special event before whizzing over to the Press Briefing room to receive an update from Trump. [AFP via Getty Images]

Trump says it was "traumatic" for his wife Melania, who made a rare appearance at the Press Briefing Room [Bloomberg via Getty Images]

Advertisement Advertisement
Pope Leo spoke out against the death penalty and called for its abolition in the U.S. and worldwide.

In a video message to DePaul University, the pope said every human life is sacred and the death penalty violates human dignity, even for those convicted of serious crimes.

SEE ALSO | Cardinal Cupich speaks on Trump's recent criticism of Pope Leo, reflects on Pope Francis' legacy

"The dignity of a person is not lost even after very serious crimes are committed," the pope said in the message. "Furthermore, effective systems of detention can be and have been developed to protect citizens, while at the same time, do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption."

The message marks 15 years since Illinois abolished capital punishment.


Did anyone win Saturday night's Powerball drawing for the jackpot of $120 million?

The cash option for the April 25 jackpot was $54.5 million.

Here's what we know about the drawing on Saturday, April 25:

Powerball winning numbers for April 25 lottery drawing jackpot

The winning numbers for the April 25 drawing were 4, 30, 36, 52, 57. The red Powerball was 2, and the Power Play was 3X.

Did anyone win Powerball?

No one won the jackpot in the April 25 drawing. There was no $1 million Match 5. There was no Match 5 plus Power Play $2 million prize winner.

When is next Powerball drawing?

The next drawing is on Monday, April 27.

What is the Powerball jackpot up to?

The jackpot for the next drawing is an estimated $130 million with a cash value of $59.1 million.

What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings take place at 11 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What are the odds of winning Powerball?

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Where to buy Powerball tickets

Powerball is played in 45 states, including Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and in Washington, DC and the Virgin Islands. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident to play Powerball.

Advertisement Advertisement

You can purchase tickets at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Sales cut-off times vary by one to two hours before the drawing, depending on the selling jurisdiction.

Can you buy Powerball tickets online?

In Kentucky, you can purchase tickets online through the Kentucky Lottery website, kylottery.com.

In Ohio and Indiana, people can order Powerball tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Lottery tickets are sold to residents online through their lottery's official site in the following jurisdictions:

Kentucky

Connecticut

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Michigan

New Hampshire

North Carolina

North Dakota

Pennsylvania

Virginia

West Virginia

Washington, DC

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

A single Powerball ticket costs $2. Pay an additional $1 to add the Power Play for a chance to multiply all Powerball winnings except for the jackpot. In Kentucky, Indiana and some other states, players can also add the Double Play for an additional $1 to have a second chance at winning $10 million.

How to play Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

How to win Powerball

Match all 5 white balls + Powerball: Jackpot (odds 1 in 292.2 million) Match all 5 white balls: $1 million (odds 1 in 11.7 million) Match 4 white balls + Powerball: $50,000 (odds 1 in ~913,000) Match 4 white balls: $100 (odds 1 in ~36,000) Match 3 white balls + Powerball: $100 (odds 1 in ~14,500) Match 3 white balls: $7 (odds 1 in ~580) Match 2 white balls + Powerball: $7 (odds 1 in ~700) Match 1 white ball + Powerball: $4 (odds 1 in ~92) Match Powerball only: $4 (odds 1 in ~38)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Powerball winning numbers for April 25. Did anyone win Powerball?
Rep. Jim Clyburn on protecting democracy 07:15

If you've paid attention to Democratic presidential politics in recent decades, you know South Carolina matters  an early test in the primary race, and a true center of power in the Democratic Party.

Though African-Americans are a quarter of South Carolina's population, Jim Clyburn is the state's sole Black representative (and Democrat) in the U.S. House. And over 33 years, Clyburn  a civil rights activist, party strategist, and political kingmaker  has built his political network one handshake and one hug at a time. His annual fish fry is a must-attend event for any Democrat with White House ambitions.

Vice President Joe Biden, with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), on stage after declaring victory in the South Carolina presidential primary, February 29, 2020 in Columbia, S.C. / Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Asked about Joe Biden's contention that receiving Clyburn's endorsement was crucial to his victory in 2020, Clyburn replied, "That might be true. He says it's true! I don't know!" He added, "I'm too good a politician to deny that."

Advertisement Advertisement

In the 1960s, Clyburn was a campus organizer. It's how he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also met his late wife, Emily, when they were both protesting for civil rights.

Clyburn sees a direct line from the history of oppressive Jim Crow laws that he protested against, to the present-day push to roll back the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Asked if Democrats today are doing enough to protest today, Clyburn replied, "I don't think the American people are doing enough. I'm not gonna allow this to be a Democrat versus a Republican thing. That is not policy and politics; that is what we as Americans ought to be about. And do we follow through enough? I don't know that you can really know that, until the final verdict is in. And that won't happen until November."

Asked if the fights and debates over civil rights issues issues that he was having in the 1960s ever ended, Clyburn said, "Well, they did end. They're just coming back."

Clyburn also said that he expects, should Democrats win the majority in November, that President Trump will not respect the result unless it's overwhelming. "I absolutely believe that, because he's done it [before]," Clyburn said. "The best way to tell what a person will do is to look at what he or she has done. And so, if he's done it, he's capable of doing it again."

Rep. Jim Clyburn with CBS News' Robert Costa. / Credit: CBS News

Clyburn on Biden's aborted bid

Advertisement Advertisement

Although the midterms are Clyburn's focus today, President Biden's aborted 2024 candidacy remains very much in mind for many Democrats, who continue to discuss the impact of that move. Clyburn said for Biden to drop out of his reelection bid was "the right decision for him. I think it was the right decision for the party. I think some decisions were made after that which were not good decisions. I think mistakes were made in how the campaign went forward."

But Clyburn has frustrations with how the Democrats ran their national campaign after Biden dropped out of the race. "I was getting phone calls from people all over the country, especially from Michigan and Pennsylvania, asking me, 'Please tell somebody they are not doing what we need to do to turn this vote out,'" he said. "Now, that's a fact. Now, a lot of people don't want to deal with that. But I was getting the phone calls. So, I know that people felt that algorithms were driving the train rather than people who had the boots that needed to be put on the ground."

Seeking re-election

Earlier this month, "Sunday Morning" followed Clyburn to his alma mater, South Carolina State University, a historically Black university, where he shared some advice with students: "When you think about leadership, being someone's representative, make an early decision as to what you want to do in that representation. Do you want to make headlines? Or do you want to make headway?"

/ Credit: Little, Brown & Co.

In his career Clyburn has made both, most recently for his decision to seek re-election for an 18th term.. He will turn 86 this summer.

Advertisement Advertisement

He acknowledges that he took a long time to come to that decision: "I was talking to one person who said to me, 'Are you sure that you're doing this out of concern, or selfishness?' And I asked myself, are you being selfish, or do you still maintain concern for your constituents? And I do."

Clyburn is not the only candidate this year for whom age is an issue; there are a dozen members of Congress who are 80+ and seeking re-election. Asked what keeps him going, Clyburn replied, "My parents instilled in me the obligation to carry it forward."

Even after all these years, Jim Clyburn wants to remain in the ring for at least one more round.

READ AN EXCERPT: "The First Eight" by Jim ClyburnThe South Carolina Democrat, the ninth Black man to represent his state in the House of Representatives, writes of his predecessors who helped direct the course of America during and after Reconstruction.

Advertisement Advertisement

For more info:

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)"The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation" by Jim Clyburn (Little, Brown & Co.), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgSouth Carolina State University

Story produced by Ed Forgotson. Editor: Jason Schmidt.
Iran has reportedly caused billions of dollars in damage to U.S. military assets and bases in the Gulf region, sparking questions about the Trump administrations transparency regarding potential costs for repairs.

Six people familiar with the damage said runways, high-end radar systems, dozens of aircraft, warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars and satellite communications infrastructure were struck by Iranian forces in an interview with NBC News.

The destruction spans across several countries in the Middle East and could cost up to $5 billion to repair.

Advertisement Advertisement

The projected price tag does not include fixes to radar systems, weapons systems, aircraft and other equipment that were either impaired or rendered unsalvageable as a result of Iranian strikes, the outlet reported.

Initial damage was caused to U.S. base Camp Buehring in Kuwait by an Iranian F-5 fighter jet within the first few days of the war, which began Feb. 28 with a series of U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Al Dhafra Air Base and Al Ruwais military base in the United Arab Emirates recorded damage to fuel storage, a medical clinic, hangars and barracks in addition to other warehouses and buildings.

Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia; Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan; and Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring and Shuaiba Port in Kuwait also saw U.S. resources damaged.

Advertisement Advertisement

Three officials told NBC News there was later extensive damage to the headquarters building for the U.S. Navy in Bahrain and at least two air defense systems.

Repairs to the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters could total $200 million alone, one congressional official told The New York Times following a Pentagon assessment.

An external assessment from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) shows Iranian forces also struck Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, a runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and a munitions storage facility at a military base in northern Iraq, per NBC.

As part of Epic Fury, the potential future costs to rebuild American military infrastructure overseas may include repair, reconstruction, outright replacement, or even abandonment/decommissioning of locales, Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at AEI, told the outlet.

Advertisement Advertisement

War damage also includes estimated costs for infrastructure that is unsalvageable, she added.

Other damaged resources include at least one fighter jet, a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, two MC-130 tankers, helicopters and an E-3 Sentry plane.

We do not discuss battle damage assessments for operation security reasons. Our forces remain fully operational, and we continue to execute our mission with the same readiness and combat effectiveness, a Pentagon official told The Hill.

In March, the Pentagon estimated that the first six days of the war against Iran cost more than $11.3 billion, absent calculations for needed repairs.

Advertisement Advertisement

A total of $5.6 billion was spent on munitions during the first two days of the war.

Briefings for lawmakers regarding the cost of the military operations have been sparse, spurring consternation among elected officials and their staffers.

No one knows anything. And its not for lack of asking, one of the aides told NBC.

We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record-high budget, the person added.

Updated at 5:48 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Donald Trumps yearlong effort to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms has not gone as planned. But Republicans have one last mid-decade redistricting battleground on the table: Florida.

At the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida state lawmakers will gather in Tallahassee next week for a special legislative session to consider redrawing the states 28 congressional districts  a move that could lead to between two and five new GOP-leaning seats. But it has drawn opposition from many in his own party because of concerns it could dilute existing Republican-held seats to the point where the party could lose incumbents in the fall.

That reflects a gloomy political environment for Republicans at the moment. So far, even the Trump-led mid-decade redistricting cycle has disappointed the White House.

Advertisement Advertisement

After the president pushed GOP-leaning Texas to redraw congressional lines last year, a handful of Democratic-led states also redrew their maps. The back-and-forth makes it likely that neither party nets more than a handful of seats through redistricting, no matter what happens in Florida.

National Democrats have already highlighted Florida as Trumps last stand on redistricting this year. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters earlier this week that his party will be targeting Florida seats during the midterms, something that has not been the case in recent election cycles.

Our message to Florida Republicans is, F around and find out, Jeffries said.

DeSantis shot back, needling Democrats over their poor brand in Florida.

Advertisement Advertisement

Were going to go after Florida. Please, be my guest, DeSantis said of Jeffries earlier this week. I will pay for you to come down to Florida and campaign. Ill put you up in the Florida governors mansion. Well take you fishing.

Readying for redistricting battle

Floridas state constitution expressly prohibits the passage of any political map that shows intent of favoring one party over the other.

That makes the legal hurdles in Florida  which would be the eighth state to redraw a congressional map ahead of the midterms  much different than in other states, where lawmakers involved in redistricting openly talked about picking up more House seats for their party. In Florida, though, that sort of talk could become part of legal challenges.

Democrats and opponents of the redistricting effort will almost certainly file additional legal challenges when the maps are passed, under the idea they were part of a politically driven attempt to pad Republicans slim House majority.

Advertisement Advertisement

Republicans, however, remain unfazed by the legal threats, arguing that the current maps include vestiges of a Democratic-drawn map approved by the courts in 2012. They are trying, they say, to right a redistricting wrong rather than make any sort of overt political move.

The current maps have vestiges of the DCCC map imposed by the courts a decade ago, said Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power. Recent court rulings say we dont have to draw districts that way anymore.

Now, we can draw fair and compact districts to empower voters to choose the representation they want, he added.

Floridas current congressional maps were also largely drawn by DeSantis and approved by GOP lawmakers just a few years ago. Republicans won a 20-8 advantage in the Florida delegation under those lines.

Advertisement Advertisement

DeSantis redistricting push has already drawn legal challenges from a group of state voters led by well-known Democratic attorney Marc Elias, who filed a lawsuit claiming the governor had overstepped his authority when he called for a special session on redrawing lines.

The Governors powers are defined by Floridas Constitution  which does not confer unilateral authority to bind the Legislature into passing legislation, the lawsuit says.

A group called No Partisan Maps has also said it will hold protests at Floridas state Capitol on Tuesday to mark the start of the redistricting special session.

Intraparty conflict

DeSantis is facing significant pushback from fellow Republicans, most notably from members of the congressional delegation, who are concerned that redistricting could dilute the GOP vote in ways that could put some districts in play in the midterms, as Democrats have shown early momentum in special elections.

Advertisement Advertisement

Dont do it. Ive said it from the beginning, Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., told Punchbowl News earlier this month. Ive been around enough reapportionments to know its a slippery slope.

Longtime Republican consultant Karl Rove on Friday also warned that Florida Republicans should not overreach.

Right now, the Democrats are ahead. If Florida moves like it can, the Republicans will at least be even, Rove told Fox & Friends, analyzing the national redistricting state of play to date. But theres a risk there, because what theyre going to do is theyre going to have to take Republican votes out of Republican districts and put them into Democrat districts, and thats going to lower the numbers for some incumbent Republicans, and they may lose a seat or two.

DeSantis also has problems with lawmakers in his own GOP-dominated Legislature, many of whom have been openly feuding with the governor since his failed 2024 presidential bid.

Advertisement Advertisement

There is no one that wants to do this here, said a Republican state representative, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about their opposition to the Republican governors plans. This is a DeSantis-driven ship. I dont think there is any doubt about that. We will see how it goes.

Five Republican state lawmakers interviewed by NBC News shared the sentiment, with most saying there is a general apathy among legislators about passing congressional maps that dont directly impact them.

If I had to guess, as long as the maps are not too egregious, I think we will vote to pass, said another. But dont mistake that for anyone caring or really supporting the idea.

Still, there is increased pressure on Florida Republicans to do something after Virginia voters approved a plan that could see Democrats pick up four House seats in the state.

Advertisement Advertisement

Florida has the right and the intention to do it, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters this week. And my view is that they should.

NBC News reported earlier this month that the White House is watching the Florida process closely, but it has not engaged as aggressively as in other Republican-leaning states because of concerns over forthcoming legal challenges.

It would be the worst thing they could do to seem like they are anywhere near this, said a former Trump administration official.

As of Friday afternoon, DeSantis office has not yet released maps or given any indication of what a proposed map could look like.

Advertisement Advertisement

Under normal circumstances, Floridas redistricting process includes a series of public hearings as the maps come together.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried called the redistricting effort a stunt and a direct attack on fair representation. This is yet another attempt by DeSantis to silence voters, and cheat the people of Florida out of a democracy that belongs to them, she said.

Though no maps exist yet, the biggest concern from Republicans is about diluting the Republican vote in GOP-held districts in the Miami and Tampa areas. That could put at risk Republican Reps. Carlos Gimenez and Maria Salazar in South Florida and Laurel Lee and Anna Paulina Luna in the Tampa area.

Lets say they aggressively mess with Kathy Castors seat, said a longtime Republican operative, speaking about the Tampa-area Democratic congresswoman. What does that mean for Lee and Luna?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Russia must cease its "nuclear terrorism," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday as he marked 40 years since the nuclear disaster at the Soviet-era Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine.

Moscow was taking the world to the edge of nuclear catastrophe with its drone attacks on Ukraine, he said, referring to last year's attack on the protective shell built over the plant to contain nuclear contamination.

Zelensky said that maintaining the site's security was in everyone's interest. The cost of repairing the steel structure following the attack has been put at more than $500 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

"The world cannot allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to compel Russia to halt its crazy attacks," he said.

On April 26, 1986, a test at the Chernobyl plant in what was then the Soviet republic of Ukraine went out of control. Reactor four suffered a catastrophic failure, releasing radioactive material into the environment.

Radioactive clouds spread across parts of northern and western Europe, with Ukraine, Belarus and western Russia most severely affected. The damaged reactor released radiation for months.

Experts estimate tens of thousands of deaths can be linked to the disaster. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the 30-kilometre exclusion zone around the now-decommissioned plant, which is located some 100 kilometres north of Kiev.

Advertisement Advertisement

Zelensky has long called for an end to the Russian occupation of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya in southern Ukraine, which has been controlled by Russia's Rosatom nuclear company since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky published a video to mark the 40th anniversary of the world's worst civilian nuclear power disaster, calling for all the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe to be honoured.

The Soviet government in Moscow at the time came in for severe criticism for its handling of the crisis, concealing its scale and putting hundreds of thousands of people in danger.

Speaking in Moscow to mark the anniversary, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev said that today's nuclear plants in Russia were safe. "The accident compelled us to a thorough reworking of our safety concepts," he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

"A Chernobyl scenario at Russian nuclear reactors today has been ruled out," Likhachev said. He paid tribute to the "heroic work" of the more than 600,000 technicians, troops, firefighters, construction workers and doctors from across the Soviet Union who worked to contain the aftermath 40 years ago.

He said these "liquidators" had constructed the concrete sarcophagus built to limit radioactive emissions, which has since been covered by the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, the steel arch now covering the site.

In Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, people paid tribute to the victims of the 1986 disaster with moments of silence, exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and flower-laying ceremonies.

More than 62,000 of the people affected by the disaster currently live in Kiev, including 30,000 liquidators. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko welcomed them to the city hall to honour them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Belarus, where 70% of the radioactive precipitation occurred, was worst hit by the disaster. At least a fifth of the former Soviet republic was contaminated, particularly the Gomel region in the south, where large areas were contaminated with Caesium 137 and Strontium 90.

Politicians, military officers and civilians marked the day in Belarus. Representatives of the embassies of Ukraine and Russia laid wreaths, the Foreign Ministry in Minsk reported.

Exiled Belarusian activists opposed to the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko held events in neighbouring countries. Irina Suchi, co-founder of the Ecodom environmental group accused the Minsk government of carrying on as though everything had returned to normal.

"But there are no adequate controls," she told dpa. Suchi called for tests on the soil and food products to check radiation levels. She said that around 100 environmental organizations had been shut down or forced into exile.

"Over the entire 40 years, they have never told the population how to act when they live in a contaminated region," she said.
Russia must cease its "nuclear terrorism," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday as he marked 40 years since the nuclear disaster at the Soviet-era Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine.

Moscow was taking the world to the edge of nuclear catastrophe with its drone attacks on Ukraine, he said, referring to last year's attack on the protective shell built over the plant to contain nuclear contamination.

Zelensky said that maintaining the site's security was in everyone's interest. The cost of repairing the steel structure following the attack has been put at more than $500 million.

Advertisement Advertisement

"The world cannot allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to compel Russia to halt its crazy attacks," he said.

On April 26, 1986, a test at the Chernobyl plant in what was then the Soviet republic of Ukraine went out of control. Reactor four suffered a catastrophic failure, releasing radioactive material into the environment.

Radioactive clouds spread across parts of northern and western Europe, with Ukraine, Belarus and western Russia most severely affected. The damaged reactor released radiation for months.

Experts estimate tens of thousands of deaths can be linked to the disaster. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the 30-kilometre exclusion zone around the now-decommissioned plant, which is located some 100 kilometres north of Kiev.

Advertisement Advertisement

Zelensky has long called for an end to the Russian occupation of the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya in southern Ukraine, which has been controlled by Russia's Rosatom nuclear company since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky visited the new permanent exhibition Chernobyl at the National Museum together with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He made it clear to Grossi that Ukraine could not accept the formalization and legitimization of Russias presence at the nuclear facility. For safe operation, the plant must return to the management of Ukrainian operators, Zelensky wrote on X.

Zelensky also published a video to mark the 40th anniversary of the world's worst civilian nuclear power disaster, calling for all the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe to be honoured.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Soviet government in Moscow at the time came in for severe criticism for its handling of the crisis, concealing its scale and putting hundreds of thousands of people in danger.

Speaking in Moscow to mark the anniversary, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev said that today's nuclear plants in Russia were safe. "The accident compelled us to a thorough reworking of our safety concepts," he said.

"A Chernobyl scenario at Russian nuclear reactors today has been ruled out," Likhachev said. He paid tribute to the "heroic work" of the more than 600,000 technicians, troops, firefighters, construction workers and doctors from across the Soviet Union who worked to contain the aftermath 40 years ago.

He said these "liquidators" had constructed the concrete sarcophagus built to limit radioactive emissions, which has since been covered by the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, the steel arch now covering the site.

Advertisement Advertisement

In Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, people paid tribute to the victims of the 1986 disaster with moments of silence, exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and flower-laying ceremonies.

More than 62,000 of the people affected by the disaster currently live in Kiev, including 30,000 liquidators. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko welcomed them to the city hall to honour them.

Belarus, where 70% of the radioactive precipitation occurred, was worst hit by the disaster. At least a fifth of the former Soviet republic was contaminated, particularly the Gomel region in the south, where large areas were contaminated with Caesium 137 and Strontium 90.

Politicians, military officers and civilians marked the day in Belarus. Representatives of the embassies of Ukraine and Russia laid wreaths, the Foreign Ministry in Minsk reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

Exiled Belarusian activists opposed to the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko held events in neighbouring countries. Irina Suchi, co-founder of the Ecodom environmental group accused the Minsk government of carrying on as though everything had returned to normal.

"But there are no adequate controls," she told dpa. Suchi called for tests on the soil and food products to check radiation levels. She said that around 100 environmental organizations had been shut down or forced into exile.

"Over the entire 40 years, they have never told the population how to act when they live in a contaminated region," she said.
Mali's defence minister has been killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital Bamako.

Multiple news outlets reported the death of Sadio Camara, part of a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist militants and separatists carried out across the country.

State TV confirmed the death several hours later, saying he died of wounds received while engaging with the attackers. Reports say the head of the military junta, Gen Assimi Goita, was moved to a safe location after his home was targeted.

Advertisement Advertisement

Further north Russian mercenaries hired by Mali's military agreed to withdraw from Kidal after two days of clashes, the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) group said.

For years, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies by groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, and the FLA.

Quoting Camara's family and French media, news agencies said the attack - launched by militants affiliated with al-Qaeda in Kati on Saturday - also killed at least three of Camara's family members.

Government spokesman Issa Ousmane Coulibaly read out a statement on Sunday evening saying Camara had been killed when "a vehicle laden with explosives and driven by a suicide attacker targeted the minister's residence".

Advertisement Advertisement

It said he exchanged fire with the attackers and "succeeded in neutralising some of them". However, he was wounded and later died from his injuries in hospital.

The attack led to the collapse of Camara's residence and the destruction of a nearby mosque, where a number of worshippers were also killed.

Fighting on Saturday had been reported in the town, a major military base outside the capital, in Gao and Kidal in the north, and the central cities of Sevare and Mopti.

Reports suggest the assault by the separatists - who seek a breakaway ethnic Tuareg state in the north - was primarily focused on northern cities, while the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) had staged simultaneous attacks on multiple locations across the country.

Advertisement Advertisement

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali, told the BBC the incident appeared to be the "largest co-ordinated jihadist attack on Mali for years".

FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said Kidal had "not fallen completely" during those attacks, at the time, telling the BBC they remained in the city because "elements of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries" were still present.

On Sunday, clashes between the FLA and the Malian government resumed in Kidal.

Shortly after these reports, Ramadane said: "An agreement was reached between the Azawad forces and the Russian elements of the Africa Corps with a view to ensuring their secure withdrawal from the fighting."

Advertisement Advertisement

In later updates, he said they were "permanently withdrawing from Kidal" and "Kidal is now free". There has been no confirmation of these claims from Mali's military.

The group also claims to have taken control of the city, which served as an unofficial headquarters of the separatist movement for more than a decade before it was captured by Mali's army with the help of Russian mercenaries in late 2023.

An FLA field commander involved in the assault on Kidal told the BBC on Saturday the group had been preparing for the offensive "for months", adding: "Our main goal now is to control Gao and then Timbuktu will be easy to fall."

State broadcaster ORTM reported that 16 people, including civilians and soldiers, were injured in the attacks, which it said caused "limited damage".

Advertisement Advertisement

It also said several "terrorists" had been killed, adding that the situation is "completely under control" in all affected areas.

However, its military confirmed fighting was continuing in Kidal, as well as Kati and other parts of the country.

In a statement on Sunday, it said the violence would "not go unanswered".

It added that a nationwide alert had been issued, with large-scale patrols stepped up and checkpoints reinforced to tighten security.

Curfews have been imposed in some areas. In Bamako, there is a curfew from 21:00 to 06:00 local time (GMT), expected to end on Monday.

[BBC]

Following Saturday's widespread orchestrated attacks, UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the "acts of violence" as he expressed his "solidarity with the Malian people". West Africa's regional bloc, Ecowas, similarly condemned the attacks.

Advertisement Advertisement

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso left Ecowas after military coups brought their armies to power.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chair of the African Union Commission, said he was following the situation with "deep concern".

Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso's military ruler who seized power in a coup three years ago, condemned the attacks in Mali.

Traore is the president of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, all countries led by military governments that came to power following coups in recent years.

In a statement released on Sunday night, Traore described the attacks as "barbaric and inhumane" and said they were "backed by the enemies of the Sahel liberation struggle".

Advertisement Advertisement

He added that the attacks could not "shake the will of the valiant people of Sahel to live in freedom, peace and dignity".

The FLA has for years been fighting for the creation of its own Tuareg homeland in northern Mali, a large swathe of which it has effective control over.

Mali is currently ruled by a military junta led by Gen Assimi Goita, who first seized power in a coup in 2020, promising to restore security and push back armed groups.

The junta had popular support when it took power, promising to deal with the long-running security crisis prompted by the Tuareg rebellion in the north, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants.

Advertisement Advertisement

UN peacekeepers and French forces deployed to deal with the escalating insurgency left after the junta took over, and the military government hired Russian mercenaries to help tackle the insecurity.

However, the jihadist insurgency has continued and large parts of the north and east of the country remain outside government control.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologized to members of a Canadian community where a mass shooting took place earlier this year for not flagging the ChatGPT account of the shooter to law enforcement.

"The pain your community has endured is unimaginable," Altman wrote in a letter shared Friday on social media by the British Columbia Premier David Eby. "I have been thinking of you often over the past few months."

Eight people were killed in the Feb. 10 massacre in the small community of Tumbler Ridge in northeast British Columbia. Six people were fatally shot when 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, authorities said, and the shooter's mother and 11-year-old brother were killed at a nearby residence. Van Rootselaar died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Altman wrote in the letter, dated Thursday, that Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT account had been banned in June 2025  about eight months prior to the shooting.

"I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June," Altman said.

In February, OpenAI told CBS News that Van Rootselaar's account had been flagged last year by automated abuse detection tools and human investigators that identify potential misuses of ChatGPT for violent activities. OpenAI said the account was then banned for violating its usage policies.

OpenAI said that the company had weighed whether to flag the account to law enforcement, but had determined at the time that it did not pose an imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to others, failing to meet the threshold for referral.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy," OpenAI said in a statement to CBS News in February following the shooting. "We proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT, and we'll continue to support their investigation."

OpenAI says that ChatGPT is trained to discourage real-world harm, and is instructed to refuse to help when it detects an illicit intent. Users that indicate plans to harm others are flagged to human reviewers who determine whether a case poses an imminent threat of physical harm and should be referred to law enforcement, according to the company.

Altman wrote in his letter that OpenAI will remain focused on preventative efforts "to help ensure something like this never happens again."

"I want to express my deepest condolences to the entire community," Altman said. "No one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this."

Advertisement Advertisement

Earlier this week, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI after reviewing messages between ChatGPT and a Florida State University student accused in an April 2025 campus shooting that killed two people and wounded several others.

Uthmeier said his team determined that ChatGPT offered "significant advice" to the alleged shooter. His office is issuing subpoenas to OpenAI requesting records of the company's protocols for reporting possible crimes to law enforcement, and its handling of user threats.

Regarding the Florida shooting, an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News Tuesday that "after learning of the incident," it "identified a ChatGPT account believed to be associated with the suspect and proactively shared this information with law enforcement."
Sam Altman apologized to a community in Canada after a mass shooting by a banned ChatGPT user.

The OpenAI CEO said he is "deeply sorry" his company didn't alert police to the shooter's activity.

He promised to "help ensure something like this never happens again."

OpenAI boss Sam Altman has apologized to a Canadian community for failing to alert authorities about a banned ChatGPT account linked to a teenager who went on to commit a mass shooting.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the attack in January, killed eight people and injured dozens of others in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

Advertisement Advertisement

OpenAI said it banned 18-year-old Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT account because of problematic usage, but did not refer the matter to police because it did not meet its threshold of a credible or imminent plan for serious physical harm to others.

Altman said he was "deeply sorry," in a letter "to the community of Tumbler Ridge," which was published in full by a local news website.

"The pain your community has endured is unimaginable. I have been thinking of you often over the past few months," Altman wrote.

"When I spoke with Mayor Krakowka and Premier Eby about this tragedy, they conveyed the anger, sadness, and concern being felt across Tumbler Ridge," he continued. "We agreed a public apology was necessary, but that time was also needed to respect the community as you grieved. I share this letter with the understanding that everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time."

Advertisement Advertisement

Altman wrote that he could not imagine "anything worse" than losing a child. "My heart remains with the victims, their families, all members of the community, and the province of British Columbia."

He wrote that going forward, his company would work with all levels of government to ensure "something like this" never happens again.

ChatGPT's famously sycophantic personality has led some users down dark paths, leading OpenAI to revise how the chatbot behaves when asked about sensitive subjects like depression.

OpenAI is facing an ongoing lawsuit filed by the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine. The suit alleges ChatGPT "actively helped" Raine explore suicide methods over several months before he died. OpenAI previously told Business Insider that it was saddened by Raine's death and that ChatGPT includes safeguards.

Advertisement Advertisement

OpenAI said last year that it was working with mental health professionals to improve how ChatGPT responds to users who show signs of psychosis or mania, self-harm or suicide, or emotional attachment to the chatbot.

Read the original article on Business Insider
For the second week in a row a motorcyclist has died at a south Pierce County location on state Route 7 at Pilgrim Road, according to the Washington State Patrol.

That location is between Eatonville and Alder Lake Park.

About 9:20 p.m. Saturday, a 67-year-old man was headed north on his motorcycle in the area of Pilgrim Road while two vehicles were headed in the opposite direction.

Troopers say he struck one of those vehicles and then came to a stop on the northbound shoulder. Dennis A. Corrigan of Spanaway died at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

The two other drivers stopped in the southbound lane. Neither driver  one from Texas and another from Lacey  was hurt, according to the State Patrol.

A 19-year-old motorcyclist died in the same area last week.

Trooper Kameron Watts said Sunday there is a sharp curve in the area and that drivers need to slow down for it.

Slowing down is a great measure to take, he said.

Saturday nights crash remains under investigation, according to the State Patrol.

Motorcyclist, 19, killed in Saturday wreck in south Pierce County, WSP says
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents Association Dinner minutes after it began on Saturday, April 25, as attendees took cover on the floor.

USA TODAY reporters inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel say they heard loud bangs that sounded like gunshots and chants of "USA." Members of the press in attendance dropped to the floor.

Trump was attending the dinner for the first time in more than a decade  and his first time ever as president. He has repeatedly skipped the annual event, which brings together Washingtons most powerful and the reporters who cover them.

Advertisement Advertisement

More: Trump evacuated from White House press dinner. Live updates

Watch the moment that the president is evacuated from WHCD

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump rushed from White House Correspondents dinner
Foundation is a startup building general-purpose humanoid robots.

Two of Foundation's robots were sent to Ukraine for a demo of a supply transport scenario.

CEO Sankaet Pathak said he sees humanoids becoming valuable for precision operations in warfare.

Humanoid robots rather than flesh-and-blood soldiers could one day take on some of the most dangerous jobs in war  and one startup is already testing that idea in Ukraine.

Sankaet Pathak, cofounder and CEO of Foundation, said there's a "moral imperative" to put humanoid robots on the front lines rather than in people's kitchens.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I thought all of this stuff around home use was kind of stupid," Pathak told Business Insider. "I feel like people can make the coffee and fold their laundry. I was like, 'We need to do something else.'"

Advancements in drone technology and robotics are now central to the arsenal of modern warfare, enabling precision attacks at scale and at lower cost; however, that capability hasn't always translated into clean, risk-free operations.

In the age of smart weapons and AI-enabled, autonomous systems, modern warfare still carries a high risk of civilian casualties, especially in dense urban environments.

Foundation wants to deploy its robots for reconnaissance and supply logistics. Foundation

Pathak said the current approach to war is often "brute force," either risking soldiers' lives or destroying a building to eliminate a single target.

Advertisement Advertisement

He believes that in the future, humanoids could execute "surgical" operations, such as extracting a target. Near-term, they could support military operations such as reconnaissance and logistics.

Foundation said it recently conducted a test that could pave the way for those missions.

In February, the startup sent two of its Phantom robots to an undisclosed location in Ukraine for a closed pilot demonstration.

"You can hear bombs go off. You can hear electricity get cut. You're actively in a warzone," Pathak said of Foundation's visit to the country, which for years has been fighting off a Russian invasion. "Most of the places are a battlefield as soon as you start going out of Kyiv."

Advertisement Advertisement

The CEO said the Phantom test solely focused on "supply pickup" to demonstrate that bipedal robots can effectively "carry supplies from outside to inside and avoid a soldier getting shot at."

There was "significant interest based on what has been communicated" to the company, Pathak said. A spokesperson for Foundation said the startup has also secured a $24 million contract with the Pentagon. Eric Trump, the president's son, was appointed chief strategy advisor in March.

Humanoid troops aren't ready for deployment

Pathak said he didn't want to "overstate" the Ukraine pilot. A large gap still exists between a humanoid that can slowly clean a test kitchen and one that can use an M4 carbine in a battlefield firefight.

Battery life and durability are among the constraints. Pathak said robot soldiers need longer battery life and must withstand water, dust, and shock.

Pathak said the test demonstrated that bipedal robots can be used for certain applications. Courtesy Foundation

Reliable manipulation  the ability for a robot to pick up an item and do something with it, like pulling the trigger on a rifle  also remains a major technological bottleneck.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Right now, the big engineering hurdle is how do you build a highly-dextrous hand that is reliable, easier to manufacture, isn't too massive, and isn't too expensive," Pathak said.

The CEO offered ambitious predictions for overcoming these challenges, saying that key engineering hurdles could be solved within a few years and that humanoid robots could carry out complex missions, such as target extraction, within five to 10 years.

Beyond the technical questions, ethical dilemmas surrounding autonomous weaponry, including concerns of accountability when humans are no longer in the loop, are also a consideration.

Pathak said that while there isn't a simple line that can be drawn around autonomy, in ordinary circumstances, "you probably want a human in the loop before any kind of kill action is invoked." Many Western militaries have made that a priority amid rapid technological advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, though the extent remains an active debate.

Advertisement Advertisement

"So if you actually need to shoot a gun, you need a human to really sign off, which is what happens with drones today as well," he said. "But then there are exceptions to those cases as well, like an anti-drone gun or the Iron Dome. Those, you cannot wait for human reaction times because the alternative is 100% certainty of fatality."

The defense industry at large pushes robotics and autonomous weapons as a matter of national security. Anduril cofounder Palmer Luckey has repeatedly said that the United States needs to be ahead of China on AI weapons. The top US admiral in the Pacific said this week that America's AI technology lead over China is only six months to a year at best.

Unlike many other companies, Foundation has been particularly outspoken on using humanoids on the battlefield.

"Courage comes in limited supply," Pathak said, while arguing that China is not having the same debate over military humanoids and that the US, Europe, and their allies need to be on alert. "If you build a utopia," he said, "you have to be able to defend it."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Monday in a case that could reshape how law enforcement uses cellphone location data to investigate crimes, testing the boundaries of Fourth Amendment protections in the digital age.

At issue is the constitutionality of so-called geofence warrants, which allow police to compel tech companies like Google to identify users whose devices were present in a defined geographic area during a specific time window  without first identifying a suspect, per SCOTUSblog. The case stems from a 2019 bank robbery in Midlothian, Virginia.

Chatrie vs. United States involves Okello Chatrie, convicted of robbing a credit union at gunpoint and fleeing with approximately $195,000. Police obtained a geofence warrant from Google for location data in the area around the bank during the robbery. The data helped narrow down devices, leading investigators to Chatrie after further steps, including deanonymization.

Advertisement Advertisement

Lower courts split on the issue. The Fourth Circuit reviewed the case en banc and divided evenly, while the Fifth Circuit has ruled in a separate case that such warrants are inherently overbroad and violate the Fourth Amendment, per The Brennan Center.

Geofence warrants work by Proponents say the tool is valuable for no-suspect investigations, helping police generate leads when traditional methods fall short. Critics argue it amounts to a digital dragnet that sweeps up location information on potentially hundreds or thousands of innocent people, raising serious privacy concerns.

In Carpenter v. United States (2018), the Supreme Court held that police generally need a warrant to obtain extended cell-site location information (CSLI) because individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such data. The Chatrie case asks whether similar protections apply to app-based location data and whether geofence warrants satisfy the Fourth Amendments requirements for particularity and probable cause.

Petitioners contend the warrants function like prohibited general warrants, requiring companies to search vast troves of user data without targeting a specific individual. They also question whether users truly voluntarily share location data when prompted by apps.

Advertisement Advertisement

The government maintains the warrants are lawful and supported by probable cause tied to the crime scene and timeframe. A decision is expected by late June or early July.

Google announced in 2023 that it would The outcome could affect not only geofence practices but also other reverse search techniques used by law enforcement, such as keyword warrants or requests targeting specific locations or behaviors across user data.

Legal experts describe the case as one of the most significant digital privacy matters the court has taken up in years.
New York City Police Department (NYPD) detectives arrested Zahir Davis, 18, Friday night after an urgent search for the suspect who gunned down a child at a Queens playground earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced in an X post Saturday.

Davis was charged with murder in the April 16 killing of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre, Tisch wrote.

Officials said Davis fled to Jamaica after Pierre was shot but returned to New York Friday, where he was immediately arrested by NYPD detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Advertisement Advertisement

Dramatic Video Shows Nypd Tackling Man Who Threw Ignited Device Near Nyc Mayors Home During Protest Clash

Authorities said Pierre was shot at 6:15 p.m. April 16 near Merrick and Baisley boulevards in Queens. The next day, the NYPD released photos of a suspect wanted in the killing.

Social media video of the incident showed a male repeatedly striking a young boy with his hands before opening fire toward the child. A crowd that had formed around the pair immediately dispersed after gunshots rang out.

Read On The Fox News App

Mamdani's Past 'Defund The Police' Stance Resurfaces After Deadly Manhattan Shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

New Yorkers, most notably former Mayor Eric Adams, harshly criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani for failing to immediately respond to the shooting.

"A 15-year-old kid was beaten and shot to death at a Southeast Queens playground yesterday. And somehow this isnt the top story," Adams wrote in an April 17 post on X.

"Where is everyone else, including NYC Mayor Mamdani? Outrage shouldnt depend on zip code. Every child deserves protection."

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani's immediate reaction to the child's death. (Getty Images)

Mamdani held a closed-door meeting with community leaders to discuss the incident on April 20, he told reporters.

He later addressed the shooting publicly during an unrelated news conference Wednesday for Earth Day.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I shared my thoughts on this the other evening, where I spoke about the fact that this was heartbreaking. It was heartbreaking, not just for what it means for his family and his friends, I know it was also heartbreaking for so many New Yorkers to watch this video and see others simply witness what unfolded as opposed to step[ping] up to address it," Mamdani said.

"That is also our responsibility as a city government. I know that I have full confidence in the NYPD's abilities to hold the individual responsible accountable."

Illegal Migrant Indicted On Murder Charges After Woman Is Burned To Death On Subway

A woman and boy embrace near a makeshift memorial for 15-year-old Jaden Pierre, who was fatally shot, during a prayer vigil near the area of the fatal shooting at the Roy Wilkins Park in the Queens borough of New York City April 20, 2026.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

Mamdani did not attend a vigil Monday organized for Pierre but said he was setting up a time to meet with Pierre's family.

Fox News Digital contacted the NYPD and Mamdani's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.





Original article source: Suspect who fled US arrested in caught-on-camera killing of 15-year-old in NYC park
Alleged gunman wrote that he expected more security at White House Correspondents' Dinner 03:52

The White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting suspect wrote a "manifesto" that stated he planned to target Trump administration officials, "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest," according to a copy obtained by CBS News.

Cole Allen, 31, wrote that law enforcement, hotel employees and guests weren't his intended targets but that he would still attack them to get to the administration, adding: "I really hope it doesn't come to that."

Advertisement Advertisement

Allen charged a security checkpoint outside the dinner, armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. Mr. Trump and other administration officials were quickly escorted out of the event, which was canceled shortly thereafter.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that Allen's brother, alarmed by the email he and other family members received, called police in Connecticut to alert them Saturday night.

Authorities said they found other writings at his home in Torrance, California, and in his 10th-floor hotel room at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being held.

"I may have given a lot of people a surprise today"

Advertisement Advertisement

Throughout the email, his tone was matter-of-fact, and at times ironic. "Hello everybody!" Allen wrote. "So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today."

"I apologize to my parents for saying I had an interview without specifying it was for 'Most Wanted,'" he wrote.

He also apologized to colleagues and his students for telling them he had a personal emergency, and said he expected that by the time anyone read the email, he probably would need emergency care, referring to any potential injuries as "self-inflicted status."

Officials "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest"  except one

Advertisement Advertisement

Allen said he planned to carry out the attack because he didn't want the "crimes" of the administration to "coat [his] hands." He didn't refer to Mr. Trump or the event by name, but said he intended to target administration officials "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest."

But "not including Mr. Patel," he said, referencing the FBI director who was also at Saturday's dinner.

He said that he wouldn't target Secret Service, Capitol Police or National Guard troops unless necessary. "I hope they are wearing body armor," he wrote. A Secret Service officer who was shot was wearing a bulletproof vest and was released from the hospital Sunday.

Allen wrote: "In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)."

Advertisement Advertisement

Rebuttals to hypothetical objections

Allen's writing addressed a series of objections that his readers might have had, with "rebuttals" for each.

"As a half-black, half-white person, you shouldn't be the one doing this," he wrote as one hypothetical objection to carrying out the attack. "Rebuttal: I don't see anyone else picking up the slack."

Another hypothetical objection Allen raised in the email was that as a Christian, he should "turn the other cheek."

"Rebuttal," he wrote. "Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed." He then went on to list several anonymous hypothetical victims who have experienced hardship, and in some cases he blamed the administration for those hardships.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I don't expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it," he said, referencing the dinner.

Allen criticizes security at hotel

"PS," he continued, "Ok now that all the sappy stuff is done, what the hell is the Secret Service doing?  No damn security. Not in transport. Not in the hotel. Not in the event."

He said that if he had been an Iranian agent, he could have brought in a machine gun, which he referred to as "Ma Deuce," and no one would have noticed.

Because the Washington Hilton remained a functioning hotel with numerous public spaces during the dinner, the entire building wasn't secured by the Secret Service, just the specific areas where the dinner was held.

Advertisement Advertisement

Family says he referenced plans to do "something" to fix issues

After the attempted attack, Allen's sister told investigators that he often used "radical" rhetoric, sometimes talking about doing "something" to fix perceived problems in society, federal law and White House officials told CBS News.

More than 2,500 people attended Saturday's gala, which celebrates the First Amendment. Mr. Trump has declined his invitation each year as president except this one. Mr. Trump has said he wants to reschedule the dinner within the next 30 days.
Investing.com -- Taiwans diplomatic efforts are facing an escalating campaign of interference, with Taipei accusing Beijing of orchestrating the cancellation of President Lai Ching-tes recent overseas trip.

Taiwans foreign ministry reports that authorities in the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar abruptly revoked flight permits for the presidential aircraft last week, marking the first time a sitting Taiwanese leader has been forced to scrap an entire diplomatic mission due to airspace access denial.

Beijing has denied direct pressure, but it publicly lauded the nations for blocking the transit, signaling a potential new phase in its strategy to isolate the island on the global stage.

Authoritarian forces face pushback

Despite the setback, Taiwan has doubled down on its engagement efforts. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived in Eswatini this weekend to serve as President Lais special envoy for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati IIIs accession.

Advertisement Advertisement

In a statement released upon his arrival, Lin emphasized that his delegation had "overcame all obstacles" to reach the kingdom, vowing that Taipeis diplomatic reach would not be stifled by what he termed "authoritarian forces."

The mission serves as a symbolic, if difficult, reaffirmation of Taiwans right to maintain sovereign relations with its 12 remaining diplomatic allies.

The incident has drawn swift condemnation from the international community. The United States led the criticism of Beijings tactics, with the European Union, Britain, France, and Germany subsequently expressing concern over the implications for freedom of transit and diplomatic norms.

The move reflects a broader hardening of positions in the Taiwan Strait, where Beijings assertion of sovereignty over the democratically governed island is increasingly manifesting in logistical and operational pressure intended to curb Taiwans international visibility.

Market implications of heightened cross-strait tension

For global investors, the diplomatic standoff highlights the growing risk of "gray zone" tactics, where political and logistical maneuvers, rather than outright military escalation, are used to disrupt the status quo.

Advertisement Advertisement

As Beijing tests the resolve of Taipeis allies and the patience of the international community, the potential for further disruptions to regional logistics and diplomatic travel remains elevated.

Taiwan plays a critical role in the global semiconductor and technology supply chains, but any sustained campaign of isolation could introduce new layers of uncertainty into an already fragile geopolitical landscape.

Related articles

Taiwan defiant as diplomatic mission overcomes airspace blockade

Citi pushes back Fed rate cuts to May after blowout January jobs report

This sector is 'poised for a big, beautiful year': Truist
TAIPEI, April 26 (Reuters) - Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived in Eswatini saying Taipei would not be held back by "authoritarian forces", after the government accused China of pressuring three African states to block overflight permission for President Lai Ching-te.

Taiwan last 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 12 diplomatic allies.

It marked the first time a Taiwan president cancelled an entire foreign trip due to denial of airspace access, representing what appeared to be a new Chinese strategy to curb the islands international engagement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Late on Saturday Lin posted a picture on Facebook of himself getting off a private jet upon arrival in the small southern African kingdom, formerly known as Swaziland.

"In that moment, I felt the deep friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini that transcends distance, and I became even more convinced that Taiwan will not be held back by authoritarian forces," he wrote.

Lai, in a video message on Sunday to King Mswati III for the 40th anniversary of his accession, said the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is a "sovereign country" and belongs to the world.

"Our 23 million people have the right to engage with the international community. The greater the external pressure we face, the more courage and resolve we have," he said in English.

Advertisement Advertisement

China denied pressuring the three countries but praised them for blocking flight permission.

Lin did not offer details on his trip, saying only that his delegation "overcame all obstacles" to get to Eswatini in his capacity as Lai's special envoy.

China says democratically governed Taiwan is one of its provinces, with no right to the trappings of a state. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

The United States last week criticised China's actions, while the European Union, Britain, France and Germany also expressed concern.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Deepa Babington and William Mallard)
Top government leaders in Texas responded after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner and attendees dropped to the floor after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton hotel.

The White House Correspondents Association was set to host its annual dinner on Saturday night, April 25, celebrating the First Amendment, but the event was canceled due to reports of shots being fired in rooms above the ballroom where the event was held.

Trump, the first lady and all cabinet secretaries in attendance were evacuated and have been reported to be safe.

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.



Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor. Agents draw their guns after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Katie Miller and Stephen Miller are escorted 1after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A Secret Service agent takes cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is escorted after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. People react after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents moving to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were heard as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton in the middle of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after loud bangs were heard, in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (C) is escorted out of a safe room after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. Agents escort people out of the Washington Hilton after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. People take cover after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate the building after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026. Agents escort people after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned from in the past. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is escorted by federal agents after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. The president is making his first appearance at the event which he has shunned in the past. Guests rush out of the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. An agent draws his gun after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump was evacuated from the dinner, which he was attending for the first time while in office. A Secret Service officer directs people outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. President Trump is attending the annual gala of the political press for the first time while in office. Guests walk away from the Washington Hilton amid a heavy police presence after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Loud bangs were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner. Attendees exit the venue after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire. FBI agents stand outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. Shots were fired as US President Donald Trump attended a press dinner in Washington on April 25 night, witnesses and AFP reporters confirmed. Loud bangs were heard and guests at the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner scrambled to hide under tables. Tactical teams with guns drawn took position on the stage where Trump had been sitting before he was evacuated. A screen grab taken from a video filmed by an AFP reporter shows armed agents climbing over chairs as they move to the stage after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) stands outside the Washington Hilton after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. US Marshalls walk through the lobby of the Washington Hilton after shots were heard during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. FBI Director Kash Patel (C) walks past after shots were reportedly fired during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside on, April 25, 2026. The scene from outside the Washington Hilton as some attendees of the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner evacuate after a shooting inside, on April 25, 2026. Trump officials evacuate White House press dinner amid reported shooting 1 of 31 Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a possible shooter opened fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026. President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said a shooter was apprehended in a social media post.



Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated out of the White House Correspondents Association Dinner minutes after it began, as attendees took cover on the floor.

Chief of communications for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, said on social media that one person is in Secret Service custody.

Advertisement Advertisement

No injuries have been reported as of 8:45 p.m. Central Time.

Prayers have been answered for the safety of President Trump, the First Lady, cabinet members, and all guests at the event.



Many thanks to the U.S. Secret Service for their swift, decisive action to neutralize the threat and protect all in attendance. May God continue to bless  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 26, 2026

Gov. Greg Abbott: Thanks to Secret Service for swift, decisive action

This event sparked several high-ranking Texas leaders to take to social media to comment on the situation. Chiefly among them was Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who said prayers had been answered with the president's and all attendees' safety.

"Many thanks to the U.S. Secret Service for their swift, decisive action to neutralize the threat and protect all in attendance," read Abbott's post. "May God continue to bless and protect our great nation."

Thanking God that our President, First Lady, and attendees of the WH Correspondents dinner are seemingly safe and the suspect has been taken out. As we continue to monitor, may God bless and protect our country and her leaders.  Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) April 26, 2026

Other leaders include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who passed along his prayers, and state House Speaker Dustin Burrows.

Advertisement Advertisement

"As we continue to monitor, may God bless and protect our country and her leaders," read Burrows' social media post.

The situation is still unfolding with the event being canceled and rescheduled for a later date. President Trump said on social media that he will speak on the matter from the White House later tonight.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Texas Gov. Abbott, AG Paxton respond after DC press dinner scare
King Charles III may well be channeling his mother when he arrives in Washington April 27.

During her record-setting reign, Queen Elizabeth II met with 13 sitting U.S. presidents  more than any other person from anywhere, ever  and sometimes at moments when the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom was strained.

Now that is her sons task in his first visit to the former colonies since he was crowned, arriving amid rifts over the war in Iran and the future of NATO.

Advertisement Advertisement

What are Elizabeths lessons?

Here are four of them.

Today's troubles? Ignore them

A constitutional monarch doesn't have the power to negotiate the role of the United States in the Western alliance or the deployment of British forces in the Strait of Hormuz. Those are the problematic tasks of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

So why get entangled in todays troubles?

Elizabeth arrived in Washington on her first visit as queen in the aftermath of Britains effort to take over the Suez Canal, a misadventure that not only failed but also enraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

But theres no evidence the queen and the president talked about Suez during her visit. Instead, they fondly remembered old times  when she was a teenaged princess and he was the U.S. general sent to London to help win World War II  and they discussed the breaking news of the day, the Soviet launch of Sputnik.

That was a challenge to U.S. superiority in space on which their two nations were aligned.

Advertisement Advertisement

Years later, in 2003, she greeted President George W. Bush to London amid massive protests over the war in Iraq, an issue that was consuming politics in both countries.

Would they have talked about that?

No, a senior palace adviser said, startled at the very idea and adding for emphasis, No, no, no, no.

No need for that. Leave it to 10 Downing Street.

Bring the bling

The regalia of royalty has long enchanted millions of Americans  including Trump, who has added a palace-like layer of gold and gilt to the Oval Office. The huge new ballroom he has ordered built is poised to dwarf the grand dining halls at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

Advertisement Advertisement

On her formal encounters with presidents and other foreign leaders, Elizabeth would bedazzle with her tiaras, earrings and necklaces, heavy with history and laden with priceless jewels.

President Donald Trump, (2nd R) First Lady Melania Trump, (R) King Charles III and Queen Camilla (L) arrive for the State Banquet hosted by King Charles III and members of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.

Charles will be sporting medals, not gems, of course. But watch Queen Camilla to display some of the Crown Jewels.

The gifts the royal couple will present Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be another opportunity to use the British store of treasures to impress.

Take the long view. Like 250 years

The king has the serendipitous timing of arriving as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches. No one seems to mind that the Declaration was directed against his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, King George III, who was denounced in it as a tyrant who had "destroyed the lives of our people."

Advertisement Advertisement

Instead, that shared history gives Charles an opening to emphasize the shared language and values of the United States and the United Kingdom.

A half-century ago, Elizabeth had visited the White House during the Bicentennial celebrations.

For her, that was a chance to meet a new president, Gerald Ford, in the wake of the Watergate affair that had engulfed his predecessor, Richard Nixon.

Concern about the scandal and its repercussions had prompted the British to impose a certain diplomatic distance for a time. There was even a behind-the-scenes debate in London over whether the queen should visit during the Bicentennial, with the suggestion she might send son Charles instead.

Advertisement Advertisement

That is, if Nixon survived. He didnt, solving that problem.

If all else fails, wait. Another president will be along soon

Monarchs dont have terms or term limits, although Charles reign will certainly be shorter than his mothers seven decades. He was 73 years old when he was crowned in 2022. Two years ago, he revealed that he was battling cancer.

In contrast, presidents do have sell-by dates, and the end of Trumps time in the White House is now two and a half years away. At that point, Charles or his heir will presumably still be ensconced at Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth understood that. When President Lyndon Johnson rejected entreaties to visit London, she bided her time until a friendlier Richard Nixon was inaugurated. After a prickly relationship with President Jimmy Carter, she developed the closest presidential relationship she had with successor Ronald Reagan.

Advertisement Advertisement

She was generally careful not to let her relationship with the current president create complications with whomever would be next in line.

The exception was when British officials searched their files for dirt on Bill Clinton, who had been a Rhodes scholar in Oxford during the Vietnam war. It was a not-so-subtle effort to help President George H.W. Bush defeat his Democratic challenger in 1992.

Clinton won and never forgot, although he insisted that he didnt hold a grudge.

President Bill Clinton talks with Elizabeth II along with the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea at the Garden Entrance of Buckingham Palace 14 December, 2000 in London, England. The Clintons had tea with the Queen as they were wrapping up their three day trip to Ireland, North Ireland and the UK.

When the queen visited in 1976, British officials discussed whether to invite Carter, then the likely Democratic nominee, to the reciprocal dinner at the British Embassy to meet her. But the White House made it clear Ford was against that idea, and they didn't.

Advertisement Advertisement

This time, watch for Charles to reach out, however diplomatically, to Democrats.

Because presidents come and go. The British monarchy has been around for more than a thousand years, and counting.

Susan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY, is the author of The Queen and Her Presidents, published in April by Harper.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Queen Elizabeth's lessons for King Charles on handling presidents
On this episode of "Tiempo," we talk to a trailblazing Latina about her new memoir and take a deeper dive into President Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship.

Rossana Rosado is the current commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and just penned a new memoir titled "Bronx Attitude."

She is also the former secretary of state of New York and was previously the first female editor-in-chief, CEO, and publisher of "El Diario," the country's largest Spanish-language newspaper.

Advertisement Advertisement

The book retraces her personal and professional journey from her upbringing in a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx to her high-level career in New York media and public service.

This episode also examines President Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the landmark case challenging Trump's 2025 executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and certain temporary visa holders.

The president wants to eliminate birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court's final decision is expected early this summer.

Francisca Fajana joins Tanya Rivero to talk about the change that could impact thousands, especially Latinos, with the loss of citizenship.

Tiempo with Joe Torres airs Sunday mornings at 11:30 on Channel 7, WABC-TV in New York City.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIEMPO PODCAST



Discover more podcasts from abc7NY here

WATCH Tiempo on our Connected TV apps for Fire, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV. Click here to learn more.

MORE: Watch more episodes of Tiempo here!

Tiempo airs Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 7.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Sunday said that he will support Kevin Warshs nomination to be chair of the Federal Reserve after receiving assurances from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that the criminal investigation into current Chair Jerome Powell and the central banks renovations in Washington, D.C., has been closed.

Tillis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, had previously said he would withhold his approval for Warsh until the criminal investigation was closed. He last week urged the DOJ to wrap up its investigation.

I have been clear from the start: the U.S. Attorneys Office criminal investigation into Chair Powell was a serious threat to the Feds independence, and it needed to end before I could support Kevin Warshs confirmation. I welcome the Inspector Generals investigation. This is a necessary and appropriate measure, and I have confidence it will be conducted thoroughly and professionally, Tillis wrote Sunday in a post on the social platform X.

Advertisement Advertisement

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that the criminal investigation had closed and that an inspector general investigation into Powell and the banks renovations would take place instead.

The IG has the authority to hold the Federal Reserve accountable to American taxpayers. I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas, Pirro said in her Friday announcement.

Tillis, in his post, wrote that he takes the DOJ at its word that any appeal of a recent ruling from a judge blocking subpoenas the DOJ is seeking from Powell will be based on legal principles.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said the government did not come close to convincing him to change his ruling that had blocked two subpoenas served on the Feds board of governors seeking records from the banks $2.5 billion renovation project.

Advertisement Advertisement

I take the Department of Justice at its word: the investigation is closed, and any appeal of Judge Boasbergs ruling will be with respect to legal principles and not for the purpose of reissuing subpoenas. Only a criminal referral from the inspector general would cause a reopening of the investigation, Tillis continued in his post.

With these assurances, I look forward to supporting Kevin Warshs confirmation. He is an outstanding nominee, and it is time for the Federal Reserve to move beyond this distraction and return its full attention to its mission.

The Senate Banking Committee is set to advance Warshs nomination this week.

Ella Lee contributed

Advertisement Advertisement

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.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Sunday he will support Kevin Warshs nomination to chair the Federal Reserve now that the Justice Department has dropped an investigation into current central bank chief Jerome Powell, clearing the way for Warsh to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

I have been clear from the start: the U.S. Attorneys Office criminal investigation into Chair Powell was a serious threat to the Feds independence, and it needed to end before I could support Kevin Warshs confirmation, Tillis said in a statement Sunday.

The Justice Department moved Friday to drop the investigation into Powell, which centered around cost overruns related to renovations of the Feds Washington headquarters. The move came after a federal judge, James Boasberg, quashed subpoenas the DOJ issued to the Fed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Tillis, who is retiring after his term ends this year, said he welcomes a separate investigation being conducted by the Fed inspector general, calling it a necessary and appropriate measure.

I take the Department of Justice at its word: the investigation is closed, and any appeal of Judge Boasbergs ruling will be with respect to legal principles and not for the purpose of reissuing subpoenas, he wrote. Only a criminal referral from the inspector general would cause a reopening of the investigation.

In an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Tillis said he has had a number of discussions with the Department of Justice," and officials "have made it very clear that the current investigation is completely and fully ended."

"We worked a lot over the weekend to make sure that we were very clear that we had the assurances from the DOJ that I needed to feel like they were not using the DOJ as a weapon to threaten the independence of the Fed," Tillis told host Kristen Welker.

Advertisement Advertisement

He said he expects the DOJ to appeal Boasbergs ruling quashing the DOJ's subpoenas, but that he has been assured "that that appeal is simply to challenge the basis" for his rulings. "It would not in any way constitute a basis for reopening the investigation," he said.

The Senate Banking Committee, where Tillis has a decisive vote, is set to advance Warshs nomination Wednesday. Tillis has praised Warshs qualifications for the Fed.

He is an outstanding nominee, and it is time for the Federal Reserve to move beyond this distraction and return its full attention to its mission, he said Sunday.
Severe weather is expected to sweep across much of the country through the early part of next week, with the potential for everything from flash floods, tornadoes and hail, to strong winds, wildfires and snow.

According to the National Weather Service, a "very active Spring weather pattern" is forecasted for the central U.S. through Sunday, April 26, and into early next week, beginning with strong winds and large hail threatening Kansas and Oklahoma.

"A complex weather scenario will unfold today into tonight, with higher confidence in the threat for very large hail and tornadoes tonight across Kansas," the NWS Storm Prediction Center posted to X on Sunday. "A conditional severe threat will extend southward into Oklahoma."

Storm chaser photographers Brad Mack (R) and Gene Blevins take photos of lightning from a tornadic super cell near Apache City, Okla. on April 13, 2012. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected Saturday afternoon and evening over central and eastern Kansas, central and eastern Nebraska and central and north central Oklahoma, the National Weather Service said.

Flash floods threaten Midwest

Excessive rainfall could also lead to flash floods. Sunday advisories are in effect for eastern Kansas, western Missouri, southern Iowa and Nebraska. Come Monday, April 27, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois  including urban areas around Chicago  face a "slight risk for excessive rainfall," the NWS reported.

Advertisement Advertisement

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said that Monday's risk zone will extend nearly 1,000 miles, from Mississippi to Wisconsin, with the "greatest threat for damaging storms" hovering above the St. Louis region.

The NWS is also issuing a winter weather advisory for mountain ranges in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, which could see half a foot to a foot of snow in some of the higher elevations.

Pueblo, Colorado's weather forecast office is predicting a "quick blast of wintry weather late (Sunday night) through Monday morning, with a mix of fog, freezing drizzle and light snow." Monday morning commuters should be cautious, as ice is expected to build up on roads.

Watch: Close-up footage shows destructive, massive tornado sweeping through Oklahoma town

Tornado advisory into Monday

Sunday's storm system is expected to move eastward on Monday, April 27, into Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and other areas within the Middle-Mississippi Valley, bringing with it the potential for "large hail, strong to severe winds, and strong tornadoes," according to the NWS.

Advertisement Advertisement

"A few long-track, particularly dangerous, tornadoes are possible," The Weather Channel noted. It added in a separate post for April 27, "Tornadoes could reach up to EF3 or even higher in intensity, and the threat lasts into the overnight hours, so anyone facing the severe threat should have a reliable way to get alerts when they go to bed."

Powerful tornadoes injured 10 people and damaged homes as severe storms hit Enid and Braman, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is still recovering after a series of tornadoes left 10 people injured and multiple homes damaged across Braman and Enid, home to Vance Air Force Base, on Thursday, April 23.

In a post on X at the time, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt urged residents in the affected area to "stay weather aware, follow local warnings, and take shelter immediately when directed."

Extreme fire risk also in effect

Meanwhile, eastern New Mexico and far west Texas are also under an extreme critical fire weather warning. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are expected to persist through Sunday night, coupled with low humidity and high temperatures.

Advertisement Advertisement

A red flag warning will remain in effect through 9 p.m. local time on Sunday, according to the ABC affiliate in Amarillo, Texas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dangerous severe weather predicted for areas across the US. See where.
TURNERS FALLS  Chance favors the prepared mind. It was true for Louis Pasteur, who said it in 1854, and its just as true today for the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team.

Last Wednesday, to prep for worst case scenarios, rescue team members jumped into the churning waters of the Connecticut River, training just below the Turners Falls Dam in Montague. The river conditions during this training provided standing waves and fast-moving current, similar to what responders might encounter during severe weather in the Pioneer Valley.

The three-day training brought together 12 local first responders for a Federal Emergency Management Agency swiftwater and floodwater boat operator course, conducted by Water Training Resources, of Wallingford, Connecticut.

Advertisement Advertisement

By the end of the training, these responders will be confident but also confident when the time arises, said Zach Brown, lead instructor for Water Training Resources. Its not uncommon to have two- or three-foot high standing waves in a city street. Obviously, we cant flood a city street or have that available to us, so we capitalize on the snowmelt and all the rainwater as of late to give us some pretty good conditions.

The river training followed directly on a separate multiday swiftwater rescue technician course held at Zoar Gap on the Deerfield River, allowing participants to build from swimming and survival skills into full boat-based rescue operations.

The program was funded through the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Committee, which fosters regional investment in technical rescue capabilities.

By the final day in Turners Falls, crews were operating in more dynamic water, focusing on boat control, crew coordination and emergency procedures. Evolutions included ferrying across current, high-speed J-turn maneuvers, and deliberate boat swamping  an exercise in which crews intentionally filled the bow with water in a standing wave, then worked to recover and drain the vessel while maintaining control. Instructors noted that these scenarios are not theoretical.

Advertisement Advertisement

For Technical Rescue Team Director Daryl Springman, the training reflects a broader shift in the regions risk profile. Weve seen an increase in severe weather events, and part of our mission is to be prepared to respond here in Western Massachusetts with training and equipment that other agencies may not have, he said. These are the types of incidents  natural disasters or man-made situations  that require a technical rescue response.

The Connecticut River site, with its relatively shallow sections and fast-moving current, allowed crews to operate jet-powered rescue boats in challenging conditions without unnecessary risk. For the team, the focus extends beyond basic boat handling. Recovery from failure  whether a swamped vessel, a missed maneuver or rapidly changing water conditions  is treated as an essential skill.

That emphasis has taken on added urgency in recent years. Severe storms in July 2023 brought widespread flooding to parts of Western Massachusetts, underscoring both the frequency and impact of fast-moving weather events. In those scenarios, response times are critical, and outside resources might be delayed by damaged infrastructure or competing demands.

Springman pointed to pending state legislation aimed at strengthening technical rescue capabilities as part of that broader effort. Situations like these highlight why its important to move forward with the technical rescue bill, he said, referring to proposals currently before the Massachusetts Legislature.

Advertisement Advertisement

For the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team, the goal is to maintain a level of readiness that allows the region to respond quickly and effectively when those conditions develop. Training in places like Turners Falls  and earlier at Zoar Gap  helps ensure that capability is in place before the next call comes.

more news from Western Massachusetts

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Rep. Jamie Raskin says "I certainly hope" this is a turning point in DHS funding standoff 06:57

The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on April 26, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We're back now with Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin. Congressman, you were there last night.

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. JAMIE RASKIN: Yes, indeed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: One of the guests in the ballroom. Unfortunately, this is not your first encounter with political violence. For many people in that room, the president, Steve Scalise, who survived a shooting himself, Charlie Kirk's widow was there, RFK Jr. as we mentioned, and you were at that Capitol on January the sixth, sheltering in fear for your life at that period of time. How did that influence what happened last night? What did you do?

REP. RASKIN: So I just entered the room, and I was talking to some reporters who approached me from the Boston Globe. Their table was right near the perimeter. As I was entering the ballroom. Kerry Kennedy was their guest, and we were in conversation when there were three loud booms. Heard some screams, plates, glasses, silverware hitting the ground, and then everybody was yelling, get down. Somebody kind of pushed me from the back, and we all ended up on the floor. When it was over, Kerry, who, of course, lost her father to an assassin gunman and her uncle, President Kennedy, she said, I can't believe that school children are dealing with this all across America and don't have the resources to process their trauma. And so that launched a conversation about gun violence and how you know, somewhere between 275 and 300 people are shot every day in our country, and we lose more than 100 of them every day. So even as this nightmare was unfolding at the White House Correspondents Dinner, dozens and dozens of people had been shot and killed in our country. And so I hope this isn't just an inside the beltway story. I hope we talk about the conditions for school children and people all over the country who are dealing with this.

MARGARET BRENNAN : No, it's a good point. We had- we benefited from all that security. Those children across the country don't have a sliver of it.

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. RASKIN: Well, that's right. And you know, I heard President Trump talk about this demonstrating the importance of the new ballroom, and he sent out some messages about the ballroom, and that might help people who are visiting the White House, but what about people who are in shopping malls and movie theaters and high schools and elementary schools across the country? So I hope we can have a serious bipartisan national conversation about what we can do to improve public safety for everybody.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, to that point, I mean, we're in the 10th week of a partial shutdown of Homeland Security, which, by the way, Secret Service, falls under the umbrella of Homeland Security, so do many essential workers. This has been just tangled up in this policy standoff in Congress. Do you think things change after last night?

REP. RASKIN: I certainly hope so. I mean, we, you know, of course, we had a unanimous vote out of the Senate, all the Republicans, all the Democrats, and then all the Democrats in the House vote to restore all of the funding, except for ICE. And of course, it was about ICE killing innocent people in Minneapolis, Alex Pretti and Renee Good that led to this standoff over this so I hope we can improve public safety for everybody.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But it was in the house, and Republican leadership wasn't willing to do that. But do you think it changes now that Democrats and Republicans will say, let's fund everything fully?

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. RASKIN: Yeah, again, we've got three quarters of Congress all together on moving forward, resolving the remaining issues and getting everything funded. Fortunately, you know, there's no interruption in any of ICE's funding because it was so super, hyper funded originally. So that's why it's kind of a made up controversy, because they have the money that they need, but we still have to deal with the underlying issues that led to this in the first place.

[CROSSTALK STARTS]

MARGARET BRENNAN: It was the Democrats' position to hold that up--

REP. RASKIN: --to hold up?

MARGARET BRENNAN: To make the argument over changes, policy wise, to ICE and CBP

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. RASKIN: Right, after the killings in Minneapolis, yes, absolutely.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood, because you said it was made up--

REP. RASKIN: --The vast majority of the American people agree- well no, what's made up is the idea that ICE somehow isn't getting its money.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Got it.

REP. RASKIN: It's been getting, I mean, it's got the money for a long time because of the original, you know, the "big, beautiful, bill."

MARGARET BRENNAN: The president. I want to make sure that I recognize what he said, because we don't hear him speak this way very often. He said, I asked all Americans to recommit with their hearts, to resolve our difference peacefully, and he talked about being unified with members of the press.

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. RASKIN: Yes. Well, that certainly- that's a new message from him. That's great. He had called the press, of course, the enemy of the people, and he's been engaged in a lot of lawsuits against your profession.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, yes. We are going into this politically charged midterm season. There's going to be campaigning around the country with lawmakers out there. I mean, does something change? He said, this, does something change? Does democratic language need to change as well?

REP. RASKIN: We have said all along that we need every politician in the country, every leader in the country, every citizen IN the country denouncing political violence across the board, regardless of where it's coming from. So, you know, I find this a welcome change in rhetoric. But you know what happened last week, they brought a lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose whole purpose is to or is to investigate violent right wing extremism in the country, and now they're prosecuting them for having used undercover agents, which, of course, the FBI uses and the government uses all the time.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. And there is, across party lines, some political violence, way too much of it right now. And actually, Speaker Emerita Pelosi on this program said to me recently that she thought the threat or the concern about violence or threats to your family is what is hurting recruitment of people to run for office, particularly mothers, particularly women. Are you seeing that? That people are afraid to even join public life because of this?

Advertisement Advertisement

REP. RASKIN: Sure, anybody who's thinking about running for office undoubtedly thinks about that. Anybody who's thinking about running for president undoubtedly thinks about that. And those people have the most protection with the Secret Service, and other people don't have the same kind of protection. So look, we've got to rediscover the great American tradition of nonviolence and Dr. King and the civilizing movements that have always opposed violence versus the violent groups that have used violence historically, beginning with the Ku Klux Klan, in order to terrorize other people.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Raskin, thank you for joining us, and we're glad you were able to do so. We'll be right back.
The White House brushed aside remarks made by Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., to a reporter alleging that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard would be the next Cabinet official to leave the administration because President Donald Trump "only fires women."

"Rep. McBride doesnt know what a woman is," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said of McBride, a biological male who identifies as a woman.

McBride speculated to MeidasTouch reporter Pablo Manriquez that Tulsi Gabbard will be the next Cabinet member on President Donald Trump's chopping block. In separate interviews, Manriquez asked McBride and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who they believed would be next to be fired. Both said it would not be a man.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump Fires Two Democratic Commissioners On Civil Rights Enforcement Agency As White House Targets Dei

The remarks come amid a shakeup in the Trump administration after Trump announced the dismissal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi within a span of four weeks.

On Monday, Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned amid allegations of misconduct toward staffers.

Read On The Fox News App

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sarah McBride, D-Del., accused President Donald Trump of only firing women. (Getty Images)

"All of them deserve to be fired," McBride quipped. "I'm supporting impeachment of Pete Hegseth because, obviously right now, we are engaged in a reckless war of choice that he was a primary driver of.

Advertisement Advertisement

"But we know this president," McBride added. "He only fires women, so my guess is Tulsi Gabbard."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., echoed McBride's sentiment when asked the same question by Manriquez.

"Is he out of women?" Ocasio-Cortez asked. "Because that seems to be his pattern right now."

Trump Cabinet Nominees, Appointees Targeted With Violent, Unamerican Threats

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem delivers remarks during a working lunch at the Shield of the Americas Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Fla., March 7, 2026.

She went on to say that Trump "seems to only have the capability to fire female secretaries."

In response to a follow-up question about the "clownish behavior" of War Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel, Ocasio-Cortez claimed that what Patel has done is "a thousand times worse" than what other officials have done.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference at the DEA headquarters in Arlington, Va., on July 15, 2025.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

Neither Manriquez nor Ocasio-Cortez gave specific examples of misconduct by either man. Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic over reported allegations that he is a heavy drinker and that it affects his work.

Hegseth faced sexual assault and drinking allegations during his confirmation hearings, which he denied, and his tenure at the War Department was rocked by two separate Signal chat leaks in which information about military airstrikes were inadvertently shared with a journalist.

While the White House has stood by Hegseth, Democratic lawmakers have demanded his resignation and criticized his handling of the war with Iran.

"If you're a man in the Trump administration, it seems that they reward misconduct," Ocasio-Cortez said.





Original article source: Transgender lawmaker 'doesn't know what a woman is,' White House says after dig at Trump firings
Follow updates on the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner for Monday, April 27, here. See earlier developments below.

What to know about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' DinnerThe suspected gunman who charged a security checkpoint outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday was targeting Trump administration officials, he wrote in what investigators called a "manifesto." Authorities said they found other writings at his home in Torrance, California, and in his 10th-floor hotel room at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being held. The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, multiple sources told CBS News. He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives, and is believed to have acted alone, police said. He is expected to be arraigned Monday on at least two charges, but prosecutors said there could be more.President Trump told "60 Minutes" he "wasn't worried" amid the chaos as he, the first lady and members of his administration were safely evacuated following the shooting. The president returned to the White House and held a news conference, praising officers for their response and telling Americans, "We have to resolve our differences." He said the dinner will be rescheduled within the next 30 days.A Secret Service officer was struck by a round but was wearing a bulletproof vest and has been released from the hospital. IDs were not needed for entry to dinner

Identification did not need to be presented in order to enter the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Advertisement Advertisement

CBS News' Matt Gutman reports that only a ticket was needed to go through magnetometers and get into the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.

"Nowhere in the hotel was an ID necessary," Gutman reported.

CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean said all he had to do to get into the hotel was show a screenshot of an invitation to the dinner, and that his ID was not checked at any point during the evening.

He said he was "perplexed" even before the attack about what he saw regarding security.

Inside the room where the dinner was taking place, "security was not particularly close to the principals, visibly."

Advertisement Advertisement

"The Secret Service agents who were visible were not very close to the president," he said, noting there were more people behind a nearby curtain, but that "it took them time to react."

"Once the incident happened it was a full two minutes or so before anyone came to get" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he said.

The Secret Service insists that the ballroom itself was secure, which is why they say they kept the president there.

Questions over how suspect got so close to ballroom

There are new questions Monday over how the suspected gunman got so close to the ballroom where President Trump, the first lady, the vice president, Cabinet members, and more than 2,500 guests were gathered Saturday night to celebrate the First Amendment and freedom of the press.

Advertisement Advertisement

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, checked into the Washington Hilton Hotel on Friday, just a day before the dinner.

Sources tell CBS News that the suspect used the size of the hotel where the dinner was taking place to his advantage, going down a back stairwell to evade security, carrying a bag of weapons.

The suspect stayed somewhere at the end of the corridor on the 10th floor of the hotel, multiple sources told CBS News. Just steps away from some of the rooms is a stairwell that leads directly down the stairs to the terrace level where the suspect allegedly opened fire.

In writings, he appeared shocked by security protocol, writing in part, "I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo. What I got is nothing."

Advertisement Advertisement

He also wrote, "apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before."

Still, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed the response to the suspect's attack as a security success. "We were all safe inside, and that's a testament to the Secret Service doing their job," he said.

Agents pinned the man to the floor after he sprinted past security.

The Secret Service says there's no way they could have checked every room in the 1,100-room hotel, and they insist that the ballroom itself was secure, which is why they say they kept the president there.

Advertisement Advertisement

Suspect to be arraigned in federal court today

The suspected gunman in the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner will be arraigned Monday in federal court in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Saturday night that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, will be charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, and predicted he will face more charges Monday.

"It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could, and thankfully, because of the checkpoint right outside the ballroom where thousands of people were situated to hear the president of the United States, that checkpoint worked," Pirro said. "There was no one who was injured, but it was clear where this defendant was going."

Advertisement Advertisement

Shooting prompts security review ahead of King Charles' U.S. visit

Two and a half centuries after the American colonies declared independence from Britain under King George III, his descendant King Charles III lands in Washington Monday with trans-Atlantic ties under strain and security in the spotlight.

A shooting at a Washington dinner attended by President Trump on Saturday sparked a last-minute security review of the four-day state visit, intended to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary, and the U.S.-U.K. "special relationship."

Buckingham Palace said the king "is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed." After a security review, the palace said the trip "will proceed as planned."

Advertisement Advertisement

A rift between the U.K. government and Trump over issues including the Iran war had already raised the political stakes for the British monarch's visit.

White House chief of staff to meet with Secret Service, DHS

A senior White House official tells CBS News that President Trump is standing by the U.S. Secret Service following Saturday's attack, praising agents for their response while ordering a review of security procedures ahead of upcoming events.

The official said Trump believes the Secret Service "did an excellent job" neutralizing the shooter and moving the president, first lady, vice president and Cabinet members to safety.

Advertisement Advertisement

At the same time, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting early this week with senior administration officials, the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to assess protocols for major presidential events.

The review will examine what worked in stopping Saturday's attack and explore additional measures to strengthen security as Mr. Trump prepares for a series of high-profile appearances tied to upcoming national events, including the planned America 250 celebrations.

Trump responds to suspect's "manifesto": "He's a sick person"

In an interview with CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell on "60 Minutes." President Trump reacted to some of the suspect's writings in what officials called a "manifesto."

Advertisement Advertisement

"The so-called manifesto is a stunning thing to read, Mr. President," O'Donnell said. "He appears to reference a motive in it. He writes this, quote, 'Administration officials, they are targets.' And he also wrote this, 'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.' What's your reaction to that?"

Mr. Trump replied, "Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you're you're he you're horrible people. Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I'm I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody."

O'Donnell said, "Oh you think do you think he was referring to you?"

"I'm not a pedophile. Excuse me. Excuse me. I'm not a pedophile," the president said. "You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, lets say, Epstein or other things. But I said to myself, 'You know, I'll do this interview and they'll probably' I read the manifesto. You know, he's a sick person. But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I'm not any of those things."

"Mr. President these are the gunman's words," O'Donnell said.

"And I was never excuse me. Excuse me. You shouldn't be reading that on '60 Minutes.' You're a disgrace. But go ahead. Let's finish the interview," Mr. Trump said, adding. "You you're disgraceful."

Read more and watch the interview here.

President Trump says "I wasn't worried"

In an interview on "60 Minutes," CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked President Trump about his reaction when the sounds of gunfire were heard at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

O'Donnell, who was also at the dinner, said, "Everybody hit the floor. How worried were you that there were gonna be injuries?"

"I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world," Mr. Trump said.

"You are sitting there next to the first lady," O'Donnell continued. "The entertainer named Oz Pearlman is talking to you. He's known as The Mentalist. When did you know something was wrong?"

"Right around that point. In fact, you can see the expression on the first lady's face," he said.

O'Donnell later asked if the first lady was scared.

"Well, I don't wanna say, and people don't like having it said that they were scared," he replied. "But certainly, I mean, who wouldn't be when you have a situation like that? By that time I think she realized ahead of time that that was more of a bullet than it was a tray. And she was I I looked at her face just a little while ago before I came. I saw the scene. They played it for me and, you know, pretty good closeup. And she looked very upset about what just took place, you know? Why not?"

Read more and watch the interview here.

Secret Service contends security network succeeded, ballroom was safest place

While some have raised questions about security measures at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, the U.S. Secret Service contends the security network succeeded and that the safest place in the hotel at that time was the ballroom.

Officials involved in securing the event tell CBS News President Trump was kept in the ballroom before being escorted out because they had special tactical teams on hand. The teams were in radio communication with others in the back of the room and undercover elements in the room telling them that it was all clear.

The officials say there's no way they could have stopped anyone from entering the hotel or checking in on Friday, since this is America, they say, and you cannot prevent someone from walking into a hotel armed.

Suspect used interior stairwell to bypass more public areas of hotel, sources say

The suspect was seen leaving his 10th-floor room inside the Washington Hilton dressed in black and carrying a shotgun, a handgun and several knives packed inside a black bag, according to hotel surveillance footage reviewed by senior law enforcement officials. He used an interior stairwell to run down approximately 10 flights, bypassing heavily monitored public areas of the hotel, senior law enforcement sources told CBS News.

The suspect then emerged onto the terrace level  the same level as the foyer leading to the event's red carpet  just yards from a primary access point to the ballroom where the high-profile dinner was underway. There, he broke into a sprint.

It was then that Secret Service Uniformed Division officers confronted and tackled the suspect moments after he emerged. As part of standard protocol, officers immediately removed the suspect's dark clothing and searched his bag to ensure he was not carrying or wearing additional weapons or explosive devices.

When the incident unfolded at approximately 8:36 p.m., security screening operations were already beginning to wind down. According to officials, magnetometers used to screen attendees were already being dismantled. No new guests were permitted to enter the ballroom at that time.

Obama calls on Americans "to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy"

Former President Barack Obama on Sunday condemned political violence in a post on X.

"Although we don't yet have the details about the motives behind last night's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it's incumbent upon all [of] us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy," Obama wrote.

"It's also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I'm grateful to them  and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay," he added.

Trump says he "wasn't making it that easy" for Secret Service during shooting

In an interview airing on "60 Minutes," President Trump described the moment he was rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a gunman charged a security checkpoint.

Mr. Trump said he "wasn't making it that easy" for the Secret Service to escort him from the Washington Hilton Hotel because he "wanted to see what was going on."

"I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn't making it that easy for them," he said.

He told CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell that he "was surrounded by great people" but asked them to "wait a minute" so he could assess what was happening.

Watch the interview on "60 Minutes" Sunday at 7p ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+.

DOJ cites shooting in letter pressing historic preservation group to drop lawsuit over White House ballroom

In a letter shared by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on X, a top lawyer with the Justice Department is urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to end its lawsuit challenging President Trump's construction of a new ballroom at the White House.

The letter from Brett Shumate to Greg Craig, who is representing the preservation group, said the attack outside the press gala underscores the need for the White House ballroom.

"When the White House ballroom is complete, President Trump and his successors will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of the White House perimeter to attend large gatherings at the Washington Hilton ballroom," Shumate wrote. "The White House ballroom will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the President at the Washington Hilton."

The Justice Department lawyer claimed that the lawsuit seeking to halt construction at the White House puts the president in danger.

"Put simply, your lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk," Shumate wrote. "I hope yesterday's narrow miss will help you finally realize the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost. Enough is enough."

Shumate urged the National Trust for Historic Preservation to voluntarily dismiss what he called a "frivolous" lawsuit in light of the shooting. He warned that if the group does not do so, the government would seek to dissolve an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon and have the case tossed out, given Saturday's "extraordinary events."

Leon, who is presiding over the case, temporarily blocked construction of the 90,000 square foot ballroom in March. Then, in an order earlier this month, he clarified that construction of national-security facilities that would be located underneath the ballroom could continue. Any "above-ground construction strictly necessary to cover, secure and protect" those facilities could also proceed, he said.

The Justice Department has appealed that decision. The White House ballroom is expected to seat roughly 1,000 guests. More than 2,500 people were in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Brother alerted police after receiving email "manifesto" from suspect, sources say

The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Allen, sent an email to family members shortly before the annual press gala, law enforcement and White House officials told CBS News.

In the writings, which officials described as a "manifesto," he stated he planned to target Trump administration officials, "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest," according to a copy obtained by CBS News.

The officials told CBS News that Allen's brother, alarmed by the email he and other family members received, called police in Connecticut to alert them Saturday night.

In the email, Allen didn't specify the timing or location for the attack but wrote that he planned to carry it out because he didn't want the "crimes" of the administration to "coat [his] hands."

Read more here.

Alleged gunman's employer says it is cooperating with law enforcement

C2 Education, where the suspected shooter worked, said in a statement that it is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation of the attack.

"We were shocked to hear the news of the horrifying incident that transpired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner," the tutoring company said in a statement. "We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to assist them in their investigation. Violence of any kind is never the answer."

Allen, the suspect, worked as a teacher with C2 Education's center in Torrance, California, and was awarded "Teacher of the Month" in December 2024, according to a Facebook post. The post appears to have been removed.

King Charles looking forward to D.C. visit, palace says

Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming that King Charles and Queen Camilla are going ahead with their plans to visit the U.S. Monday.

"Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned," the palace said in a statement. "The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow."

Where top officials were seated at the dinner

This seating chart compiled by CBS News shows where top officials were seated at the White House Correspondents' Dinner before shots were fired outside the ballroom. Click on the red and blue dots for photos and more details.

Authorities still trying to determine what kind of round struck Secret Service officer

Authorities are still working to determine what kind of round hit the U.S. Secret Service officer, according to law enforcement officials.

The officer was released from hospital this morning in good condition.

The Secret Service returned fire, but a day later, the exact number of rounds was still being investigated.

The alleged gunman wrote in an email to family, obtained by CBS News: "In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)."

His writings were found in his hotel room on the 10th floor and at his home.

Secret Service officer released from hospital

The Secret Service officer who was shot in his bulletproof vest suffered bruising but is in good spirits, the sources said. He has been released from the hospital.

Suspected gunman being held at D.C. police station

The suspected shooter is being held at a Metropolitan Police Department station in Northwest Washington, D.C., law enforcement sources told CBS News. He will be transported later Sunday to a detention facility in Southeast D.C.

Then, the alleged gunman will be transported by the U.S. Marshals Service to federal court Monday. He is expected to be arraigned before a federal judge, Justice Department officials have said.

Alleged shooter wrote he planned to target Trump administration officials "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest"

The alleged gunman wrote in what authorities referred to as a "manifesto" that he planned to target administration officials, "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest," and authorities "only if necessary," according to law enforcement and White House officials.

The suspect said hotel employees and guests weren't his intended targets but that he would still attack them to get to the administration, adding: "I really hope it doesn't come to that."

Read more here.

Raskin says he hopes attack changes landscape for DHS funding fight

Most of the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Secret Service, has been shut down for more than two months because of a lapse in federal funding, leaving scores of department employees working with pay.

The Senate passed legislation last month to fund the bulk of the department, but excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection  agencies that have been at the center of the president's immigration agenda.

But the GOP-led House has yet to take up that measure, as Republican lawmakers have insisted on assurances that the two immigration agencies will be funded. The Senate last week took a key step toward funding CBP and ICE through the budget reconciliation process, which allows the plan to move forward without reliance on Democrats.

Asked whether the attack at the correspondents' dinner changes the debate over Homeland Security funding, Rep. Jamie Raskin told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that he hopes it does.

"I hope that we can improve public safety for everybody, but it was in the House and Republican leadership wasn't willing to do that," the Maryland Democrat said. "We've got three-quarters of Congress all together on moving forward, resolving the remaining issues and getting everything funded."

Raskin noted that ICE has not seen an interruption in funding because the agency had received an infusion of dollars from Congress in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" last year.

Raskin says Trump's comments after shooting are "welcome change in rhetoric"

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, attended the press dinner and told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that he hopes the attack sparks a nationwide bipartisan conversation about how to improve public safety for all.

Asked about Mr. Trump's remarks in the wake of the attack calling for unity, Raskin called it a "welcome change in rhetoric."

"We have said all along that we need every politician in the country, every leader in the country, every citizen in the country denouncing political violence across the board, regardless of where it's coming from," he said.

Raskin said Americans need to rediscover the nation's tradition of nonviolence.

Vinograd: "Words do matter"

Samantha Vinograd, CBS News national security contributor, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," that the country is facing "the most complex threat environment" in its history.

"In this scenario, two things can be true. It can be true that law enforcement and intelligence professionals prepared exhaustively for last night, weeks of planning, intelligence gathering, physical security barriers, officers on site," she said. "But it can also be true that in this moment, in this security environment, the paradigms of the past may not be sufficient to meet the moment."

A.T. Smith, former deputy director of the Secret Service and CBS News law enforcement analyst, said that the Secret Service will have to look at the attack "very diligently" and examine how the suspected gunman was able to get near the ballroom armed with two firearms.

Law enforcement has said that the suspect was a guest at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held.

Vinograd said that she hopes the attack is a "wake-up call" to law enforcement to rethink whether additional security steps are needed for events like the dinner, as well as to the public in understanding that they have a responsibility to warn others if someone they know is demonstrating signs that could lead to violence.

"Every time an incident like this happens, the optimist in my thinks, perhaps this will be a turning point, perhaps this will be a turning point where each and every person in this country thinks about what they say and how they act," Vinograd said. "Words do matter."

CBS News senior White House correspondent says it was "remarkable" to see Secret Service in action

Weijia Jiang, CBS News senior White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents' Association, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that it was "remarkable" to see Secret Service in action and praised agents for protecting not only the president, but journalists, Cabinet officials and others in attendance.

"That is heartening, but obviously it was a tough situation for everyone that was there," she said.

Jiang said that while she has covered shootings, murders and other tragedies, it did not prepare her for being involved in an attack.

"This is the first time that I've been on the other side of a potentially violent and deadly situation," she said.

Jiang said that she spoke with the president before his first Truth Social post informing the public that the dinner would be postponed and told Brennan that Mr. Trump wanted to "explain that he himself realized how important that night was."

"He told me that we were not going to be deterred. He refused to stand down and that's why he was there despite what had unfolded," she said.

Read more: Weijia Jiang: I was on stage last night with the president. This is what I saw.

Authorities found anti-Trump rhetoric on the suspect's social media accounts, senior U.S. official says

The suspect's writings under review by investigators stated he wanted to specifically target administration officials, a senior U.S. official told CBS News. Authorities found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on the suspect's social media accounts, the official said.

The writings, some of which have been reviewed by CBS News, included an argument about how Christians should interpret the commandment to "turn the other cheek."

Allen sent some of his writings to members of his family before the attempted attack on Saturday, and one of them alerted police about the writings. The writings sent to family members apparently did not specifically mention the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Another family member who was interviewed by investigators after the attack said Allen made radical statements and that he constantly referenced a plan to do "something" to fix the issues with today's world.

Family members told investigators Allen would regularly go to the shooting range to train with his firearms.

The official said Allen was part of a group called "The Wide Awakes" and attended a "No Kings" protest in California.

Read more here.

Investigators reviewing suspect's writings

Investigators are reviewing the suspect's writings as part of the ongoing investigation into his motive for the attack, three federal law enforcement officials told CBS News. The materials were written on paper and were found in the hotel, the officials said.

King Charles still coming to D.C., according to U.K. ambassador to U.S.

King Charles is still expected to travel to the U.S., British ambassador to the U.S. Sir Christian Turner told CBS News. Charles is expected to arrive at the White House on Monday, and will be honored at a banquet dinner the following night.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement earlier Sunday that "His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed."

The statement continued that a "number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with U.S. colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the Visit!"

Trump says attack underscores need for White House ballroom

President Trump said Sunday that the attack outside the ballroom where he, senior members of his administration and scores of journalists were gathered reinforces the need for the ballroom that is under construction at the White House.

"What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE," he wrote on Truth Social. "This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!"

Mr. Trump said that his planned ballroom has "every highest level security feature there is," and, sitting inside the White House gates, would not allow access by "unsecured people."

The president attacked the plaintiffs who brought a lawsuit seeking to block construction and said the challenge should be dropped immediately.

"Nothing should be allowed to interfere with  its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!!" he wrote.

Blanche says investigators believe suspect shot Secret Service agent

Asked by "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan whether it was the suspected gunman who shot the Secret Service agent, Blanche replied, "That's what we understand as of now."

The president spoke with the agent Saturday night, and Blanche said he was "in great spirit."

"We all heard his voice last night. The president gave him words of encouragement and appreciation and thanking him for the work that he's doing for all of us, and I will tell you he was in very good spirits, and so that's a tragedy avoided, and it is because he was wearing a bulletproof vest," he said.

Blanche says other charges for alleged gunman "could be in play"

The suspected gunman is expected to face two charges, using a firearm during a violent crime and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Saturday night just hours after the attack.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the evidence gathered by investigators will help determine whether the alleged shooter, 31-year-old Cole Allen, faces additional charges.

"There's a lot of federal charges that could be in play beyond those two charges but it depends on us understanding his motive, his intent, his premeditation of what led into him deciding he was going to do what he did last night," Blanche told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

The acting attorney general said Allen will be charged via criminal complaint and appear before a federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Blanche said he expects an indictment will follow.

Blanche says Trump won't be deterred from appearing in public by this "lone man"

Blanche said incidents like this "will not deter" the president from appearing before the public and doing his job. He told "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan, "We will not stop doing things like we did last night in this administration."

"And this man, if one of his goals was to get us to be scared, he failed," Blanche said.

"President Trump said last night, and he means it, and I very much agree with him, that this type of conduct will not deter him, it will not stop him from living," Blanche said. "It will not stop him from doing his job. And not only him, but the vice president, the Cabinet, the law enforcement, you all journalists, you're not going to stop doing your jobs either because of this  this lone man that did what he did."

"And so, this is something that we all are still reacting to because it's fresh, but I assure you that the type of things you saw the president last night and the president being out there and available to the American public, that will not change because of what this guy tried to do last night," Blanche added.

Blanche says suspected shooter traveled by train across the country to D.C.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that investigators believe the suspect was staying at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was held, and traveled to Washington, D.C., by train.

Blanche said he traveled from Los Angeles to Chicago, and then Chicago to the nation's capital.

"He was apprehended and subdued feet away from breaking the perimeter," he said. "So we were all safe inside, and that's a testament to the Secret Service doing their job and the law enforcement doing exactly what we hope and expect them to do in this time and train for this their entire careers."

Sources say suspect didn't appear to intend to leave the attack alive

Law enforcement sources said the subject didn't appear to intend to leave the attack alive. This attack was planned, the sources said.

The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service is investigating his background ideology and what precipitated this event.

Blanche says it's believed shooter was targeting administration members

In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators believe the suspected gunman was targeting members of the Trump administration.

Blanche said law enforcement is still looking into the alleged shooter's motivation, but are talking with witnesses who knew him.

The acting attorney general said the suspect, Cole Allen, is not actively cooperating with authorities.

Suspect owned two firearms, including shotgun used outside the correspondent's dinner, sources say

CBS News has learned new details about the suspect seen charging through metal detectors in surveillance video at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday night, including his record of firearm ownership.

The shotgun that Cole Tomas Allen used to open fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner was purchased in August 2025, according to two law enforcement sources. He also owned another semiautomatic pistol, purchased in 2023, they said.

Back in California, there is not much information about Allen beyond his education. Both law enforcement sources confirmed that he earned his master's degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 2025. Earlier, he studied mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, completing his undergraduate degree in 2017.

Allen went on to work as a teacher at the tutoring center C2 Education in Torrance, a city just outside Los Angeles where he lived from November 2010 to March 2026, the sources said. He was named "teacher of the month" in December 2024.

The suspect lived in San Gabriel, another Southern California city, from January 2018 to December 2019, before moving to Torrance, according to the sources. He owned a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle.

CBS News has also obtained a copy of Allen's drivers license photo, which was taken in October 2024.

LinkedIn profile linked to suspect identifies him as self-employed video game developer, part-time teacher

A LinkedIn profile linked to the suspect lists a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in computer science. It identifies him as a self-employed video game developer who also works part-time as a teacher for a company that specializes in tutoring and college test preparation.

California State University, Dominguez Hills said a student named Cole Allen earned a master's degree there in 2025, though the university said it could not confirm whether this is the same person identified as the suspect. The California Institute of Technology said a graduate by the same name received a degree in 2017.

Secret Service: Suspect "underestimated" security, "was stopped at first contact"

Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn posted a statement saying: "Tonight, a coward attempted to create a national tragedy. He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service and was stopped at first contact."

Quinn said "the strength of our layered security posture was evident, with a myriad of countermeasures still ahead," and he expressed gratitude to the men and women of the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies.

Shooting suspect admitted to authorities he was targeting Trump officials, sources say

Cole Allen, the suspect in the shooting outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner, told law enforcement following his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS News.

The suspect didn't specifically say he was targeting President Trump, just "administration officials," a law enforcement source said.

Read more here.

WHCA president Weijia Jiang, who sat next to Trump, describes shooting: "Nobody should have to feel that way"

CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang, who is also the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, was sitting next to President Trump as the incident unfolded.

"What was going through my mind is my 7-year-old daughter was there. My husband was there. My parents were there," Jiang said. "On a night where we all came together to celebrate the freedoms and the First Amendment, we also have to think about how fragile they are in this country because  shootings and would-be shootings happen every day."

"And it doesn't matter if it's the White House Correspondents' Dinner or anywhere else in this country. Nobody should have to feel that way. Nobody should have to feel scared to be anywhere in a public place," she added.

Jiang said the annual press dinner is about acknowledging how vital the First Amendment is to democracy, and a chance for the press and the president "to get together in a different context and recognize the important relationship, despite how complicated it might be."

President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. / Credit: Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS

"That's what we were doing, and unfortunately  this traumatic event unfolded and thank goodness everybody is safe. And that's the most important thing out of all of this," she said.

D.C. interim police chief says alleged shooter was guest at the hotel

Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, said they don't yet know the alleged gunman's motivation or who his specific target may have been. The suspect was not known to the D.C. police department, he said.

Carroll said the suspect charged the security checkpoint with a shotgun in his hand, and was also armed with a handgun and multiple knives.

The suspected shooter was not hit by gunfire and was taken to the hospital for evaluation, Carroll said.

The interim police chief said "preliminary information" is that the gunman was a guest at the hotel. Law enforcement secured a room at the hotel and is going through the "appropriate procedures" to determine what was inside.

Carroll said law enforcement believes the alleged gunman is the only suspect in the case.

Secret Service director says agents "performed admirably"

Secret Service Director Sean Curran told reporters that agents "performed admirably" in apprehending the suspected gunman when he charged the security checkpoint.

President Trump has called the agent who was struck, Curran said. He said the agent, who was protected by a bulletproof vest, is very fortunate to be alive.

Shooting suspect had worked as a tutor in Torrance, California, sources say

The suspect who opened fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner was an educator who received a "Teacher of the Month" award in Torrance, California, in 2024, CBS News has learned.

Two law enforcement sources confirmed that 31-year-old Cole Allen had been a teacher with C2 Education of Torrance, a tutoring service. He was awarded "Teacher of the Month" by C2 in December 2024, according to a Facebook post.

It's unclear if he was still employed by C2.

Three sources previously confirmed to CBS News that Allen is the suspect in custody for Saturday's incident.

The California Institute of Technology also confirmed to CBS News in an email that Allen graduated from the university in 2017, but provided no further details.

Suspect to be charged with two counts for now, Pirro says

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top prosecutor for Washington, D.C., said the suspect will be charged with two counts so far: using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

"It is clear, based upon what we know so far, that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could, and thankfully, because of the checkpoint right outside the ballroom where thousands of people were situated to hear the president of the United States, that checkpoint worked," Pirro said during a press conference. "There was no one who was injured, but it was clear where this defendant was going."

Pirro said the suspect will be arraigned Monday in federal district court and predicted he will face more charges as investigators learn more.

Addressing rise in political violence, Trump says presidency is a "dangerous profession"

President Trump addressed the rise of political violence and said it impacts all countries.

"No country is immune," he said.

Mr. Trump said president of the United States is a "dangerous profession," and said his policies make him a target.

"It comes with the territory," he said, adding "we're going to continue to do a great job. That's all I can do."

Mr. Trump said he initially thought the sound of gunfire was a tray dropping and joked that when reporters and officials gather for the dinner again, they will make it "safer."

Trump says shooter charged from "50 yards away"

President Trump said the ballroom where the dinner was held was "very, very secure," and the shooter charged the security screening area from "50 yards away."

"These people, they're crazy," he said. "They're crazy."

Asked whether the shooting was linked to the ongoing war in Iran, Mr. Trump said he did not believe that was the case, but investigators are still gathering information.

The president reiterated that he believes the suspect was a "lone wolf," and called him a "whack job."

Trump says he wanted dinner to continue to prevent "horrible people" from changing "the fabric of our lives"

President Trump told Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, that she did a "fantastic job."

Jiang, a CBS News White House correspondent, asked the president about how he was feeling as he was whisked away by Secret Service agents. Mr. Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.

"I was watching to see what was happening," he said, adding that the first lady was "very cognizant" of what was going on.

Mr. Trump raised the Secret Service and the police for their swift action.

"We very much wanted to continue, because I don't like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people change the fabric of our lives, change the course of what we do," he said.

The president joked that he was prepared to "really rip it" in his speech, but vowed instead to go easier on the press when the dinner is next held.

Trump urges Americans to "recommit with their hearts" to resolving differences peacefully

President Trump confirmed that one law enforcement officer was shot, but said his life was likely saved because he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Mr. Trump said the alleged shooter lives in California and called him a "sick person." He told reporters that the suspected gunman likely acted alone.

The president said that the attack underscored the need for the ballroom at the White House, which he said the Secret Service and the military are "demanding."

"We don't want things like this to happen," he said. "I think it's very important that I say, though, and I told the representatives of the evening, and they did such a beautiful job with such a beautiful evening. And again, they're talking about free speech in our Constitution. That's what it's all about."

Mr. Trump urged Americans to "recommit with their hearts and resolve our differences peacefully." He noted that the dinner brought together lawmakers and officials from across the political spectrum.

Joining Mr. Trump at the White House for the briefing were Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Suspect is 31-year-old California man, sources say

The suspect in the shooting is 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California, three sources told CBS News.

Read more here.

Acting AG Blanche says investigation is "ongoing" and charges will be filed "shortly"

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that the investigation into the incident tonight is "ongoing" and that charges against the suspect should be filed "shortly."

"The charges should be self evident, given the conduct," Blanche said.

Blanche said that federal investigators are already working on search warrants in the case, and that "everybody's on the scene doing their job."

Trump tells reporters "thug" acted in attack on Constitution

In remarks to the press from the White House, President Trump said the attack was perpetrated by a "thug" who "attacked our Constitution."

"That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement," he said. "This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both partners with members of the press, and in a way it did."

Mr. Trump said a man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and was taken down by agents. He said he shared to his social media platforms security footage of the incident, which Mr. Trump said was to show how swiftly Secret Service and law enforcement

Trump posts photo that appears to show suspect after shooting incident

President Trump posted a photo to Truth Social that appeared to show the suspect on the ground and handcuffed after the shooting.

President Trump posted a photo of a suspect in custody after the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026. / Credit: @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

The president also posted security video that showed the suspect running past Secret Service.

CBS News White House reporter says sound of gunshots reminded her of Butler shooting

CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi said the sound of the gunshots fired outside the ballroom of the White House Correspondents' Dinner reminded her of the assassination attempt on President Trump that occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.

"We heard what sounded like three to four successive shots," Rinaldi said. "Originally it sounded like plates had fallen, loud noises. But I was there in Butler, that was gunfire and we knew it."

"We could also smell the gunpowder that was fired," she added.

Suspect had a shotgun and handgun in his possession, sources say

The suspect in Saturday night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner had a shotgun and handgun on him, according to two sources familiar with the investigation into the shooting.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: "The violence and chaos in America must end"

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York expressed gratitude for law enforcement's quick action to protect those in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

"Praying for the safety of those who may remain in harm's way," he wrote on X. "The violence and chaos in America must end."

Trump to hold press conference from White House

President Trump said he will hold a press conference at the White House briefing room shortly.

The president wrote in a Truth Social post that he would hold the press conference "in 30 minutes." Mr. Trump had initially stated that he would like the White House Correspondents' Dinner to proceed, for later saying that law enforcement had asked that the ballroom be cleared for investigators.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Mr. Trump will speak from the briefing room.

CBS News will stream the press conference live on this page.

Photo shows Trump being rushed to safety

Reporter Bo Erickson captured images of the scene as President Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents.

President Trump is rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after shots were fired outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026. / Credit: Bo Erickson / REUTERS

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Secret Service agent was injured in shooting, sources say

A Secret Service agent was injured when a gunman opened fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner, two law enforcement sources told CBS News.

The agent was struck by a round but was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to be OK, the sources said.

The sources said that a total of five to eight shots were fired. The gunman is alive but injured and was hospitalized, the sources added.

WHCA president and CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang: Freedoms of the First Amendment are "fragile"

Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents' Association and CBS News' senior White House correspondent, took to the stage and reiterated that President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and members of Mr. Trump's Cabinet were not hurt.

As she told the crowd of reporters that the president would be holding a press conference, Jiang quipped, "that is not a joke."

Jiang told those in attendance that the president wanted to continue with the dinner, but has to follow security protocols.

"Journalism is a public service, because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it," she said. "And on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms of the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are."

Noting that many of the journalists attending the dinner quickly shifted to reporting on the night's events, Jiang said, "That's what we do."

"Thank God everybody is safe and thank you for coming together tonight. We will do this again," she said.

Trump says he will leave dinner; vice president and Cabinet members in "perfect condition"

President Trump said on Truth Social that law enforcement has requested that he leave the site of the dinner and will do so "immediately." He said that he will give a press conference from the White House briefing room.

"The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition," he said.

Mr. Trump said that he has spoken with those in charge of the event and "we will be rescheduling within 30 days."

Secret Service spokesman says person in custody and president, first lady are safe

Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service spokesman, said that the agency and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a "shooting incident" near the main security screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The president and first lady, along with all protectees, are safe, he said in a statement shared to social media.

Guglielmi said that a person is in custody.

"The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation," he said.

Trump says shooter has been "apprehended" and urges dinner to go on

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said that a shooter has been apprehended and said that while he wants the dinner to continue, that will be up to law enforcement.

"Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement," Mr. Trump wrote. "They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again."

Law enforcement sources initially told CBS News that the shooter was killed, but White House officials later said the person was "neutralized" but alive.

Dinner attendees heard what sounded like gunshots

Attendees of the White House Correspondents Dinner heard what sounded like three to four gun shots around 8:30 p.m.

The shots sounded like they were fired outside the ballroom, near a back stairwell, opposite the stage where the president was seated. The president was evacuated within seconds.

Gunpowder could be smelled near the back of the room. Among those escorted out by security were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, FBI Director Kash Patel and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

At least 6 shots fired before gunman was neutralized, source says

A law enforcement source told CBS News at least six shots were fired before the gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was neutralized.

The gunman was apparently in the hallway by the metal detectors just outside the ballroom where diners were being served, the source said.

Video from CBS News table shows chaos after shots fired

Cellphone video shot by CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs from the CBS News table captured the immediate moments after shots were fired outside the ballroom.

Video of White House Correspondents Association evacuation via @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/e2r0JUIdpP

 Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 26, 2026

The video shows White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, crouched next to the table and shielded by a federal agent before they are led out of the ballroom. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert K. Kennedy, Jr., and his wife, Cheryl Hines, also appeared to be next to Miller.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, can then be seen leaving the ballroom.

Secret Service officers with guns drawn lined up across the podium area yelling "clear" after multiple shots were heard.

Agents escorted RFK Jr., EPA administrator Lee Zeldin away

Images taken by photojournalists at the White House Correspondents Dinner show armed agents escorting away guests including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service agents after loud bangs were heard during the White House Correspondents' dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2026. / Credit: Mandel NGAN /AFP via Getty Images

Another photo shows attendees hiding under tables what sounded like several gunshots.

Attendees hide under tables after an incident at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. / Credit: Nathan Howard / Getty Images

Video from dinner shows guests huddled next to tables

Video footage from inside the dinner show attendees crouched next to tables, with security details winding their way among the maze of tables.

Law enforcement fired shots inside the ballroom at White House Correspondents Dinner

Security is evacuating the ballroom at the White House Correspondents Dinner after law enforcement fired shots inside the room, reports CBS News security contributor Sam Vinograd, who is at the event.

She said the incident appeared to happen in the hallway right by CBS News' table at the annual dinner.

Cabinet officials in attendance at annual dinner

Several Cabinet officials are in attendance at the White House Correspondents Dinner, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert K. Kennedy, Jr., and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The News

US President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, after witnesses heard multiple loud bangs in the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.

The US Secret Service said it was investigating a shooting incident and that one individual was in custody. The president and first lady are safe along all protectees, it said.

Trump said he believed the shooter was a lone wolf and that he didnt reach the ballroom doors because he was apprehended by law enforcement.

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking on NBCs Sunday morning, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said law enforcement believed the suspect was targeting administration officials, though he described the investigation as quite preliminary. Blanche also said the suspect is believed to have traveled via train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, DC, and that he was a guest at the hotel where the event took place.

On Saturday night, officers tackled the man after he charged a checkpoint with a shotgun in his hand as he attempted to run into the ballroom, they said. Officials declined to release his name and said the shooters motivation and targets were unclear.

There did not immediately appear to be any injuries. Videos of the event appeared to show attendees ducking under dining tables as law enforcement came on the main stage.

White House Correspondents Association Chair Weijia Jiang originally said the group would resume the program, but later took the stage to explain that law enforcement has requested attendees leave the premises.

Advertisement Advertisement

The president insists we reschedule the event in the next 30 days and that he wanted to do it tonight, to continue despite the news, she said. On a night we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are.

This was the the first time Trump has attended the dinner since 2015.

Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely, Trump said in a social media post on Saturday night.

In a press briefing following the incident, Trump said the man was from California and had been captured. The Associated Press later identified the alleged shooter as a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California. The defendant will be arraigned on Monday in federal district court, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said one officer responding to the attack was shot with a very powerful gun but was wearing a bullet-proof vest and is doing great.

This isnt the first time in the past couple of years that our Republic was attacked by an assassin who sought to kill, he said. I ask all Americans to recommit in their hearts to resolving our differences peacefully.

During the briefing, Trump spoke about the presidency being a dangerous job, and said I want to live because I want to make this country great.

Notable
Trump says he "wasn't making it that easy" for Secret Service during shooting 01:44

In an interview airing on "60 Minutes," President Trump described the moment he was rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a gunman charged a security checkpoint.

Mr. Trump said he "wasn't making it that easy" for the Secret Service to escort him from the Washington Hilton Hotel because he "wanted to see what was going on."

Advertisement Advertisement

"I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn't making it that easy for them," he said.

He told CBS News correspondent Norah O'Donnell that he "was surrounded by great people" but asked them to "wait a minute" so he could assess what was happening.

Saturday marked Mr. Trump's first time attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner as president  he has historically declined the invitation. O'Donnell was also at the annual gala, which celebrates the First Amendment.

Secret Service agents quickly escorted Mr. Trump and other administration officials from the ballroom Saturday after shots rang out. Authorities say 31-year-old Cole Allen charged a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Hotel, armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives, before being apprehended by police. A Secret Service agent was shot, but was wearing a bulletproof vest and has been released from the hospital.

Advertisement Advertisement

Sources told CBS News that Allen had written a "manifesto" and sent it to members of his family, one of whom contacted police. In excerpts reviewed by CBS News, Allen wrote that he planned to target administration officials, "prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest," and authorities "only if necessary." He said law enforcement, hotel employees and guests weren't his intended targets but that he would still attack them to get to the administration, adding: "I really hope it doesn't come to that."

In a news conference Saturday night, Mr. Trump praised law enforcement, and said the suspect "hadn't come anywhere close to breach the doors of the room."

Asked if he was concerned about the threats to his life, Mr. Trump said, "It's a dangerous profession."

Mr. Trump said he "fought like hell" to resume the event after the shooting, but said law enforcement insisted otherwise. He said he wanted the dinner to be rescheduled within the next 30 days.

Watch the interview Sunday night at 7p ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+.
By Jana Winter, Steve Holland and Steve Gorman

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the suspect accused of trying to attack administration officials at a black-tie gala on Saturday night was a "pretty sick guy" who had been flagged to law enforcement by family members.

Trump said in TV interviews that the suspect, whom an official identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, had posted what Trump described as an "anti-Christian" manifesto.

Advertisement Advertisement

"He was a Christian, believer, and then he became an anti-Christian, and he had a lot of change," Trump told CBS' "60 Minutes" program. "He was probably a pretty sick guy."

In the manifesto, Allen calls himself the "Friendly Federal Assassin" and said he planned to attack Trump administration officials, prioritizing them from highest-ranking to lowest but excluding FBI Director Kash Patel, a law enforcement official told Reuters. Allen cited Christian theology as he said he was trying to protect those harmed by the administration's policies.

"Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes," the manifesto read, according to the official.

The manifesto, which was sent to members of Allen's family shortly before the attack, mocked the insane lack of security at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was held, the official added. Allen was arrested at the scene.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance," the manifesto's author reportedly wrote. "I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.

The chaotic events raised fresh questions about the security of top U.S. officials, many of whom were gathered in the hotel's expansive ballroom. Trump seized on the attention brought by the incident to promote his planned White House ballroom as a safer venue for such events.

"This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The suspect traveled by Amtrak train from Los Angeles to Chicago and then to Washington, checking into the Hilton on Friday, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on multiple Sunday talk shows, adding that Trump and top members of his administration were the likely targets. Train passengers in the United States are not required to pass through airport-style metal detectors.

Advertisement Advertisement

Amtrak said it is cooperating with the investigation.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Officials have said the suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.

Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet officials were rushed out as the incident unfolded. The Secret Service agent who was shot escaped serious injury because the bullet struck his protective vest, Trump said.

Trump, who had boycotted the media gala in the past, has requested that the dinner be rescheduled within 30 days. White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang of CBS said the group's board would determine their next steps.

Advertisement Advertisement

The suspect will be charged in federal court on Monday with assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer, Blanche said, adding he did not know if there was an Iran connection to the attack. Further federal indictments will be coming later, Blanche said.

Saturday's incident was another reminder of a rising tide of political violence in the United States in recent years. Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a rally last September, just months after the June 2025 slaying of Democratic Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and the wounding of a Minnesota state senator.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the days following Kirk's murder found Americans believe increasingly harsh rhetoric surrounding politics is encouraging violence in the U.S.

A White House official said law enforcement officials who interviewed Allen's sister were told he had a tendency to make radical statements, had attended an anti-Trump "No Kings" protest and referred to a plan to do "something" to fix issues with today's world.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump suggested the protest might have spurred the suspect to action. "Part of the reason you have people like that is you have people doing No Kings," he told CBS. "I'm not a king."

Around the world, leaders condemned the attack and expressed relief that Trump and all present were safe.

A planned U.S. visit by King Charles of Britain scheduled to start on Monday will proceed, Trump and British officials said.

Little was immediately known about the alleged shooter's background, but social media posts indicated he had worked at C2 Education, a national private test preparation and tutoring service. C2 Education said in a statement that it was cooperating with law enforcement investigators.

Advertisement Advertisement

Washington Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

Allen had purchased two handguns and a shotgun and stored them at his parents' home, the White House official said.

The suspect lived with his parents in a two-story house on a tree-lined street with picket fences and craftsman-style homes in the historic district of Torrance, a seaside town in the South Bay area of greater Los Angeles.

Neighbors in the middle-class neighborhood on Sunday said they were only casually acquainted with him and his parents, with most saying they never spoke to him beyond a brief hello or waving to them as they gave Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters.

(Additional reporting by Bo Erikson, Kanishka Singh, David Shepardson, Tim Reid, Steve Gorman, Jasper Ward, Gram Slattery, Andrea Shalal and Katharine Jackson in Washington, Nichola Groom in Los Angeles and Mike Spector in New York; Writing by David Lawder, Tim Reid and Andy Sullivan; Editing by William Mallard, Sergio Non, Ross Colvin, Caitlin Webber, Bill Berkrot, Deepa Babington and Nick Zieminski)
The U.K. will seek to smooth over its special relationship with the U.S. next week, when it deploys King Charles III for a state visit with President Trump.

The royal tour comes Trump has lambasted the countrys Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not being supportive of the U.S. war in Iran and its reluctance to help Washington control the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite Trumps criticism of Starmer, the president has only had praise for the king and the British royal family.

Advertisement Advertisement

President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship was further strengthened by the presidents historic visit to the United Kingdom last year, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

The president looks forward to a special visit by Their Majesties, which will include a beautiful State Dinner and multiple events throughout the week, she continued.

Trump said in an interview with the BBC on Thursday that he believes Charless visit could absolutely help mend relations between the White House and Downing Street.

But the relationship remains in a fragile state.

Advertisement Advertisement

On Thursday in the Oval Office, Trump threatened to put a big tariff on the U.K., which is taxing U.S. tech companies. A Pentagon memo surfaced Friday that laid out potential ideas for punishing countries that have not shown adequate support for the U.S. in its war with Iran, including reviewing the U.K.s claim to the Falkland Islands.

The visit also takes place as Starmer is facing issues domestically over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britains ambassador to the U.S. and his subsequent firing over mentions in the Jeffrey Epstein files. And Starmer has stood firm, as recently as Thursday, on keeping his country out of Iran, citing the United Kingdoms best national interest.

Ed Owen, former U.K. government adviser and fellow of the Atlantic Council, told The Hill that the kings visit comes at a time when the political relationships between London and Washington are particularly fraught.

His visit will, I hope, act as a timely reminder of why the strategic relationship between the U.K. and U.S. in a world of insecurity and instability is so important.

Advertisement Advertisement

A U.K. official also highlighted the soft power that British royals wield, bringing a kind of unique sparkle and engagement. They use that influence to shine light on and celebrate others who do great work to drive the U.S.-U.K. relationship.

What the Windsors do in these moments of tension is really valuable, and especially for a president like Trump, who is so clearly enamored by royalty, said Elizabeth Holmes, an American journalist who covers the British royal family and the author of HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style.

I would assume that the president is going to be on his best behavior here. Hes not going to want to do anything to look any sort of way in front of the royals, she continued.

While members of the royal family are publicly apolitical, the king was outspoken on a number of political issues prior to becoming king, including environmental issues.

Advertisement Advertisement

Holmes said Charles, who is also set to address a joint session of Congress during the trip, will likely lobby for British interests in a more subtle manner.

There is a lot going on in global politics right now, and I would be surprised if he did not take this opportunity to, in some way, shape or form, press forward Britains interests, she said. The Palace is always encouraging people to read between the lines of his speeches. His speeches speak for themselves.

The visit marks the second royal visit this month from a NATO member country amid Trumps growing rift with the international body, demonstrating the diplomatic tightrope royals are walking in meeting with Trump. Earlier this month, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended a White House dinner with Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

Charless state visit has been two years in the making and predates both Trumps and Starmers time in office.

Advertisement Advertisement

The plans in place to celebrate Americas 250th birthday hope to mirror the pomp and circumstance of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philips visit in July 1976 as part of the bicentennial celebrations. They traveled to Philadelphia, Washington, Virginia, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Charles and Camilla will travel to D.C. and New York, as well as Virginia, where they will meet with Appalachian cultural groups.

The king and queen will also be seen engaging across issues such as business, tech, defense, creative industries, the arts, culture and promoting Britains strengths and the partnership in those fields.

Its celebrating others and shining a light on positive things in the relationship that the royals do, rather than get into nuts and bolts of what we think about Ukraine or Iran or gas prices, and that is generally how they operate across the world on royal visits, the British official added.

The visit also comes as both the king and Trump are seeking to cement their legacies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Frankly, he has not been on the throne for that long. He certainly will not reign as long as his mother. He is thinking about his legacy here and what he could do and the ways in which he could have an impact, Holmes said.

Trump, in his second administration, has focused on foreign policy in an effort to cement his place in history. But even with the flattery of the king, its unclear how the visit will impact the presidents policy moving forward.

The wild card here, of course, is Trump, she said. He feels like he can change his mind on a dime. How long will any credit earned on this visit last remains to be seen, but I think its important.

However, there is skepticism that this visit will do much to improve fraught relations between Trump and Starmer. Raheem Kassam, former chief adviser to Nigel Farage, told The Hill that this trip is more about pageantry than politics.

Advertisement Advertisement

While it might look nice for the two nations to be getting along for some newspaper front pages, the underlying tension will remain, and likely get worse, 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.
The gunman at a gala dinner in Washington held anti-Christian views, US President Donald Trump told Fox News on Sunday.

"If you read his manifesto, he hates Christians that's one thing for sure," Trump told the broadcaster. The president did not provide any further details about the document.

Trump described the attacker as a "sick guy." Family members had even provided information about the anti-Christian views to the security authorities, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

At the gala dinner with the capital's press on Saturday evening, a heavily armed man stormed through a security checkpoint and was overpowered by security forces. Shots were fired and the president was taken to safety by his bodyguards.

The suspect's motive was part of the investigation, Attorney General Todd Blanche had said earlier. Based on initial findings, investigators assume the gunman had targeted members of the Trump administration, Blanche said.
President Trump was preparing to take the stage at the White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner Saturday night, eager  by his own account  to "let it rip" before a room of Washington's elite and reporters he has spent years calling the enemy of the people.

Then shots were heard. Secret Service agents rushed him off the stage. And within hours, the president was at the White House calling for unity, offering overtures to a press corps that he had long clashed with.

"I just want to say you did a fantastic job, what a beautiful evening and we are going to reschedule," Trump told Weijia Jiang, the president of the White House Correspondents' Assn., at a news briefing after the shooting at the dinner.

Advertisement Advertisement

His magnanimity did not last long. On Sunday night, sitting down for an interview with Norah O'Donnell of CBS' "60 Minutes," Trump reacted with fury to her reading of the suspected shooter's manifesto, calling her a "disgrace."

The manifesto characterized his targets as rapists and pedophiles.

"You're horrible people. Horrible people," Trump said. "He did write that. I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody.

"I'm not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all  stuff that has nothing to do with me," he added. "You should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I'm not any of those things."

Advertisement Advertisement

It marked a return to the familiar dynamic between the president and the press after a night of shared crisis and purpose  raising doubts about how long the goodwill would last.

Just hours before, at the briefing, Trump expressed dismay at the violent outburst at the Washington Hilton, where the black-tie event has been held for more than 50 years.

Read more: From tuxedos to trenches: How media's biggest black-tie party became a violent story

"I will tell you, I fought like hell to stay, but it was protocol," the president said. On Sunday he repeated his desire to reschedule the event, telling Fox News that he is committed to attending it in the near future, even proposing to do it within 30 days.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump appeared to be enjoying himself moments before Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old tutor from Torrance, allegedly ran past a security checkpoint at the hotel and fired off two shots. Oz Pearlman, a mentalist and the entertainer for the night, seemed to be doing a trick for the president and the first lady when the shots were fired, videos show.

Trump was preparing to deliver remarks at the end of the night. His team was excited about it, and the president had been making tweaks to his speech on Air Force One up until Saturday morning.

"It will be funny. It will be entertaining," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a red carpet event ahead of the dinner.

The speech was going to mark Trump's first at the White House correspondents' dinner. He told Fox News on Sunday that he was "really going to let it rip," and that he had considered the moment an "important event" until it came to a halt.

Advertisement Advertisement

Trump said he would like to reschedule the event within the next month, adding that he will make an "entirely different speech"  one that he said will be focused on "love."

It is unclear how long Trump's media-friendly tone will last, but some Republicans continued to blame reporters for the violent act. Kari Lake, the senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, said some reporters attending the event "have spent a decade spreading absolute lies" about Trump.

Trump, for his part, used the security breach at the event to make the case for his White House ballroom project, claiming that the Washington Hilton is "not a particularly secure building" and is a prime example of why legal challenges holding up its construction need to be dismissed.

"We need the ballroom," Trump told reporters. "Today, we need levels of security that probably nobody's ever seen before."

Advertisement Advertisement

However, the annual dinner's venue is picked not by the White House, but by the White House Correspondents' Assn., an independent organization of journalists who cover the president.

Trump has vowed to return to the event in the near future, and has called for it to take place within the next month to show that "bad people" cannot "change the course of the country." But the ballroom project could not be ready that quickly.

It remains under construction and "ahead of schedule," Trump has said. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court allowed construction on the project to continue through early June, as legal challenges remain ongoing.

Read more: What we know about Cole Tomas Allen, Torrance teacher suspected in D.C. shooting

Advertisement Advertisement

The construction of the $400-million ballroom on the White House grounds has come under searing scrutiny. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued last year to stop the project, has argued that Trump lacked authority to make architectural changes to the White House grounds.

Carol Quillen, president and chief executive of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has argued the White House is "the most evocative building in our country" and any changes should go through a review process, including a public comment period. Trump on Sunday described the lawsuit as one brought by a "woman walking a dog."

The attempted attack, which marks the third time in less than two years that Trump has faced the threat of a gunman, has reignited questions about the tense political environment besetting the United States.

Trump, for his part, called his job a "dangerous profession" and said he believed he has become the target of attacks because of his presidency's own consequence.

Advertisement Advertisement

"The people that do the most, the people that make the biggest impact, they are the people that they go after," Trump told reporters at the White House after being rushed out of the hotel.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he added: "If you're a consequential president, you're in much more danger than if you're not a consequential president."

As an example, Trump pointed to his war in Iran, a conflict that recent polling shows has contributed to his approval rating falling to around 40%. The president said the war "should've been done by previous presidents ... but nobody did anything about it."

At Saturday night's dinner, people infiltrated the hotel to protest the Iran war and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Advertisement Advertisement

Two demonstrators, wearing suits, crashed a red carpet photo shoot in the hotel lobby and called for Hegseth to be arrested for war crimes, underscoring how the foreign conflict is fueling the political rhetoric at home.

In the hours after the shooting, Trump remained defiant. In an interview, he said he was determined to show a unified front and not let "one nut" derail his agenda or events.

I hate it when a sick, bad person," he told Fox News on Sunday. "I hate someone like that changing the course of our country."

Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on Saturday morning, the White House has said.

"The Iranians want to talk," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that US Vice-President JD Vance was "on standby" to travel if the talks proved successful.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said he and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad early on Saturday, and Araghchi would be meeting "Pakistani high-level officials".

Advertisement Advertisement

He added that: "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan."

Ahead of Baqaei's comments, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tehran had a chance to make a "good deal", stressing that "all they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon and in meaningful and verifiable ways".

At Friday's news briefing, Hegseth also warned that Washington's continuing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - a major oil shipping route - was "growing and going global".

The US and Israel began attacking Iran on 28 February, and Tehran subsequently restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Advertisement Advertisement

The moves by the warring sides have sent oil prices skyrocketing around the globe.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Leavitt said Trump had decided to send Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad "to hear the Iranians out", adding that US president is "always willing to give diplomacy a chance".

Leavitt added that "we've certainly seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days".

Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad said Araghchi planned to "review bilateral matters" and discuss regional developments.

Trump and Hegseth have insisted this week that the US is not feeling pressure to end the war with Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

But news that the US-Iran talks are continuing this weekend underscores yet again the divide between the administration's public pronouncements and behind-the-scenes push by the White House to find a way to wind down the war.

This suggests both sides are seeking a path forward, despite the continued mixed messages from Trump and aggressive posturing from Tehran.

The open question now is how much progress the countries can make in Pakistan.

Advertisement Advertisement

JD Vance led the US delegation in the first round of talks earlier this month but so far is not confirmed to be going to the negotiations this weekend.

Vance's absence, if he does not go, might mean the two countries do not expect a major breakthrough. But the fact that the talks are continuing shows both the US and Iran are interested in a deal.

On Wednesday, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that it was "not possible" for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened due to "the blatant violations of the ceasefire" by the US and Israel.

He said the "violations" included the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which he said amounted to taking the global economy "hostage", and "warmongering" by Israel "on all fronts".

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained open to negotiations with the US but added that "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations".

Earlier this week, Trump announced an indefinite extension to the ceasefire with Iran, which was due to expire on Wednesday, so that negotiations could continue.

In other developments on Friday:
(NewsNation)  The president of Turning Point USAs University of Georgia chapter says the organization has strayed from the mission it had under the leadership of Charlie Kirk.

Caroline Mattox wrote on Instagram that she could not in good conscience stay with an organization that has strayed so far from its original purpose and principles.

Following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk during a Utah event last year, his widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over as the CEO of Turning Point USA.

Advertisement Advertisement

Police take barricaded person into custody in missing USF students case

Mattox made her post following an event where the organization hosted Vice President JD Vance on campus.

She cited concerns about the organizations messaging and current trajectory.

Charlie spent his life fighting for truth, and I do not believe he would stand for the blatant dishonesty now being spread by the organization that he built, she wrote.

Erika Kirk was set to interview Vance at the April event but did not attend. Vance told the audience there had been some threats prior to the event.

DOJ bringing back firing squads as option for federal executions

Advertisement Advertisement

Mattox is not the first TPUSA chapter president to express dissatisfaction with the organizations current direction.

The University of Arkansas chapter cut ties with TPUSA last month. Former President Dino Fantegrossi also expressed the sentiment that TPUSA had strayed from its original mission.

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.
By Michael Holden and Sam Tabahriti

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - King Charles' state visit to the U.S. will go ahead as planned on Monday despite a shooting at a White House dinner attended by President Donald Trump, Buckingham Palace said after discussions with U.S. officials.

Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, are due to arrive on Monday for a four-day state visit, but questions arose after a man opened fire on security personnel near the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, prompting Secret Service agents to rush Trump from the venue.

Advertisement Advertisement

"I think it's great; he'll be very safe," Trump said in an interview on CBS News' "60 Minutes." "The White House grounds are really safe."

Trump also said there was no indication from authorities that there were additional threats to himself or other officials.

U.S. authorities believe the shooting likely targeted the president and administration officials, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

Blanche also said he was confident Charles would be safe during this week's visit to the U.S.

The four-day trip - which is to include a private meeting with Trump and an address to Congress marking 250 years since U.S. independence  is intended to reinforce the strained U.S.-British relationship amid differences over the Iran war.

Advertisement Advertisement

KING AND QUEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO VISIT

"Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the state visit by their majesties will proceed as planned," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.

"The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow."

A palace source said there might be small operational changes to one or two engagements.

Earlier, the spokesperson said Charles was being kept fully informed of developments and was relieved that Trump, his wife and all guests had been unharmed.

Advertisement Advertisement

Charles and Camilla have also privately reached out to Trump and his wife - first lady Melania Trump - to express their sympathies, a palace source said.

British senior minister Darren Jones said earlier on Sunday that the government would continue to cooperate closely with U.S. security services ahead of Charles' visit and that extensive discussions already under way would continue in the coming days.

"In respect of His Majesty's visit to the United States next week ... our security services obviously remain in close cooperation in advance of that," Jones told Sky News.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Michael Holden, Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Helen Popper and Thomas Derpinghaus)
By Dan Peleschuk

KYIV, April 26 (Reuters) - Ukraine commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster on Sunday, amid fears that Russia's four-year war could spark a repeat of the world's worst nuclear accident that led to thousands of deaths and devastating environmental consequences.

Marking the disaster - which spewed radioactive material across much of Europe as Soviet authorities sought to hide its true scale - has taken on sharp new meaning during Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour.

Advertisement Advertisement

Kyiv says Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones on a flight path near the plant to attack Ukrainian cities, even damaging a critical protective shield in an attack last year.

Russian forces also occupy Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the southeast, which Kyiv's state atomic agency said on Sunday suffered its 15th temporary blackout since Kremlin troops took over in March 2022.

On Sunday, foreign officials including the EU energy commissioner arrived in Kyiv to commemorate the anniversary and pledge fresh support for Ukraine's power system, which is regularly targeted by Russian air strikes.

Sombre ceremonies took place in Kyiv and at the Chornobyl plant itself - which was briefly occupied in the first weeks of war - where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy laid a candle alongside the visiting Moldovan president and other officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Right now, the risks are no less great because of what Russia is doing with our Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, and in general with our energy and our land," Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv.

WAR DAMAGE

A Russian drone strike in February 2025 punctured a massive arc installed over part of the Chornobyl plant in 2016 to shield a sarcophagus built in 1986 to cover tons of radioactive debris. No leaks were detected, and workers have patched up the hole.

But the arc needs at least 500 million euros' worth of more extensive repairs to prevent permanent damage, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is helping raise funds for the project.

Advertisement Advertisement

Speaking in Kyiv on Sunday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said repairs should start as soon as possible.

Kyiv's top state prosecutor told Reuters that Ukrainian radars had detected at least 92 Russian drones that had flown within a 5-km (3-mile) radius of the shield since June 2024.

Nuclear power has become the backbone of Ukraine's energy system since Russia's full-scale invasion, accounting for around 70% of total power generation, according to state-owned firm Energoatom.

Control of the Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest, is one of the most contentious points in U.S.-brokered peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow that have produced few results.

Advertisement Advertisement

LONG-LASTING CONSEQUENCES

Millions were exposed to radiation, hundreds of thousands forced to flee, and wide swathes of land contaminated after the accidental explosion and resulting meltdown inside reactor four at the Soviet-built Chornobyl plant in the early hours of April 26, 1986.

Thousands 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.

Pope Leo on Sunday said the Chornobyl disaster had left a mark on humankind's collective conscience, and he urged that atomic power "always be used to support life and peace".

Advertisement Advertisement

Serhii Balashov, one of those who worked on the clean-up, told Reuters that Soviet authorities sought to cover up the consequences of the accident even among those who had played a critical role in containing it.

"They didn't even acknowledge the link between our illnesses and being in Chornobyl for the clean-up," he said on the sidelines of the memorial ceremony in Kyiv.

Some 100 km north of Kyiv and circled by a 2,600-sq-km exclusion zone, the plant - which Reuters visited on Wednesday - is now shrouded in an eerie calm.

National Guardsmen patrol the facility, where around 2,250 employees work in days-long shifts overseeing its gradual decommissioning. The plant's last reactor was shut down in 2000.

Advertisement Advertisement

The control room for reactor four is now a darkened space of mangled and rusted Soviet-era equipment.

Moose and wild horses roam the area around the plant and the nearby abandoned city of Prypiat, in a sign of how nature has taken over in the absence of humans.

(Additional reporting by Anna Voitenko; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Alexandra Hudson, Aidan Lewis)
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA, April 24 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office said on Friday it has documented patterns of attacks on civilians in populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel that may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, which began after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to respond with a largescale military offensive.

Advertisement Advertisement

Since then, nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities, amid widespread displacement and heavy damage to civilian infrastructure. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension to a ceasefire.

The Israeli military and Hezbollah did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment about the report.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STRUCK, OHCHR SAYS

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented several cases in which Israeli strikes hit, and in some instances destroyed, multistorey residential buildings, killing entire families in Lebanon, which may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said.

Advertisement Advertisement

The report cited the example of an Israeli strike on March 8 that hit a multistorey residential building in the town of Sir elGharbiyeh, in the Nabatiyeh governorate. The strike killed at least 13 civilians inside the building, including five women, five men, two boys and a girl.

The office said incidents such as this raised concerns about compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack under international humanitarian law.

The report also said the OHCHR had found Hezbollah was firing unguided rockets that lacked the precision required to strike specific military targets, and damaged buildings and other civilian infrastructure in Israel, which likely violated international humanitarian law.

While the office noted that notifications, including blanket evacuation warnings, had been issued by Israeli forces before some strikes in Lebanon, it identified cases in which warnings were either not given, were ineffective, or prevented many civilians from evacuating safely.

Advertisement Advertisement

WARNING AFTER JOURNALIST KILLED

Meanwhile, the OHCHR also said on Friday that attacks on journalists could amount to war crimes if they were deliberate.

An Israeli strike on Wednesday killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured photographer Zeinab Faraj, who was accompanying her in southern Lebanon.

Rescue teams, including the Lebanese Red Cross, faced obstruction by the Israeli military when trying to reach them, Lebanon's health ministry said.

"This included the use of a sound grenade and live fire targeting an ambulance, delaying access to the site," Al-Kheetan added.

Advertisement Advertisement

The Israeli military said the Israeli Air Force troops struck a vehicle and a structure after two vehicles in southern Lebanon were identified as leaving a Hezbollah military site, and crossed the Forward Defence Line, which posed an immediate threat.

It received reports that two journalists were injured, the army said, but it did not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area. The army does not deliberately target journalists or medical teams and the incident is under review, it added.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva; Additional reporting by Maya Gbeily in Beirut; Editing by Alison Williams)
UNRWA let go of 571 staff members in January due to financial constraints, amid a decline in donations and ongoing public criticism from Israel and organizations like UN Watch.

Schools managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have reduced their educational activities to a four-day week in response to significant funding issues, UNRWAs West Bank assistant field public information officer Abeer Midhat Ismail confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The reduction in school days was prompted by financial difficulties and accompanied a 20% reduction in the working hours of UNRWA staff.

Advertisement Advertisement

The measures are expected to continue through to the end of the academic year.

In January, the UN agency let go of 571 staff members due to financial constraints. An UNRWA spokesperson claimed that its services totaled $880 million in 2025, but the UN agency received only around $570m. in contributions, according to Agence France-Presse.

Hamas members amongst UNRWA staff

The decline in donations coincides with the ongoing public criticism by Israel and organizations like UN Watch on its failures to weed out Hamas from its personnel and facilities. Throughout the war in Gaza, the IDF uncovered terror hubs in UNRWA schools and headquarters, and members of UNRWAs staff were found to be members of Hamas and/or involved in the October 7 massacre.

A man enters a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (credit: Zain JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)

The remains of Yonatan Samerano were kidnapped to Gaza by UNRWA social worker Faisal Ali Mussalam al-Naami during the massacre, and Ditza Heiman was held captive by an UNRWA teacher for more than 50 days. Roland Friedrich, the director of UNRWAs West Bank field office, told the Post that the reduction in educational activities further threatens the stability of the region.

Advertisement Advertisement

Whenever children are not in school and are out in the streets, particularly males, that raises the risk of delinquency and radicalization, he stressed.

UNRWA currently provides services to those with refugee status  around a third of the West Banks population. There are currently 48,000 students enrolled in 90 UNRWA schools, an increase of 3,000 students from two years prior, with demand rapidly increasing in response to the declining economic situation in the Palestinian territories, Friedrich said.

Despite only offering classes to first- to ninth-grade students, Friedrich said many Palestinians saw UNRWA schools as a lifeline and the only reasonable alternative to PA schools, which run only three days a week. The impact of COVID-19 and the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank have severely disrupted students learning experience and outcome, he said, particularly in Ein Kerem and Jenin.

These issues threaten the health, employment opportunities, and well-being of Palestinian students, he concluded.
The U.S. Embassy in London on Friday warned Americans to "exercise increased caution" while visiting Jewish and American areas in the U.K. and in Europe because of a recent rise in threats.

"The U.S. Embassy in London notes recent attacks and threats targeting Jewish and American institutions in the United Kingdom and Europe," the alert said. "U.S. citizens, particularly those visiting institutions serving Jewish or American interests, should remain alert and exercise increased caution."

The embassy further advised Americans to remain alert while visiting tourist and expat areas and houses of worship, review personal security plans and to check local media for updates.

Advertisement Advertisement

Concerned citizens can also enroll in the State Department's Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel and security updates.

Nra Forges Historic Partnership With Jewish Group Amid Rising Antisemitism

Charred remains of ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish community organization, are seen after a fire in northwest London on March 23, 2026. Police are treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime. (Reuters)

The advisory followed a series of recent antisemitic attacks in the U.K. and in Europe, including an arson attack on four ambulances linked to a Jewish charity in London on March 23, an April 18 attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in London, and a March explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam that authorities called a "targeted attack against the Jewish community."

Read On The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

No one was injured, but the school was damaged.

Antisemitic Attacker Faced 30-Year Sentence, Gets Less Than 1 Years In Plea Deal

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to Kenton United Synagogue in the Kenton district of London, Britain, on April 23, 2026. The synagogue was recently the target of an arson attack.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

U.K. authorities are investigating whether "thugs for hire" backed by Iran are instigating the attacks in London, GB News reported.

Police officers patrol near Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, a suburb of London, on April 19, 2026.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Jewish Chronicle: "In relation to malign state actors more generally, proscription, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures, and that is legislation that we're bringing forward as soon as we can."





Original article source: US embassy in London warns to 'exercise increased caution' near Jewish sites in UK, Europe after attacks
The Trump administration has frozen $344 million in cryptocurrency it says was linked to Iran as the United States ratchets up pressure on Tehran.

The move, first reported by CNN, comes as shaky diplomatic efforts to reach a deal to end the war continue to stall and the global economy reels from its impact. The administration has sought to increase economic pressure on Iran during the tenuous ceasefire. Its unclear if the large sum of money seized will have an impact on Tehran or its approach to the war and negotiations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the agency is sanctioning multiple wallets tied to Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

We will follow the money that Tehran is desperately attempting to move outside of the country and target all financial lifelines tied to the regime, he said in a statement.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

On Thursday, Tether, a digital currency company that facilitates crypto transactions around the world, announced it had supported the US government in freezing $344 million in cryptocurrency across two addresses, after information was shared by several U.S. authorities about activity tied to unlawful conduct.

A US official told CNN that the government had information linking the currency to Iran.

Advertisement Advertisement

Working with blockchain analytics experts, the US government has observed evidence of material links to the Iranian regime, including confirmed transactions with Iranian exchanges and a series of transactions routed through intermediary addresses that interact with Central Bank of Iran-associated wallets, the official said.

CNN has not independently corroborated that the Tether accounts were linked to Iran.

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has used increasingly complex methods to obfuscate its involvement in cross-border transactions using digital assets, as they seek to stabilize the rial and facilitate international trade in an increasingly restricted environment, the US official said Friday.

The Treasury Department maintains an active dialogue with numerous US and foreign financial institutions, including digital assets exchanges, the official said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Heavily sanctioned regimes like Iran, Russia and North Korea have increasingly turned to cryptocurrency, which is less regulated that the traditional banking system, to generate revenue and skirt sanctions.

Cryptocurrency holdings in Iran reached $7.8 billion in 2025, growing at a faster rate for most of the year than in 2024, according to crypto-tracing firm Chainalysis. Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accounted for roughly half of those holdings on the blockchain in the last quarter of 2025, mirroring its dominance in Irans economy more broadly, Chainalysis said.

When these wallets were regularly active several years ago, they engaged in frequent, large transfers of up to tens of millions of dollars, largely with other private wallets, Chainalysis said in a statement to CNN on Friday, referring to the Tether accounts the US government that were frozen. These patterns are consistent with how weve observed other known IRGC wallets move funds on chain.

Daniel Tannebaum, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said that the freeze of the assets is meaningful, but given how sanctioned Iran is, I dont think it necessarily moves the needle for thwarting Irans attempts to continue operating in the state of the conflict as it is right now.

Advertisement Advertisement

Iran has been sanctioned for decades and has put mechanisms in place to adapt, he said. Some countries have continued to do business with Iran despite the sanctions.

The way to get at Iran at this point, because Iran is truly sanctioned out, is to go with the third country actors enabling them, including China, he told CNN.

Later on Friday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a China-based independent teapot refinery for purchasing billions in Iranian petroleum.

Tannebaum also noted that Iran has been leveraging crypto-related funds for years.

They will use it with actors that are trying to stay outside of the US banking system, said Tannebaum, who is also a partner at Oliver Wyman. Iran is really trying to use any methods they can to pay for additional armaments, military support that they need at present.

Advertisement Advertisement

Last year, hackers widely believed to be operating in support of or on behalf of Israel stole the equivalent of about $90 million from Irans largest cryptocurrency exchange amid Israeli military strikes on Iran.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
April 25 - U.S. Central Command said it intercepted a merchant vessel trying to get through the blockade of Iran on Saturday. Here are some details:

 The ship, identified as the Sevan, was part of a 19-vessel "shadow fleet" transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, the U.S. military said.

 Central Command said it was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a U.S. Navy helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney and was "currently complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort."

Advertisement Advertisement

 The shadow fleet vessels have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for activities related to transporting billions of dollars' worth of Iranian energy, oil and gas products, including propane and butane, to foreign markets, Central Command said.

 Since the blockade began, 37 ships have been "redirected," the U.S. military said.

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Houston; Editing by Sergio Non and Edwina Gibbs)
A retired pastor in the United Kingdom is awaiting a ruling after standing trial Wednesday on criminal charges relating to a gospel sermon he preached near a hospital.

Clive Johnston, 77, faces two charges from a July 7, 2024, sermon on John 3:16 he delivered near Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Prosecutors claim he violated Northern Irelands Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act 2023 by preaching near a hospital where abortions are performed. If convicted, he could face a criminal record and a fine of up to 2,500 ($3,376).

Advertisement Advertisement

Mamdani In The Hot Seat After First Veto Derails Bipartisan Effort To Combat Antisemitism: 'Disappointed'

Johnston may be the first person prosecuted under the law for preaching a sermon unrelated to abortion in a protected zone, according to the Christian Institute, which is supporting his legal case.

At Wednesday's hearing at Coleraine Magistrates' Court, a district judge announced he would reserve judgment until May 7, according to the legal group.

Read On The Fox News App

A newly released police bodycam video of the July 2024 incident was shared with Fox News Digital Wednesday. In the video, an officer approaches Johnston to tell him he is in a clearly marked safe access zone and cannot be filming or preaching in the area.

Advertisement Advertisement

"You can say to yourself, in the goodness of my heart, I am coming here to preach the word of God," the officer says at one point. "However, if you are reckless, as to the effect that it could have on patients, staff or any protected person, then you may be committing an offense."

"That is an incredible thought," Johnston replies in the video. "Because what you're saying is the word of God, which the country has had free to proclaim and read in church for hundreds of years, freedom since the Magna Carta, suddenly could become offensive because it's outside a hospital."

The officer told Johnston he may go inside the chaplaincy area in the hospital if he wants a "safe area" to give "religious guidance or comfort or help."

"But while you're out here in the safe access zone, any act in that area which may dissuade any protected person from availing services, harassment or cause them distress, is an offense," he added.

Advertisement Advertisement

Prosecutors accuse Johnston of "influencing a protected person, whether directly or indirectly," by conducting a "protest" near the hospital, where abortions are performed, in violation of the 2023 law. He is also accused of failing to leave the safe access zone when directed.

The Christian Institute said Johnstons sermon did not mention abortion.

Ahead of the hearing, the U.S. State Department expressed concern about Johnstons case.

The U.S. State Department said it was continuing to "monitor" several buffer zone cases in the United Kingdom. (Getty Images)

"The United States is still monitoring many 'buffer zone' cases in the U.K., as well as other acts of censorship across Europe," the department told The Telegraph.

Advertisement Advertisement

Referring to other cases of Christians prosecuted under the abortion law for silent prayer, the department added, "The U.K.s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin U.S.-U.K. relations."

Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture

Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Christian Institute, said Johnstons prosecution sets a troubling new precedent in the U.K.

"Should a law designed to stop abortion protests be used to criminalize gospel preaching? John 3:16 is a wonderful, famous verse, and everyone knows it says nothing about abortion," he said in a press release.

Advertisement Advertisement

"We have amazing freedom in this country to share the Christian message. Thats why weve taken on this case. Prosecuting Pastor Johnston for preaching God so loved the world near a hospital on a quiet Sunday is a shocking new attempt to restrict freedom of religion and freedom of speech in a part of the world where open-air gospel services are a part of the culture."

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Johnston said he was grateful the judge decided to take time to think about his case before issuing a ruling because "there is a lot at stake."

"Its a difficult thing to go through, but we are upheld by the prayers of Gods people, and we have drawn near to Christ for help and strength," he said. "Christ is the most precious thing in the world to us, and that is why we are so keen to talk about him in the highways and byways of this land that we love."





Original article source: US monitoring concerning UK prosecution of retired pastor who preached John 3:16 near hospital
Carol Burnett "used to climb the Hollywood sign" as a child.

Carol Burnett has reflected on her childhood

The 93-year-old actress grew up in Los Angeles, and she's admitted to being a little unruly during her younger years.

The movie star - who grew up just north of Hollywood Boulevard - told People: "The neighbourhood kids, we used to climb the Hollywood sign. It's a wonder we didn't break our necks."

Carol enjoyed a simple life during her younger years, and she recalled climbing the Hollywood sign as a fun way to pass the time.

She said: "We would be flying a kite or roller skating or something. The Os were my favourite!"

Carol didn't grow up in a rich family, and she remembers going to watch second-run films with her grandma because they were more affordable.

She shared: "We very seldom went to a first-run because we didn't have the money. But the second runs, there would be double features. And it would be before I was 12, it was like a dime or 11 cents for me and a quarter for my grandmother. So we could afford that."

Carol previously admitted that she just wanted to "go to the movies" as a child.

The veteran actress revealed that she's always been fascinated with the film industry.

She told Interview magazine: "My grandmother used to schlepp me around Hollywood Boulevard. All I wanted to do was go to the movies."

Asked why she was raised by her grandmother, Carol explained: "My mother moved out here. She wanted to be a writer. She and my father were separated on and off. They left me with my grandmother in Texas. Then we moved out here to join my mother and they were separated.

"I just stayed with my grandmother. We lived in an apartment building in Hollywood. My mother lived across the hall. My dad was an alcoholic. Then my mother became one. They both died when they were 46."
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Friday sanctioned a major Chinese oil refinery and dozens of ships tied to Iran's "shadow fleet," escalating efforts to choke off Tehran's main source of revenue.

Officials said in a press release the move targets Hengli Petrochemical, one of Irans largest oil buyers, along with a network of shipping companies and tankers responsible for transporting billions of dollars worth of petroleum products to foreign markets.

The Treasury Department identified these "shadow fleet" vessels as the financial lifeline for Iran's "unstable regime."

Advertisement Advertisement

Second Tanker Seized Near Venezuela As Us Enforces Oil Blockade

The crackdown is part of Economic Fury, a broader campaign to squeeze Irans economy by limiting its ability to sell oil abroad, revenue the U.S. says funds the regimes military and destabilizing activities across the Middle East.

"Economic Fury is imposing a financial stranglehold on the Iranian regime, hampering its aggression in the Middle East and helping to curtail its nuclear ambitions," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Read On The Fox News App

An oil tanker near the terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, as U.S. officials and analysts consider whether seizing the island could significantly impact Iran's oil exports. (Getty Images)

Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co. is a China-based "teapot" refinery, a term used for independent facilities known for purchasing discounted crude, including from sanctioned countries.

Advertisement Advertisement

The refinery, one of Chinas largest independent facilities, has received Iranian oil cargoes from sanctioned shadow fleet vessels since at least 2023. Hengli has also purchased oil tied to Irans armed forces, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the Iranian military.

Hengli has also received shipments tied to Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company, a firm identified by U.S. officials as a front for Irans armed forces that helps facilitate oil sales abroad.

The company operates on behalf of Irans Armed Forces General Staff, using a network of intermediaries and vessels to move sanctioned crude, with proceeds helping fund the countrys military programs and regional proxy groups.

Irans Remaining Weapons: How Tehran Can Still Disrupt The Strait Of Hormuz

Advertisement Advertisement

The new sanctions also target the network that makes these oil sales possible, a "shadow fleet" of aging tankers and shell companies that move petroleum across global markets while evading sanctions and obscuring the origin of shipments.

These ships avoid detection by transferring cargo from one tanker to another in the open ocean. Treasury officials said 19 vessels were targeted in the action.

The move is part of the Trump administrations renewed "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, aimed at cutting off the regimes primary source of revenue through oil exports and sanctions enforcement.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Advertisement Advertisement

U.S. officials say oil exports remain the backbone of Irans economy, and efforts to restrict those flows are designed to limit the governments ability to fund its military, support proxy groups and advance its nuclear program.

Treasury officials warned that additional sanctions are likely as the U.S. continues targeting the networks, intermediaries and buyers that enable Iran to move oil on the global market.





Original article source: US targets Chinese refinery in sweeping Iran oil crackdown, sanctions shadow fleet tankers
Incumbent Rep. Mike Kennedy will be the Republican nominee for Utahs 4th Congressional District.

At the GOP State Convention at Utah Valley University on Saturday, Kennedy won 78.7% of the delegates vote.

Kennedy filled former Rep. John Curtis seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after Curtis announced a Senate run in 2024.

Im a family doctor. Ive done that for 25 years. Im an attorney as well, and I was in the state legislature for 10 years, Kennedy said on Saturday, after walking on stage to the Rocky theme song.

Advertisement Advertisement

He described himself as a pragmatic conservative whos thoughtful and civil.

Kennedy has performed well at Republican conventions since he entered the political scene. In 2018, he edged out former Utah Sen. Mitt Romney 51% to 49%.

Since the congressional maps were finalized at the end of February, Kennedy said he called every delegate in his district.

You have done a great job telling me about whats going on in your lives, and in fact, Ive introduced a bill to adopt some of the ideas youve given me, Kennedy said. The congressman then referenced his recent PROTECT Act, which aims to curb H-1B visa misuse by removing financial incentives for employers to hire foreign labor.

Advertisement Advertisement

Kennedy has also passed legislation focused on social issues.

During his 10-year term in Utahs Legislature, Kennedy said he had the privilege to run the bill to ban transgender surgeries on minors in this state.

Rep. Mike Kennedy, candidate for Congressional District 4, speaks during the Utah Republican Party State Nominating Convention at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, April 25, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

I will tell you right now, if theres any federal legislation thats going to jeopardize that bill, I will vote against it, and I have done that, he said. I have voted over and over to keep men out of womens locker rooms, men out of womens bathrooms and men out of womens sports.

He added, I am proud to stand with you as a conservative.

The other candidates earned 204 votes from delegates. Scott Hatfield brought in 11%, Seth Steward brought in 5.2%, Isaiah Hardman brought in 3.8% and Tyrone Jensen brought in 1.4%.

Correction: This article previously said the bill mentioned was the TECH Act.
A van driver who killed the passenger of a broken-down car on a smart motorway where the safety alert system was malfunctioning has been given a suspended sentence.

Barry O'Sullivan was driving his work van on the M4 in Berkshire when he hit the Nissan Micra, which burst into flames with 68-year-old Pulvinder Dhillon inside.

Dhillon's daughter had been driving and was able to escape, but the grandmother from London died despite rescue attempts made by other motorists.

Advertisement Advertisement

O'Sullivan, 45, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving. He was given a six-month jail term, suspended for 12 months. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Prosecutors at Reading Crown Court said any competent driver should still have avoided the Micra as it stood stranded on the M4 westbound between junctions 11 and 12.

The defence argued an accident was always likely to happen and that O'Sullivan, of Wixams, Bedfordshire, was failed by the smart motorway system.

The Nissan Micra was parked in the outside lane of the M4 for about six minutes before the crash in March 2022 [BBC]

Its system to alert motorists of obstructions had not been working for days before.

Advertisement Advertisement

O'Sullivan was found to have been driving his Ford Transit Connect van at about 77mph and was not wearing a seatbelt in the moments before the crash at about 08:30 GMT.

Footage taken in the moments before the impact showed 35 motorists passing the Micra safely.

Judge Amjad Nawaz said it was O'Sullivan's "duty" as a driver to ensure he was driving safely, regardless of the alleged failures with the smart motorway.

"No warning does not mean any event cannot occur," he said.

He said O'Sullivan suffered a "momentary lapse of concentration" at the wheel, the cause of which had never been established.

Pulvinder Dhillon was "loved and respected by all she knew", her family said [Family handout]

The judge added: "Nothing the defendant said explained why he didn't see the car ahead.

Advertisement Advertisement

"There were plenty of cues, and no evidence of slowing down."

Dhillon's youngest son Manvir said in a statement read to the court that his mother left Tanzania and an abusive husband when she moved to the UK to raise her children.

He said she was his "best friend" and was the "heart and soul" of their family.

"Just the day before this horrific incident, she had been at a party, dancing away and living her life to the fullest, as she had always done," the statement read.

"One day she was dancing and the next she is no longer alive. How could we ever forget this and move on?

Advertisement Advertisement

"It was so sudden and although it has nearly been four years, we are still unable to fully process this."

O'Sullivan, pictured during his trial earlier this year, had said the faulty smart motorway was to blame [BBC]

For O'Sullivan, defence barrister Ian Bridge said he was "filled with remorse" and that the impact of what happened remained profound.

O'Sullivan spent months in hospital after the crash, cannot walk more than 10m without becoming breathless and uses a crutch.

Bridge said what happened was an "utter disaster from everyone's point of view."

In a statement read to the court, O'Sullivan added: "There is not a day I don't think about how sorry I am about this situation. This is something that will truly haunt me forever."

'Reckless'

Investigating officer Det Sgt Mark Dunne, from Thames Valley Police, said: "Although the detection system on the smart motorway was not functioning at the time, other drivers saw the stranded Nissan vehicle and took the necessary evasive action, and we received a number of 999 calls alerting us to the break down in a live lane.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Tragically, prior to our arrival on scene, O'Sullivan collided with the Nissan, causing a catastrophic injury to Pulvinder.

"Our case was always that the manner of O'Sullivan's driving was careless, regardless of the status of the smart motorway systems not alerting drivers to the stranded car at the time.

"Pulvinder was a much loved person, and I hope that her family can begin to move forward with their lives in some way now that sentencing has concluded."

An inquest into Dhillon's death is expected and O'Sullivan said he would cooperate with that process.

More on this story

Related Internet Links
Walmart has announced plans to open 20 new stores this year and remodel hundreds of existing locations, including some in Massachusetts.

The retail giant said it is planning to revamp more than 650 stores across the country. The 20 new stores will open later this year or early in 2027, Walmart said in an April 16 news release.

The Arkansas-based retailer said renovations and expansions are "intended to create jobs, help strengthen local economies, and make shopping faster and more convenient for our customers."

Advertisement Advertisement

In 2024, Walmart had announced plans to open more than 100 new stores through 2029.

The latest announcement of new locations and remodels also comes after Walmart revealed a redesign of the company's Great Value private-label brand.

Will the Walmart in Framingham be remodeled? Here's what we know so far.

Which Walmart stores are being remodeled?

In press releases, Walmart announced that it's planning to remodel the following stores in Massachusetts this year:

Massachusetts

Bellingham  250 Hartford Ave.

Hadley  337 Russell St.

Lynn  780 Lynnway

Methuen  70 Pleasant Valley St.

North Attleboro  1470 S Washington St.

Northampton  180 North King St.

Pittsfield  555 Hubbard Ave Ste 12

Plymouth  300 Colony Place Road

Raynham  160 Broadway

Seekonk  1180 Fall River Ave.

Sturbridge  100 Charlton Road

Tewksbury  333 Main St.

Walpole  550 Providence Hwy.

Advertisement Advertisement

So the Framingham store won't undergo remodeling, but the Bellingham location at 250 Hartford Ave. will.

Framingham School Resource Officer Kathy McGrath shops with a family during the 9th Shop With A Cop event at Walmart in Framingham, Dec. 18, 2024. McGrath helped coordinate the event, which provided gifts for nearly 525 children.

How is Walmart remodeling stores?

As for the stores undergoing remodels, Walmart said renovations may include the following changes:

Wider aisles and updated layouts

New and expanded displays and assortments

Expanded pickup and delivery services, including express delivery options

Updated vision centers and pharmacies with private consultation rooms

New digital touchpoints

Refreshed interiors and exteriors with modern signage, improved parking and landscaping

Is Walmart opening any new stores?

Walmart has not yet revealed a full list of locations where it plans to open stores. USA TODAY has reached out to the company for more information.

Advertisement Advertisement

The retailer did note that is has already opened several new stores this year, including:

Walmart Supercenters in Eastvale, California, and Apollo Beach, Jacksonville and The Villages, Florida

Walmart Neighborhood Market in Ocala, Florida

A Walmart store is seen on Feb. 3, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Walmart plans major remodels for 13 Massachusetts stores. See list
Trump highlights unity after White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting 06:48

President Trump told reporters Saturday night that he wanted the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner to go on after he was evacuated when shots rang out at the hotel where the event was taking place.

The suspect, who is in custody and was being evaulated at a hospital, has been identified by three law enforcement sources as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance California. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation is "ongoing," and charges will be filed "shortly."

Advertisement Advertisement

The president said one Secret Service agent was struck by a round but was protected by a bulletproof vest.

Mr. Trump said he was "very far away" when the shots were fired and said the suspect "hadn't come anywhere close to breach the doors of the room."

Asked if he was concerned about the threats to his life, Mr. Trump said, "It's a dangerous profession."

Mr. Trump released photos of the suspect and a clip of security video of the incident, "showing the violence of this thug that attacked the Constitution, and also showing how quickly Secret Service and law enforcement acted."

Advertisement Advertisement

The evacuation occurred just after 8:30 p.m. ET after the sound of gunfire sent attendees scurrying and ducking under tables. Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were whisked off the stage by Secret Service agents.

The suspect had a shotgun and handgun on him, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

Mr. Trump said he "heard a noise" and thought it was a "tray going down."

"But it was a gun," the president said. "And some people really understood that pretty quickly, other people didn't. I was watching to see what was happening, probably should have gone down even faster. Melania was very cognisant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened."

Advertisement Advertisement

"We were whisked away, along with other people, but we were really whisked away," he added.

The suspect told law enforcement following his arrest that he wanted to shoot Trump administration officials, two sources told CBS News. The suspect didn't specifically say he was targeting Mr. Trump, just "administration officials," another law enforcement source said.

President Trump is rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after shots were fired outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026. / Credit: Bo Erickson / REUTERS

One officer was shot but "saved by the fact that he was wearing a, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun," the president said. "The vest did the job."

The president said he spoke with the officer, and described him as being in good spirits.

Advertisement Advertisement

"This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press," the president said. "And in a certain way it did. Because the fact that they just unified, I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see."

Mr. Trump said the event would be rescheduled within the next 30 days. He added that he "fought like hell" to keep the event going, but law enforcement insisted otherwise.

White House Correspondents Association president and CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Mr. Trump what he was feeling when it occurred, particularly after he was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania. Mr. Trump said "it's always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes."

Mr. Trump also addressed political violence, saying "no country is immune."

Advertisement Advertisement

"It comes with the territory," he said.

"We have to, we have to resolve our differences," Mr. Trump said. "I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals and progressives. Those words are interchangeable, perhaps, but maybe they're not. But yet everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd, there was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together. I watched, I watched, and I was very, very impressed by that."
Multiple people were injured by gunfire in a shooting near Indiana University's campus just after midnight on Sunday during Little 500 weekend.

Police believe the shooting occurred after a fight broke out between two females near the Five Guys restaurant, according to a news release shared on Facebook by the Bloomington mayor.

Police provided an update at 1 p.m. April 26 on the shooting. Watch the press conference here.

Advertisement Advertisement

Contact IndyStar government and politics editor Kaitlin Lange at Kaitlin.Lange@indystar.com or follow her on X @Kaitlin_Lange.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Watch: Police provide update on shooting near Indiana University's campus
Danny Levi's remarks came after one of the bloodiest weeks Israel has seen this year, with a string of killings across Jewish and Arab communities.

Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levi on Sunday pushed back against growing criticism over a wave of killings across the country, saying police were operating in a continuous emergency but that some murders were sudden, eruptive incidents that were difficult, and sometimes impossible, to prevent.

His remarks came after one of the bloodiest weeks Israel has seen this year, with a string of killings across Jewish and Arab communities, including the murder of 21-year-old Yemanu Binyamin Zalka, a recently released IDF soldier and Pizza Hut worker who was stabbed to death in Petah Tikva on Independence Day night.

Advertisement Advertisement

Zalka was attacked after he reportedly asked a group of teenagers to stop spraying party foam inside the restaurant where he worked. The group waited outside for him after his shift, and one of the minors allegedly stabbed him while others beat him or stood by. Seven minors were later arrested in connection with the murder.

But the case quickly became about more than the killing itself. Residents and opposition lawmakers accused police of failing to respond quickly enough, with reports saying that investigators initially treated the incident as a youth brawl that had spiraled out of control and only later escalated the case. Hundreds gathered outside the Petah Tikva branch on Saturday night, lighting candles and demanding more security.

That anger came against the backdrop of a broader murder wave. In less than a week, Meirav Edri was stabbed to death in her Beersheba home; Sabrin al-Ataika was killed in Rahat; Ahmad Issa was shot dead after gunfire at a vehicle; Suar Abbas and her fiance Oday Shaaban were shot dead in Yarka; Muataz Abu Laban and Muhammad Ayman Abd al-Hadi were shot dead in Ramle; Zalka died of his wounds in Petah Tikva; Majed al-Sheikh was shot dead in Isfiya; and Destao Tsakol, 19, was stabbed to death near his Beersheba home.

Israel Police and Magen David Adom respond to a road incident in which one police officer was injured near Tapuah junction in the West Bank on February 23, 2026. (credit: MAGEN DAVID ADOM SPOKESPERSON)

Following al-Sheikhs killing, the Abraham Initiatives said 97 Arabs had been killed since the beginning of 2026 in circumstances related to crime and violence. The organization said that the figure underscored the scale of the crisis in Arab communities, even as the past weeks killings also spread into Jewish cities and mixed public spaces, feeding a broader sense that violence was becoming more sudden, more public, and harder to contain.

Advertisement Advertisement

By Sunday morning, the list had grown again. A 16-year-old was stabbed to death in Hatzor Haglilit, and a 43-year-old man and his six-year-old son were found shot dead in Aviel, near Zichron Yaakov, in what police were investigating as a suspected murder-suicide.

'Disturbing and painful' rise in murder cases

Opening a police assessment on Sunday morning, Levi said the country had witnessed a disturbing and painful rise in murder cases in recent weeks, both in Arab and Jewish society.

Every such event of loss of life is an entire world, a family that falls apart and a deep wound in the heart of Israeli society as a whole, he said.

Levy said some murders stemmed from organized crime, criminal feuds, and struggles over control and power, against which police were acting forcefully, in a focused and systematic way.

Advertisement Advertisement

But he said other cases - naming Petah Tikva, Beersheba, Hatzor Haglilit, and the area near Zichron Yaakov - were sudden, unpredictable incidents that reflected a deeper social crisis requiring not only police action but education, welfare, prevention, prosecution, courts, and government ministries.

Israel Police is not letting go, Levi said, adding that he would personally continue tracking the status of murder investigations and ensure that each case was handled professionally and with full resources.

He also called on government ministries, the prosecution, and the courts to stand alongside police, invest resources, toughen punishment, and create deterrence in order to stop these bloody events.

The murder quickly became a flashpoint for public anger after residents gathered outside the Petah Tikva branch where Zalka worked, demanding justice and criticizing what they described as a delayed police response.

Hodaya Ran and Tobias Siegal contributed to this report.
Weijia Jiang on WH Correspondents' Dinner shooting: "No amount of reporting can prepare you" 04:39

President Trump and CBS News' Weijia Jiang react as sounds of gunfire were heard at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. / Credit: Reuters

The night was going exactly as planned.

For eight months, as president of the White House Correspondents Association, I'd been working on this dinner party. Above all, I had hoped it would restore some normalcy between the Trump administration and the press. Maybe I was naive, but I wanted it to be a room we don't see enough of in Washington: a bipartisan one. And it was.

Advertisement Advertisement

There were more than 2,500 journalists and guests dressed to the nines. CEOs, celebrities, ambassadors and members of the cabinet including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Todd Blanche, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin  many just feet from the president in the ballroom.

Most important was Donald Trump himself: after 15 years of boycotting the dinner, he finally decided to come. It was the first time he had attended as president.

Trump was in a great mood. The Marine Corps Band had just played The Star-Spangled Banner, and the president was on the dais. We were chatting about the last time he attended, when Barack Obama was president.

"You know, everyone thinks I was upset by all those jokes Obama made. But I really wasn't," I remember him telling me as Oz Pearlman  the mentalist I had booked for the night  asked if he could interrupt. He was doing a trick on the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and he wanted the president and me to watch.

Advertisement Advertisement

Leavitt is due to give birth in a matter of days, and she'd told me earlier that Pearlman claimed he'd figure out the name of her unborn baby. "There's no way he would ever be able to do that," she said. "Very few people know it. It's impossible."

We all watched. Melania Trump, seated to Leavitt's left, was quite engaged. Oz prepared to turn over a piece of paper with a name scribbled on it with a Sharpie.

Oz revealed a name to the first lady and Leavitt, and I watched her reaction. The look on her faceshock and delightis an image now frozen in my mind, because it's the last thing I saw before chaos unfolded.

The Free Press: The American Way Is Under Fire

Advertisement Advertisement

At that very moment, we heard commotion. I looked out in the audience and thought there might have been a heckler. But I didn't see one.

Before I could make sense of what was unfolding, armed agents rushed toward the dais. They multiplied quickly, sprinting from the other side of the stage to surround us. I heard shouts of "down, down, down, get down."

I got out of my chair and was following Trump when he hit the ground. I got on my hands and knees too. Only later did I see a big bruise on my left knee. I was crawling, and we were ushered behind the stage.

President Trump is rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner after shots were fired outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. / Credit: Bo Erickson/REUTERS

I crawled to the holding area, where the show producers were watching the video feeds of the live images from inside the ballroom.

Advertisement Advertisement

Inside weren't just my fellow journalists but also the most important people in my life. Moments before the chaos unfolded, I locked eyes with my 82-year-old father who waved to me. He looked happy. He and my mom both struggle with mobility. "Where are their wheelchairs?" I wanted to know. Who's going to push them out of danger? My husband and my 7-year-old daughter were there too. Was she scared? Was she crying? I wanted to hold her.

I scanned the feeds looking for them, shaking. I asked anyone who could hear me: What happened? What's wrong? Did anyone get hurt?

I have covered many shootings and murders in my career, including Sandy Hook in 2012. But this was the first time I found myself on the other side. No one can prepare you for it.

There was a rush of advance guys and Secret Service guys. "Blue, blue!" one said, rushing toward the room where Trump was being held.

Advertisement Advertisement

There were several unverified news reports and tweets. Clearly, there was a situation with a shooter and a gun, but the information I had was just that the president wants the show to go on. He did not want to be deterred.

At some point, I went back on stage and assured everyone that the show would go on. People were glad to hear that. We waited and waited. Then one of the advance guys told me the president wanted to talk to me. I was led into a room by the president's closest aides.

The first lady was standing and offered me a smile. "Are you OK?" she asked. Vice President Vance entered and asked the same. Secretary Rubio was next to me. I just kept hearing, "We're going to the White House. We're going to the White House."

But the president did not want to go. He told me that he wanted to get back on stage. But also that his speech  a "shtick," he called it  would now be "totally inappropriate."

Advertisement Advertisement

They decided on a press conference at the White House in 30 minutes, which I announced to the ballroom. The room laughed. I assured them it wasn't a joke.

Then, to the room of reporters, I added: "I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service, because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it. And on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are."

I got a ride with the presidential motorcade, which had waited for me. Other reporters ran to the White House in their heels.

CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang speaks on the phone as she awaits the start of President Trump's press conference after the shooting. / Credit: Nathan Howard / Getty Images

He looked solemn as he walked to the podium. After he gave an update about the suspect, he called on me to ask the first question. I wanted to know what he was thinking when he realized what was going on.

Advertisement Advertisement

He said, "It was always shocking when something like this happens, happened to me, a little bit, and that never changes the fact we're sitting right next to each other, first lady on my right, and I heard a noise, and sort of thought it was a tray."

I was struck when Trump acknowledged how the shooting shaped his view of his relationship with the press. He said, "This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press, and in a certain way, it did, because the fact that they just unified. I saw a room that was just totally unified."

Unity isn't a word we hear much these days. But that's how I felt, too.

Trump insists we are having the dinner again in 30 days. Let's see.

As for the name of Leavitt's baby girl: I saw it. But I haven't had a chance to confirm it.
White House officials say the gunman traveled from California to Washington, D.C., and checked into the hotel where the White House Correspondents dinner was being held.

The suspected gunman who tried to attack the White House Correspondents dinner has been identified.

Law enforcement officials confirmed to the Associated Press that the suspect is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, though investigators have not publicly released the suspects name. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche also stated on Sunday (April 26) that White House officials believe the shooter was targeting President Donald Trump and his administration officials.

Advertisement Advertisement

According to Al Jazeera, Allen worked in education, as Facebook posts associated with him show he was recognized with a Teacher of the Month award by the college test prep and tutoring company, C2 Education. A LinkedIn page linked to Allen says he graduated with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology in 2017 and earned his masters degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills in May 2025. The page also indicates that he was an independent video game developer.



Blanche said officials believe that the shooter traveled from California to Chicago, then to Washington, D.C., this week to check into the hotel where the White House Correspondents dinner was being held.

The guns Allen carried into the event, a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol, were legally purchased, per NBC News.

On Saturday night, President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and several other White House officials were evacuated from the hotel where the White House Correspondents dinner took place after shots were fired. The White House released a report to its press pool last night that the Secret Service apprehended a shooter, which was later confirmed by President Trump via Truth Social. The President also posted a photo to the account of a person being detained.

President Donald Trump shared this photo on Truth Social of a suspect being apprehended after the White House confirmed a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents dinner. (Photo: Truth Social)

Though first writing to Truth Social that he recommended continuing the events of the correspondents dinner as planned, the president later said, Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition, adding that the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days.

More must-reads:
The rape and religiously aggravated assault of a young Sikh woman in her own home left women and girls wondering whether there was anywhere they were safe, a domestic abuse charity has said.

The attack in Walsall on 25 October 2025 "struck fear" through communities in the West Midlands, according to Sukhvinder Kaur, chair of trustees at Sikh Women's Aid.

On Friday, John Ashby was given a life prison sentence for his crimes, which began when he followed his victim - a stranger to him - off a bus, and into her property. He used a stick to beat the woman during the ordeal, having targeted her out of hate for her background, or perceived background. As he held her captive, he uttered anti-Muslim abuse in the mistaken belief she followed Islam.

Advertisement Advertisement

The events caused "terror and fear for her as a victim survivor, then us as the community that lives local to her", Kaur said of the period following the violence.

She explained: "We held a community meeting for women and girls and the consensus was that we were not safe on the streets."

As details of the crime emerged, many felt they were not even safe in their own homes, Kaur added.

"So women were asking the question 'where are we safe'?"

Kaur pointed out there was nothing unusual about the lead-up to the attack.

The victim, in her 20s. "went to work, she did some shopping, she took public transport home, she was walking in a very well-lit area and she went back to her home", she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

"Women and girls, especially those women of colour, of South Asian descent, saw themselves, saw their daughters, saw their sisters through this woman's experience."

And there was a further issue troubling communities - the violence was not isolated.

John Ashby has been handed a life sentence with a 13-year minimum [West Midlands Police]

Kaur said the attack was the second rape of a Sikh woman in the space of a few weeks in the region.

Just 10 miles (16km) away on 9 September, a woman in her 20s was raped on Tame Road in Oldbury, during violence said to have a racially aggravated element.

This attack sparked protests over the safety of women.

Another woman was also assaulted with an electrical stun device in Wolverhampton on 27 October in what police said was a racially aggravated assault, although not a sexual one.

The locations of three attacks causing concern to charity Sikh Women's Aid [BBC]

West Midlands Police told the BBC that three people arrested in connection with the Oldbury rape remained on bail and the investigation was continuing.

Advertisement Advertisement

Following Ashby's sentencing in the Walsall case on Friday, the force issued the following statement: "We understand the impact this horrific attack had on communities in the West Midlands and beyond.

"We have spoken with faith and community leaders in the aftermath of what happened and remain committed to doing everything we can to make women safer, and feel safer.

"We will continue to speak and listen to women's charities, female community leaders, community safety partners, independent advisory groups and local politicians as that work continues."

A demonstration was held after a woman in her 20s was attacked in Oldbury [BBC]

Kaur said what happened in Walsall could not be separated from the "toxic narratives" around migration and immigration.

Advertisement Advertisement

"All of that played into the hatred that this perpetrator held against a community and the way in which he manifested that, it really put fear into the communities across the West Midlands," she said.

She added: "There have been racially aggravated assaults still happening across communities, and we really have to look at the narrative that is being played out across society that is very divisive and looks to divide communities.

"If we see a rise in crimes like this it is going to really shake the foundations of what is a very vibrant and diverse community across the West Midlands."

Details of help and support with sexual violence are available at BBC Action Line.

Advertisement Advertisement

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story

Related internet links
As the Trump administration moves to loosen federal restrictions on drugs  including a new step to ease regulations on state-licensed medical marijuana  questions are growing about cannabis use and its broader health effects.

Among them is a lesser discussed concern: mens fertility.

During National Infertility Awareness Week, experts are drawing attention to the potential negative impact of both recreational and medical cannabis on male reproductive health.

Advertisement Advertisement

Male Fertility Rates Crash As Doctors Reveal Health Threats

Cannabis use has been associated with changes in reproductive health for both males and females, though human evidence remains mixed.

"This is especially disheartening when men and women are actively trying to conceive and start a family," Dr. Alta DeRoo, chief medical officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Minnesota, told Fox News Digital.

Read On The Fox News App

As the Trump administration moves to loosen federal restrictions on drugs, questions are growing about cannabis use and its broader health effects. (AP Newsroom)

A 2025 Harvard-linked study involving women undergoing fertility treatment revealed twice as many miscarriages among those using cannabis compared to non-users.

Advertisement Advertisement

Its a common misconception, however, that fertility issues are always due to an issue with the woman. Male infertility is more common than many think, according to Stephanie Seminar, MD, chief of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sperm Donor With Hidden Cancer Gene Fathers Nearly 200 Kids, Families Blindsided

"Many individuals think infertility is a womans problem, [but] male infertility is common and under-evaluated," Seminar told Fox News Digital.

Out of the 10% to 15% of couples worldwide who experience infertility, male factors cause or contribute to approximately 45% of those cases, data shows.

Cannabis use, particularly when heavy and chronic, can have negative effects on male fertility, a doctor cautioned.

Having normal sexual drive and performance does not mean that a man has normal fertility, Seminar noted.

Advertisement Advertisement

An evaluation of male infertility goes beyond semen analysis, examining factors like sexual dysfunction, toxin exposure, tobacco/cannabis use, childhood illnesses and past testosterone use, according to medical experts.

Cannabis use, particularly when heavy and chronic, can have negative effects on male fertility, Seminar cautioned. Those can include changes in reproductive hormones and semen parameters, including decreased sperm counts or mobility.

Using Marijuana To Cope With Stress Or Trauma May Backfire, Studies Warn

Cannabis can also impact sperm quality, the doctor said. "The sperm count or volume can be lower, and those sperm produced may be malformed and unable to swim effectively," the doctor said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Research supports this decline  a 2019 review published in The Journal of Urology found associations between cannabis use, especially the smoked form, and reduced semen quality.

Another study of 1,215 healthy young Danish men, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that smoking cannabis more than once per week was associated with a 28% lower sperm concentration and 29% lower total sperm count.

Combining marijuana with other recreational drugs more than once a week reduced sperm concentration and count even higher  by 52% and 55%, respectively.

The human body produces its own natural endocannabinoids to regulate vital functions like fertility, as described in a Nature Reviews Urology analysis.

Advertisement Advertisement

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Cannabis mimics these molecules with its two main compounds: cannabidiol (CBD) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which interact directly with the bodys endocannabinoid system.

Cannabis may interfere with the brains regulation of reproductive hormones, experts say.

While THC can relieve pain or stimulate appetite, it also triggers the "high" that often leads to adverse side effects, like anxiety or paranoia, which have been widely documented in cannabinoid research.

When cannabis is consumed, external cannabinoids enter the body and bind to the same receptors as natural endocannabinoids, which may impair sperm quality and reproductive function, according to previous studies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter

Cannabis may interfere with the brains regulation of reproductive hormones, with some research suggesting it can alter levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone), which signal the testes to support sperm production.

This hormonal suppression could contribute to fertility challenges in some cases, though researchers noted that human evidence remains mixed and continues to be studied.

Men planning to conceive should stop using cannabis, experts recommend, as it can significantly impair sperm quality, with higher usage correlating to worse outcomes.

Advertisement Advertisement

Click Here For More Health Stories

Any negative effects may be reversible, as fertility can be improved when couples stop cannabis use, DeRoo noted.

Experts recommend discontinuing cannabis use at least three months prior to conceiving to allow the body to generate a full cycle of healthy sperm.

Men planning to conceive should stop using cannabis, experts recommend, as it can significantly impair sperm quality.

Advertisement Advertisement

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine also encourages couples trying to conceive to avoid recreational drugs to maximize their chances of a healthy birth.

"Stopping the use of cannabis improves other areas of health in a persons life, and conception or pregnancy can be a strong motivator for abstinence," DeRoo added.

In 2021, nearly one in five Americans (52.5 million people) used cannabis, making it the most common federally illegal drug in the country, per CDC data.

Test Yourself With Our Latest Lifestyle Quiz

Statistics show that about 30% of users may develop cannabis use disorder at some point, which adversely impacts their daily activities.

Advertisement Advertisement

Recreational cannabis is legal in roughly half of U.S. states, while medical marijuana is legal in a large majority (well over 30 states), according to the CDC. A small number of states still prohibit most forms of cannabis use.





Original article source: This common habit could be quietly hurting mens fertility, experts warn
An argument over a phone plan led to a northwest Georgia woman breaking windows and damaging a door at her old apartment.

According to the Cartersville Police Department, officers were called to a residence on Nt. Tennessee Street after calls came in about a domestic dispute.

When they got to the scene, police spoke to the resident, who said she and her former roommate, who she identified as Dynesha Moore.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said they were told Moore and the victim had lived together for about three months before Moore moved out on April 15.

Advertisement Advertisement

While living together, the victim had Moore on her phone plan, but removed her from it when she moved out.

TRENDING STORIES:

The victim told police this caused Ms. Moore to become irate.

Moore came to the apartment to speak with the victim, kicking the metal security door of the apartment, denting it.

When the victim refused to come outside to speak to Moore, she grew angrier.

Advertisement Advertisement

Thats when Moore grabbed a gym weight an broke the living room window.

The property manager saw the damage to the apartment and provided an invoice to police showing it was more than $500 of damage.

Moore was charged with criminal damage to property and taken into custody.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
A woman was allegedly attacked and choked by a stranger inside a Houston restaurant restroom. She spoke with ABC13 about the violent encounter she says she experienced.

It allegedly happened at a Timmy Chan's restaurant on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping.

The 54-year-old woman wanted to stay anonymous. She said she and her husband went there to eat around 2 p.m. on Friday.

Advertisement Advertisement

When they walked into the restaurant, she said she went to the restroom. But, she said on her way there, a man approached her asking for money.

She said she continued to walk to the restroom, but when she tried to shut the door to lock it, the woman claimed that same man forced his way in.

"He started choking me and I go against the wall again. Now I'm trying to scream and get away and he was telling me to shut up," the woman said. "He was telling me, 'I'll kill you.'"

The woman said she screamed out for help, but felt like no one could hear her. She said her husband ultimately heard the cries, got in and fought the man off of her.

Advertisement Advertisement

Law enforcement said restaurant staff called in the emergency and Harris County Constable Precinct 7 deputies arrived.

Officials said the restaurant's security guard tracked down the suspect less than a block away and he was arrested.

Court records identified him as 31-year-old Ciara Hewitt.

Precinct 7 told ABC13 this was possibly a mental health situation. The suspect allegedly told them he was hungry and trying to get money.

This was not Hewitt's first run-in with the law. Records showed a prior felony conviction for assault family violence in 2019.

He's due back in court for this newest charge on Monday.

Advertisement Advertisement

The woman said she's still processing what she went through.

"I feel like I was real, real lucky that day," she said. "It could have been a lot worse."

Ultimately, she's trying to heal both physically and mentally.

"The trauma that I suffer, I mean, I wouldn't wish this on no one," she said. "I had nightmares last night. I mean, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't even walk, you know, because my lupus and arthritis is severe. So it banged me up really bad, really bad."

ABC13 spoke with a manager at Timmy Chan's, who said they are sorry for what happened.

They said they do have security that comes in around 3 p.m. But, they said they're now looking into possibly expanding their security measures.
The man who is accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday was charged on Monday with attempting to assassinate President Trump.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Monday for his arraignment. He faces three criminal charges, including attempting to assassinate the president, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony. He has not entered a plea. U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered him detained as the case moves forward.

Footage from the scene showed an armed suspect rushing a security checkpoint at the event, where he opened fire, prompting the evacuation of the president and first lady Melania Trump. Law enforcement officials later identified the suspect as Allen, of Torrance, Calif. He was carrying a shotgun and a handgun as well as knives.

Advertisement Advertisement

President Trump said he wasn't worried when asked about the incident during an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday.

I wasn't worried, Trump said. I understand life. We live in a crazy world.

Allen reportedly referred to himself as a "Friendly Federal Assassin" in a 1,052-word document he sent to family members about 10 minutes before Saturday's shooting, and ranked potential targets in order of priority. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that Trump and administration officials were the likely targets.

The president also pushed back against 60 Minutes anchor Norah ODonnell for reading out parts of the alleged shooter's writings. I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because youre horrible people. Horrible people, Trump said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camillas state visit to the United States this week will proceed as planned despite security concerns raised by Saturday's shooting. The royals are expected to arrive at the White House for a garden party on Monday afternoon, the first stop on their four-day trip.
Next week, iTWire will be reporting from the ground at SAS Innovate in Grapevine, Texas - a milestone event marking 50 years of analytic software company SAS. It's not a company that chases headlines. But it is one that underpins decisions in banks, governments, hospitals and retailers - including across Australia - often without end users ever knowing. So before the announcements land, its worth understanding what SAS actually is, how it got here, and why it still has a seat at the table in the AI era.

SAS started life as a statistical analysis system in the 1960s, originally a project at North Carolina State University's agricultural department. It was initially led by Anthony Barr in 1966, before being joined by then graduate student James Goodnight (now Dr. James Goodnight) in 1967 and John Sall in 1973. For the early 70s SAS was primarily leased to other agricultural departments to analyse the effect that differing soil, weather, and seed variations had on crop yields. The software was so useful that it had 100 customers by 1976; that year the company ran its first SAS user conference with 300 attendees.

Almost 50 years ago, way back on July 1 1976, Goodnight, Barr, and Sall, along with Jane Helwig founded SAS Institute as a private company, having obtained the rights from the university. Barr and Helwig later sold their interest in the company. Today, Sall owns around one third of SAS, with Dr. Goodnight (pictured above) owning the rest, providing a net worth that makes him the richest person in North Carolina. Additionally, Dr. Goodnight was the company's first CEO, and has remained in that role for the nearly 50 years since. In fact, at this time of writing, we're literally two months and a partial week away from that 50th anniversary of the SAS Institute. In that entire time, SAS has been helmed by Dr. Goodnight, and has increased its revenue and profits every year, year after year.

While Google receives lots of kudos, acclaim, and interest from its whacky campus full of food, stores, treats, sleeping rooms, and all kinds of amenities, it's not always known that Google, in fact, modelled its campus culture after that of SAS. During its first year of operation SAS polled users for suggestions, and many of the perks such as fresh fruit and free M&Ms (along with a focus on work/life balance) all came from these early suggestions. Other benefits, such as healthcare and childcare on campus all came from SAS management exploring the costs vs. benefits for these things, recognising the intrinsic value to staff wellbeing and retention. In fact, the result has seen unusually low staff turnover for a tech company.

However, one thing that strikes me the most about SAS is both how much has changed in those five decades, and how much has not changed. The product has evolved significantly as computing power has increased, but at heart it is still the same SAS, a product that built its reputation on rigour. SAS stands strong on the fundamental axiomatic principles of mathematics and statistics, creating models that stand up to scrutiny, with results that can be audited, and with outputs that regulators accept as trustworthy and reliable. As today's world scrambles to devise artificial intelligence proofs of concept, all fueled by massive amounts of prepared data, SAS has always been there, always doing these things. By all means, SAS can do vastly so much more today than it did in 1976 but it's not unreasonable to think if that SAS had the computing power of today, it would give comparable results because it is underpinned on thousands of years of maths and stats.

SAS is available to businesses of all sizes, of course, but it is especially deeply embedded in industries where being almost right isn't good enough. Here, in Australia, that plays out in familiar places: major banks using SAS for risk modelling and fraud detection, insurers relying on it for actuarial analysis, government agencies for population and economic insights, and healthcare organisations for clinical and operational analytics.

Now, SAS has unqestionably evolved; for years and years SAS was synonymous with its programming language and its powerful, but heavyweight, platform. There was certainly a lot of strength and matter in that platform, however the world was looking at a different, cloud-based world. Fortunately, SAS read the room correctly and reset its image with SAS Viya, as in "visual analytics". Viya is the same reliability, accuracy, and precision SAS was known for, but rebuilt for modern infrastructure: containerised, API-driven, able to run across cloud environments, and opened up for other well-regarded programming languages and toolkits. The modern SAS Viya product retained statistical depth while making the software more accessible to data scientists, analysts, and developers, and with an increasing focus on adding in vertical industry-specific solutions.

SAS may not have the pubic recognition that ChatGPT, Google, or Tesla have to the everyday person on the street, but its positioning is more pragmatic. When a bank needs to explain a lending decision to a regulator, or a Government agency needs to justify a model used for policy, explainability matters as much as accuracy. SAS has been building for that world for decades. Financial services rely heavily on SAS to combat fraud, risk, and money laundering. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals use SAS for clinical trials and patient outcomes. Retail chains use SAS for pricing and demand forecasting. And so on. Similarly, in Australia, where regulatory scrutiny is high and industries are relatively concentrated, that depth plays well.

SAS is a privately held company, as you might expect from its ownership structure. As a result, SAS is quite free from the theatre of quarterly earnings presentations and from the trap of focusing on short-term good news at the expense of long-term strategy and planning. Historically, SAS has reinvested heavily in R&D, achieving steady growth vs. aggressive expansion at any cost. The company has run itself with discipline which shows up in its long run of profitability - a feat very few software companies can claim over such a length of time.

With a 50-year milestone as the backdrop for next week's SAS Innovate event, iTWire imagines the conference to focus on how SAS positions itself in an AI-first world, with announcements around Viya's increasing integration with broader ecosystems, how SAS is harnessing generative AI, and how all this translates into real, regulated, production use cases.

In a world where AI is increasingly in the news, SAS isn't trying to be the loudest voice - but it is trying to be the one you trust when the decision matters. And iTWire will be on-site covering the announcements, the strategy, and the customer stories.
Patricia Arquette feels happier than ever.

Patricia Arquette feels happier than ever

The 58-year-old actress has enjoyed huge success in Hollywood, winning various accolades during her career, but Patricia admits that she currently feels better than ever.

Speaking to People, Patricia explained: "Oh, I've had so many fun adventures. And also, I mean, I've just been having this incredible relationship with myself, which I never really had.

"You know, I was a mom at 20, so I went from being someone's daughter to someone's mother, to being someone's girlfriend, being someone's wife  all of these different things. I still have a hard time asking myself, What do I want to do?

"It's really retraining my own mind, so I'm kind of in the happiest, most emotionally stress-free part of my life right now, and I'm loving that."

Meanwhile, Patricia previously expressed her fears about the ever-increasing influence of technology.

The Hollywood star worries for young people, in particular, suggesting that their social skills are already being eroded by the influence of technology.

The Oscar-winning star - who has been married twice, to Nicolas Cage and Thomas Jane - told the Guardian newspaper: "I know theres going be this Metaverse, but I dont know what its going to be like for young people. Theyre already so much in their own homes, playing games.

"Im hearing from a lot of people that kids are having a hard time. They have anxiety learning how to bond with each other and be resilient, because they just feel safer at home on a device and not having real face-to-face experiences.

"So thats the scariest thing. I dont want kids to miss out on becoming resilient. Yeah, you get your heart broken, but its OK. Sometimes your friend says something really crappy and you dont want to be friends with them, and thats OK. And sometimes you dont feel beautiful or handsome - thats OK, too."
US leader Donald Trump has described being president a "very dangerous profession" after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday (25.04.26) night.

President Donald Trump thinks he has a dangerous job

The 79-year-old president, his wife Melania, and Vice President JD Vance were rushed from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, while other attendees hid under tables after a man - who has been identified as Cole Thomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from California - rushed passed a security checkpoint, and in a hastily-assembled press conference afterwards, Trump reflected on the dangers of his job.

Asked about threats to his life, he said: "I get that throbbing feeling every once in a while. But you know what? That's okay. This is a dangerous business.

"You have race car drivers as an example, 1/10 of 1% die. Bull riders, 1/10 of 1%. That's not a lot, but it's - people die. When you're president, it's about 5%. If somebody would have told me that, maybe I wouldn't have run. Okay? This is, this is a very dangerous profession...

The people who make the biggest impact, those are the ones they go after."

Trump described the suspect as a "very sick person" and a "lone wolf" as he reflected on the "crazy" incident.

He added: I want to live because I want to make this country great.

The president praised the efforts of police and the Secret Service, noting an agent had been shot.

Referencing two previous incidents where he was shot at or allegedly the target of similar plans, he said: Its always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me a little bit.

It was very quick. There wasnt a lot of time to be thinking  I dont like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people change the fabric of our lives, change the course of what we do.

It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of secret service, and they acted very quickly.

Many of the assembled media at the press conference had been at the dinner, and Trump promised a rescheduled event will be "better" and "safer".

He said: I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses.

"It was a little different evening than we thought. But were going to do it again.

The former Apprentice star will change his planned speech at the gala to be less critical.

He said: Were talking about free speech in our constitution. Thats what its all about. Not just White House correspondents, it was really based on free speech in our constitution. But I said, very importantly, that well do it again within the next 30 days, it will make it bigger and better, and even nicer."

Trump used the incident to argue for the construction of a ballroom at the White House as he claimed the Washington Hilton was "not a particularly secure building".

He said: "This is why we have to have all of the attributes of what were planning at the White House. Its actually a larger room, and its much more secure.  Theyve wanted the ballroom for 150 years for lots of different reasons.

"But todays a little bit different, because today we need levels of security that probably nobodys ever seen before.
As physicians who regularly work with pediatric patients, and experts in counter-terrorism, we know firsthand the dangers that online radicalization poses to youth. Nihilistic violent extremism (NVE), which glorifies violence for the sake of violence, is on the rise globally. Many of these decentralized online networks, such as the 764 Network, specifically target children for recruitment. 764 has seen a sharp increase in popularity, and has become the subject of increased scrutiny from the U.S. government. While public awareness of 764 is increasing, the threat from similar agents in the online ecosystem remains critically underreported. Unfortunately, we have found that the majority of parents have never heard of 764, or similar radicalization networks operating on platforms that their children use daily, including Roblox, Discord, Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram.

However, while 764 is beginning to break into the public consciousness, one of the most underreported and rapidly growing threats can now be found in the true crime community (TCC).

The true crime genre is enormously popular. Podcasts such as My Favorite Murder average up to 19 million listeners a week, and a 2024 YouGov poll found that 57 percent of Americans consume true crime content. While true crime is not a new phenomenon, it has exploded in popularity over the past decade, aided by the large online communities that have formed around it. The self-identified TCC may be found on Discord, Telegram, X, and Tumblr, as well as on youth-oriented online forums including Roblox and TikTok. The typical age of TCC participants is often shockingly young, often between 13-18 years.

While the vast majority of TCC participants will display a benign and harmless interest in true crime, there is a dangerous tendency in the community to develop unhealthy parasocial relationships with both the victims and the perpetrators, ultimately resulting in increased negative feelings and a decline in overall well-being, as demonstrated in a recent Boston University study. Further progression into deeper levels of the TCC evolves from curiosity about perpetrators to glorification of them, often portraying them as sympathetic victims lashing out against an unjust world. TCC participants may become obsessed with prior perpetrators of mass attacks, with groups such as Columbiners coalescing in a fandom for the Columbine school shooters, or Roofies for fans of the 2017 Charleston shooter Dylann Roof. As radicalization within the TCC increases, TCC members sink into an online ecosystem that evolves from obsessively following the digital footprints of past perpetrators to fanfictions, art, and AI-generated videos on TikTok of mass shooters.

Curiosity leads to glorification leads to imitation. In the deeper levels of the TCC, participants often mimic the clothing and style of past perpetrators. Online games such as the massively popular Roblox feature servers such as Active Shooter Studios, which allow players to participate in digital recreations of Columbine or the Uvalde shootings.

It is this participatory aspect of the TCC, where adherents begin to see themselves as part of this pantheon of death that the community coalesces around, that is the most dangerous. One of the most notable recent examples is the 2024 Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Wisconsin. The perpetrator, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, fatally shot two victims and injured another six before taking her own life. Rupnow had been fascinated with the TCC for at least four years prior to the attack, and left behind a manifesto that included references to a 2007 mass shooting in Finland, a 2018 shooting in Crimea, and a mass stabbing in Turkey in 2024. Just prior to the attack, Rupnow uploaded an image to X of her hand forming the OK symbol over her combat boots on a tiled bathroom floor.

Rupnows addition to the TCC quickly made her a central figure within the online fandom and triggered multiple downstream effects. One month later, one of her followers on X, a 17-year-old student who had urged Rupnow to Livestream it when she uploaded her final image, murdered another student at his high school in Nashville. Just a few months later, a shooter at Evergreen High School in Colorado uploaded an image imitating Rupnow, while also wearing a t-shirt labeled Wrath in a reference to the 1999 Columbine shooting. Still another attack occurred in November 2025 at a high school in Indonesia when a 17-year-old student detonated several explosives. His social media directly referenced Rupnows OK image, with hashtags that included #tcc and #teeceecee, and he carried several replica rifles with references to shootings at Columbine, Christchurch, and other attacks with him.

All this serves to demonstrate the memetic, self-referential nature of the TCC. Violence metastasizes in clusters from TCC attacks, as other TCC participants seek to achieve similar notoriety in this ecosystem, often by tying themselves into the wider TCC pantheon. In this international network, geography and ideology do not matter. Only the act of performative violence, and inserting oneself into the wider TCC mythos, matters.

The increasing danger that the TCC poses to public health cannot be overstated. TCC-linked violence is on the rise globally. Victims have been as young as eight years old when they were first exposed. It is imperative that parents be aware of the severe risk that this online community poses to their children. These networks operate without borders or ideology. Only the performance of violence matters. The Indonesia attacker referenced an American school shooting, a New Zealand mosque attack, and a Wisconsin teenager he had never met. No single government can monitor, interdict, or disrupt these pipelines effectively on its own. Meaningful prevention requires coordinated action between governments and platforms across jurisdictions, and that conversation is long overdue. For their part, physicians should be aware of the threat that the TCC poses to public health and include it as part of their routine screening. The sooner that the wider public becomes aware of the dangers posed by the TCC, the more lives that can be saved.

Matthew Turner is an emergency medicine physician at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. His scholarship spans emergency medicine, military medicine, infectious disease, medical history, and the intersection of medicine with warfare and public health. He has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications, with work appearing in Cureus, Military Medicine, the Emergency Medicine Journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, the American Journal of Neuroradiology, and other journals.

Dr. Turner has long been interested in the intersection of medicine and history, with publications examining historical disease outbreaks, biological and chemical warfare, ancient pathology, toxicology, and military medical lessons. His work has explored topics ranging from yellow fever and anthrax as possible tools of biological warfare to the medical legacy of historical figures such as Akhenaten, Henry I, Justinian II, and Dominique-Jean Larrey. He also writes about the evolving world of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, including modern conflict medicine and the use of chemical weapons by violent non-state actors. Professional updates are available on LinkedIn.

Stephen Sandelich is an emergency physician. Dexter Ingram is a national security consultant.
Once the lockdowns from COVID-19 began, a new normal of distrusting Americas public health officials started. Dr. Anthony Fauci quickly became the most famous and controversial physician in America. At the start of the pandemic, having the responsibility of communicating information and data with the entire country, his advice was trusted by most Americans; a Kaiser Family Foundation survey showed that in December 2020, 90 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Republicans trusted him.

As the pandemic dragged on, distrust began to grow, especially among Republicans. An April 2022 KFF survey showed 86 percent of Democrats trusted Dr. Fauci, meanwhile only 25 percent of Republicans did. Similarly, the same KFF surveys show Republicans trust in the CDC dropped from 57 percent in 2020 to 41 percent in 2022.

This distrust began to influence vaccination rates and state vaccine laws, perception of medical doctors, and future public health political appointments. For example, vaccination rates have been in a continuous decline since COVID-19, states such as Florida and Idaho are attempting to remove vaccine mandates from schools, Gallup polls show trust in doctors is the lowest since the 1990s, and controversial vaccine skeptics such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are now among the most influential and powerful people in health care.

While Republicans distrusted public health when Dr. Fauci was in charge, it is now the Democrats turn to be skeptical of a prominent public health official, with only 14 percent of Democrats approving of the job Mr. Kennedy is doing. Similarly, the latest drama revolves around Dr. Casey Means, who has been nominated for Surgeon General despite not finishing her medical residency. Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams wrote that, it is incomprehensible that the Senate is even considering a nominee for this role who lacks any active license and has never practiced unsupervised.

A clear pattern is emerging: Democrats do not like the health officials Republicans appoint and vice versa. This renders public health messaging from the federal government as useless for countless doctors and patients. This raises the question of who within health care can be trusted to serve the American people.

Although many Americans distrust doctors as a group, most trust the doctors they know personally. A KFF survey shows 92 percent of Democrats and 84 percent of Republicans trust their own doctor. As a final-year medical student who has completed clinical rotations in multiple states and countries, this mirrors my own observations of the patients I see: The overwhelming majority are interested in and value the advice or care they are receiving. I have even met countless anti-vaccine patients who value their pro-vaccine doctors opinion on topics unrelated to vaccines, which allows for other health care concerns to be addressed and also opens the door to revisiting immunization conversations in the future.

Undoubtedly, the doctor-patient relationship is healthier than the American publics with their health officials. One-on-one conversations also have the benefit of addressing the individual patients needs. Positions like the Surgeon General face an inherent predicament of having to give broad medical advice in a field that does not have a one-size-fits-all approach. Similarly, many people involved in public health are not medical doctors, such as epidemiologists, and their perspectives, while valuable, differ from those of practicing physicians.

Although public health in the United States has had many victories throughout the years, such as the elimination of smallpox and cigarette smoking reduction, the shifting of messaging and leadership is not serving the American people well and many are rejecting it. Since the federal government and social media influencers have been shown to be unreliable, patients should be reminded that their health care needs can be best addressed by seeing a licensed physician. Similarly, doctors should take pride in the fact that their patients still value their medical advice.

Myles Deal is a physician.
Following her recent recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans 2025 by New African Magazine (UK), Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the More Than a Mother Campaign, has now been named among the 100 Most Influential African Women 2025 by Avance Media, for the seventh consecutive year.

She is recognized alongside Africas highest-ranking leaders, including H.E. SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN, President of Tanzania, and H.E. NDEMUPELILA NETUMBO NANDI-NDAITWAH, President of Namibia. The recognition highlights her unwavering commitment to women empowerment, girls education, and the transformation of patient care across Africa.

The annual list celebrates African women whose leadership, influence, and accomplishments continue to shape decision-making at the highest levels locally and internationally.

Commenting on the recognition, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) said,

I am deeply honored to be recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential African Women for the seventh consecutive year. It is a privilege to be named alongside Africas esteemed leaders, including the Presidents of Tanzania and Namibia, and so many inspiring change-makers. Congratulations to all the remarkable women recognized this year.

I am grateful for this recognition, which acknowledges Merck Foundations unwavering commitment to building healthcare capacity, transforming patient care landscape with a strong focus on womens health, empowering infertile women in particular and women in general, and supporting girl education to help them realize their full potential. This honor further motivates us to build a lasting legacy of impact and change across Africa for generations to come. Added Dr. Rasha Kelej, a widely respected leader across the continent, working closely with governments, First Ladies, healthcare professionals, and local communities.

Over a Decade of Transformative Leadership

Under Dr. Rasha Kelejs leadership, Merck Foundation has launched and scaled multiple high-impact programs, including the Scholarship Program for Healthcare Providers, which is transforming the patient care landscape and improving access to quality, equitable healthcare across Africa and beyond; the landmark More Than a Mother movement started by her in 2015, through which she is building quality & equitable reproductive and fertility care capacity, breaking infertility stigma, and raising awareness about infertility prevention and male infertility; and the Educating Linda Program, which supports girls education across numerous African countries.

Over the past 11 years, Dr. Rasha Kelej has worked closely with more than 33 First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who are the Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Campaign, alongside Ministries of Health, Education, Gender, Information and Communication, academia, research institutions, media, and the arts.

Transforming Patient Care, Creating a Lasting Legacy

Under her leadership, Merck Foundation has provided more than 2500 scholarships to young healthcare providers from 52 countries, in over 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
A Moroccan diplomatic source has strongly condemned the terrorist and separatist attacks that rocked on Saturday Bamako and other cities in Mali, targeting civilian and military areas.

In a statement posted on the website of the Moroccan foreign ministry, the same source said Morocco follows with great concern these cowardly and criminal acts and expresses solidarity with Mali as well as full support for the sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity with this brotherly African country.

Morocco reaffirms its constant standing with the Malian national authorities in their efforts to fight terrorism and separatism in Mali and the Sahel, the diplomatic source said.

The Malian army on Saturday battled what it called terrorist groups that launched surprise attacks around the capital Bamako and other parts of the west African nation.

Heavy gunfire was heard at Kati, in the Bamako suburbs, where General Assimi Goita has his residence and other key cities in the nation, which has been stricken by more than a decade of jihadist conflict.

An Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group teamed up with Tuareg rebels to launch coordinated attacks against the army across Mali.

Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition on Saturday said they had seized the northern city of Kidal, supported by jihadist fighters.

Yet, a Malian army statement said Saturday: Terrorist groups, not yet identified, early this morning targeted certain points and barracks in the capital and the interior of the country.

We call on the population to be vigilant. Our defense and security forces are engaged in annihilating the attackers, added the statement relayed by AFP, which said fighting was reported around Bamako, at Gao and Kidal in the north, and in the central city of Sevare.

The army said that several terrorists have been neutralized and equipment destroyed.

The attacks left 16 civilians and soldiers wounded and caused limited material damage, the government said in a statement on Saturday evening, adding that the situation is totally under control in all the localities that were attacked.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned acts of violence in the West African nation.

The SecretaryGeneral is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The Secretary-General calls for coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and to meet urgent humanitarian needs, the spokesman added.

According to press reports, fighting resumed in Kidal Sunday morning.

Kidal, a Tuareg stronghold, was retaken in November 2023 by the Malian army, ending more than a decade of control by rebels.
World leaders have expressed their relief that President Donald Trump and guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are safe after shots were fired on Saturday (25.04.26).

President Donald Trump has received support from world leaders

The 79-year-old president, his wife Melania, and Vice President JD Vance were rushed from the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, while other attendees hid under tables after a man - who has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen - rushed passed a security checkpoint, allegedly carrying guns and weapons, and prominent politicians across the globe have spoken out to denounce political violence.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X: "I am relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe following reports of gunfire at the White House correspondents dinner in Washington tonight.

Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event.

And Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum declared it was "good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events.

She added: We send them our respect. Violence must never be the way."

Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, praised the response to the incident.

He said in a statement: "I am pleased to hear the President and the First Lady, along with all attendees at the White House Correspondents' Dinner are safe.

We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action."

US politicians from both Trump's Republican party and rival Democrats have also condemned the incident.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a democrat, wrote on X: "Political violence has no place in our democracy."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: "Let's all pray for calmer waters and try to be part of the solution, not the problem."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - whose husband was attacked during a 2022 kidnap plot - said: "As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents."

One agent was shot during the incident, but protected by a bullet-proof vest.

During a press conference, Trump reassured reporters the unnamed man is in "great shape", and officials confirmed he is receiving treatment in hospital.
Oakhurst, CA  Oakhurst has achieved a milestone that honors more than a century of creativity, craftsmanship, and community pride. The town has been designated the Carved Bear Capital of the World.

Thanks to continued efforts by Visit Yosemite | Madera County and a proclamation by the Madera County Board of Supervisors the tradition of carved bear-lined streets has an official approval stamp. Wooden bears are a tradition in Oakhurst that dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries according to the Visit Yosemite | Madera County. The practice grew from the regions booming lumber industry that left an abundance of wood, skilled labor, and chainsaws that led to the creative art. Local carvers transformed logs into iconic wooden bears, symbols of strength, nature, and mountain life. Over time, these carved bears along Highway 41 became a defining feature of the towns identity.

Growing up in Oakhurst, carved bears were everywhere; they were a quirky, cheerful part of everyday life, expressed Brooke Smith, Director of Sales and Marketing for Visit Yosemite. When I learned about the effort that started more than 20 years ago to trademark this distinction, I knew it was a project I wanted to help carry across the finish line for my hometown. Im proud to say Im from the Carved Bear Capital of the World, and I know our places to eat, shop, and play in Oakhurst are going to have a lot of fun with it.

Today, carved bears are a part of daily life for Oakhurst residents. Visitors can spot them welcoming guests outside restaurants, hotels, shops, along roadways, and at the Southern Yosemite Visitor Center.

The 17th Annual Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous was April 19  25, at the Oakhurst Community Center. The event was open to public observers for free. Carving classes, demonstrations, and seminars for all level carvers ended with a Woodcarving Show and Sell Craft Fair. You can still catch a group of woodcarvers, who share knowledge and techniques in the different styles of wood carving, meeting Thursdays at the Senior Center in Oakhurst.

In October, all are invited to Oakhurst for the annual ARTober which includes a Carved Bear Scavenger Hunt. Every day in October, a hand-carved wooden bear is hidden somewhere in Oakhurst, with a clue posted on the ARToberOakhurst Instagram page. The first person to solve the clue and find the bear can take it home, provided they share their discovery on Instagram using the #ARToberOakhurst.

Visit Yosemite | Madera County also has a grant program to assist local tourism partners in purchasing carved bears, helping ensure Oakhursts official title is well known. With the official recognition in place, Oakhurst proudly embraces its title as the Carved Bear Capital of the World, inviting visitors to explore, photograph, and experience a uniquely Sierra art adventure tradition.

For more information on carved bears, where to purchase your own, and ARTober in Oakhurst, please visit https://www.yosemitethisyear.com/the-carved-bear-capital-of-the-world.

Since 1985, Visit Yosemite | Madera County offers unique experiences, from the Fossil Discovery Center through the Madera Wine Trail to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, the majestic Giant Sequoia trees and the High Sierra, to with dining, artisan shops, and year-round watersports at Bass Lake.
A Massachusetts woman who had been seeking custody of her two young children in a divorce is accused of killing them in their home, according to authorities and court records.

Massachusetts State Police issued an arrest warrant Saturday charging Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, with two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Kai and 6-year-old Ella. MacAusland is being held in Vermont, where she is expected to appear Monday in Bennington County Superior Court on a fugitive from justice charge as authorities seek to have her returned to Massachusetts.

The investigation began Friday night when Wellesley Police received a call from a Vermont police department requesting a well-being check on family members at a home in Wellesley. Police found the children dead.

Probate court records show Samuel MacAusland filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage and sought custody of the children and the home. Janette MacAusland later filed a counter claim also seeking custody and the home. On April 16, they filed a joint motion agreeing to have a neutral third party investigate and make recommendations about custody, and a guardian was appointed on April 21.

Information about the criminal case, including whether MacAusland is being represented by an attorney, was not available Sunday. Attorneys representing both MacAuslands could not be reached for comment.

The children were in kindergarten and second grade at Schofield Elementary School, where counselors will be on site Monday to provide support. In a statement Saturday night, Superintendent David Lussier asked the community to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers.

This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community, he said.

___

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

By HOLLY RAMER

Associated Press
King Charles' planned visit to the US is in flux following the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

King Charles is supposed to travel to the US

The 77-year-old monarch and Queen Camilla, his wife, are due to travel to Washington, D.C., on Monday (27.05.26) for a four-day visit, but their plans are now up in the air, following the shooting at the Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night.

A spokesperson told People: "His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed.

"A number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with U.S. colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit."

The King and Queen's trip to the US was announced earlier this month.

A statement posted on Instagram read: "On advice of His Majestys Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America. Their Majesties programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the UK and the US, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence."

Despite the shooting, US President Donald Trump is confident that the King and Queen will still travel to the US.

Speaking to Fox, Trump - who was in attendance at the Correspondents' Dinner - said: "He's coming, and we're going to have a great time.

"He's really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative."

Trump, 79, has been highly critical of the UK government and other allies over their response to the ongoing war with Iran.

And the billionaire businessman - who survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 - previously suggested that the monarch's visit could help to rebuild relations between the US and the UK.

He told the BBC: "I know [the King] well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man."
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) said that restoration work at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) is underway and is expected to be completed within the next 3-4 weeks following the fire incident earlier this month, according to an update shared on its official X account. The company said that investigations into the April 20 incident have confirmed that the fire was limited in scope. "Post-incident detailed investigations have confirmed the initial assessment that the fire was confined to the heat exchanger stack, affecting only 6 exchangers and their associated auxiliary equipment," HPCL said in its post. It further added that the likely cause of the incident has been identified based on preliminary findings. "Based on circumstantial evidence, the cause of the fire is suspected to be a leakage from the pressure gauge tapping point on the inlet line of the vacuum residue exchanger," the company noted. Providing an operational update, HPCL said the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), where the fire broke out, is expected to resume operations next month. "Restoration work is underway and is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 weeks. The CDU is anticipated to restart in the second fortnight of May 2026," the company said. The PSU oil major also indicated that progress on other units at the refinery remains on track. "Other secondary units are already in advanced stages of commissioning as per the plan," it said. HPCL added that production trials for key petroleum products are expected to begin soon. "It is expected that trial production of main products (LPG/MS/HSD/Naphtha) will commence in May 2026, after which the units will be stabilized and commissioned," the company said. Reiterating its focus on safety, HPCL said it remains committed to maintaining high operational standards. "HPCL reaffirms its commitment to operational safety, robust emergency response systems, and adherence to the highest industry standards," the company added. A major fire erupted at the complex operated by HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited on April 20, sending thick black smoke into the sky. (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said India and New Zealand will sign a long-pending bilateral trade agreement on April 27 (Monday), marking a key step to boost trade ties between the two countries. Speaking during his visit to Agra with New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, Goyal said the agreement was finalised after years of discussions at the highest level. "On the bilateral trade agreement between India and New Zealand... after many years of discussions, which was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, it was finalised. It is going to be signed tomorrow," Goyal said. Highlighting the economic benefits, the minister said the agreement would significantly improve market access for Indian goods. "Approximately 70 per cent of goods from India to New Zealand will reach there without any import duty," he said. Goyal added that the pact would create fresh export opportunities for several sectors, particularly traditional and MSME-driven industries. "We will get new opportunities for our Agra leather business and Uttar Pradesh handloom and handicrafts... to our one district one product... to our carpenters who make the goods to the handcarvers and many more opportunities," he noted. The minister emphasised that the agreement would act as a catalyst for trade growth between the two nations in the coming months. "In a few months, it will be a means of increasing trade between India and New Zealand," Goyal said. The proposed free trade agreement is expected to deepen economic engagement, expand export avenues, and strengthen bilateral ties between India and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment of New Zealand, on Saturday said that the bilateral relationship with India is the strongest one he has ever known. McClay, while speaking to ANI, said, "It's very strong. In fact, it's probably the strongest relationship that I have ever known. We, as a government of New Zealand, have said that we want to make our relationship with India and its government a strategic priority... We have a shared history, and we also know that we need to keep working on that. I'm excited for the next few years. I think we will see direct flights between India and New Zealand. Many more people can come and visit for tourism... we're about to sign a free trade agreement." (ANI)
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sunday said that New Zealand will sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India on Monday, calling it a "once in a generation agreement" that will open access to one of the world's largest markets for Kiwi exporters. In a post on social media, Luxon said, "New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement with India will be signed on Monday night," while sharing a video outlining the expected benefits of the deal. In the video message, he highlighted the scale of the opportunity, stating, "We are signing a Free Trade deal with India that opens one of the biggest markets in the world to Kiwi exporters." He underlined that the agreement would give exporters access to India's large consumer base and fast-growing economy. "It's a once-in-a-generation agreement that gives New Zealand exporters unprecedented access to 1.4 billion people, in an economy that is set to become the third largest in the world," he said. Luxon also stressed that the deal would improve New Zealand's competitive position globally. "It puts New Zealand exporters on an equal or better footing to our competitors, and it opens the door [to] India's rapidly expanding middle-class," he added. Highlighting the importance of trade to New Zealand's economy, he said, "One in four of our jobs in New Zealand are already linked to trade, and this FTA means more jobs on New Zealand farms and orchards." According to Luxon, the agreement is expected to boost incomes and economic activity across the country. "It means more money coming into local communities, and it means more opportunity for your family to get ahead," he said. He further noted that a stronger economy would allow greater public investment. "A stronger economy means that we can invest in the roads, the schools, the hospitals and the police, all the services that New Zealanders rely on," he said. Calling the agreement a "big win," Luxon said it would help expand exports across key sectors. "This is a big win for New Zealand, and it makes it easier for Kiwis to sell more of what we are great at to the world," he said, listing products such as "Kiwifruit from the Bay of Plenty, wine from Central Otago, seafood, meat, honey." He reiterated the central role of exports in driving growth. "Exports underpin our economy, and enabling these sectors to compete on the world stage means supporting jobs, higher wages and economic growth," Luxon said. Summing up the expected benefits for citizens, he added, "That means more money for Kiwis' back pockets." (ANI)
The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) is eyeing another record year after registering its highest-ever cargo throughput of 50 million tonnes in FY26, marking an 8% year-on-year growth, Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh said on Sunday at a business meeting with the Export-Import (EXIM) trade community in Mysuru. Singh credited the milestone to sustained collaboration across the port ecosystem. "This has only been possible because of the support and contribution from all the stakeholders here -- the export import, the traders, the industry, the state officials, the federal government agencies," he told ANI, expressing gratitude and urging continued partnership. The business meeting brought together stakeholders from across the trade and logistics value chain to review the port's progress and outline its future roadmap. Singh said the interaction also served as an opportunity to share NMPA's vision and gather valuable inputs from users. "We explained to them about our plans and the vision of our honorable prime minister of making the maritime sector of this country as a leader on the global map," he said, referring to the Viksit Bharat 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030 frameworks. Outlining the port's strategy, Singh highlighted ongoing efforts towards capacity augmentation, automation and mechanisation. "All those aspects were explained to them just to build confidence amongst them that this port... is there to grow and this is there to modernize," he said. The alignment of NMPA's strategy with the national mission, he added, is aimed at strengthening India's maritime competitiveness globally. Singh expressed confidence that the synergy between the port and its stakeholders would help set a new benchmark for cargo throughput this year. "This year again we are going to set a very ambitious target for this port... I'm sure that this year again we will be able to touch a very high level of cargo throughput volumes and that will set a benchmark for this port also for the other similar ports in similar category," he said. The chairman noted that the meeting generated constructive suggestions from the trade community, which would feed into NMPA's planning and operations. He reiterated that the port's infrastructure and facilities are being continuously upgraded for the benefit of users and to support India's broader maritime ambitions. "We will find the results coming very soon," Singh said, indicating that the momentum built in FY26 is expected to carry forward into the current fiscal. (ANI)
More than 51.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered across the country on Saturday, April 25, as the government stepped up measures to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid the evolving situation in West Asia and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said Sunday that LPG supply to domestic households has been prioritised, with no dry-outs reported at distributorships. Online bookings have surged to about 98% on an industry basis, while Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based deliveries have reached 94% to prevent diversion. The DAC is sent to the consumer's registered mobile number as an added safeguard. The update comes as part of a coordinated response to maintain energy supply and maritime continuity in light of geopolitical tensions. The Ministry assured citizens that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG and urged people to avoid panic buying. "Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG as the Govt is making all efforts to ensure availability," the advisory said, while also asking people to rely only on official sources and avoid visiting distributors by using digital booking platforms instead. Despite the ongoing situation, the government said it has ensured 100% supply to domestic LPG, domestic PNG and CNG (transport). For commercial LPG, priority is being given to hospitals, educational institutions, pharma, steel, automobile, seed and agriculture sectors. Supply of 5 kg FTL cylinders to migrant labour has been doubled based on the average daily supply on March 2-3, 2026. On the demand side, several rationalisation measures have been implemented, including enhancing refinery production, extending the booking interval from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas, and prioritising supply to essential sectors. Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have also been made available to ease pressure on LPG demand, while the Ministry of Coal has directed Coal India and Singareni Collieries to allot additional coal to states for distribution to small and medium consumers. The government has also asked states to facilitate new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers and to conserve energy in daily use. To prevent hoarding and black marketing, states and Union Territories have been empowered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000. All states and UTs have set up control rooms and district monitoring committees, with regular enforcement drives underway. More than 2,100 raids were conducted across the country on Saturday. PSU Oil Marketing Companies have carried out surprise inspections, imposing penalties on 310 LPG distributorships and suspending 70 distributorships till date. (ANI)
Sir David Jason is open to an Only Fools and Horses revival.

Sir David Jason is open to an Only Fools and Horses return

The veteran actor played Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter on the beloved comedy series from 19812003 and while he doesn't think anyone can match the "genius" of late showrunner John Sullivan - who died in 2011 - he would play the character again if the right script was sent his way.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: But the problem [with a TV revival] is that the man who created it is no longer with us.

"He wrote every episode and just happened to be a genius. Im not so sure that we have a writer clever enough to take on his mantle. No one could write the characters like he could.

But asked if the right script did come along, he added: Well yeah, providing we have a good script, lets go for it!

David lamented the fact very few comedy shows are filmed in front of a live audience these days.

He said: I learnt the trade in front of a live audience in the theatre.

"Only Fools and Horses and Open All Hours, those were in front of a live audience. And that gives you a flavour of a real-time audience reaction, which teaches you two things: what works and what doesnt, and how to time certain things.

"Because when a line gets a reaction, youve got to know how to handle that so that you remain real for the audience while also timing the next piece that comes along. Its quite a complicated process.

And the 86-year-old actor criticised the fact audiences are "too sensitive", leading to comedy being censored and losing its way.

He said: You should be able to laugh at a character, regardless of where you come from in society.

But people are too sensitive now. Yet if we cant laugh at ourselves, we are in danger of losing our sense of comedy, which is old-fashioned British joke-telling in the nicest possible way. Too many people have too much influence. You can get a person sacked simply by what you say [about them] on the internet. Its a difficult one.

But his own work, including on Open All Hours, has avoided such criticism.

He said: "Not one person has ever complained about any show that I have done. No one has said they didnt believe in it or didnt enjoy it.
Tributes poured in on Sunday from political leaders and public figures across India following the demise of legendary photographer Raghu Rai, who passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia, and Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party leader Waheed ur Rehman Para offered their condolences, remembering Rai as a towering figure in photojournalism who captured the "soul of India" through his lens. Kharge, in a post on X, wrote, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Raghu Rai, one of India's foremost photographers and a towering photojournalist for over five decades. A Padma Shri awardee, his powerful coverage of the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with several photographs of eminent personalities like Smt. Indira Gandhi, remains etched in our collective memory. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and students." https://x.com/kharge/status/2048233879585406993 Manish Sisodia also paid tribute, stating, "The news of the passing of the great photo-journalist Raghu Rai, who captured the soul of India in his photographs, is extremely heartbreaking. In such an era, when even our own often avert their gaze, Raghu Rai always insisted on looking closer and more intently. Be it power or suffering, ordinary people or history, without hesitation, without compromise. From the Bangladesh War to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, he showed the courage to bring every truth before the world. Today, that gaze is no longer among us... but his photographs are, his perspective is, which will always bring us closer to the truth. Humble homage." https://x.com/msisodia/status/2048248741950607687 Waheed ur Rehman Para expressed grief, writing, "Saddened to hear of the passing of Raghu Rai Ji at 83. His lens captured the soul of India and preserved moments that will live on forever. A true legend of photography. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers, his daughter @avanirai & the closed ones!" https://x.com/parawahid/status/2048245720948654332 The news of Rai's demise was confirmed through a tribute post on his official Instagram account, featuring a black-and-white portrait that reflected the aesthetic he mastered over decades. Celebrated for capturing the "extraordinary in the ordinary," Rai leaves behind an unparalleled archive documenting India's social, political, and cultural evolution. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXkcClmkrru/ Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai rose to global prominence as a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join Magnum Photos in 1977, an achievement that cemented his place among the world's elite photographers. His work forms a visual chronicle of modern India. From the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, Rai documented both historic milestones and everyday life. His images of Indian streets and the banks of the Ganges remain iconic representations of the country's spirit. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1972 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for his decades of service to photography. Rai's family announced that his cremation will take place on April 26, 2026, at 4 PM at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground. He is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani, and Purvai. Tributes also poured in from the artistic community. Photographer Atul Kasbekar described Rai as "quite simply, the greatest to ever hold a camera from our country," adding, "End of an era. Rest in peace, legend." Actress Dia Mirza and filmmaker Swanand Kirkire were among other public figures who expressed condolences. One tribute read, "History of India captured by one of the finest people we can ever think of... his work will be witnessed for generations." Raghu Rai's legacy redefined photojournalism in India, elevating it into a powerful art form. (ANI)
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has strongly backed the newly released biopic 'Michael', calling it "magic" and praising Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of the pop icon, even as the film continues to receive negative reviews from critics. The film, based on the life of Michael Jackson, has sparked a divided response since its release on April 24, with audiences and industry voices weighing in alongside critical assessments. On Sunday, Kher shared a video on Instagram expressing his emotional reaction to the film, describing it as an immersive experience rather than a conventional narrative. "It's not a film, it's like a river which is flowing, and this river has no destination. It's like a feeling, you feel it throughout the film. You cry with the film, you feel bad for him, and by the time the performances start, you are dancing," Kher said, adding, "I don't know much about English music, but I met him once. I had the fortune of meeting him, and it was a dramatic meeting." The actor went on to highlight how the film evoked a sense of childlike wonder in him, while singling out Jaafar Jackson's performance. "In every sequence, I was whistling. I am like a child right now, to feel that somebody like that lived in our lifetime. And Jaafar Jackson, oh my God, it's one of the finest performances I have seen in my entire career. He is Michael Jackson. The whole crowd in the auditorium was dancing, whistling, laughing and crying," he said. Defending the film against criticism, Kher later wrote, "MICHAEL IS MAGIC: Last night I watched the biopic Michael on the one and only Michael Jackson. Phenomenal. Inspiring. Deeply moving. I must confess, I don't understand English music as much as I understand emotions. But with Michael Jackson, language was never a barrier. Just like Charlie Chaplin, he spoke directly to the heart. And the heart understands everything." He added that the film's impact lay in its portrayal of Jackson's life journey, "A life. And life is never perfect. It has its ups and downs, its struggles and its shadows. But if a life can inspire millions across generations, countries and languages, then it is nothing short of magical. Sometimes I feel critics forget that. They judge moments, not journeys. And journeys are messy, beautiful, unpredictable, just like life itself. I came out of the film feeling grateful... There will never be another Michael Jackson. And maybe that's the point. And Jaafar Jackson as Michael is unbelievably amazing and outstanding! Jai Ho!" https://www.instagram.com/p/DXlSXcugjE1/ Earlier, filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan publicly defended the film, urging audiences to watch it in theatres and criticising negative reviews. She wrote, "Point to be noted... Critics are morons in every country! Go watch MICHEAL!! And someone pls give @jaafarjackson the Oscar next year!" She later added, "This film is for us fans and not for the critics. Loved Michael." https://www.instagram.com/p/DXj9FWdElF1/ Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, Michael traces the journey of the late pop legend from his early days in Gary, Indiana, with the Jackson 5 to global superstardom, including milestones like Off the Wall and Thriller. The film also stars Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo. Despite the mixed reception, the biopic has reignited conversations around Michael Jackson's legacy, with fans celebrating his artistic influence while critics debate the film's handling of complex aspects of his life. (ANI)
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "His photography had extraordinary sensitivity, depth and diversity. It brought people closer to the different aspects of life in India. His passing is an irreparable loss to the world of photography and culture. My thoughts are with his family, admirers and the photography fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2048402286007722130

The news of Raghu Rai's demise was confirmed through a tribute post on his official Instagram account, which featured a poignant black-and-white portrait reflecting the aesthetic he mastered over decades.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXkcClmkrru/

Rai, celebrated for his ability to capture the "extraordinary in the ordinary," leaves behind an unparalleled archive documenting India's social, political and cultural evolution.

Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai rose to global prominence as a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join Magnum Photos in 1977, an achievement that cemented his place among the world's elite photographers.

His work forms a visual chronicle of modern India. From the haunting aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to intimate portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, Rai's lens captured both historic milestones and everyday life.

His evocative images of Indian streets and the banks of the Ganges remain iconic representations of the country's spirit.

The family announced that his cremation will take place today, April 26, 2026, at 4:00 pm at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground.

Rai is survived by his wife, Gurmeet Rai, and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani and Purvai.

Tributes poured in from across the artistic and cultural spectrum. (ANI)
Actor Randeep Hooda on Sunday paid homage to legendary Indian photographer Raghu Rai, honouring his extraordinary legacy left through his iconic frames. Taking to his Instagram story, Randeep wrote, "Sad to hear of Raghu Rai's passing. His black and white frames told stories that captured the essence of the moment and enlightened us more about us. He lives on through these frames and his extraordinary gaze will forever be an inspiration. Om Shanti." Actor Dia Mirza also offered her tributes on Instagram and wrote, "Raghu Rai rest in light. Om Shanti." Notably, tributes have been pouring in from public figures as well as political leaders from across the country following the demise of Raghu Rai, who passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. The news was confirmed by his family on his official social media handle, along with a black-and-white portrait of the photographer captured in his own style. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXkcClmkrru/ Many took to the comment section to pay tributes, including the likes of Konkona Sen Sharma, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nimrat Kaur, Rekha Bhardwaj, and Guneet Monga, among others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled Rai's passing in an X post. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "His photography had extraordinary sensitivity, depth and diversity. It brought people closer to the different aspects of life in India. His passing is an irreparable loss to the world of photography and culture. My thoughts are with his family, admirers and the photography fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2048402286007722130 Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai rose to global prominence as a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join Magnum Photos in 1977, an achievement that cemented his place among the world's elite photographers. His work forms a visual chronicle of modern India. From the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, Rai documented both historic milestones and everyday life. His images of Indian streets and the banks of the Ganges remain iconic representations of the country's spirit. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1972 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for his decades of service to photography. (ANI)
Central Crime Station (CSS) Hyderabad filed an FIR against Bigg Boss Telugu fame actress Ashu Reddy and her family for allegedly cheating a London-based software engineer of Rs 9.35 crore under the pretext of marriage. According to FIR, complainant Yenumula Satyanarayana Murthy of Shaikpet alleged that Ashu Reddy promised to marry his son Y.V Dharmendra in 2018 and took money for cars, gold, and properties, including Rs 1.80 crore for a flat in Manikonda. The complaint states she refused marriage twice, in July 2020 and July 2025, and tore blank cheques given during mediation with Tollywood actress Hema. Her parents and sister are also allegedly accused of involvement. In a FIR,the complainant stated that his "son Y.V Dharmendra is a Software Engineer working in London. When his son was in India in 2018, he met Ashu Reddy through mutual friends. Reddy told his son that she was an actress and that she completed masters in USA. She also said that she had come to Hyderabad to work in films. Within two months of meeting him, in March 2018, she told his son that she loved him and that she would marry only him. His son clearly informed her about his earlier marriage, and that the divorce was in process. She told him that his past did not matter and continued the relationship. After his son accepted her proposal, she told his son that her H1B visa had an issue. She admitted to his son that she had completed her masters and was not interested in further pursuing education anymore." The FIR continued, "She further stated that her education loan was pending and her father had stopped supporting her financially. She also admitted to the fact that she was interested in pursuing an acting career and wanted to move back to India and asked him to support her financially in her endeavors. At the same time, she repeatedly assured his son that she would marry him. Because of this, his son trusted her completely and started catering to her financial needs." Actress Reddy began asking the man's son for regular financial support and a luxurious lifestyle, including cars, gold, and property in her name, claiming it was needed to gain her father's approval for marriage. "Soon, she started asking his son for money for her monthly and personal expenses. She also asked him tomaintain a luxurious lifestyle for her and to buy cars, gold, and properties in her name. She told him that this was required to get her father's approval for the marriage and assured him that after marriage everything would belong to both of them. This continued for about two years. Around July 2020, when his son asked her to arrange a meeting between both families to fix the marriage date, instead of only taking financial support, she suddenly refused to marry him. She did not give any proper reason. His son was completely shocked. Subsequent to the refusal to marry, he asked Ashu Reddy to repay the money received by her and return the gold purchased for her under the guise of marriage," read the FIR. It continued, "When the complainant's son asked Ashu Reddy to return the money and assets given to her, she avoided him and did not respond properly. Because of this, a meeting was arranged to settle the issue, with Tollywood actress Hema acting as a mediator. In that meeting, Ashu Reddy agreed to return an amount of Rs 70 lakhs and gave blank cheques as assurance. Later, Ashu Reddy collected the said blank cheques from Hema and tore them up, stating that she would return the money, thereby causing disappearance of evidence. However, she did not return any money even after this meeting. Later, in November 2020, her sister Mrs. Divya Reddy and her mother Yashoda Reddy contacted the complainant's son and said that Ms. Ashu Reddy was mentally disturbed after the breakup." The FIR further added that "Ashu Reddy was going through depression and that only his son could help her become normal again. She requested his son to forget about the financial settlement, help her, and said that Ashu Reddy was looking forward to marrying him. Trusting her words, his son resumed the relationship. Again, from November 2020, Ashu Reddy got back into a relationship with his son and started reassuring him about marriage. After this, his son asked his father to meet her parents to finalise the marriage." It continued, "Accordingly, his brother and he went to their house at her native place Aganampudi. Her father, Venkata Krishna Koyya, agreed to the marriage and said that since both were in love, the marriage would happen soon. He assured them that they would inform about the marriage dates. To further induce his son, she asked him to speak to her father and finalize marriage details in November 2023. Accordingly, his son personally met her father at her residence in Aganampudi Village, Visakhapatnam. She also arranged a meeting with astrologer Venu Swamy in October 2024 to check horoscope compatibility. All these acts made his son and himself believe that she and her family were positive about the marriage and induced financial transfers. From 2020 to 2025, Ms. Ashu Reddy repeatedly assured his son and family that she would marry him after one or another opportunity but kept delaying." The FIR added, "During this period, she continued to lure large sums of money and compelled his son to purchase properties, vehicles, and gold (about 5 kg) in her name. It is stated that Ashu Reddy and her family extorted enormous amounts of money over five years. They addressed his son as "son-in-law" and asked him to take care of their financial needs. She also asked him to purchase a flat for them. Believing her, his son purchased a flat in Arka Manikonda near Lanco Hills worth Rs. 3 Cr and paid Rs 1.80 Cr advance through her. She got the agreement registered in her name and dismissed concerns saying they would soon marry. The total value extorted is approximately Rs 9.35 Crores. Her sister also took Rs 50 lakhs. In July 2025, Ashu Reddy again refused to marry and stopped responding. Her father also confirmed they were not interested. Despite refusal, they did not return any money or assets. The complainant's son repeatedly requested either marriage or repayment." "Ashu Reddy initially agreed to repay by September 2025, then December 2025, and finally refused. She also threatened his son with false cases and harm. From December 2025 onwards, she stopped responding completely. Later, it came to their knowledge that Ashu Reddy was involved in another relationship with Nammi Siva Jayant. It appeared that she, her family, and her boyfriend conspired to extract money. It appears to be a case of honey trapping under the pretext of marriage. Because of these actions, his son suffered huge financial loss, mental stress, emotional trauma, and social humiliation. The actions of Ashu Reddy and her family constitute cheating under false promise of marriage, criminal breach of trust, fraud, dishonest inducement, and criminal conspiracy. In view of the above, the complainant Yenumula Satyanarayana Murthy requested registration of FIR, investigation of financial transactions, recovery of assets, and strict legal action. He assured full cooperation and submission of all supporting documents," added FIR.Ashu Reddy gained fame with her stint in Bigg Boss Telugu Season 3. Later, she starred in movies like 'A Masterpeice', 'Trimukha' and others. (ANI)
International pop star Rihanna may have come to Mumbai for business, but it was her playful embrace of Indian culture that truly won hearts online. During her recent visit to the city for the launch of Fenty Beauty, Rihanna was seen trying a few Bharatanatyam mudras in a light-hearted moment that has now gone viral across social media. The video, shared by influencer Nejm, shows the global star taking a quick lesson in the classical Indian dance form. In the clip, Nejm demonstrates a few hand gestures, known as mudras, while also explaining how expressions are communicated through the eyes in Bharatanatyam. Rihanna appears curious and fully engaged, following the steps and attempting the expressions with enthusiasm. Take a look https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXjfbXPDXVY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== In no time, fans chimed in the comment section to share their reactions. One fan wrote, Love "you for doing this Tamil Culture," while another added, "Hahahaha iconiccc." A third user commented, "We got riri doing bharatnatyam before gta 6" Rihanna's India visit has generated major buzz online, with several clips from the launch event circulating widely. Videos showed her interacting warmly with influencers, greeting fans, and attending an after-party with Janhvi Kapoor and designer Manish Malhotra. Another video that went viral from her Mumbai visit showed the pop star saying "shukriya" to the crowd stationed outside. Rihanna last visited Mumbai in 2024, when she attended Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding celebrations. She launched Fenty Beauty on September 8, 2017, in collaboration with LVMH. The brand quickly made waves in the beauty industry for its commitment to inclusivity, debuting with a foundation line featuring 40 shades catering to a wide range of skin tones. (ANI)
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar paid tribute to legendary photographer Raghu Rai after the noted visual storyteller passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on Sunday. He was 83. The news of his death was confirmed by his family on his official social media, along with a black-and-white portrait of the photographer. Remembering Rai's contribution and his personal experience with him, Bhandarkar said the photographer had helped him during the research for his 2017 thriller Indu Sarkar . Calling his camera a "compass for truth," the filmmaker shared an emotional note on X. Taking to social media, Madhur wrote, "Sad to hear of Raghu Rai's sir demise. During my research for the film #InduSarkar, he gave great insight into India's Emergency. His camera was a compass for truth, and his work a meditation on life. Sir you will be deeply missed and forever celebrated. #OmShanti" https://x.com/imbhandarkar/status/2048395589310918906?s=20 Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Rai rose to global prominence as a protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join Magnum Photos in 1977, an achievement that cemented his place among the world's elite photographers. His work forms a visual chronicle of modern India. From the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to portraits of figures like Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, Rai documented both historic milestones and everyday life. His images of Indian streets and the banks of the Ganges remain iconic representations of the country's spirit. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1972 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for his decades of service to photography. (ANI)
Strengthening the "INDIA" bloc alliance on the ground, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Kolkata on Saturday night to officially join the Trinamool Congress (TMC) campaign trail. Kejriwal's arrival follows a record-breaking 92% voter turnout in the first phase and comes just days before the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, scheduled for April 29, 2026. Kejriwal's visit is seen as a significant boost for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as the TMC faces a high-decibel challenge from the BJP. The AAP chief's presence in Kolkata signals a unified front against the central government, with a specific focus on urban constituencies and the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has become a major flashpoint in the state. With 142 seats in and around Kolkata and southern Bengal going to the polls on Wednesday, the second phase is expected to be the "decider" for the 294-member Assembly. Kejriwal is expected to appear alongside TMC leaders to emphasise federalism and state rights, leverage AAP's governance model in Delhi and Punjab to appeal to Kolkata's professional and middle-class electorate and join the chorus of opposition leaders, including Hemant Soren and Tejashwi Yadav, who have already campaigned for the TMC. The election has reached a fever pitch following the completion of the first phase on April 23. While the BJP, led by Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi, has claimed a sweeping lead in the initial seats, the TMC camp remains confident that the "Kolkata belt" will secure their return to power. As the campaign enters its final 48-hour stretch, Kejriwal's presence underscores the national significance of the Bengal polls, where the results, expected on May 4, will resonate far beyond the borders of West Bengal. Earlier on April 25, BJP National President Nitin Nabin said public support for his party has increased across West Bengal. Addressing a roadshow in North 24 Parganas district in support of BJP candidate Sumay Hira, Nabin said the voting trend indicated growing public dissatisfaction with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Commenting on Raghav Chadha and other MPs leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the BJP, he criticised AAP leadership and said leaders were shifting towards the BJP to contribute to national development. "Arvind Kejriwal built a Sheesh Mahal for himself. No one wants to stay with that kind of leadership. Leaders want to join PM Modi and work for the development of the nation," he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she is going to file a "legal case" against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his "violent remarks".Adressing a gathering in Hoogly, Banerjee said, "We are going to file a legal case against Amit Shah for his violent remarks. As Home Minister, he cannot make such comments."This comes after Banerjee targeted Shah's "hang upside down" warning directed at TMC workers post polls on Friday, asserting that the BJP's "forceful approach" would fail to resonate with Bengal's voters. "What kind of language is a Home Minister using? To say you will hang people upside down post-election is unacceptable. With this mindset, you will never win Bengal--never!" she said. The polling for Phase I of the Assembly elections concluded on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 92.88 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across 152 constituencies. The polling for the second phase will be held on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Newly appointed NITI Aayog Full-Time Member Dr. Gobardhan Das has hailed his induction into the national think tank as a victory for the state of West Bengal, framing his new role as a mission to ensure "no citizen is left behind" on India's path to 2047. Speaking in Kolkata shortly after being congratulated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the IISER Bhopal Director expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the nation's strategic development. Dr Das emphasised the regional significance of his appointment, noting that having a representative from Bengal at the highest level of national planning is a point of collective pride. "Today is a very happy day for me... It's the happiness of the entire Bengal. By making a Bengali a member of NITI Aayog, today is a day of great joy for Bengal. We are very proud," said Dr Gobardhan Das. Looking ahead, Dr. Das aligned his personal objectives with the Prime Minister's vision for a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by the centenary of the country's independence. He outlined a holistic approach to policy-making that prioritises inclusivity and rapid progress across all sectors. Dr Das noted that while the country is currently progressing "very rapidly," the goal is to accelerate this momentum to meet the 2047 deadline. He committed to a development model where "not a single citizen of the country is left behind," emphasising that national strength is derived from taking every individual forward. To achieve the status of a developed nation, Dr Das stressed the necessity of working across "every field," from scientific innovation to grassroots social welfare. "Our country is progressing very rapidly right now. We need to take the country much further, and our Prime Minister has shown us a direction. We have to make the country a developed India in 2047. To make a developed India, we have to work in every field. We will work in such a way that not a single citizen of the country is left behind. We have to take all our citizens forward...," he added. As an eminent scientist and academic administrator, Dr. Das's inclusion in NITI Aayog is expected to bring a data-driven, research-oriented perspective to the council. His focus on inclusive growth suggests that his tenure will likely emphasise bridging the gap between high-tech research and the practical needs of rural and marginalised populations. His appointment comes at a critical juncture as India refines its long-term economic and social strategies under the guidance of the central planning body. Dr Gobardhan Das is a celebrated Molecular Science Professor, specialising in Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Cell Biology over a scientific career of nearly three decades. The new Niti Aayog team includes two eminent experts hailing from West Bengal - senior economist Dr Ashok Lahiri as Vice Chairperson and Scientist Dr Gobardhan Das as a member. Along with them, PM Modi also congratulated Dr Rajiv Gauba, Prof K V Raju, Prof Abhay Karandikar and Dr M Srinivas on becoming Full Time Members of NITI Aayog. (ANI)
In a landmark and far-reaching judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has struck down a controversial state legislation, terming it "illegal, unconstitutional and nullified," while also quashing employee-related orders and granting sweeping relief to petitioners in more than 260 connected cases. The verdict was delivered on April 25, 2026, by a Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Romesh Verma, which had reserved judgment on January 5, 2026, after extensive hearings in a batch of petitions led by CWP No. 3361 of 2025 (Devinder Kumar & Others vs State of Himachal Pradesh & Another). The High Court held that the "impugned Act" enacted by the State was unconstitutional as it attempted to override and nullify earlier judicial pronouncements, calling it an impermissible exercise of legislative power that violated the doctrine of separation of powers. Quashing the Act in its entirety, the court issued a series of directions with wide-ranging implications. It declared that all consequential actions, omissions and decisions taken by the State and its authorities under the quashed Act would stand invalid. The court further set aside all orders relating to rejection, withdrawal or denial of benefits to employees based on the said legislation. In a major relief to employees, the court also barred any recovery of benefits already granted, which had been proposed under the now-quashed Act. Additionally, the Bench directed the competent authorities to extend all due benefits to eligible employees within a strict timeline of three months from the date of the judgment. The case represents one of the largest consolidated hearings in the High Court, covering more than 260 Civil Writ Petitions (CWPs) along with multiple connected proceedings. These included one Letters Patent Appeal (LPA No. 364 of 2024), four Execution Petitions (EX.PT), one Contempt Petition (COPC No. 183 of 2025), and a connected Miscellaneous Application (CMP No. 5397 of 2025 in COPC No. 866 of 2024). The court formally recorded that all matters were heard together under the common title:"CWP No. 3361 of 2025 & connected matters." The litigation arose after a large number of employees approached the High Court challenging a state law and subsequent administrative orders that adversely affected their service conditions and benefits. The petitioners argued that the legislation sought to retrospectively nullify earlier court rulings that had granted them relief. Accepting these contentions, the High Court held that the State could not legislate in a manner that defeats or overrides binding judicial decisions, terming such an attempt legally unsustainable. The batch included both group petitions and individual petitions, reflecting widespread grievance across departments. Prominent group matters included cases like Radhe Shyam & Others (CWP 3623/2025) and Harsh Deepika Datta & Others (CWP 3738/2025), alongside numerous individual petitions filed by employees such as Amit Kumar, Shivani Sood, Madan Lal and Rita Devi, among others. The matter was extensively argued before the Division Bench, which reserved its judgment on January 5, 2026, and pronounced the final verdict on April 25, 2026, bringing closure to a prolonged legal battle involving hundreds of petitioners. Legal observers describe the ruling as highly significant both in terms of constitutional principles and administrative impact. By striking down the legislation and quashing the related orders, the High Court has reaffirmed the supremacy of judicial decisions and limited the scope of retrospective legislative interference. The judgment is expected to benefit a large section of employees across Himachal Pradesh and may have far-reaching implications for similar disputes in the future, while also setting a precedent on the limits of legislative power vis-a-vis court rulings. (ANI)
The Himachal Pradesh Mahila Congress on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Centre over the Women's Reservation Bill, alleging that the government is misleading women by delaying its implementation. Addressing a press conference in Shimla, HP Mahila Congress chief Zainab Chandel said that while the BJP has passed the Women's Reservation Bill, it has been effectively stalled by linking it to the Census and delimitation process. "The BJP has passed the bill but kept it hanging by tying it to the Census and delimitation. This is a betrayal of women," Chandel said. She announced that the Mahila Congress will send one million postcards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding immediate implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women based on the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats. "If the Centre's intent is genuinely pro-women, then 33 per cent reservation should be implemented immediately based on the current 543 Lok Sabha seats. Delaying it in the name of the census and delimitation pushes it to 2029 or beyond," she said. Chandel further questioned the government's commitment, stating that women should be granted a reservation from the upcoming Lok Sabha elections itself if the intent is clear. "The Prime Minister makes big promises, but when it comes to giving women their rights, the bill has been put on the back burner. It appears to be nothing more than an election slogan. The BJP does not want to increase women's representation in Parliament and Assemblies," she alleged. Highlighting Congress's track record, she said the party has consistently ensured representation for women, pointing to the 33 per cent reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions introduced by Congress, which has now been increased to 50 per cent in many states. Chandel also accused BJP state president Rajeev Bindal of using inappropriate language towards women leaders during a recent Mahila Morcha protest march in Shimla. (ANI)
Amidst the high-voltage campaign for the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP MP and star campaigner Ravi Kishan on Saturday predicted a decisive political shift in the state. Speaking in Howrah, the actor-turned-politician declared that May 4, 2026, the day of the election results, will mark the dawn of "Ram Rajya" in Bengal and the conclusion of the Trinamool Congress's tenure. Kishan's remarks come as the state prepares for the second and final phase of polling on April 29, following a record-breaking turnout in the initial phase. Ravi Kishan framed the upcoming result date as a liberation for the people of Bengal, promising an end to the administrative and social issues that have dominated the election narrative. "On May 4, Ram Rajya will arrive. The BJP government is coming, and no one can stop it. The end of atrocities, corruption, and sin will come, and the sunrise of Ram Rajya will dawn. May 4 is the day when the oppression against Bengal and the people of Bengal will end," said Ravi Kishan. Taking a direct swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kishan suggested that the electorate has already made its decision. He characterised the current election not just as a political contest, but as a struggle for "existence" by the Bengali people. Kishan asserted that the "Bengali has awakened" and is voting to safeguard the state's future. Addressing the Chief Minister's recent statements, he remarked that "Didi's time to rest has now arrived." He emphasised that the vote is being cast to "save its own existence," echoing the BJP's campaign theme of protecting the state's cultural and sovereign identity. "...Didi's time to rest has now arrived. Now the Bengali has awakened... Bengal is voting for itself, to save its own existence...," said the BJP MP. With the first phase of the 294-seat Assembly elections having concluded on April 23, all eyes are now on the 142 seats going to the polls this Wednesday. Earlier, on April 25, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that the BJP will win the West Bengal assembly polls and said he can clearly see that the Mamata Banerjee government is not getting elected. "Every party says its own thing, Rahul Gandhi is doing the same, but I can see clearly that Mamata Banerjee is not getting elected this time," Amit Shah said in an exclusive conversation with ANI during his roadshow in Tollygunge. He was asked about the remarks of a Congress leader during his election rallies in the state. He also took potshots at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks to file a "legal case" against him over "violent remarks" and said the Trinamool Congress leader keeps losing in court and will continue to do so. Amit Shah said Mamata Banerjee keeps talking, and the BJP is campaigning among the people who will give their verdict in the polls. Meanwhile, the polling for Phase I of the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.78 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. The polling for the second phase will be held on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has claimed a nationwide resurgence of the Congress party and predicted a victory for Mamata Banerjee in the West Bengal Assembly. Rawat said that there is visible affection, trust, and support among the people of West Bengal for Banerjee, which places the Trinamool Congress in a strong position to secure a majority. He added that Congress has also fought well in the state and would extend support wherever needed to strengthen the situation. Targeting the BJP, Rawat alleged that despite making all possible efforts to win elections, the party would face a significant defeat in West Bengal. Referring to other states, he claimed that the BJP alliance is heading towards defeat in Tamil Nadu, while Congress is advancing towards victory in Kerala and is set to secure a strong majority in Assam. Speaking on Uttarakhand politics, Rawat asserted that Congress will register a major victory in the 2027 assembly election. He accused the BJP government of misusing power and relying on false promises, technology, and financial strength in politics. "Such methods have limits, and that limit has now been crossed. People want change," he said. Rawat further stated that Congress's support base is strengthening continuously and expressed confidence that the party, along with its allies, will perform well in states like Kerala and West Bengal, meeting the expectations of the people. On April 8, Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat asserted that the Congress in Uttarakhand is at a crucial stage of ushering in political change, expressing confidence that the state could take the lead in mounting a challenge against the BJP. He also said he had noted similar shifts are underway in Kerala and Assam. Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, "Uttarakhand will lead the change. Change is coming in Keralam as well, but the fortune of leading the change against the BJP is going to come to us, or it might go to Assam. Uttarakhand Congress is at a stage of bringing about change."(ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the 'State-Level Haj Kit Distribution and Felicitation Ceremony' organised by the Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee in Raipur on Sunday. The event was held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium, where Hajj pilgrims were provided kits and felicitated ahead of their pilgrimage. Earlier on April 22, Chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Dr Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, congratulated pilgrims embarking on the Hajj and appreciated the arrangements made by the Uttar Pradesh government as well as the Union government. Speaking to ANI, Ilyasi said, "I would like to congratulate all our pilgrims who have been allowed to undertake this Hajj pilgrimage today. I would like to congratulate all our pilgrims who have been allowed to undertake this Hajj pilgrimage today. I would like to congratulate our state's Chief Minister, Adiyanath Yogi. I appreciate the various arrangements made by our state governments and the central government. ""Today, I learned that for the first time, AI will be used in this Hajj pilgrimage. This is significant news globally. It is a significant fact that India is providing its pilgrims with all the facilities they need through AI. This year, 17,000 pilgrims are departing from Uttar Pradesh for the Hajj", he added. In Islam, every individual must fulfil five duties (pillars), of which Hajj is one. The other four pillars are Shahada (faith declaration), Salah (daily prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), and Sawm (fasting in Ramadan).On April 18, the first batch of Hajj 2026, carrying 371 pilgrims, departed for Mecca from New Delhi, marking the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season from India. The pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia from Indira Gandhi International Airport in the presence of Delhi Hajj Committee Chairperson Kausar Jahan. (ANI)
Citing a "systematic breakdown of law and order," the Congress party demanded the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for the immediate arrest of Papai Ghosh, whom they describe as a notorious repeat offender responsible for orchestrating violence in the Berhampore Assembly Constituency (AC-72). The formal complaint, authored by Niloy Pramanik and addressed to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, alleges that the administration's continued inaction has directly "emboldened" Ghosh and his associates to carry out escalating acts of brutality. The demand for the arrest of Papai Ghosh follows a political controversy in Berhampore (Behrampore), Murshidabad, where the Congress party has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth leader of being involved in criminal activities that are being "repeatedly ignored" by local authorities. In a letter dated April 25, Pramanik alleged that despite multiple complaints and prior warnings, no effective preventive action has been taken against Papai Ghosh, whom he described as the prime accused in several serious incidents. The Congress letter outlined a series of violent incidents allegedly spearheaded by Ghosh, spanning from pre-poll intimidation to election-day assaults. Ghosh was named as the primary instigator in attempts to disturb communal harmony and intimidate voters in the Kunjaghata area prior to the elections. On polling day, armed miscreants reportedly under Ghosh's command carried out a "brutal assault" on Congress workers and the family of a polling agent in Pirtala (Kantanagar). The letter highlighted that the attacks involved bricks and blunt weapons, leaving victims severely injured. Among those hospitalised was a cardiac patient who required emergency care following the trauma.Pramanik's letter expressed deep frustration that, despite multiple prior warnings submitted to the CEO's office, Ghosh remained free to disrupt the electoral process. "The pattern is now undeniable: Repeated complaints ignored, the same accused repeatedly involved, and violence escalating from intimidation to physical assault. This is not an isolated incident but a systematic breakdown of law and order under a known repeat offender," said Niloy Pramanik, Congress Member. The Congress party has laid out five non-negotiable demands to ensure the sanctity of the remaining electoral process and prevent post-poll retaliation. The summary apprehension of Papai Ghosh and all identified co-accused. Increased presence of central paramilitary forces in the sensitive pockets of AC-72. A probe into why local police failed to act despite documented prior knowledge of the threats. Guaranteed security for polling agents, workers, and general citizens who have been targeted. The party has attached formal police complaints and hospital discharge summaries to corroborate the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims. The letter concludes with a stern warning to the Election Commission, stating that any further violence involving Ghosh will be viewed as a "square administrative failure." With Berhampore having already seen a high-tension polling day on April 23, the Congress leadership is demanding "prompt and exemplary action" to restore faith in the democratic process before the results are announced on May 4. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday welcomed the joining of two-thirds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling it a decisive political development. Reacting to the move, Maurya said on Saturday that the BJP is open to leaders joining its fold and asserted that the AAP had emerged from an anti-corruption movement. "We welcome all these MPs. AAP was born out of a movement," Maurya said. He further asserted that the party is nearing its end, adding, "The time has come for AAP to end." Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi on Friday also took a sharp dig at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after two to three of its Rajya Sabha MPs joined the BJP, saying that leaders in other parties feel "suffocated" and are increasingly drawn towards the BJP's policies and ideology. Speaking to ANI, Saraogi said that more leaders from other parties are likely to join the BJP in the coming times, citing ideological alignment and organisational appeal. "Good people in other parties are feeling suffocated in their own parties, and they all believe in the policies of the BJP...that is why people from other parties are joining the BJP. In the times to come, more people will be seen doing so," Saraogi said. The comments came after the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major setback after its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, who was removed as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha earlier, joined the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. This came after the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major setback after its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, who was removed as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha earlier, joined the BJP on Friday. While addressing a presser in the national capital on Friday, Chadha formalised a split that had been building for weeks, announcing that two-thirds of the party's Upper House members would merge with the BJP. The move triggered furious reactions from AAP leaders while drawing a warm welcome from the BJP. (ANI)
Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagdish Vishwakarma on Sunday cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad during the ongoing local body elections and urged citizens to participate in large numbers. Speaking to ANI, Vishwakarma said that local body elections reflect the spirit of grassroots governance and public participation. "The local body elections, representing local self-governance, are being celebrated as a festival of democracy across the entire state. Exercising one's right to vote signifies moving development forward," he said. Highlighting the BJP's development agenda, he added, "Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the politics of development to the entire nation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is further advancing that vision. I urge the 6.5 crore citizens of Gujarat to come out, cast their votes, and strengthen the politics of development." On public support for the party, Vishwakarma expressed confidence in continued backing from voters. "The people of Gujarat have witnessed the state's progress from the time Modiji was Chief Minister to now. They know that if any party has prioritised development, it is the BJP. I am confident they will continue to support this path," he said. He further asserted that the party remains firmly rooted in the state's political landscape. "The people of Gujarat have stood by the BJP for the last 25 to 30 years. A vote for the BJP is a vote for development. I am confident that citizens will once again choose development and ensure BJP's continued governance in local bodies," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to all citizens to vote 100 per cent in the elections of local self-government institutions. He requested all the voters of the state to vote enthusiastically in this holy festival of democracy. In his message to the citizens, CM Patel said that voting in a democracy is not only a right but also a sacred duty as a citizen. He said that every vote will further boost the overall development of the villages, talukas, districts, and cities of the state. The Chief Minister appealed to all the voters of the state to reach their polling stations and vote, and also motivate their family members, friends, and neighbours to vote. He has called upon everyone to make this grand festival of democracy a success by taking a pledge of "100 per cent voting". The Chief Minister has made a heartfelt appeal to everyone to vote in this election of local self-government institutions to build a developed India and a developed Gujarat. The counting of votes will be held on April 28. (ANI)
Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Sunday visited Ujjain and attended the sacred Bhasma Aarti at the Mahakaleshwar Temple. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said he felt fortunate to have visited the temple multiple times and expressed gratitude for the spiritual experience. He also prayed for the nation's progress, peace, and social harmony. "I will pray that the country remains free from crises and that people continue to live with happiness, peace, and prosperity," he said. A day earlier, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also visited the temple. He said that being in Ujjain brings a sense of positivity and expressed hope for the well-being and prosperity of all sections of society. Recently, actor Anupam Kher has shared a deeply spiritual moment with his followers after visiting the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, describing the experience as "divine" and "soul-stirring." Taking to Instagram, Kher posted a series of photographs from his pilgrimage to one of India's most sacred Jyotirlinga shrines. Dressed in traditional attire with a saffron ceremonial stole, the actor is seen offering prayers with folded hands against the temple's iconic backdrop. In his caption, Kher reflected on the spiritual significance of the visit and the emotional impact it had on him. "I reached the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain. Had darshan and prayed for all of you as well. What a wonderful, divine experience it is to come here. India is truly filled with such incredible religious places, whose antiquity and history are unbelievable. Today, the soul felt a unique sense of peace and strength. Har Har Mahadev! Har Har Mahakal!" he wrote. Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Mahakaleshwar Temple attracts lakhs of devotees annually, including several prominent personalities from across the country and abroad. Participation in the ritual is widely believed to be highly auspicious, with devotees holding faith that it fulfils their wishes. (ANI)
The Delhi Police on Sunday apprehended a close associate of the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang during a specialised operation in Dwarka, recovering multiple illegal firearms and ammunition. The Delhi Police said that the accused is linked to an extortion racket. According to the information from Delhi Police, an arms supplier, a close associate of Kapil Sangwan @ Nandu Gang, was apprehended in a major crackdown at Dwarka. An illegal automatic pistol, a single-shot pistol and live cartridges were recovered. The accused is linked to an extortion racket. Earlier in April, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) East District of Delhi Police arrested an individual for illegal possession of arms and ammunition. Acting on specific and real-time intelligence, the police team apprehended the accused before he could carry out any criminal activity. According to the Delhi Police, a special team was constituted for the operation. Based on credible information regarding the movement of a suspicious individual linked to the "Chenu Gang", the police laid a trap and successfully apprehended him. Upon search, one country-made pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from his possession. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he is an active member of the "Chenu Gang" and provides logistical support to its members. He was in contact with one Shezad, an active robber involved in several recent robbery incidents in Delhi. Shezad was earlier arrested by Shahdara District Police on 22 March 2026 and was sent to judicial custody. Currently, he is on police remand in connection with FIR dated 17 March 2026, registered at PS Krishna Nagar, Delhi. The Delhi Police said that the accused further revealed that he was roaming in the area with the intention of committing robbery at gunpoint, which was successfully thwarted due to timely police action. In this regard, a case vide FIR No. 199/26 dated April 1, 2026, under Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at PS New Ashok Nagar, and further investigation is underway. (ANI)
The Indian Institute of Management Kashipur (IIM Kashipur), one of India's premier management institutions, hosted its 13th Annual Convocation Ceremony. The ceremony marked a key milestone with one of IIM Kashipur's most diverse graduating cohorts and a strong representation of women across programmes on Saturday, the release said. This year, 546 students were awarded degrees across five programmes at IIM Kashipur. The programme-wise distribution of the graduating class is as follows: 280 students from the MBA programme, 160 from the MBA (Analytics) programme, 34 from the Executive MBA (E-MBA), 58 from the Executive MBA in Analytics (EMBAA), and 14 from the Doctoral (PhD) programme. The convocation was presided over by Justice Guhanathan Narendar, Former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, who served as the Chief Guest and conferred degrees upon the graduating cohort. He was joined by Kamal Poddar, Managing Director, Choice International Limited, as the Guest of Honour. The event was also graced by Sandeep Singh, Interim Chairperson, Board of Governors; Prof. Neeraj Dwivedi, Director, IIM Kashipur, along with faculty members and staff. The release stated that during the convocation address, Justice Narendar said, "You have earned your place through perseverance, discipline and determination, with each degree reflecting resilience and effort. Do not be afraid of taking risks early in your career, for growth rarely happens within comfort, and true success lies in what you contribute. The difference between power and impact lies in values ask yourself whether your decisions will uplift others, whether you will lead with integrity, and whether you will stand firm in difficult moments. In life, you will often face shades of grey, and it is your intellect and morals that must guide you to choose what is right." Addressing the gathering with pride and warmth, Kamal Poddar, Managing Director, Choice International Limited, congratulated the graduating cohort and highlighted that the real journey begins beyond campus, where self-motivation and adaptability are key. Emphasising India's growth potential, he encouraged students to seize opportunities and lead with purpose, underscoring "IIM" Integrity, Innovation, and Motivation as the foundation for lasting success. The 13th Convocation reflected IIM Kashipur's strong commitment to diversity. In the MBA (Analytics) programme, women account for over 73% of the graduating class, signalling a notable rise in women's participation in analytics and research. Overall, women constitute 39.19% of the graduating cohort, an encouraging increase from 33% last year, highlighting steady progress in gender representation across management education. In recognition of exceptional academic and all-round achievement, 10 medals were awarded across programmes. An additional 22 students, 14 from the MBA and 8 from the MBA (Analytics) programme, were honoured under the Director's Merit List. The Institute also highlighted its commitment to accessibility, with over 24 specially abled students (PwD) enrolled across the graduating cohort. Addressing the graduating class, Sandeep Singh said, "As you step beyond these walls, you enter a world defined by both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. Be leaders who think deeply, act responsibly, and remain anchored in integrity. Measure your success not only by personal achievements but also by the impact you create in the lives of others." Echoing this, Prof Neeraj Dwivedi highlighted the Institute's ongoing efforts and aspirations, emphasising its commitment to nurturing responsible, future-ready leaders through a holistic and industry-relevant education. He said, "Convocation is always a special occasion in the life of an academic institution. For our students, it marks the successful completion of years of hard work, discipline, and learning. For the Institute, it is a moment of pride, because we present to society a new group of graduates who are ready to contribute with competence, confidence, and character. At IIM Kashipur, we remain committed to academic excellence, integrity, innovation, inclusion, and societal relevance. Our task is not merely to prepare skilled professionals, but to nurture thoughtful, ethical, and future-ready leaders." For the graduating batch of 2024-26, the Institute's flagship Experiential Learning (EL) Programme facilitated 73 live projects across 80+ organisations, engaging over 300 students in initiatives spanning sustainability, rural development, and MSME growth across Uttarakhand. On the global front, IIM Kashipur maintains active academic partnerships with leading institutions across different countries, including Denmark, France, Greece, Israel, Peru, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, enabling student exchange and collaborative research. With an AACSB membership and a consistent presence in the Top 25 of the NIRF Rankings among Indian management institutions, IIM Kashipur continues to strengthen its standing as one of India's most forward-looking and respected B-schools. (ANI)
The Delhi Legislative Assembly on Sunday announced that it will commence a One-Day Special Session on Tuesday, April 28, at 11:00 AM at the Old Secretariat. According to a press release by the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta made this announcement. After getting the approval of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, the notification has been issued in this regard to summon the Fifth Session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly. In a related development, Vijender Gupta also shared that the LG has prorogued the Fourth Session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly with immediate effect. This formal order brings an official end to the prolonged Sessions that had been ongoing, allowing for a structured transition into the new session. To facilitate the upcoming business, the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat has finalised all necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted conduct of the proceedings. In light of recent bomb threats, the Secretariat has significantly bolstered security protocols across the premises. Tight security measures and a comprehensive safety net have been established at the Old Secretariat to safeguard the members and staff during the session. Earlier on Saturday, the Delhi Assembly Speaker called upon students to play a key role in building a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, stressing that education must be complemented by strong character and values. Speaking as Chief Guest at the annual prize distribution ceremony of PGDAV College (Morning), University of Delhi, Gupta said the responsibility of shaping the nation in its centenary year of independence would rest with the younger generation. The programme was held at the New Auditorium, PGDAV College (Morning), Nehru Nagar. "When India marks 100 years of independence, the responsibility of the nation will rest with your generation. A Viksit Bharat cannot be built by degrees alone; it requires both education and character -- education shows the path, but character gives the strength to remain on it," Gupta said. Addressing students and faculty, the Speaker said that PGDAV College is not merely an institution, but a living embodiment of the legacy of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, whose call to return to foundational values continues to guide generations. Gupta emphasised that as India moves towards 2047, the vision of a Viksit Bharat will be shaped by the present generation, and recalled Swami Vivekananda's view that education is the manifestation of the perfection already within an individual, stressing that true learning must awaken the human being within. Speaker Gupta further urged students to dream big while building strong foundations, noting that the higher a tree grows, the deeper its roots must be. He called upon them not to fear failure but to fear dishonesty, observing that failure teaches, but dishonesty stays for a lifetime. Meritorious students were felicitated for their academic achievements, with the Speaker congratulating the award recipients and noting that such recognition reflects not only academic excellence but also discipline, perseverance and sustained effort. He observed that behind every accomplishment lies the guidance of teachers and the support of families, and expressed confidence that the students would contribute meaningfully to the nation's progress in the years ahead. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Sunday officially petitioned the Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan to disqualify seven MPs, who recently announced a merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The petition challenged the "purported merger" under paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and sought the disqualification of the MPs under its paragraph 2(1)(a). Paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule deals with disqualification on the ground of defection. Sub-paragraph (1) provides that, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5, a member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified from being a member of the House. Clause (a) of this sub-paragraph further specifies that such disqualification occurs if the member has voluntarily given up membership of that political party. Singh challenged the validity of the merger, citing the requirements in the Constitution. "The Petitioner submits that a careful reading of Paragraph 4(1) and Paragraph 4(2) together reveals two conditions needs to be satisfied: first, there must be a merger of the original political party with another political party. Second, not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party must have agreed to such a merger," the petition said. "Both conditions are cumulative and must coexist, i.e. a merger between parties is an independent condition and can only be attained by the decision of the entire political party in terms of the procedure. Members of the legislature group alone cannot decide or claim a merger," it added. The seven MPs named in the petition consist of Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Rajinder Gupta, and Swati Maliwal. This move came after AAP suffered a major setback due to its Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, who was removed as the party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha earlier, joining the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. While addressing a presser in the national capital on Friday, Chadha formalised a split that had been building for weeks, announcing that two-thirds of the party's Upper House members would merge with the BJP. The move triggered furious reactions from AAP leaders while drawing a warm welcome from the BJP. As this happened, Sanjay Singh announced that he will write to the Rajya Sabha chairman to demand the disqualification of the three MPs, citing the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which details provisions of disqualification on the grounds of defection. (ANI)
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday moved the Supreme Court against an April 24 order of the Gauhati High Court rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in a defamation and forgery case registered against him by the Assam Police. An FIR was lodged against Khera by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Kumar Sarma, following his recent claims at a press conference that she holds multiple foreign passports and undisclosed assets abroad. Earlier, the Supreme Court had also rejected Khera's plea seeking to extend the transit anticipatory bail, granted to him earlier by the Telangana High Court, on the ground of enabling him to approach any jurisdictional court in Assam to seek relief. However, the apex court had clarified its earlier order in which it had stayed the one-week transit anticipatory bail granted to Khera by the Telangana High Court to the extent that the same will not have any adverse influence on the jurisdictional court, which would decide over Khera's plea. Initially, Khera approached the Telangana High Court seeking relief from being arrested by Assam police. The Telangana High Court had granted him one week's transit anticipatory bail to enable him to move any jurisdictional court in Assam without apprehension of arrest. Subsequently, the Assam police moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Telangana HC order granting Khera relief. The apex court stayed the Telangana HC order granting Khera one week's transit anticipatory bail on the Assam police's plea. The apex court observed that Khera's move to approach the Telangana High Court seeking relief amounted to forum shopping and also cast doubts on his conduct before the High Court that Khera allegedly used a forged identity document to seek relief from the High Court. Later, the apex court granted Khera liberty to approach any jurisdictional court in Assam seeking relief and reassured him that any order passed by it or the Telangana High Court, erstwhile, wouldn't come in the way of a Court deciding the matter on the merits of the case afresh. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday participated in the Letter of Comfort Distribution Programme for pharma investors organised by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in Lucknow. Addressing the investors, the Chief Minister said the fresh investment in the pharma and medical devices sector reflects growing confidence in Uttar Pradesh. "This investment of yours is not just an investment in the field of pharma and medical devices, but you are all joining the trust of the 25 crore people of the state," he said. He further stated that the investment of approximately Rs 2,000 crore will give a major boost to medicine manufacturing and medical device production in the state. "This investment of approximately two thousand crores (rupees) will provide a new impetus to medicine manufacturing and medical device production. It will also contribute to providing the state significant heights in the field of research and development," he said. The Chief Minister added that the initiative will also generate large-scale employment opportunities for the youth in the state. "Due to this, skilled and unskilled manpower within the state, more than 10,000 youth will also be helped in joining it," he said. Highlighting India's global pharmaceutical presence, Adityanath said the country has made significant progress in providing affordable and quality medicines across the world. "India's economy has touched new heights. Even in the pharmaceutical sector, India has succeeded in providing affordable and high-quality medicines to more than 200 countries, and India has achieved rapid success in that direction," he said. He further noted that Uttar Pradesh had long held potential in the sector but lacked foundational infrastructure earlier. "As India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh had this potential, but it lacked the necessary groundwork. I am pleased that today the results of a collective effort in this field are being seen on the ground," he added. (ANI)
Pradip Chakraborty, a bamboo artisan from Tripura, expressed his immense gratitude after being mentioned in the 133rd edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat, noting that it has brought pride to his entire community. Speaking to ANI, Chakraborty said, "I want to thank the Prime Minister for mentioning our work. After the programme, I received many calls from relatives and friends, which made me feel proud and happy to be part of this journey." Highlighting his journey and inspiration in the work, he emphasised the support from 'Tripura Bamboo Mission'. "The Tripura Bamboo Mission has supported us greatly. Today, 15-20 women work here daily, earning up to Rs 7,000 each month. We produce around 150-200 bamboo products, including bags, jewellery boxes and photo frames. The recognition in Mann Ki Baat has encouraged me to expand this work even further," he said. The Tripura government launched the Tripura Bamboo Mission in PPP mode for the integrated development of the bamboo sector in Tripura, with its implementation beginning from August 2007. The Mission is focused on the development of 4 sub-sectors, namely, Bamboo Plantations, Bamboo Handicrafts, Bamboo Incense Sticks and Bamboo Industrial Applications. The role played by TBM has resulted in increased turnover as well as livelihood generation. Chakraborty's mother also expressed gratitude and elation over the PM's words. "I feel very happy, and I want to thank the Prime Minister for his words of appreciation" Pradip has been in the business for about 17 years, inspired by her mother. They make products such as bags, jewellery boxes and photo frames. With the support of the Tripura Bamboo Mission, Pradip has grown his business and now employs about 15-20 people. Prime Minister, during his 133rd edition of the monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat, spoke about the success of the Northeast in the Bamboo sector. He elaborated that what was once viewed as a burden is now giving new impetus to employment, business, and innovation. According to British law, Bamboo was defined as a tree, and the rules associated with it were very strict. "It was very difficult to transport Bamboo anywhere, and people started moving away from Bamboo-related businesses as a result. Our Government changed the law in 2017 and removed Bamboo from the tree category, and today, the Bamboo sector is flourishing throughout the Northeast," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister mentioned Bijoy Sutradhar of Gomati district of Tripura and Pradeep Chakraborty of South Tripura, who saw a huge opportunity for themselves due to the law change, and integrated their work with technology. "Today, they are producing better and more bamboo products than ever before.' PM Modi said Highlighting the efforts of Khorolo Creative Crafts, which are working on Bamboo furniture and handicrafts, he further stated that teams are working on bamboo tissue culture and poly-house management in the Mamit district of Mizoram, too. He also spoke about the Lagastal Bamboo Enterprise Team near Gangtok in Sikkim, which makes handicrafts, incense sticks, furniture, and interior decor items from bamboo. PM Modi urged people to purchase one bamboo product from the Northeast, saying their efforts will encourage those who toil hard to make Bamboo products. (ANI)
BJD MP Sulata Deo on Sunday said that women are "most unsafe" in Odisha under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) double-engine government, highlighting incidents of crimes against women across districts. Speaking to ANI, Deo said, "Today, when there is a 'double engine' government in Odisha, women are the most unsafe. Look at small girls, tribal girls, Dalits, minors, and especially women, who are being assaulted. Look at any district. Recently, look at what happened to a six-year-old girl in Brahmagiri. The MLA there is a woman. Where is she? That woman MLA is doing politics for votes in West Bengal. This is their attitude towards women. Mentally, you all are anti-women," Deo said. She also raised concerns over delimitation and women's representation, alleging a reduction in Odisha's share. "The day we found out you were bringing delimitation and census into this, we saw that Odisha's share, its proportion, is decreasing. Our proportion was 3.9%, and because of this, from 543 seats, we had 21. But you have reduced our proportion to 3.4%. Based on what?" Deo said. Referring to the women's reservation in legislative bodies, she added, "We have already passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. BJP celebrated and tweeted about the same. Then why didn't they implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam at that time? Our demand was that out of 543 seats, you should give 33%, which is 180 seats. But you are not giving it. This shows your anti-women mindset." On April 17, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha voted against the Constitution Amendment Bill. During the three-day Special Session from April 16 to April 18, multiple leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed the bill. Multiple Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress leader KC Venugopal, also participated in the discussion. The Constitution 131st Amendment Bill to implement women's reservation failed to pass in the Lok Sabha as the INDIA bloc refused to vote in favour of the delimitation process. The Lok Sabha took up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, the Delimitation Bill, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill together for passing. In the division that took place on the Constitution Amendment Bill following the debate on the three bills, 298 members voted in favour and 230 against. With the Constitution Amendment Bill defeated, the government later said it did not want to pursue the two other linked bills since they were interrelated. (ANI)
In view of the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand Police Headquarters on Sunday said that multi-layered arrangements have been put in place to ensure the safety, smooth movement, and well-organised management of pilgrims visiting the shrines. As part of these efforts, Superintendent of Police (Rudraprayag), Niharika Tomar, personally inspected the Kedarnath pedestrian route on foot to assess the arrangements on the ground. The SP conducted a detailed inspection from Kedarnath Base Camp to Gaurikund, covering key points such as Lincholi, Bhimbali, and Jungle Chatti. During the visit, she reviewed security measures, traffic management, and all aspects related to pilgrim convenience. She also interacted with the police personnel deployed at various locations to gather real-time feedback and issued necessary instructions for improvement. During the inspection, the SP directly interacted with pilgrims to understand their concerns, suggestions, and overall travel experience. She also held discussions with horse and mule operators to gather feedback on operational management, route handling, and safety-related issues. Officials were instructed to further streamline and enhance arrangements based on this feedback to ensure a smoother experience for all pilgrims. She directed all post in-charges to prioritise the safety of pilgrims, ensure smooth movement along the route, and strengthen medical assistance and rapid response systems. Instructions were also given to keep the police force constantly alert and active to provide immediate relief and assistance in case of any emergency. Additionally, emphasis was laid on effective crowd management and heightened surveillance at sensitive locations. Notably, following the directions of the Police Headquarters, the SP Rudraprayag has been camping at Kedarnath Dham for the past six days, continuously monitoring the arrangements. The Uttarakhand Police have reiterated that the safety of every pilgrim visiting Kedarnath remains their top priority, with adequate police deployment at all major points along the route to ensure a safe, smooth, and reassuring environment for pilgrims from across the country and abroad. The Char Dham Yatra, one of the most significant religious pilgrimages in India, formally began on Sunday with rituals across multiple shrines. The annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple commenced with the ceremonial departure of the Panchmukhi palanquin of Lord Kedarnath from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday hit out at the BJP while campaigning in Bhabanipur constituency, asserting that Bengal is a "mini India" that she would never divide. She also predicted that TMC would cross the century mark again in the Assembly elections, and urged voters to keep photocopies of their voter slips against what she called a possible future National Register of Citizens (NRC) drive. Banerjee is contesting from the Bhabanipur Assembly Constituency, which is scheduled to undergo polling on April 29. She also contested from the Nandigram assembly constituency during the first phase of the Assembly polls. Addressing the gathering here, the West Bengal CM said her government believed in inclusive development for all communities and listed a series of religious and educational institutions built under her tenure. "I don't divide Bengal like the BJP, and I believe that it is a mini India. We must all live together, and all the citizens of this area must get good facilities. We have built many temples. We cannot build mosques, but we have made burial grounds. A large temple is being built for our Jain community. St. Xavier's College, Bhawaripore Education Society College, we've made it a university and have even given land for it. We've established an ISKCON temple, a Jagannath Dham, and an Islamia Hospital," she said. Taking a swipe at the Centre over taxation, Banerjee said her government had not raised taxes while the BJP-led central government burdened people with GST. "We're not a tax corporation, not a taxman. We haven't raised taxes, but the central government puts taxes on everyone. They even levy GST, taking it all away. If you go to a clothing store or a saree shop, you'll see that the GST tax deducted doesn't go to the shopkeeper. It goes to the Government of India. We haven't raised taxes on drinking water. There's no load-shedding right now," she said. "You see how wonderful Kolkata has become. Kolkata is becoming a heritage city. We're working with UNESCO," she added. On the election results, Banerjee expressed confidence that TMC would sweep both phases, saying the BJP was rattled by the party's strong performance in the first phase. "We passed the century mark in the first phase, and we will cross another century mark in the upcoming phase of elections. The BJP was scared because of this. For this reason, they are now resorting to hooliganism by deploying the entire central force, changing all the OCs and DMs here," she said. Banerjee asked people to keep photocopies of their voter slips as a safeguard against a possible NRC exercise in the future. "I request you all to cast your votes, and please keep a photocopy of your voter slips with you, so that they can't implement the NRC someday. The BJP says women can't walk on the streets in Bengal. They say everything here is a 'jhuugi.' Even the poor have the right to live, and those who have money have earned it through hard work, and they, too, have the right to live," she said. As the campaigning is in its final 48 hours for the second phase, Kolkata remains on high alert, with the Election Commission increasing drone surveillance and paramilitary presence in the Bhabanipur-South Kolkata belt. Polling for Phase I of the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.78 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. The polling for the second phase will begin on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials and oil company representatives to ensure that fuel supply meets the growing demand and that normal conditions are restored across the state by Monday. During a teleconference held from the camp office on Sunday, the CM reviewed the reasons behind the petrol and diesel shortage in the state. Officials explained that the situation arose due to commercial consumers purchasing fuel at retail outlets. Normally, petrol sales in the state are around 6,330 KL per day. However, on Saturday, demand surged by 34%, reaching 8,489 KL, and on Sunday, it remained 22% higher than usual at 7,750 KL. Similarly, diesel sales also increased. The normal daily diesel sales of 9,048 KL rose by 16% on Saturday to 10,556 KL, and on Sunday, demand was still 3% higher at 9,392 KL. District collectors also noted that private operators like Nayara, Reliance, and Jio stopping supply to their outlets worsened the situation. Officials informed that oil companies have stopped extending credit to retail outlets. The CM questioned representatives of HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL on why credit facilities were halted. He instructed that there should be no disruption in supply between retail outlets. He warned that if companies deliberately trouble the public or government, their permissions may be reconsidered. He made it clear that irresponsible decisions affecting essential commodities will not be tolerated. Expressing displeasure, the CM questioned why corrective measures were not taken earlier despite identifying the issue three days ago. He emphasised that officials should deliver results rather than just reports. The CM directed district collectors to establish a special task force and control room involving revenue, police, and legal metrology departments until normalcy is restored. He ordered an inquiry into the sudden shortage. He highlighted the increased demand from the agriculture and aquaculture sectors and instructed that there should be no diesel shortage for paddy harvesting machines. He suggested exploring a coupon system for farmers in coordination with agriculture officials. He also directed that security (revenue and police) be deployed at every fuel station, CCTV monitoring be ensured, and no black-market sales should occur. The CM clearly stated that "No Stock" boards should not be seen anywhere in the state by Monday. (ANI)
In the ongoing investigation into the murder of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer''s daughter in Delhi, the accused Rahul Meena was taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences for a medical checkup. In a significant development in the murder and robbery case involving the daughter of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, the Delhi Police on Saturday (April 25) took accused Rahul Meena to the crime scene to reconstruct the sequence of events as part of their ongoing investigation. The accused was escorted from police custody to the residence at around 10:00 AM, where investigators carried out a detailed crime scene reconstruction. During the exercise, Rahul Meena reenacted the entire sequence of events, helping police verify how he is believed to have entered the house on April 22 and subsequently fled after committing the crime. Meanwhile, acting on information provided by the accused, Rahul Meena, the police have recovered two mobile phones linked to the case. These include the victim''s phone, which the accused took with him after the incident. Additionally, the police have recovered a stolen mobile phone that the accused was using while he was absconding after the crime. The police are now focused on gathering digital evidence through a forensic examination of these mobile phones to strengthen the case further. Currently, the Delhi Police are investigating the matter from every possible angle and are also working to determine whether anyone else was involved in the crime alongside the accused. The 22-year-old victim, daughter of an IRS officer, was an IIT Delhi graduate and a civil services aspirant preparing for her first UPSC attempt. She had been living a disciplined routine and had set up a separate study room on the terrace to focus on her preparation. Police sources said the accused, who worked as a domestic help, allegedly gained entry into the house on the pretext of being called for money and later claimed during interrogation that "it just happened" after a payment dispute. He is also suspected of attempting strangulation before the attack escalated. Police sources said sexual assault is suspected after the victim was rendered unconscious, followed by multiple fatal blows with a heavy object. (ANI)
Apr 25 (Paolo fromTOKYO) - Japan is often known for its culture, safety, and high trust society, but behind the scenes, it also has one of the strictest immigration systems in the world.

If you are interested in Japan, Japan travel, or understanding life in Japan beyond tourism, this topic reveals another side of the country. In this video, I break down how Japan is working toward its Zero Plan, an effort to eliminate illegal immigration and overstayers. With about 68,000 undocumented residents compared to millions in countries like the US, Japan is already strict, but new policies aim to go even further. From random ID checks and tip reward systems to advanced tracking databases and detention centers, Japans immigration enforcement is deeply integrated into daily life. Foreign residents are required to carry identification at all times, and government systems track visas, taxes, and residency in real time.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday emphasised the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', stating that it plays a significant role in creating awareness within society. Speaking to the media after listening to the latest episode, CM Yadav praised the Prime Minister's consistency in maintaining the dialogue with the nation since assuming office. "I believe that everyone should listen to Prime Minister Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' program for many reasons. Since Modi Ji became Prime Minister, he has been consistently running this program... We listened to the 'Mann Ki Baat' program today... This program is working to create awareness in society," the Chief Minister said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the country's growing wind energy capacity, calling it a "major milestone" as the country crossed the 5.5 GW mark in annual additions and continued strengthening its renewable energy footprint. In the 133rd episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said wind energy represents an invisible yet powerful force that is driving India's growth story and contributing significantly to the country's development journey. "In today's 'Mann Ki Baat', I would like to speak about an invisible power, but without it, our life is impossible even for a single moment. This is the force that is taking Bharat forward. This is our wind energy. Today, this wind power is writing a new story of Bharat's development. Bharat has recently achieved a major milestone in wind energy," PM Modi said. "Now Bharat's wind generation capacity has exceeded 56 gigawatts... Today, Bharat is in the fourth position in the world in wind energy capacity. This is the hard work of our engineers, the hard work of youths and the symbol of the country's collective willpower," he added. India achieved its highest-ever annual wind capacity addition of 6.05 GW during FY 2025-26, crossing the landmark of 5.5 GW capacity addition in FY 2016-17. This also represents an increase of nearly 46% over the capacity in FY 2024-25, marking a decisive acceleration in India's onshore wind deployment trajectory. With this addition, India's cumulative installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW. This milestone reflects renewed momentum in the sector driven by improved policy clarity, transmission readiness, competitive tariff discovery and a strong project pipeline. This milestone achievement is the result of sustained policy support, improved project execution, and greater pipeline maturity across key wind states. States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have been the primary contributors to capacity addition during the year, underpinned by a growing pipeline of wind-solar hybrid projects and the progressive roll-out of green energy open access. India's wind energy sector has grown steadily, making India one of the leading wind energy markets globally. The government has taken several initiatives to promote the sector, including Concessional Custom Duty on certain components and raw materials used in the manufacturing of wind turbines, graded Waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges till June 2028, competitive bidding mechanisms, separate Wind Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) frameworks, and technical support from the National Institute of Wind Energy. The record expansion in wind energy is expected to significantly contribute to India's broader goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, reinforcing the country's transition towards cleaner and sustainable energy sources. India's wind energy program was initiated in the early 1990s as part of the Government's broader renewable energy strategy. Over the past three decades, India has developed a strong wind energy ecosystem and a robust policy framework to promote grid-connected wind power projects. (ANI)
Firefighting teams rushed to the spot, and efforts are ongoing to douse the flames.

Speaking to ANI, Fire Officer Namdev Chaudhary, "This morning too, a fire broke out at the dumping ground, which was extinguished. In the evening, another fire broke out. Attempts are being made to put it out", he said.

Further details are awaited as operations continue.

On April 19, a fire broke out in a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi's Nadi Naka area, and no casualties were reported.

Bhiwandi Fire Officer Parveen More, speaking to reporters, said, "There was a fire in a factory named Akash Dyeing; the fire has been extinguished."

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
A 21-year-old delivery executive was killed and his friend injured after a man allegedly opened fire following an argument in Delhi's Jaffarpur Kalan area in the early hours of Saturday, police said.According to police, information was received at PS Jaffarpur Kalan around 2:30 AM from Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital regarding two persons admitted with gunshot injuries, one of whom was declared brought dead. The deceased has been identified as Pandav Kumar (21), a resident of Bindapur, who worked as a Zomato delivery boy. The injured, Krishan, is his friend and was residing with him. Preliminary enquiry revealed that the incident occurred after a birthday party at a house in Jaffarpur Kalan. Following the function, a group had gathered on the main road while dispersing. During this time, an argument broke out between the group and a resident, identified as Neeraj. Police said the accused allegedly fired at Pandav Kumar, with the bullet piercing his chest and exiting to hit Krishan, who was sitting behind him on a motorcycle. Both victims were rushed to the hospital, where Pandav Kumar was declared dead. The accused, a native of Haryana who had been living in the area for several years, has been identified. A case has been registered under the relevant sections, and further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Former MP and AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra state government, specifically targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the portfolio of Home Affairs. Jaleel accused the administration of failing to maintain communal harmony and using divisive rhetoric as a political tool. Jaleel expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the state. He asserted that if the police are unable to maintain peace, they should "close down the stations and sit at home." He stated that if the Home Minister cannot ensure safety, he should resign and return to Nagpur. Jaleel alleged that certain individuals are openly giving inflammatory speeches to disturb the peace, yet the police and government remain silent spectators. "If the state's Home Minister is incapable of maintaining law and order, he should resign and go sit in Nagpur," said Jaleel. He alleged that certain individuals are openly making statements to disturb the communal harmony, yet the police and the government remain silent. He further added that the common man and the poor are bearing the brunt of this situation, while those responsible are maintaining silence instead of taking action. "If the police cannot handle the situation, they should shut their police stations and sit at home," he said, alleging inaction by authorities despite provocative statements by some individuals. The AIMIM leader dismissed terms like "Love Jihad" and "School Jihad" as fabricated agendas designed to incite the public. Questioning the narrative surrounding "Love Jihad," the AIMIM leader claimed these issues are intentionally brought to the forefront. He remarked, "Tell me where this issue is coming from; you [the critics/media] are the ones bringing it up." Referring to an alleged case involving a company, Jaleel addressed accusations that a few individuals were influencing a large number of employees. "These issues are being intentionally brought forward to create a divide. Can seven people really force 150 employees to change their religion or offer prayers? These claims are contradictory and need serious investigation." He criticised the media for sensationalising these allegations and argued that the word "Jihad" is being misused to paint individuals as major criminals without substantial evidence. He noted that many aspects of such allegations seem contradictory and called for a serious investigation. According to Jaleel, these matters are often exaggerated in the media. He emphasised that the word "Jihad" is used merely to incite people and has no connection to reality, adding that new terms like "School Jihad" are occasionally introduced as part of a specific agenda. Jaleel accused the government of neglecting the agricultural crisis while focusing on election campaigning in other states. The AIMIM leader slammed the state government, accusing it of stalling on the schemes and promises it had previously announced. He demanded that the government clarify when and how the people would receive the promised benefits. Citing NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data, he highlighted the alarming rate of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. He labelled recent welfare schemes as "election lollipops," claiming that while votes were sought in the name of women (the "Ladli Behna" sentiment), the government is now making excuses or cutting benefits after the elections. Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Jaleel highlighted the gravity of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. He criticized the government for spending time campaigning in other states while failing to pay adequate attention to the plight of local farmers. He alleged that many schemes have proven to be nothing more than "lollipops" limited to the election period. According to him, big promises were made to women in the name of "sisters" during the elections, but now there are reports of delays or cuts in providing those benefits. He warned that the public might respond to these issues in the upcoming elections. Defending his party's image, Jaleel claimed that people from all religions and social backgrounds are joining AIMIM because they feel their voices are finally being heard. Imtiaz Jaleel stated that people from different religions and sections of society are joining his party because they feel their voices are being represented. Mentioning the induction of a local leader, he said this would strengthen the organization. Jaleel recalled that while AIMIM previously had many corporators in Aurangabad, complaints were later filed against many of them. He claimed these complaints were orchestrated by those who were denied tickets or were disgruntled with the party. He maintained that he had demanded an inquiry then and still trusts in a fair investigation today. Addressing a case involving a young woman currently in the spotlight for certain statements, Jaleel said that if anyone has violated the law, action should be taken. He urged the government and administration to be transparent and act strictly according to the law if any wrongdoing is found. He noted that during his tenure as an MP, he raised issues for all communities, including vocal support for the Maratha Reservation movement. Regarding recent controversies involving party workers, Jaleel stated he welcomes fair investigations. "If someone has broken the law, take action, but it must be done under the legal framework, not through political vendetta," he said. Imtiaz Jaleel stated that diverse social groups are gravitating toward AIMIM because they are impressed by the party's work and ideology. He emphasised that this shift is not due to a specific face or name, but a decision made after observing the party's long-term performance. Jaleel claimed that the party has always risen above caste and religion to raise pertinent issues. He asserted that during his tenure as an MLA and MP, he advocated for various sections of society. Referring to Asaduddin Owaisi, Jaleel said the party leadership has consistently raised the issues of different communities in Parliament. He also claimed to have openly supported and voiced the concerns of the Maratha community. He alleged that while some leaders opposed the Maratha movement or tried to weaken it for political reasons, the public now understands the reality, which is why people from various backgrounds are joining AIMIM. (ANI)
In the ongoing naval blockade, the US Navy intercepted the merchant vessel M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea on Saturday. The ship, identified as part of Iran's "shadow fleet," was forced to abandon its course and is currently being escorted back to Iranian waters. The operation, led by the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), marks a significant escalation in US Central Command's (CENTCOM) efforts to choke off Tehran's illicit energy exports. According to the United States Central Command, the vessel M/V Sevan was among 19 "shadow fleet" ships sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury for activities related to transporting Iranian energy products, including oil, gas, propane, and butane, to foreign markets. CENTCOM in a post on X stated, "Earlier today, Sevan was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter from guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and the merchant vessel is currently complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort." CENTCOM added that US forces continue to enforce sanctions and implement a blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports. "U.S. forces continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports. 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade," the statement said. https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2048142422702510115 Earlier on Saturday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States has expanded its naval blockade targeting Iranian-linked shipping. He stated that the blockade extends from the Gulf of Oman to other waters and is being enforced by the US Navy. Hegseth said the United States is pursuing both diplomatic and military approaches regarding Iran. "Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal," he said, adding that ships identified under US criteria, including those linked to Iranian ports, have been turned around. He also said that 34 non-Iranian vessels have been allowed to transit after screening. According to Hegseth, enforcement actions have also taken place in the Indo-Pacific region, where two vessels linked to Iran were seized after leaving Iranian ports before the blockade began. Hegseth said that an additional aircraft carrier will join the naval deployment in the coming days. He stated that the United States will continue to enforce measures related to Iranian shipping. The redirection of the Sevan comes amidst a broader regional crisis. While President Donald Trump recently signalled that he is "cost-conscious" regarding diplomatic travel, his administration has shown no hesitation in utilising military assets to maintain the blockade. With 37 ships already turned back and the Treasury adding more names to the "shadow fleet" list daily, the maritime noose around Iran's economy appears to be tightening, even as mediators in Pakistan and Oman scramble to find a diplomatic off-ramp. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected the presence of 28 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around its territorial waters as of 6 AM (local time) on Sunday. Of the 28, 18 sorties entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern part ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "28 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 18 out of 28 sorties entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2048205420452532495?s=20 Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan detected the presence of eight sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven vessels around itself. In a post on X, the MND said, "8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2047843033102877019?s=20 China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its 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)
Emphasising that 'Violence has no place in a democracy', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unequivocally condemned the shooting that took place at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC. PM Modi expressed relief that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania are safe and unharmed. In a post on X, he said, "Relieved to learn that President Trump, the First Lady and Vice President are safe and unharmed following the recent security incident at a Washington DC hotel. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2048249825028911120?s=20 Chaos broke out on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, leading to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other senior officials from the White House Correspondents' Dinner. US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) said that an officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Trump, while delivering remarks in the Press Briefing Room, after the shooting incident, noted that the building was not secure. "One officer was shot but saved by the fact that he was wearing an obviously very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from a very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great. He's in great shape. He is having very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him, and he's a very proud guy. He's very proud of what he does, Secret Service agent. And we looked at all of the conditions that took place tonight. And I will say, you know, it's not a particularly secure building," he said. "And I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House. It's actually a larger room and it's a much more secure. It's got it's drone proof, it's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. That's why Secret Service, that's why the military are demanding it. They've wanted the ballroom for 150 years for lots of different reasons. But today is a little bit different because today we need levels of security that probably nobody's ever seen before," Trump added. Trump also praised the law enforcement officers for their swift actions. He said, "But everyone owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the courage of law enforcement, the law enforcement and working with the DC police. And I just spoke with the mayor. And when we're finished, the police chief is going to take over and discuss it also from their viewpoint. But they also performed exactly as they were supposed to. And you see the attacker in different positions, but you also see the attacker totally subdued and under control." (ANI)
US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Saturday (local time) said that charges against the shooter involved in the White House Correspondents' Dinner incident in Washington DC will be filed shortly, while confirming that the investigation is currently underway. Blanche, while speaking at the briefing room, said that the man will face multiple charges, including those related to shooting and illegal possession of firearms, and added that federal law enforcement agencies are actively working on the case. "This investigation is ongoing. I expect you will see charges filed shortly. The charges should be self-evident given the conduct, but as you'll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, around the possession of firearms and anything else that we can get on this guy. The investigation is obviously ongoing and just started. There is federal law enforcement already working on search warrants and doing their job and I don't want to get ahead of them and don't want to get ahead of the work that they are doing even as we speak," he said. Blanche further said that the incident reflected both the "worst and the best" of the country, referring to the attack as well as the swift response by law enforcement agencies. "Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward that the president just talked about. But you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they're supposed to do and you'll see the videos come out I expect very shortly and you'll see law enforcement do exactly what we want them to do," he said. He also expressed gratitude to law enforcement personnel, including an officer who was injured during the incident. "And so I echo what Mr. President what President Trump just said that we are extraordinarily grateful and appreciative of the men and women of law enforcement that did their jobs tonight, including one who was who was injured," Blanche added. Blanche said that senior officials, including the FBI and police leadership, had visited the crime scene and confirmed that multiple agencies are working in coordination. "Director Patel and I were just on the crime scene a short while ago and everybody in this room should rest assured that the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, Secret Service, everybody's on the scene doing their job. I know that the police chief is going to give an update from the scene as soon as we're finished here and I obviously will lead the details of what of what they have learned to him," he said. He further assured that justice will be served in the case. "But in the meantime, I just want to thank everybody in this room for the courage and I want to thank President Trump for his for his words and I promise you justice will be served," he said. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, also present at the briefing, praised law enforcement agencies and said the response reflected strong inter-agency coordination. "The President's absolutely right. You saw the best resolve of American law enforcement because you, Mr. President, inspire them 24/7, 365. You give them the resources that they need and you know, they know that you have their back. And that is a changing dynamic in this country and that's why you saw brave Secret Service agents respond immediately, swiftly, subdue and take down the suspect and safeguard the lives of thousands of individuals at that hotel," he said. Patel further lauded the inter-agency partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Police Department, due to which the FBI could be swiftly integrated into the scene. "Thanks to our interagency partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI was rapidly deployed onto the scene, took over the evidence response unit, is examining all the ballistics that were found on scene to include the long gun and the shell casings. We are conducting witness interviews as we speak. You will hear from our team on the scene there with the mayor and the head of the FBI field division there," he said. "But please know what the attorney general has just said rings no truer. You saw the very best of America tonight, the very best unite us at a time of uncertainty because we have leadership here with the President, the Vice President that backs law enforcement. And the men and women that I shook their hands on the scene today could not have been prouder to show up on scene. And as the attorney general said, make no mistake, we are conducting witness interviews," Patel added. Patel also urged the public to share any information related to the incident with the FBI, adding that investigators will thoroughly examine the suspect's background to determine if there were additional individuals involved. "If you have any information, any information whatsoever related to this event, 1-800-CALL-FBI, 1-800-CALL-FBI. No piece of information is too small, no piece of information is inadequate. We will evaluate it all. We will also be conducting interviews of those who were there and if any of those individuals have information, please come forward to law enforcement or the FBI or the Metropolitan Police Department," he said. "We will be examining this individual's background thoroughly. That process has already started. And we are going to ensure that he was either a lone wolf actor or anyone else that was responsible, we will analyse all evidence immediately to make sure that we safeguard this country," he added. Patel also thanked the leaders present there for their cooperation. "Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, thank you for your leadership. Attorney General and Homeland Secretary Blanche, thank you for your partnership in law enforcement," he said. Chaos broke out on Saturday evening after suspected gunshots were reportedly fired in the lobby of the Washington Hilton, leading to the evacuation of US President Donald Trump and other senior officials from the White House Correspondents' Dinner. (ANI)
In a post shared on X, Burfat described Sindh as an ancient civilisation with a unique cultural and historical identity that continues to seek national freedom. He argued that Sindh was incorporated into Pakistan under religious pretexts, resulting in decades of political marginalisation and economic exploitation.

Burfat accused the state of systematically controlling Sindh's natural resources, including land and the Indus River, while undermining the Sindhi language and historical narrative. He framed these actions as part of a broader pattern of domination, urging Sindhis to unite in organised political resistance to defend their rights, resources, and identity.

Highlighting global trends, Burfat said the post-Cold War era has witnessed a resurgence of national identities and liberation movements, arguing that Sindh, with its deep civilizational roots, should not remain under what he termed "external domination." He called for rejecting divisions based on religion, ethnicity, or language, emphasising a territorial national identity rooted in Sindh itself.

The JSMM leader also warned against what he described as deliberate state strategies to fragment Sindhi society along sectarian and ethnic lines. He urged political activists to mobilise at grassroots levels, particularly among workers, peasants, students, and rural communities, stating that such groups form the backbone of liberation movements.

Drawing parallels with historical struggles, Burfat pointed to sacrifices made in other independence movements, asserting that achieving national freedom often demands a high cost. He rejected accusations that nationalist movements promote violence, instead blaming state institutions for repression and misinformation campaigns.

Reiterating his stance, Burfat declared that all residents of Sindh, regardless of background, are part of a shared national identity tied to the land. He concluded with a call for unity, resistance, and vigilance, asserting that Sindh's people would continue their struggle against political and economic subjugation. (ANI)
A protest at Bolan Medical College in Quetta entered its third consecutive day, as students continued a sit-in demanding answers over the disappearance of a fellow student, Khadija Baloch. Demonstrators alleged intimidation and harassment by authorities during the ongoing protest, as reported by The Balochistan Post. According to The Balochistan Post, Khadija Baloch, a seventh-semester BS Nursing student from the Kech district, was reportedly taken from the college's girls' hostel by personnel linked to the Counter Terrorism Department and other security agencies. Since then, her whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed, prompting growing concern among students and her family. Protesters have remained camped outside the college premises, calling for her immediate appearance before a court and transparency regarding her detention. Family members stated that no First Information Report (FIR) or formal charges had been shared with them, despite official claims that she had been arrested through legal procedures. In contrast, a government official asserted via social media that evidence existed linking the detained student to militant facilitation. He maintained that the action followed due legal process and that she had been moved to an internment facility under government orders. He also claimed that her family had been notified, urging the public to refrain from circulating unverified claims. However, speaking at a press briefing near the protest site, Khadija's parents rejected these claims. They said authorities had neither disclosed her location nor provided reasons for her detention. They further alleged that attempts were being made to coerce her into giving a false confession under duress, insisting such statements would lack legal validity, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) also condemned the situation, stating that the sit-in had yielded no progress while participants faced surveillance and profiling. The group warned that any harm to protesters would be the responsibility of local police, describing their conduct as unlawful. It also called on the public and international bodies to raise concerns over what it termed systemic repression, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI)
IWATE, Apr 28 (News On Japan) - The forest wildfire in Otsuchi entered its seventh day on April 28, with firefighting operations continuing as additional rainfall was forecast, raising hopes that wetter conditions could help slow the blaze.

The fire, which broke out on April 22 at two locations in the town, remains uncontained despite around-the-clock suppression efforts. Officials said smoke rising from the mountains appeared lighter on the morning of April 28 than the previous day, suggesting some improvement.

The total burned area expanded further to 1,633 hectares, up from 1,618 hectares reported a day earlier.

Firefighters said white smoke had been confirmed overnight at two locations, and helicopters were being deployed again on April 28 to conduct aerial water drops.

Rain fell across the town on April 27, bringing 1.5 millimeters of precipitation  the first rainfall since the wildfire began. However, authorities said there was still no clear prospect for full containment, as shifting winds could reignite hotspots.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Otsuchi is expected to receive around 15 millimeters of rain from the evening of April 28 through the night, with unsettled conditions likely to continue until before noon on April 29. Officials hope the added moisture will aid ground and aerial firefighting efforts.

Near the heavily damaged mountain area close to Otsuchi High School and Otsuchi Gakuen, scorched brown hillsides remain visible beside the temporarily closed campuses. White smoke could still be seen rising from the middle of the slope, although in smaller amounts than earlier in the day.

Strong winds were also reported at times, carrying the smell of burning several kilometers away and underscoring the continued risk of flare-ups.

A helicopter from the Tokyo Fire Department joined operations on April 28, with continuous daytime aerial firefighting underway.

The wildfire is already considered the second-largest forest fire in Japan since the start of the Heisei era, following the 2025 blaze in Ofunato. Around 1,500 personnel remain mobilized as authorities continue efforts to bring the fire under control.

Source: TBS
A local court declined the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency's (NCCIA) plea for physical remand of journalist Fakharur Rehman, instead ordering his transfer to jail under judicial remand, as reported by Dawn. According to Dawn, Rehman had been detained a day earlier under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with the agency accusing him of spreading "false and misleading information" about state institutions via social media platform X, according to an FIR dated April 20. During proceedings before District Magistrate Yasir Mahmood, defence lawyer Ahad Khokhar argued that the prosecution had failed to substantiate Rehman's alleged involvement. He told the court that the journalist had only quoted remarks made by a religious scholar and had not expressed any personal opinion. The defence further pointed out that the same video had been widely circulated by numerous users, questioning why action had not been taken against the original speaker. Khokhar also raised concerns over the investigation, asking whether authorities had recorded the cleric's statement. He added that Rehman had already complied with an NCCIA notice issued on April 14, maintained his innocence, and cooperated fully with investigators. Opposing physical remand, the defence stressed that the journalist's phone was already in custody and no further recovery was required, requesting his discharge from the case. The prosecution, however, argued that although Rehman admitted ownership of the post, he had not shared his phone password, necessitating further forensic examination. It sought physical remand on these grounds. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the request and ordered judicial remand, as highlighted by Dawn. The FIR invokes Sections 20 and 26-A of PECA, accusing Rehman and several other journalists and commentators of deliberately spreading false narratives to incite unrest and discredit state institutions. Authorities claimed a pattern of online activity aimed at ridiculing government functionaries. The case comes amid growing criticism of PECA, particularly after its controversial amendment in January 2025. Media bodies and rights groups have increasingly labelled the law as repressive, warning that it is being used to curb dissent and restrict press freedom in Pakistan, as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
A recent report highlights growing concerns over Chinese government campaigns in Tibetan regions that allegedly pressure nomadic communities to sell livestock to slaughterhouses, a move critics say threatens traditional livelihoods and cultural practices, as reported by Tibet Times. According to Tibet Times, official notices dated April 6, authorities in Gade County, part of the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, deployed around 100 officials across multiple townships to promote what they describe as "livestock off-take policies". These initiatives emphasise subsidies and incentives aimed at encouraging herders to sell yaks and sheep, with officials conducting outreach meetings to boost participation and stabilise rural incomes. However, sources suggest these measures are part of a broader pattern of state intervention that has steadily undermined pastoral life. Policies such as grassland fencing and land division based on household size have reportedly led to severe pasture shortages, forcing nomads to rent grazing land. Combined with annual livestock quotas for slaughter, these pressures are said to be pushing families toward urban relocation. A local Tibetan source stated that such policies not only disrupt economic stability but also conflict with cultural and religious traditions, particularly the practice of freeing animals destined for slaughter. Despite longstanding directives, many Tibetans reportedly resist compliance. The report also outlines a complex system of taxes, subsidies, and insurance schemes tied to livestock ownership. Herders must meet strict documentation requirements, including ear tags, registration certificates, or even animal remains, to claim compensation for livestock losses. Taxation varies by region, with some areas imposing per-animal fees and mandatory livestock contributions, alongside housing and land taxes, as highlighted by Tibet Times. Insurance initiatives, including programmes linked to Ping An Insurance, have introduced additional financial obligations, requiring premiums in exchange for compensation on livestock deaths. Critics argue that such systems effectively place control of livestock and land in the hands of the state. Data referenced in the report indicates that large-scale relocation policies have affected hundreds of thousands of Tibetans over the past two decades. Human rights groups warn that these programmes risk eroding the nomadic way of life, with millions potentially impacted, as reported by Tibet Times. (ANI)
Iran's judiciary said that he was convicted for carrying out acts of terror in the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan and has been executed as per the report.

As per Press TV, the convict was identified as Amer Ramesh, whose death sentence was carried out early Sunday morning after his conviction was confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court and all legal procedures were completed.

It mentioned that man was captured during a counterterrorism operation in Pir Sohrab rural district of Chabahar County in the province.

The Provincial Revolution Court initially convicted him of planting bombs, launching surprise attacks on Iranian law enforcement forces, and membership in the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, as well as a criminal anti-Iran outfit led by fugitive militant Abdul-Ghaffar Naqshbandi, and sentenced him to death.

The Iranian state broadcaster said that based on existing documents, evidence, and his explicit confessions, Iran's top tribunal upheld the ruling against Amer Ramesh.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years, Press TV further noted.

Earlier on October 26, 2024, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County in the province. Press TV reported that Jaish al-Adl had claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent years.

According to the Al Jazeera report citing Tasnim news, it was mentioned that Amer Ramesh was charged with armed rebellion, including being involved in bombings and ambushes targeting military personnel.

Jaish al-Adl is a Sunni Muslim armed group active in Iran's poorest region, Sistan-Baluchestan, Al Jazeera mentioned. (ANI)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday signed an agreement with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy to support the country's energy sector reconstruction, which has sustained heavy damage due to Russia's aggression following its invasion of the country in 2022, marking 40 years since the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. According to the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, in a post on X, Ukraine's energy sector remains "central to the country's recovery and future", adding that the agreement was signed in Kyiv with Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal to bolster reconstruction efforts. "Ukraine's energy sector is central to the country's recovery and future. Marking 40 years since the Chornobyl accident, signed an agreement with Ministry of Energy of Ukraine's Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv to support Ukraine's reconstruction. It focuses on the energy sector, particularly nuclear energy, from expansion with SMRs to reconstruction of the grid and substations critical for nuclear safety, as well as support for research and applications. The IAEA will continue this work," Grossi stated in his post. He further highlighted ongoing humanitarian and technical assistance provided to Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure, including the delivery of medical support. The Director of the UN nuclear watchdog stated that the IAEA handed over four ambulances. Till now, EUR 25 million in equipment and EUR 3 million in medical supplies have been delivered to all nuclear facilities in Ukraine since the start of the conflict. "Handed over a fourth ambulance to Ukraine today under the IAEA's Programme for Medical Assistance for Operating Personnel at NPPs in Ukraine, alongside Ministry of Energy of Ukraine's Denys Shmyhal. Since the start of the conflict, over EUR25 million in equipment has been delivered to support safe and secure operations, with nearly EUR3 million in medical supplies to all nuclear facilities, including Chornobyl NPP," Grossi stated in a separate post. Grossi also participated in the Ukraine Energy Coordination Group event titled "40 years after Chornobyl", held in Kyiv and attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The agreement comes as Ukraine continues efforts to rebuild and secure its energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict, with international agencies maintaining on-ground support for nuclear safety and operational stability. On 26 April 1986, the No. 4 reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, then part of the Soviet Union, experienced a catastrophic failure during a low-power safety test. The test was improperly conducted, leading to a sudden loss of control that triggered an explosion and fire, which destroyed the reactor building. This resulted in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. As safety systems were neglected, the uranium fuel inside the reactor overheated, ultimately melting through its protective barriers. In the aftermath of the disaster, the IAEA provided immediate assistance to the Soviet Union, focusing on environmental cleanup, decommissioning efforts, and radioactive waste management, while also helping to improve safety conditions at the site. The agency collaborated with other UN bodies under the "International Chernobyl Project", which assessed the radiological impact of the accident and reviewed protective measures. Following the accident, the IAEA also helped develop two key international conventions, later adopted by member states: the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. These agreements created a global framework for rapid notification, information sharing, and coordinated assistance during nuclear or radiological emergencies, with the IAEA serving as the central coordinating body. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asserted that the ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon is being undermined by Hezbollah, warning that Israel will continue to respond with force to ensure security along its northern border of the Jewish state. Speaking at the start of a government meeting, Netanyahu said that despite perceptions suggesting otherwise, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remains actively engaged in operations in Lebanon, adding that Hezbollah's violations are effectively "disintegrating the ceasefire." "Regarding Lebanon: one might get the impression that the IDF is not active there. It is active, and it is acting with force. It must be understood that Hezbollah's violations are essentially disintegrating the ceasefire," the Israeli PM said. He emphasised that Israel's primary obligation remains the protection of its citizens, soldiers, and communities, particularly in the northern region bordering Lebanon. According to Netanyahu, Israeli forces are operating under agreed rules with the United States and in coordination frameworks that also involve Lebanon. "Therefore, as far as we are concerned, what obligates us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, and the security of our communities. We are acting vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and incidentally, with Lebanon as well. This means freedom of action, not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but also to thwart immediate threats and to neutralise emerging threats," Netanyahu added. Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for three weeks, adding that the US would work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah. The Israeli Prime Minister further stated that, based on information from the IDF's Northern Command, Israeli forces have eliminated 46 militants over the past two weeks, reiterating Israel's determination to restore security in its northern areas. "In the past two weeks, according to Northern Command, we have eliminated 46 terrorists, and we will act with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. We are not prepared to accept this lawlessness. We will do whatever is necessary to restore security to the North," the Israeli PM said. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has rejected claims that it breached the truce, calling such accusations by the Israeli PM "meaningless", and instead accused Israel of violating the agreement through ongoing strikes and its continued presence in certain areas, as reported by Al Jazeera. The group maintains that its actions are defensive responses to Israeli violations. (ANI)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid are set to officially announce the merger of their two parties under Bennett's leadership later this evening, according to a report by the Times of Israel. According to the Times of Israel, the new party will be named "Together- Led by Naftali Bennett", according a spokesperson for the former PM. "Former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former prime minister Yair Lapid will announce the first step in the process of healing the State of Israel: the merger of the Yesh Atid party and the Bennett 2026 party into a unified party led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett," Bennett's office said in a statement as per Times of Israel. The office further noted that the move unites the blocs for the upcoming elections to lead Israel towards "necessary reforms". "This move unites the 'reform bloc,' puts an end to internal infighting, and allows for all efforts to be invested toward a decisive victory in the upcoming elections and to lead Israel toward the necessary reform". As per the Times of Israel report, a recent Maariv poll showed that Bennett's party neck and neck with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud with 24 Knesset seats, while Yesh Atid received 7. It further mentioned that Bennett, who has previously said that his approach is based on advancing issues on which there is political consensus, had reportedly been in contact with Lapid and Yashar party chief Gadi Eisenkot to discuss the potential formation of a new joint party called "New Israel." Meanwhile in a post in Hebrew on X, without divulging into further details, Bennett said, "The unity between us is a message to the entire people of Israel: the era of division has ended. The era of repair has arrived." https://x.com/naftalibennett/status/2048401685798645805?s=20 Earlier on Saturday evening, former MK Matan Kahana, who resigned from the Knesset last year to join former IDF chief of staff Eisenkot's Yashar party, said that he would remain a member of Yashar, amid speculation that he may defect to join Bennett's party, the Israeli outlet reported. Kahana previously served as an MK in Bennett's Yamina party, and later a minister in his government, and has advocated for a merger between Eisenkot and Bennett. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday evening returned to Islamabad following his recent diplomatic engagements in Oman, according to Iran's state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). According to IRIB, Araghchi landed here after his one-day trip to Oman. This is Araghchi's second visit to the Pakistani capital in two days, and he is expected to continue onwards to Moscow after concluding his brief stop in Pakistan. According to CNN, citing Iranian sources, Araghchi travelled from Oman to Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad. The visit is described as a short transit stop before his departure to Russia. According to Geo News, citing sources, Araghchi's return to Pakistan is part of diplomatic efforts to continue to sustain the US-Iran peace talks, despite US President Donald Trump cancelling the planned visit of his representatives to Islamabad. Araghchi earlier departed from Pakistan's capital of Islamabad late on Saturday before sharing a framework aimed at "permanently ending" the ongoing conflict with the United States in West Asia, outlining its position during discussions with the Pakistani leadership. In a post on X, following his departure from Islamabad after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistani leadership, Araghchi said that Iran had shared its position on a workable framework to permanently end the war and added that it remains to be seen whether the US is genuinely committed to diplomacy. "Shared Iran's position concerning a workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," the Iranian FM said in his post. The Iranian delegation, led by Araghchi, departed Islamabad earlier after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistan leadership, leaving Pakistan's ambitious claims of brokering a US-Iran peace deal as part of the second round of negotiations in tatters. According to a statement issued by Araghchi on Telegram, the Iranian Foreign Minister explained Iran's "principled positions regarding the latest developments related to the ceasefire and the complete end of the imposed war" against the Islamic Republic by US and Israeli forces to the Pakistani side. Earlier in the day, Araghchi held high-level talks in Muscat with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman at Al-Baraka Palace, where discussions focused on bilateral relations, regional developments, and diplomatic efforts to address ongoing tensions in West Asia, Iranian state media, Press TV reported. During the meeting, the Iranian Foreign Minister briefed the Omani leadership on Tehran's perspective regarding recent regional developments, while also appreciating Oman's mediation efforts and role in promoting dialogue. Sultan Haitham, in turn, underscored Oman's continued commitment to mediation and emphasised the importance of diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability, Press TV reported. (ANI)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump on Sunday underscored the "urgent need" to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid concerns over disruptions affecting global trade and energy supply chains due to the ongoing power struggle between Washington and Tehran. According to a statement from the UK Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders, during a phone conversation, exchanged their views on wider developments in West Asia and recent security incidents in Washington. Both leaders focused on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, highlighting the "urgent need to get shipping moving again" in the waterway, citing potential "severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally". The leaders also reviewed ongoing diplomatic and security efforts aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation, including updates from a joint initiative led by the UK and France. "The Prime Minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President Macron to restore freedom of navigation, following the military planning conference at Northwood this week," the statement added. The Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil shipments, has remained a focal point of international concern amid rising tensions. Starmer further extended his "best wishes" to Trump following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night, while expressing his relief over the security of Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. "The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this afternoon. He extended his best wishes to the President and First Lady following the shocking scenes at last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured," the statement added. This comes after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, DC, where US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other high-ranking officials from his cabinet were present. According to officials, the incident triggered a swift response by the US Secret Service, with one suspect later taken into custody. Authorities confirmed that the President and all primary attendees were unharmed, though a security officer was injured during the response. The event, traditionally a gathering of media and political figures, was abruptly disrupted as security forces secured the area. The incident unfolded when a 31-year-old man allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the entrance of the event, with suspected gunshots heard, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and Secret Service members ushering Trump out of the venue to safety. According to CNN, the 31-year-old man, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, emerged as the prime suspect behind the chaos that forced Trump to be swiftly evacuated, along with Vance and other members of his cabinet. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has intensified its monitoring of the evolving situation across the Gulf and West Asia, prioritising the safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in the region. Indian missions are maintaining round-the-clock contact with citizens while coordinating closely with local authorities to address emerging challenges. "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," the ministry said, underlining its ongoing outreach. The government has also been issuing frequent updates to keep citizens informed. "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," the statement noted. Missions are actively engaging with Indian associations, professional groups, companies and other stakeholders to ensure the timely dissemination of information and assistance. Special attention is being given to Indian seafarers operating in the region, with the government emphasising their welfare as a priority. "Government is according high priority to the welfare of Indian seafarers in the region. Indian Missions are extending all assistance to the Indian crew members on vessels in the region including coordination with the local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance and facilitating requests to return to India," the ministry said. Travel movement between the region and India has remained substantial despite operational constraints. Since 28 February, around 12,96,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India, reflecting sustained connectivity and demand. In the United Arab Emirates, airlines are continuing limited commercial operations, with approximately 110 flights expected to operate between the UAE and India in a single day based on safety and operational considerations. Flight services are also ongoing from Saudi Arabia and Oman to Indian destinations, while partial reopening of Qatar's airspace has enabled Qatar Airways to resume services to multiple Indian cities. Kuwait and Bahrain have reopened their airspace as well, with Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air restarting limited operations. Elsewhere, Iraq's airspace is open with restricted services that can facilitate onward travel, while Iran's airspace remains partially accessible for cargo and charter flights. The MEA has reiterated its advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran and encouraging those already present to exit via land borders with embassy support. So far, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the movement of 2,445 Indian nationals out of Iran through land routes. In Israel, limited flight operations have resumed, offering additional options for onward travel to India. The MEA said it will continue to closely track developments and expand assistance measures as required. (ANI)
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - The Japanese government held an emergency meeting with the Bank of Japan and executives from the country's three megabanks to discuss potential risks posed by the new artificial intelligence model 'Claude Mythos' to Japan's financial system.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda and senior banking leaders gathered on the afternoon of April 24 for the hastily arranged talks with the Financial Services Agency.

The meeting reflected growing concern over the rapid advance of AI technology and its possible misuse in cyberattacks.

Financial Services Minister Satsuki Katayama said, "The Takaiichi administration aims to build a strong economy, and we must prevail in this battle over AI as well. This is truly a crisis already upon us."

At the center of the concern is 'Claude Mythos,' a newly announced AI model unveiled on April 7. The word 'Mythos' comes from ancient Greek and means 'myth.'

Experts say the model's most striking strength lies in its programming ability.

AI researcher Shota Imai said the system is capable of discovering software bugs that had gone unnoticed for 15 to 25 years.

That capability means it could also quickly identify vulnerabilities hidden in operating systems and web browsers, making it a potential tool for cybercriminals if misused.

Analysts warn that attacks on medical systems or financial networks could have severe consequences.

"If such power were directed at healthcare systems that safeguard lives or financial systems that manage money, the damage would be enormous," Imai said. "It could threaten social infrastructure and even national security."

In a worst-case scenario, experts say risks could include tampering with deposit systems, fraudulent transfers and theft of account information, with major consequences for everyday life.

The day 'Mythos' was announced, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly convened executives from major banks for emergency talks and began strengthening security measures.

The model was developed by U.S.-based Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives.

Anthropic rose to prominence through its safety-focused generative AI model 'Claude' and has expanded rapidly.

In October 2025, Chief Executive Dario Amodei visited the prime minister's office and exchanged views directly with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

More recently, the company has reportedly clashed with the Trump administration over military uses of AI. 'Claude' is believed to have been used in attacks on Iran.

Amodei has warned of three major dangers: autonomous AI behavior, misuse by individuals or governments, and the possibility of economic disruption.

Citing concerns over the model's powerful capabilities, Anthropic has postponed a full public release of 'Mythos.'

Instead, it has limited access to around 50 companies and organizations, including major technology firms such as Google and Microsoft, while launching a project aimed at strengthening security.

Katayama said, "New preparations are needed against the fires of conflict that AI progress could bring to the financial sector."

As governments around the world move quickly to respond, Japan has also established a working group, with its first meeting expected soon.

Source: TBS
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said the American delegation would not be travelling to hold truce talks and that Tehran can dial over to Washington if they want to talk. The US President laid down a hard line on Iran talks and said that future discussions will happen by phone. "If they wanna talk, they can come to us or they can call us. We are not sending people to travel 18 hours to meet," Trump told Fox News. Trump added that Pakistan would stay involved as future progress is made via telephonic conversations. "They'll stay involved- but we're gonna do it by telephone." On Iran, he reaffirmed the longstanding view of the country not getting a nuclear weapon. Trump told Fox News, "They cannot have a nuclear weapon. Otherwise there's no reason to meet." As the situation remains fluid, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi on Sunday visited Oman and Pakistan. According to CNN, citing Iranian sources, Araghchi travelled from Oman to Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase on the outskirts of Islamabad. The visit is described as a short transit stop before his departure to Russia. According to Geo News, citing sources, Araghchi's return to Pakistan is part of diplomatic efforts to continue to sustain the US-Iran peace talks, despite US President Donald Trump cancelling the planned visit of his representatives to Islamabad. Araghchi earlier departed from Pakistan's capital of Islamabad late on Saturday before sharing a framework aimed at "permanently ending" the ongoing conflict with the United States in West Asia, outlining its position during discussions with the Pakistani leadership. In a post on X, following his departure from Islamabad after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistani leadership, Araghchi said that Iran had shared its position on a workable framework to permanently end the war and added that it remains to be seen whether the US is genuinely committed to diplomacy. Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not enter into negotiations under pressure, threats, and siege, Mehr News Agency reported.During his telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian, criticised continued violations and coercive behaviour by the US during both the negotiations and the ceasefire period, the Mehr News Agency report revealed.The Iranian President stated that actions related to Washington's so-called maritime restrictions on Iran constitute a clear breach of the ceasefire understandings and are inconsistent with the United Nations Charter. Such measures, he said, together with threatening rhetoric, have heightened doubts regarding the US commitment to the diplomatic process.Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's determination to defend its national security and warned of all possible consequences of any renewed confrontation by the US and Israel for both regional and global stability.He further emphasised that Iran remains committed to building and strengthening relations with all neighbouring countries, including those along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, based on good neighbourliness and mutual respect. He expressed hope that these states will also work collectively to promote regional peace and security, independent of external interference. (ANI)
Indian Consul General in Jeddah, Fahad Suri and Consul Haj Sadaf Choudhary were also present during the visit.

"This year, a large number of Indian pilgrims will be using the Haramain High-Speed Railway @SARSaudiRailway for travel between Makkah and Madinah, in addition to its use for journeys between Jeddah and Makkah. This will reduce their travel time significantly and make the journey safer and more comfortable," Indian Embassy posted on X.

https://x.com/IndianEmbRiyadh/status/2048371522490823133?s=20

Indian authorities, including Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs, are working in coordination with Saudi counterparts to ensure smooth arrangements.

Support is also being extended by the Haj Committee of India and senior officials such as CPV & OIA Division.

The use of rail transport is being highlighted as a major improvement in pilgrimage logistics this year, reducing travel time between the holy cities and offering a safer, more comfortable alternative for thousands of pilgrims.

With arrivals expected to increase steadily, officials said monitoring and support mechanisms will remain in place to address any challenges and ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience for Indian nationals. (ANI)
At the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC, US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other high-ranking officials from his cabinet were present. According to officials, the incident triggered a swift response by the US Secret Service, with one suspect later taken into custody.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, "The armed attack targeting the President of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in democracy. I extend my full support to Donald Trump."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also expressed alarm on X, stating, "I am shocked by the attack on the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady and all the guests are safe and sound. This was an attack on our free and open societies. We stand for democracy and in solidarity with the United States."

The event, traditionally a gathering of media and political figures, was abruptly disrupted as security forces secured the area.

The incident unfolded when a 31-year-old man allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the entrance of the event, with suspected gunshots heard, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and Secret Service members ushering Trump out of the venue to safety.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted both concern and relief following direct communication with the US president.

"I just spoke to @POTUS Donald Trump to express my solidarity with him and @FLOTUS after the attempted attack. Thanks to the security services no one was seriously harmed and the injured police officer is recovering. We underlined that political violence has no place in our democracies." (ANI)
The visit comes as part of intensified diplomatic outreach by Iran, with Araghchi expected to hold talks with senior Russian officials on bilateral ties as well as regional and international developments, reported ISNA.

His Moscow visit follows a series of engagements across West Asia aimed at sustaining dialogue amid escalating tensions following the US-Israel attack on Iran.

Earlier, Araghchi made a brief stop in Pakistan after returning from Oman, where he held discussions with top leadership, according to Geo News. During his short stay in Islamabad, the Iranian Foreign Minister met Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials as part of efforts to keep US-Iran peace talks on track.

Geo News, citing sources, said Araghchi's visit was significant in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump cancelling a planned visit by American envoys to Islamabad, raising concerns over the future of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

According to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Araghchi had earlier returned to Islamabad following a one-day visit to Oman, marking his second visit to the Pakistani capital within two days.

CNN, citing Iranian sources, reported that he arrived via Nur Khan Airbase as part of a transit stop before heading to Russia.

In Oman, Araghchi held high-level talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Al-Baraka Palace, focusing on bilateral relations and regional developments, as reported by Press TV.

He also briefed the Omani leadership on Tehran's position regarding the ongoing conflict and appreciated Muscat's mediation role.

In a post on X, Araghchi stated that Iran had shared a "workable framework to permanently end the war" and questioned Washington's commitment to diplomacy. "Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy," he said. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has indicated that the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran could be nearing an end, asserting that mounting military and economic pressure has placed Tehran in a weakened position and may push it towards a resolution. Speaking to Fox News on the evolving situation, Trump said, "I think the big advantage is that we've taken out their navy in its entirety... They have no air force left. They have no navy left...They're in bad shape. I mean, they're really in bad shape. And of course, we've done the blockade, and the blockade's been unbelievably effective, and that means they can't get any more money," he said, pointing to what he described as extensive damage to Iran's military and industrial capabilities. Trump added that internal divisions within Iran's leadership could further accelerate the path to an outcome. "Their leaders are gone, which is a good thing. They were far more radicalised than the people that we're dealing with now. The people we're dealing with now, some of them are very reasonable people, and others are not. And they're not getting along. You know, there's a lot of in-fighting as you know. But you know, they don't have anti-aircraft equipment, they don't have radar equipment. It's all been blown up. Their factories, their missile-making factories have been damaged about 75%, which isn't 100%, so there's danger there," he said, expressing hope that Tehran would take a pragmatic approach moving forward. Trump further signalled confidence that the situation could conclude in Washington's favour. "I hope they're going to be smart, and if they're not smart, we're going to win anyway," he said, suggesting that an end to the standoff may be approaching. Earlier on Sunday, the US President said Washington would not send delegations abroad for negotiations, instead urging Iran to initiate contact. "If they wanna talk, they can come to us or they can call us. We are not sending people to travel 18 hours to meet," Trump told Fox News, signalling a shift towards remote engagement. He reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, stating, "They cannot have a nuclear weapon. Otherwise, there's no reason to meet," while adding that discussions, if any, would now take place via telephone. Meanwhile, Iran has continued its diplomatic outreach, with Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi travelling between Oman, Pakistan and Russia to sustain dialogue and explore pathways to de-escalation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, maintained that Tehran would not negotiate under pressure, criticising US actions as inconsistent with diplomatic commitments. He reaffirmed Iran's position on defending its national interests while calling for regional stability through cooperation. (ANI)
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Japans hotel industry appears to be thriving as a surge in inbound tourism drives accommodation prices in popular destinations to record highs. Yet domestic travel demand has remained sluggish, while labor shortages and rising construction costs have made new hotel development increasingly expensive.

Amid these challenges, business hotel chain Toyoko Inn, the countrys largest by number of rooms, continues to attract strong support from business travelers. A key reason is its refusal to adopt the dynamic pricing systems now common across the industry. Instead, the company largely maintains a fixed-price model. Sales for the previous year reached a record 143.9 billion yen.

Leading the company is Maiko Kuroda, daughter of founder Norimasa Nishida. She inherited the business from her father in 2012, when the company was reeling from scandal and facing serious operational difficulties. Since then, she has overseen its recovery and expansion.

Kuroda had once left the company after marrying and giving birth. Her eventual decision to return to a struggling businessand ultimately succeed her father as presidenthas become central to the companys story.

Founded in 1986 with its first hotel in Kamata, Tokyo, Toyoko Inn steadily expanded nationwide during Japans bubble-era boom. Today it operates 348 hotels with more than 80,000 rooms, making it one of Japans largest hotel operators. Most of its properties are located within a five-minute walk of railway stations.

While hotel rates in Tokyo averaged below 10,000 yen during the pandemic, recent prices have climbed to around 17,000 yen. During events and peak travel seasons, rooms at many business hotels can cost 20,000 to 30,000 yen a night due to fluctuating pricing systems.

Toyoko Inn has taken a different approach. At its Kabukicho property in Tokyo, weekday rates remain around 11,000 yen, with peak days at roughly 14,000 yen. Each hotel sets ceiling prices for weekdays and busy periods, but rates generally do not exceed those levels.

The chain is also known for complimentary breakfast services, including freshly made rice balls at some locations. Its membership program has more than 8 million members. Customers who pay a 1,500 yen fee and stay 10 nights receive one free night.

Toyoko Inn places heavy emphasis on repeat customers, referring to them as familiar guests. Managers use tablets that display guest preferences and previous stay information when members check in, allowing staff to personalize greetings and sometimes offer complimentary room upgrades.

Kuroda said the companys philosophy reflects the original role of business hotels in Japan: providing clean, affordable and conveniently located rooms for working travelers. While competitors pursue higher margins through aggressive pricing, Toyoko Inn continues to bet on stability, repeat business and value.

Source: BIZ
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - American crude oil secured as an alternative supply source has arrived in Japan for the first time, as the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz makes procurement from the Middle East increasingly difficult.

The cargo that arrived on April 26 departed Texas on March 22. It marks the first shipment of substitute US crude to reach Japan since the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East.

The imported crude will be transported through an undersea pipeline to Cosmo Oil's Chiba refinery.

Japan's crude oil imports from the United States in May are expected to rise to around four times the level of a year earlier.

The government has been accelerating efforts to secure alternative crude supplies that do not pass through the Strait of Hormuz. It said roughly 60% of the required volume for May has now been secured.

More news: Japan Cuts Refinery Runs as It Races to Replace Middle East Crude

Source: FNN
TOKYO, Apr 26 (News On Japan) - Japan has reduced refinery operating rates as it scrambles to secure alternative crude supplies following disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the growing strain on one of Asias most import-dependent energy markets.

Japanese refiners were operating at 67.8% of capacity in April, according to Reuters data, indicating processors are slowing output while awaiting replacement cargoes from the United States and other suppliers outside the Middle East.

The cutback suggests Japans actual crude requirement for May may be lower than initial estimates based on normal import volumes, easing short-term pressure on emergency procurement efforts.

Japan typically imports about 2.8 million barrels of crude oil per day, with a large share historically linked to routes passing through Hormuz. Based on normal flows, more than 60 million barrels of May supply could have been exposed to disruption.

The government has said about 60% of the crude required for May has already been secured through alternative sources and routes that do not rely on the strategic waterway.

Japan this week received its first substitute shipment of U.S. crude since the Middle East situation deteriorated. The cargo, carried by the tanker Otis, departed Texas in March and was delivered to Chiba for processing.

Based on the vessels size and configuration, the Otis appears to be an Aframax-class tanker, a medium-sized crude carrier typically capable of transporting roughly 500,000 to 800,000 barrels. Aframax vessels are commonly used on flexible long-haul routes because they can access more ports and transit waterways such as the Panama Canal more easily than larger supertankers.

Imports from the United States in May are expected to be about four times higher than a year earlier as refiners diversify purchases and seek to stabilize domestic fuel supply.

The combination of lower refinery runs, stockpile management and increased imports reflects Japans effort to cushion the impact of one of the most serious threats to regional oil trade in recent years.
Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Seven people died and 22 others were injured, when the city of El-Obeid in North Kordofan was subjected Saturday to a deliberate attack using suicide drones targeting residential neighborhoods within the city, the Sudanese Doctors Network said on Saturday
Moroccos green hydrogen strategy has moved decisively from planning into execution in 2026, with a portfolio of projects representing a cumulative investment of approximately 319 billion dirhams now in active development, largely in the countrys southern provinces. The scale of the commitment, backed by a combination of Royal instruction, government coordination through MASEN, and a diversified pool of international investors, positions Morocco as one of the most credible candidates for African and global leadership in the emerging hydrogen economy.

The strategic foundation was laid in November 2022 when King Mohammed VI directed the elaboration of a comprehensive Morocco Offer for green hydrogen, covering the full value chain from production and storage to infrastructure and export. That offer was validated by the Sovereign in July 2023 and has since been translated into a series of operational milestones.

In September 2025, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch presided over the selection of six projects awarded to five international consortia. In February 2026, preliminary land reservation contracts were signed with a further five newly retained investors, all deploying in the three southern regions.

The industrial logic rests on Moroccos exceptional solar and wind endowment, which, combined with access to seawater for electrolysis, generates among the lowest production costs for green hydrogen globally. MASEN estimates that Morocco could satisfy more than four percent of world demand for green hydrogen. The target exports are primarily European, where the EUs REPowerEU agenda has committed to importing ten million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030, and where Moroccos geographical proximity, political stability, and existing energy partnerships provide structural advantages.

The product mix envisaged goes beyond hydrogen gas itself. Projects are being structured to produce ammonia, synthetic fuels, and green steel  derivatives with large addressable markets in European chemical, fertilizer, shipping, and heavy industry sectors. Several of the selected consortia include North American, European, Chinese, and Gulf investors, reflecting Moroccos deliberate strategy of building a geographically diversified investor base rather than dependence on any single partner.

The first industrial-scale pilot, the Power to Hydrogen (PtX) project led by MASEN with 300 million euros in financing from Germanys KfW development bank, is targeting commissioning in 2026. Located in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, it will produce 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually via a 100 MW electrolyzer powered by a 200 MW hybrid solar-wind plant.

Moroccos green hydrogen program is now recognized by analysts as the most structurally advanced on the African continent, ahead of competing efforts in Egypt and South Africa.
African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye has conferred lately in Rabat with senior officers of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) on cybersecurity and joint African military exercises to strengthen coordination, readiness and interoperability.

They also discussed ways of strengthening African capacities against digital threats, says a statement the issued Royal Armed forces. The visit of AU Commissioner for Peace & Security to Morocco confirms the Kingdoms position as a strategic partner in the continent and shows the African Unions drive to advance military cooperation with Rabat to counter security challenges and foster stability across the continent.

Morocco will host the 1-st U.S training center for African drone operators. The center will enable trainees to identify pressing security problems and bring to bear a wide range of assets to solve the problems. It will also serve as a platform for the exchange of experiences and solutions adapted to African realities.

The US Army has introduced unmanned aerial system (UAS) training during the African Lion 2026 military exercise which started with academic courses at Southern Zone Headquarters, in Agadir, Morocco.

These classes prepare multinational service members to use unmanned aerial systems, cyberspace defenses and satellite operations before they head into simulated combat. Advanced courses are expanding into emerging domains, including space, electromagnetic warfare and cyberspace.
A Moroccan diplomatic source has strongly condemned the terrorist and separatist attacks that rocked on Saturday Bamako and other cities in Mali, targeting civilian and military areas.

In a statement posted on the website of the Moroccan foreign ministry, the same source said Morocco follows with great concern these cowardly and criminal acts and expresses solidarity with Mali as well as full support for the sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity with this brotherly African country.

Morocco reaffirms its constant standing with the Malian national authorities in their efforts to fight terrorism and separatism in Mali and the Sahel, the diplomatic source said.

Armed groups, including Al-Qaeda-linked militants and Tuareg rebels with ties to the Algerian regime, have launched unprecedented, coordinated attacks across Mali, including the capital, Bamako, and several northern cities.

Several experts blame the Algerian regime for these attacks as they come few days after Mali withdrew recognition of the so-called SADR, armed, sheltered and funded by the Algerian junta.
The United States is actively courting Morocco as a priority partner in natural gas infrastructure development, with a high-level Moroccan institutional delegations strategic study visit to Houston, Texas  the heart of the American energy industry, reported Aujourdhui Le Maroc. The mission, organized under the U.S. Trade and Development Agencys (USTDA) reverse commercial mission program, brings together officials from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the National Office for Electricity and Water (ONEE), and the National Electricity Regulatory Authority (ANRE).

The Houston agenda covered the full natural gas value chain: extraction and production, LNG import and export, pipeline development, storage infrastructure, and gas-to-power generation. American companies attending the briefings were invited to meet Moroccan energy decision-makers and to present technologies and services relevant to planned infrastructure projects. The USTDA has positioned itself as the U.S. governments primary tool for developing critical infrastructure in emerging markets, and Moroccos rapidly advancing gas program has clearly attracted Washingtons strategic attention, the publication reported on its web site.

The timing reflects Moroccos accelerating commitment to building a national gas infrastructure system. A strategic protocol signed in March 2024 brought together five ministries and five public entities  including ONHYM, ONEE, and Nador West Med  to coordinate a multi-year program designed to give Morocco multiple LNG import entry points alongside a national pipeline and storage network. The program is explicitly linked to Moroccos broader energy transition: gas infrastructure will support the scaling of renewable energy, provide backup capacity for the grid, anchor the green hydrogen and derivatives value chain, and enable Moroccos role as an energy bridge between Africa and Europe.

The centerpiece of the gas strategy is Nador West Med, the new deep-water port complex on Moroccos Mediterranean coast. The port hosts the countrys first LNG terminal, with an annual import capacity of five billion cubic meters, alongside a hydrocarbons terminal. Total public and private investment in the Nador West Med complex has reached 51 billion dirhams, and all core infrastructure  5.4 kilometers of breakwaters, four kilometers of quays, and four energy berths  is now complete, the publication recalled.

The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project adds a further continental dimension. ONHYM Director General Amina Benkhadra confirmed to Reuters that an intergovernmental agreement on the 25-billion-dollar, 6,900-kilometre pipeline will be signed this year. A project company will be established in Morocco as a joint venture between ONHYM and Nigerias NNPC. First gas deliveries from the initial segments, connecting Morocco to Mauritanian and Senegalese fields, are projected for 2031, with a maximum capacity of 30 billion cubic meters per year, of which 15 billion are earmarked for Morocco and European export markets.
Morocco condemns the armed attack that targeted the White House correspondents dinner which was attended by President Donald Trump, a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Morocco expresses solidarity with the U.S. President and his family, as well as with the government and people of the friendly country, and reiterates its position rejecting all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism, regardless of their origin or motives, the source added.

A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby just outside the vast ballroom where the dinner was taking place on Saturday night.

The president was uninjured and was rushed off the stage.
Next month, we're renaming Alamo Drafthouse Littleton after East High graduate and film icon @PamGrier.



To celebrate, she'll be here *in person* on Friday, May 15th for a rare 35mm double feature of JACKIE BROWN and FOXY BROWN.



We hope you'll join us. https://t.co/MhwWAWgE1I pic.twitter.com/qLFMT21Hor  Alamo Denver (@alamodenver) April 22, 2026

Pam Grier went to high school near Denver (her family was Air Force). Grier is slated to take the stage for a live conversation about her career and her influence on film culture.Renaming our Littleton theater in her honor celebrates not only her extraordinary cinematic legacy, but also the lasting influence shes had on film culture, Alamo Drafthouse chief marketing officer Chaya Rosenthal said in the announcement. There will be more Pam Grier-focused screenings along with commemorative items tied to the renaming. So far, there is only one item, "Pam Grier Bad Ass Cinema" shirt available.Pam on The View a couple months ago Career since the 1970s deserves so many accolades. Pam will be 77 in May.
Green hydrogen gained significant traction during the post-pandemic period, as governments worldwide pledged to decarbonise their economies and energy companies looked to diversify their portfolios. Hydrogen produced using renewable energy as an input looked like the best way to provide a clean alternative to traditional fuels, as it can be used for a range of applications, including decarbonising hard-to-abate industries. However, many green hydrogen projects are now lagging behind as energy companies scale back their climate plans and governments fail to achieve decarbonisation goals.

Green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity to power an electrolyser, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The gas is then burned to produce power, emitting only water vapour and warm air, making it carbon-free. This contrasts with grey and blue hydrogen production, which are powered by natural gas.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global hydrogen demand reached 100 Mt in 2024, marking a 2 percent demand increase from 2023. Demand was driven by refineries, the production of chemicals, and the iron and steel sector. Most hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, using 290 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 90 million tonnes of coal equivalent a year.

During the early 2020s, the widespread support for a global green transition drove companies to announce hundreds of green hydrogen projects, despite the fuel still being in the nascent stage of development. Governments targeted a cumulative electrolysis capacity of 190 GW by 2030, according to the IEAs Global Hydrogen Review 2022. While the global green hydrogen capacity has grown, from just 0.7 GW in 2022 to a capacity potential of around 4 GW in 2025, this is still far below the global target.

Some companies have been deterred from developing green hydrogen projects due to the barriers to new products entering the market, including high costs and a lack of adequate regulation and infrastructure, according to the IEA. In addition, due to the lack of experience in developing commercial-scale green hydrogen projects, several companies have faced delays in development.

Reports of project delays, cancellations, and downward revisions of green hydrogen output targets have exacerbated concerns that green hydrogen could have been an overhyped trend. According to a 2025 study, just 7 percent of global green hydrogen capacity announcements were completed on schedule, out of 190 projects monitored over three years. However, research by the IEA suggests that many green hydrogen projects are still being developed, albeit at a slower pace.

Green hydrogen is now expected to contribute around 4 percent of the total global hydrogen production by 2030, compared to less than 1 percent today. However, green hydrogen output has the potential to grow beyond current estimates by the end of the decade, to 6 Mt of low-emissions hydrogen production, depending on political will and investment in projects. Achieving this production by 2030 will require policy action to overcome barriers, with a focus on closing the cost gap between green hydrogen and other fossil fuels.

The Industrias Cachimayo plant in Peru became the worlds largest electrolyser in 2020, at 25 MW, and several major projects are currently in the works, such as Envision Energys 500 MW electrolysis project in China and Saudi Arabias 2.2 GW NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, which is expected to be operational by 2027. There is a global project pipeline of more than 15 Mt of green hydrogen production, with most planned for after 2030. China, Europe, India, and North America contribute almost 90 percent of the committed production to 2030.

One of the main barriers to expanding green hydrogen operations is the high cost associated with the production of the fuel. Green hydrogen production is between three- and five-times higher on average than that of grey hydrogen. However, a recent breakthrough in technology could drive down production costs, according to a 2025 Interesting Engineering report.

The new system, developed by a joint team from China Agricultural University and Nanyang Technological University, uses sugars derived from agricultural waste (such as wheat stalks) in place of oxygen, which makes the overall production cycle much cheaper than conventional methods, at just $1.54 per kilo.

Green hydrogen is particularly attractive to heavy industries in the hard-to-abate emissions segment, as decarbonisation relies on the use of clean fuel, as it cannot simply shift to renewable electricity. However, justifying the use of renewable electricity for green hydrogen production, rather than using it directly to provide clean power, is difficult.

Nevertheless, without green hydrogen or an alternative clean fuel, it will be difficult for many industries to significantly reduce emissions. Therefore, the creation of favourable government policies and economic incentives could support the accelerated deployment of green hydrogen projects to power heavy industry.

While the development of the global green hydrogen sector has been complicated, with several barriers arising in recent years, there is still hope for a delayed expansion of the sector to support meaningful decarbonisation efforts in some of the most hard-to-abate industries.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
The market will panic when the Strait of Hormuz closes. When it reopens, policymakers will all feel relieved. At present, we are all witnessing this in real time, but reality is definitely the opposite. The latest data coming out in April 2026 should put an end to that illusion. Even after repeated announcements by Iran and the USA that Hormuz was open, real-time, actual maritime traffic only shows evidence of a near collapse. Markets are still struggling to get to grips with the fact that, during the opening of Hormuz, vessel traffic levels are still extremely low, sometimes as low as three vessels per day, compared to well over 120140 in normal conditions. The lesson to be taken into account is no longer theoretical. The reopening of a chokepoint, such as Hormuz or Bab El Mandab, does not restore a system. It merely exposes how deeply it has already been broken.

Markets and policymakers should look at the precedent already set in the Bab El-Mandeb and the Suez Canal. Despite intermittent stabilization efforts, traffic through the Red Sea corridor remains structurally depressed, even after years of reopening, with Suez throughput still far below pre-crisis levels. It has become clear that incentives such as transit fee discounts are widely failing to bring vessels back. The Houthis did not need to close the corridor permanently; they needed to make it all unreliable. That alone was enough to rewire global shipping behavior.

Hormuz is now following the same trajectory, but this time at a far greater scale.

The hard data is unequivocal. Maritime traffic through Hormuz has at times fallen by 90% or more, with entire fleets idling outside the Strait rather than risk transit. At the same time, most attention is focused on hydrocarbon exports, as oil exports from core Gulf producers have dropped by over 60%, while millions of barrels have been pushed into floating storage. Traffic has effectively fallen to zero, especially during peak disruption periods. Hundreds of vessels are still waiting in the Gulf of Oman and beyond. No reversal of this dynamic has been witnessed even during brief reopenings. Tankers turn back. Shipping lines refuse bookings. Insurance markets remain restrictive.

Related: JPMorgan Says Oil Prices Still Have Further to Rise

The core issue is trust, not just a closure. Recognizing this helps policymakers and industry leaders feel the gravity and urgency of restoring confidence.

There needs to be an understanding that shipping is not governed by physical access alone, but by risk perception. Once that perception shifts, as is now the case in Hormuz, the system behaves differently. The withdrawal of war-risk insurance in early March effectively shut down commercial navigation, regardless of whether the Strait was technically open. Even now, when some parties have stated that the strait has been partially reopened at certain times, major operators still refuse to transit. In some cases, none of the worlds top shipping companies are willing to take cargo through the Strait.

That behavioral shift is the real story. And this confirms and substantiates what we have already seen in the Red Sea.

The consequences are structural, as evidenced by global trade rerouting on a scale. The Cape of Good Hope has become the default alternative for AsiaEurope flows, adding 1014 days and thousands of nautical miles to voyages. All parties should realize that this is no longer a temporary detour but is already embedded in network design. Shipping lines are recalibrating schedules, redeploying fleets, and locking in new routing strategies that assume chokepoint instability as a baseline.

The implications for energy markets are and will increasingly become profound. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows. Its disruption has already triggered what the International Energy Agency describes as the largest supply shock in modern oil market history. Hydrocarbon prices have surged, while total exports have collapsed. Supply chains have seized up. The longer-term impact will not only be scarcity, but fragmentation.

Even if Hormuz fully reopens tomorrow, flows will not simply revert.

The history and outcome of the Red Sea crisis prove this. Despite periods of reduced attacks, shipping companies have not fully resumed operations through the Suez Canal. There is a quite simple reason for this: reliability has been broken. Once operators have redesigned their networks to use alternative routes, they do not revert overnight. Contracts are rewritten. Insurance frameworks are reset. Risk models are updated. The global system has adapted and is locked into that adaptation.

Hormuz's larger scale and deeper consequences underscore the urgent need for policymakers and analysts to understand the profound systemic shifts underway.

First, insurance markets will not normalize quickly. War-risk premiums have surged, fundamentally altering voyage economics. Even in de-escalation scenarios, insurers will price in disruption risks, resulting in a lasting cost uplift for Gulf exports. Shipping behavior will remain cautious or risk-averse, as vessel owners demand higher returns or avoid the region altogether, affecting long-term strategic planning.

Third, energy buyers will diversify aggressively. Europe, already reshaped by the loss of Russian pipeline gas, will accelerate sourcing from the Atlantic basin and Africa. Asia will double down on diversification strategies, including U.S. LNG and regional supply chains. For the Gulf, this doesnt mean that its market share will disappear. Its dominance, however, is expected to be structurally diluted.

Fourth, infrastructure investment will shift toward alternative export routes, including pipelines to the Red Sea, storage hubs outside chokepoint zones, and new transshipment models. These investments, driven by the crisis, are long-term and irreversible, representing a fundamental reconfiguration of global energy logistics that industry stakeholders must consider in their strategic planning.

At the same time, geopolitical implications are intensifying. The events of 2026 have demonstrated that chokepoints are no longer passive geographic features. They have become, and will continue to be, used as active instruments of power. The ability to disrupt Hormuz or Bab El-Mandeb, even temporarily, confers strategic leverage far beyond traditional military capabilities. This will incentivize further militarization of maritime corridors and increase the probability of recurring disruptions. Bab El Mandab, Malacca Straits, and others will need to be reassessed without any doubt.

The private sector has already internalized this reality. Shipping lines, traders, and financiers are no longer pricing risk based on stability but on volatility. The result is a system that prioritizes resilience over efficiency. That shift has profound economic consequences.

Globalization was built on the assumption of frictionless maritime trade. Chokepoints like Hormuz and Suez were treated as stable constants. Since February 2026, this assumption has been obsolete. The new model is one of managed instability, where redundancy replaces optimization and cost structures rise accordingly.

For Egypt, one of the main targets of the fallout, the warning is already visible. The collapse in Suez Canal revenues is not just a cyclical downturn; it has become a structural shock. Traffic was rerouted, and it is not fully returning. The same risk now hangs over the Gulf. Even if Hormuz reopens and remains technically secure, its reliability premium has been permanently damaged.

For Europe, the stakes are acute. Increased reliance on seaborne energy imports exposes the continent to maritime disruption at precisely the moment when industrial resilience is already under pressure. For Asia, especially China, India, Japan, and South Korea, the exposure is even greater, as they all largely depend on Gulf hydrocarbons. Both regions will face higher costs, greater volatility, and more complex supply chains. Economic pressure, financial burdens, and instability could pose serious issues in the future.

The most dangerous mistake policymakers can make now is to treat reopening as a resolution. The data shows otherwise. Traffic does not return. Costs do not normalize. Behavior does not revert. The system evolves.

Even today, vessels are still turning back, traffic remains minimal, and operators are staying away. This is the new reality: chokepoints can reopen physically while remaining closed economically.

The long-term consequence is clear. The global maritime and energy system is entering a phase of structural fragmentation. Global trade and energy flows will be more regional, more redundant, and more expensive. Efficiency has given way to resilience. The price of security will be permanently embedded in trade.

Hormuz, like Bab El-Mandeb, is no longer just a passage. It is a fault line. Once that has shifted, it does not simply move back.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Undersea cables are vital for delivering renewable power from offshore projects and providing cross-country telecommunications connectivity. The rapid growth of undersea cable networks is helping to boost regional connectivity worldwide. However, more must be done to reduce vulnerabilities in these networks and combat the threat of sabotage.

There are various types of cables running under the sea, each with its own purpose. The first undersea cables were put in place in the 19th century, with over 400 cables now active worldwide. Some submarine cables provide the primary means of cross-region connectivity, while others transport renewable energy from offshore projects to onshore transmission networks.

Currently, undersea cables carry around 99 percent of global internet and artificial intelligence traffic. As the network continues to grow at a rapid pace, largely in response to the growing demand for AI, 119 new undersea cables are expected to be developed worldwide in 2026, up from 66 in 2020.

Conventional submarine power cables measure between 7 cm and 21 cm in diameter with a cross-section of a three-core power cable. Each cable is armoured with a steel wire and protected by an oversheath layer. Meanwhile, telecommunications cables are thinner, at between 4 cm and 5 cm in diameter, with optical fibres covered by layers of polyethene, copper and, often, protective steel wire.

These cables are placed on the seabed in the deep-sea, around 2 km below the surface, where they are not at risk of disturbance from fishing activities, or are buried in shallower waters. The average cost of installing a submarine power cable is high, at around $1.2-3.5 million per kilometre and for internet cables between $29,000 to $53,000 per km.

While these subsea cables are vital for providing energy and connectivity, several risks are associated with their use. Each year, there are between 150 and 200 unintentional damages to submarine cables, typically caused by human activity, such as fishing. They can also be affected by geological events, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. However, the more concerning risk is the threat of malicious acts by foreign actors.

In recent years, there have been several reports of sabotage in the media, although it is often hard to assess whether damage is intentional or accidental. For example, state actors have sometimes been accused of weaponising fishing or oil vessels to cause damage to subsea infrastructure. Subsea cables can be fixed using cable repair vessels or submersibles, but these operations are expensive and can delay power or internet delivery.

In the European Union, regional powers introduced the EU Action Plan on Cable Security in 2025 to boost subsea cable resilience, mitigate risk and improve detection, response, recovery, and deterrence. Meanwhile, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and the United States have all updated their laws to address vulnerabilities in subsea cable systems.

However, while the submarine cable industry goes to great lengths to protect cables, provide resilient networks and minimise disruptions bad actors too can cause disruptions if they really wanted to, the chairman of the International Cable Protection Committee, Dean Veverka, explained.

Countries and private companies are investing more each year in technology that helps to monitor cables and prevent attacks. One such technology is distributed acoustic sensing, which transforms optical fibres into long-range microphones to detect and warn of nearby ships or other disruptions. Sonar arrays are also being used to monitor the cables surroundings and warn of nearby vessels.

However, many governments believe that more must be done to reduce the risk of sabotage to undersea cables, such as establishing deterrent measures. This is particularly important as constant technological improvements are likely to make sabotage easier. To mitigate the impact of potential sabotage, governments are also increasing the number of cable connections to make it easier to switch from one cable to another in an emergency.

The conversation around undersea cable security threats is more pertinent than ever as the escalating U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has raised broader security concerns. There are major concerns about the fibre-optic cables running through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Although Iran has not officially threatened to cut the communication cables, it has been flagged as a possibility that could have a devastating effect.

If the telecommunications cables were cut, it would have a major impact on India, as around 60 percent of the countrys internet traffic is connected to a link that passes through the Gulf region. This could significantly disrupt Indias cloud services, digital payments, and AI devices and have a major knock-on economic effect.

Despite the significant investment needed for cable maintenance and repair, governments and private companies must spend more on these activities to mitigate risks and strengthen power and telecommunications networks. In addition, greater regional and international cooperation to develop international subsea cable policies could help reduce the threat to these networks.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambia recorded a 46 per cent decline in malaria cases between 2024 and 2025, according to the Ministry of Health, as the country joined the global community in commemorating World Malaria Day 2026 on Sunday
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

The message arrived the way most of our conversations always hadcasual, borderless, unannounced. It was just after midnight in New York, the end of a Thursday night spent scrolling TikTok. We had been sending each other videos, the way we always did.

Then, without preface, Laurence wrote:

Im getting married in June.

It was noon where he was, in Hangzhou, China, where we were born. A workday. A sentence typed without ceremony.

I stared at my phone long enough for it to dim, then wake again. No emoji. No exclamation point. The most consequential update of our 20-year friendship across two continents, delivered in the same channel we used to send memes.

People used to say my relationship with Laurence was hopelessly romanticthe ultimate slow burn; proof that the deepest love grows out of friendship. That idea is everywhere, reinforced by movies, advice columns, and the way we talk about best-friend love as the safest, most mature kind of intimacy. Its also common: In a 2021 study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers found that nearly two-thirds of romantic couples reported being friends before becoming partners, suggesting that friendship has become one of the dominant pathways into modern romance.

What that narrative leaves out is what happens when friendship never turns into partnershipwhen emotional intimacy and mutual attraction stretch on for years without clarity or commitment, and familiarity begins to feel so fated that you never act on your feelings at all.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Laurence and I had been holding hands, in one form or another, since we were 4 years old. We grew up in the same neighborhood in Hangzhou, born two weeks apart, close enough that our lives overlapped without effort. Same kindergarten, primary school. Same classroom. Teachers paired us instinctivelyfor group projects, for performances, for anything that required cooperation. When one of us hesitated, the other stepped in. Our names were spoken together so often that they began to feel inseparable.

Advertisement

Classmates often asked if we were dating, which made us laugh. Dating, as I understood it then, felt flimsy, too small for what passed between us. There was an attraction, though neither of us named it. I felt it in the small thrill of hearing his voice on the phone, in the way we lingered on walks home from school, talking about films, music, and the short stories we were writing. He read my work with real attention, and in his attention, I felt seen. When other kids teased me for being nerdy, he made me feel safe, admired, and less alone.

But it never tipped into romance. I wanted to tell him how I felt, but I was far too timid to compete with the small galaxy of girls already orbiting him. I never confessed anything, never tested the boundary of friendship. Maybe I was too young, or too careful, or simply unwilling to disturb something that already felt precious. It wasnt quite friendship and not quite a crush, but something tender and enduring that seemed to resist definition. Or at least that was my reading of it. It is possible Laurence was simply more comfortable with intimacy than I was, and that I mistook that ease for the early shape of love.

Advertisement

Advertisement

That belief followed me into adulthood when, years later, our lives crossed again in the United States. Laurence studied film in Florida. I studied journalism in New York. Among Chinese international students pursuing finance and engineering degrees, we were the liberal-arts outliers. We traded drafts of creative writings at odd hours, edited each others essays with brutal honesty, and talked each other through disappointments that felt, at the time, like personal failures. During those years, he once called us soulmates, and I received the phrase as proof of a future I had already begun to imagine.

Advertisement

When he visited me in New York, we held hands like a couple exploiting a carefully negotiated loophole, allowing ourselves to hold hands and hug, but nothing more. We ate dinner at Tavern on the Green because Taiwanese author Pai Hsien-yung had once written about it in his New Yorkers novel, and we wanted to sit outside on a summer night, listening to live music, pretending we were inside a novel. We went to the Museum of Sex because neither of us had ever been shy about talking frankly with the other. We watched Babylon in a theater and mourned a Hollywood era we were too young to have lived through but old enough to miss. Restaurant owners often smiled and told us we were a cute couple. We never corrected them.

When my friends pointed out that, even in a crowd, his gaze always drifted back to me, I laughed it off and said we were still growing upthat maybe one day wed realize we were meant for each other.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

For a long time, I believed this was what emotional maturity looked like. We lived in the moment. We were supportive. We didnt pressure each other. In a culture increasingly skeptical of labels and expectations, this felt enlightened. We were proof that closeness didnt need to be possessive, that romantic love could exist without claims.

Psychologists have long noted that familiarity shapes attraction in ways we dont always notice. As a recent Psychology Today article explains, we tend to like people and things more simply because we encounter them repeatedly, a tendency known as the mere-exposure effect. The more we are exposed to a stimulus, the more positively we tend to feel about it, even if that exposure happens unconsciously and without intentional bonding. In relationships, it explains why someone who is present through ordinary days and shared routines can come to feel essential. That sense of ease and comfort deepened my attachment to Laurence in a way that felt almost indistinguishable from romantic inevitability. I always believed that, eventually, after enough bad dates and private heartbreaks, one of us would realize that what we were searching for had been here all along.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I fantasized about that moment often. In my imagination, the revelation wouldnt arrive in some dramatic confession, but in a more mundane moment: maybe when we stayed up dissecting the terrible dates we had just gone on; when he mocked my taste in men and I mocked his in women; when we kept describing our ideal partner only to realize that we were quietly sketching each other. Maybe wed fall into one of our familiar debates about a polarizing indie film or piece of art, only to realize, with surprise, that we were already living in the kind of intimacy others were chasing. Of course, that never happened. But conversations like these felt so much like indirect confessions that I eventually stopped asking myself what we were. I just assumed we were moving toward something, even if neither of us said it out loud.

Our favorite film was In the Mood for Love. We told people it was because we loved the director Wong Kar-wai, which was true. But what we really admired was the restraint at the center of the story: two people deeply in love who never act on it. They sit together, write together, care for each other, and do nothing. The intimacy is total. The risk is avoided. At the time, I thought that kind of love was sophisticated. It never occurred to me that I could be wrong.

Advertisement

When Laurence applied to graduate film programs in New York and was rejected, the future he had imagined collapsed quietly. There was no dramatic goodbye, no confession, no ultimatum. The night before his flight back to China, we met at Bryant Park. Late summer. The grass was still warm.

I think youll marry your current boyfriend, he said lightly. Im done with dating.

Advertisement

I laughed and told him what I always didthat hed find someone easily, that he always did. We didnt hug at the subway station. Neither of us said what hovered between us.

After he returned to China, we stayed emotionally tethered across time zones. Technology made it effortless. Messages crossed oceans instantly. Long calls replaced shared logistics. Emotional labor continued uninterrupted, untethered from any shared future.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I flew back twice a year despite limited vacation days. My mother was pleased, if puzzled. She didnt know that I saved entire days for Laurencethat we walked familiar streets, talked about art and ambition, resumed conversations paused months earlier. We grew into adults who knew each others rhythms better than anyone elses. We knew when the other was lying by omission. We knew which silences were safe.

Advertisement

When Laurence told me he was getting married, what hurt was not the loss of a future I had never fully believed in. It was the realization that the risk I had spent years avoiding had found me anyway. In trying to protect our friendship from the wreckage romance might bring, I had risked something far greater: the possibility of never being with the person I loved at all. Maybe I was afraid that romance would ruin what felt sacred between us, or that the version of us I cherished could only survive in imagination, untouched by the compromises, disappointments, and endless fights of real life. What devastated me was realizing how long I had lived as if time would decide for us.

I replied carefully, even though I wanted to scream in his face.

Congratulations, I wrote. That was fast.

You have to come to the wedding, he said.

Ill see if I can take time off in June, I replied, already hoping for an excuse not to choose.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Being in love with your best friend is often described as the safest kind of love. The kind built on trust, history, and knowing each other completely. But sometimes its also a risky way of staying close without stepping forward, of keeping something precious intact by never asking it to change. What I had been protecting all these years wasnt Laurenceit was the idea that if love could remain untouched, it could last forever. Now Im not so sure. I dont know yet whether I will attend his wedding. What I do know is this: Some loves stay with us not because they were meant to become something else, but because they teach us, slowly and quietly, the difference between being close and being chosen.

I watched the typing bubble appear after my reply, then vanish. Whatever he had wanted to say, he deleted. So did I.

I closed the chat box. I didnt ask when he knew she was the one. I didnt tell him I had broken up with my long-term boyfriend last week. I didnt tell him I wanted to hear his voice, or that I wasnt planning on calling him again. I had spent too many years mistaking possibility for promise. Maybe not every almost-love is meant to be true love.
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

Heres what we know about the attack at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night: A man carrying two firearms tried to charge the event. He failed to kill anyone. Federal authorities are charging Cole Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, with firearm and assault charges, and they may add more as the investigation continues.

We do not yet fully understand the suspects motivations, but we have strong indications. He had donated to Kamala Harris presidential campaign, he had attended an antiDonald Trump protest, and he had sent messages to family members before the attack denouncing the Trump administration. Investigators have said they believe he was attempting to shoot members of the Trump administration. Before the attack, Allen wrote an apology letter to his friends, colleagues, and family. I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes, he wrote, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report.

Those signposts seemingly paint a straightforward picture of this attack as a politically motivated assassination attempt against the president and members of his administration. But if you ask observersand particularly observers on the lefttheres something even more sinister going on here.

In the hours after the incident, social media users began speculating that things werent as they appeared, and that the shooting, some argued, had clearly been staged.

This was a popular enough idea that staged trended on social media Saturday night. Some of the posts on X that spelled out the conspiracy theory got several million views. One popular resistance-lib account polled his followers, and more than 80 percent who responded said they believed the attack had been staged. And on X, Bluesky, TikTok, and elsewhere, the comment sections are awash in accounts proclaiming the shooting a fake.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

This is an administration that lies prodigiously, and so its expected that theres a reflexive skepticism to any official recounting of events. But the evidence that these accounts are pointing to is thin, to say the least.

Some claims were based on the kind of false and confusing information that always circulates after a major news event with a lot of witnesses. Some were skeptical that a gunman could get into such a heavily guarded hotel. Others pointed to Karoline Leavitts quip before the dinner that during Trumps speech there would be shots fired. Others tried to analyze the facial expressions in photos of top administration figures, looking for something disingenuous to betray acting or indicate a lack of real fear. And some pointed to a Fox News broadcast in which the reporters audio cut outsuspiciously!right as she began to describe Leavitts husband warning her, before the event, to be safe.

Advertisement

But the reality is that there wasnt any need for evidence: Many of these users made their claims based on gut feelings. It made sense that Trump would stage an assassination attempt because, in their thinking, its so clearly politically beneficial to the president. It could help him with his abysmal approval ratings, which could turn out to be useful in the midterms.

Advertisement

Or it could justify his desire for a White House ballroom. This came to be the leading theory. Trump did argue, after all, in comments to the public and in a TruthSocial post that the incident proved the usefulness of a secure, official White House ballroom. (Its worth noting that the White House Correspondents Association is unlikely to want to host its annual dinner at an official White House venue, given that press freedom is central to the celebration.) And MeidasTouch, the highly popular liberal influencermedia network, circulated a compilation of conservative influencers posts making, in lockstep, Trumps same argument. To those who saw that post, the speed at which the conservative narrative developed around the ballroom seemed suspicious.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its true that the attack will help Trump change the subject at a time when his myriad policy failuresparticularly the war in Iranhave been front and center. And its true that conservative voices are rapidly using the episode to defend Trumps desire for a ballroom, as well as to bolster their claim that the left is the main perpetrator of U.S. political violence. But none of that comes close to proving that the shooting was staged. Sure, the Trump officials may have not appeared as visibly shaken as people expected simply because the shooter wasnt actually anywhere near themas one CBS News reporter pointed out, the incident took place on an entirely different level from the ballroom, nowhere near where the president was. He was able to get into the hotel because the hotel was open to the public; the actual security perimeter was narrower. As for the Fox News audio bit, dropped calls are common during times of high cell traffic, such as after a major downtown Washington event coming to a sudden and dramatic end. And the unified conservative talking point, while not flattering to the intellectual independence of right-wing content creators, isnt exactly a new phenomenon.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The rapid impulse to insist the shooting was staged is further proof of just how deep weve ventured into a post-truth era, where anything that happens will be immediately engulfed in conspiracy theories. For a long time, the right was the only side dominated by feverish fantasies, but the shooting suggests the left is increasingly willing to join them in the swamp.

There are many places to point fingers when reckoning with our new, irrational state of affairs. There are algorithms that promote the most polarizing content and social media influencers with financial incentives to provoke. There are prominent conspiracy theorists elevated to positions of power by the Trump administration itself, creating a kind of arms race of vitriolic partisan speech between the two sides. There is the absurdity of the Trump years, which has caused a lot of people to question a lot of basic things. And there is the long-standing trend in the decline in public trust in institutions undermining it all.

Advertisement

Advertisement

We have reached a point at which conspiratorial thinking in itself is its own kind of political movementone that often exists outside traditional partisan lines. There are typical MAGA conspiracy theorists and BlueAnon accounts decrying fantastical sinister plots from the Democrats and Republicans. But there are also those who are poisoned enough by the question-everything side of the internet to betray their own former allies. Chief among these are the former MAGA guys who have turned on Trump over Israel; many of them have bought into outlandish antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish cabals. And consider Candace Owens conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirks assassination: The man suspected of killing Kirk had a relationship with a transgender roommate and, according to the prosecution, held some leftist views. He was a perfect villain for the right. And yet Owens, a committed conspiracy theorist, refused to settle for the simple answerinstead resorting to a mix of antisemitism and bizarre mysticism. Conspiracy thinking is starting to overtake partisan thinking.

Advertisement

Advertisement

For now, though, conspiracy thinking largely serves to either make Trump into a hero or a villain. There remains a difference between the right and left in that no Democratic politicians of any real prominence have yet endorsed these theories, whereas top Republican officialsand especially the presidentcontinually feed the right-wing conspiracy machine. But as conspiracy theories are becoming an instinctual habit of the American public, we can expect to see more events like the White House Correspondents Association dinner incident processed this way. Any sense of shared reality is shattered, and its unclear how we might ever get it back.
John Luther Shaffer Jr, 68, of Mechanicsville, MD died April 19, 2026. John was raised in Prince George's County, MD by the late Dorothy Ann and John Shaffer Sr. He was the devoted husband of the late Linda (Richards) Shaffer, Father to Jessica (Allan) Hayden and Sara Shaffer, and proud "Papa" to Lillian, Hunter, and John Bodie.



John proudly served as a firefighter in Prince George's County, MD for over 30 years, retiring in 2006. He also served with Walter Reed and District of Columbia Fire Departments prior to Prince George's.



In later life he moved to St. Mary's county, where he proudly ran a small T-shirt and sign business. This enabled him to donate back to the community sponsoring local sports, schools, and foundations. In keeping with John's generosity, he made the decision to donate tissue and organs so others may live.



An interwoven thread throughout all aspects of his life was his sense of humor. He is remembered for his legendary pranks at the firehouse and home. His stories and joke telling were endless. John thoroughly enjoyed the countless conversations with all who listened and kept in touch the past few years.



A Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Post #238 in Hughesville, MD on May 3, 2026 from 2-6pm.



In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made the following organizations:



Humane Society of Calvert County

https://humanesocietyofcalvertcounty.org/support-humane-society-of-calvert-county-donate-today/



DC Firefighters Burn Foundation

https://www.dcffburnfoundation.org/donate



International Association of Firefighters Foundation

https://iafffoundation.org/ways-to-help/
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has urged the international community to move "from commitments to action" during a General Assembly debate on the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative, two pillars of a strategy to revitalize multilateralism
Blazing Home N won the $22,603 Winners Over/Open Handicap Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel for the fourth time this season as the classy seven-year-old surged up the passing lane to record the victory on Saturday, April 26.

Owner-trainer-driver Larry Stalbaum had the favourite flash early speed but yielded to last weeks Open winner Belmont Royale N (Aaron Byron) in a first quarter of :27.3. Belmont Royale N, a runner-up in back-to-back features before securing his first Open victory last week, held strong in a half of :57 before rattling off three quarters in 1:25.1 while fielding mild pressure before turning for home. He hit the stretch while bracing for Blazing Home N, who surged at the passing lane and came on to win it by 1-3/4 lengths, stopping the timer in 1:53.2. Belmont Royale N came up second-best while Bitcoin Hanover (Chris Long) earned the show spot.

Blazing Home N regained his Open crown and took his sixth win of the year in 13 starts after not factoring at the finish last week. The son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Capture My Heart is now 26-for-83 lifetime with $500,759 in earnings. He paid $2.62 to win.

Literl Lad Hanover ($2.40) went coast-to-coast in a $9,247 claiming event for his fifth straight victory. The eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Latte Lady, piloted by Aaron Byron, reeled off the splits of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:26.3 before stopping the clock in 1:55.3 on a three-length score. Thisishowwedoit (Matt Athearn) was second, followed by Sounds Good (Jim Devaux). Literl Lad Hanover won all five starts after entering the Melissa Beckwith barn when claimed by William Hartt in March. Those connections have now been dispossessed of the gelding, who is 35-for-188 lifetime, via a $10,274 claim by Michael Pozefsky.

Live racing continues on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at noon.

(With files from Saratoga Raceway)
Calicojack Hanover, fresh off a romp in the Open 2 a week ago, stepped up to the $40,000 Open Pace level and flew to a 1:49.2 victory on Saturday, April 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Tyler Jones dropped him in fourth early behind a three-horse vanguard led by Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure), who gave way to favourite Brue Hanover (James MacDonald) at the quarter in :26.1. The field went single file past the half in :54.3, with Its Saturday Night (Louis-Philippe Roy) angling off the pylons and flushing out Calicojack Hanover just past that point.

Calicojack Hanover rushed onto the scene at three-quarters in 1:22.3 and went to work on top-level stalwart Brue Hanover into the stretch. The battle was short-lived as Calicojack Hanover marched past the pacesetter inside 3/16ths, and he powered to the finish to prevail by two lengths. Dublin Dasher (Travis Cullen) flew from last at the eighth pole for third.

Calicojack Hanover is two-for-four on the year following back-to-back wins. The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Charisma Hanover has won 13 times and earned $553,288 from 46 career outings. Luc Blais trains the 2025 Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup winner for Determination of Montreal, Que. Win tickets returned $5.20.

Sophomores contested four Ontario Sired Spring Series finals on the card, starting with Dream For Peace in the $42,100 event for trotting colts and geldings. Fifth past the quarter in :27.3, Billy Davis Jr. hit the gas pedal on the colt and sent him first-over as the field bunched up following a first-turn break by Century Massiah (Phil Hudon). Dream For Peace struck the front at the half In :58.3, but Fourth Gear (Trevor Henry) rallied back at the rail and retook the advantage at three-quarters in 1:27.2. Dream For Peace geared up for another charge in the lane, and the son of Muscle Mass-Dream For Lindy took off in mid-stretch to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Thor B Good (Jonathan Drury) rolled past Fourth Gear for place.

Dream For Peace improved his record to three-for-eight lifetime and his bankroll to $51,450 with the victory for trainer Shawn Steacy and owners/breeders Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, N.Y. The colt, a show finisher in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Final at two, started his campaign in the Spring Series and is now two-for-three. The win price was $3.40.

Just Business surged home in :27.4 and got up late to upset Elbows Up in the $42,200 final for distaff trotters. Scott Young positioned her fifth through a quarter in :27 before pulling her out in front of Bella Chica (Bob McClure) approaching the half in :57.2. Just Business then advanced uncovered, swung three-wide around the emerging Press On Ballykeel (Tyler Borth) at three-quarters in 1:26.4, and chased down Elbows Up (Davis Jr.) to win by a neck in 1:55.3. Upgrade (James MacDonald) was third.

Just Business made her career debut in March and has won twice in seven starts, earning $47,820. Gino Cicero of Melancthon, Ont. owns and trains the daughter of Muscle Mass-Amaze Me. The win payout was $14.30.

The pacing finals went to Angels Amoung Us and Letr Sink Son, both of whom were aggressive early from post 10. Angels Amoung Us was up first in the $44,500 filly pace, and Travis Cullen blasted out with the Jodie Cullen trainee to put her on top with :26.2 speed to the quarter. She took a breather to the half in :56, then picked up the tempo to three-quarters in 1:24.4 with favourite Aunt Gertrude (Anthony Haughan) marauding first-over. Aunt Gertrude and pocket-tripper Esmeralda Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) could only chase as Angels Amoung Us dug in down the stretch to a two-length score in 1:53.2. Aunt Gertrude finished second over Esmeralda Du Lac.

Angels Amoung Us is a homebred for Jodie, Ron and Travis Cullen of Dundas, Ont. and Keith Hannah of Waskada, Man. The Shadow Play-Sing Like An Angel filly debuted in December last year and has collected 10 wins from 16 starts and $88,510 in earnings. She paid $7.40 in her ninth victory of 14 appearances this year.

In the $43,900 final for pacing males, Letr Sink Son flew to the top from the outside post in a :26.1 first quarter, accruing a 3-1/2-length lead at the first station. Travis Henry pulled the reins for a slower second quarter, getting him to the half in :56.4, and Letr Sink Son remained in command past three-quarters in 1:25.1. He brushed off the first-over Count On Gord (James MacDonald) as they straightened for home and held off three closing rivals to upset at 13-1 in 1:52.2. Dr Dave (Tyler Jones), a half-length back of the winner, closed for second over the pylon-shooting Thirty Six Red (Mark MacDonald).

Letr Sink Son was first and second in the series prelims, involved in a win photo in each start, and is now two-for-four in 2026. Trainer Boyd Wilson of Fergus, Ont. shares ownership of the Big Jim-Off The Shoulder gelding with Randy Wilson of Prince George, B.C. Letr Sink Son has won four times in 12 career starts and has earned $57,706. He paid $28.10 to win.

The Ontario Sired Spring Series was for Ontario-sired three-year-olds who did not earn $30,000 or more last year.

To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

HONG KONG (AP)  DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that shook world markets last year, launched preview versions of its latest major update Friday as the AI rivalry between China and the U.S. heats up.

DeepSeeks V4 has been keenly anticipated by users looking to test how it compares to U.S. competitors like OpenAIs ChatGPT, Anthropics Claude and Googles Gemini. Anthropic and OpenAI have accused DeepSeek of unfairly building its technology off their own.

Some industry analysts had expected the new model to arrive more than two months earlier at the start of the Lunar New Year.

Advertisement Advertisement

DeepSeek says the new V4 open-source models, which include pro and flash versions, have big improvements in knowledge, reasoning and in their agentic capabilities  the ability to perform complex tasks and workflows autonomously. Another big change is they are supported in part by computer chips made by Chinese tech giant Huawei, reducing DeepSeek's reliance on U.S. chipmakers like Nvidia.

V4 is a successor to V3, an AI model that DeepSeek released in late 2024.

But it was DeepSeeks specialized reasoning AI model, called R1, that took markets by surprise with its release in January 2025. DeepSeek claimed it was more cost-effective than OpenAIs similar model and it became a symbol of how China was catching up with the U.S. in technological advancements.

DeepSeek said the V4 Pro Max version has superior performance in terms of standard reasoning benchmarks relative to OpenAIs GPT-5.2 model and Googles Gemini 3.0-Pro. It falls marginally short of GPT-5.4 and Gemini 3.1-Pro, it said. DeepSeek's release came hours after OpenAI released its new GPT-5.5 model on Thursday.

Advertisement Advertisement

In terms of agentic capabilities, the Chinese company said the V4 pro version could outperform Claudes Sonnet 4.5 and approaches the level of Claude's Opus 4.5 model based on its own evaluation.

The flash version of V4 performs on a par with the pro version on simple agent tasks and has reasoning capabilities closely approaching it, DeepSeek said.

Based on the benchmark results, it does appear DeepSeek V4 is going to be very competitive against its U.S. rivals, said Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at the technology research and advisory group Omdia.

Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said DeepSeek's V4 rollout is as a pivotal milestone for Chinas AI industry, especially as global competition intensifies in the pursuit of self-reliance in critical technologies.

Advertisement Advertisement

DeepSeek offers a freetouse web and mobile chatbot. Unlike the top models from Anthropic, Google and OpenAI, it describes its technology as open source in the way that it enables developers access to modify and build on its core technology.

Both the V4's pro and flash versions have a 1 million token context window, a parameter of how much information an AI model can process and recall, and run on a more efficient basis, the startup said. That is a significant improvement from before, since the V3 supported a 128,000 token context window.

Huawei said in a separate statement Friday that its Ascend chips and related technology are compatible with the DeepSeek V4 models. Its a demonstration of technical feasibility of operating outside the Nvidia-dominated computing ecosystem amid sustained technological decoupling between China and the U.S., said Zhang.

A report from Microsoft in January showed use of DeepSeek has been gaining ground in many developing nations, particularly those where Huawei phones are widely used.

Advertisement Advertisement

However, some analysts remain skeptical. Ivan Su, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said while V4 is a competent follow-up, its not as big a breakthrough as the rollout of R1.

Domestic competition has intensified significantly since R1s release, Su said. Against U.S. models, DeepSeeks own evaluation suggests its capabilities largely match on most fronts, but independent evaluations are needed before final conclusions can be drawn.

In February, Anthropic accused DeepSeek and two other China-based AI laboratories of industrial-scale campaigns to illicitly extract Claudes capabilities to improve their own models. It said they did that using a technique called distillation that involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one. OpenAI made similar allegations in a letter to U.S. lawmakers.

This week, Michael Kratsios, chief science and technology adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, also accused foreign tech companies principally based in China of distilling leading U.S. AI systems and exploiting American expertise and innovation.

Chinas embassy in Washington hit back at the allegations, describing them as unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the U.S.

___

OBrien reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
Ukraine's battlefield robot fleet is rapidly growing and is being updated quickly.

One maker told Business Insider it can make remote fixes in minutes and has staff always near the front.

It said it is always updating capabilities to stay on top, and the West must learn from that speed.

Ukraine is updating its battlefield robots rapidly and remotely like smartphones.

The use of robots is surging on Ukraine's battlefields, replacing troops in roles from logistics to combat. But the war is changing so fast that, without constant upgrades, the robots can lose their effectiveness.

Oleg Fedoryshyn, director of R&D at Ukrainian robotic systems maker DevDroid, told Business Insider that the company designs its products so that they can be updated as easily as possible, "like mobile phones or operating systems.

Advertisement Advertisement

"We can update it remotely, and we add some new features, we fix some bugs," he said, sharing that the firm updates the software used by its robots every few weeks and can make remote fixes within minutes, critical amid wartime urgency.

Working to stay relevant

It can design a new update, test it with a brigade, and roll it out across all deployed systems within a week, Fedoryshyn said. The company builds a range of combat robots, along with components that let units mount weapons like grenade launchers and machine guns.

There are limits to remote upgrades, just as there are with smartphones. The technological evolution still requires hardware updates from time to time, a bigger ask, but a necessity to keep up with the pace of change in combat.

They typically do a major modification about every six months, delivering new capabilities, such as more than doubling the distance the robot can travel.

Advertisement Advertisement

To expedite some processes, the company deploys teams near the front line to fix damaged systems or make rapid hardware upgrades. That allows for same-day turnaround, and teams can even help evacuate disabled robots from the battlefield.

Fedoryshyn compared it to " a warranty, like when you buy a new car," and said it allows soldiers to stay focused on operations.

When the company works on a broken system, it analyzes what failed and whether upgrades are needed: "We think how to do it better."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been marked by rapid technological change, with battlefield tech constantly evolving. Ukrainian soldiers say equipment can become outdated within weeks or months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Soldiers often adapt gear in unexpected ways, feeding back into rapid redesigns. DevDroid says it has 24/7 support chats with every unit using its systems. At 3:30 a.m., a unit can ask for help and get a response, Fedoryshyn said.

The idea to arm robots with anti-tank RPGs, now a feature that's being rolled out, first came from soldier feedback, which accelerates the iterative development process.

Lessons in speed

NATO officials have warned that Western industry and militaries need to learn from Ukraine's speed. Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, for instance, previously told Business Insider that the alliance needs Ukraine's "adaptation DNA."

The UK's armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, warned last year that Western military processes are "outdated." In Ukraine, drone tech "iterates every two to three weeks on the front line," he said, arguing that NATO must rethink how it procures weapons.

Advertisement Advertisement

The speed of innovation has pushed defense manufacturers to design systems that are easier to update, including making them more modular and software-driven. Fedoryshyn said that was key because "it's quite easy to update software, but it's hard to update some hardware."

It's something the US Army increasingly views as critical. Leaders at its new drone school previously told Business Insider that they primarily want to work with companies that make plug-and-play gear that can be updated easily.

Maj. Wolf Amacker, who leads the Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Tactics Branch at the Aviation Center of Excellence, said that when it comes to defense manufacturers, "if whatever they're building isn't modular with other industry partners to work together, then I'm going to go with another industry partner that is."

Robots are a growing part of Ukraine's military. Their usage has surged, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying they carried out more than 22,000 frontline missions in three months.

Advertisement Advertisement

Ukraine has plans to go much further. Its defense minister this week revealed plans to contract 25,000 new robots in the first half of this year, which is double last year's total, and said that the country's goal is to eventually have 100% of front-line logistics carried out by robots.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A new themed Whopper, sides, shake and collectible cups land in restaurants nationwide starting May the Fourth

MIAMI, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger King is bringing a galaxy far, far away to your taste buds. In celebration of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, hitting theaters May 22, Burger King is launching a limited-time menu packed with bold flavors, fun packaging, and epic Star Wars offerings designed to delight fans of all ages. When it comes to flavor, this is the way.

Starting May the Fourth (May 4), at participating U.S. restaurants and while supplies last Guests can enjoy a lineup of out-of-this-galaxy menu items, including:

Burger King Launches Out of This Galaxy Limited-Time Menu Inspired by the Highly-Anticipated Upcoming Movie  Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

BBQ Bounty Whopper  A flame-grilled  lb. of 100% beef*, served in a helmet-shaped carton inspired by the galaxy's most legendary bounty hunter. Loaded with melty Swiss, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato and smothered in creamy Bounty BBQ Sauce.

 A flame-grilled  lb. of 100% beef*, served in a helmet-shaped carton inspired by the galaxy's most legendary bounty hunter. Loaded with melty Swiss, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato and smothered in creamy Bounty BBQ Sauce. Grogu's Blue Cookie Shake  A hyperspace swirl of creamy soft serve blended with blue sugar cookie syrup and topped with Grogu's favorite snack  blue cookies!

 A hyperspace swirl of creamy soft serve blended with blue sugar cookie syrup and topped with Grogu's favorite snack  blue cookies! Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fries  Crispy white meat Chicken Fries seasoned with parmesan and garlic, served in a Grogu-themed carton with garlic dipping sauce on the side to fuel your next adventure.

 Crispy white meat Chicken Fries seasoned with parmesan and garlic, served in a Grogu-themed carton with garlic dipping sauce on the side to fuel your next adventure. Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots  Perfectly crispy tots stuffed with melty cheddar cheese, fluffy potatoes, & ranch seasoning, served in an Imperial-themed carton.

 Perfectly crispy tots stuffed with melty cheddar cheese, fluffy potatoes, & ranch seasoning, served in an Imperial-themed carton. Four Collectible Cups  Unlock exclusive cups with the purchase of: Bounty Bundle (a special box including all four menu items) BBQ Bounty Whopper Combo 12pc Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fry Combo

 Unlock exclusive cups with the purchase of:

"Star Wars has shaped generations of fans, and as we head into the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, we saw an opportunity to bring that excitement straight into our restaurants," said Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Burger King U.S. & Canada. "From themed packaging to bold, flavor-forward menu items, this is our way of celebrating an iconic new film with the iconic flame-grilled taste only Burger King can deliver."

Kids can join the adventure, too. Beginning April 28, The Mandalorian and Grogu King Jr. Meal arrives at participating restaurants nationwide, featuring:

Choice of Hamburger or 4 pc. Nugget

Apple Sauce AND Kids' Fry Size

Choice of Milk or Apple Juice

A Mandalorian-themed toy for the next generation of galactic adventurers, available while supplies last

"Star Wars has always been about bringing generations of fans together. The Burger King 'Have It Your Way' spirit makes them the perfect brand to help fans celebrate the upcoming theatrical release of 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' because it's rooted in bringing people together through shared, memorable experiences," said Jan Coleman, Vice President of Partnerships and Promotions at The Walt Disney Studios. "Together, we're giving fans and families a fun and delicious way to connect with the excitement of the galaxy."

Guests can embark on the adventure by ordering The Mandalorian and Grogu-themed menu at BK.com, through the BK App, or at select participating U.S. restaurants.

*Pre-cooked patty weight.

ABOUT BURGER KING

Founded in 1954, the Burger King brand is a global quick service hamburger chain known for food quality and value and as the only place Guests can get the iconic flame-grilled Whopper sandwich. The Burger King system operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 120 countries and U.S. territories. Nearly all Burger King restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the Burger King brand, please visit the official brand website at www.bk.com or the newsroom at news.bk.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

ABOUT THE MOVIE STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU

Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" opens exclusively in theaters May 22, 2026. The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" also stars Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Goransson.

SOURCE Burger King
New hotels in Japan: The standout openings to book in 2026

Across Japan, new hotel openings are leaning into identity, whether that means heritage buildings in Kyoto, adaptive reuse in Nara or refined wellness stays built around onsen culture.

At the same time, global luxury brands are making entries into Tokyo, signalling confidence in long-term demand. The result is a mix of projects that feel distinct rather than interchangeable.

For travellers, Japans new hotel openings in 2026 are shaped by place, history and design, not just scale or status.

Capella Kyoto

Opened in March 2026, Capella Kyoto brings one of Asias most design-led luxury brands into Japan for the first time.

Advertisement Advertisement

The hotel sits in Miyagawa-cho, one of Kyotos historic geisha districts, within walking distance of Kenninji Temple and the Kamo River. Designed by Kengo Kuma, the low-rise property focuses on natural materials, muted tones and a strong connection to its surroundings.

With just 89 rooms, it is positioned as an intimate stay rather than a grand hotel. Capellas approach here is clear: high-end hospitality anchored in cultural context, not spectacle.

Imperial Hotel Kyoto

Also opened in March, Imperial Hotel Kyoto takes a different route into the citys luxury scene.

The property is housed inside the Yasaka Kaikan in Gion, a designated cultural asset that has been carefully restored rather than rebuilt.

Advertisement Advertisement

It marks the first new development in decades for the Imperial Hotel group, known for its legacy of formal service and understated prestige.

HOSHINOYA Nara Prison

One of the most unconventional openings of the year, Hoshinoya Nara Prison is set to debut in June 2026. Developed by Hoshino Resorts, the hotel transforms a former Meiji-era prison into a 48-suite luxury retreat.

Original architectural elements have been preserved, with guest rooms created by combining old cell blocks into larger living spaces.

The concept pairs the buildings history with contemporary design and Japanese-French dining. It reflects a wider trend in Japan: adaptive reuse that turns heritage structures into immersive travel experiences.

Interior of room at KAI Kusatsu - Courtesy KAI Kusatsu

KAI Kusatsu

Also opening in June 2026, KAI Kusatsu builds on Japans enduring appeal as a wellness destination.

Advertisement Advertisement

Located in one of the countrys most famous hot spring towns, in Gunma Prefecture, the ryokan-style retreat focuses on slow travel and restorative stays.

Guests have access to multiple onsen baths fed by Kusatsus mineral-rich waters, along with interiors inspired by the regions silk heritage.

A standout feature is a private tunnel connecting the hotel to the town centre, allowing visitors to move easily between the lively public baths and the quiet of the property.

1 Hotel Tokyo

Inaugurated in March 2026, 1 Hotel Tokyo brings the sustainability-focused brand to Japan for the first time, anchoring itself in the capitals Akasaka district.

Advertisement Advertisement

The project is part of a major redevelopment and is designed around biophilic principles, with interiors incorporating natural materials, greenery and low-impact design.

Rooms and suites are expected to feature floor-to-ceiling windows, natural materials and calm, light-filled interiors, alongside multiple dining spaces focused on seasonal ingredients. Facilities will include a spa, fitness centre and wellness areas, with sustainability integrated across the stay through low-impact design and energy-efficient systems.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Positive data for FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation and WATCHMAN LAAC Devices underscore therapy safety and effectiveness in late-breaking clinical trial sessions

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. and CHICAGO, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced data supporting use of the company's FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) Platform and WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) technologies. All data were presented at Heart Rhythm 2026, the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society, held in Chicago from April 24-26.

Results from the AVANT GUARD clinical trial of FARAPULSE PFA

The randomized AVANT GUARD clinical trial met all safety and effectiveness endpoints and demonstrated statistical superiority of PFA over anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) with significantly higher primary effectiveness. The trial is the first randomized pivotal study to evaluate patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) who had not previously been treated for their condition  a historically understudied, high-risk population. Patients were randomized or assigned to receive pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and left atrial posterior wall isolation (PWI) using the FARAWAVE PFA Catheter or given AADs for treatment. Results were simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Key findings from the trial:

PFA achieved superiority over AADs with a primary effectiveness rate of 56.0% at 12 months compared to 30.1% in the AAD group.

The primary safety endpoint was met with major adverse event rate of 5.1% at 12 months.

Significantly more patients in the PFA group (51.7%) were free from atrial arrhythmia recurrence at 12 months, compared to 32.2% in the AAD group.

Results from the feasibility study of the FARAFLEX PFA Catheter

The single-arm, ELEVATE-PF feasibility trial is examining the safety and effectiveness of the FARAFLEX PFA Catheter, a novel, high-density large focal map-and-ablate catheter designed to treat complex arrhythmias, in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF. The trial enables ongoing PFA dosing and workflow refinements based on a study design incorporating prospective high-density remapping, analyzing patients sequentially in three groups  feasibility, improved and optimized.

Key findings from this ongoing trial:

With workflow improvements, PVI durability  the permanence of an ablation lesion over time  increased from 80.4% on a per-vein basis in the feasibility group (n=13) to 96.4% in the optimized group (n=34).

Within the optimized group, PVI durability in patients with persistent AF was 95.6% at two months (n=17).

There were no reports of stroke, pulmonary vein stenosis, hemolysis or coronary spasm.

Clinical outcomes associated with real-world concomitant PFA and LAAC interventions

Prospective, interim, real-world evidence from ALIGN-AF, a multi-center sub-study of the DISRUPT-AF registry, reinforced that concomitant procedures combining the FARAWAVE PFA Catheter and the WATCHMAN FLX Pro LAAC Device could be performed safely without compromising acute procedural success. The study, which includes 122 patients at 12 sites with 24 physicians performing the procedures, assessed peri-device leaks between 45 and 90 days following implant and will assess arrhythmia recurrence at six and 12 months.

Key findings from available data at three months:

Ablation with the FARAWAVE PFA Catheter achieved a 100% (n=122/122) acute success rate. Ablation parameters such as lesion sets and procedure duration were consistent with those observed in standalone PFA procedures.

LAAC with the WATCHMAN FLX Pro implant also achieved 100% (n=119/119) procedural success and 90.6% (n=96/106) complete LAA closure at a mean of 66 days with no clinically relevant leaks or device-related thrombus reported.

Sub-analysis of the CHAMPION-AF clinical trial in patients with or without prior ablation

A sub-analysis of the CHAMPION-AF trial studied LAAC therapy with the WATCHMAN FLX implant compared to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with and without prior ablation for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The analysis included 1,434 patients who had a cardiac ablation for AF prior to randomization and 1,565 patients who did not have a previous ablation. The results highlighted that for patients in both arms of the sub-analysis, the device provided statistically significant protection from non-procedural bleeding and had similar efficacy to NOACs.

Key findings from the sub-analysis:

The WATCHMAN FLX device provided statistically significant protection from non-procedural bleeding, including major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB), compared to NOACs in patients who had a prior ablation (9.0% vs. 17.0%) and in patients with no prior ablation (12.8% vs. 20.8%). CRNMB is defined within the trial as life-impacting non-major bleeds that require medical intervention, hospitalization or an increased level of care.



The WATCHMAN FLX device had similar efficacy to NOACs for the occurrence of stroke, cardiovascular or unexplained death, or systemic embolism, regardless of whether they had a prior ablation (3.9% for both the device and NOACs in patients with prior ablation; 7.5% for the device group vs. 5.7% for the NOAC group in patients with no prior ablation).

Long-term outcomes after LAAC therapy in patients not eligible for anticoagulation

Five-year follow-up data from the ASAP-TOO trial provided evidence on the legacy WATCHMAN LAAC device (n=284) or the WATCHMAN FLX LAAC device (n=20) compared to a single antiplatelet (SAPT) medication or no medication in reducing the risk of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism in patients with NVAF who were deemed unsuitable for oral anticoagulation (OAC) medication. While the findings contribute new clinical data on LAAC and stroke protection, interpretation is limited as the trial ended early due to slow enrollment driven by physician preference for the device over SAPT/no medication, not safety-related factors, and variability in long-term follow-up.

Key findings from the trial:

There was a lower rate of occurrence of stroke or systemic embolism with an LAAC device compared to the control group (7.8% vs. 11.4%). LAAC therapy was associated with significantly fewer disabling strokes compared to the control group (1.1% vs. 3.8%).

The device group had a rate of 1.0% for all-cause death, ischemic stroke, systemic embolism or device- or procedure-related events requiring open cardiac surgery or major endovascular intervention within discharge or seven days.

Results from the investigator-sponsored PRAETORIAN DFT study of the EMBLEM MRI Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator (S-ICD) were also presented as a late-breaking clinical trial, meeting the primary endpoint. Findings from the trial achieved non-inferiority in the likelihood of failed therapy when omitting defibrillation testing as guided by the PRAETORIAN score  an estimate of successful delivery of life-saving therapy  in patients receiving the device for the first time.1

"The data presented at Heart Rhythm 2026 reflect the continued momentum of our cardiovascular portfolio and underscores our commitment to advancing innovation through comprehensive clinical evidence across the spectrum of cardiac care," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific. "These findings support the potential expansion of our FARAPULSE PFA Platform into more complex patient populations, highlight the value of a combined therapeutic approach with our WATCHMAN FLX Pro LAAC Device, may enhance the implant experience with the EMBLEM MRI S-ICD and position us to deliver a broader portfolio of differentiated solutions for physicians treating patients with cardiovascular diseases."

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 45 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans and product performance and impact, and clinical trials. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: economic conditions, including the impact of foreign currency fluctuations; future U.S. and global political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions, including changing trade and tariff policies; geopolitical events, conflicts and tensions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; disruptions caused by cybersecurity events; disruptions caused by public health emergencies or extreme weather or other climate change-related events; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; variations in outcomes of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; the closing and integration of acquisitions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Steve Bailey

Media Relations

+1 (651) 582-4343 (office)

[email protected]

Lauren Tengler

Investor Relations

+1 (508) 683-4479

[email protected]

























1 The manufacturer recommended VF conversion testing during EMBLEM S-ICD implant, replacement, and concomitant device implants is being evaluated based on the PRAETORIAN DFT trial results and additional available data.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
In Mexico, we say this is the time of women, and this is particularly true for both the Mexi
PHOENIX  An Arizona measure approved by voters to allow state and local police to arrest some people who enter the country illegally could be a step closer to being enforced.

In a divided decision Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit tossed out a challenge to a Texas law with virtually identical language. The court found that the groups trying to get Texass SB 4 declared unconstitutional lacked the legal standing to sue.

That's important here because Proposition 314, approved by Arizona voters in 2024 by a margin of more than 3-to-2, has a clause making its enforcement contingent on whether Texass SB 4 is found to be legal.

The new ruling is not the last word. It could mean, however, that the only thing holding up enforcement of the Arizona law is a final ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

There could be more than Proposition 314 at stake.

The Texas Republicans who pushed for approval of SB 4 anticipated that the issue of whether states have the right to enforce federal immigration laws will end up before the nations high court. They said it could convince the Supreme Court to revisit its landmark 2012 ruling  by a less conservative court  that overturned Arizona's SB 1070.

That 2010 Arizona law contained multiple provisions dealing with immigration.

In their 2012 ruling, the justices allowed some provisions to take effect, such as requiring police, when they have stopped someone for any reason, to check on that person's immigration status if there is a reasonable suspicion they are undocumented.
Am Hoa Pagoda, located in Trung Luong village, Trang Luong commune, formerly part of Dong Trieu town and now under Binh Khe ward in Quang Ninh province, stands out for its distinctive architecture. The entire main sanctuary and ancestral house are constructed from bamboo, while a rare egg flower tree nearby blooms in a shape reminiscent of a lotus.

According to Venerable Thich Khai Thuong, the pagoda in its early days was nothing more than a small corrugated iron shelter, housing a Buddha statue placed by locals on the foundation of an older structure. Remaining traces such as stone incense altars and column bases suggest that a large pagoda once stood here.

The connection to the site began when Venerable Thich Khai Thuong was studying at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi and frequently traveled to Yen Tu for religious duties. At the time, he expressed a preference for mountain retreats rather than temples in the plains, saying he would only accept such a role if fate led him to a pagoda in the mountains.

Some time later, local Buddhists introduced him to an ancient temple hidden deep in the forest near Da Trang Lake, more than ten kilometers from where he was staying. Believed to be associated with Tran Nhan Tong, the site drew his attention, prompting him to make the journey.

Reaching the pagoda was a challenging trek: from Yen Tu to Am Van, along paths skirting Da Trang Lake, crossing the water by raft, then following a stream uphill. What awaited him was a weathered structure - essentially a simple metal-roofed shelter with a lone Buddha statue, surrounded by a quiet, untouched landscape.

After offering incense, he told himself he would return if destiny allowed. That connection gradually deepened. He began visiting regularly on the first and full moon days, eventually becoming familiar to local residents, who invited him to take on the role of abbot.

On June 12, 2020, he was officially appointed. A few months later, after completing his studies in Hanoi, he moved to the pagoda permanently and began life in the mountains.

At the time, little was known about the temple. Locals simply referred to it as Am Hoa and regarded it as sacred, leaving it untouched. An ancient stone stele had been broken, reportedly due to rumors of hidden gold, leaving the inscriptions illegible.

Later archaeological work recovered and reassembled fragments of the stele, allowing the text to be restored. It revealed that the pagoda was rebuilt on December 2, 1676, during the reign of King Le Hy Tong, on the site of an even older structure - confirming a history spanning more than 350 years.

The inscription also noted that the pagoda once held around 64 mau of rice fields to support monks and supply food to temples within the Yen Tu system, such as Hoa Yen and Van Tieu pagodas, underscoring its former importance.

Local folklore adds to its mystique. Stories circulate of villagers who once took large stone objects from the site, only to dream of ancestral spirits demanding their return. By morning, the items were said to have mysteriously reappeared in their original place.

Whether true or not, these stories reinforce the deep reverence people have for the pagoda. No one dares to take anything from here, Venerable Thich Khai Thuong shared.

When reconstruction began, the venerable did not set out with grand ambitions. The site was dilapidated, access was extremely difficult, and there were no proper roads. Materials had to be transported by raft across the lake and then hauled up the mountain.

In such conditions, bamboo became the most practical choice - simple, locally available and accessible for everyone to work with.

Villagers joined hands in the effort: some split bamboo, others shaped strips, while others assembled the frame. From the smallest tasks, all contributions were voluntary.

In the early days, paths had to be carved out and leveled by hand. Transporting materials remained arduous, but through collective effort and perseverance, the pagoda gradually took shape.

Another distinctive feature is the egg flower tree within the pagoda grounds. When in bloom, its flowers open like lotus blossoms and release a gentle fragrance. Many visitors have attempted to take cuttings home, but the plant has proven difficult to cultivate elsewhere.

From a modest metal-roofed shelter deep in the forest, the ancient pagoda in Yen Tu is steadily being revived - not only with bamboo and simple materials, but with faith, community spirit and a shared commitment to preserving cultural and spiritual heritage in the mountains.

The temporary shelter once built by locals on the old foundation and the bamboo pagoda shortly after completion.

Am Hoa Pagoda lies hidden in the mountains.

The fragrant egg flower tree blooms like a lotus within the pagoda grounds.

Ancient stone stele and incense tower at Am Hoa Pagoda.

Venerable Thich Khai Thuong introduces the uniquely constructed pagoda.

Tinh Le
Direct access to Vietnam's nationwide QR payment network

Enabling payments via partners' home-market banking and fintech apps without currency exchange

SEOUL, South Korea, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GLN International has launched a nationwide QR payment service in Vietnam in partnership with NAPAS, marking its direct integration into the country's national QR payment infrastructure.

The service was introduced at a launch ceremony on April 23 in Vietnam, attended by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), NAPAS, BIDV, and Hana Bank.

At the Vietnam QR payment service launch ceremony Image of supported apps and QR logos enabling nationwide QR payments across Vietnam

GLN leads the operation of the payment system connected to Vietnam's national QR network and has driven its technical integration, as part of Hana Financial Group's cross-border initiatives. Hana Bank participates as the only Korean financial institution designated as a settlement bank under SBV approval.

Vietnam's payment infrastructure is built on the VietQR Global system operated by NAPAS, linking banks and merchants nationwide. Through this integration, GLN enables users of partner apps to access the network, expanding acceptance. The partnership is also expected to support inbound use cases, allowing Vietnamese users to make QR payments in Korea via their local apps.

The service is available across tourist destinations, including Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City, across everyday merchants. Payments can be made through GLN-connected partner applications, including major Korean fintech apps such as Toss, PurpleGLN, Hana OneQ, Hana Money, and Hana Card, without currency exchange. The service is expected to expand to platforms, including Naver Pay and KB Banking App.

Seok Lee, CEO of GLN, said, "This launch marks a significant step in connecting Korea and Vietnam through a unified QR payment infrastructure. By integrating with Vietnam's national QR network, we enable a simple payment experience for travelers using the apps they already use in their home market, without currency exchange. We will continue to lead overseas payments and cash withdrawals without physical cards."

Meanwhile, GLN, a subsidiary of Hana Bank under Hana Financial Group, provides QR payment and QR withdrawal services across 14 countries in Asia, including Vietnam, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, and Japan, with access to more than 200 million QR merchants globally. The company is a leading cross-border payment infrastructure provider in Asia, connecting users and merchants across markets. It has also established partnerships with overseas financial platforms, including Moreta Pay (North America), DeCard App (Singapore), and Taishin Bank (Taiwan).

SOURCE GLN International
This marks an important legislative milestone, reflecting strong consensus in unlocking resources, improving institutions and creating conditions for culture to become a driving force for national development in a new era.

Delegates attend the first session of the 16th National Assembly on the morning of April 24. Photo: Quochoi.vn

The passage of the Resolution with such a high approval rate is significant not only for the cultural sector but also for the countrys broader development trajectory. After years of affirming culture as the spiritual foundation of society, as both a goal and a driving force, and as an internal resource for growth, the Resolution translates these perspectives into more actionable mechanisms and policies.

Its greatest value lies in moving culture from awareness to institutionalization, from orientation to policy, and from expectation to implementation. Cultural development cannot rely solely on the dedication of artists, artisans, cultural workers or creative communities; it requires resources, mechanisms, infrastructure, human capital, markets and an enabling legal environment.

One notable provision is the designation of November 24 each year as Vietnam Culture Day, with workers entitled to a paid day off. This should not be seen merely as an additional holiday but as an opportunity to create a genuine cultural celebration across society. If well organized, it could encourage people to visit museums, libraries, theaters, heritage sites and creative spaces; allow schools to promote heritage education; enable local communities to showcase their identity; and give children and young people more engaging access to culture.

A breakthrough element of the Resolution is the requirement that the State allocate at least 2% of the total annual budget expenditure to culture, with gradual increases in line with development needs. This represents a crucial commitment of resources. For a long time, many cultural sectors have faced difficulties due to limited funding: grassroots cultural institutions have operated ineffectively; heritage preservation has been constrained; traditional arts have struggled to attract audiences; cultural workers have not received adequate remuneration; and cultural industries, despite their potential, have lacked the conditions to grow.

However, the issue is not only about increasing spending but ensuring its effectiveness. The 2% allocation should be targeted and focused on long-term priorities such as heritage preservation, development of grassroots cultural infrastructure, support for traditional arts, digitization of cultural data, human resource training, commissioning high-quality works and expanding access to culture for children, workers, remote areas, border regions, islands and ethnic minority communities. Transparent allocation with clear evaluation criteria will be essential to create real change.

The Resolution also opens new space for cultural industries. The development of cultural creative clusters, creative hubs and supportive policies on taxation, land access, production facilities, digital infrastructure and advanced technologies are critical mechanisms. Vietnam holds significant potential in heritage, history, arts, cuisine, tourism, design, film, music, gaming and digital content. Yet potential only becomes value when organized within a creative ecosystem.

If implemented effectively, creative clusters and hubs can connect artists, businesses, investors, technology, universities and the public. They can serve as spaces where cultural ideas are tested, produced, distributed and commercialized. At the same time, it is important to avoid labeling purely commercial projects as creative. Genuine creative spaces must generate cultural value and contribute meaningfully to cultural life.

Another key component is digital transformation and the development of digital cultural infrastructure. The Resolution calls for building a national cultural database, shared digital platforms, and the digitization of nationally recognized and specially recognized heritage. It also emphasizes supporting enterprises in applying advanced technologies to digital content production, while protecting copyright, cultural security and digital sovereignty. This approach reflects the reality that digital space has become a new cultural environment where values are created and disseminated, but also vulnerable to distortion or uncontrolled commercialization.

Digital transformation in culture is not merely about digitizing artifacts or building databases. More importantly, it is about giving heritage, arts, folk knowledge and collective memory new life in education, tourism, media and creative industries. When done well, cultural data can become a valuable resource for film, games, applied arts, design, digital museums, libraries and contemporary cultural products.

The Resolution also places significant emphasis on human resources in culture, arts and sports. Policies on special recruitment of talent, professional allowances, training and retraining, and the development of high-quality human resources for cultural industries, digital transformation and cultural expertise are essential. Ultimately, culture begins with people. Without artisans, artists, creators, researchers, managers, technologists and practicing communities, cultural policy lacks its core actors.

The introduction of commissioning mechanisms and output-based funding for cultural activities using the state budget is another notable step forward. Creative work in literature and the arts has its own characteristics and cannot be fully governed by rigid administrative frameworks. Output-based funding, assessed by independent professional councils, if implemented transparently, can allow the State to commission high-value works while respecting artistic autonomy.

The Resolution also outlines policies for promoting and developing markets for Vietnams cultural industries. Support for Vietnam Culture Weeks abroad, artistic exchanges, Vietnamese language teaching, and the expansion of Vietnamese cultural spaces overseas, along with incentives for exporting cultural products and showcasing heritage in reputable international museums, reflects a new approach to national soft power.

In todays world, a nations image is shaped not only by diplomacy or economic indicators but also by films, music, cuisine, fashion, tourism, museums, festivals, games and books. Vietnam has many compelling stories to tell. The challenge lies in telling them with quality, using the language of the times, technology, intellectual property and professional organization.

Yet, the adoption of the Resolution is only the beginning. Bridging the gap between policy and everyday life requires sustained effort. Clear guidelines, effective coordination mechanisms, transparent resource allocation, accountability at local levels and consistent oversight from legislative bodies, mass organizations, media and the public will be crucial.

There must be caution against formalism: Vietnam Culture Day should not become just a day off; the 2% budget allocation should not remain a symbolic figure; creative hubs should not turn into disguised real estate projects; digitization should not be fragmented; and cultural funds should not become bureaucratic mechanisms. The spirit of the Resolution calls for equally innovative implementation - more transparent, more flexible and more outcome-oriented.

Looking back at 9:28 a.m. on April 24, 2026, what stands out is not only the 95.40% approval rate, but the policy signal sent to society: culture has been placed in a more central position in the national development agenda. From now on, discussing culture means not only preservation and festivals, but also resources, human capital, creative industries, digital transformation, copyright, markets, soft power and quality of life.

A resolution cannot transform everything overnight, but it can open a path. This Resolution on cultural development does exactly that. It reminds us that national development is not only about economic growth, infrastructure or technology, but also about building people, preserving memory, nurturing identity, fostering creativity and ensuring that every citizen lives in a healthy, rich and humane cultural environment.

In a new era of development, Vietnamese culture must move forward with a renewed mindset: preserving while innovating, safeguarding while developing, honoring the past while creating new values for the future. The responsibility after the vote is to ensure that the Resolution moves from parliament into daily life, becoming an internal strength of the Vietnamese people and a sustainable driver of national growth.

Dr. Bui Hoai Son
Newly appointed Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son.

Education experts recently have expressed their concern about the urgent need for updating teaching and learning approaches.

Prof Truong Nguyen Thanh (University of Utah, USA), , for example, who has been back in Vietnam for seven to eight years, said he is preparing a course titled "Living in the AI Era" on tge impact of AI on education, labor, and society. He said the key is not just understanding AI, but recognizing how it redefines human value.

Thanh expressed his expectations for innovative thinking, especially in the context of the clear directions set by General Secretary and President To Lam. The issue lies not in the policy but in implementation, he noted.

Our education is still facing old inertia while society has changed at an almost miraculous speed. Technology is reshaping the labor market, but teaching and learning methods have not kept up, Thanh said.

Schools still spend a lot of time to provide knowledge that AI can do better, such as memorizing facts, numbers, and timelines.

Are questions like which year a battle took place, or who did what, still worth students spending too much time memorizing? That time should be used to develop more important capacities, he said.

This is a strategic choice for education: Continue training in the old way, where students get high scores thanks to memorization, or switch to developing capacities that are difficult for AI to replace, such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving?

Although noting that policy changes are always slower than reality, Thanh believed that "small initial shifts" are needed for the system to gradually move.

Sitting still makes change very difficult, but once it starts shifting, even just a little, everything will be much easier, he said.

Returning to substantive values

Hoang Ngoc Vinh, former Director of the Department of Professional Education (Ministry of Education and Training), argued that education needs to return to substantive values: Real learning, real testing, real research, and real doing.

Social expectations are high, but resources are limited, while the requirements for fast and effective renovation are immense.

The desire for low cost but high quality, or even doing it this year and seeing results next year, is a huge pressure on the education sector, he said.

Vinh emphasized the role of testing and assessment. He proposed the early formation of an independent testing system, which could be initially sponsored by the State but operated on objective and professional principles.

This system would not only organize exams but also provide a standardized exam question bank. When assessment is substantive, naturally, teaching and learning will have to change accordingly, he said.

He also noted that if testing and assessment are unreliable, it will lead to consequences such as achievement disease, subjective grading, and even distortion of educational goals.

Each educational level needs its specific goals: general education builds foundations, vocational education links to employment, and universities aim for creativity and research. The destination is to train people with real capacity.

However, Vinh said that educational reform faces difficulties when social expectations are diverse, even conflicting among groups (managers, teachers, students, parents, among others).

Each object has different perspectives and expectations. Therefore, it is necessary to both set expectations and share the challenges of the sector, especially during the transition period; at the same time, correctly identify bottlenecks to handle first, following a step-by-step roadmap.

Resolving the right institutional bottlenecks not only fixes immediate problems but also creates movement across the entire education system. Management can then shift from administrative control to results-based approaches; implementation capacity will improve, and informal practices like achievement disease or excessive tutoring will gradually recede, he said.

Only when rules, institutions, resources, and behaviors move together can education achieve breakthroughs, he added.

Meanwhile, Pham Thai Son from the HCMC University of Industry and Trade, said that what must be done first is reduce the general education curriculum. Without removing unnecessary content, teachers will continue to rush through lessons while students learn passively.

You cannot modernize while trying to retain everything old, he said.

Thanh Hung
Tran Thanh Vinh (born 2004), from Vinh Bao, Haiphong, is a student majoring in Control Engineering and Automation at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a member school of HUST. He has graduated one semester early with a cumulative GPA of 3.98/4.0, the highest in this graduation cohort.

Fascinated by battery-powered toys

I only thought my GPA would be among the top, I didnt expect it to be the highest, Vinh said.

The former student of Vinh Bao High School was known as the runner-up of the A00 (math, physics, chemistry) exam group in Hai Phong, ranking among the top nationwide in the 2022 national high school finals. He scored 29.35 points, including a perfect 10 in Physics. With this result, he chose to apply to HUST, the most prestigious polytechnic school in the country.

His passion for engineering emerged early. As a child, he often dismantled battery-powered toys to observe the electronic circuit boards inside. I found it fascinating; everything looked like a miniature city, Vinh recalled.

At university, he was able to further pursue this passion. However, he also realized that the academic environment was challenging and demanding, so he set a serious study plan early on.

From the first semester with general courses, Vinh maintained the habit of preparing lessons before class. Whenever he had questions, he did not hesitate to ask lecturers. After each class, he reviewed and systematized knowledge, completed assignments, and sought additional materials to deepen his understanding.

After getting through the first semester, Vinh felt somewhat advantaged and set a higher goal of graduating with Excellent distinction. Graduating one semester early was also part of a plan he had set from the beginning.

Instead of cramming day and night, Vinh said his approach over 4.5 years was to maintain a steady and consistent pace. I usually studied about 23 hours a day but with high focus, rather than waiting until exams to review, he said.

He also maintained a small study group of 23 people to exchange ideas, find materials, and solve problems together.

I dont think Im exceptionally outstanding compared to others, but I make up for it with diligence and time management, Vinh said.

Aiming to create practical products

Despite academic success, Vinh said he once felt lost as he had not clearly defined his career path. In his second year, he joined research labs to discover himself.

Initially, he joined a control system lab but realized after about two months that it did not suit him. At that time, I doubted myself and thought I wasnt capable of adapting.

After several attempts and changes, he applied to a notoriously difficult lab in power electronics, a field of engineering that focuses on the research and application of semiconductor devices to convert and control electrical energy.

This shift helped him find the right fit and gradually overcome self-doubt. His research experience also helped him define his future direction. He plans to pursue applied research, focusing on developing products that can be used in real life rather than only academic publications.

I want to do research linked with businesses, creating tangible products for everyday life, he said.

Currently, he is applying for several research engineer positions in the field of power electronics. At the same time, he plans to pursue a masters degree.

In the near term, I want to work to gain practical experience while continuing my studies to strengthen my expertise, said the valedictorian of his graduating cohort at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Hanoi University of Science and Technology was established in 1956 and trains about 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. The university offers 160 programs, including 65 bachelor/engineering programs, 63 masters programs, and 32 doctoral programs, and cooperates with more than 200 universities, research centers, and educational organizations across 32 countries.

Thuy Nga
Illustrative photo.

Recently, during a group discussion on socio-economic issues, Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa, a member of the NAs Committee for Culture and Society, expressed concern about children being exposed to harm online through online abduction, violence, and cyberbullying.

She noted that not all parents have enough time to monitor their childrens use of social media, while childrens awareness is still developing, making them vulnerable to inappropriate content. She proposed studying solutions to restrict or ban children from using certain popular social media platforms, along with specific conditions and measures.

Nguyen Thu Huyen, a parent from Hanoi, supported the idea of applying measures to limit childrens use of social media. Her fifth-grade son has become absorbed in watching videos and scrolling online, affecting his studies and rest.

However, she thinks the ban may be impossible. Her childs learning is closely linked to social media, as teachers assign homework via Facebook and Zalo groups. Students follow online lecture videos, collaborate on assignments through messaging apps, and search for materials online.

If I dont give my child access to a computer or phone, it will affect his learning. But as parents, we are busy all day and cannot constantly supervise how he uses devices, she said.

She hopes for solutions that allow parents to control the content their children access, while schools should develop dedicated platforms for assigning homework instead of relying on social media.

Associate Prof Pham Manh Ha, a psychology expert at the School of Education Science and Technology under the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that proposals to ban or restrict childrens use of social media stem from legitimate concerns, but do not address the core issue.

Social media easily traps users in an interaction addiction loop, where each like or notification acts as a small dopamine boost. Banning is not an effective approach.

Educational practice shows that anything strictly prohibited without explanation often becomes more attractive, leading children to access it secretly without the skills to protect themselves, he said.

Ha said that this is an urgent issue, but solutions must be appropriate. Social media is now deeply integrated into the teaching and learning ecosystem.

Rigid bans could increase inequality in access; for example, students with better resources may find alternative devices, while disadvantaged students could be excluded from learning channels.

In addition, such measures would shift the burden of supervision to families without providing adequate support tools, while also missing the opportunity to equip students with digital citizenship.

For what purposes?

According to Ha, the key question is not whether to ban social media, but how it is used, at what times, for what purposes, and under whose supervision.

Instead of protection by restriction, the approach should shift to protection through capability, meaning equipping children with self-regulation skills.

This approach should be done at three levels. At the family level, parents should move from control to companionship, engaging with their children to understand and discuss the content they consume.

Families can establish digital rules with childrens participation, covering time, space, and purpose of use, along with no-screen periods such as before bedtime, during meals, and early in the morning.

At the school level, digital skill education needs to be meaningfully integrated. This goes beyond a lesson on the harm of the internet to helping students practice identifying misinformation, managing emotions when facing negative comments, and setting time limits for usage.

Schools should also strengthen early detection and psychological intervention for students showing signs of social media addiction or being victims of cyberbullying.

Instead of banning young users, regulations should focus on platform responsibility in creating safer environments, such as requiring youth accounts with limited features, no targeted advertising, and no algorithms which can cause addiction.

Le Thi Thu Ha, Director of the Center for Children and Development (CCD) under the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Childrens Rights, said that building a safe online environment is a shared responsibility, rather than separating children from digital space.

In aiming to develop digital and global citizens, isolating children from online communication tools is not feasible. Instead, families and schools should work together to establish codes of conduct in cyberspace, based on listening and mutual agreement with children, she said.

Thanh Hung
Far from being merely symbolic landmarks, a string of gigantic infrastructure projects worth hundreds of trillions of Vietnamese dong, set to break ground during the upcoming Reunification Day celebrations, are poised to deliver a historic boost to Ho Chi Minh City, completely transforming its skyline and the entire southern key economic region.

Mega projects reshaping urban landscape

Leading the charge in this massive building spree is the new central city square in the core of the Thu Thiem new urban area. Spanning more than 20 ha, its the crown jewel of the Central Square and new administrative center complex.

With the square and riverside park alone expected to cost several trillions of Vietnamese dong, the project is on track to become Vietnams biggest public gathering spot, big enough to host major political and cultural events with an international flair. Once finished, it will act as the citys brand-new heart, mixing historical charm with the sleek vibe of a smart modern area.

Designed to hold crowds the size of ten national stadiums, the space wont just be for big political events; its also set to become an iconic architectural showstopper. Blending a cutting-edge square with a lush riverside park, it will create a wide-open public playground where locals can get right up close to the historic Saigon River. Planners see it as the missing piece that will finally turn Thu Thiem into a top-tier regional financial and cultural hotspot.

Just across the river, the major renovation and upgrade of the Ho Chi Minh Museums Ho Chi Minh City branch is packed with deep cultural meaning. Breaking ground on the Nha Rong Wharf refurbishment on April 30 is a heartfelt nod to history while turning the site into a world-class cultural and tourism magnet worthy of the city that bears President Ho Chi Minhs name.

In parallel, the launch of the Berjaya International University Town project is a huge deal for easing the population crunch in the citys northwest. Planned as a full-scale urban development blending education, research, and innovation, it is expected to house around 135,000 residents and 60,000 students, complete with homes, schools, shops, and all the social amenities. After nearly 20 years of sitting idle since its 2008 investment license, the project has finally been revived and now stands as the biggest development in northwest Ho Chi Minh City. Slated to open in early 2035, it is aiming to become a world-class educationhealthcarecommercial hub powerhouse that gives the suburbs a major upgrade.

Another major transport project breaking ground during the holiday is the Ben ThanhThu Thiem section of Metro Line 2. Riding high on the success of Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, this new cross-river link tying the historic city centre to Thu Thiem is hugely strategic. The Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) calls it more than just tracks, but a lifeline connecting the east and west banks, sparking underground development and urban projects along the route, and setting the stage for the first metro link to Long Thanh International Airport.

A growth lever for new development cycle

April 30 will also mark a milestone in Ho Chi Minh Citys maritime strategy, with the city expected to hand over the investment approval to the Can Gio International Transshipment Port. The project forms a cornerstone in turning the city into a true maritime urban area. Unlike inner-city ports struggling with traffic jams and few channels, the Can Gio port sits right at the sea entrance and will be able to handle the worlds biggest container ships.

The investor consortium, made up of Vietnam Maritime Corporation, Saigon Port, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, isnt just building infrastructure, but also laying the groundwork for a top-tier global logistics ecosystem. Best of all, the development is expected to wake up Can Gio, flipping it from an agricultural suburb and biosphere reserve into a major global trade gateway.

As part of the bigger maritime infrastructure oadmap, Ho Chi Minh City originally mapped out three major ports for its seaward push. So far, only Can Gio has cleared all the hurdles in time for this round. The other two, Cai Mep Ha General and Container Port (phase 1) and the Cai Mep Gemadept  Terminal Link project (phase 2), are in the final stages and expected to break ground later this year. Once all three are up and running alongside the Ba RiaVung Tau port cluster, theyll create the regions largest port system, ready to go head-to-head with heavyweights like Singapore and Shanghai.

Tran Anh Tung, head of the Business Administration Faculty at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, said the massive investment tied to these projects should be seen as a powerful growth lever, not just another pile of government spending./. VNA
During the upcoming Hung Kings Commemoration Day (April 27) and the Liberation of the South and National Reunification holidays (April 30)  May Day (May 1), Sa Pa, a celebrated destination in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, will welcome visitors with a captivating blend of breathtaking natural landscapes and rich cultural experiences distinctive to Vietnams northwest highlands.

Benefiting from improved transport connectivity, Sa Pa continues to rank among northern Vietnams most attractive holiday destinations. This years celebrations coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Fansipan Cable Car, prompting local authorities and tourism operators to roll out a series of large-scale events.

Rose Festival 2026

Taking place from April 25 to May 3 at Sun World Fansipan Legend, the Symphony of Roses festival stands out as a centrepiece of this years holiday season. Spanning a vast 50,000-sq.m valley, the event showcases a rich collection of Sa Pas indigenous roses alongside rare imported varieties such as Moulinex, Society, and Maurice Utrillo.

Beyond floral displays, visitors can enjoy immersive performances like the outdoor show Journey of the Flower, which reflects the cultural essence of Vietnams Northwest. The festival also features creative installations, interactive games, and vibrant photo spots. Adding to the charm are seasonal blossoms, including white calla lilies and cherry trees in full bloom across key areas of the complex.



May Hamlet

Bamboo dance attacts crowds at May Hamlet (Photo: Sun Group)

A visit to May Hamlet offers a deeper cultural dimension to the Sa Pa experience. Representing nine ethnic groups such as Mong, Dao, Tay, and Thai, the hamlet recreates traditional lifestyles through music, rituals, and cuisine.

Visitors can listen to the sound of the Mong panpipe, witness reenacted Dao wedding ceremonies, and savour local specialities like five-coloured sticky rice and smoked buffalo meat. Hands-on activities, including weaving brocade, dyeing fabric, and trying on traditional costumes, allow for meaningful interaction. Daily art performances further enliven the atmosphere, making it an engaging cultural stop.

Rhododendron flower road

The rhododendron flower road at elevations above 3,000 metres (Photo: Sun Group)

From the cable car leading to Fansipan Peak, travellers are treated to sweeping views of terraced fields and layered mountain ranges. At elevations above 3,000 metres, ancient rhododendron trees, some centuries old, are in peak bloom, painting the landscape in vibrant hues of red and yellow. A 60-metre flower path near Kim Son Bao Thang Tu temple winds through these rare trees, offering a serene and picturesque walking experience amid mist-covered peaks.

Flag-raising ceremony at Fansipan peak

A flag-raising ceremony at Fansipan peak (Photo: Sun Group)

At the summit of Fansipan peak, standing at 3,143 metres, visitors can take part in the solemn flag-raising ceremony held 5-6 times daily. Accompanied by the national anthem, the ritual unfolds against the vast mountainous backdrop, creating a powerful sense of pride and reflection.

As the Roof of Indochina, Fansipan not only offers breathtaking scenery but also a meaningful cultural and historical experience, especially during the national holiday./. VNA
With a remarkably strong start across key global markets, the 6.9-inch flagship is expected to maintain its momentum throughout the year.

Yet therein lies a paradox. This very success is raising concerns among users. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to sell well, Samsung may see little reason to shift its strategy, increasing the likelihood that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will arrive as a modest, incremental upgrade.

When users fail to apply pressure

It may take at least a few more months before it becomes clear whether the S26 Ultra has outperformed the S25 Ultra globally. Photo: PhoneArena

It must be acknowledged that the Galaxy S26 Ultra outperforming its predecessor in early sales, particularly in major markets like the US, is disappointing for those hoping for a breakthrough.

This sentiment does not stem from dissatisfaction with Samsung, but rather from high expectations placed on one of the worlds leading smartphone manufacturers.

In recent years, Samsung has often been criticized for its cautious approach, with flagship devices lacking bold innovation.

While the Galaxy S26 Ultra is far from the most uninspired product the company has released in the past decade, it still reflects compromises in key areas such as battery capacity, camera technology, charging speed and even overall design.

The fact that users are willing to accept incremental upgrades - such as a privacy-focused display, a charging boost from 45W to 60W, or unchanged pricing - may unintentionally send the wrong signal to Samsung.

It gives the company more reason to delay truly transformative advancements that it is technically capable of delivering.

Many experts had expected the Galaxy S26 Ultra to act as a transitional device, paving the way for more significant innovations to compete directly with the next generation of high-end iPhones.

These anticipated upgrades included a battery around 6,000mAh, 100W fast charging, and a new-generation 200MP camera sensor.

In reality, the device remains at a 5,000mAh battery, 60W charging, and continues to rely on the Isocell HP2 sensor introduced with the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

If such specifications can still drive strong sales, what would stop Samsung from postponing major upgrades for another year or more? Competitive pressure from Apple might play a role, but even that is far from guaranteed.

As the iPhone approaches its 20th anniversary, expectations for major breakthroughs are rising, yet a dramatic leap within a single year remains uncertain.

If both tech giants choose to play it safe, consumers may find themselves facing a Galaxy S27 Ultra that lacks defining features.

Galaxy S27 Ultra: realistic expectations or growing pessimism?

Looking ahead to 2027, some predictions suggest Samsung may retain 60W wired charging for its flagship.

Historically, the company rarely increases charging speeds in consecutive generations, which explains the frustration among those who had hoped for a stronger reaction from consumers toward the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Not long ago, many users claimed they would wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Yet within weeks of the S26 Ultras release, that sentiment appears to have shifted, leaving observers puzzled.

On the battery front, expectations of surpassing the 5,000mAh threshold - unchanged since the Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020 - may again fall short. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is more likely to see only a modest increase to around 5,200 or 5,300mAh to avoid making the device too bulky.

Advanced silicon-carbon battery technology, already adopted by some competitors, could remain out of reach for now.

Similarly, more radical changes such as a truly bezel-less design or a Face ID-like biometric system are unlikely to arrive soon.

Samsung may refine the devices appearance, but if changes are limited to camera placement without meaningful improvements in image quality, disappointment will be hard to avoid.

Although data from market research firms such as Counterpoint Research and Samsungs own reports point to a strong start for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, many questions remain unanswered.

For instance, performance in Europe - where consumers often favor more affordable devices - has yet to be clearly detailed.

It is entirely possible that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not outperform its predecessor in regions outside the US and South Korea.

If that scenario unfolds, there is still hope that Samsung will take note and deliver a more revolutionary Galaxy S27 Ultra. Such a move may be necessary to compete with a potentially game-changing iPhone generation in the near future.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra may prove to be a commercial success, but it also raises important questions about Samsungs long-term strategy. As long as users continue to accept incremental upgrades, the companys incentive to innovate may weaken.

In an increasingly saturated market, where true breakthroughs are becoming rare, it is ultimately consumers who will determine whether tech companies remain stagnant or are pushed to evolve.

The Galaxy S27 Ultra, therefore, is not just Samsungs story. It is a test of expectations across the entire premium smartphone market.

Hai Phong
The incense offering ceremony was held in the special national historical relic site of the Hung Kings Temple complex.



At the Kinh Thien Palace, a sacred site dedicated to the Hung Kings, General Secretary and President Lam, along with Party and State leaders and representatives from central and local agencies, offered incense, flowers in tribute to the ancestors who founded the nation, paving the way for the construction and development of a beautiful, prosperous, and civilised Vietnam nowadays.



Following the incense offering, the top leader met with local residents and visitors, extending his greetings and well wishes for health, solidarity, and happiness.



He described the Hung Kings Commemoration Day as a deeply meaningful occasion for all Vietnamese people to honour and express gratitude to the nations founders as well as generations of ancestors who built and defended the country.

General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks with local residents and visitors at the Hung Kings Temple National Special Historical Site in Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA)

Recalling President Ho Chi Minhs famous words that The Hung Kings founded the nation; we must together protect it, General Secretary and President Lam emphasised the responsibility of the present and future generations in preserving and developing the country. According to him, safeguarding the country today goes beyond defending territory. It includes preserving cultural values, protecting the environment, maintaining social order, strengthening public trust, and ensuring national development and prosperity.



He urged the Party organisation, authorities and people of Phu Tho to continue preserving and enhancing the Hung Kings Temple complex, ensuring it remains solemn, green, clean, beautiful, safe, and friendly. He also asked the younger generation to study hard, train well, uphold Vietnamese values, and deepen their understanding of the nations history and culture.



He called on Party committees, authorities, and Vietnam Fatherland as well as mass organisations at all levels to remain attentive to public concerns, engage in dialogue with the people, address their needs and expectations, and ensure that policies effectively reach all communities, especially those in remote and disadvantaged areas.



During the festive days, he also called on all forces on duty maintain a high sense of responsibility, provide attentive guidance to festival-goers, ensure security, public order, traffic safety, fire prevention and control, healhcare services, environmental hygiene, and other essential conditions, so that everyone visiting the Hung Kings Temple feels safe and well cared for. The press and media should continue to spread beautiful images of the festival, stories of kindness, civilised actions, and the historical and cultural values of the Hung Kings Temple and the ancestral land.

General Secretary and State President To Lam, along with other incumbent leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, proceed to Nghia Linh mountain to offer incense in commemoration of the Hung Kings. (Photo: VNA)

Later, General Secretary and President Lam and other Party and State officials offered flowers at the bas-relief depicting President Ho Chi Minh talking with soldiers of the Vanguard Brigade at Gieng Temple and paid tribute at the Temple of Lac Long Quan.



Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co gave birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs, which hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. LacLong Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.



Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (now Viet Tri ward in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 reigns of the Hung Kings. The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray forbumper crops.



To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day ofthe third lunar month, which falls on April 26 this year, serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.



The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related tothe Vietnamese peoples tradition of ancestor worship, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012./. VNA
Strong triple-digit growth in several new destinations in early 2026 underscores both the sectors momentum and the challenges ahead.

Tilapia exports are entering a high-growth phase, reaching 99 million USD in 2025 (up more than 140% year-on-year) and 35 million USD in the first quarter of 2026 (up nearly 190%). Growth is no longer confined to traditional markets, with sharp increases recorded in the Dominican Republic (over 600%), the Netherlands (over 200%), the Middle East (above 2,300%) and ASEAN (nearly 400%), reflecting rising global demand for alternatives to conventional whitefish.

Despite these gains, structural risks persist. Exports remain heavily concentrated in key but distant markets such as the US and Brazil. Brazil, one of the worlds leading tilapia producers and a major investor in aquaculture technology, accounts for nearly half of export value in early 2026, exposing the sector to potential policy and demand shifts. Meanwhile, shipments to the US are trending downward. External factors, including tariff changes, geopolitical instability in the Middle East, and escalating fuel and logistics costs, continue to weigh on the industry, underscoring the need for greater resilience and diversification.

To address these challenges, exporters are pivoting towards markets with logistical advantages, making better use of free trade agreements and tailoring products to consumer demand. The domestic market of over 100 million people is also emerging as a strategic anchor. Nguyen Dang Ngoc, Deputy CEO of Viet Nhat Group, said the company is pursuing a dual-track strategy, developing both domestic and export markets to enhance value and strengthen the Vietnamese tilapia brand.

Under the fisheries development strategy to 2030, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has identified tilapia as a high-potential species alongside shrimp and pangasius, promoting industrial-scale farming, high-tech applications and sustainable standards. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, noted that with around 1.3 million hectares of aquaculture water surface and favourable natural conditions, the sector has ample room to grow.

Global demand for tilapia is projected to increase by about 13% annually, reaching 20 billion USD by 2030. Authorities are stepping up efforts to manage farming areas, improve seed quality and expand VietGAP, GlobalGAP and other internationally recognised standards, with stable raw material zones seen as key to export expansion.

From a familiar staple in Vietnamese households, tilapia is steadily moving up the global value chain and is poised to become a third pillar of the fisheries sector alongside shrimp and pangasius. While recent export performance highlights strong potential, sustaining momentum will depend on leveraging natural advantages, upgrading technology and boosting value-added production to meet the sectors export target of 1416 billion USD by 2030./.


Backed by robust production capacity and deepening international integration, the country has steadily positioned itself as an indispensable link in global business ecosystems.

Observers said Vietnam stands out globally for three core strengths: stability, scalability and connectivity.

The countrys stable political and economic environment provides a critical foundation for long-term sourcing strategies. At the same time, Vietnam has demonstrated a strong ability to scale up manufacturing, supported by a continuously expanding industrial base capable of meeting both high-volume demand and increasingly complex technical and quality requirements.

Ewin Law, Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham Vietnam), noted that businesses worldwide are reassessing how and where they source supplies, with Vietnam attracting growing attention as a promising destination. He said global trade is no longer driven solely by cost considerations, but increasingly by adaptability, reliability and the capacity to build long-term strategic partnershipsfactors that enhance Vietnams appeal.

Law added that Vietnam has established itself as one of the regions most dynamic manufacturing and supply bases, underpinned by stable economic growth, competitive export capacity and an increasingly professional supplier network. Vietnamese enterprises have shown flexibility in meeting stringent quality standards, enabling them to compete effectively for international buyers, he explained.

The Australian business community has expected broader expansion of AustraliaVietnam trade and investment ties across multiple sectors so that the two countries businesses can have more opportunities to expand supply chains.

Sharing a similar view, foreign enterprises said supply chains today are no longer defined by simple transactions but by trust and long-term engagement. Amid ongoing global trade uncertainties affecting investment and business operations, companies are increasingly seeking reliable partners for sustainable development.

James Liu, Executive Director of Global Sources, said Vietnam is attracting strong interest from markets such as the US, Europe, Australia and across Asia, reflecting global confidence in its role as a supply hub. Through a series of annual international exhibitions and trade fairs, Vietnam has built a strong brand while showcasing its ability to align domestic strengths with global opportunities.

He revealed that in October 2026, Global Sources will coordinate with Vietnamese trade promotion agencies to launch the Vietnam International Sourcing Show (VISS) in Hong Kong (China). The event is expected to provide Vietnamese manufacturers with opportunities to connect with international buyers during peak sourcing season.

At the ongoing Global Sourcing Fair Vietnam 2026 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), the number of VIP buyers has increased by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2025. Organisers have focused on building a comprehensive sourcing ecosystem that emphasises not only scale but also quality and hands-on experiences for businesses and visitors.

According to Deputy General Director of Vinexad Pham Dang Khanh, trade promotion activities through exhibitions and fairs generate added value by connecting buyers and sellers while fostering growth, innovation and expansion. Buyers are given direct access to advanced technologies, strong production capabilities and emerging product trends.

Within the broader national landscape, Ho Chi Minh City is increasingly seen as a key supply hub in Southeast Asia. As Vietnams leading economic centre, the city is evolving into an international megacity, accelerating development in sectors that will shape its competitiveness in the coming decade.

Following its expansion into a larger metropolitan model, the city is well positioned to become a hub for capital flows, technology transfer, governance standards and innovation. Trade and industrial promotion have been identified by local authorities as key drivers of economic growth, helping enhance the competitiveness of domestic enterprises and attract global investors.

In 2026, the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, plans to organise 55 domestic promotion activities, 11 overseas programmes and eight support initiatives. These efforts aim to strengthen direct connections between local enterprises, foreign-invested firms and international distribution networks, contributing to stable and sustainable supply chains./. VNA
SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 75th California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) took place April 1112 at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, bringing together 900 of the best of 1st place winners from regional competitions covering 58 counties across the state, including the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF). GSDSEF students earned 40 awards at the event, including two of only six highly coveted spots to the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Seven students earned 1st Place awards in the categories of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Microbiology, Physics and Astronomy, and Zoology. In addition, one student won the Saban Family Foundation Scholar Prize, while another won the South Coast AQMD Air Quality Award and A&WMA Environmental Leadership Award. CSEF is the oldest science fair west of the Mississippi River and the highest level competition in the state.

Top winners were:

Arya Bhatt, Grade 7, Oak Valley Middle School, South Coast AQMD Air Quality Award, A&WMA Environmental Leadership Award, "Context Aware Real Time Air Quality Prediction Using Machine Learning".

Joie Green, Grade 8, Muirlands Middle School, 1st Place, "Soon I will be Invisible: How to Direct Energy with Topological Metamaterials".

Maggie Hao, Grade 10, The Bishop's School, 1st Place, "Harnessing Tardigrade Genes to Enhance Bacterial Biosensors for Heavy Metal Pollutant Detection".

Uma Kattamuri, Grade 7, Oak Valley Middle School, 1st Place, "Elevated CO2 During Kalanchoe pinnata Growth Reveals Enhanced Antiproliferative and Synergistic Therapies".

Sonika Dhenuva Konda, Grade 11, Del Norte High School, Saban Family Foundation Scholar Prize, "Adaptive Swarm Coordination for Wildfire Control via Q-Learning Tuned PSO with Quantum-Inspired Coupling".

Emma Liu, Grade 11, The Bishop's School, ISEF Finalist, 1st Place, "Defining 3D Phenotypic Cell States of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils via Novel Computational Pipeline".

Sharvi Mahajan, Grade 8, Bernardo Heights Middle School, 1st Place, "Evaluating Predictive EEG Theta/Beta Features in Adult ADHD via Machine Learning".

Sydney O'Donnell, Grade 8, The Rhoades School, 1st Place, TFJIC, "Effects of Marigold Versus Chlorella Supplementation on Yolk Lutein Content".

Ihan Sung, Grade 11, Eastlake High School, ISEF Finalist, 1st Place, "Renewable Ammonia Electrochemical Synthesis by Glow Discharge with an Iron Based Catalyst".

Full results and project showcase available online.

About the GSDSEF

Since 1955, the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF) has provided an inspiring experience in science and engineering for tens of thousands of San Diego and Imperial County students, motivating them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This regional competition challenges students to go beyond classroom studies to do independent research  to ask compelling questions, to design and implement innovative solutions, and to present and defend results to judges who are professionals in their fields. The GSDSEF brings together 800 of the best middle and high school students, 400+ judges who are professionals in their fields and over 60 professional societies and organizations, with $40k in prizes awarded.

The GSDSEF fosters creativity and innovation through inquiry, celebrates students' STEM achievements, and showcases how young minds can make an impact in the present and future. Many of these student scientists are conducting world-class research and conducting groundbreaking experiments in fields ranging from Astronomy to Zoology, such as the discovery of cures for diseases, formulations of new vaccines, cancer research, applying AI to enhance medical diagnoses, using biomimicry for water conservation, novel drone technology, advances in micro robotics and autonomous driving technology. The GSDSEF is the highest-level STEM competition in the region and one of the oldest, most respected and competitive in the world. The GSDSEF is a 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at gsdsef.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Copyright  2026 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. All rights reserved.

Media Contact:

Sany Zakharia

[email protected]

SOURCE Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
At a press briefing introducing ILDEX Vietnam 2026 on April 24, Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said that most of the worlds high-quality breeds are already present in Vietnam through imports by foreign-invested enterprises. At the same time, the country possesses a diverse pool of indigenous breeds.

Pham Kim Dang, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, speaks at the April 24 press briefing. Photo: BTC







Despite years of development, the domestic livestock industry continues to rely significantly on imported genetics.

Vietnam currently ranks fifth globally in pig population and sixth in pork production. Its waterfowl population ranks second in the world. However, according to the Vietnam Livestock Association, in the first six months of 2025 alone, the country spent about US$113 million importing breeding stock.

Explaining this dependence, Dang noted that while breeding animals are imported, critical technical know-how remains with the suppliers. Over time, the genetic quality declines, leading to reduced productivity. The industry must then import new breeding stock to refresh the bloodline and sustain performance.

For this reason, the national program on developing the livestock breeding industry to 2030 aims to establish large-scale, industrialized breeding production.

Under the plan, one key target is to build six industrial-scale breeding centers by 2030. These include three pig breeding facilities with 2,000 to 5,000 great-grandparent sows, and three poultry breeding centers with 1,000 to 2,000 pure-line birds and 5,000 to 10,000 grandparent chickens, all meeting standards for synchronized breeding and high uniformity.

Dang added that countries with limited land resources tend not to pursue mass production. Instead, they focus on high-value sectors such as breeding genetics.

Denmark is a prime example. A single breeding pig from the country can be priced equivalent to hundreds, even thousands, of market hogs. That is the level of value we should aim for. Other developed countries such as France, Canada, and the US have also developed their own pig breeds through crossbreeding and selection from Danish Landrace and Yorkshire lines, he said.

Vietnam has yet to produce its own distinctive breeding lines due to technological limitations. The development program therefore emphasizes the adoption of advanced genomic selection technologies.

On the policy front, regulatory barriers to breed recognition have also been eased. Previously, breeds could only be recognized if they were the result of scientific research projects. Now, enterprises that can provide sufficient documentation of breeding processes and multi-generation data demonstrating distinct characteristics may have their breeds officially recognized as Vietnamese.

We hope Vietnam will soon develop its own livestock breeds to reduce input costs related to breeding stock, Dang said.

The 10th International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture Exposition - ILDEX Vietnam 2026 - will take place from May 20 to 22 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City.

This years exhibition will expand in scale, featuring more than 250 companies from over 25 countries and territories. It is expected to attract nearly 10,000 trade visitors over three days.

According to the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, specialized exhibitions like ILDEX provide opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to stay updated on technological trends, expand investment partnerships, and access advanced solutions from the global livestock industry.

Tran Chung
In Ho Chi Minh City, leaders, residents, overseas Vietnamese, students and pupils offered incense and flowers in tribute to the Hung Kings and Nguyen Huu Canh, credited with opening up the Sai Gon  Gia Dinh area. Rituals were conducted with full traditional rites, including ceremonial processions, offerings of banh chung, banh giay (square and round glutinous rice cakes), fruits and southern specialties, and formal sacrificial ceremonies.

Speaking at the event, municipal Party official Nguyen Phuoc Loc said the act of offering incense reaffirms the sacred value of national origins and the millennia-long tradition of nation-building and defence, while fostering patriotism, self-reliance and responsibility for safeguarding the country.

He noted that as the city enters a new development phase, it is accelerating efforts to become a modern serviceindustrial hub and a leading centre for the digital economy, governance and society, aiming for a prominent position in Southeast Asia by 2030 and global-city status by 2045. Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are seen as strategic breakthroughs, with people at the heart of all policies. The year 2026 is designated as a period of acceleration to realise Party Congress goals.

The city also hosted a wide range of cultural activities, including a traditional banh chung wrapping and cooking contest, folk music performances, art programmes and book fairs. A highlight was the 17th Proud of Dragon and Fairy Descendants youth camp, featuring incense offerings, tent design contests, cultural performances and a sacred fire procession at the Hung Kings memorial site.

In Ca Mau province, provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai led the opening incense ritual at the Hung Kings Temple. Provincial leaders later offered incense and ceremonial items from Ca Mau and Phu Tho provinces, in a solemn atmosphere reflecting deep reverence for the ancestors.

A ceremonial palanquin procession honoring the Hung Kings and President Ho Chi Minh takes place along the streets of Thai Nguyen. (Photo: VNA)

In Thai Nguyen, the Hung Kings worship tradition continues to thrive at the century-old Hung Vuong Communal House. Originally a small shrine, it became a place of Hung Kings worship after 1945 when sacred incense was brought from the Hung Temple in Phu Tho. Each year, hundreds gather here for rituals such as processions and offerings. A notable feature is a performance by students portraying the 100 children of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, symbolising the origin of the Vietnamese people.

Vice Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Phan Dinh Phung ward Tran Dinh Thin said the ceremony helps instil patriotism, strengthen national unity, and promote local cultural values to residents and visitors.

In Vinh Long province, a ceremony at the Hung Kings shrine within the provincial museum featured traditional rites, including offerings and incense burning. Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Tran Tri Quang stressed the importance of building on ancestral traditions to drive local development and international integration.

The province also organised a series of cultural activities at the museum, blending ceremonial and festive elements to engage the public and deepen awareness of national heritage.

Meanwhile, in Lam Dong province, thousands of locals and tourists attended a ceremony at the Au Lac Temple in the Prenn Waterfall tourist area in Da Lat. Festivities included folk performances, traditional games, rural markets and chess competitions, alongside exhibitions on Vietnamese tea culture, calligraphy and folk paintings.

Preparatory events such as flower arrangement and ceremonial offering contests were also held, drawing strong public interest and highlighting enduring traditions of paying tribute to the Hung Kings./.


Regarding supplies in the energy sector, we have received 11 aid packages during such a very difficult period. We express our gratitude to Azerbaijan for this assistance, said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press statement with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Expressing his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the help provided to Ukrainian children as well, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "You are helping our children. Our children, our sons and daughters, come from frontline regions. They have faced hardships and suffered from the war. More than five hundred Ukrainian children are here, and we are grateful to you for this support," the President of Ukraine emphasized.
BOGOTA, Colombia, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day (April 26), FIFARMA, the Latin American Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry, highlights a key message: innovation in health is only possible when the right conditions are in place.

Behind every treatment, vaccine, or scientific breakthrough are years of research, talent, and collaboration. But for these efforts to translate into real solutions for patients, enabling conditions are required.

In this context, intellectual property plays a fundamental role. Far from being an abstract concept, it is a tool that protects knowledge, drives investment, and allows science to advance and reach those who need it.

"Every health innovation is backed by a vast human effort. Intellectual property is part of the conditions that allow this effort to translate into well-being and development for the region," said Yaneth Giha, Executive Director of FIFARMA.

These conditions also directly impact countries' development. Those with strong intellectual property frameworks attract more investment in research and development, strengthen their innovation ecosystems, and expand access to new health technologies.

However, Latin America still faces important challenges. According to the Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness and Investment Report (BCI 2025), the region reaches an average competitiveness of 59%, below leading economies (75%85%). Key gaps include market access and intellectual property protection.

"Talking about intellectual property in health is talking about the conditions to move forward. Where there are clear rules, there is more innovation, more investment, and better access for patients," explained Raquel Sorza, FIFARMA's Director of Health Policy.

Despite these gaps, the region has strong potential: scientific talent, diversity, and growing capabilities. When these strengths are combined with the right conditions, innovation happens.

Initiatives such as Latam Health Champions, a FIFARMA program that identifies, supports, and connects innovative health solutions from Latin America, reflect this potential in action. In its 2026 edition, the call received 234 applications from 11 countries, and eight winning initiatives will participate in a mission to Boston to strengthen their projects and connect with global innovation ecosystems.

Because innovation in health does not happen by chance: it happens when the right conditions are in place. On this World Intellectual Property Day, the call is to recognize and strengthen those conditions to keep moving forward.

About FIFARMA

FIFARMA is the Latin American Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry. It brings together local associations and research-based pharmaceutical companies from Latin America and the Caribbean, working to promote scientific research, patient well-being, and more sustainable health ecosystems in the region. FIFARMA advances access to innovation, the recognition of the value of intellectual property, and solutions that contribute to better health systems for Latin Americans.

References

FIFARMA and Pugatch Consilium. Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness and Investment Report 2025 (BCI). 2025. The study analyzes the health investment environment in Latin America and evaluates factors such as scientific capacity, clinical research, regulatory efficiency, market access, and intellectual property protection.

Latam Health Champions: Official site: www.latamhealthchampions.com

SOURCE FIFARMA
The Nevada Division of Forestry, or NDF, fights wildfires in our area.

But they'll have to call for backup if a blaze gets out of hand. To get ahead of the curve, NDF trained over two dozen Nevada Army National Guard soldiers to step in and fight fires.

"We all know that wildfires can get very big. they're very taxing on resources. and so having them kind of in our back pocket is someone that we can use really helps make our jobs a little bit easier," said Brian Panelli with NDF.

This is the fifth year Nevada Army Guard soldiers have learned to fight fires.

Saturday marked the third and final day of the training. The first two days mostly consisted of in-class work.

Captain Jason James is going through the training for the first time.

"It's really gone ahead and highlighted a few things that people like me who've never gone through the training before until this weekend really don't think about," James said. "You don't think about keeping track of how fast the wind is going, what directions it's coming from, the topology of a certain area or terrain and how it can affect a fire."

Sergeant Skyler Lujan is back for a refresher.

Shortly after training, he turned around and fought the Davis Fire.

He said fighting the 58-hundred-acre fire gave him a love for firefighting.

"I mean, Army and firefighting, they have similar aspects, camaraderie etc.," Lujan said. "But it's just a good time. I really enjoy it. You get to be outdoors and hike around and stay in shape. That's fun."

Soldiers started off by loading up into a crew buggy. Five minutes later, they arrived on scene.

It was a race to dig a fire line to stop the simulated blaze. Soldiers had to be extra careful not to leave vegetation in the fire break.

But the fire moved quickly, so hunkering down became the only option.

They tossed their gear to the side, put their shelters on, and waited until another firefighter said the coast was clear.

Then the soldiers and instructors regrouped and reflected on the opportunity.

"Being in the Army National Guard, we get many opportunities like this," Lujan said, "and having this opportunity and being able to come out here and do this, it really widens my spectrum on how I view the world. And so, I'm grateful for it."
Nevada leaders are reacting to the shots fired incident that happened Saturday night at the White House correspondents' dinner.

A man armed with guns and knives stormed the lobby outside the event attended by President Donald Trump, the First Lady and multiple senior U.S. leaders.

The president was uninjured and was evacuated from the building.

One officer was shot in the incident, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest and is recovering.

The FBI says 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California is in custody.

Governor Joe Lombardo

"Im grateful for the swift and decisive action of the Secret Service at the White House Correspondents Dinner this evening. While we wait for more information, we pray for the continued safety of President Trump, the First Lady, and all Cabinet members and attendees."

Senator Jacky Rosen

I was at the White House Correspondents Dinner tonight when shots rang out. Im so grateful for Secret Service and the law enforcement agents who rapidly responded to the situation and guaranteed the safety of everyone in attendance. Were awaiting further details regarding the circumstances of this incident, but what we know is that this kind of threat and violence cannot be our new normal.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

"Im grateful for the Secret Service agents and other law enforcement who kept everyone safe at the White House Correspondents Dinner tonight. I trust the perpetrator will be brought to justice."

Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald

While we learn more about the incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, we do know it could have been far worse, and we are grateful for the quick intervention of the United States Secret Service and our law enforcement partners. Their professionalism ensured the safety of those in attendance. We thank them for their courage and continued commitment to protecting the American people. We are keeping President Trump and all those involved in our prayers and hoping for swift justice."
Drake's misspelled "infinitesimally" goes viral, sparking online jokes and scrutiny as he hypes his upcoming album release.

AceShowbiz - Drake recently became the center of online humor after a notable typo in his social media post drew widespread attention. The Toronto rapper posted a message hyping his upcoming album, writing, "THIS ALBUM BOUT TO PLAY INFINTESEMALLY KNOW DAT," where the word "infinitesimally" was misspelled.

The error quickly caught the eye of fans and critics alike. The term "infinitesimally," stemming from Latin and used as an adverb, means "to an extremely small degree." This was ironically the opposite of the impact Drake intended to convey with his message about the albums reach and significance.

This minor mistake was amplified across social platforms, becoming a hot topic and further fueling the intense scrutiny surrounding Drake as he gears up for his new release. The typo became a symbol of the high expectations and pressure on the artist to deliver music that can dominate the cultural conversation.

Adding to the buzz, rumors have surfaced suggesting that Kendrick Lamar might drop new music on the same day as Drake. Although no official confirmation or announcement has been made by Lamar, the speculation has energized fans and critics who recall historical Hip-Hop moments where release timing played a key role in shaping public narratives.

Despite the excitement, skepticism remains about whether Kendrick Lamar would purposely release music to directly compete with Drake. Recently, Lamar has kept a low profile, spending time with family and not hinting at any plans for a simultaneous rollout or public rivalry.

The ongoing chatter highlights the stakes involved for Drake. Fans and industry observers are measuring success not only by chart rankings but also by the cultural impact in an era where streaming numbers and online discourse carry significant weight.

Despite the jokes and heightened competition, there is confidence in Drakes commercial power. His history shows that even amid controversy and critique, his music tends to achieve wide reach and maintain strong appeal beyond just his core audience.

Whether or not a direct release showdown occurs, the rumors and reactions are already shaping the atmosphere around Drakes album launch. The buzz has become an integral part of the narrative, illustrating how closely public perception and timing influence modern music releases.

In the meantime, parody accounts and fans alike continue to have fun with the situation, turning Drakes typo into a memorable moment amid the speculation and excitement surrounding both artists next moves.
AMILLION blends Hip-Hop and poetry in *The One*a raw, inspiring album and book exploring pain, purpose, and authenticity beyond commercial formulas.

AceShowbiz - AMILLION has released The One, a unique project combining an album and poetry book that blends music, poetry, and personal reflection into a unified artistic work.

This release transcends the typical album and book launch, offering a profound statement rooted in authenticity and vulnerability. The One arrives at a time when Hip-Hop audiences crave meaningful, intentional content, and AMILLION delivers exactly that by sharing his personal journey without conforming to commercial formulas.

Unlike mainstream projects that rely heavily on features and viral production tactics, AMILLION presents seven tracks of inspirational Hip-Hop that feel genuine rather than preachy. Alongside the album, the companion poetry book explores what the space between pain and purpose means, offering readers an intimate look at his experiences.

For years, AMILLION has built a reputation for seamlessly moving between music and literature while maintaining his authentic voice. The One stands as his most complete expression of this vision, delving into themes of purpose, perseverance, and the transformation from survival to success.

The significance of this project is heightened by AMILLION's accomplishments beyond music. As CEO of 1NA Alkaline Water, the first Black-owned alkaline water brand nationally available in grocery chains like ALDI, he exemplifies building from the ground up in both entrepreneurship and artistry.

In 2025, AMILLION received the International Hip-Hop Artist of the Year award. His hometown of Dover, Delaware, honored him with a Key to the City and proclaimed 1NA Day, recognizing his impact in music, business, and philanthropy. Mayor Robin Christiansens acknowledgment highlights the tangible influence AMILLION has within his community.

The One is currently available on all major streaming platforms, and fans can pre-order the poetry book at www.The1Book.net. Additionally, AMILLION will participate in a Books-A-Million Meet & Greet event, with more Hip-Hop tour dates to be announced soon.

The artists daughter, Aaliyah Adams-Mayfield, continues to inspire much of his work, providing a strong foundation evident throughout his creations.

Reports indicate that The One is already gaining traction on radio stations nationwide, with DJs and platforms appreciating the depth and sincerity of the project.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On the 57th anniversary of Earth Day, Made-in-China.com, a leading comprehensive service platform for global cross-border trade, officially launched the "Green Commitment  Across the Silk Road" initiative in Tashkent. This strategic event, held in partnership with the Uzbekistan Business Diplomacy Association (O'zbekiston biznes diplomatiyasi uyushmasi) and representatives of Chinese enterprises, represents a step toward expanding sustainable manufacturing into global markets.

Representatives from Made-in-China.com, the Uzbekistan Business Diplomacy Association, and Chinese enterprises pose for a group photo during the launch of the "Green Commitment: Across the Silk Road" initiative in Tashkent. The Uzbekistan Business Diplomacy Association speaks at the launch event in Tashkent, highlighting regional efforts to advance sustainable solutions and green trade.

Overview of the "Green Commitment  Across the Silk Road" initiative

The initiative is a collaborative program involving a B2B platform, an industry association and exporters. It focuses on promoting certified green products and improving cross-border sourcing efficiency.

Its main goals include:

Expanding the global availability of certified green products

Supporting the adoption of sustainable technologies in Central Asia

Building a cross-border ecosystem for low-carbon trade

"As a strategic partner of Made-in-China.com in Uzbekistan, we are dedicated to introducing China's advanced green technologies and products to the Central Asian market," stated Zayniddin Shamsiddinov, Head of the International Relations Department at the Uzbekistan Business Diplomacy Association. "Our goal is to support the development of local environmental solutions and work together to build a sustainable 'Green Silk Road'."

During the event, Made-in-China.com, the Uzbekistan Business Diplomacy Association, and representatives of Chinese enterprises signed a collective pledge to prioritize eco-friendly manufacturing and low-carbon trade solutions. Nearly 100 local buyers attended the event, reflecting growing regional demand for certified, sustainable sourcing options.

The initiative was held under Made-in-China.com's "Special Exhibition" program, which organizes Chinese suppliers to participate in overseas trade shows and facilitates direct engagement with local business associations and big buyers. The program has previously been held in markets including the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Argentina, and is expected to expand further into Malaysia and other regions in 2026.

How Made-in-China.com supports green sourcing via "Amazing April"

Made-in-China.com is integrating green standards into its platform to help international buyers find compliant suppliers more easily.

This initiative aligns with the platform's annual sourcing event "Amazing April" (April 130), which features a dedicated "Low-Carbon Solutions" pavilion.

The pavilion showcases specialized sectors, including renewable energy, eco-friendly packaging, and green transportation. By linking products directly with recognized international certifications, the pavilion enables buyers to efficiently identify solutions that meet local regulatory requirements, helping build trust in vetted suppliers.

Beyond the Transaction: Long-term ESG Commitment

Made-in-China.com has long supported the global expansion of China's green manufacturing sector. Years ago, the platform launched its "Green Made-in-China" initiative. Through curated online showcases and partnerships with governments, institutions, and trade associations, Made-in-China.com has built an integrated service ecosystem to help Chinese enterprises reach international markets with environmentally responsible products.

The platform provides an integrated service ecosystem through:

Digital Visualization: Leveraging 360-degree virtual tour technology to allow buyers to audit production environments and evaluate sustainability practices remotely.

Leveraging 360-degree virtual tour technology to allow buyers to audit production environments and evaluate sustainability practices remotely. Global Offline Presence: Organizing supplier participation in premier global expos such as WETEX and Dubai Solar Show, Middle East Energy (MEE), and The Smarter E Europe.

Organizing supplier participation in premier global expos such as WETEX and Solar Show, Middle East Energy (MEE), and The Smarter E Europe. The MEI Awards: Recognizing excellence through the "Green Manufacturing Enterprise Award," which incentivizes companies to balance industrial innovation with ecological responsibility.

"This initiative on Earth Day marks an important step in connecting global buyers with sustainable manufacturing," a spokesperson for Made-in-China.com said. "As demand for green products grows, we will continue to strengthen our network of verified suppliers and support the global shift toward low-carbon trade."

About Made-in-China.com

Established in 1998, Made-in-China.com is a leading comprehensive service platform for global trade. The platform is dedicated to unlocking business opportunities for both Chinese suppliers and international buyers by providing end-to-end, integrated trade solutions. Today, Made-in-China.com features a digital directory of over 110 million product listings from verified, highly specialized, and premium Chinese manufacturers.

Contact:

Made-in-China.com Team

+ 8602566775597

[email protected]

SOURCE Made-in-China.com
Andy Serkis reveals his new Animal Farm adaptation acts as a subtle sequel, following a young pig named Lucky to explore Orwells legacy for a new generation.

AceShowbiz - Animal Farm director and star Andy Serkis has revealed that his new animated adaptation functions as a subtle sequel to George Orwells groundbreaking 81-year-old dystopian novel. Known for his extensive work in sequels and franchises, including his iconic roles in The Lord of the Rings and the Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy, Serkis has now taken on the task of reimagining Orwells allegorical tale through a fresh lens.

In a recent interview with ScreenRants Liam Crowley, Serkis explained how his adaptation extends the story beyond the original books conclusion by focusing on a new character named Lucky. This young protagonist is inspired by a brief mention of the next generation of pigs at the end of Orwells novel, which hints at the continuation of the farms leadership dynamics. According to Serkis, Luckys story is designed to resonate with younger audiences who face complex moral decisions in todays world, mirroring the books themes through a contemporary perspective.

When you read the book closely, Serkis shared, you realize the animals are fed fake news, and the pigs operate largely behind the scenes. I thought it would be fascinating to place kids in a position where they must navigate these complex power struggles. Lucky finds himself torn between two contrasting leaders: Snowball, who represents doing what is right, and Napoleon, a charismatic populist figure. The film centers on Luckys journey as he grapples with these opposing forces and eventually recognizes the consequences of his choices, including the loss of a close friendship.

Serkis described the moral dilemma at the heart of the story as a question of identity: Are you an animal or are you a pig? Are you part of the collective or the elite? This thematic exploration serves as a foundation for the films narrative, inviting viewers to reflect on power, loyalty, and personal integrity.

While Animal Farm is not a direct sequel in the traditional sense, the decision to spotlight Lucky as the protagonist positions the adaptation as a subtle continuation that honors the spirit of Orwells work while expanding its scope. The story is told through Luckys eyes, allowing audiences to experience the familiar struggle between Napoleon and Snowball anew as he evaluates which leader best represents the future of the farm.

Orwells original novel famously uses talking animals as allegories for the Russian Revolution and subsequent rise of the Soviet Union. Napoleon symbolizes Joseph Stalin, Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, and Animalism stands in for communism overall. These parallels ground the novels political commentary and offer a cautionary tale about power and corruption. Serkiss adaptation retains many of these themes but departs from the pure allegory by introducing Luckys personal story and internal conflicts.

Despite its ambitious approach, the 2026 animated movie has faced largely negative critical reception. It currently holds a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. ScreenRants own review, penned by Liz Declan, awarded the film a low two out of ten stars, criticizing it for abandoning Orwells incisive critique of authoritarianism in favor of a simplistic message. Declan wrote that instead of exploring how dictators rise to power, Animal Farm takes the laziest road possible to declare that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Nevertheless, the film boasts a high-profile voice cast that includes Gaten Matarazzo as Lucky, Seth Rogen as Napoleon, Laverne Cox as Snowball, Kieran Culkin as Squealer, and Woody Harrelson as Boxer. Additional voices feature Glenn Close as Freida Pilkington, Steve Buscemi as Mr. Whymper, Jim Parsons as Carl and his flock, Kathleen Turner as Benjamin, and Iman Vellani as Puff and Tammy. Serkis himself provides the voices of the farms original human owner, Mr. Jones, the pig Old Major, and Randolph the rooster.

The film is scheduled for theatrical release on May 1, 2026, with a runtime of 96 minutes. It is produced by Dave Rosenbaum, Jonathan Cavendish, Nicholas Stoller, Connie Nartonis Thompson, and Adam Nagle, with writing credits attributed to Nicholas Stoller. Serkis also brings his directorial skills to the project, continuing his expanding career behind the camera following films such as Venom: Let There Be Carnage and the forthcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

In summary, Andy Serkiss Animal Farm offers a unique interpretation of Orwells classic by extending its narrative through the eyes of a new generation. While it diverges from the original novels pure allegorical form, it aims to engage audiences with relevant questions about leadership, identity, and morality. The films approach, however, has polarized critics, leading to mixed reviews despite its star-studded cast and thought-provoking premise.
Queens of the Stone Age reunite with Nick Oliveri onstage for the first time since 2014, performing "Auto Pilot" during their Catacombs Tour.

AceShowbiz - Queens of the Stone Age made a striking return to their roots by performing with former member Nick Oliveri for the first time in over a decade. The reunion took place on April 24th at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center in California, during the bands ongoing Catacombs Tour. Oliveris appearance marks a rare and highly anticipated moment in the bands recent history, as the bassist and vocalist has not shared the stage with the group since 2014, and its been 12 years since he was a full-time member.

The performance centered around "Auto Pilot," a track from the bands acclaimed 2000 album Rated R, an era that prominently featured Oliveris contributions. Frontman Josh Homme warmly reintroduced Oliveri to the audience as one of the people that I love dearly, highlighting the significance of this onstage collaboration. Oliveri joined Homme and current bassist Michael Shuman for vocal duties, even stepping down into the photo pit to engage directly with fans, adding an intimate energy to the set.

Oliveris history with Queens of the Stone Age is deeply intertwined with the bands early success. He was a defining presence on Rated R and the 2002 follow-up, Songs for the Deaf, before his departure in 2004 under difficult circumstances. Despite that, he maintained a connection with the band, contributing backing vocals on the 2013 album ...Like Clockwork and making a brief live appearance in 2014. This latest reunion signals a thaw in past tensions and a renewed camaraderie onstage.

The Joshua Tree show also serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy shared by Homme and Oliveri, who first played together in the influential '90s stoner rock outfit Kyuss before forming Queens of the Stone Age. Their musical chemistry helped shape the distinct sound that propelled the band to rock prominence. This reunion fuels speculation about future collaborations or even a broader reconciliation among former members.

Queens of the Stone Age are currently wrapping up the Catacombs Tour, with their final US date scheduled for May 1st in Lincoln, California. Following this, the band plans to hit the UK and Europe in late June and then join Foo Fighters for a North American stadium tour in August. The reappearance of Oliveri adds fresh excitement as the band prepares for these high-profile gigs, hinting at potential special moments during upcoming performances.

This reunion is not just a nostalgic gesture but a milestone for the band and fans alike, reaffirming the lasting impact of their early work and the possibilities for future musical ventures. As Queens of the Stone Age continue to evolve, the return of Nick Oliveri onstage offers a compelling chapter in their ongoing story.
Dive into the gritty world of Peaky Blinders. Follow Tommy Shelby's rise through post-WWI Birmingham in this acclaimed Netflix crime drama.

AceShowbiz - Peaky Blinders stands as one of Netflix's most celebrated crime dramas, captivating audiences since its debut in 2013. This British series, set in post-World War I Birmingham, follows the relentless rise of gangster Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, as he leads the Peaky Blinders street gang through battles with law enforcement and rival mobs.

The shows gripping narrative, deeply rooted in historical context yet creatively enhanced, charts Shelbys strategic maneuvers to keep his gang ahead of their enemies. The series is known not only for its intense plot twists but also for its ensemble cast, including prominent actors such as Tom Hardy, Sam Neill, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlotte Riley, and Paddy Considine. This extensive cast brings depth to the saga, with many characters facing tragic and emotional fates that add to the shows dramatic weight.

Peaky Blinders has garnered critical acclaim throughout its run, with multiple seasons achieving a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The series expanded its scope each season, moving from local conflicts in Birmingham to wider territories. Season 2 explored the gangs ventures into Northern England, encountering fierce opposition, while Season 3 introduced international elements, including the Russian Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna, highlighting how far the gang had evolved from their origins.

Season 4s narrative included clashes with the New York Mafia and Tommy Shelbys controversial entry into British Parliament. The final two seasons, 5 and 6, focused heavily on the ominous buildup to World War II, weaving historical tensions into the gangs ongoing power struggles. Despite the sprawling cast and complex storylines, the series maintained a tight narrative focus, largely thanks to Murphys commanding performance as Tommy Shelby, ensuring the show remained a taut and compelling drama until its conclusion in April 2022 after six seasons.

Following the series finale, the Peaky Blinders franchise prepared for a new chapter. Creator Steven Knight had hinted at a spinoff film as early as 2021, aiming to build on the shows legacy. Confirmation came in 2024 that a movie titled Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man was in development, with Murphy reprising his iconic role. This upcoming film is slated for release in March 2026, both in cinemas and on Netflix, promising to reinvigorate the franchise.

The movie introduces new cast members alongside returning favorites. Barry Keoghan joins the franchise, playing Duke Shelby, Tommys "troubled" son, a role that has sparked much discussion among fans. Keoghans previous acclaimed performances in films like The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Saltburn position him as a rising star, and his dynamic with Murphy is highly anticipated. Additionally, series regular Stephen Graham returns as dockworker Hayden Stagg, while new additions Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth round out the cast.

The film is set during World War II and explores Tommy Shelbys divided loyalties between his family and criminal empire. It also delves into his complex identity as an Irish Romani person living in Britain during a turbulent historical period. Fergusons character is also Romani, suggesting the movie will further explore this cultural heritage, although the core of the story will likely focus on the intense relationship between Tommy and Duke Shelby, alongside the eras historical challenges.

Despite its acclaim and strong viewership, Peaky Blinders is sometimes overlooked compared to newer Netflix phenomena like Wednesday or Stranger Things. However, its sustained success, critical praise, and the rich expansion of its world over nine years highlight its importance within Netflixs catalog. The franchise consistently ranks among the platforms most-watched titles, as shown by iTunes charts in early 2026.

Fans and critics alike look forward to Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man as a potential crowning achievement for the series, reinforcing its status as a modern classic. The movie offers a chance to revisit and deepen the narrative of one of Netflixs most enduring crime dramas, reminding audiences of the show's impactful storytelling and complex characters. With the combined talents of Murphy, Keoghan, Ferguson, and Roth, the film promises to deliver compelling drama and action, continuing the legacy of this influential franchise well into the new decade.
Discover Portobello, Marco Bellocchios gripping HBO crime drama. A slow-burn Italian saga with a stunning finale, anchored by Fabrizio Gifunis powerful...

AceShowbiz - Portobello is a compelling six-part miniseries from acclaimed director Marco Bellocchio that debuted recently on HBO Max as an HBO Original. Despite launching during a week dominated by major events like the Berlin Film Festival and the Baftas, which captured much of the media's attention, the series stands out for its thoughtful storytelling and cultural specificity.

The crime drama unfolds at a deliberate pace, weaving together local Italian references and a complex narrative that initially seems intricate but ultimately reveals a devastatingly simple truth. The story builds steadily to a breathtaking finale that ties up all the loose ends, providing a satisfying conclusion to the saga.

Central to the series is Fabrizio Gifuni, whose performance anchors the narrative and brings depth to the portrayal of the notorious miscarriage of justice at the heart of the story. Portobello is a timely study of this dark chapter in Italian history, exploring themes of truth, justice, and the impact of systemic failures.

Though the series demands patience and attention to its nuanced details, it rewards viewers with a powerful exploration of crime and consequence. Available worldwide on HBO Max, Portobello is a must-watch for fans of true crime dramas and those interested in international storytelling that resonates beyond its local setting.
HBOs Lanterns redefines the superhero genre with a grounded buddy-cop mystery. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre star in this 2026 DC sci-fi thriller.

AceShowbiz - Lanterns, HBO's forthcoming sci-fi police procedural, is shaping up to be a game-changer for the genre. Scheduled for a mid-2026 release, this series will explore the intergalactic investigations of the Green Lantern Corps with a fresh, grounded approach that sets it apart from typical comic book adaptations. As part of James Gunns ambitious DC Universe slate, which also includes projects like Supergirl and Clayface, Lanterns takes a distinctive route by focusing on a classic buddy-cop dynamic rather than emphasizing the fantastical elements that usually dominate superhero shows.

The story centers on veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, and his rookie partner John Stewart, portrayed by Aaron Pierre. The pair is tasked with investigating a murder in Nebraska, an assignment that quickly pulls them into a much larger conspiracy. This premise promises a blend of sci-fi and crime procedural genres, emphasizing character-driven storytelling over spectacle.

The concept behind Lanterns stands in contrast to the trajectory of other recent sci-fi hits, most notably Disney+s The Mandalorian. When it debuted in 2019, The Mandalorian was heralded as a potential prestige sci-fi series, poised to elevate the genre into the same echelon as acclaimed dramas like Breaking Bad and The Bear. While most popular sci-fi shows such as Stranger Things and Battlestar Galactica have traditionally been confined to a separate category, The Mandalorian appeared ready to break those boundaries by combining pulpy space adventure with emotional depth.

Initially, The Mandalorian captivated audiences with its compelling father-son dynamic between Din Djarin and Grogu, culminating in a satisfying conclusion when the bounty hunter entrusted Grogu to Jedi training with Luke Skywalker. However, the decision to continue the story into a third season, driven largely by the commercial appeal of "Baby Yoda," has drawn criticism for prioritizing blockbuster spectacle over genuine storytelling. This overextension has led some viewers to see it as just another popular sci-fi series that lost its narrative focus.

In this context, Lanterns could fill a void in prestige sci-fi television. If the show succeeds in delivering the quality and depth promised, it may help elevate the genre out of the "television ghetto" where sci-fi often resides. James Gunn has framed the series as a detective drama in the vein of True Detective, despite its space-faring setting and the inclusion of the Green Lanterns iconic power rings. This intriguing blend of murder mystery and interstellar law enforcement could redefine audience expectations for science fiction on TV.

However, the direction for Lanterns is not without risks. The Green Lantern mythology is traditionally associated with vibrant, large-scale cosmic battles and high-flying heroics. Transforming this bright, colorful universe into a grounded, slow-burning detective story deviates sharply from the norm. Some industry observers question whether this tonal shift will resonate with fans accustomed to more bombastic depictions of the Green Lantern Corps.

Despite these uncertainties, the development of Lanterns is a promising indicator of the creative diversity within James Gunns DC Universe. This year alone, DC fans will see a range of tones and themes across different projects: the lighthearted adventure of Supergirl, the unsettling horror of Clayface, and the gritty procedural of Lanterns.

If Lanterns manages to deliver on its ambitious promises, it might not only redefine the Green Lantern mythos for the small screen but also expand the boundaries of what sci-fi TV can achieve in terms of critical acclaim and prestige.

In summary, Lanterns is poised to be one of the most intriguing new offerings in the sci-fi landscape when it premieres on HBO in mid-2026. By focusing on a grounded, character-driven murder mystery rather than traditional superhero spectacle, it hopes to carve out a unique niche and perhaps even surpass the legacy left by shows like The Mandalorian. With strong leads Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre at the helm and James Gunns creative vision guiding the project, Lanterns is definitely a series to watch as it approaches its debut.
Sundays TV lineup: Tracker & Watson return, new series Marshals & DTF St. Louis, the Actor Awards, Family Guy, and the Industry finale.

AceShowbiz - Sunday night offers a packed TV lineup featuring the return of Tracker and Watson, premieres of new series like Marshals and DTF St. Louis, plus the streaming of the Actor Awards ceremony.

At 8:00 PM ET, Netflix presents the Actor Awards, hosted by Kristen Bell. This event, formerly known as the SAG Awards, celebrates the year's finest performances across television and film.

Fox airs two new episodes of Family Guy. The first episode features Stewie and Brian hosting a dinner party at a home furnishing store, while the second episode involves a comedic misunderstanding when Peter mentions the name Francis during an intimate moment with Lois, only to discover its the name of a new waitress at the Clam.

HBOs Industry airs its Season 4 finale in a special time slot. The episode focuses on Yasmin seizing a new opportunity, Henry contemplating a challenge to the status quo, and Harper confronting a critical moment of reckoning.

CBS premieres Marshals, starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. Leaving behind his life at the Yellowstone ranch, Kayce joins an elite U.S. Marshals unit, using his cowboy and Navy SEAL skills to enforce justice across Montana.

Bravo continues The Real Housewives of Potomac with part three of a three-part segment. Monique drops a bombshell accusation against Stacey, alleging Stacey maintained close contact with Chris Samuels during filming.

Hallmark Channels When Calls the Heart sees Elizabeth and Nathan organizing a nostalgic trip for Little Jack, featuring a special surprise, following the loss of his fathers medal on a hike.

At 8:30 PM ET, Foxs Universal Basic Guys follows Mark as he helps Mernft Man build his dream house. Meanwhile, Tammys fundraising campaign reveals unexpected facets of Mernfts character.

At 9:00 PM ET, PBS airs a special presentation of All Creatures Great and Small: Seasons of the Dales hosted by Nicholas Ralph. This episode revisits serene scenes from the beloved series, offering a peaceful journey through Yorkshires countryside.

MGM+ debuts American Classic with two episodes. The series stars Kevin Kline as a narcissistic Broadway star who returns home after a public meltdown and attempts to save his familys theater by directing and starring in a classic American production. Co-stars include Jon Tenney and Laura Linney.

Foxs American Dad! features Stan struggling to appreciate Francines newfound passion for flume rides.

HBO premieres DTF St. Louis, starring Jason Bateman and David Harbour. The series follows two men, Clark and Floyd, as they explore a new dating app designed for extramarital affairs after their marriages stall.

AMCs Dark Winds continues with Leaphorn becoming the target of a dangerous killers obsession, while Chee contemplates his future with the NTP and Manuelito.

CNN premieres the docuseries Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown with two episodes. The series chronicles the worlds worst nuclear disaster, covering the reactors collapse, the Soviet cover-up, and its ongoing consequences linked to the war in Ukraine.

Tracker moves to a new time slot at 9:00 PM ET on CBS. The story centers on Colter, who is injured and framed for multiple murders. Cut off from his allies Reenie and Randy, he must rely on an unexpected ally named Billie to stop a relentless assassin.

At 10:00 PM ET, CBS airs the new time slot episode of Watson. The team races against time to save a man and his pregnant wife trapped by a terrifying sinkhole. Meanwhile, Ingrid faces uncertainty regarding her future with her therapy group.

Sundays schedule offers a compelling mix of drama, comedy, crime, and documentary storytelling, ensuring there is something to engage every type of viewer across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.
Foxs 2016 TV series finally delivers a worthy Exorcist sequel, honoring the classic film while reinventing demonic horror with fresh scares.

AceShowbiz - In September 2016, Fox took a bold step by launching a television adaptation of the classic horror film The Exorcist, originally released in 1973 and widely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. This series arrived after multiple unsuccessful attempts to create a worthy big-screen sequel that could live up to the originals legacy. Despite the films conclusive ending, which left little room for direct continuation, the core concept of demonic possession held potential for expansion into a broader franchise. However, each cinematic follow-up had fallen short, often misinterpreting the elements that made the original film so impactful.

That changed with Foxs TV version, developed by Jeremy Slater and featuring Geena Davis among the cast, which finally embraced the spirit of the original film while innovating within the horror genre. While it cannot replace William Friedkins 1973 masterpiece, the show stands as an inventive and respectful successor, capturing the essence of the terrifying tale of possession in a fresh format.

The TV series is set contemporaneously with its release and functions as a perfect sequel to the movie. Instead of focusing on a young childs possession, the story centers on an adolescent woman grappling with demonic influence. The show excels in its meticulous pacing, allowing Casey Rances gradual descent into possession to unfold with chilling subtlety before delivering intense horror moments that resonate deeply. The stylistic choices in the horror scenes evoke the same unsettling atmosphere that made the original films possession sequences so memorable.

Unfortunately, the story of horror franchises struggling to maintain quality across sequels extends well beyond The Exorcist. Iconic series such as Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre have all suffered from lackluster sequels and reboots that fail to capture the original films magic. Hollywood has yet to crack the formula for creating consistently excellent horror franchises, which may be why contemporary filmmakers like Jordan Peele and Mike Flanagan often prefer standalone horror films over extended series.

The difficulty in sustaining scares and the lowered expectations for horror sequels contribute to this ongoing issue. Despite the financial success of these franchises, no series has managed to produce a succession of equally compelling horror films that maintain the same level of excellence as their original entries.

Amid this challenging landscape, Foxs The Exorcist TV series seemed poised to break new ground and expand the franchise meaningfully. Its cancellation after just two seasons was a significant disappointment for fans and critics alike. The decision to end the show prematurely was driven by low ratings, yet the series has since cultivated a devoted cult following among horror enthusiasts who appreciate its quality and ambition.

Even a decade after its initial release, the series remains a standout example of horror on television. It offers some of the most visually striking scares in recent screen history and delivers a narrative that is both respectful of the original film and boldly original. With twenty episodes under its belt, the show provides a complete and rewarding viewing experience that rivals many contemporary horror productions found on streaming platforms today.

The series also boasts a talented cast led by Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega and Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Brennan, who bring depth and gravitas to the storys exploration of faith, evil, and human vulnerability. The shows direction by a range of accomplished filmmakers and its writing team, led by Jeremy Slater, contribute to its strong storytelling and atmospheric tension.

Despite its untimely cancellation, The Exorcist TV series remains a must-watch for fans of horror television and anyone interested in seeing a rare example of a sequel that honors its source material while expanding creatively. It serves as a reminder that well-crafted horror stories can thrive on the small screen, even if the big screen often struggles to replicate such success in sequel form.

For those looking to revisit or discover this underrated gem, the show continues to be accessible and well worth the investment of time. Its blend of psychological horror, supernatural elements, and strong character work sets a high bar for any future attempts at continuing the legacy of the original The Exorcist film.
Three music industry vets launch a new publishing company focused on bespoke A&R and strategic partnership, not just low-cost admin deals.

AceShowbiz - In late 2021, a pivotal conversation took place among three industry veterans: Ryan Tedder, frontman of OneRepublic and acclaimed songwriter-producer; Andrew Sparkler, former chief business officer at Downtown; and seasoned artist manager Ron Lafitte. Their discussion centered on a shared question: Is there room in the music publishing world for a new kind of company?

The trio recognized a gap in the market. Many songwriters were primarily looking for the lowest-cost administration deals, but few publishing companies offered the kind of hands-on, strategic partnership that nurtures talent with bespoke A&R services. They envisioned a company that would stand apart by focusing on personalized creative development rather than chasing market share alone.

Obviously, every publisher likes to think of themselves that way, Sparkler said, reflecting on their early intentions. So we said, we need to meaningfully differentiate ourselves... And make it so if someone is deciding between two places, they can always say, I will get something unique at Runner.

By 2023, the vision materialized into Runner Music, an indie publishing company founded by Sparkler as CEO, Lafitte as co-founder and board member, and Tedder as co-chief creative officer. Tedders impressive songwriting resume includes hits such as Beyonces Halo, Tate McRaes greedy, Maroon 5s Maps, and numerous chart-toppers with OneRepublic, which helped attract talent early on.

To complete their leadership team, they brought in Amanda Hill, a respected Sony Music Publishing A&R executive with a strong track record of talent spotting in Los Angeles. Hill now serves as President and co-chief creative officer of Runner Music, rounding out a powerhouse leadership group committed to a high-touch approach.

Financial backing came through Melody Holdings, an affiliate of Blackstone that also owns SESAC and MNRK, which became an equity partner in the venture. This investment bolstered Runners ability to operate on both the catalog acquisition and frontline development fronts.

Just three years into operation, Runner Music has already made significant industry waves. The company secured six songwriting credits on the new BTS comeback album ARIRANG, including tracks like SWIM, Body to Body, and NORMAL. These involved songwriting camps organized in collaboration with HYBE and producer Diplo, illustrating Runners commitment to creative collaboration at the highest level.

Beyond BTS, Runner signees have contributed to several major hits. These include Tyler Sprys involvement with Bad Bunnys Super Bowl-approved track DtMF, Grant Boutin and Tedder on Tate McRaes Sports Car, and Ben Johnsons work on Jordan Daviss Bar None and Kane Browns Woman. This roster attests to Runners ability to develop and support a diverse range of successful songwriters.

Despite this early success, Sparkler and Hill emphasize a measured approach to growth. We have great ambitions, Sparkler said, but weve also seen so many other businesses around us put growth first and figure other things out later. We have been very deliberate in our growth in every sense.

Currently, Runner remains a relatively small operation with just eight employees and 19 signees. However, its financial footprint is substantial, having invested approximately $70 million to acquire catalogs. Their acquisitions include stakes in hits like Dua Lipas Levitating and Physical, BTSs Dynamite, Shaggys It Wasnt Me and Boombastic, DJ Snake and Selena Gomezs Taki Taki, Justin Biebers Ghost and Anyone, Phillip Phillipss Gone Gone Gone, Jason Mrazs I Wont Give Up, and The Lumineers Ho Hey and Stubborn Love.

The highest compliment we get paid is that people often assume we have 30 or 40 people on staff, Sparkler noted, highlighting the efficiency and impact of their lean team.

Ryan Tedder also expressed his pride in the companys progress: Im so proud of the close-knit team of writers and producers weve assembled in the last [nearly three] years; as the name says, we have been nonstop running  [or] sprinting... In this industry where great songs are dying for attention 24/7 and virality cosplays as a business plan, I only trust one thing  doing the work.

When asked about the origins of Runner Music, Sparkler explained that the idea grew from a shared desire to create an indie publisher that was creatively forward-thinking. Initially focused on catalog acquisitions, discussions with Amanda Hill helped expand the vision to include a frontline business dedicated to nurturing songwriters.

Hill, who had been Tedders publisher at Sony, said they connected immediately based on a shared competitive spirit and similar views of the music industry. What I was picking up from songwriters at that time was that people wanted another option. They wanted the reach of a major but something that felt like a family, something smaller and more attentive, Hill said. A lot of people were getting tired of being just a number on a piece of paper. So on day one, I knew thats what I was building  the other option.

In a market increasingly dominated by administration-only deals aiming to minimize fees, Runner Music positions itself differently. Hill stressed that Runner offers a high-touch publishing experience, with real engagement and partnership. People want the relationship, they want real work done and they want a true partner. Every single person we work with gets 150% from us, she said.

Hill emphasized that their approach is highly strategic and customized. Were intertwined with their teams and individually engaged on what were doing every step of the way, and its strategic. I look at it like everyone should have their own plan, and thats what were doing  executing a custom plan for each person and adjusting it quickly because youre constantly in conversation with them.

Regarding talent selection, Hill made it clear that signing songwriters isnt about numbers. I very much didnt want to be in the business of just collecting people. The fact that some songwriter is available and we could sign them is not a reason to sign them. The real check marks for me are: How hard do you want to work, and are we aligned on how to get there?

Financially, Runner balances catalog acquisitions with frontline signings. Sparkler acknowledged he doesnt have a precise dollar split but praised Melody Holdings as an exceptional partner that values their disciplined capital deployment. We were a successful business even in the early days, so it makes it easier to get a yes when were delivering good returns. I would say Melody is just as invested in the frontline side as they are the catalog side.

On the catalog front, Runner operates with a debt facility from Bank of America and targets catalog deals generally below $15 million, most under $5 million.

Through this combination of strategic catalog purchases and dedicated frontline development, Runner Music aims to build a unique ecosystem that supports songwriters creatively and commercially. Their early success with major hits and collaborations with global icons like BTS signals a promising future for this indie publisher.

As the music publishing industry continues to evolve, Runner Music stands out by putting creative partnership ahead of scale, proving that a focused, artist-first approach can yield both artistic and financial success.
Discover how Iceculture Inc. created Drake's massive 25-foot ice installation in Toronto using 3,500 crystal-clear blocks for his ICEMAN album promo.

AceShowbiz - The family-owned company Iceculture Inc. has unveiled the intricate process behind building the massive ice installation that took center stage in downtown Toronto as part of Drakes promotional campaign for his upcoming album ICEMAN.

Based in Hensall, Ontario, Iceculture produced over 3,500 individual ice blocks, each weighing around 300 pounds. These were transported via 20 trucks to assemble the towering 25-foot structure at 81 Bond Street. The sculpture prominently displayed the release date for Drakes ninth studio album, captivating the attention of fans and passersby alike.

Heidi Bayley, president of Iceculture and daughter of the companys founder, detailed the specialized production technique used to create the crystal-clear ice. The blocks were made using directional freezing, a process that expels air bubbles during formation, resulting in exceptionally hard and visually stunning ice.

The installation quickly became a hotspot on April 20, drawing large crowds eager to uncover the albums release date hidden within the ice. Some fans resorted to unconventional and hazardous methods, including pickaxes, sledgehammers, blowtorches, and even setting fires atop the blocks in an attempt to reveal the secret message.

This escalating chaos prompted the Toronto Police Service to intervene around 11:30 p.m. that night to ensure public safety and prevent injuries caused by falling ice fragments. The situation remained volatile until Tuesday evening when Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop ordered fire crews to take action under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act. He cited the dangerous and unsafe activities and an immediate threat to life as justification for the intervention.

Firefighters arrived with aerial trucks and sprayed warm water on the monument through the night and into the next morning, according to CBC News. While the removal was necessary for safety, Bayley expressed disappointment, saying it was hard to watch it being melted and that she had never witnessed such a reaction to an ice installation in her decades of experience.

Following the fire departments efforts, an industrial cleaning company named Prime Mobile Wash took over the process of dismantling and clearing the remaining ice.

Michael Gingerich, owner of Mawg Design  the marketing firm collaborating with Drakes team  acknowledged that the overwhelming fan turnout surpassed all expectations. Although the campaign aimed to make a bold statement about the album release, the intensity of public enthusiasm caught everyone by surprise.

Bayley highlighted Icecultures extensive expertise in handling large-scale ice projects and managing massive quantities of ice, which made them an ideal partner for this high-profile activation. The companys past projects include ice lounges in Thailand and Greece and a drivable ice truck for Canadian Tire to promote cold-weather batteries. Their work involves advanced tools such as chainsaws, chisels, CNC machines, and bandsaws.

The mystery inside the ice was finally solved on Tuesday afternoon when a streamer named Kishka found a blue folder embedded in one of the blocks. The folder revealed that Drakes ICEMAN album is set for release on May 15, 2026, marking his first solo project since 2023s For All the Dogs.

Drake confirmed the release date on his official Instagram account the same evening, officially ending the suspense created by the monumental ice installation.
A rare glimpse into the artistry of legendary production designer Dean Tavoularis, from Disney to The Godfather, as remembered by a close colleague.

AceShowbiz - It is a rare occasion when a film craftsman transcends the role of technician to become a true artist in their field. Even rarer still is the opportunity to spend extensive time alongside such an individual, learning firsthand the secrets behind their creative mastery. This was the privilege I had with Dean Tavoularis, the legendary production designer who passed away recently at 93.

Dean Tavoulariss career spanned decades, beginning with his upbringing as the child of Greek immigrants during the Great Depression. He navigated through the post-war years and the 1950s as an aspiring animator and assistant art director at Walt Disney, occasionally working directly with the famously chain-smoking Walt Disney himself. His career peaked in the late 1960s and 1970s with iconic films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The Godfather trilogy, and Apocalypse Now.

Our conversations, which extended over many hours and eventually formed the basis of a book, included insights not only from Dean but also from his celebrated collaborators such as Francis Ford Coppola, Warren Beatty, the cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, and costume designer Milena Canonero. All these artists held Dean in the highest regard for his transformative visual contributions.

Rather than reiterate the books content, I want to share reflections from our extended talks, which continued even after the books publication and up until just a few weeks ago.

When I first met Dean Tavoularis in 2020, he had recently relocated from his beautiful Hancock Park home to Paris with his wife, actress Aurore Clement, whom he met during the filming of Apocalypse Now. It was during this time that I proposed a brief interview for the French magazine So Film. Our talk lasted less than an hour, but it inspired me to pitch a book project to my publisher, David Frenkel, who agreed immediately. We began work the very next week.

Our many discussions took place in Deans converted artist studio, a tranquil ground-floor apartment in Pariss quiet 17th arrondissement. This space became his creative haven after completing his last film project, Roman Polanskis Carnage. Interestingly, the films settinga Brooklyn condowas meticulously recreated on a Paris soundstage under Deans supervision.

To illustrate Deans obsessive attention to detail, every piece of furniture on the Carnage set, down to the doorknobs, light fixtures, and electrical outlets, was shipped from the U.S. The appliances, designed for American electrical circuits, required Dean to have the entire set rewired to accommodate them. This painstaking effort was motivated by a single scene involving Jodie Fosters character possibly using a hairdryer in the bathroom.

During our months of conversation, Dean would sit surrounded by his tools of the trade: tubes of paint, turpentine jars, brushes, canvases, rolls of masking tape used for collages, and often a bottle of scotch with a bucket of ice. Im living the dream I had in my teens: painting my days away in a studio in Paris, he said between sips of whiskey, even in his late 80s.

When discussing his work, Dean chose his words with care. Every phrase mattered, reflecting his methodical approach to production design. He would develop a strong core idea and pursue it relentlessly until fully realized. This approach defined both his craft and his creative process.

Dean once explained, The job is roughly 20% creativity and 80% logistics. He emphasized that an idea is only as brilliant as its execution, which he considered the more challenging component. Yet it was Deans visionary concepts that shaped his legacy, alongside contemporaries like Richard Sylbert, known for Chinatown. Together, they were conceptual artists who revolutionized American cinema by shifting its visual language from studio-created illusions to street-level realism, marking a transition from old Hollywood to New Hollywood.

Recalling his early days as an assistant art director in the 1950s, Dean criticized the exaggerated and artificial look of classic studio sets. I asked an art director why the decor was so beefed up, why everything looked so big and fake, he recounted. He cited mouldings, which were much larger on sets than in real life. The reply was that smaller details wouldnt register on camera, a justification Dean dismissed as 100% bullshit. This anecdote illustrated the outdated mindset he sought to challenge.

When Warren Beatty and Arthur Penn hired Dean for his first production designer role (then credited as art director) on Bonnie and Clyde, Dean actively sought to dismantle the artificiality he had witnessed. To the frustration of Warner Bros. studio head Jack Warner, the film was shot entirely on location in Texas towns where the real-life criminals operated. Dean personally visited and photographed these locations, fulfilling the dual role of production designer and location scout.

For interior scenes, Dean designed spaces that felt authentic and lived-in. He deliberately chose low ceilings to create a sense of claustrophobia, reflecting the characters growing entrapment. The characters stayed in shabby hotels with small, confining rooms, crafting an atmosphere that resonated with the films themes.

Our conversations often took place with Dean pouring another glass of scotch, accompanied by a bag of Fritossnacks hed have visitors bring from the U.S., a habit that endured despite his Parisian surroundings. Dean, Id say, its only three in the afternoon. If I drink another whiskey, I wont be able to work. Hed grin slyly and reply after a pause, How do you think we made all these movies were talking about?

Beyond the humor and the drinks, I learned invaluable lessons from Dean about the art and craft of production design. Francis Ford Coppola once told me, Everything that people see in a movie, as opposed to hear, comes from a collaboration with the production designer. Over time, I came to appreciate how much Dean not only realized the visions of auteurs like Coppolacollaborating on 13 films togetherbut also infused his own artistic vision into every project.

This vision was realized through months of intense research, an unwavering commitment to detail, and a willingness to experiment with new ideas. Deans work was described by Coppola as creating brilliant visual ideas of illusion, blending realism and artistry in ways that left audiences captivated.

One particularly memorable example was the slow-motion explosion sequence in Michelangelo Antonionis Zabriskie Point, showcasing Deans flair for innovative visual storytelling. These experiments demonstrated his ability to push cinematic boundaries while remaining anchored in the narratives emotional core.

Dean Tavoulariss legacy is one of a relentless pursuit of authenticity and artistry. His work reshaped the visual language of American cinema, bridging the gap between fantasy and reality, and setting new standards for production design. His influence continues to resonate, inspiring generations of filmmakers and designers who seek to marry meticulous craftsmanship with bold creative vision.

Reflecting on our time together, I am reminded of the rare gift it was to witness an artist at work, to hear stories from the frontlines of film history, and to understand the depth and dedication behind some of cinemas most iconic imagery. Dean Tavoularis was not just a craftsman; he was a visionary whose art will endure.
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A commitment to excellence and unwavering customer service is a cornerstone for leading businesses. ROOFX Roofing has demonstrated this dedication by achieving the prestigious Gaf Master Elite certification, a recognition that underscores the company's adherence to the highest standards in the roofing industry. To learn more about ROOFX Roofing's certified services and commitment to quality, visit roofx.com.

Upholding Industry Standards

The Gaf Master Elite certification is awarded to a select group of roofing contractors who meet stringent criteria for professionalism, training, and customer satisfaction. This designation signifies that ROOFX Roofing has undergone extensive training and is committed to continuous professional development, ensuring that every project meets GAF's rigorous specifications. The certification reflects a proven track record of superior workmanship and a dedication to utilizing premium materials.

"Achieving GAF Master Elite status is not merely an accolade, but a quantifiable metric of our dedication to employing the most advanced roofing materials and techniques available, fostering a sustainable competitive advantage rooted in proven product reliability and meticulous craftsmanship for every customer," said Troy Mercer. "This certification empowers us to offer an elevated standard of protection and aesthetic value, directly contributing to the long-term asset preservation for homeowners and businesses alike."

Achieving this certification is a testament to ROOFX Roofing's operational integrity and its focus on delivering reliable, long-lasting roofing solutions. It provides customers with assurance that they are partnering with a contractor recognized for its expertise and ethical business practices. This recognition enhances the company's reputation, solidifying its position as a trusted provider within the United States.

A Mark of Quality and Service

For ROOFX Roofing, the Gaf Master Elite certification is more than an accolade; it is an affirmation of the company's philosophy of doing whatever it takes to serve its customers. This includes providing comprehensive consultations, employing highly skilled technicians, and ensuring transparent communication throughout every project. The certification empowers ROOFX Roofing to offer enhanced warranties and guarantees, further protecting customer investments.

This achievement reinforces ROOFX Roofing's ongoing pursuit of operational distinction and its promise to deliver exceptional value and peace of mind to every client. Further details on the benefits of working with a Gaf Master Elite contractor are available at ROOFX Roofing Master Elite Certification.

ROOFX Roofing is a GAF Master Elite-certified roofing contractor serving Central and Southwest Pennsylvania. Operating under the company motto "Whatever It Takes," ROOFX Roofing provides residential and commercial roof replacement and repair, metal roofing, commercial roofing, vinyl siding, James Hardie siding, and gutter installation. GAF Master Elite certification places ROOFX Roofing among the top 2% of roofing contractors in North America. The company maintains offices in Williamsport, State College, Harrisburg, and Allentown, and services Mechanicsburg, Lancaster, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg, Lewisburg, Altoona, Reading, Hershey, and more than a dozen additional Pennsylvania communities. ROOFX Roofing offers free roofing consultations and 24/7 emergency service. ROOFX Roofing is lead by founder and CEO Troy Mercer Learn more at roofx.com.

SOURCE ROOFX Roofing
Margaret Qualley & Callum Turner lead a chilling remake of the 1981 cult horror classic Possession, promising a fresh yet faithful take on the disturbing psy...

AceShowbiz - Possession is set for a chilling remake featuring Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner in the lead roles. The upcoming film reimagines the 1981 cult horror classic originally directed by Andrzej ?u?awski, known for its intense psychological and physical horror elements. Qualley and Turner will step into roles first portrayed by Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, respectively, promising a fresh yet faithful take on the disturbing narrative.

Margaret Qualley gained significant attention for her body horror role in The Substance, where she played a young woman violently birthed from the body of an older star, a performance praised for its raw and unsettling intensity. Building on this momentum, Qualley is set to deepen her exploration of allegorical and visceral horror with the Possession remake. Joining her is Callum Turner, known for his work in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, who will take on the male lead originally delivered with eerie menace by Sam Neill.

The original Possession is renowned less for special effects and more for its disturbing physical performances and visual tension. The films most infamous scene depicts Adjani's character enduring a violent miscarriage, a moment that remains one of the most harrowing in horror cinema. This performance has inspired actors like Lily-Rose Depp, who cited Adjanis work as a powerful influence in a 2025 interview. "Isabelle Adjani has an incredible and iconic performance in that," Depp remarked, emphasizing the lasting impact of the film.

Director Parker Finn, known for writing and directing Smile, is helming the remake with producer Robert Pattinson on board. Finn expressed a deep admiration for the original film in a 2024 interview, describing Possession as one of his favorite movies. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the originals "frenzied, manic ferocity" while bringing new life to its themes and imagery. The remake aims to amplify the visceral horror elements, likely incorporating more explicit visual effects to enhance the unsettling atmosphere.

The 1981 film was so extreme in its blend of psychological and physical horror that it faced censorship challenges, being banned in the UK and heavily cut in the US. ScreenRants 2024 coverage of the remake emphasized the importance of preserving the originals surreal and bizarre qualities. The article warned against diluting the films distinctive style to appeal to a broader audience, urging the filmmakers to embrace the "unabashedly weird" spirit that made Possession a cult phenomenon.

As the remake moves forward, audiences can expect a film that respects the originals legacy while pushing boundaries with modern horror techniques. Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner bring fresh energy to this intense story of psychological disintegration and supernatural mystery, with the backing of a creative team committed to honoring one of horrors most challenging works.

With production underway and anticipation building, the new Possession promises to deliver a haunting experience that blends physical horror with emotional depth, continuing the tradition of the 1981 cult classic in a bold and terrifying way.
Discover why Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple TVs underrated sci-fi hit, tops streaming charts in season 2 with epic monsters and star power.

AceShowbiz - Apple TV continues to solidify its reputation as a leading platform for long-form sci-fi, with acclaimed shows like Severance, Silo, Invasion, and Pluribus. Yet, one series often flies under the radar despite its high production values and star-studded cast. That show is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which recently launched its second season and climbed immediately to the top of Apples streaming charts.

Unlike more crowded platforms, Apple TVs relatively lean content library allows its shows the opportunity to develop over extended periods without intense competition. While Netflix has rapidly released major returning series such as The Lincoln Lawyer, The Night Agent, and Bridgerton this year, Apple TV has taken a more measured approach, focusing on quality and sustained audience engagement.

Debuting on February 27, the second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters marks a significant entry in the MonsterVerse franchise, which until now was primarily known for its blockbuster films. This series is the franchises first live-action streaming offering and serves as both a prequel and interquel to the movie saga. It centers on Monarch, a covert organization dedicated to investigating and concealing the existence of colossal creatures called "titans" roaming the Earth.

The MonsterVerse franchise began over a decade ago with Gareth Edwards reboot of Godzilla, which offered a grounded beginning. However, recent installments have embraced a campier, big-budget B-movie style, culminating in the global success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which grossed more than $570 million worldwide. The franchise will continue next year with Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.

The second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters continues to follow its core cast through multiple decades of storytelling. The premiere episode notably introduced the iconic King Kong character and hinted at the emergence of a mysterious new tentacled titan in Chile, expanding the scope of the MonsterVerse.

Critically, the new season has been well-received, holding a "Certified Fresh" 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. David Caballero of Collider noted that while Season 2 is "far from perfect" and "more uneven than Season 1," it remains "just as exciting" and delivers impressive spectacle, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of other recent genre entries like Godzilla Minus One.

According to data from FlixPatrol, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has surged past competing titles to claim the number one spot on both domestic and global Apple TV viewership charts following its return. This renewed popularity highlights the shows growing fanbase and the appeal of the MonsterVerses expanding mythology.

The series stars Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, who bring depth and humanity to the high-stakes narrative involving secret organizations and monstrous titans. The showrunner team, led by Chris Black and Matt Fraction.

Set after the battle between Godzilla and the Titans, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters reveals that monsters are real and follows one familys journey to uncover hidden secrets and their connection to the Monarch organization.

Viewers can stream the second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters now on Apple TV. Stay tuned to Collider for further updates on this and other major streaming hits as they evolve.
Prime Video aims for Game of Thrones-level success with Fourth Wing, a viral fantasy romance adaptation set to ignite the streaming world.

AceShowbiz - Amazon Prime Video continues its quest to replicate the colossal success of HBOs Game of Thrones, a landmark series that set the bar for high fantasy television with its rich worldbuilding and complex characters. While shows like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time were expected to secure Prime Videos dominance in the fantasy streaming arena, they ultimately fell short of matching the cultural impact and popularity of Game of Thrones.

Despite these setbacks, Prime Video remains determined to find a high fantasy series capable of capturing audiences imaginations on the same scale. Their latest hope lies in the adaptation of Fourth Wing, a novel from Rebecca Yarros Empyrean series that has become a viral sensation across social media platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram. The books unique blend of romance and fantasy has garnered a large and passionate fanbase, making it an appealing property for the streamer to develop into a television series.

Prime Video secured the rights to Fourth Wing in October 2023, with Michael B. Jordans production company, Outlier Society, leading the project. However, the show has faced challenges, including the departure of its original showrunner, Moira Walley-Beckett, as reported by Variety. Despite these hurdles, enthusiasm among fans remains high, fueled in part by Jordans hints that the adaptation will honor the source material while introducing fresh elements.

The existing fanbase of Fourth Wing gives Prime Video a significant advantage over previous fantasy attempts like The Rings of Power. While Tolkiens works have been adapted multiple times, which may have dampened excitement for new versions, the Empyrean series has not yet been brought to screen, creating anticipation among readers eager to see their favorite characters and dragons come to life. This enthusiasm contrasts with the lukewarm reception and limited pre-release buzz surrounding The Rings of Power.

Prime Videos earlier efforts, despite mixed critical reactions, have demonstrated their ability to produce visually stunning high fantasy content. Both The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time showcased impressive production values and immersive worlds. With lessons learned from these experiences, Prime Video has the opportunity to better align Fourth Wing with fan expectations, potentially avoiding the pitfalls that hindered previous projects.

However, the question remains whether Fourth Wing will resonate beyond its established readership. Although the novel is a New York Times bestseller with a dedicated following, widespread mainstream success requires appealing to viewers unfamiliar with the books. To achieve this, the adaptation will need to balance fidelity to the source material with storytelling that captivates new audiences, much like how HBOs Game of Thrones introduced the expansive world of Westeros to millions of viewers worldwide.

Success will also depend on casting choices and narrative innovation. A mix of recognizable actors and fresh faces, combined with an original storyline that respects the core themes of the Empyrean series, could help Fourth Wing attract a broad audience. With strong backing from Michael B. Jordans Outlier Society and Prime Videos resources, the series is well-positioned to become a major player in the fantasy genre.

As the streaming wars intensify, platforms are increasingly seeking distinctive content that can generate loyal fanbases and cultural moments. Fourth Wings existing popularity on social media and its blend of romance and fantasy set it apart from other adaptations. If Prime Video can successfully translate the novels appeal to the screen, it may finally deliver the kind of high fantasy event series that rivals Game of Thrones in scale and influence.

While it is too early to predict the definitive success of Fourth Wing, the combination of a passionate fanbase, strong production leadership, and lessons learned from previous endeavors gives Prime Video an edge. The series ability to engage both devoted readers and new viewers will be critical to its performance in the competitive streaming landscape.

In summary, Fourth Wing offers Prime Video a fresh opportunity to capture the magic that made Game of Thrones a cultural phenomenon. With its established audience and the potential to appeal to mainstream viewers, the adaptation could become a defining fantasy series of the streaming eraprovided it balances respect for the source material with inventive storytelling and production excellence.
Jim Parsons calls The Big Bang Theorys space storyline the shows most ridiculous plot.

AceShowbiz - Jim Parsons recently expressed his thoughts on one of the most over-the-top plotlines from the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

During an April 20 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the 53-year-old actor was asked to identify the "most ridiculous" storyline from the series. Parsons replied with a chuckle, saying, "They were all rather silly, right? I mean, we went to space."

The Big Bang Theory featured Parsons as Sheldon Cooper for 12 successful seasons. His reference to going to space points to seasons five and six, when Simon Helbergs character, Howard Wolowitz, trained and eventually went on a mission to the International Space Station. This plotline was unique as only Howard, among the main characters, actually left Earth for space, leaving his group of friends and loved ones behind. The storyline even included a cameo from real-life astronaut Mike Massimino, adding a touch of authenticity to the otherwise whimsical scenario.

In addition to Parsons and Helberg, the show starred notable actors such as Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik, Kunal Nayyar, and Melissa Rauch. The series followed a close-knit circle of scientists and their personal and professional lives, blending humor with nerd culture references.

Earlier this year, John Shaffner, the shows production designer, revealed to TV Line how they convincingly created the illusion of zero gravity for Helbergs space scenes. Shaffner explained that the effect was achieved by supporting the actor from underneath on a long, narrow platform, allowing Helberg to simulate swimming through space while lying down. The cast studied actual weightlessness to perfect their movements, contributing to the realism of the scenes despite the inherent silliness of the concept.

Despite the popularity of the space storyline and the shows overall success, Parsons expressed skepticism about any potential The Big Bang Theory reboot. At the American Ballet Theatre 2025 Fall Gala, he told Us Weekly he couldn't imagine reprising his role anytime soon. Parsons said, "I can't imagine. Well, I could imagine, but no, I imagine no."

His hesitation echoes previous comments made during interviews, including a 2024 discussion with Chris Wallace where he said, "It was so special as what it was, as what it is, and they call it lightning in a bottle for a reason. You can be certain it wouldn't be that. And so, why would we be doing it?"

While Parsons may not be eager to return as Sheldon Cooper, the character remains beloved by fans and inspired the successful spinoff series Young Sheldon, starring Iain Armitage. The spinoff has expanded the franchise, even leading to another related show titled Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage.

Parsons also recently opened up about his personal connection to the character, telling The View, "I can't say I miss him. There's a lot about his qualities, and just who he was, that I still carry with me. And I certainly still get so much reaction to it." His remarks highlight the lasting impact Sheldon Cooper has had on his life, even if the actor isnt planning to revisit the role.

Meanwhile, co-star Kaley Cuoco has also shared her perspective on the shows legacy. During a February 9 episode of Dax Shepards Armchair Expert podcast, Cuoco, 40, said she doesnt foresee herself participating in a similar series again, calling her time on The Big Bang Theory a "once in a lifetime experience."

The Big Bang Theory remains one of televisions most popular and enduring sitcoms, celebrated for its unique blend of science, humor, and heartfelt moments. Its twelve-season run left an indelible mark on pop culture, and the casts reflections on its more outlandish moments, like sending Howard Wolowitz to space, provide insight into how the actors viewed the shows evolution over the years.

Despite the occasional silly plotlines, as Parsons puts it, the series charm continues to captivate audiences, and its characters remain iconic in the world of TV comedy.
The Boys season 5, episode 4 teaser promises a major Homelander vs. Butcher showdown as the hunt for V1 intensifies.

AceShowbiz - The highly anticipated fifth and final season of The Boys continues to deliver with a gripping new teaser for episode 4, promising a dramatic escalation in the battle between the titular group and the menacing Homelander. Prime Videos dark superhero saga has captivated millions worldwide, with season 4 attracting over 55 million viewers globallya 20% increase from season 3solidifying its status as a flagship series for the streaming giant alongside its spin-offs Gen V and the upcoming Vought Rising.

Following the emotionally charged and devastating events of episode 3, fans are bracing for another turbulent chapter as the boys race to locate the mysterious V1, a coveted asset that could alter the balance of power. The latest trailer teases an intense confrontation between Homelander (portrayed by Antony Starr) and Butcher (played by Karl Urban), heightening anticipation for the fallout of the shocking revelations and brutal violence inflicted on Homelanders son, Ryan.

Episode 3 ended on a harrowing note, with Homelander revealing his darkest side by nearly killing his son Ryan, portrayed by Cameron Crovetti. Ryans storyline has been particularly fraught, having been absent for the first two episodes before resurfacing in Russia. His reunion with Zoe led to tense exchanges with Butcher, which fueled Ryans resolve to challenge his father over his harmful actions toward his mother. This father-son conflict is a central thread heading into episode 4, promising to deepen the emotional stakes.

The race for V1 intensifies, as both the boys and other powerful figures like Soldier Boy and Homelander himself compete to control this vital resource. V1 is said to grant Homelander invincibility and immunity to a deadly supe virus that Butchers team plans to deploy in their bid to eliminate him. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Soldier Boy, who is immune to the virus and seemingly indestructible, also seeks V1 despite his complicated relationship with Homelander, who is his biological son. This dynamic sets the stage for potentially explosive conflicts.

The trailer underscores the volatile nature of alliances within the series, especially given Soldier Boys antagonism toward Homelanders ideals despite their familial connection. Butcher and his crews efforts to secure V1 before Homelander and Soldier Boy do could lead to chaotic and violent outcomes, fueling the suspense for viewers eagerly awaiting episode 4.

Season 4s success has undoubtedly raised expectations for this concluding season. With its compelling mix of dark humor, brutal action, and complex characters, The Boys continues to explore the corrupt and corporate-controlled superhero world of Vought International. The series remains a critical and commercial hit, with its intricate storytelling and unflinching portrayal of power and corruption resonating deeply with audiences.

Fans of the show will recall that Homelander leads The Seven, Voughts premier superhero team, which is more about corporate branding than genuine heroism. This team includes notable characters such as Queen Maeve, A-Train, The Deep, Black Noir, and Starlight. Despite their public image as Earths greatest heroes, every rescue and appearance is carefully orchestrated for maximum PR and merchandise sales, revealing the cynical underbelly of the superhero mythos.

The stakes remain high as the boys continue to expose Voughts secrets, including the truth about Compound Vthe chemical compound responsible for creating Supes. This blue serum, developed by Voughts founder Frederick Vought, is injected into babies to manufacture superheroes, contradicting the public lie that Supes are divine gifts. Butcher and his teams mission to bring down this corrupt system hinges on exposing such truths and stopping Homelanders reign of terror.

Episode 4 promises to delve deeper into these themes, with the race for V1 acting as a pivotal plot device. The virus designed to take down Homelander, the fragile alliances, and the personal vendettas all converge to create a tense and unpredictable narrative. As Butcher pushes forward with his vendetta, the power struggles within Voughts world will only become more perilous.

The series also continues to explore the human side of its characters, particularly focusing on the impact of their actions on family and identity. Ryans conflict with his father highlights the emotional trauma inflicted by Homelanders cruelty, while Butchers relentless pursuit of justice (or revenge) adds layers to his complex character. The intertwining of personal and political conflicts enriches the storytelling, making The Boys a standout in the superhero genre.

With the final season underway, the stakes have never been higher for the characters fans have come to know. The battle lines are drawn, and the fight for control of V1 could determine the fate of both the heroes and the world they claim to protect. The teaser for episode 4 sets the tone for a season filled with violence, moral ambiguity, and high tension, promising a thrilling conclusion to the saga.

Prime Videos continued investment in the The Boys universe through spin-offs like Gen V and Vought Rising indicates the franchises strong future, but the main series finale remains the centerpiece for fans eager to see how the story wraps up. Episode 4s trailer gives a clear indication that the coming episodes will not shy away from brutal confrontations and emotional reckonings.

As the narrative unfolds, viewers will witness the consequences of Homelanders violent outburst against Ryan, the strategic moves made by Butcher and his team, and the looming threat posed by Soldier Boys involvement. Each characters motivations and alliances will be tested, making for a complex and riveting viewing experience.

In summary, the latest teaser for The Boys season 5, episode 4, amps up the anticipation for what is shaping up to be a climactic battle between the boys and Homelander. The search for V1, the introduction of the deadly supe virus, and the deepening of family conflicts all contribute to a narrative rich with tension and drama. Fans can look forward to more chaos, action, and emotional depth as the final season progresses.

With the series proven track record of blending sharp social commentary with intense action and character-driven storytelling, The Boys remains one of the most compelling superhero series on television. Episode 4 will likely continue this trend, delivering both spectacle and substance as the story races toward its conclusion.
Disney failed to coax Erik Per Sullivan out of retirement for the *Malcolm in the Middle* revival, forcing a major rewrite of Deweys storyline.

AceShowbiz - The revival of Malcolm in the Middle, titled Lifes Still Unfair, was designed with a specific intent to bring back Erik Per Sullivan, the original actor who played Dewey. However, despite efforts from the producers, the plan to coax him out of retirement ultimately did not succeed.

Erik Per Sullivan portrayed Dewey in the original series that aired from 2000 to 2006. When the four-episode revival was announced, most of the original cast returned, but Per Sullivan, who retired from acting to attend Harvard, chose not to participate. Actress Jane Kaczmarek, who starred as Lois, revealed that Per Sullivan was offered a substantial financial incentive to return but declined the opportunity.

In an interview with ScreenRants Grant Hermanns, executive producers Tracy Katsky and Linwood Boomer shared insights into the creative adjustments made to Deweys storyline in an attempt to accommodate Per Sullivans current lifestyle and reluctance to return to acting. The characters presence in the revival was mostly through a laptop video call, a storytelling choice driven by the hope that Per Sullivan would agree to a limited, remote role.

The reason that so much of Dewey is on a laptop is because we were trying up until the very last day to convince Erik to do it, Katsky explained. She added that filming remotely would have allowed Per Sullivan to participate without disrupting his schedule or requiring travel. Despite these accommodations, Per Sullivan declined the offer, a decision which the producers deeply respected.

It would be hard for me to turn something like that down, but it was not hard for him. It was very fast and easy for him to turn that down, Katsky said.

Linwood Boomer, the creator of both the original series and the revival, shared an amusing anecdote about their interaction during the casting process. Before becoming a producer, Boomer had an acting career, notably on Little House on the Prairie. When Boomer repeatedly asked Per Sullivan to return, the actor flipped the question back on him, asking if Boomer wanted to return to acting. Upon Boomers refusal, Per Sullivan humorously told him to stop pressing the issue.

Weve been friends, and I was getting a little bit like, Itd be so great. Can you do that? He said, Do you want to go back to being an actor? I was like, No. He said, Okay, well, stop bugging me about it, Boomer recalled.

After it became clear that Per Sullivan would not return, the team set out to cast a new actor to portray Dewey in the revival. Casting director Juel Bestrop discovered Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, whose audition tape impressed them so much that Katsky noted he looked even more like Dewey than Per Sullivan does now. This resemblance helped ease the transition for both the production team and the returning cast.

When some of the original cast members viewed Ellsworth-Clarks audition, they initially believed it was Per Sullivan himself. The newcomer quickly won over the cast and crew, fitting seamlessly into the dynamic despite stepping into a role made iconic by Per Sullivans performance.

We were really nervous. We knew it would be tough for fans because Erik is just an absolute icon; Deweys an icon, Katsky said. She praised casting director Bestrops dedication, recounting how she excitedly messaged the producers late at night after receiving Ellsworth-Clarks audition from Canada.

It was just an immediate like, Oh my god, he actually looks more like Dewey than Erik now looks like Dewey, Katsky added. Showing the audition tape to original cast members Frankie and Chris Masterson and Justin Berfield, they remarked that if they hadnt known better, they would have assumed the tape featured Per Sullivan himself.

Ellsworth-Clark integrated quickly with the cast, with everyone liking him and making him feel at home on set. The producers credited the original casts kindness and close-knit nature, which helped ease the newcomer into a role that carries significant fan expectations.

Linwood Boomer described Ellsworth-Clark as possessing an otherworldly quality with his speech patterns and eye movements that matched the characters signature traits. Boomer emphasized that Ellsworth-Clark understood the nuances of the role, including the timing and delivery needed to capture Deweys unique personality.

He knew where and how all the jokes were, and how theres a difference between just some guy saying it and a character like Dewey saying these things, Boomer explained.

He noted that the new Deweys portrayal, including his romantic escapades and slightly mischievous behavior, was done in a way true to the characters original essence, which pleased the producers greatly.

It has been 20 years since the original series ended, and the revival picks up with Malcolm navigating adulthood, including managing a daughter and a girlfriend while living far from his parents. The family remains as dysfunctional as ever, illustrated when Malcolm returns home and reconnects with his family in time for Lois and Hals anniversary celebration.

The four episodes of Lifes Still Unfair were released simultaneously on Hulu and have been met with mostly positive reviews, earning an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The revival was planned as a one-off reunion rather than a launchpad for a new ongoing series, though Boomer has not ruled out the possibility of a second season.

Malcolm in the Middle: Lifes Still Unfair is available to stream exclusively on Hulu, offering fans a nostalgic yet fresh look at the beloved characters and their evolving lives two decades after the original show concluded.
The Young and the Restless April spoilers: Shemar Moore returns as Malcolm, Vivica A. Fox is back, and a shocking secret child reveal rocks Genoa City.

AceShowbiz - The Young and the Restless spoilers reveal a thrilling lineup of events coming this April, packed with dramatic returns, surprising twists, and intense character developments that will captivate fans.

One of the most anticipated highlights includes the return of Shemar Moore as Malcolm Winters. Alongside him, Vivica A. Fox will reprise her role as Dr. Stephanie Simmons. These two characters share a complex past, and their reunion is set to ignite fresh drama in Genoa City.

The storyline involving Malcolm Winters and Stephanie Simmons will be pivotal, with a major revelation potentially altering the course of the show. Spoilers suggest that Holden Novak (played by Nathan Owens) might be connected to them as their long-lost child. This possibility adds a layer of emotional complexity, especially as Holden may find himself bonding with Claire Newman (portrayed by Hayley Erin) over the experience of discovering family later in life.

Claire Newman is not ready to let go of Holden either. Her impulsive nature still craves the excitement and connection Holden brings, hinting at a potential rekindling of their romantic involvement.

Meanwhile, Sharon Newman (played by Sharon Case) faces emotional turmoil as she observes the ongoing closeness between Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks) and Daniel Romalotti Jr. (Michael Graziadei). Sharons suspicions may be fueled by Tessas recent trip to Barcelona with Daniel and their plans to create an album together. This development could lead Sharon to question whether Tessa is genuinely committed to saving her marriage or simply giving false hope to Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes).

There is also concern about Mariahs mental health. If she learns about the persistent bond between Daniel and Tessa, it might trigger a setback during her stay at the psychiatric facility, adding further tension to the storyline.

On a different front, Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) continues to scheme, seeking allies to support her plans, while Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) focus on their own vendetta against Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Their combined efforts promise to escalate the rivalry among Genoa Citys key players.

Traveling to London, Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) have a chance to mend past wounds. This trip could help Billy repair his strained relationship with Jill Abbott (Jess Walton) and strengthen his connection with Sally. Viewers should watch for significant conversations about their future together, with the possibility of Billy proposing still lingering in the air.

Back home, the tension between Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) and Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) is expected to ease soon. Spoilers indicate that Cane will make a determined effort to prove his worth, paving the way for a romantic reunion that fans have long awaited.

In Las Vegas, the drama surrounding Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) is set to explodeliterally. Behind-the-scenes reports hint at a massive explosion, raising questions about Matts fate. Will he perish in the blast, or could this disaster provide him with an opportunity to escape?

Amidst the chaos, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and a drug-addicted Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) will confront shocking developments that promise to shake the foundation of the shows storylines.

Overall, April on The Young and the Restless promises a rollercoaster of emotions, unexpected reunions, and high-stakes drama. Fans can expect numerous surprises as the characters navigate complicated relationships and dangerous situations.

Stay tuned to CDL for the latest and most exciting The Young and the Restless spoilers and updates to keep up with all the action unfolding in Genoa City this spring.
Storage Wars pays tribute to Darrell Sheets in a special episode after his tragic death at 67, confirmed by police as a suicide in Lake Havasu City.

AceShowbiz - The recent episode of Storage Wars: Back to the Locker paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Darrell Sheets, just days after news of his passing broke. The installment aired on Saturday, April 25, 2026, concluding with an "In Memoriam Darrell Sheets" title card, displaying his birth and death years as a solemn acknowledgment of his impact on the series and fans alike.

The tragic circumstances surrounding Darrell Sheets' death were confirmed by Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. At the age of 67, Sheets died by an apparent suicide in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The Lake Havasu City Police Department released a statement describing the incident: "On April 22, 2026, at approximately 0200 hours, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of Chandler Drive in reference to a reported deceased individual. 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."

Darrell Sheets was a beloved figure on Storage Wars, known affectionately to fans as "The Gambler." He appeared on the show from 2010 through 2023, captivating viewers with his bold bids on abandoned storage lockers. His death has deeply affected his fellow cast members and the show's community, with many expressing sorrow and reflecting on his legacy.

A&E, the network behind Storage Wars, released a statement through a spokesperson saying, "We are saddened by the passing of a beloved member of our Storage Wars family, Darrell 'The Gambler' Sheets. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time." Sheets is survived by his two children.

Darrell Sheets had openly discussed his struggles with mental health. In June 2018, he posted on Instagram, expressing the relentless challenges of depression: "Depression is the Devil's way of attacking us. It knows no mercy, it takes our smiles it comes and goes, it ruins our relationships, it takes away our happiness, it leads to suicide in some cases, it destroys all thoughts of positivity, it is a 24/7 battle and allows no rest for the suffering."

In the weeks preceding his death, Sheets revealed that he was the target of cyberbullying. On March 9, 2026, he shared on Facebook that he had been hacked by "a very evil person," clarifying that certain posts were not authored by him but by others aiming to harm him. His onscreen rival, Rene Nezhoda, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly on April 24 about the harassment: "He was impersonating him with phone calls, messages, emails, websites ... He flat out said, 'I'm gonna ruin you.' All you have to do is go to Darrell's last few messages on Facebook. He kind of withdrew from social media."

The issue of cyberbullying extended beyond Sheets. Other cast members, including Dave Hester, have also reported receiving rude messages online. In a separate interview, Hester commented, "We've all had a little bit of that. We've been at this for 16, 17 years, and so there's always people who want to get on the internet and say rude things, but I don't even pay attention to it."

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sheets' death is ongoing, with authorities looking into the reported cyberbullying claims. The Lake Havasu City Police Department's Criminal Investigations Unit is handling the case, ensuring all aspects are thoroughly examined.

Fans and colleagues continue to mourn the loss of Darrell Sheets, who was admired not only for his role on the show but also for his candidness about mental health struggles. His passing has brought renewed attention to the serious impact of cyberbullying and the importance of mental health awareness.

For those affected by similar struggles, resources are available. Individuals in crisis are encouraged to call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for support and assistance.
Anthony Mackie & Ben Kingsley clash in Desert Warrior, a historical epic with stunning visuals, splitting critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

AceShowbiz - Desert Warrior is a historical action film starring Anthony Mackie and fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe star Ben Kingsley, which has sparked a split reaction between critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. While Marvel Studios gears up for its blockbuster releases Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, anticipation is high for Mackies return as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America. However, before stepping back into the MCU spotlight, Mackie leads this new epic set in an Arabian historical context.

The plot centers on an Arabian princess who allies with a legendary bandit, portrayed by Mackie, to confront the tyrannical Emperor Kisra, played by Kingsley. This cinematic narrative pits two Marvel stars against each other in a tale of resistance and survival, framed by sweeping desert vistas that recall the grandeur of classics like Lawrence of Arabia.

Despite the films visually striking presentation, Desert Warrior has not resonated well with film critics. As of its release, the movie holds a 31% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews. Many critics found the film underwhelming, describing it as dull and forgettable despite its ambitious scale. In a review for ScreenRant, Alex Harrison rated the movie a disappointing 4 out of 10 stars, calling it an epic misfire. He echoed the prevailing sentiment that the movie struggles to deliver style or charisma, labeling it mostly boring and trying too hard to be cool without success.

In contrast, general audiences have responded more positively to the film, awarding it a 62% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This favorable viewer reception continues a trend for Mackie, whose past six films have similarly received mixed or negative critical reviews but enjoyed better audience appreciation. Interestingly, most of those films were classified as rotten by critics, underscoring a disconnect between professional reviewers and moviegoers.

The production of Desert Warrior was notably protracted and complex. Filming began in September 2021 and wrapped in February 2022, making it one of the most expensive films ever produced in Saudi Arabia, with a $150 million budget. However, it took four additional years before the movie reached theaters, due largely to an extended post-production phase. Director Rupert Wyatt experienced a temporary departure from the project over creative differences but ultimately returned to complete the films editing.

Alongside Mackie and Kingsley, the cast features Aiysha Hart as the Arabian princess Hind, as well as Sharlto Copley, Sami Bouajila, Lamis Ammar, and Ghassan Massoud. The screenplay was co-written by Wyatt along with Erica Beeney and David Self, who also developed the story.

During the long wait for Desert Warriors release, both Marvel stars stayed active in the MCU. Mackie evolved from a supporting role under Chris Evans Steve Rogers into the lead hero in Captain America: Brave New World, where he officially took up the mantle of Captain America. Fans can expect to see him team up again with Evans and Sebastian Stan in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Ben Kingsley, known for his role as Trevor Slatterythe fake Mandarin in Iron Man 3has also maintained a strong presence in the Marvel universe. He appeared in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and was recently promoted to co-lead the Disney+ series Wonder Man. In this show, Kingsleys character Trevor forms a unique friendship with Simon Williams (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor with secret powers. The shows success led to a rare renewal for a second season, a significant achievement in Marvels television realm.

Currently playing in theaters, Desert Warrior offers an epic story set against a stunning historical backdrop, but its mixed reception highlights the challenge of balancing spectacle with engaging storytelling. While critics remain unimpressed by the films execution, audiences appear more willing to embrace its visual appeal and action sequences.

As Marvel fans await the release of Avengers: Doomsday, Mackies role in Desert Warrior provides a different kind of cinematic experience, showcasing his versatility beyond the superhero genre. Whether the film will gain a stronger following over time remains to be seen, but its current reception underscores the often wide gap between critical and audience opinions in todays movie landscape.
Kenya Moore's Atlanta hair salon evicted, items left on street after legal battle over $88K debt.

AceShowbiz - Kenya Moore faced a major setback as her Atlanta hair salon was shut down and its contents left on the street following a lengthy legal dispute. On April 24, 2026, the reality stars dream venture, the Kenya Moore Hair Spa, was officially evicted after a year-long battle with her landlord, culminating in thousands of dollars worth of salon equipment being removed and abandoned on the sidewalk.

Video footage captured by onlookers documented the removal of salon chairs, furniture, and boxes filled with hair products from the property. According to eyewitnesses, these items were left unattended on the curb for several hours, giving locals the chance to sift through the belongings before a U-Haul truck arrived to collect what remained. Under Georgia law, property left on the sidewalk following an eviction is deemed abandoned and can be lawfully taken by passersby without payment.

The eviction is the result of a protracted legal conflict involving nearly $88,000 in rent and utility arrears. Court documents reveal that Kenya Moores company, Moore Vision Media, was ordered in February 2026 to pay this amount after allegedly failing to keep up with rent payments starting in December 2024, just six months after the salons grand opening.

The landlords claim centers on unpaid rent, but Kenya Moore disputes this, asserting she withheld payments due to the landlords failure to reimburse her for $80,000 spent on tenant improvements. These funds were reportedly invested to transform the raw commercial space into a luxury hair spa. This discrepancy has been at the heart of the legal dispute that ultimately led to the eviction.

The downfall of the salon was further publicized by Brit Eady, a well-known rival and former co-star on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Eady, whose feud with Kenya Moore contributed to both leaving the shows 16th season, shared a video on Instagram showing the eviction process. In the clip, she drives past the salon while Kenyas belongings are stacked outside, captioning the post with the pointed remark, Never win when you play dirty. This added a sharp layer of drama, recalling their infamous dispute from the previous year.

Despite the public spectacle and material loss, Kenya Moore has responded with resilience. In a statement to TMZ, she framed the eviction as a strategic move amid ongoing legal battles. I have spent the last several weeks moving out of my salon as a result of my ongoing legal battle with the landlord, she said. My only recourse was to withhold rent and file a countersuit. I already have my outfit laid out for court, chile! The salon chapter is closing, but its just the beginning of a new era. Stay tuned!

The Kenya Moore Hair Spa has struggled with multiple challenges since opening. Local residents frequently complained that the salon was rarely operational and sometimes only appeared open for filming purposes. Additionally, reports from early 2026 indicate the business was administratively dissolved by the state, further complicating its status.

Financially, the venture has been costly. With approximately $300,000 invested in the salons build-out and a court judgment for $88,000 in unpaid rent and utilities, Kenya Moore faces losses approaching half a million dollars. The eviction and public fallout mark a significant setback for her entrepreneurial ambitions.

As the dust settles on this chapter, fans and observers are left wondering whether Kenya Moore will relocate and relaunch her salon business elsewhere or pivot to new ventures entirely. The reality stars statement hints at continued determination, signaling that her entrepreneurial journey is far from over.
WUHU, China, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026), JETOUR International officially unveiled its "Travel+" strategy and its dual brands JETOUR and SOUEAST made their first joint appearance. Dedicated to urban mobility, SOUEAST unveiled its full product lineup at the auto show for the first time.

"SOUEAST empowers every family to seamlessly switch between urban commutes and leisure travel, transforming journeys from distant plans into daily lifestyles." said Mr. Ke Chuandeng, President of JETOUR International. Leveraging JETOUR's R&D, technology, and global channel resources, SOUEAST will advance the "Travel+" strategy through continuous product and service enhancements tailored to users' needs worldwide.

Urban-Focused Product Lineup Draws Global Attention

Positioned as "the partner for urban mobility," SOUEAST showcased models including the S08 DM and concept S10 DM, addressing dual demands for daily mobility and recreational trips.

The S08 DM is a "7-Seat Urban Comfort SUV," With a 2.82m wheelbase, it stands out in its segment. An African Journalist praised its generous space and interior design. "The 15.6-inch Tilting Smart Screen is practical. Ventilated, massaging seats with memory functions exceed expectations. The S08 DM precisely caters to the needs of users."

Shared R&D Resources to Accelerate Product Innovation

Under the "Travel+" strategy, SOUEAST collaborates with JETOUR on global R&D, core platforms and supply chains, driving breakthroughs in hybrid powertrain and intelligent vehicle technologies.

SOUEAST's models feature C-DM high-efficiency hybrid technology, a direct descendant of the JETOUR technical lineage. By integrating a 1.5TGDI dedicated hybrid engine with a Single-Speed Super Hybrid DHT, the system delivers 255kW maximum power, 525Nm torque and 45% peak thermal efficiency. SOUEAST's intelligence is defined by two pillars: the smart cockpit and smart driving. The smart driving system supports 7 driving modes, L2-L3 ADAS and 1,000+ TOPS computing power. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, the smart cockpit adopts a 3D control system enabling intuitive interaction.

During the exhibition, over 100 top media and influencers from around the world test-drove the S08 DM. One auto media from Middle East commented: "The S08 DM's hybrid transition is remarkably smooth. With 355 HP and 530Nm torque, it outperforms typical family 7-seater SUVs in efficiency, range and acceleration."

According to reports, SOUEAST will launch a series of SUV-B products in the global market this year. To date, SOUEAST operates 6 overseas R&D centers across the EU, Middle East, Central and South America and ASEAN, cooperates with more than 60 universities worldwide. In the future, SOUEAST will implement the "Travel+" strategy, speed up product launches and channel development, optimize its sales and service network, expand globally, and provide premium mobility solutions for urban users.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2965857/20260426_212350.jpg
Discover why Nashville is now the top destination for Australian country artists, from Keith Urban's legacy to a new wave of talent making Music City home.

AceShowbiz - Decades after Keith Urban made the move from Queensland to Nashville, a fresh wave of Australian artists is staking their claim in Music City. What started as isolated success storiesUrbans Grammy-winning achievements, Tommy Emmanuels mentorship under Chet Atkins, and Morgan Evans platinum single "Kiss Somebody"has evolved into a steady transpacific flow of talent.

Australia now ranks as Nashvilles second-largest overseas market, surpassed only by the U.K., sending more tourists and temporary residents to the city than any other country. Each year, an increasing number of Australians arrive on O-1 visas, guitars in hand, intent on establishing themselves in a place where songwriting remains central to the culture.

One of the early movers, Jedd Hughes, relocated to Nashville in 2002. Raised near the Australian outback, Hughes was drawn not by the landscapes resemblance to classic Western imagery, but by the professional promise Nashville offered. Its hard to make a full-time living as a musician in Australia, Hughes explains. Touring opportunities are limited because of the vast distances between cities, and you can only hit the big markets once or twice a year.

Emma Swift, an ex-DJ for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, left her Sydney radio job in 2013 to chase an indie-folk career in Tennessee. Performing both solo and alongside her husband, U.K. songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, she considers Nashville a strategic hub for touring musicians. Australia has 28 million people, she notes. You can easily play 100 shows a year in America, but thats much tougher in Australia. Plus, Nashvilles proximity to Europe is a huge advantage  its a seven-hour flight to London versus 24 hours from Sydney.

Beyond logistics, Swift enjoys being an avid music fan in Nashvilles vibrant scene, where hundreds of shows are staged weekly. She recalls attending diverse performances in a single week, from Browns Diner to the Brooklyn Bowl. I could probably make it as a professional musician in Australia, but I stay here because theres nowhere else like it. The accessibility of the music scene is unique.

Other Australians are following similar paths. Katie Bates, an established solo artist from Melbourne, spent much of 2025 touring internationally as a sidewoman, including U.K. dates with Americana figure Sam Outlaw and Scandinavian shows with fellow Australians the Pleasures. Afterward, she returned to Nashville to record her single "Tunnel Vision." Despite globetrotting, Bates views Nashville as the prime destination for roots-oriented musicians willing to put in the work. Melbourne is our version of Music City, she says, but for Americana and country, the audience is smaller and the opportunities are limited. Why wouldnt you come to Nashville?

Bex Chilcott, performing as Ruby Boots, made the move from Perththe worlds most isolated major city, over 13,000 miles from the nearest metropolisto Nashvilles welcoming community. I needed a place where I could belong, Chilcott explains. Though I had a record deal in Australia, the alternative country scene there wasnt deep. That scene felt healthier in America, with bands like the Deslondes, Nikki Lane, and Emily Nenni. I wanted to find the people who live in that space.

Jeremy Dylan, another Sydney native, also found his way to Tennessee. He has helped bring Nashvilles top stars, including Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves, to Queenslands largest country festival, CMC Rocks QLD. Moving to Nashville in the 2010s allowed him to support niche artists thriving in the citys diverse ecosystem. Here, a middle-class art existence is achievable, Dylan says. Nashville supports musicians in sub-genres like esoteric folk. Its very hard to find those kinds of artists in Australia.

Phil Barton, originally from Sydney, dove straight into the heart of country musics mainstream industry on Music Row. He kickstarted his career by writing Lee Brices Number One hit "A Woman Like You." I landed my first publishing deal and was shocked that songwritingsomething Id done back in Australiacould be a real job in America, Barton recalls. Nashville felt magical, a place where I could write and earn a salary.

Barton fondly remembers celebrations for Australian successes, including parties for Morgan Evans and Lindsay Rimes chart-topping singles. Theres a strong Australian community here, and we all support each other.

That sense of camaraderie contrasts with the cultural climate back home, where "tall poppy syndrome" discourages ambition by promoting humility and criticizing those who stand out. Jordie Lane, who grew up in Melbournes Thornbury suburb, describes it as a national identity trait. Youre told to be content with what you have and not ask for more. We use humor to keep each other grounded, but it can erode confidence over time.

For many Australian artists, Nashville offers a refuge from this mindset, fostering a community where ambition and artistic growth are encouraged rather than stifled. Its a place where musicians can pursue their craft professionally, connect with like-minded peers, and find opportunities that remain scarce in their homeland.

As the flow of Australian talent continues to grow, Nashville stands as the undeniable epicenter for those seeking to turn their musical dreams into sustainable careers. From mainstream hitmakers to indie folk artists, the citys inclusive environment and strategic location make it an irresistible destination for artists eager to expand their horizons and reach wider audiences.
The Wheel of Time saga expands beyond the cancelled Amazon series with exciting new projects announced for the beloved fantasy universe.

AceShowbiz - The Wheel of Time continues to evolve as the beloved fantasy saga created by Robert Jordan, and completed by Brandon Sanderson, gears up for an exciting new chapter. Despite the Amazon Prime live-action adaptation being cancelled after three seasons, the franchise is far from over. Fans now have fresh reasons to be hopeful as a range of new projects have been announced, promising to expand the reach and depth of this epic universe.

When Robert Jordan originally pitched The Wheel of Time, his editor encouraged him to condense the story into a trilogy due to his tendency for lengthy narratives. However, the final series grew into an extensive 15-book sagaincluding a prequelcompleted by Brandon Sanderson after Jordans passing. The Amazon Prime adaptation, starring Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Zoe Robins, and Madeleine Madden, showed steady improvement across its three seasons but was ultimately discontinued.

According to Variety, a new partnership between the intellectual property owner, iwot Studios, and Thomas Vuproducer of the acclaimed animated series Arcaneis driving a fresh wave of Wheel of Time projects. These initiatives include a series of animated feature films, a new animated TV series, and a PC/mobile video game designed to broaden the franchises global appeal.

The planned video game aims to engage fans worldwide across multiple platforms, while both the TV series and animated films will target a younger audience to further enhance the franchises accessibility and appeal. These new projects are set alongside other ambitious works in development, such as The White Tower, a 3D animated feature; Kari Skoglands live-action film Age of Legends; and an open-world RPG game. Vu has even showcased a proof of concept featuring the character Rand alThor, signaling a strong creative vision for the franchises future.

The return of The Wheel of Time marks a significant opportunity to explore the sprawling mythology of Robert Jordans universe in mediums better suited for its grand scope. While the live-action series showed promise, the animation format offers unparalleled freedom to depict the extraordinary magic and epic battles that define the saga. This is especially exciting given Vus involvement, as his work on Arcane received critical acclaim as one of the best video game adaptations in recent years.

Vu will collaborate closely with iwot Studios CEO Rick Selvage and COO Larry Mondragon, both of whom have deep experience with the previous TV adaptation. This teams combined expertise aims to avoid past pitfalls and deliver a richer, more enduring franchise experience.

In an official statement, Vu expressed enthusiasm about the projects potential: I see tremendous opportunity in expanding The Wheel of Time into fully authentic, integrated, interactive, and animated storytelling experiences. The depth of the mythology provides a foundation for sustained, multi-platform franchise growth. While the comment may sound business-focused, it reflects a strategic approach to ensure longevity and success beyond the previous shows cancellation.

With these new animated films, TV series, and games on the horizon, the era of cancellation appears to be behind The Wheel of Time. The franchise is poised for a renaissance, ready to captivate both longtime fans and new audiences alike. The legend is preparing to turn once more, promising bold storytelling and immersive experiences across various formats.

What are your thoughts on the future of The Wheel of Time? Share your opinions and join the conversation in the ComicBook Forum!








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

According to recent reports Blackbird Security personnel at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Ottawa's Rideau Centre were accused of discriminatory behavior and racial profiling. Concerns about discriminatory treatment of racialized people have reportedly been raised by allegations and observations of consumers being aggressively pursued and observed.



According to a report, a customer at the Rideau Centre Shoppers Drug Mart was subjected to aggressive surveillance by a security guard while they were shopping. The guard claimed to be "doing their job," according to Tobj.ca.



The incident reveals a discrepancy between Loblaw Companies declared policies and the customer experience.



Although these particular findings just focus on the Rideau Centre, there have been other complaints of discrimination at other Shoppers Drug Mart locations..
Perhaps Im being too optimistic, but I think fewer people are buying into the hardcore cult propaganda that Marxist-globalists rain down on the world every day.

Advertisement

I see a few more rolled eyes around me when someone blames a thunderstorm on climate change. The last few stragglers of committed COVID-hyperventilators have taken off their paper masks when out in public (and have pleasantly discovered that abnormally rapid breathing disappears once dirty rags are removed from ones face). Ive heard more trans-enablers stating clearly that biological boys should not be in girls locker rooms or competing in their sports. More celebrities and academics (many of whom have proudly identified as atheists in the recent past) have begun to read the Bible and openly discuss the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Is the world healing? Has the ideological pendulum begun to swing back toward sanity? Have the Marxist-globalists dosed the world with so much propaganda over the years that the effectiveness of their lies is starting to fade? Does that mean the last century of Marxist-globalist sociological conditioning is beginning to wear off?

Advertisement

I think the lies that Marxist-globalists regularly tell have become too preposterous for the average person to swallow anymore.

Last week, the apocalypse-whisperer Al Gore was at a Hollywood climate change event honoring how wonderfully stupid all his celebrity friends are. Joined by The West Wing alum Bradley Whitford, both men discussed the likelihood that Earth will descend into another ice age in ten to twenty-five years. They referenced Roland Emmerichs 2004 wintry disaster movie, The Day After Tomorrow, in describing what we should expect. Prepare for snowdrifts!

Advertisement

Listening to this kind of doomsaying-lunacy-bordering-on-sexual-fetish, the average person says to himself, I thought you told us that global warming was going to incinerate us? Now youre predicting snow? Gores wildly inaccurate, scaremongering, anti-science, fever dream, An Inconvenient Truth, predicted that the Arctic Oceans summer ice would be gone by 2013 (wrong!) and that Mt. Kilimanjaro would have no snow by 2015 (also wrong!). The snake oil salesman who became filthy rich by selling disaster porn to the world promised that rising temperatures would soon (as in at least a decade ago!) leave Manhattan and Miami under twenty feet of water. Now, in 2026, apparently global warming is so last decades fashion, and were back to global cooling again! We already did global cooling during the 1970s! Does that mean bell-bottoms, disco, blaxploitation films, and kung fu will be making comebacks, too?

A century of the little boy who cried wolf telling us that using hydrocarbon fuels (or what the oh-so-educated elites among us call fossil fuels in order to pretend that everything runs on dinosaurs) would cause the planet to freezeor perhaps burnor maybe change our climate (Duh, the climate is always naturally changing, you idiots!)or produce a tornado somewhere in the Midwesthas forced a lot of people to ask, Why should we trust The Science when The Science sounds a lot like propaganda? When Marxist-globalists doubled down by turning a fifteen-year-old Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg, into the worlds leading authority on climate science, people capable of thinking beyond the limits of government programming finally had enough.

Advertisement

Then some people wondered: If man-made global warming is just a government scam meant to justify new taxes and more burdensome impositions upon personal freedom, what other lies might Marxist-globalists tell? Ding-ding-ding, welcome to COVID! Lets be honest: A lot of people who had figured out the Global Warming/Cooling/Climate Change/Extreme Weather Hoax should not have fallen for the COVID Hoax. Come on, guys; the Marxist-globalists ran the exact same apocalyptic playbook but turbocharged the pace: We regret to inform you that you will not die from global warming because you will all die from COVIDunless you do exactly what we say!

I know, I knowits really difficult to accept that authority figures really do lie to us all the time. I mean, what kind of people would shamelessly bankrupt small businesses while generating record profits for Amazon and Walmart? How luciferian must our degenerate ruling class be if it is willing to arrest Christians for attending church, while encouraging race hucksters to burn down cities in the name of justice? How psychopathic must our leaders be to bar people from comforting dying loved ones in hospitals or attending their funerals? Unfortunately for us, Marxist-globalists represent the apex class of shameless, luciferian, degenerate, psychopaths.

Advertisement

The one-two punch of the Global Warming Hoax and the COVID Hoax seemed to have opened up many eyes in the West. People who arent normally inclined to question government authority looked around and wondered, Could these liars also be lying to us when they say that men have babies and women have penises? Is it possible that taxpayer-funded NGOs launder money into politicians pockets? Would the Southern Poverty Law Center really fund the Ku Klux Klan in order to cook up enough fake racism to stay relevant? You say enough of these things out loud, and you realize that the whole construct of Marxist-globalism consists of lies, fraud, new forms of control, and new taxes.

People are now waking up to a rather startling set of propositions: Marxist-globalist governments lie to them regularly. Those lies cause harm to citizens. When citizens complain, Marxist-globalist governments tell more lies and try to redirect blame (Its Trumps fault; Its Putins fault; Its that blasted global warming!). When citizens see through those lies, too, Marxist-globalist governments turn to the same blunt instrument that all totalitarian governments choose: censorship.

Advertisement

It is no coincidence that the United Kingdom (through the Online Safety Act) and the European Union (through the Digital Services Act) are building digital censorship infrastructure meant to keep citizens from talking about certain taboo topics (such as mass illegal immigration and the Islamic conquest of their nations) and prevent public debate about anything Marxist-globalist governments do. Canada (through the Online News Act) has made it similarly difficult for citizens to read any information that is contrary to official government propaganda. Under the guise of protecting the children, Australia has implemented age-verification requirements for social media platforms. From its Harmful Digital Communications Act of 2015 to its more recent Safer Online Services project intended to regulate all online content, New Zealand is leading the charge among Western nations (at peace) in implementing total government control over (and censorship of) online speech. Among Western nations at war, Ukraine permits no online dissent to the edicts of its martial-law government. Strangely, nobody in Europe finds it incongruous that Ukraines much-vaunted defense of democracy from Russian authoritarianism requires Ukrainian authoritarians to suppress basic democratic principles. Even in the United States  the nation with a First Amendment explicitly protecting free speech from government censorship  Democrats (an inappropriate political party name if ever there was one) are itching to resurrect the Biden administrations Disinformation Governance Board designed to censor  in the name of national security  anything that government bureaucrats deem as misinformation, malinformation, or disinformation.

All across the West, therefore, a similar chain of events is occurring: (1) Marxist-globalists have told so many lies that a critical mass of citizens has begun to notice. (2) As citizens push back against the lies of their Marxist-globalist governments, those governments are becoming increasingly hostile to citizens. (3) In defense of their own authority, Marxist-globalist governments now embrace censorship and the criminalization of private thoughts. (4) Citizens have begun to realize that their own Marxist-globalist governments are the greatest threat to their freedoms, security, and prosperity.

What happens next? Maybe (5): We take the whole Marxist-globalist freak-show down for good. Its time to end their lies.

Image via PickPik.
American social scientist Richard Hanania recently wrote about outgrowing German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It was a fascinating read. That post-modern thinker has remained an interesting figure: a harbinger of the nihilism in modern life, a penetrating psychologist into mans inner tensions between greatness and limitations, and a sardonic troll of the stuffy philosophical world before trolling emerged as a social media moniker.

Advertisement

Not only investing a Romantic approach to Western thought, but Nietzsche also denigrated the past as a source of all wisdom in itself. His push for radical individualism, disregard for systems, and an energetic drive to normalize faith in the self (since there wasnt anything else to believe in) inspired and radicalized a generation of thinkers.

A lot of these rebellious thinkers, so-called iconoclasts, are indeed people who failed at life. Nietzsche clearly had Daddy issues, surrounded by women, put upon all the more because of his weak constitution. He struggled to be a man in a world that vaulted masculinity to an impossible ideal for those physically limited. Indeed, Hanania was onto something when he pointed out that Nietzsche is a crutch for men who (think they have) failed at life.

Advertisement

Hananias commentary also reminded me of another philosopher whom I had read during my high school and early college years. More Christian in bent regarding the authority of the Scriptures, he still rebelled against the system and the man, arguing that the established Church and Christian culture were failing in Gods mission. His own voracious reading and logorrhea run rampant, revealing many turns of humor and wit.

In some ways, this philosopher/theologian was a brighter, religious foil to Nietzsches dark, laughter-of-the-damned atheism.

Advertisement

I am writing about the wily Dane, Soren Kierkegaard.

My senior year in high school, I came across his writings in the local library. His last name alone was hard to ignore. From there, I read his signature treatise on faith and the sacrificial account of Abraham and Isaac, Fear and Trembling. The poetic depth of his passages on the role of the poet and the beautiful courage of Father Abraham brought tears to my eyes. I admired The Knight of Faith, desiring to live a life filled with peace and purpose, in which everything has meaning and encounters nothing but wonder in an otherwise plain world.

Advertisement

Kierkegaards other work, The Sickness Unto Death, captivated me, as well. His first paragraph (Man is spirit. But what is spirit? Spirit is the self? But what is the self?  ) made me laugh out loud. His cryptic syntax served as a necessary jab and tonic to the prolix Hegelian universalism swamping European colleges and discussion halls at the time. The titles of his books were quite gruesome, and his voluminous readings on the topics were profound in every sense. Kierkegaard intended for his writings to be difficult because he was engaging in parody but also stripping away the self-righteousness of a smug world determined to prove its own smarts.

He popped the pretension of Danish academics. He maligned the bland hypocrisy of the Danish clergy. He trained much of his mockery against philosopher du jour George Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel, and that Germanic gargantuan insistence on reducing everything to a strict dialectical process without ethical considerations. Hegels attempt at a new dynamic logic rejected Aristotles foundational Law of the Excluded Middle, which bothered Kierkegaardand should outrage all of us!

Advertisement

For someone who struggled with living at the time, I found solace in reading Kierkegaard. I enjoyed his humor and broad rhetorical tricks. I was amazed at how a writer for a minor Scandinavian language could express such complex, powerful, and eternal thoughts. From the three stages of life: aesthetic, ethical, and religious, to his discussions about truth and subjectivity, to the realities of the sickness unto death, which is sin, to his playful insolence, almost as though like some philosophical Andy Kaufman, Kierkegaard pretended to be someone else and wrote entire books in that persons persona.

Irony and indirect communication were his game, and breaking the smug self-satisfaction of the masses was his aim.

Advertisement

There is a harshness to Kierkegaard, though, a relentless Pharisaism which gives off the impression that no one is good enough. As W. H. Auden later wrote, Kierkegaard turned into a spiritual prima donna, thinking that he was better than everybody else.

The hardships we face cannot be overcome by philosophical texts. Who can overcome the sorrows and struggles of life with lots of thinking? There are bills to pay, people to see, challenges to deal with, hardships to overcome, and victories to enjoy. All of the abuses and traumas that I had suffered as a child could not be resolved by reading philosophy.

Furthermore, faith in falsehood cannot save, no matter how earnest the faith. Truth matters, and truth is not something that we come up with or is something merely grounded in our personal experience. In one of his most massive texts, The Concluding Unscientific Postscript, Kierkegaard writes: Truth is subjectivity.

No, it isnt. If you jump into a pool, thinking its ten feet deep but actually only three feet deep, you will crack your head on the concrete. If you are dying of thirst in the desert, and you spy an oasis, only to find more sand, you will die. Kierkegaards determination to turn inwardness into certainty is not only wrong but dangerous. He minimized biblical revelation in other ways. In The Book on Adler, Kierkegaard argued that God doesnt speak anymore. Yet the New Testament is replete with accounts of the Holy Spirit directing man to do Gods will.

Kierkegaards miserly misunderstandings of Christianity ignored the fullness of the sacrifice that Christ Jesus accomplished on the Cross, and one can see the serious problems people will run into when they take someone like Kierkegaard seriously. If Nietzsches philosophy was consolation for those who were no good at living, then Kierkegaards philosophy is a comfort measure for Christians who dont understand the Gospel.

Christian faith is not subjective. Its not about our feelings, but its based on the accomplished fact and the eternal efficacy of Christs sacrifice on the cross. Where Kierkegaard talked about Jesus as an example, the Gospel proclaims Him as the Savior whom we receive. Only then do we follow him, only then do we learn to love others, and only because we learn that He first loved us.

As I matured, I found Kierkegaard unappealing and unrewarding. Kierkegaard believed in a law-centered, man-centered Christianity, one where man has to try harder in his own efforts, where there is never a sense of peace and rest. Very little time did he spend expounding on the wonders and grace of God, the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Hananias excellent write-up about growing out of Nietzsche motivated me to reflect on how I learned to grow up out of Kierkegaard. While the Wiley Dane, who lashed out at academia and the established church, was entertaining for a time, I realize today that retreating into philosophical word play was just a comfort measure to run away from deeper problems.

In other words, philosophy for people who have failed at life.

Image created using AI.
While the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction in the Citizenship Clause is the main event in lawsuits seeking to invalidate President Trumps January 2025 executive order on citizenship, the litigation also features an undercard bout concerning whether Congress changed the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction during the thirteen-year period from 1927 to 1940. If it didnt, thats significant.

Advertisement

This article does not seek to address the phrase subject to the jurisdiction in either the Citizenship Clause or acts of Congress. Instead, it examines whether the statutory meaning of subject to the jurisdiction could have changed in the years between 1927 and 1940.

In 1927, Congress used the term in a U.S. Virgin Islands citizenship statute. Thirteen years later, the phrase popped up again in sections 201(a) and 202 of the Nationality Act of 1940. If its possible to establish that the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction in these citizenship statutes was stable from 1927 to 1940, it would seem to follow that any effort to invalidate the executive order on statutory grounds must take the 1927 legislation into accountand that legislation favors President Trumps position.

Advertisement

So far, the 1927 statute has been conspicuous by its absence from courtrooms and commentary. In the birthright citizenship case argued on April 1, respondents rested their statutory challenge on legislation enacted in 1940 and 1952. The First Circuit blessed this statutory argument in a separate case last year without a word on the 1927 law. When Justice Gorsuch asked three weeks ago whether subject to the jurisdiction might have distinct constitutional and statutory meanings, he, too, took 1940 as the starting point of the statutory inquiry.

In 1927, 1940, and 1952, Congress passed multiple subject to the jurisdiction citizenship provisions applicable to the U.S. Virgin Islands and/or Puerto Rico.

Advertisement

Section 3 of the Act of February 25, 1927, provides:

All persons born in the Virgin Islands of the United States on or after January 17, 1917 (whether before or after the effective date of this Act), and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States. Advertisement

The laws legislative history is hardly voluminous. 1926 and 1927 committee reports from the Senate and House used identical language to yoke this provision to the Citizenship Clause:

Section 3 provides for persons hereafter born in the Virgin Islands of the United States. The rule of citizenship already provided in the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Advertisement

To date, I have not uncovered any evidence that Congress invested subject to the jurisdiction of the United States with any special meaning in this provision.

Thirteen years later, the Nationality Act of 1940s definition of United States encompassed Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Section 201(a) of the act provided:

Advertisement

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth: (a) A person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof...

Section 202 provided:

All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, residing on the effective date of this Act in Puerto Rico or other territory over which the United States exercises rights of sovereignty and not citizens of the United States under any other Act, are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States.

Under the oft-stated principle that the normal rule of statutory interpretation that identical words used in different parts of the same statute are generally presumed to have the same meaning, the scope of subject to the jurisdiction would be identical in Sections 201(a) and 202.

Respondents in Barbara contend that a report to Congress from three of President Roosevelts cabinet secretaries bolsters their reading of Section 201(a). That same report states that Section 202 places Puerto Rico on a par with the Virgin Islands with regard to the effect of birth therein since its annexation to the United States.

The statutes passed in 1927 and 1940 declare that those born in the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. for citizenship purposes. To rule that Section 201(a) of the Nationality Act of 1940 changed the law in the Virgin Islands requires the same words to mean different things before and after 1940.

Further, neither party in Barbara attempted to rebut the presumption that the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction is identical in Sections 201(a) and 202 of that act. And the report to Congress from the Roosevelt administrationwhich respondents in Barbara themselves rely onstates that Section 202 places Puerto Rico on a par with the Virgin Islands, providing additional support for the view that the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction is identical on all sides of this statutory triangle.

As in the Nationality Act of 1940, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952s definition of the United States included the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two of the INAs subject to the jurisdiction citizenship provisions concerned the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Section 301(a), as amended (8 U.S.C.  1401(a)) provides:

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth: (a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof;

Section 306(b) (8 U.S.C.  1406(b)) echoes key elements of Section 3 of the Act of February 25, 1927:

All persons born in the Virgin Islands of the United States on or after January 17, 1917, and prior to February 25, 1927, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are declared to be citizens of the United States as of February 25, 1927; and all persons born in those islands on or after February 25, 1927, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are declared to be citizens of the United States at birth.

Whatever Congress might have been trying to do in 1940 or 1952, it picked legislative language spectacularly ill-suited to changing the law in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a result, the Supreme Court has been handed a statutory argument that kicks off in medias res, skipping past the 1927 law.

In the Most Important Case of the Century (So Far), the party advancing the statutory argument against the executive order ought to have been asked about the 1927 law. So why didnt the Supreme Court do that? Why didnt the Solicitor General bring it up? The 1927 statute isnt hiding. Its the fourth result when searching for and subject to the jurisdiction in the Statutes at Large prior to 1940 on the Government Publishing Office website.

Image by Matt Popovich.
Earlier this month, I wrote that a leftist outlet openly stated that migrants sexually assaulting European women is a great way to help assimilate the migrants. This was not a joke. Now, in another not a joke moment, a major German insurance provider has released a commercial reminding German women and men to use contraception, especially when one of the two men in the bed is definitely not German.

Advertisement

AOK is one of Germanys largest health insurance providers. One of its approaches to healthcare is to provide free access to doctors for contraception counseling and consultations. To promote this service, it created a 17-second ad.

The ad shows a stereotypically Germanic-looking young woman leaving the arms of her sleeping, equally Germanic-looking (male) lover. Then theres an overlay with a sultry video of the woman looking at the camera as she walks out of the room, along with the caption, Mit irh? (With her?)

Advertisement

The main camera then shifts to a picture of the same Germanic man sleepily sitting up. He looks over his shoulder, and you can see that there is a third person in the bed, although you cant yet see the person. As the camera pulls back a little more, we see that its a sleeping, dark-haired, bearded man.

Theres a new overlay, this time a video of the Germanic man casting obviously sultry looks at his dark-haired, male bed partner. We get a shot of the dark-haired mans hand and arm. We then get a close-up shot of the man. Hes obviously not German, for he has swarthy skin and frizzy hair.

Advertisement

And now another shot, this time of the Germanic mans hand closing gently over the darker mans hand. And theres a new caption: Mit ihm? (With him?)

The woman walks back into the scene and smiles broadly, clearly pleased with what she sees happening on the bed. Another caption appears: Mit beiden? (With both?) She then drives into the bed, joining the two men who lie pressed together in a tangle of sheets.

Advertisement

Under the Mit beiden? caption, more words appear.

#AllesOK (All is good, which is also a pun on AOK, the companys name)

Advertisement

Mit der AOK ist dein Liebes-leben safe. Wir bezahlen dir die Verhutungsberatung. (With AOK your love life is safe. We pay for your contraception counseling)

So that you can see Im telling the absolute truth, heres the ad:

Advertisement

An advert in Germany promoting contraception teaches young white couples to have THREESOMES with MIGRANTS



No I'm not making this up



The ad has now gone VIRAL for all the wrong reasons with many saying it promotes outright degeneracy pic.twitter.com/CqMJ7JkgD1  Basil the Great (@BasilTheGreat) April 25, 2026

Can you imagine if Aetna or Blue Cross started promoting threesomes? Given the lefts admiration for all things European, unless we put the brakes on the Democrats, this is where well be, too, in a few years.

But whats probably more important is that the third in the threesome is so manifestly non-German. One could argue that the ad is simply leaning into the exotic for something more titillating and artistic. What better way to capture peoples attention and encourage them to use contraceptives? However, I dont think thats whats happening here.

Instead, it seems like a continuation of the German social pressure on young women to make nice, very, very nice with the millions of Africans and Middle Easterners who have flooded the country since 2015. Its also a not-so-subtle message to these immigrants, who rape a lot more than Europeans traditionally do, that at the very least, they should wear condoms before they do so.

I dont really have a lot more to add. I figure youve got all the opinions on this that you need.

The one thing Ill say is that, if you want to put the kibosh on unlimited immigration to America from third-world countries, dont vote Democrat, and dont sit out the coming election. No matter how weak congressional Republicans are, Democrats are worse. A refusal to vote for your local Republican candidate has the practical effect of voting for those crazy Dems.

Header image: X screen grab (cropped).
We've seen it before -- the giggling, the gloating. The left always dances a jig whenever evil takes a shot at President Trump, which happened again last night. President Trump charitably called the would-be assassin 'a sick person.' But the left embraced that 'sick.' They hate Trump so much they hailed that sicko and all the evil around him.

Advertisement

The most hideous ones were found on X:

Teacher says shell pray for better aim following Trump ass*ssination attempt



Does anyone know where she works? pic.twitter.com/stRC8oPksA  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 26, 2026

Meet Leanna Rusciano Carter, who works for Clay Realty in Raleigh, NC. Apparently, she is unhappy that the assassin missed again.



You know what to do! pic.twitter.com/7MsGftIupl  I Meme Therefore I Am  (@ImMeme0) April 26, 2026

HOLY CR*P  This brewery called Minocqua Brewing Company in Wisconsin upset that Donald Trump didnt get assassinated tonight is owned by Kirk Bangstad



Kirk Bangstad is a Democrat who ran for Wisconsin State Assembly



He founded a Democrat Super PAC that raised millions to pic.twitter.com/WFAZ2pZtkB  Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 26, 2026

Unfortunately, those of us involved in Wisconsin politics are all too familiar with Minocqua Brewing.



Kirk Bangstad has a track record of funding the farthest left democrat candidates nationwide, through a Super PAC, and the brewery serves as an enclave for the most vile https://t.co/yspH2kHHvV  Brady Penfield (@brady_penfield) April 26, 2026

What goes on in that bar when we're not looking?

Advertisement

Then there were the crazy eyes:

This is Threads, tonight. We live among monsters. pic.twitter.com/M7EZjgUgDa Advertisement April 26, 2026

SHOCKING THREAT: South Carolina Woman Points Loaded Shotgun at Trump and Republicans  I Will Shoot You in the Head



This radical leftist, Alissa Haase, openly threatens to murder President Trump and GOP leaders with a shotgun in a disturbing TikTok video. While waving a real pic.twitter.com/KUZRUG5fa0  AshleY (@Aku_700) April 26, 2026

And the physical protestors, with their signs in trademark pink:

NEW: Protesters seen holding signs saying death to all of them outside the Washington Hilton after a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner. pic.twitter.com/V7jCblqYJu Advertisement April 26, 2026

Of course, one of them said he would set up a fundraiser:

Vincent Hawkins, an ER nurse and anti-ICE organizer calls for support of WHCD shooter,



A school teacher in California is the one that took a shot at Donald. Well have that school teachers legal GoFundMe account here soon. Im sure itll hit $10 million, and well get Luigis pic.twitter.com/VRiQAc1g7t  Defiant Ls (@DefiantLs) April 26, 2026

Was it this guy?

Advertisement

And certainly the mood was there in the runup to the awful event:

Advertisement

Did Jimmy Kimmel, in his fake WHCD routine from a few days ago, really say, "Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow."? Yes, he did. https://t.co/NMcITkp2gVhttps://t.co/68BV3g38Hx  Byron York (@ByronYork) April 26, 2026

This leftist unhinged maniac is a SCHOOL TEACHER from Ohio.



He is praying for Trump to DIE every single morning and night.



Would you want this guy teaching your kids? pic.twitter.com/zuy2mnJBZF  JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) April 25, 2026

A thought - Over 250 "Journalists" signed a letter that Trump should be made to feel "uncomfortable" at this event. I wonder if they will have regrets for sending that message out. https://t.co/cCsAkFFT5o  Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) April 26, 2026

Just so we all understand the new rules, they have been formalized and articulated: There are none.



One has to break a few eggs, see.



And you're the eggs.



Good to get the confusion out of the way.



The moral monstrosity of the New York Times podcast https://t.co/VnPHV6arno  Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) April 25, 2026

Hasan Piker publicly advocating for Trumps assassination.



This is who Democrats are campaigning with.



Sick. pic.twitter.com/AXIMgL55B1  Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) April 26, 2026

More mainstreaming of Hasan Piker by prominent left-oriented media personalities.



Former Daily Show personality Trevor Noah is collaborating with Piker, who is unapologetic raging antisemite, rape apologist, advocate for political assassinations (Trump, U.S. Senators, CEOs of https://t.co/FMjoA5DMa3  Adam Mossoff (@AdamMossoff) April 26, 2026

Meanwhile, on Bluesky, the mood was more 'intellectual.'

A sampling:

Did he say what 'better' was? Can you guess?

A certain number of them declared that the would-be assassin was a Trump supporter.

A larger number of them claimed it was 'staged':

Obviously, they are constrained by staff rules and can't openly advocate for assassination as they have in the past -- there must have been a lot of visits from the Secret Service to the owners of that thing, so they have gone passive-aggressive, with their claims that the attempt was staged or done by a Trump supporter. But that doesn't stop what they are after, which we can see clearly enough on X and Threads.

It's gross, and once again, the left showed its true colors.

Image: X screenshot
Oh, how the Democrats try to make lemonade out of their lemons!

Advertisement

In what must have been the funniest post on X on Saturday, Congressman Dave Min of Orange County, who represents coasty Irvine, Laguna Beach, and some of Newport Beach, toodled around on a scooter at the Capital, to show us all how he's saving the Earth and going green, to an adoring reporter. He does sit on the House Natural Resources Committee, being an environmentalist and all.

This reporter wrote a gushing piece about his worthiness and all his big plans to regulate other people's use of scooters.

Advertisement

Its hard to miss @CongressMin on Capitol Hill  hes the one riding the electric scooter.



Nows hes turning his love for the speedy method of transportation into bipartisan legislation to create federal standards for e-bikes and other micro-mobility methods.@SpectrumNewsDC pic.twitter.com/KSujK1nBaA  Cassie Semyon (@casssemyon) April 24, 2026

Just one problem: He's not choosing to ride an electric scooter to lower his carbon footprint or save the Earth, vowing to regulate these things in his next legislative act.

He's riding a scooter because he probably has to ride a scooter if he wants to make sure he stays out of trouble. He's on a three-year probation stretch for drunk driving.

Advertisement

According to the California Globe, back in 2023:

According to the Capitol Protection Section of the California Highway Patrol, Senator Min was driving a Toyota Camry through Sacramento after 10 P.M. At 10:23 P.M., the CHP observed Min go south on Ninth Street just north of S Street without headlights on. Following him, they then witnessed him go through a red light at 9th Street and Broadway before finally pulling him over at Riverside and Broadway. Advertisement Earlier that night, Min had gone to a few bars with fellow Assembly members, lobbyists, and realtors, and was shown to have had some alcohol that night. He had then left in a state silver Camry. The officers proceeded to conduct a DUI test on Min. However, he failed, and he was arrested on suspicion of driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08%. Later reports revealed that he had blown a .15 on scene with later blood tests giving a .14 and .13 respectively. This was confirmed with Min then formally charged with a DUI misdemeanor, arrested, and sent to Sacramento County Jail. On Wednesday morning, May 3rd, the Senator was subsequently released and was given a July hearing date. Advertisement Later in May, footage of Mins DUI arrest was released, leading to some to call for his resignation or for him to pull out of the 2024 Congressional race as a result. However, in August 2023, Min pleaded no contest on Tuesday to his misdemeanor first-time DUI and received three years of unsupervised probation, $2,050 in fines, and a 30-hour state-licensed alcohol and drug education program that all first time DUI offenders must take.

That made him a figure of fun when he put on the scooter-is-better act:

Advertisement

BECAUSE HE GETS DUIs



It's called a drunk-cycle (pronounced drunk-sickle, amirite @dogwoodblooms?) https://t.co/JdrFpxPDst  Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) April 25, 2026

Picture on the right is Min failing his sobriety test... WHILE DRIVING A STATE-OWNED CAR



That's why he drives a scooter around DC... https://t.co/7aTiwBfhAQ  Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) April 25, 2026

This report is ridiculous. Not a single mention of why @DaveMinCA is being FORCED to scoot around Capitol Hill like a budget Batman.



Let me clue you in: his love for scooters was inspired by the night he got a DUI in a government vehicle... and hes still on probation for it. https://t.co/lfn0wagnTM pic.twitter.com/WLMvEh82E6  Christian Martinez (@CDHMartinez) April 24, 2026

All it did was remind those who remember that this guy isn't the best guy to have anything at all to do with roads, regulatory or otherwise. He's a drunk driver and he does what he can with his drunk-cycle, doing his best to get by, and as a politician, look good.

He's not the worst Democrat out there, but cripes, what a goof. He shouldn't be advertising what he 'has to do' as something people should imitate. There are all kinds of problems with that.

Image: Screen shot from X video
Happy Sunday. Pope Leo is talking away, and this time, we like what he is saying.

Advertisement

Pope Leo XIV has defended the right of states to regulate their borders while insisting migrants must always be treated with dignity. Speaking to journalists on April 23 during the return flight from the apostolic journey to Africa, Pope Leo addressed a question on migration posed by Eva Fernandez of COPE, responding that the issue is a global and complex phenomenon. Leo affirmed that states have a right to set rules for their borders and warned that unregulated entry can generate social disorder, calling simultaneously for the humane treatment of migrants and for greater economic responsibility from wealthier nations toward poorer regions. Advertisement I personally believe that a state has the right to set rules for its borders. I am not saying that everyone must enter in any way, without order, creating situations that are sometimes more unjust in the place where they arrive, Pope Leo said.

That's good to hear  especially the part about unregulated entry causing social disorder. Maybe Republicans should use that line, because it explains the problem so clearly. Thanks, Pope Leo!

Advertisement

So what happened? I don't think anything did. My guess is that the pope recognizes that you can't have a religion promoting social disorder. Unfortunately, a lot of Catholic organizations in the U.S. are promoting humanity and not understanding how much social disorder it causes.

Unregulated entry, as Pope Leo beautifully calls it, also allows foreign governments to use immigration as a way of getting rid of their own people. They mismanage their countries and forward the discontented to the U.S.-Mexico border. Nice strategy, but it backfired when millions joined the caravan.

Advertisement

Another possibility is that Pope Leo may be checking his neighborhood, or what unregulated entry is doing to European cities. It's not pretty, to say the least.

Ill be happy to attend Mass this Sunday and know that my pope understands the issue of unregulated entry.

Advertisement

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Advertisement

Image: Pope Leo XIV. Credit: Edgar Beltran via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Blog Archive: Apr 2026 (138) Mar 2026 (155) Feb 2026 (140) Jan 2026 (155) Dec 2025 (126) Nov 2025 (141) Oct 2025 (153) Sep 2025 (149) Aug 2025 (154) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55)
So, a couple of thousand beautiful people escaped death and injury last night when yet another crazed leftist loaded with death-dealing weapons rushed the ballroom at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., where the White House Correspondents' dinner was just getting underway.

This should come as no surprise to anyone, given the relentless, violent, hateful rhetoric from just about everyone on the left except John Fetterman!

Much of that rhetoric came from people in that room.

And now that the odious, corrupt SPLC has finally been exposed for what it has been doing for decades  paying out millions to create fake racist incidents like the one in Charlottesville, the one that Joe Biden and the rest of the left edited to mislead on what Trump actually said and used endlessly to malign the president, what happened tonight is hardly unexpected.

The left is well and truly diabolical; they will say and do anything to take out their opponents, no matter how completely innocent of the things of which they are accused. Our left has been on this crusade since Trump came down that escalator in 2015.

The Clint Eastwood film, In the Line of Fire (1993) came immediately to mind.

The assassin in that story made a gun out of plastic (3D printed?) to get by the metal detectors and was nearly successful in killing the president, but for Eastwoods character, Frank Horrigan, leaping in front of the bullet. In the film, there was a warning that Eastwoods character had been investigating for weeks. He knew there was an assassin afoot.

In last nights event, the shooter took the elevator from the second floor and ran fast through the lobby of the hotel, apparently shooting as he ran, in an apparent effort to reach the ballroom. He was using a long gun and did hit one of the Secret Service men, who was thankfully wearing a Kevlar vest.

How he thought he would get past the Secret Service and local police is a mystery. But, of course, the people who attempt to shoot and kill in public are generally certifiably insane, perhaps committing suicide by cop. We do not yet know what motivated Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, CA, to do what he did. According to his resume, he is a smart man who graduated from Caltech with a degree in mechanical engineering. However, he had donated twenty-five dollars to Kamala Harris and ActBlue, which does not say much for the quality of his judgment.

But heres a question. Why wasn't every guest at the Hilton checked out carefully? This is the same Hilton where President Reagan was nearly killed by a gunman in 1981.

How did he check in with a handgun, a long gun, and several knives, especially after the 2017 Las Vegas slaughter of innocents? And why was the little room where a witness saw him assemble his long gun unguarded? It does seem that the security was not top-notch, but then they are not being paid thanks to the Democrats refusal to fund them, TSA, and FEMA.

One might assume the Democrats were hoping there might be another attempt on Trumps life. Would they mind collateral deaths to that end? Probably not. Read through the posts on X by Trump haters; again, too many post their sorrow that this attempt failed. That so many people are so full of hate, so damaged by Trump derangement, that they willingly post proof of their own psychic and moral breakdown for all to see continues to be shocking, even after eleven years.

There is much we still do not know about this man, Cole Allen, and will likely learn in the coming days. This man cant have expected to run into a ballroom full of two thousand people and hoped to kill Trump. Will the details be buried like they were after Butler? We shall see. But, yet again, one thing is very clear: President Trump is a very cool customer, even under fire. That is just one more character trait for which the left hates the man. He is everything they are not.
Journalists stand in front of a house believed to be linked to the suspect in the shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner, on Sunday in Torrance, California. Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images (Photograph: Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Investigators are looking into anti-Trump sentiment as being a motive for the attacker who sought to breach the White House correspondents dinner in Washington DC where the US president and top members of his administration were present.

Officials have said that the shooter was probably targeting Donald Trump and other senior administration officials. We do believe, based upon just a very preliminary start to understanding what happened, that he was targeting members of the administration, the acting US attorney general, Todd Blanche, said in a TV interview.

The suspect, who is in custody after being subdued by members of law enforcement officers as he rushed through the hotel venue, is set to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. He faces charges of assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer, but Blanche said depending on how the investigation goes, he might also be charged with the attempted assassination of Trump.

Related: White House press dinner shooting suspect could be charged with trying to assassinate Trump, says Blanche

Investigators are assessing a manifesto reportedly written by the suspect, who has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. In the alleged manifesto, which was published in full by the New York Post, Allen created a list of targets for the shooting, ranked from highest to lowest priority, with Trump administration officials at the top.

An official familiar with the matter told the Guardian that the manifesto published by the Post was authentic.

The suspected gunman sent writings listing his grievances against the administration to his family members about 10 minutes before shots were fired, according to White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press. A relative, confirmed by those officials to be Allens brother, contacted police in New London, Connecticut.

Officials have said that the suspect fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint in the Washington Hilton hotel before being tackled and arrested.

Trump, the first lady, Melania Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and cabinet officials were rushed out as the incident unfolded. The Secret Service agent who was shot escaped serious injury because the bullet struck his protective vest, Trump said.

The AP reported that the shooter referred to himself as the Friendly Federal Assassin, which matches the text in the manifesto published by the New York Post.

In a statement to the AP, the New London police department said it was contacted at 10.49 pm, about two hours after the shooting, by an individual who wanted to share information related to it. The police department said it then immediately notified federal law enforcement.

Numerous other US outlets also reported unnamed officials saying that Allens alleged writings contained anti-Trump sentiments, which echoed the contents of the manifesto published by the New York Post. The Washington Post also reported that the suspect had sent writings to his family along those lines, which matched claims by Trump to Fox News that a sibling had then contacted the police.

The manifesto published by the Post begins with apologies to those who knew the suspect and lists his motives for the shooting. It said the shooter targeted administration officials with the exception of the FBI director, Kash Patel.

The manifesto also states that Secret Service agents would only be targets if necessary, and that hotel security, Capitol police, and the national guard would all be classified as not targets if at all possible (aka unless they shoot at me. Hotel employees and guests were not targets.

I am a citizen of the United States of America, the letter states. What my representatives do reflects on me. And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.

Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressors crimes, it later says.



While the manifesto does not reference Donald Trump by name, it alludes to grievances over a range of administration actions and recent events, including US strikes on drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific.

He later writes: I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done.

In an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump described the attacker as a sick person, and accused interviewer Norah ODonnell of being a disgrace for reading out portions of the manifesto on air.

The president described the events of the night in an even tone, saying that he did not feel particularly alarmed as they unfolded.

I wasnt worried, Trump said in the interview when asked how worried he was about possible injuries after hearing the gunshots. I understand life. We live in a crazy world.

Allen is believed to have traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington, where he checked himself in as a guest at the hotel days earlier where the gala dinner was held.

Federal agents have interviewed Allens sister in Maryland, who told investigators her brother had legally bought several weapons from a California gun store and stored them at their parents home in Torrance without their knowledge, according to federal officials.
Advantage Arsenal: Olivia Smith (Getty)

Holders Arsenal came from behind to beat Lyon 2-1 in the first leg of their Womens Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Jule Brand had fired the French side  beaten by the Gunners at the same stage of last seasons competition  ahead in the 19th minute.

Arsenal rallied in the second half and equalised through an own goal from Ingrid Engen following a mistake by Lyon keeper Christiane Endler  who was then caught out again when Olivia Smith slotted in with seven minutes left.

Lyon had broken the deadlock against the run of play in the 19th minute.

Arsenal were caught in possession on the halfway line, with Brand sent surging forward down the left and on into the penalty area before firing past Arsenal keeper Daphne van Domselaar.

The home side went close in the 39th minute when Foord sent a header from a looping cross back across goal and just wide of the far post.

The Gunners felt they should have been given a penalty in the 51st minute when Kim Little was sent tumbling under a challenge from Wendie Renard. After a long look at the pitchside monitor, the referee ruled there had been a slight touch on the ball from the Lyon captain and overturned the decision.

A blunder by Lyon keeper Endler then gifted Arsenal an equaliser in the 58th minute.

Mariona Caldentey swept in a low free-kick from the left, which drifted across the six-yard box.

Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius looked to dart in ahead of Endler, who failed to gather the ball which trickled on towards the far post. Lyon defender Engen then stabbed her attempted clearance against the woodwork and back over the line.

Own goal: Ingrid Engen (Getty)

After a VAR check for a possible block on Lyon defender Renard, the goal was given.

Lyon forward Kadidiatou Diani sent a rising drive against the crossbar in the 66th minute before Endler was then again at fault for Arsenals late winner.

The Lyon keeper and Engen collided as they both hesitated when dealing with a routine backpass into the penalty area, which allowed Smith to collect the loose ball and slot it into an empty net.
Original Charlies Angels star Kate Jackson has reflected on the long-running success of the series, which debuted 50 years ago.

Earlier this month, the actor reunited with her costars Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd at PaleyFest LA 2026. Their fellow star Farrah Fawcett died in 2009, at the age of 62.

In a new interview with People, Jackson recalled that she was initially met with a production company about a different show. I was looking down, listening, thinking, This is the worst thing I ever heard in my life,  she remembered.

Rather than pursue that show, she said she helped conceive Charlies Angels based on her previous work on crime show The Rookies.

"It was really easy because The Rookies was about three young rookie cops. So just flip that and have three young women who go to the police academy, meet each other, become close friends [and] work their way up to plainclothes detectives, explained Jackson.

Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd reunite at the Charlie's Angels 50th anniversary celebration at PaleyFest LA (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

It was Jackson who suggested the name Charlies Angels, after producer Aaron Spelling had suggested The Alley Cats.

She said she immediately knew the show would be a success, recalling: We started shooting the pilot, and I never doubted. I don't know why, but I never doubted that it was going to be a big hit. It was unique.

Jackson attributed the shows appeal to the chemistry between the stars, saying: It was unusual. The three of us had chemistry that was ... I mean, we're still sisters today and you people are all so crazy that you're still around after 50 years. I can't believe it.

A standing ovation greeted Jackson, Smith, and Ladd when the trio reunited at PaleyFest LA on April 6.

The actors, who portrayed private detectives answering to a mysterious boss, were met with cheers from an enthusiastic audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Five decades on, Charlie's Angels continues to find an audience through reruns and DVDs, having also inspired a film series starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu.

At the event, Jackson further elaborated on the show's subtle impact: We were giving people an hour to sit back, put their feet up, forget everything and watch television, and then again just kind of subtly getting the message in there that women are just as capable, intelligent, can do anything that a man can do.

As for the impact the series had, she pushed back against critics who dismissed the show as jiggle television and said: "I knew what we were doing and Gloria Steinem knew what we doing, and some other very impressive people knew what we were doing. We were helping to punch a hole in that glass ceiling and that makes a big difference."
The hospital said its campus was placed on lockdown, and patients and staff at the health facility were safe (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

A police officer has died, and another is in critical condition after a shooting at a Chicago hospital on Saturday, officials said.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the suspect, who has not been publicly identified, is in custody.

Officers transported an individual over to the Swedish hospital for an observation, at which time two of our officers were shot," Snelling said at a news conference in the afternoon. "One was shot critically. It (the death) was pronounced. The second officer right now is fighting for his life in the hospital behind us.

The shooting took place at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago at around 10:50 a.m.

The shooting took place at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago at around 10:50 a.m (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

The hospital said its campus was placed on lockdown, and patients and staff at the health facility were safe.

Today is a real difficult moment for our city. Its a tragedy, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the news conference. The city is providing mental health support services to police officers so they can do their jobs, he said.

Snelling said there is an ongoing investigation, and he could not provide details. But the hospital said in a Facebook posting that an individual in custody of law enforcement was brought the emergency department for treatment and was wanded upon arrival, following the protocols. He was escorted by law enforcement at all times, the hospital said.

It said that the man later fired shots at the law enforcement officers and exited the hospital building. He was later apprehended.

Those officers were there as transport officers, Snelling said, referring to the police officer who died and the one who was injured. A weapon was recovered, he said.

He noted that the names of the officers were not released because they want to be sure that their families have been notified. One of them was a 38-year-old officer who had been working for 10 years in the department. The other is a 57-year-old officer with 21 years of service, Snelling said.
The statue of Nijinsky as you roll through the gates of Ballydoyle serves as a telling reminder of what this quiet corner of Tipperary is all about.

This is Classic country, a place where the racehorse is king and where each years select intake into this hallowed equine academy is nurtured, honed and turned into champions.

For a first time visitor it is to step into racing utopia, a place where the eyes widen and jaw drops in amazement at the precision preparations undertaken in serene tranquillity.

Aidan OBrien on the gallops (Tom Mahler) (Tom Maher)

However, for the man at the helm Aidan OBrien it is a place he has called home for the past 30 years, a place of work and somewhere from which he has amassed 48 English Classic victories, the races his employers Coolmore hold most dear.

Over the next six weeks the next band of Classic hopefuls will be sent into battle, firstly in the Guineas, then the respective Classic trials and then on the first weekend in June, the Derby.

In that small matter of time four of the races that Ballydoyle was designed for will be won and for OBrien their importance will never be questioned, as 2026s dreams will soon become reality.

At the moment we are very happy with the horses we are training for the Guineas and the trials but the next few weeks will tell us everything, said OBrien.

Classic horses have to be early, they have to be tough, they have to run distance and that is how it has always been and is something that will never change.

Aidan OBrien has won 48 English Classics (Tom Mahler) (Tom Maher)

You dont have another parameter to judge against and if you ask any breeder that has ever bred a horse or any trainer they will want a Classic winner.

What they do afterwards doesnt really matter because these races are so competitive. Some will go on and some wont, but still there is that bar to measure them against.

The brainchild of Vincent OBrien, the legend of Ballydoyle may have begun with the likes of The Minstrel, Sadlers Wells and the triple crown hero whose statue greets those on arrival.

However, this equine paradise set against a vista of rolling mountains has been transcended into superpower status by his namesake who has maintained the highest standards, becoming the leading trainer in both the 2000 Guineas and Derby during three decades in residency.

Everything here is about what the horses do at two and three as they are the ones who go to stud and are early maturing horses that have all had class and speed, said OBrien.

Vincent OBrien (right) created Ballydoyle (PA) (PA)

Classic horses are supposed to have speed as well as stamina and the milers have to be sprinters that stay. When you run over that mile at Newmarket, you are down hill all the way and you just need speed and then if you dont stay you dont win. Its a tough race to win.

Then when you go to Epsom over a mile and a half, you need some speed, of course the stamina and you are also getting thrown all over the place. Its tough.

There is nowhere like Epsom really  its such a tough track and every part of the horse is tested. If you ask anyone what race they would like to win, they will tell you its the Derby. We try our best to win it every year.

While the Derby has been truly mastered in recent years, with OBrien winning the last three  and six of his 11 in the last decade  Newmarket and the first Classic of summer has proven harder to conquer of late.

Both Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy have faltered on the Rowley Mile before dazzling at Epsom, but there is no deviation from the tried and tested from OBrien, who will saddle both Puerto Rico and Precise  like those that have gone before them  without a prep run.

City of Troy was beat in the Guineas before landing the Derby (Mike Egerton/PA) (Mike Egerton)

Explaining the process, OBrien said: Every year we dont really want the horses coming right until the first week of May and we have lots of runners up to then, but they are only really feelers up until that date and thats when we want to start peaking.

With the Guineas horses its just difficult to get a run into them early in the year unless you really have to because the ground is tough and they can get gruellers.

We probably were forcing it a little with City Of Troy and Auguste Rodin and I probably went to the mile before they were ready as well. It might not be their fault and obviously when it doesnt happen it is because I havent got them prepared properly.

Theres no point getting away from that and I just have to do better the next time.

Im happy though with the horses we have for the Guineas and the horses we have for the Derby and Oaks and I think we definitely have the chances there.

If both versions of the Guineas were to be captured next weekend  and with leading contenders for the remaining crown jewel contests of the three-year-old season  it would set up the tantalising prospect of OBrien claiming all five Classics in one season.

Camelot just missed out on the triple crown (Nigel French/PA) (Nigel French)

It is something the 56-year-old came closest to doing in 2012 when Camelot was agonisingly denied emulating Nijinsky and winning the Triple Crown. OBrien also landed four of the five in 2017 when only the great Enable denied the clean sweep.

OBrien said: I would try to do it every year, but it is difficult. With every single Group One we are doing everything in our power to win them, but they are difficult.

I remember going with Rhododendron to the Oaks and thought she couldnt get beat and Enable beat us. She beat us as well in Chester when we had a good filly going who I thought couldnt get beat and what are the chances of running into Enable that year?

We nearly won the Triple Crown with Camelot and you are always looking for the next one. Its not easy but if it was that would be no good. Its part of the pull of it that its so difficult.

That is what makes the Classics so exciting and horses can come out of anywhere. They arrive hidden but are then are exposed and the history of it, the English Classics, is what the whole thoroughbred breed is based on.
Acclaimed authors have tapped into the UKs love of crime fiction to help expose how scams work in real life.

Crime writers Clare Mackintosh, Vaseem Khan and CL (Cally) Taylor have joined forces with UK Finances Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to create a trilogy of short stories packed with plot twists and red herrings.

As well as keeping readers guessing, the read between the lies stories are designed to help protect people from scams with gripping tales exposing the fraud traps that can be laid by criminals.

According to the campaign, more than 1.17 billion was recorded stolen through fraud in 2024, making it a common crime threat.

Launching for Take Five Week 2026, the stories are inspired by real fraud tactics and encourage readers to apply the same instincts detectives use in crime books, on television and podcasts to everyday situations.

The stories include cold callers, urgent payment requests and situations that may or may not be all they appear.

The authors worked with the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) to help them understand how crimes unfold in real life, and the emotional impact they have on victims.

Each story focuses on common and devastating scams. This includes romance scams, which resulted in 20.5 million in losses in the first half of 2025, investment scams, with 97.7 million stolen over the same period, and impersonation scams, with 45.1 million in losses.

Ms Mackintosh, who is a former Thames Valley Police inspector as well as a crime author, said: Ive seen the devastation caused by fraud, but Ive also seen the impact crime prevention advice can have.

Fraud is such a widespread issue  and, just like in one of my thrillers, spotting it is often about noticing the small clues. This campaign is about helping people slow down, question what theyre being told, and feel more confident spotting when something isnt right.

Mr Khan said: This campaign is close to my heart because Ive experienced impersonation fraud, so I know just how unsettling it can be.

I also understand the power of storytelling  and how we can use it to show ordinary people the tactics behind these scams so that theyre better equipped to spot the signs and protect themselves.

Ms Taylor said: I was really drawn to this campaign because of the power of crime fiction and how much people love it.

Its a genre that naturally encourages readers to question whats happening and look for clues. Using that instinct to help people understand fraud feels like a really effective way to make the advice stick and help people feel more confident spotting scams.

Jess Cook, spokesperson for Take Five to Stop Fraud said: Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, using increasingly sophisticated methods to catch people off guard and exploit trust.

By partnering with crime writers, were bringing these tactics to life in a way that feels relatable and engaging  helping people recognise the warning signs and reminding them that by stopping, challenging and protecting, they can help prevent fraud.

The short stories are being made available on the Take Five website at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/read-between-the-lies.

The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign urges people to:

Stop  Some scams are well hidden so take a moment to stop and think.

Challenge  Ask yourself, could it be fake? It is OK to refuse any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect  Contact your bank immediately if you think you have been scammed and tell the police.
Donald and Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House correspondents dinner on Saturday evening after the event was interrupted by gunfire.

A suspect was in custody, the FBI said, after the annual black-tie dinner honoring the White House press corps in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton was suddenly interrupted by confusion and chaos. Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed the president and members of his cabinet out of the room.

The president and his wife were unharmed, and later appeared at a press conference at the White House.

Muriel Bowser, the Washington DC mayor, said that a sole gunman rushed at the Secret Service in the lobby of the hotel. There was no reason to believe that anyone else was involved in the incident, she said.

The suspect was in custody and being evaluated at a local hospital, though he did not appear to have been struck by gunfire. He was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, the Associated Press reported, citing two law enforcement officials.

Jeffrey Carroll, the DC police chief, said investigators believed the suspect fired a shot and was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives. He also said the suspect was believed to have been a guest at the hotel. A motive for the attack had not yet emerged, officials said.

Jeanine Pirro, a US attorney for the District of Columbia, said the defendant was being charged with two counts of felony firearms and assault charges and would be arraigned on Monday. She expected more charges to follow.

In a press briefing from the White House later on Saturday evening, Trump praised the Secret Service and said an agent was hit by a bullet that was stopped by a ballistic vest. The violence took place quite far away, he said.

That was very unexpected but incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement, and this was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press, he said. And in a certain way, it did, because the fact that they just unified. I saw a room that was just totally unified.

He also described the Washington Hilton as not a particularly secure building and argued for the merits of the construction of a ballroom at the White House. This is why we have to have all of the attributes of what were planning at the White House. Its actually a larger room, and its much more secure.

Weijia Jiang, the president of the White House correspondents dinner, told the ballroom earlier on Saturday that the president wanted to reschedule the dinner in the next 30 days.

Thank God everyone is safe, and thank you for coming together tonight, she said. We will do this again.

Guests had just started eating dinner when the commotion began in the back of the room. People started screaming: Get down, get down! Security agents stormed the stage and evacuated Donald and Melania Trump, while others stood guard, rifles pointed. Security agents pushed cabinet officials to the ground, and later evacuated them one by one. The atmosphere was tense as journalists waited to hear what happened and what to do next. People reported waiting under their tables for orders from security staff.

CNNs Wolf Blitzer reported that he saw someone with a gun at the event.

I did see the gunman on the ground after he started shooting, he said. Police officers threw him to the ground.

Jamie Raskin, a Democratic congressman from Maryland, who was attending the dinner said he never saw a shooter, but I think a Secret Service agent threw me to the ground and on top of some other people and people were screaming and yelling.

I heard some loud noises but I dont know if that was people reacting or if that was something outside, it was hard to know, but people very quickly were saying that was a shot, that was the gunshot, he added. People were terrified; people seem to be relieved now.

Kerry Kennedy, a lawyer and human rights activist, said in a post that Raskin had whispered youre OK, youre OK, youre OK to her from beneath their table.

Mike Johnson, the House speaker, said on X that he and his wife were at the dinner and were thankful no innocent people were harmed and everyone is now safe.

Guardian reporters in the room said there were initially mixed messages about whether press and guests should stay in the room. The entire room emptied as people were told the event would not resume and the presidential seal was removed from the podium.

Outside the hotel, helicopters circled overhead.

This years dinner was already tense, given the presence of Trump and top members of his cabinet, including Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state. Trump agreed to attend this years dinner after refusing to go last year and during his first term. The correspondents dinner tradition began in 1921, though the tradition of a presidential guest started in 1924, when Calvin Coolidge attended.

The Washington Hilton is the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot and gravely wounded by a would-be assassin in 1981.

When asked on Saturday night if he was concerned about threats to his life, Trump, who also survived an assassination attempt during his campaign for the presidency in 2024, said: Its a dangerous profession.

George Chidi and Lauren Gambino contributed reporting.
The UK government is escalating its planning to counteract potential shortages stemming from the Iran conflict.

Oil prices have soared since the US-Israel war on Iran began, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz  a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas.

The Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee, established to manage the fallout, this Tuesday, following last week's Middle East Response Committee session.

A separate contingency group of ministers, led by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, also meets twice weekly.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas (Reuters)

They are focusing on live monitoring of stock levels and what plans are in place for addressing supply chain disruption.

The Government has been seeking to calm the public, urging drivers to keep filling up with petrol and using cars as usual and not to change their travel plans amid fears over potential jet fuel shortages.

There have also been fears that the war could hit stocks of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is used in the food industry and by breweries to make drinks fizzy as well as for defence purposes and medical uses such as MRI scanning.

Mr Jones said: This is not our war. The Government made the right call to stay out of the conflict and only take defensive action to protect Britains interests.

Were acting now to prepare for, and mitigate where possible, the impact on our economy and domestic security as a result of the conflict.

The Prime Minister wants to see a toll-free Strait of Hormuz reopened as soon as possible. The UK is working tirelessly with our international partners to find a permanent solution to this crisis and minimise the knock-on impact to households.

Mr Jones will seek to emphasise that the UK is in a good position and highlight how Sir Keir Starmers administration is working directly with businesses to limit disruption and keep prices down when he speaks to broadcasters on Sunday.

UK airlines have insisted they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel as they buy it in advance and airports maintain stocks, but the Government has said it is closely monitoring stocks.

Airports will make it easier for airlines to cancel flights without running the risk of losing their allocated slots  scheduled times for take-off or landing which some UK airports assign to airlines  if fuel shortages prevent them from flying.

The Government also plans to temporarily relax laws that require airlines to operate part-full flights from UK airports, The Times reported.

This would allow flight schedules to be consolidated months before any potential fuel shortages, meaning there may be fewer flight options available but minimising disruption and last-minute cancellations, the paper said.

Supermarkets have said they are working with the Government to help plan for a worst-case scenario which could see the ongoing war lead to shortages of carbon dioxide used by food producers.

On the outbreak of war, the Government provided funding to reactivate the Ensus bioethanol plant, which makes CO2 as a by-product, in order to shore up supplies of the gas.

And they are taking steps to weaken the link between electricity and gas prices to protect households and businesses from price spikes.

Leaked government plans setting out a reasonable worst-case scenario suggested there could be shortages of certain foods on supermarket shelves if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed in summer.

The Lib Dems urged that a Bill be included in the next Kings Speech to put food security at the top of the Governments agenda.

The partys Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: The Government also needs to wake up and provide more support to people who simply cannot afford the sky-high cost of getting around, which is why weve proposed a 10p cut on fuel duty and slashing public transport costs, to protect Brits pockets from Trumpflation.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had told envoys not to go to Pakistan for more talks with Iran, after the White House had said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be travelling to Islamabad to attempt to revive ceasefire negotiations.
HSBC UK has said it will offer British Sign Language (BSL) training for beginners to all its 23,000 employees, as part of its work to foster an inclusive environment.

The bank said the move will help to support customers and staff whose first or preferred language is BSL.

Brought to HSBC UK through its partnership with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the accredited e-learning course enables staff to learn useful words and phrases in BSL.

The bank said that Christopher Stafford, channels support manager at HSBC UK, spearheaded the launch of the training.

He said: When a deaf colleague joined my team there was a communication gap, I wanted them to feel at home here, included and to feel part of the team.

Harriet Oppenheimer, chief executive of the RNID, said: One in three people in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, so it is vital that we all play a role in becoming more deaf-aware, both in the workplace and in everyday life.

HSBC UK said the move will help to support customers and staff whose first or preferred language is BSL (PA) (Mike Egerton)

HSBCs commitment marks an important milestone, and we hope to see many similar shifts across the sector and among other public-facing organisations in the years ahead.

Sally Williams, head of branch network at HSBC UK, said: It is important that no one faces unnecessary barriers, whether that is in everyday conversations, in our branches, or with colleagues.

She added: HSBC UK continues to work closely with RNID to improve accessibility through expert advice, training, and online resources and we are excited about more developments to come later in the year.

We recognise that this course does not replace the need for BSL interpretation, but we believe this will contribute to providing a more inclusive experience for colleagues and customers.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are visiting the US for a four-day trip beginning on Monday. Photograph: Ian Vogler/Reuters (Photograph: Ian Vogler/Reuters)

King Charless security is being reviewed before his state visit to the US this week, Buckingham Palace has said, after a gunman attempted to storm a dinner attended by Donald Trump in Washington DC.

Guests at the White House correspondents dinner on Saturday night hid under tables when gunshots were heard as the Secret Service evacuated the president and other members of his administration from the scene.

Nobody was killed in the attack, although one officer wearing a bulletproof vest who was shot was taken to hospital.

The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, who is understood to have been staying at the hotel, was said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun. He was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon and taken into police custody.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Buckingham Palace said: Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the state visit by their majesties will proceed as planned.

The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow.

It is understood there will be some modest adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip, but the overall plan remains unchanged.

Earlier on Sunday, the palace said Charles was being kept fully informed of developments and was greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed.

A spokesperson said: As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.

Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said the US and UK were working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place for the visit.

Asked on the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News if there were any extra concerns for the kings safety, Jones said: As you would imagine, the government and the palace take the security of his majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.

Related: Thankless task awaits Charles as soft power of crown meets mercurial Trump

Jones told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that discussions about the kings security during his visit to the US would take place on Sunday. Asked if that meant the existing plans would be stepped up, he said: Therell be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk.

The king is due to visit Virginia, New York and Washington DC during a four-day trip beginning on Monday to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. He will meet the US president privately and will take part in a state banquet held for him and Queen Camilla.

Charles will also take part in a 9/11 wreath-laying ceremony with the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, in memory of the 67 British people killed in the 2001 attack, which took almost 3,000 lives.

UK-US relations are strained after tense conversations between Trump and Keir Starmer over the Iran war. The president appeared to mock the prime minister in the style of a skit from the British version of Saturday Night Live, which he shared on social media.

The king has been criticised for ignoring calls to meet Jeffrey Epsteins victims, after the royal family became embroiled in the scandal when Charless brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive documents to the convicted child sex offender when he worked as a trade envoy.

A government spokesperson said: We are working closely with our US counterparts on security arrangements. Further discussions continue today following last nights armed incident.

 This article was amended on 26 April 2026. An earlier version said at least 2,606 lives were lost on 9/11; however, this was the number of deaths at the World Trade Center. Almost 3,000 people were killed across the attacks.
The Kings US state visit will go ahead as planned after what the White House has called the attempted assassination of president Donald Trump.

Charles and Camillas security arrangements were discussed in the wake of Saturdays violent incident at a Washington media dinner where Mr Trump, the first lady and senior figures from his administration were bundled from the room by the secret service after shots were fired.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned.

The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow [Monday].

It is understood there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip but the overall plan remains as previously outlined.

The White House Correspondents Association dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday night after an attempted attack, which saw shots fired, prompting the US President to be swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of his administration.

King Charles security was reviewed following the attack ahead of his four-day visit with Camilla on Monday.

The Kings US state visit will go ahead as planned in the wake of the shooting (Getty)

In the wake of the attack, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that discussions were taking place with US colleagues to review what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday about the Kings state visit, Mr Trump said: Hes coming and were going to have a great time.

He added: Hes a great guy, and we look forward to it. Hes really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and hes brave.

Were gonna have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will embark on their visit to Washington on Monday (Reuters)

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention, and described him as a lone wolf whack job.

Mr Trump  who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president  vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had unified political opponents and the media.

It is understood that the King and Queen have reached out privately to the US president and first lady to express their sympathies with all those affected by the shooting and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.

The historic visit, the Kings first visit to the US as monarch, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.

The royal couple, who will begin their visit with a private tea hosted by the president and first lady, will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New Yorks Twin Towers.

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.
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.

The White House Correspondents Association dinner was thrown into chaos after a lone gunman opened fire at the annual Washington, D.C, Saturday event.

While the motive remains a question, the suspected shooter has been identified as 31-year-old California man Cole Tomas Allen. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that investigators believe Allen was targeting members of the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and other members of the administration were taken from the Washington Hiltons ballroom as guests scrambled for cover during the shocking incident. The suspect rushed security guards and opened fire, hitting a Secret Service agent. He was quickly subdued by officers and taken into custody. No guests at the dinner were hurt. The event was subsequently canceled.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the assailant had been apprehended and posted a photo of the suspect on the ground at the hotel. Police said Allen was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives.

They seem to think hes a lone wolf, and I feel that too, Trump said at a press briefing after the event.

Heres what we know so far about the man police said fired shots at the dinner:

Who is the suspected gunman?

Multiple sources identified the suspect as Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, close to Santa Monica.

Allen, a 2017 graduate of California Institute of Technology, was working as a teacher at the time of his arrest while also developing computer games. In 2019, he registered the domain name Bohrdom for a game he created and released on Steam. It is described as a skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality.

In 2025, he attained a master's degree in computer science from California State University at Dominguez Hills in 2025.

While a student at Caltech, Allen was a member of the schools Christian fellowship and the Nerf club. He was featured in a 2017 photo that was posted by the school on Facebook following his graduation. In that photo, hes holding a picture of himself as a child with a stuffed rabbit.

The suspected shooter at the White House Correspondents Dinner was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, according to the New York Times. A motive has not been determined in the incident. (Donald Trump/ Truth Social)

In December 2024, a Facebook post from private tutoring service C2 Education named Allen as Teacher of the Month.

On his LinkedIn page, Allen described himself as a mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth. He lists his Causes on that profile as Science and Technology.

Allen previously worked as a mechanical engineer for UK Controls in South Pasadena and as a teaching assistant at Caltech. In 2016, he competed in a robotics competition at the school.

Shortly after the event started, shots rang out and President Donald Trump was rushed from the stage. First lady Melania Trump and other Cabinet members were present for the event (Reuters)

Allen sent an anti-Trump, anti-Christian manifesto to his family before opening fire, officials say

Allen is accused of sending a manifesto filled with anti-Trump and anti-Christian to family members prior to the shooting, officials told CBS News.

In his first interview since the shooting, President Trump called the manifesto anti-Christian when speaking to Fox News.

Sections from the suspects writings were later published by the New York Post, detailing that Allen referred to himself with the monikers, the Friendly Federal Assassin and Cole coldForce.

Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. Im not the person raped in a detention camp. Im not the fisherman executed without trial, Allen allegedly wrote.

Im not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressors crimes.

The suspect allegedly said that he was targeting a range of targets in the administration that did not include under-fire FBI Director Kash Patel.

Authorities were alerted to the manifesto by the suspects brother who lives in New London, Connecticut, according to the Post.

Allen donated to the Democratic PAC ActBlue in October 2024

Allen donated $25 to the political action committee ActBlue in October 2024, a month before Donald Trumps defeat of Kamala Harris, reports The Los Angeles Times.

According to FEC filings, it was his only political donation in the past ten years. Allen was a registered voter but not a member of a political party.

Allen lived in a community surrounded by lots of retired LAPD

FBI tactical agents walk as they prepare to leave the investigation scene near a residence believed to be linked to Cole Allen (AFP/Getty)

A neighbor of Allens told The LA Times. We see them every day and we just say hi and theyre very nice. Theyre peaceful people, they dont make any noise and when they see you they say hi.

Another neighbor said the residents had only moved into the home six months previously.

While another neighbor told The New York Times that the community is home to lots of retired LAPD... We were told it was super-super safe.

In a brief interview with The New York Post, neighbor Jeff Smith said that he felt as though Allen was on the spectrum.

Local media reported a large law enforcement response at a home in Torrance believed to be associated with Allen. At one point, residents of the home could be seen talking with officers.

Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, confirmed that a search warrant was executed at the suspects home. Federal agents entered the home around 10:30 pm local time.

The suspect has been described as very intelligent on the nicer, quieter side

FBI tactical agents talk to Torrance police officers at the investigation scene (AFP/Getty)

The president of the Asian American Civic Trust, Dylan Wakayama, described Allen as very intelligent, proficient in biology, mathematics and science. They thought he was on the nicer, quiet side when speaking to The Los Angeles Times.

Allen tutored high school students who were members of the AACT.

They were completely shocked when I told them that this all went down, Wakayama added. I think all of us in Torrance would be shocked if this is the man who attempted to kill the president of the United States.

How did he get a gun into the hotel?

How the suspect got the gun near the facility remains unclear.

DC Metro Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said investigators believe Allen was staying at the Washington Hilton hotel.

We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there," Carroll told the media.

Video posted by Trump showed the shooting suspect running past a security checkpoint (via REUTERS)

ABC News reports, citing sources, that Allen traveled by train from Los Angeles to DC via Chicago.

The president posted surveillance footage of the suspect running past the hotels security checkpoint. Trump said he did so for transparency and to highlight the speed with which agents reacted to the threat.

In his manifesto, the suspect mocked the hotels security, saying it was all focused on the perimeter of the hotel.

Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope its corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again, he wrote in part.

Police said Allen has no criminal record and was not on law enforcement's radar in Washington, D.C.

The suspect was apprehended by police before he made it to the ballroom where Trump and other officials were present (AP)

A Secret Service agent was shot during the incident after the suspect sprinted through the checkpoint. He was apprehended off camera, but police say he was not shot. He was stopped before he got to the ballroom, where Trump and other cabinet members were in attendance.

Allen and the Secret Service agent who was injured were both taken to a local hospital. The agent is said to be in good spirits following the incident.

What is he being charged with?

Trump speaks from the White House after leaving the scene of the shooting (Getty)

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C, said the suspect was being charged with two counts: use of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

Pirro said that the defendant would be arraigned on Monday in federal court at 1 pm local time.

He is being held in a police jail cell around half-a-mile from the Hilton.

If convicted of both counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

The reasoning behind the attack is unknown at this time.

Carroll refused to speculate on a motive and said it was too soon to know who the suspect was targeting.
Sir Keir Starmer could see Labour lose its grip on his north London council in a Green surge in the capital on May 7, according to a new poll.

The MRP survey by JL Partners for the London School of Economics (LSE) showed the Green Party and Labour neck-and-neck in Camden, with 33% to 32% of the vote share respectively.

There are currently 44 Labour councillors on the Camden local authority, just one Green, six Liberal Democrats, three Conservatives and an independent.

But Zack Polanskis Greens are expected to win hundreds of seats across the capital in the May local elections, making significant gains in Camden borough which includes Sir Keirs constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.

Polling suggests Labour could lose control of Camden and end up having to rely on the Liberal Democrats or Conservatives if they want to stay in power, Professor Tony Travers, director of LSE London, told The Standard.

Labour is battling to stop losing control of Camden council (AFP via Getty Images)

Labour could also try to run a minority administration, having to garner enough support from other parties to pass a Budget and other key decisions.

The Greens, who may be the second largest party on the council, could also try to form a power-sharing coalition with other parties or run a minority administration but local government expert Prof Travers believes they would find it harder to do so.

Since its creation in 1965, Camden has nearly always been run by Labour, apart from when the Conservatives took control between 1968 to 1971 and when there was no overall control from 2006 to 2010.

Many wards across the capital are expected to be won by small majorities given the fragmentation in British politics so the outcomes of the elections at borough level are very hard to call.

But the big picture facing London, from a string of polls, is a major Green surge, significant gains by Nigel Farages Reform UK in Outer London, a collapse in the Labour vote, the Tories winning and losing some councils, the Liberal Democrats making modest gains, and possibly the election of more pro-Gaza and other independent candidates.

The result looks set to deliver the most profound change to Londons politics since the shocking result of 1968, when Labour was wiped out by the Conservatives, explained Prof Travers.

The Greens are projected to emerge as the clear second political force across much of Inner London.

They are ahead in vote share in Haringey, on 37%, level-pegging with Labour in Newham on 34%, and Lewisham 35%, and threatening Sir Keirs party in Hackney, with 37% and 40% respectively.

Zack Polanski whose Green Party is expected to win hundreds of seats in London at the May local elections (PA)

Labour faces falling into second place in seven boroughs it currently controls, according to the findings, with its vote share down by 15 points on average across the capital.

In Barking and Dagenham, where Labour secured some 80% of the vote in 2022, its support is expected to nosedive to just 44%, but still remain comfortably ahead of any other party.

Sir Keirs party won the Tory stronghold councils of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet in 2022, the last time the borough elections were fought.

It may hold onto Westminster, where it is ahead of the Tories by 34% to 29%.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch on the high street during a visit to Highworth in Swindon, Wiltshire, while out campaigning (PA)

The Conservatives are now leading in Wandsworth, by 27% to Labours 24%, and the two parties are neck-and-neck in Barnet, on 24% and 25% respectively.

Backing for the Conservatives in a hotly-fought contest in Croydon will almost halve, from 38% in 2022 to just 21%, according to the modelling, while in Bexley, Hillingdon and Bromley it could drop by more than a third.

Reform UK is forecast to make its strongest gains in outer east London, and appears set to gain Havering where it is picking up 40% of the vote, possibly also Bexley where it is ahead of the Tories by 35% to 29%, while it trails Kemi Badenochs party in Bromley by 25% to 27%.

Mr Farage has suggested three boroughs, Havering, Bexley and Barking and Dagenham, may want to break away from London.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks to locals outside a pub during a walkabout in Halstead, Essex, whilst on the campaign trail for the upcoming local elections (PA)

Many boroughs are expected to end up with no overall control, with the largest party in 13 councils being less than 5 percentage points ahead of the runner-up.

The borough outcomes could also depend heavily on whether the parties pile up votes in some areas or have a more even spread which could allow them to win more seats.

Sir Ed Daveys Liberal Democrats are ahead of Labour in Merton, their key target council, by 31% to 23%.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (centre) during a tea dance at Wild Acres Rest Home in Wokingham, Berkshire (PA)

MRP polls are based on large-scale polling of sections of society and extrapolating to get constituency or council level results.

Tom Lubbock, co-founder of JL Partners which interviewed 2022 Londoners for this survey, said: The Green Party, Reform and Independent parties are making significant inroads to the point where a small swing against Labour would mean them losing a swathe of councils.

Control of so many councils could come down to very fine margins, which makes outcomes much more volatile at the local level.
Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (right), visits the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, en route to Pakistan, where he continued mediation talks without US emissaries. Photograph: Iranian Foreign Ministry/EPA (Photograph: Iranian Foreign Ministry/EPA)

Hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the US faded further on Sunday, amid a deepening sense of deadlock in the nearly two-month-long conflict despite intense regional diplomatic activity.

Washington and Tehran appear unwilling to moderate rhetoric or make concessions, and there are no negotiations scheduled that might bring the war to a definitive end.

Related: The great energy pivot: US oil and Chinese solar are the winners in Trumps war on Iran

On Sunday, Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, returned to Pakistan for a second consecutive day of talks with mediators after a brief trip to Oman for discussions there.

Araghchi described his Pakistan trip on Saturday as very fruitful but signalled scepticism over Washingtons intentions. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy, he said on X.

Araghchi was also due to meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, as part of a trip that begins on Monday. Russia and Iran, both subject to tough western sanctions, have become increasingly close in recent years.

On Saturday, Donald Trump announced that he had cancelled a visit to Pakistan by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The two men were to take part in a second round of talks with Iran that had been tentatively scheduled for this weekend.

Speaking in Florida, before being rushed out of the White House Correspondents Association dinner in Washington after a gunman fired shots at his security detail, Trump said the visit involved too much travel and expense for what he considered an inadequate Iranian offer.

The cancellation came after Iran said it would not be attending any direct talks while the US blockaded all shipping to or from the Islamic Republic.

Trump later claimed that Tehran had offered a new proposal for agreement within minutes of his decision.

They gave us a paper that should have been better and  interestingly  immediately when I cancelled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better, he told reporters, without elaborating.

Pakistani officials have sought to rebuild momentum in the negotiations, briefing media that progress towards a possible bridging agreement to allow discussions to restart was being made.

A round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month  in which a US delegation led by the vice-president, JD Vance, met Iranian delegates led by Irans parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf  ended without any apparent progress towards a deal.

The 21-hour session earlier exposed wide gaps on the future of the strait of Hormuz, Irans nuclear programme and Tehrans longstanding support for militant movements around the Middle East.

The talks collapsed after Iran would not agree to US demands to end nuclear enrichment and hand over its 440kg of highly enriched uranium.

Last week, Trump announced an indefinite extension of his earlier two-week ceasefire with Iran and repeated his demand that Iran allow shipping free passage in the strait of Hormuz, which in normal times carries around a fifth of the worlds oil and liquid natural gas supplies.

The closure of the strategic waterway through the Gulf has sent oil prices soaring around the world, threatening a global economic downturn.

In an attempt to exert economic pressure, Trump ordered the US fleet assembled off its shores to blockade Iran, which is heavily dependent on the sale of oil to stave off total economic collapse.

Analysts say Iranian leaders are aware the US president faces pressure himself from US voters unhappy at rising fuel prices, and may be forced into concessions earlier than Tehran. Midterm elections are due in the US in November.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), whose grip on decision-making in Tehran, experts believe has been reinforced during the conflict, said it had no intention of lifting its blockade.

Iran wants to raise a toll on passage through the strait, forcing each passing tanker to pay $2m. This could lead to higher prices for years to come.

The IRGC wrote on its official Telegram channel: Controlling the strait of Hormuz and maintaining the shadow of its deterrent effects over America and the White Houses supporters in the region is the definitive strategy of Islamic Iran.

Irans military warned in a statement carried by state media that continued US blockading, banditry and piracy would lead to retaliation.

Trump has ordered the military to shoot and kill Iranian vessels that could be placing mines. Though the US has sunk almost all of Irans conventional navy, small fast boats used by the IRGC still pose a significant threat. Last week three ships were fired on by Iranian forces.

Analysts said Iran had held the upper hand since the abortive first round of talks in Islamabad.

Both the US and Iran put lists of respectively 15 and 10 maximalist demands on the table that transgressed known red lines of their interlocutors, Hamidreza Azizi and Erwin van Veen wrote last week for the Dutch Clingendael Institute of International Relations.

But neither the military situation nor the military outlook at the time supported the idea that major concessions were on offer compared [with] prewar positions. If anything, the strategic stalemate that led to the ceasefire favoured Iran because the US cannot reopen the strait of Hormuz without a large-scale and risky ground operation.

Writing on Truth Social before the Washington dinner shooting, Trump said there was tremendous infighting and confusion within Irans leadership.

Nobody knows who is in charge, including them, he posted. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!

Analysts say that though there are deep divisions among Iranian leaders and factions, all are committed to presenting a unified front to the US.

Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said last week there were no hardliners or moderates in Tehran and that the country stood united behind its supreme leader.

A further challenge is to maintain the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, which Tehran sees as essential to its participation in any talks. Israel struck southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least six people it said were Hezbollah militants, and several rockets and drones were launched at Israel from Lebanon. Fourteen people were killed and 37 wounded in strikes in the countrys south on Sunday, according to Lebanons health ministry.

The conflict is one of the widest in geographic extent in the Middle East since the second world war, with violent attacks from Azerbaijan to Oman and even in the Indian Ocean.

At least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran by joint US-Israeli strikes, according to local medical authorities. About 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, where Israel launched a relentless offensive after Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel in retaliation for the Israeli strike in Tehran which killed Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and launched the war.

More than a dozen people have been killed in Gulf Arab states and 23 in Israel by Irans retaliatory attacks, including those launched by its proxies. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 US service members in the region and six UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.
New research has found that most new plug-in hybrid vehicles (Phevs) cost more to buy than their fully electric equivalents.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank said its analysis found the UKs 10 best-selling new Phevs were, on average, 4,150 higher than an equivalent EV.

Phevs, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine, are often believed to be cheaper than pure electric vehicles because they utilise smaller batteries. However, this analysis suggests the opposite is true for the most sought-after models.

They included:

The VW Tiguan Phev being 5,780 more expensive than the VW ID.4 EV.

The Ford Kuga Phev being 4,035 more expensive than the Ford Explorer EV.

The MG HS Phev being 3,400 more expensive than the MG S5 EV.

The ECIU said the fuel consumption of Phevs is nearly six times what manufacturers claim, which means the vehicles cost an average of 620 a year more to fuel than their EV equivalents.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the market share of new Phevs in March was 13.0 per cent, up from 9.5 per cent during the same month last year.

Colin Walker, ECIU head of transport, said there is a risk that drivers looking to shield themselves from high fuel prices may switch to vehicles that simply wont deliver the savings promised.

He went on: The reality is that Phevs cost more to buy, and more to run, than their electric equivalents.

Chinese-made BYD plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in a compound in Sheerness, Kent (PA)

Phevs rely on petrol for most of their driving, and burn much more of it than their manufacturers claim.

The best way that drivers can reduce their exposure to spikes in global oil markets is to shift to vehicles that dont need oil to move  EVs.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said car-makers are legally required to test all vehicles to the same repeatable, Government-verified standard.

Despite massive discounting by manufacturers to drive up demand for EVs, many drivers have yet to be convinced given concerns over the availability and high cost of public charging.

Therefore, manufacturers have also developed a range of technologies so everyone can reduce their emissions.

Plug-in hybrids can be a crucial stepping stone to going fully electric, allowing people to become familiar with zero-emission driving and helping to overcome anxiety.

Analysis by online vehicle marketplace Autotrader last week revealed new EVs have become cheaper to buy than petrol models for the first time, which it attributed to Government grants and sustained manufacturer discounting.

The zero-emissions vehicle (Zev) mandate sets headline targets for the proportion of new cars sold by each manufacturer that are zero-emission, which generally means pure battery electric.

This year it is 33 per cent but manufacturers are able to comply by using flexibilities, such as selling high volumes of plug-in hybrids.

The Government has rejected calls from the automotive sector to bring forward a planned review of the programme in 2027.

Manufacturers claim the mandate puts too much pressure on them to offer unsustainable discounts on new EVs.
See The Fire took advantage of a drop in grade to get back to winning ways in the British Stallion Studs EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks.

A 12-length winner of the Group Two Middleton Stakes at York last season, the daughter of Sea The Stars then made five successive appearances in Group One company and was only beaten a short neck in the Prix de lOpera by Barnavara.

Having been off the track since finishing down the field at the Breeders Cup in November, the Andrew Balding-trained mare was a 1-3 favourite to make the most of having her sights lowered to Listed level at Nottingham and looked set to win comfortably after pulling clear of Rob Hornby with two furlongs still to run.

Odds-on backers were made to sweat late on as Irish challenger Its A Heartbeat finished with a flourish, but See The Fire held on by a neck.

It was always going to be a bit of a muddling race and shes a horse who likes to have a little bit of cover, Hornby told Racing TV.

You could see that she moved through the race with ease. Shes very game, so she needs a little bit of company.

I dont feel that she got tired, we just saw plenty at the front, which was my own fault really, but its just the way the race panned out.

The second horse was a little bit away from her, she couldnt really feel her coming until wed gone over the line and she galloped out strongly.

See The Fire can expect to face tougher tests for the rest of the campaign, with the Middleton Stakes, the Coronation Cup and the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland among her big-race entries.

Hornby added: Its nice to get this year under way on the right note. Shes going to improve, but obviously showed a high level of ability and its all there to see and today was nice to tick the box.

It was the first run of the year, shes entitled to just sharpen up fitness wise and the winning margin hasnt shown what shes capable of. Shes a hugely exciting filly and one to look forward to for the rest of the year.
Labour ministers are currently undertaking a consultation on the proposed ban, which has received more than 30,000 responses from parents and children - Alistair Berg/Digital Vision

Sir Keir Starmer faces a further defeat in the House of Lords over a social media ban for under-16s.

The Prime Minister is locked in a battle with peers, who are demanding that ministers immediately restrict access to social networking sites to protect young people.

Last week, the Government gave in to pressure and published an amendment to the childrens wellbeing and schools bill, which previously required ministers only to hold a consultation on an Australia-style ban.

The last-minute compromise was an attempt to fend off a rebellion led by the Conservative peer Lord Nash, who wants social media banned for under-16s within a year.

However, Sir Keir has been accused of deliberate deception after it was revealed that his new plan commits the Government to new legislation on social media only within three years.

He previously promised action on social media in months, not years, after pressure from campaigners whose children have taken their own lives.

Sir Keirs government is confident the bill will pass during this parliamentary session, which ends on Tuesday - Richard Pohle/Getty

Critics say the three-year period is too long and point out that the legislation could require social media companies only to introduce parental controls, rather than imposing a hard age limit for their sites.

Peers will vote on the Labour amendment on Monday, in what is expected to become another clash with the Government.

Speaking before the vote, Lord Nash said that Sir Keirs plan was not a serious proposal and that he would try to force another defeat.

It is hard to see the Governments position as anything other than deliberate deception, he said.

They say they want action in months, not years. But they table amendments which propose waiting three years.

What will change in three years? The platforms will grow more powerful. More children will be harmed and tragically worse.

The Lords call for a ban could scupper the entire schools bill, which includes Labours flagship policy of compulsory free breakfast clubs for all primary schools.

Government sources told The Telegraph they were confident the bill would pass during this parliamentary session, which ends on Tuesday.

But there is a serious risk that the Government could run out of time to pass the bill before Parliament is prorogued at the end of this month, before the Kings Speech on May 13, which will set out Labours legislative plans.

If the bill runs out of time, Sir Keir will either have to drop it completely, reintroduce it from scratch or secure backing under a parliamentary motion to carry the legislation into Parliaments next session.

Ellen Roome, whose son, Jools Sweeney, 14, took his own life in 2022, said it was beyond belief that Labour had proposed a three-year timeline for legislation.

She believes her son died after trying an online challenge on TikTok, although she cannot prove that allegation because the company has not released her sons viewing history. TikTok says the data has now likely been deleted under privacy laws.

Conservative peer Lord Nash wants social media banned for under-16s within a year - House Of Lords/Parliament TV

Ms Roome said the Governments amendment was an insult to every parent who has campaigned in memory of a child we have lost.

She added: This week, Parliament has a final chance to reject this charade and vote for Lord Nashs amendment, which would raise the age limit for harmful social media to 16 within 12 months. Please  I implore them  just do it now.

Ministers argue that Lord Nashs amendment would undermine a public consultation on a ban, which closes next month and has received more than 30,000 responses from parents and children.

Baroness Lloyd, an education minister, previously said that the amendment could risk unintended consequences and it would mean acting before listening to what the consultation tells us and what parents and children need.
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that the vast majority of Labour MPs support him, despite the scandal over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador that has rocked his premiership.

The prime minister faces existential questions about his future in power, but he said he still believes he can win the next election, arguing that most people in the Parliamentary Labour Party are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job.

Sir Keir has faced calls to resign amid the fallout from the vetting saga, which saw Lord Mandelson take up the role despite security services raising concerns, and Cabinet divisions are said to have emerged over his handling of the process, including his decision to sack Foreign Office chief, Sir Olly Robbins.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted that the vast majority of MPs support him (PA Wire)

Meanwhile, Labour MPs are said to be feeling increasingly frustrated by the chaos in government, with many looking to Wes Streeting or Angela Rayner as possible successors to Sir Keir if the local election results are as brutal for the government as expected.

But, speaking to The Times about questions over his future, the prime minister said: In politics, you get this sort of thing all of the time.

There is always talk. What you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job. And that is the vast majority of people in the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Theyre pleased to be in power. Theyve waited a long time to be in power. And they just want to get on with their job. They dont make a lot of noise about it. They dont talk to journalists about it. Its really important that is reflected in these debates.

It comes despite polling of Labour members showing that the overwhelming majority think Sir Keir has handled the Mandelson affair badly.

However, around two-thirds (61 per cent) think he should not resign over the scandal, while 29 per cent said he should, the Survation poll for Labour List showed.

They were split on whether Labour should change its leadership, with 46 per cent in favour and 44 per cent saying Sir Keir should remain in post.

In the same interview, the prime minister insisted he thinks he can win the next election, adding: I think its going to be a very important general election. Its likely to be Labour versus Reform. An election where the defining question is what is it to be British? An election where what I would call patriotic values of tolerance, decency, live and let live, diversity, are under challenge like weve never seen before.

His latest intervention comes after he was accused of breaking the ministerial code by reportedly failing to declare a meeting with a client of Lord Mandelsons lobbying firm.

According to The Telegraph, the prime minister and Lord Mandelson attended the tech firm Palantirs headquarters in Washington in February 2025.

They reported that the meeting was not logged, despite ministers being required to publish details of meetings with external organisations as part of the ministerial code.

Downing Street told the newspaper that the event was not a meeting, so it did not need to be recorded. But the Ministry of Defence, which also reportedly attended, described it as a meeting.

Alex Burghart, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, accused Sir Keir of breaking the ministerial code, which is widely seen as a resignation offence.

Darren Jones said there is no case to answer on a potential Commons sleaze inquiry (PA)

He added: The public deserves to know who arranged this meeting, what was discussed, and what Global Counsels client stood to gain.

Next week, the PM is likely to face a Commons vote that could spark an inquiry into his handling of the vetting saga.

The prime minister has repeatedly told MPs that he and his ministers only found out that UKSV had advised that Lord Mandelson should be denied clearance for the role last Tuesday evening, despite The Independent raising concerns that he had failed vetting last September and running a front page story on it.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle looks set to give MPs a say on whether the prime minister is referred to the powerful Commons Privileges Committee for a probe into whether he misled parliament over the disgraced peers appointment.

Sir Lindsay is widely expected to make a statement on the letters on Monday, meaning Sir Keir could face a vote in the Commons on Tuesday  the same day his former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, will be grilled by MPs on his role in Lord Mandelsons appointment.

But Cabinet minister Darren Jones insisted there is no case to answer when asked about a potential referral of Sir Keir to a sleaze inquiry, as well as accusing the Conservatives of using tactics ahead of local elections.

The minister told the BBCs Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg programme: You have to remember, what are these privileges committees about? The last time it was used was when Boris Johnson told the House of Commons there were no parties in Downing Street.

It was then shown he was at five of them and got a fine from the police. Thats what these processes are in place for, so the opposition are just using tactics to try to distract from the fact that the government is doing good work in this pre-election period.

Asked if it would be right to have the investigation and clear up different interpretations of what has happened, Mr Jones added: As far as I understand the case, there is no case to answer.

Labours huge majority in the Commons means such a vote would almost certainly not pass, but it could still be damaging for the prime minister.

A government spokesperson said: Firstly, there are robust processes in place to ensure government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently.

Ministers engage with a range of companies as part of their international travel and Palantir is a longstanding investor in the UK.
Fitness and calorie tracking devices can induce feelings of "shame" in users who fail to meet their set targets, according to research.

Experts from University College London (UCL) and Loughborough University employed artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse tens of thousands of social media posts on X.

Their study identified 58,881 posts discussing the five most profitable fitness applications, revealing the potential negative psychological impact of these popular tools.

These were then filtered to see whether users posted a negative sentiment, resulting in 13,799 posts.

Researchers found that users felt shame when they logged unhealthy foods, irritation by notifications sent by the apps and disappointment when people were not able to meet their goals.

The study also highlighted concerns with algorithm-generated targets, based on a persons weight loss goals.

Calorie and fitness trackers could be causing feelings of shame among users, researchers have said (Alamy/PA)

These apps rely on algorithms that do not reflect the flexibility and messiness of real life, or account for individual circumstances and differences, they wrote in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

They highlight how one user wrote: If I want to reach my goal weight I need to consume 700 (negative 700) calories a day.

In some cases, these experiences led to demotivation, with users seemingly giving up on their goals, they found.

The researchers called for fitness apps to move away from rigid calorie counting and exercise regimes to a more holistic approach.

Few studies have looked at the potential detrimental effects of these apps, said Dr Paulina Bondaronek, from UCL Institute of Health Informatics and senior author of the paper.

Social media provides a huge amount of data that could help us understand these effects. By using AI, we were able to analyse this data more quickly.

In these posts, we found a lot of blame and shame, with people feeling they were not doing as well as they should be. These emotional effects may end up harming peoples motivation and their health.

Instead of very narrow, rigid measures of success relating to amount of weight lost, health apps should prioritise overall wellbeing and focus on intrinsic motivation  ie, the inherent enjoyment or satisfaction in activities.

Fitness tracker encourage a rigid approach to goals and take the joy and fun out of staying healthy, the researchers have warned (Getty Images)

She added: We need to learn to be kinder to ourselves. We are good at blaming and shaming because we think it will help us to do better but actually it has the opposite effect.

It is important to note, too, that we only looked at negative posts, so we cannot assess the overall effect of these apps in terms of our wellbeing. The apps may have a negative side, but they likely also provide benefits to many people.

Co-author Dr Lucy Porter, from the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, added: Listening to users reports on social media has shown that fitness apps can sometimes leave users feeling demoralised and ready to give up  which is the exact opposite of what these tools are supposed to do.

We know from previous research that feeling ashamed and miserable about yourself is not going to support healthy, long-term behaviour change  what we need to know now is how pervasive these effects on morale and emotional wellbeing are, and whether there is anything that can be done to adapt fitness apps so that they better meet peoples needs.
Taiwans foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, arrived in Eswatini days after a planned presidential visit to the African nation was abruptly cancelled, with Taipei accusing China of exerting pressure behind the scenes.

In a message shared after landing, Mr Lin said Taipei would not be held back by authoritarian forces.

Taiwan was forced to cancel president Lai Ching-tes trip after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permits for his aircraft on a planned visit to Eswatini.

It marked the first time a Taiwanese president had had to cancel an entire foreign trip following airspace denials, in what analysts see as a new strategy to block visits to one of Taiwans 12 remaining diplomatic allies.

China praised the three countries for their decision but denied allegations that Beijing had applied economic pressure to block Mr Lais travel.

Sharing a photo from the airport in Eswatini, Mr Lin highlighted the close ties between Taipei and Mbabane, while raising concerns over what he described as Chinas growing politicisation and weaponisation of airspace control.

At that moment, I felt the deep friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini that transcends distance, and I became even more convinced that Taiwan will not be held back by authoritarian forces, he wrote.

We have demonstrated through our actions that Taiwan has the ability to overcome challenges and the determination to engage with the world, he added.

In a video message on Sunday marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati IIIs accession, Mr Lai said Taiwan is a sovereign country that belongs to the world.

Lin Chia-lung shares pictures celebrating 40th anniversary of King Mswati IIIs accession, (Facebook/Lin Chia-lung)

Our 23 million people have the right to engage with the international community. The greater the external pressure we face, the more courage and resolve we have, he said in English.

He added that Chinas tactics would not force Taipei to back down or prevent it from engaging with its partners.

Mr Lin did not provide details of his travel route, saying only that his delegation had overcome all obstacles to reach Eswatini in his capacity as Mr Lais special envoy.

China considers democratically-governed Taiwan to be one of its provinces and does not recognise it as a sovereign country. It frequently calls the issue a red line in its diplomatic relations with other countries.

The alleged blocking of Taiwans presidents trip to the African nation was denounced by the US, while the European Union, Britain, France and Germany also expressed concern.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said Beijing appreciated the position and actions of the relevant countries in upholding the one-China principle.

Spokesperson Zhang Han also refuted allegations that Beijing had applied economic pressure on Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to block the presidential flight.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is presented with an Indian flag in Dharamshala, India, March 11, 2026.

Tibetans outside Chinese control vote on Sunday for a government-in-exile, an election of heightened significance as they brace for an inevitable, eventual, future without their revered spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The India-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) -- condemned by China as "nothing but a separatist political group" -- is a key institution for the exiles, especially after the Dalai Lama handed over political power in 2011.

"Our votes matter," said Tenzin Tsering, 19, a first-time voter, waiting to cast his ballot to push for greater youth representation.

"We need voices that reflect where our community is going, not just where it has been", he said, speaking in Bylakuppe in India's southern state of Karnataka, one of the largest Tibetan communities outside the Himalayan plateau.

Polling is due to take place in 27 countries -- but not China.

The 91,000 registered voters including Buddhist monks in the high Himalayas, political exiles in South Asia's megacities and refugees in Australia, Europe and North America.

Read moreHuman Rights Watch sounds alarm over China's new draft 'ethnic unity' law

The 90-year-old Dalai Lama, based in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital Lhasa after Chinese troops crushed an uprising in 1959, insists he has many more years to live.

But supporters of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate are acutely aware that self-declared atheist and Communist China said last year that it must approve the Buddhist leader's eventual successor.

The Dalai Lama says only his India-based office has that right.

Tibetan Buddhists believe he is the 14th reincarnation of a spiritual leader first born in 1391.

The five-year parliament, which sits twice a year, has 45 members from across the world: 30 representing three traditional provinces, 10 representing five religious traditions, and five representing the diaspora.

Headquartered in Dharamsala in northern India, it functions as a representative body for an estimated 150,000 Tibetans living in exile worldwide.

The government's "sikyong", or leader, Penpa Tsering, was elected for a second term on February 1, after taking 61 percent in the preliminary round -- a high enough threshold to win outright.

Tsering, like the government, does not seek full independence for Tibet, in line with the Dalai Lama's long-standing "Middle Way" policy seeking autonomy.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
New scrutiny is falling on the shoulders of the Secret Service and its chief, Sean Curran, after Saturday nights shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Publicly, members of the administration praised the Secret Service for agents quick response on Saturday after a suspected gunman charged the ballroom in the basement of the Washington Hilton, where hundreds of journalists and administration VIPs including the president and vice president were seated for the annual event. No persons inside the ballroom were injured, and the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was tackled before getting inside.

In private, however, Real Clear Politics reports that seasoned security officials are raising alarms over the Secret Service and the agencys ability to protect the president. Numerous sources familiar with presidential security protocols bashed Saturday nights security apparatus at the Hilton in comments to the publication, echoing some criticism leveled by attendees and politicians on social media after the event.

The report also claimed that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles plans to blame the presidents sons, who reportedly pushed for Currans appointment, if the president decides to fire him. Wiles, as Trumps top aide, oversees the Secret Service and also faced some criticism for allowing Curran to remain in his job this long.

Curran took over the agency last year, just months after the president was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pennsylvania during a campaign event.

Director of the United States Secret Service Sean Curran gives a rare news conference following the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner (AP)

Multiple sources reportedly told Real Clear Politics that Wiles has told other administration officials that its on the boys  supposedly referring to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump  if Curran screws up.

Its failure after failure after failure, and she gets no blame, one source complained to the publication.

The new report of a rift between Wiles and the presidents sons could be blown open if Saturday evenings incident results in turnover at the Secret Service. Attendees at the White House Correspondents Dinner were required to show tickets and pass through a metal detector, but CNNs Wolf Blitzer reported that the suspect appeared to make it through a metal detector with his weapon.

Curran, right, rose to prominence after his actions helping to evacuate Donald Trump during the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. The incident earned the Secret Service its most significant criticism in years (Getty)

A witness who described the scene to The Independent on Saturday evening said that a man withdrew a long gun and began firing just inches away from where she and another worker were pushing a service cart into an elevator.

Wiles is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She previously served as one of the heads of Donald Trumps successful 2024 election campaign, where she earned a reputation for running a tight ship and being a no-nonsense boss.

The Secret Service, however, has been facing growing scrutiny and criticism for years. The near-assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024 was another incident wherein the agency was sharply criticized afterwards for not establishing a proper perimeter around a stage where Donald Trump was set to speak.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has reportedly told administration officials that it is Don Jr. and Eric's fault if their pick for head of the Secret Service screws up (AP)

As Saturday nights event concluded with a lockdown and confused attendees spilling out into the city, numerous pro-Trump figures and others described the Hiltons layers of security as lax and porous, with some claiming they werent asked to show a ticket. The Independent attended the dinner, and its reporters were asked for tickets at multiple checkpoints.

That lax image is likely to prevail, however, given that the suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen himself is alleged to have written extensively about the Secret Services security failures in a purported manifesto obtained by authorities and published by news outlets on Saturday.

The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before. Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope its corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again. Like, if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed shit, Allen wrote in his alleged manifesto.

Another incident in recent weeks saw the Secret Service fail to locate a vehicle its officers were tracking after gunshots were reported near the White House. Rifle casings were recovered, according to Real Clear Politics, and a vehicle identified, but no images of the suspected shooter were recovered and the case reportedly went cold after agents were unable to track the vehicle due to it bearing stolen tags.

The Independent has contacted the Secret Service for comment.

President Trump continues to have confidence in the United States Secret Service and all of his top law enforcement personnel, as the president mentioned last night. These brave men and women took swift action and quickly neutralized the perpetrator who sought to seek harm to the president and other top officials, said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle in response to an emailed request for comment.
File: Indian photographer Raghu Rai at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Chandigarh, India in 2019 (Karun Sharma/Hindustan Times/Shutterstock)

Tributes have poured in for one of Indias most acclaimed photographers, Raghu Rai, who passed away in Delhi, with many remembering him for his powerful work documenting the countrys defining historical moments, social realities and everyday life with rare depth and sensitivity.

He died at the age of 83 after a two-year battle with cancer, his family said on Sunday.

The news of his death was confirmed via a post on his Instagram profile, featuring a black-and-white portrait in the style of his photography.

With deep sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of our beloved, the post read.

One of Indias foremost photographers, Rai worked as a photojournalist for over five decades, documenting key historical moments such as the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and the Bhopal disaster, as well as capturing intimate portraits of figures including Mother Teresa, Satyajit Ray, Indira Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.

Born on 18 December 1942, in undivided Indias Punjab, Rai was a civil engineer who was introduced to the medium by his brother, photographer S Paul, during a professional break. His foray into photography six decades ago was a fortunate coincidence, as his first image  a picture of a donkey looking directly into the lens  was published in The Times of London after his brother was impressed by it.

I tried to get closer, but when I was about 10 feet away, the donkey started running and the children started laughing, Rai told Guardian in an interview four decades later.

He told stories through his lens.

He documented events, personalities, history through his lens.

He created storms of change,

healed souls through his lens.

The shutter closes today.

His greatness will forever be etched in our memories.

Alvida Raghu Rai pic.twitter.com/F1ZKHQhRj3  Sayema (@_sayema) April 26, 2026

He said he chased the donkey for three hours, and later, when they both got tired, the donkey stood there so I got closer and took the shot.

The [prize] money I got was enough to live on for a month, said Rai. I thought, This is not a bad idea, man!

On Sunday, many described his passing as the end of an era as his colleagues, friends and others remembered him for his work, dedication and enthusiasm.

Politician and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor said he was deeply saddened by Rais death, calling him one of the worlds finest visual storytellers.

Recalling a personal connection from his childhood, when Rai worked with his father at The Statesman newspaper, he said the photographer was not just a global figure but the man with the gentle smile and the observant eye.

To the world, he said, Rai was an incomparable master who captured the pulsating heart and soul of India - from the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster to intimate portraits of Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi.

Raghu Rai did not just photograph India; he lived it, and through his lens, he made us feel its pulse, he added.

Orator Joy Bhattacharjya shared one of Rais photographs of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, saying India had lost its finest visual chronicler.

Rest in peace, Raghu Rai sir  nobody captured the India in which we grew up better than you. This is just one of the many stunning images you bequeathed us, he wrote.

Historian William Dalrymple, who described Rai as a friend and mentor, said he was not just Indias greatest photographer but also one of its most beloved, generous and wonderful men.

His book on Delhi was the first I ever bought about the city, and it was he who first taught me how to look at it and pin it to paper, he said. Later, he became the kindest of friends. I adored him  his warmth, energy and wild enthusiasm. Om Shanti... he will be much, much missed.

Travel well, Raghu Rai. No one captured India like your lenses did. pic.twitter.com/nAq6StFf8R  Agnivo Niyogi ( ) (@Aagan86) April 26, 2026

Rai was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh war and its aftermath.

His work caught the attention of Henri Cartier-Bresson, who nominated him to join the prestigious Magnum Photos in 1977  placing him among a select group shaping global photojournalism.

He later received the Photographer of the Year award in the United States for his photo essay Human Management of Wildlife in India, published in National Geographic. The French government conferred on him the Officier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.

Among Rais most haunting images is his photograph from the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster  a toxic gas leak that killed an estimated 22,000 people. The image shows the face of a child, partially buried in the earth, eyes closed in death. It became one of the defining visual records of the tragedy, capturing both its vast scale and intimate human cost of the deadliest industrial disaster in India.

The Press Club of India, of which Rai was a member, said he leaves behind a vast body of work spanning decades that will continue to be celebrated.

His commitment and contribution to his craft will be remembered with deep respect. At this juncture, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, it wrote.

He didnt just take pictures, he preserved the memory of our nation, said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in India.

File: Managing Director Nikon India Hiroshi Takashina (L), veteran Indian photographer Raghu Rai (C) and general manager Marketing Nikon Corporation Toru Iwaoka (R) pose wth the newly launched Nikon D4 and D800/D800E DSLR cameras in New Delhi in 2012 (AFP/Getty)

Over the decades, his work has been exhibited in major galleries and institutions across Europe and North America, and published in leading international magazines.

While less commercially prominent than some Western contemporaries, Rai will remain widely regarded within global photography circles as a central figure in documentary practice and as a visual chronicler of India.

Rai said in 2010 he was not proud of everything he has achieved, but its fulfilling to know one is going deeper into the layers of complexity of my country .

I like being among my own people. I merge with them. I dont carry camera bags, I dont wear stylish clothes. I have one camera with a zoom lens so I am not alarming people; no one is saying, 'Here comes a photographer!
US President Donald Trump takes questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on 25 April, 2026. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and the first lady were whisked out of the annual White House correspondents dinner on Saturday after shots were fired at the event.

Journalists and other attendees sought cover under tables as security forces rushed to evacuate the president and other senior cabinet members. Soon after, authorities said the shooter had been detained after the incident, but asked attendees to leave. White House Correspondents Association Chair Weijia Jiang later returned to the stage to announce the dinner would be rescheduled.

In a press briefing from the White House later Saturday evening, Trump describing the shooter as a lone wolf and the hotel where the event was being held as not a particularly secure building.

Here are the key stories at a glance.

Person in custody after Trump evacuated in shooting incident at White House correspondents dinner

Donald and Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House correspondents dinner on Saturday evening after the event was interrupted by loud gunshots.

A suspect was in custody, the FBI said, after the annual black tie dinner honoring the White House press corps in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton was suddenly interrupted by confusion and chaos. Journalists ducked under tables as authorities rushed the president and members of his cabinet out of the room.

Read the full story

Trump cancels his envoys Pakistan trip for Iran ceasefire negotiations

Donald Trump said he has told US envoys not to go to Pakistan for more talks with Iran, shortly after Tehrans top diplomat left Islamabad late on Saturday.

Trump added to Fox News: They can call us anytime they want. The White House on Friday said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistans capital to attempt to revive ceasefire negotiations.

Read the full story

Egyptian family of six taken back into ICE custody days after being released

An Egyptian family of six has been taken back into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, days after they were released from a detention facility in Texas on Thursday, according to their attorney Eric Lee.

Lee said Saturday morning that Hayam El Gamal and her five children were on a private jet in Denver bound for Egypt because of a court order violation.

Read the full story

ICE planning facility for children and families on Pfas-contaminated site

Donald Trumps Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning a detention facility for children and their families on one the nations most Pfas-contaminated sites, which also serves as a hub for the presidents deportation program.

Read the full story

Staff decry constant turbulence under Trumps labor secretary, as she blames deep state in resignation

The secretary of the Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, resigned this week after several controversies surrounding her brief tenure at the helm of the agency. But labor officials say even though her troubled reign is over, the US labor authority remains in a state of constant turbulence.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Conspiracy theory over UFOs and missing scientists spreads from web to White House, read more from the Guardians Edward Helmore here.

Sam Levine has a deep dive on Todd Blanche, and his bid to be attorney general.

Catching up? Heres what happened on Friday 24 April.
President Donald Trump applauded the Secret Service and law enforcement for acting quickly after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel Saturday evening.

After being evacuated from the venue, along with other members of the administration, the president wrote on Truth Social that it was quite an evening and said he recommended the annual dinner continue as planned. Around 8:30 p.m., shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, rushed security armed with a shotgun and other weapons, authorities said. He shot one Secret Service officer before being detained. The president and other members of the Cabinet were rushed from the nearby ballroom.

I was watching to see what was happening, probably should have gotten down even faster, Trump said at a briefing shortly after the incident. Melania was very cognizant, I think, of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, 'That's a bad noise.

Trump said that when the chaos unfolded, he first thought it was someone dropping a tray.

"I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray. I thought it was a tray going down," he said. "I've heard that many times, and it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away."

Its a dangerous profession, Trump said when asked if he was concerned about his personal safety.

One U.S. Secret Service agent was shot but the president said he was in great shape.

I told him we love him and respect him and he's a very proud guy," the president said.

Secret Service members rushed President Donald Trump from the room shortly after shots rang out at the White House Correspondents Dinner (AP)

What happened

Shortly after the appetizers were served, dinner attendees heard several gunshots ring out.

Reporters from The Independent, who were seated at a table in the back of the ballroom, said they heard approximately five gunshots before watching agents draw their firearms. Upon realizing what was happening, guests took cover underneath tables.

Secret Service swarmed the banquet hall, yelling at the president to get out of the way and demanding that people duck.

The president and first lady were swiftly removed from the scene. One woman, who was seated at a table with reporters, began crying, saying the incident was the scariest thing she had ever experienced, according to The Independents John Bowden.

Wolf Blitzer, a long-time CNN journalist, said he saw the shooter was clearly on the ground.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was one of the Trump administration members who was rushed out of the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday evening (Reuters)

Other members of the Trump administration who were in attendance, including Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They were also taken from the facility in the shootings aftermath.

The president immediately returned to the White House and spoke to the nation from the press briefing room.

Trumps appearance at this years White House Correspondents Dinner marked the first time he was attending the annual event that raises money for the White House Correspondents Association since he became president in 2016.

Members of the media take cover after a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner. A Secret Service agent who was shot was the only reported injury (Reuters)

Who is the shooter?

The shooting suspect was identified as a 31-year-old Cole Allen from California. He was taken to the hospital after the shooting and was charged with two federal counts, including use of a firearm during a violent crime and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

DC Metro Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said investigators believe Allen was a guest at the hotel.

The Secret Service established the security plan for the event and officials believed it worked to stop the gunman, Carroll said.

The suspected gunman was not shot as he was taken to the ground by officers.

One Secret Service agent was shot from close range as Allen charged the security station, but the bullet struck the agents bulletproof vest. The president said the agent was doing great and in good spirits after being shot.

The name of the injured officer has not been released.

Trump posted a photo of the California man accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton Hotel after he was apprehened by authorities (Donald Trump/ Truth Social)

How did a gun get inside the premises?

The California man accused of firing shots in the hotel rushed through the security checkpoint armed with multiple firearms, the president said. Officials later said he was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

In a video posted to Truth Social, members of the Secret Service can be seen drawing their firearms after the shooter sprints through the security checkpoint.

Trump told reporters the suspect charged from 50 yards away.

What did Trump say after?

Addressing reporters shortly after the shooting, the president praised law enforcement and members of the media for responding swiftly and truthfully to the incident.

Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and well just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP, he wrote on Truth Social after the event.

The event was later canceled and Trump said it would be held at a later date.

Trump addressed reporters in the White House Briefing Room after the shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel, praising members of the media and the Secret Service for acting quickly (Reuters)

Trump insisted the dramatic event would bring together most parties from all sides of the political spectrum.

There was a record-setting group of people, and there was a tremendous amount of love and coming together, Trump said in the White House Briefing Room surrounded by FBI Director Kash Patel, Defense Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Critics are alarmed by the news that the Trump administration reportedly fired all 22 current members of the National Science Board, the body that steers the National Science Foundation and advises Congress and the president on top scientific issues.

In a statement on Saturday, Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California called the decision a real bozo the clown move.

This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation, she said. The NSB is apolitical. It advises the president on the future of NSF. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the Foundation.

Will the president fill the NSB with MAGA loyalists who won't stand up to him as he hands over our leadership in science to our adversaries? she added.

This unseemly political maneuver must be seen for what it is: An attempt to silence independent scientists, shut down evidence-based decision making, and keep the public in the dark, Gretchen Goldman, president and CEO of the Union of Concern Scientists, wrote in a blog post.

The Trump administration reportedly fired the entire National Science Board on Friday, a key body that steers U.S. science policy and advises the president and Congress (Reuters)

The National Science Foundation directed questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request from The Independent for comment.

The White House reportedly fired the members of the board on Friday with little explanation.

The advisory body, whose members serve six-year terms, helps guide the overall direction of the NSFs more than $9 billion budget. It helps approve major expenses and sets long-term priorities for the agency, the engine of basic non-medical science and engineering funding in the U.S., which has had a hand in the creation of major technologies like GPS and the internet.

What it means is that there wont be any practical impediments to the administration essentially enacting their own budget and priorities and ignoring Congress directives or congressional law, Keivan Stassun, a professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University who was among those fired, told The Lost Angeles Times.

What were likely to see is a collapse of what has historically been a broad investment in American science and technology capabilities, he added. The most transformative discoveries are transformative because you cant predict them in advance, so we invest foundationally in scientists and engineers to do basic science and engineering research.

The Trump administration has taken other controversial steps around scientific policy, including removing the entirety of a key CDC vaccine advisory panel (Reuters)

The reported firings are the latest sign of uncertainty and upheaval at the NSF.

Last April, NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan resigned from the agency, as personnel from the Trump administrations slash-and-burn DOGE cost-cutting program were working inside NSF to cancel scores of grants.

The following month, board member Alondra Nelson resigned, citing the DOGE takeover, alleging the Elon Musk-led effort had by fiat the authority to give thumbs up or down to grant applications which had been systematically vetted by layers of subject matter experts.

Last year, the White House proposed a 55 percent cut to the NSF budget, which Congress rejected. The administration has again requested cuts as part of the fiscal year 2027 budget.

In March, the administration nominated Jim ONeill, a former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and biotech investor, to lead the science agency.

ONeill, who has yet to go for a hearing before Congress, would be the first NSF chief who lacked a formal scientific or engineering background.

The president has championed U.S. dominance in technology, and Silicon Valley CEOs donated to his campaign and inauguration (AFP/Getty)

In its first year in office, the Trump administration terminated or froze more than 7,800 research grants, while roughly 25,000 scientists and staffers at research-related agencies left the government, according to Nature.

Last summer, the administration removed all the members of an influential CDC vaccine advisory board, some of whom were replaced by vaccine skeptics.

The administration similarly removed members of an autism advisory board, installing members in their place who had previously made debunked claims linking vaccines to autism.

The president has a long history of denying well-established science, and he called the climate crisis the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world last year at the United Nations General Assembly.

The president has proved supportive of the technology industry, though, championing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

His administration has pushed to speed the development of AI data centers across the U.S.

Members of the tech industry donated millions to the presidents campaign, inauguration and White House ballroom project.
A puppy found at a gas station is at the center of an emotional animal rescue thats touching hearts online. Alone, scared, and clearly exhausted, the tiny dog had nowhere to gountil rescuers stepped in and changed everything. What happened next wasnt just a routine save, but a quiet, powerful moment that showed exactly when she finally realized she was safe.

Dog mom @bsnels shared the heartwarming Scottsdale, Arizona, rescue on TikTok on April 23 after her boyfriend's father found the puppy abandoned at a gas station, and it didn't take long to gain traction online. Thousands of viewers are waiting impatiently for the next update of the rescue puppy's saga.

Could this precious puppy be any cuter? She made bath time as easy as possible for her new family, and judging by the smiles on their faces, she stole their hearts in the process. How could anyone have abandoned her, especially when she's just so sweet!

"As a dog expert, I can safely tell you that's a purebred sweetheart," commented @james.does.voices. This may be a joke, but I completely agree! Everyone would understand if this rescued puppy were terrified of people, but she couldn't be more relieved to have a family to call her own.

Related: Young Dog Abandoned on the Side of the Road Accepts Love Despite Being Terrified

Every second of this video is cuter than the last, but one special moment stood out from the rest: the moment she realized she was safe and loved. It's the greatest honor to know that a rescue dog feels safe enough to fall asleep at any point in time, but this little girl falling asleep while being bathed is the ultimate sign of trust.

Why This Small Moment Meant Everything

After all, it's not every day that a puppy falls asleep in the bath! Even dogs who are strong swimmers can feel vulnerable while in the water, but this tiny puppy knew her rescuers wouldn't let anything happen to her. No wonder she continued her nap in the sun as soon as she was dry!



SIGN UP to get pawsitivity delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends

@Bsnels' viewers, new and old, are eagerly awaiting an update on the sleepy pup. Until then, they're debating about the perfect name for her! "Her name should be Lina, short for Gasolina," commented @najah.wajah. That could be the perfect way to pay homage to where she was found!

Still, my personal favorite suggestion came from @theworldgoesquiet, who wrote, "I agree with everyone saying Boots, and I submit that her full government name could be Boots With The Fur." Every Millennial knows where that reference came from, though the jury is still out on her official name. The most important thing, for now, is that she's safe and sound with her new family.

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This is the moment an armed suspect charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents Dinner, where President Donald Trump was in attendance, before being shot.

The assailant, who opened fire near the Hilton hotel screening area, was quickly apprehended. The president, first lady and all protectees are safe, the Secret Service said in a statement.

The shooter has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from Torrance, California, according to The New York Times, citing two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter.

President Trump posted video of the security footage on Truth Social and praised the response of the Secret Service at a press conference at the White House.
A secret service agent in tactical gear inside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel where shots were fired on Saturday - Andrew Harnik/Getty

The King and Queens state visit to the US will go ahead with slight adjustments following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

British and American security teams worked through the night to ensure that the visit was safe to go ahead, it is understood.

The King and Queen will arrive in Washington on Monday afternoon, despite a heightened security risk after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, attended by the US president and the first lady on Saturday night.

Experts examined whether there were any further threats or wider plot, after suspect Cole Tomas Allen was arrested.

The King and Queen act on official advice, but are understood to have wanted to continue with the itinerary as far as possible. Mr Trump called the King brave for going ahead with the visit.

The precise details of changes will not be confirmed, as per long-standing custom for all royal security matters, but are said to be so small that the public will not notice any changes to the itinerary.

After arriving, the royal couple will have tea with Mr and Mrs Trump at the White House, before attending a garden party at the British embassy.

On Tuesday, the King will address the joint session of Congress and deliver a speech at a White House dinner.

The trip is intended to celebrate 250 years of American independence.

It is the Kings 20th visit to the country, and his first as King. Mr Trump requested that he be the first full state visitor of his second term.

JD Vance is pulled out of his chair by secret service agents at the White House Correspondents dinner

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the state visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned.

The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow.

Christian Turner, the new British ambassador to the US, confirmed in person that the visit would go ahead, adding: Keep calm and carry on.

Mr Trump later told CBS News 60 Minutes: I think its great; hell be very safe.

The White House grounds are really safe.

Workers set up multiple layers of barricades and security cordons ahead of the King and Queens visit - Anadolu

The King was said to be greatly relieved that Mr Trump, his wife Melania and other guests were unharmed during the confrontation and that he was being kept fully informed of developments.

The King and Queen are believed to have reached out privately to the US president and first lady to convey their sympathies.

On Sunday, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, told Sky News: Our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.

Questions over Trumps security

The gunman, reportedly targeting Trump administration officials, came within 100 yards of the US president on Saturday evening before Secret Service agents tackled him to the ground.

It will raise further questions about the security of the president, who survived two assassination attempts in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

The attacker, identified as Mr Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, reportedly sent a manifesto to his family about 10 minutes before he opened fire. He mocked the security at the event and said: What the hell is the Secret Service doing?

The suspect Cole Allen, laid low by security, was said to have planned to target US administration officials

One officer was struck in his vest as gunfire was exchanged outside the ballroom of the hotel, but Mr Trump said the agent was in great shape.

Mr Allen also said Iranian assassins could have turned up with a machine gun to the event and no one would have noticed s---, it was revealed.

The suspect, who is believed to have been a guest of the hotel, called himself a friendly federal assassin and revealed that he intended to target US administration officials over their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the Iran war and immigration policies.

Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff, and his wife Katie are rushed out of the room - Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Seemingly referring to Mr Trump, he wrote: I am no longer willing to permit a paedophile, rapist and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.

Officials said that Mr Allen had no criminal record and was not on the radar of law enforcement. Police searched his home in a Los Angeles suburb on Sunday morning as helicopters circled overhead.

Police said the shooters motive remained unclear. Asked about it on Sunday, Mr Trump said the attacker was a very troubled guy who hates Christians.

A sick guy

The president told Fox News on Sunday: The guy was a sick guy when you read his manifesto. It was a religious thing. It was strongly anti-Christian.

Investigators said the suspect checked into the Washington Hilton hotel a day or two before the event.

The incident on Saturday has raised fresh questions about the safety of Mr Trump and other top US officials.

Donald Trump is escorted off stage by secret service agents after the shooting

The gunman got past two security checkpoints at the venue before he was brought down.

He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, according to police.

An investigation into the attempted shooting will probably focus on how the suspect was able to smuggle a shotgun into the hotel.

Attendees noted that a magnetometer had been placed outside the ballroom, but that there was no screening when entering the hotel itself.

Why the King will not be fazed by this attack

By Hannah Furness, Royal Editor

In 1994, when the King, then the Prince of Wales, was shot at while on stage in Australia, his reaction was understated to say the least.

He readjusted his cufflinks, blinked a few times and watched on, slightly perturbed, as security bundled the gunman to the floor.

So it is safe to say the King will not be unduly concerned with news from the United States, where he will be landing on Monday, in the aftermath of the attempted shooting of its 47th president.

Hes brave, said the president. So hes coming and were going to have a great time.

Donald Trump was bundled from the room at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night, in an attack that left one security agent injured and the press corps  dressed in their black tie as guests  sheltering under tables after they had been instructed to get down.

The security for the state visit, which is already unusually high compared to other countries, will be at its absolute maximum capacity.

The opportunities for walkabouts are limited compared to royal visits in Britain, although the Palace has insisted on moments for the King and Queen to meet the public, as they always do on overseas tours.

Nerves behind the scenes have already been tested, if not quite frayed.

A protester shot at the King, then the Prince of Wales, during Australia Day celebrations in 1994 - Sky News

There have been calls for the trip to be abandoned entirely because of Mr Trumps war in Iran and his vague threat to relinquish support for Britains sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

The victims of Jeffrey Epstein have also called for the King and Queen to meet them.

The president has fallen out spectacularly with Sir Keir Starmer, directing personal jibes (not Winston Churchill among them) at him wherever possible.

Still, the King will keep calm and carry on.

The Royal family has faced far worse, even leaving aside centuries of history that feature a beheading (Charles I), being shot by arrows in the New Forest (William II) and even death from a poker up the bottom (Edward II).

In modern times, the Royal family has also faced serious threats, from political stunts to assassination attempts.

During the Kings 1994 Australia tour, the shots turned out to be blank, fired by a protester towards the stage at an Australia Day event in Tumbalong Park, Sydney. The gunman had wanted to make a point about the treatment of Cambodian asylum seekers.

One police officer had cut his hand while tackling what everyone thought was a would-be assassin, and the King was described as cool as a cucumber.

The Royal family has faced serious threats from the IRA, who murdered Earl Mountbatten, the Kings beloved uncle, after planting a bomb on his boat while in Ireland.

Earl Mountbatten, the Kings uncle, was killed by an IRA bombing in 1979 - Hulton Archive/Getty

In 1969, the Kings investiture as Prince of Wales was threatened by Welsh nationalist extremists. Two men were killed trying to plant bombs in the lead-up, though the event went ahead without a known hitch.

In 1981, Elizabeth II held steady when shots rang out during Trooping the Colour.

A 17-year-old shot a replica gun at the Queen, firing six blank cartridges that everyone present believed to be real. The Queen was seen to lean forward to pat her horse, Burmese, and carried on.

FBI files have shown that she also faced an assassination plot during a 1983 visit to the US, again from the IRA.

A 17-year-old shot a replica gun at the Queen, firing six blank cartridges during Trooping of the Colour in 1981 - PA

The Princess Royal was the target of a kidnapping attempt.

In 1974, when she was 23, her car was stopped by a gunman who wanted to abduct her and demand a multimillion-pound ransom.

Four people, including her bodyguard, were shot, but Princess Anne was unmoved.

Not bloody likely, she said, when told to get out of the car.

Members of the Royal family have travelled to war zones in the line of duty, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor heading to the Falklands and Prince Harry going to Afghanistan. The late Queen talked her way out of danger when intruder Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and sat on her bed in 1982.

Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and sat on Queen Elizabeth IIs bed in 1982 - PA

A crossbow-wielding assailant arrived at Windsor Castle aiming to kill her in 2023, and has since been sentenced to nine years in jail.

Most of the threats to the Royal family never see the light of day as security tackles them discreetly before the public is aware.

The royal job is, in short, not without its dangers.
The president of the United States, his MAGA allies, and even a Senate Democrat pressed the case for his $400 million White House ballroom construction in the hours after a shooting at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner left nearly the entire Cabinet and DC press corps ducking for cover minutes into the event.

For months, the construction of President Donald Trumps desired White House ballroom has made headlines and even seemed to consume the presidents attention during unrelated events, where Trump will often go on diatribes about the construction process or building plans. A federal judge halted the project earlier this month, while allowing construction of a secure bunker on the White House complex to continue.

Trump had the residences iconic East Wing demolished without warning to make room for the structure.

But Saturday evenings chaos added a new twinge of urgency to the presidents statements and elicited a wave of new calls for the event spaces construction on the White Houses grounds from supporters of the president, many of whom had previously ignored or shied away from defending what Democrats call a grift-filled vanity project.

What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, Trump wrote early Sunday morning in a Truth Social post.

This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House, Trump continued.

President Donald Trump addressed the press shortly after the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner and made the case for his $400 million ballroom construction (Reuters)

His remarks joined a chorus of other Republicans online who wrote and spoke favorably about the project after the shooting, including Florida Rep. Randy Fine, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Judicial Watchs Tom Fitton, Libs of TikTok influencer Chaya Raichik, commentator Jack Posobiec and more.

I dont want to hear one more f***ing criticism of Trumps new ballroom at the White House, wrote Meghan McCain, a conservative former co-host of The View and an occasional critic of Trumps.

The most surprising support for the project, however, came from a Democratic senator. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was one of a number of members of Congress who attended Saturday evenings dinner and was seen being escorted out after the shooting and the presidents own departure.

On Sunday, Fetterman, who has been criticized by fellow Democrats for his support of Trumps war in Iran, wrote that Democrats should drop the [Trump Derangement Syndrome] and join Republicans in supporting the construction of the ballroom at the White House for security reasons.

That venue wasnt built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government. After witnessing last night, drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom for events exactly like these, wrote the senator on X.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is escorted through the lobby following the shooting at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday night (Reuters)

Others criticized the event itself, arguing that security was lax and unprepared for the number of attendees  a size similar to previous years gatherings.

Security for Saturdays dinner was managed by the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies, and guests were required to walk through a metal detector to reach the main area of the venue, locatd in the basement-level event spaces of the Washington Hilton. Sometimes mocked by attendees (in generally good faith), the Hilton has hosted the event for years.

Some claimed they were not asked to show tickets to enter the event, though The Independent was repeatedly asked to show a ticket at several security checkpoints throughout the hotel and the surrounding blocks of Washington, D.C.

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is rushed out by Secret Service after shots were fired (AFP/Getty)

Trump announced plans to construct the ballroom in July of 2025, telling reporters at the time that the structure would cost $200 million and would be funded entirely through private donations. Those costs ballooned to $400 million in the months that followed, and the presidents allies established a nonprofit, the Trust for the National Mall, to funnel donations to the project and allow some donors to retain public anonymity.

Trump has claimed the project is already fully funded, and demolition of the East Wing to prepare for its construction began in October.

The shooting Saturday evening may have the effect of jump-starting the project, as the court order halting progress was issued by a judge who ruled that the project did not qualify as a necessary measure to improve security at the White House, which allows the administration to go around the typical requirements to acquire funding and authorization from Congress.
A group of Chagossians have told the King that they wish to remain British subjects - Hannah Malone

Chagossians have appealed to King Charles III over the deal to hand their islands back to Mauritius.

They expressed their enduring desire to remain British subjects under the King and for the Chagos Islands to remain under the sovereignty of the Crown in an open letter seen exclusively by The Telegraph.

Labour had hoped to pass a bill to give sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago (Foalhavahi) to Mauritius last year, but delayed it as Donald Trump, the United States president, repeatedly changed his mind about the deal.

The letter, set to reach the King before he flies to Washington on Monday for a four-day state visit, reads: The Chagos Islands are our home. We are British subjects and British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) citizens.

Despite the injustice we have suffered, and the manner in which successive governments have treated us, our enduring desire is to remain British subjects under Your Majesty, and for our homeland to remain under the sovereignty of the Crown.

Chagossians protest outside Parliament over the plan to hand the islands to Mauritius - Henry Nicholls/AFP

The missive also appeals to His Majestys environmental interests, describing how the British Indian Ocean Territorys rich and unspoiled marine life has been preserved from the ravages of commercial exploitation under British jurisdiction.

The Chagos Archipelago, in the British Indian Ocean Territory, is home to one of the worlds most precious environmental ecosystems, it goes on to read. Its rich and unspoiled marine life has, under British jurisdiction, been preserved from the ravages of commercial exploitation that have threatened so much of the planets environment.

Britain has controlled the Chagos Islands since 1814 and evicted its inhabitants in the 1960s to make way for a military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia.

First-generation Chagossians, those born in the archipelago and their children, have the right to register for British Overseas Territory Citizen status and British citizenship.

Referring to forced removals in the 1960s, the first-generation Chagossian signatories said: This was against our will. Yet today, history risks repeating itself.

Our right to self-determination continues to be denied, and we face the prospect of further exclusion from decisions about our homeland.

The Chagossians then said they wished to draw the Kings attention to two significant developments  the Supreme Court of the British Indian Ocean Territory ruling that Chagossians had a lawful right of abode in the Chagos Archipelago and a petition submitted to the United Nations, which questions whether Sir Keir Starmers Chagos deal breaches international human rights laws.

We are engaging with leaders and advocates in ecological, marine, and environmental stewardship to develop a path toward a more secure, environmentally responsible, and ethical future for the Chagos Archipelago, the letter continued.

We respectfully ask that the voice, rights, and identity of our fellow Chagossian people are recognised and given due consideration in all matters concerning the future of our homeland.

Because of constitutional reasons, the King, as the head of state, is unlikely to comment on such a letter.

His Majesty is expected to remain politically impartial, while the ability to make and pass legislation remains with Parliament.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace confirmed they would not be providing a response.

The US president initially supported the deal, which involves Britain giving up the islands, including the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

However, he repeatedly changed his mind, and earlier this month, Sir Keir was forced to shelve legislation because Washingtons approval was needed to secure the handover.

Mauritius then vowed to regain control of the islands, with Dhananjay Ramful, the Mauritian foreign minister, telling an Indian Ocean conference: We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process. This is a matter of justice.

Under the shelved plan, Britain would have ceded sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and paid about 35bn to lease the air base back for 99 years.

The US president turned against the deal in February, calling it a big mistake and an act of great stupidity, having previously said it was the best Sir Keir could hope to achieve.

He condemned the agreement again after Britain refused to allow US bombers and fighter jets to attack Iran from Diego Garcia.

A former senior government official said this meant the UK had to abandon the plan.

Britain has controlled the Chagos Islands since 1814 and evicted native Chagossians in the 1960s to make way for a military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia - Alan Ricker

When the president of the United States is openly hostile, the government has to rethink, so this agreement... will go into the deep freeze for the time being, Simon McDonald, previously the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio.

Ministers have run out of time to put the legislation through Parliament before the end of the current session and the Kings Speech next month.

The Archipelagos location in the middle of the Indian Ocean makes it a vital military resource and a bulwark against Chinese influence in the region.

A government spokesman said: The Diego Garcia military base is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.

There are ongoing legal proceedings before the BIOT courts. Various UK and international courts have found that there is no right of abode on the Archipelago.
A former teacher at Britains most liberal boarding school has been accused of dismissing victims of historical abuse after saying some claims were spun.

Pupils who attended St Christophers School in Letchworth, Herts, from the 1960s to the 1990s claim that they suffered sexual, emotional and physical abuse at the progressive school.

The school, known as St Chris, has its origins in Theosophy, a niche, late-nineteenth-century mystical philosophy. It is vegetarian, uniform-free and requires pupils to call teachers by their first names.

However, following a seven-month investigation by The Telegraph, allegations of abuse were uncovered, including: staff impregnating students, claims of rape and sexual assault by both teachers and pupils, staff making homemade films of pupils, prolific drinking and drug use; and allegations of bullying, battering and neglect.

As a result, it emerged earlier this month that specialist detectives are assessing several reports of historical abuse at the school.

Pupils who attended St Christophers School from the 1960s to the 1990s claim they suffered sexual, emotional and physical abuse

Despite admitting that he has no knowledge of the allegations of sexual abuse, David Cursons, a former chemistry teacher who was employed by St Chris for decades, has come forward to offer his opinion on The Telegraph investigation, in what has been criticised by victims as a dismissal of their allegations.

Mr Cursons is the voluntary club secretary of the Old Scholars network, an independent organisation that keeps in touch with alumni.

In a newsletter sent to alumni this week, he did not comment on the criminal allegations but criticised an allegation of a pupil fainting from hunger, saying that it did not ring true at all.

Mr Cursons, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in The Telegraphs previous reporting, also criticised our investigation as harmful to the schools reputation and described some of the allegations as being spun in ways that we hope do not come from the old scholars themselves.

His comments have prompted anger from victims who had come forward with assertions of abuse, claiming that Mr Cursonss comments amounted to a disparaging betrayal and dismissal of their experience.

In his written newsletter, Mr Cursons said that he did not believe that there was such a culture of negligence and neglect as described by victims, instead there was more of a hippy and punk culture that reflected the times.

Stunned, outraged and reeling

However, he added that senior pupils were close enough to at least some staff to be able to voice personal concerns if in trouble, and that these would be taken seriously.

Indeed I have met very few St Chris types from any period in the schools history who were backward in coming forward when they had something on their minds, and the culture of the place, like that of the other progressive schools of the time, gave opportunities for concerns to be broached informally, as well as formally

He added: A very long-serving member of staff from the period in question told me recently that the picture painted in the Daily Telegraph was not the school that I knew. Some old scholars, while not condoning any wrongdoing by individuals, have made similar general points.

Responding to Mr Cursons comments about the non-criminal allegations, one victim, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: As one of the schools child abuse survivors, reading Daves response left me feeling stunned, outraged and reeling. His insistence that our experiences were merely misunderstandings or exaggerations feels like a second betrayal, reminding us of how any concerns were met back then.

This response is not a defence. It seeks to erase our reality while minimising the devastation that these early childhood traumas often cause.

Personal soap box

Another victim added that Mr Cursons was inappropriately using the newsletter as his own personal soap box. Dismissing our claims is immature and shows no regard for members of the St Chris community, in particular anyone who had negative experiences.

A third victim said: Its pretty shocking to be dismissed in this way.

A further former pupil from the 1980s and 1990s, also speaking on condition of anonymity, described Mr Cursons comments as an absolute gut punch. He said: The whole tone of Cursons piece is one of dismissal to the allegations and his only interest is in defending St Chris. His tone is that only his experience of St Chris is valid and anything counter to his idyllic version of St Chris is defamatory. Or did Cursons inhabit every pupils body to experience their personal stories?

He added that Mr Cursons claims that staff were sympathetic to pupils voices was utter nonsense and serious issues were swept under the carpet. At no point did it feel like it was worth the effort of reporting serious issues because you knew your concerns would be dismissed.

Mr Cursons declined to respond to the victims comments directly upon request, but instead wrote to this newspaper denying that he disparaged or dismissed claims of any individual abuse.

He said that his newsletter makes a distinction between anything improper which an individual may have done, and the general culture within the school, adding: One point I also make is that the informal nature of a progressive (for want of a better word) school made it easier rather than harder for someone with a problem to be able to broach it.

He also criticised The Telegraphs investigation as an elaboration and a distortion of the school.

Dozens of others have since come forward to speak about about their experiences at the school, including a number of other alleged victims of serious sexual assault and rape.

Alleged victims have previously said that the school unleashed aggressive lawyers on them instead of offering support. A spokesman for St Christophers previously said they were sorry to hear of the comments, but assured our former pupils that we have been guided throughout by their best interests.

If you would like to come forward with information about St Christophers School, Letchworth, please contact The Telegraph here.
Of corpse Ill pull over officer: Luke Orchard with his dead bodies - Emma Trimble/SWNS

Police mistook a make-up artists skeleton props for real dead bodies.

Luke Orchard, 38, had been driving home from the gym when several police cars passed him on Saturday, April 18.

After pulling over on Sedgley Road in Dudley, West Midlands, to let them through, officers boxed in his car.

Six or seven officers surrounded his car over reports somebody had been driving around with dead bodies.

But they discovered the corpses were props used in Mr Orchards work as a special-effects make-up artist and Dudley College lecturer.

Luke Orchard with his corpses that caused a police intervention - Emma Trimble/SWNS

He said: It was honestly one of the scariest things ever, I was terrified. It was only about two hours later that I actually started to find it funny.

I took it as a compliment in the end. I knew my work was good but I didnt realise it was that realistic.

Its a busy road so theres always ambulances and police cars going by.

Suddenly I notice two going past and then another two approaching. The next thing I know Im being boxed in by three police cars.

Mr Orchard said the officers surrounded his car and told him to turn the engine off.

Then they tell me they have had reports of someone driving around with dead bodies in their car, he said.

When they saw them up close, they noticed things like the fingers coming off and realised they werent real.

Police advised him to cover the props when transporting them in future.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: We received a report from a concerned member of the public of skeletons being seen inside a car on 18 April, at 1.30pm.

Officers confirmed they were props.
A photo of a visibly stressed man and a frustrated woman reviewing their finances together.

A woman woke up one morning to her husband telling her he lost $100,000. He drew from his 401K and their Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), without her knowledge. What did he "invest" in? Probably a Nigerian prince, according to Dave Ramsay.

She dialed into the personal finance expert's talk show, in what was more like an episode of Dr. Phil. (1)

Must Read

The wife was surprisingly calm and told the hosts she was trying to give her husband a lot of grace, to which Ramsay replied: "No! He ought to be on his knees begging for forgiveness."

"Not only did he lie, but he was stupid with the money, and he's still walking around like this is okay," Ramsay grilled.

What happens next should not be up to her husband, Ramsay insisted.

Is deception akin to an affair?

Ramsay encouraged the woman to take ownership from here, starting with demanding marriage counseling immediately. Ramsay outlined two big problems: being out $100,000 and the lies.

All agreed that the broken trust was the more costly issue. He went behind her back, and it backfired big time. She asked the money expert how to rebuild from that, meaning she wasn't planning to leave the marriage.

Ramsay reminded her that "behavior is a language," and that it had already been a month since he told her. The money expert shared that he used to do a lot of real estate deals that his wife never knew about. He screwed up one Christmas and, ever since then, he doesn't make any major decisions without his wife involved.

"We don't make decisions unless we make them together," he said. "That's a new system that went in place after Dave was stupid."

Ramsay shared that financial secrecy touches on the same nerve that having an affair does.

"It's the same level of betrayal," he said.

Financial infidelity  which involves hiding, misrepresenting or avoiding debt or spending from a spouse  is more common than you might think.

Advertisement

With financial disagreements being the leading cause of divorce, this needs to be treated seriously. (2)

Couples also need to smarten up, with scammers getting savvier in the age of AI. According to Pew Research Center, 73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack, with 21% reporting actual financial losses. (3)

Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Heres why you shouldnt panic

How to protect your relationship from financial ruin

While you might think this could never happen to you, it's important to put systems and standards in place to ensure it never does.

Ramsay's advice is applicable for every couple. Set rules that work for you as a couple, and always uphold that agreement. For example, always make big financial decisions together  whatever "big" means for you, as that's subjective.

Spend time reviewing all your shared accounts, and decide on rules for each one. For example, the woman had an open HELOC, so her husband didn't need her signature.

Make financial check-ins part of your routine, maybe before a monthly date night. Create a non-threatening environment to talk through issues and ideas, check all your accounts, and decide on any changes for the month ahead.

And the big one: Invest in a marriage counselor to build a stable foundation of open communication, have safe financial discussions with a mediator, and make better-quality decisions.

This is how you can grow trust, and wealth, as a result. A strong relationship is something that'll pay dividends  for life.

What To Read Next

Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywises best stories and exclusive interviews first  clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article Sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.

YouTube (1); Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (2); Pew Research Center (3)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
by Mathias Hariyadi

A solemn celebration led by Cardinal Suharyo commemorated the solemn consecration that took place in 1901. The large neo-Gothic church designed by architect Father Antonius Dijkmans, SJ, was recognised as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2018. Caring for creation, cultivating faith" is the motto that sums up the spirit of the anniversary.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  On 21 April 2026, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, particularly those of the Cathedral parish, celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The church, built in neo-Gothic style, was designed by Father Antonius Dijkmans, a Jesuit priest and architect, and built by Marius Hulswit. Carolus Wenneker laid the foundation stone on 16 January 1899, and Mgr Edmundus Sybrandus Luypen, titular bishop of Oropus and Apostolic Vicar of Batavia, Jakartas former colonial name, officially inaugurated and blessed the cathedral on 21 April 1901.

The place of worship is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of her Assumption into Heaven. The 1901 consecration ceremony took place during a Pontifical Mass accompanied by the St Cecilia Choir, founded in 1865 by C. G. F. van Arcken.

On the occasion of the 125th anniversary, Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving together with Father Macarius Maharsono Probho (cathedral rector), Father Yusup Edi Mulyono (episcopal vicar of the archdiocese), and Father Yohanes Deodatus (coadjutor priest of the cathedral).

The service continued with the cutting of the tumpeng, a traditional ceremonial rice cone, a symbol of gratitude for the community's journey of faith.

A photo exhibition, Sustainable Preservation Efforts, promoted by the cardinal and the parish priests, was later opened. It presents images of the church in its current state, raising awareness of the importance of preserving this historic building, recognised in 2018 as a National Cultural Heritage Site by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.

The series of events are set to continue with a public seminar on architecture titled Heritage Walk and Talk: Jakarta Cathedral, on 1 May 2026, at Grha Pemuda.

The seminar, organised in collaboration with the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Order of Architects, will illustrate responsible heritage conservation practices, with a focus on educators, architects, contractors, and citizens.

It will also be possible to take an architectural tour guided by the Cathedral Museum team, exploring the neo-Gothic style, spatial organisation, symbolic elements of the artwork, and liturgical furnishings.

To mark the anniversary, the parish has created a special logo inspired by the verse from the Gospel of John, "I am the vine, and you are the branches" (Jn 15:5), which represents the life that flows from God and the connection between humanity and divinity.

The logo integrates various symbols such as green leaves, the Trinity, overlapping hands inspired by Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, and colours that evoke natural harmony and Marian devotion.

The motto Caring for Creation, Cultivating Faith sums up the spirit of the anniversary celebrated in 2026, emphasising the importance of caring for creation as the foundation of life and faith.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
Champion local news.

Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told.
26 April 2026 19:54 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

For much of the past decade, Russia projected an image of durable influence across its near abroad and beyond. From Eastern Europe to the Middle East, Moscow cultivated the perception that it could sustain allies, freeze conflicts, and deter challenges to its authority. That perception is now beginning to erode. The war in Ukraine, far from delivering decisive strategic gains, has instead exposed the limits of Russian powerand, perhaps more importantly, encouraged others to test those limits.

The consequences are not unfolding in dramatic, headline-grabbing moments, but in smaller, calculated moves across different regions. The first clear signal emerged in Syria. There, opposition forces began to intensify pressure on the government of Bashar al-Assad, long sustained by Russian military backing. What made this moment significant was not merely the renewed activity of the opposition, but Moscows increasingly limited capacity to respond. With substantial military resources tied down in Ukraine, Russia appeared less able to project the level of force that had once sustained Assads position. The message was subtle but unmistakable: Russia could no longer guarantee outcomes as it once did.

A similar dynamic is now taking shape closer to Russias own borders, in Moldova. For years, Chisinau has sought to reintegrate the breakaway region of Transnistria, a narrow strip of land that has remained outside central government control since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite its legal claims, Moldova has lacked both the military capacity and the economic leverage to alter the situation. The presence of Russian troops in the region has served as a constant reminder of those limitations.

That reality is beginning to shiftnot because Moldova has suddenly grown stronger, but because Russia has become more constrained. As the war in Ukraine drags on, absorbing resources and attention, Moscows ability to manage peripheral theaters has weakened. It is in this context that Moldovas recent decision to declare several Russian officers persona non grata should be understood.

On the surface, the move may appear routine, even symbolic. Diplomatic expulsions are a common feature of international relations. But the geographic and political context transforms its meaning. These officers are not stationed in Moscow or operating through a typical embassy structure. They are linked to the Russian military presence in Transnistriaa presence that is increasingly isolated.

Geography now works against Russia in ways that were less pronounced before the war. Transnistria is effectively cut off. Moldova does not recognize the legitimacy of the Russian military contingent on its territory, and Ukraineonce a more permissive neighbor in this equationhas become an active adversary of Moscow. This leaves Russian forces in the region in a peculiar position: physically present, but strategically constrained, with limited avenues for reinforcement or rotation.

In this light, Moldovas decision is not merely a bureaucratic act. It is a probea test of how far it can push without triggering a disproportionate response. It reflects a growing confidence in Chisinau that the risks of action may now be lower than the risks of continued passivity. The expulsion of the officers sends a signal not only to Moscow, but also to domestic and international audiences: Moldova is willing to assert its sovereignty more actively.

This does not mean that Moldova is preparing for a military confrontation. On the contrary, its structural weaknesses remain unchanged. But power in international politics is not only measured in tanks and budgets. It is also shaped by timing, perception, and the shifting calculations of risk. Russias deepening entanglement in Ukraine has altered those calculations across the region.

What we are witnessing is not a sudden collapse of Russian influence, but a gradual fraying at the edges. Countries that once operated with caution are beginning to explore new margins of maneuver. They are not breaking away in dramatic fashion; rather, they are testing boundaries, step by step, to see how far the center will hold.

Moldovas move fits squarely within this pattern. It is cautious, limited, and reversible. Yet it is also indicative of a broader shift. The post-Soviet space, long defined by frozen conflicts and entrenched spheres of influence, is becoming more fluid. The assumptions that underpinned regional stabilityhowever fragileare being quietly reassessed.

If Russias strategic objective in Ukraine was to reinforce its position as a decisive regional power, the unintended consequence may be the opposite. By committing itself to a prolonged and costly conflict, Moscow has created openings elsewhere. In Syria, in Moldova, and potentially in other contested spaces, actors are beginning to respond to this new reality.

These shifts may not produce immediate breakthroughs. Transnistria will not be resolved overnight, just as Syrias conflict remains far from settled. But the direction of change is becoming clearer. Influence that once seemed fixed is now being questioned. And in international politics, perception often precedes reality.

Moldovas quiet defiance is one such moment of perception. It suggests that the balance of power, while still heavily tilted, is no longer as immovable as it once appeared.
April 25, 2026: Desert Storm made the modern Chinese military. What is the Iran War doing to it? In January 1991, Chinese military officers watched CNN recordings of the United States dismantling the Iraqi Army and experienced what one Chinese military analyst later called a disturbing nuclear attack. Desert Storm displayed every capability the Chinese military lacked, and China had no choice but to begin remaking its military from the ground up.

Two years later, Chinas Central Military Commission codified these lessons in the Military Strategic Guidelines centered on Local Wars Under High Technology Conditions and acknowledged the Chinese military had been preparing for the wrong war. The Gulf War didnt just scare China; it gave it direction.

Thirty-five years later, the classroom has reopened. The United States and Israel are engaged in a military campaign against Iran, and the Persian Gulf is once again the center of a maritime crisis. The Strait of Hormuz is temporarily closed. Not by minefields or naval blockade, but by the withdrawal of maritime insurance and the cascading commercial decisions that followed.

Tanker traffic dropped first by approximately 70 percent with almost 150 vessels loitering outside the Strait. Transit has since collapsed to nearly zero within the first week, disrupting roughly 20 percent of the worlds daily oil supply and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas. Roughly 750 vessels were stranded inside the Persian Gulf, and the Chinese military paid very close attention.

Immediate intuition is to assume that China is enjoying the turmoil: a distracted America, its military tied down in the Middle East, and precision munitions being expended far from the Pacific. That instinct is wrong.

What the Chinese military's most attentive analysts are likely doing is war-gaming a Taiwan scenario in real-time using the Hormuz crisis as a live stress test for assumptions they have been modeling for decades. Some of what they are finding is profoundly uncomfortable. The tactical lessons are significant but broadly familiar. However, the deeper strategic lessons, the ones that will reshape Chinese planning for the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, are maritime.

In 1991, Chinas Desert Storm lesson was almost entirely about its capability gap. The maritime domain barely registered because the Gulf War was largely a land-air campaign. The 2026 crisis is fundamentally a maritime crisis, and China is learning a new lesson: chokepoints do not just threaten an enemy, they threaten anyone who depends on them.

Approximately 84 percent of the oil transiting through the Strait of Hormuz flows to Asian markets. China alone imported roughly five million barrels per day through the Strait, representing approximately 40 to 45 percent of its total crude imports. The Hormuz closure does not primarily threaten Houston or Rotterdam. It throttles the Chinese ports of Tianjin, Qingdao, and Zhoushan.

Prolific naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan understood this. He spent much of his groundbreaking work, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, explaining not just how navies project power but how dependence on sea lines of communication creates strategic vulnerabilities. A nation that does not control its own supply lines does not truly control its own strategic fate.

The Chinese military absorbed this lesson from Mahan and filtered it through the lens of Desert Storms demonstration of American power projection. In response, China has been building a blue-water navy and acquiring global port access in response.

However, the Hormuz crisis is forcing China to confront a gap that was not illuminated by Desert Storm nor discussed in any specificity by Mahan: China remains critically dependent on chokepoints it cannot protect and does not control. The Strait of Hormuz is the immediate problem, but the Strait of Malacca, through which 80 percent of Chinas oil imports transit, is the permanent one.

Chinas Foreign Ministry has been reduced to urging all parties to keep the shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz safe, and reports that China has opened direct talks with Iran to negotiate safe passage for energy shipments underscores that vulnerability. A nation that must ask permission to use a chokepoint does not command it. For Chinese military planners war-gaming a Taiwan contingency, the lesson is immediate: any conflict that triggers a disruption at the Malacca Strait could strangle Chinas economy before a single shot is fired. In that regard, Indonesia and the United States have recently made an agreement for their military forces to be interoperable, which has been critical for NATOs military efficiency. The Indonesian Navy also sinks intruding Chinese fishing vessels outright rather than taking them into port. Indonesia controls the entire eastern coast of the Malacca Strait.

If the choke point lesson is uncomfortable, the insurance lesson may be worse. Within 72 hours of the start of Operation Epic Fury, multiple members of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs, which collectively insure roughly 90 percent of the worlds ocean-going tonnage, issued formal cancellation notices for war-risk coverage in the Gulf. Major container lines suspended operations. Lloyds Market Association confirmed that roughly 1,000 vessels with a hull value of over $25 billion sat anchored in the area. The choke point was not closed by missiles. It was closed by spreadsheets.

The Chinese military is likely studying this closely because it maps directly onto a Taiwan scenario. Beijing has long assumed that the critical question in a cross-strait contingency would be whether the Chinese navy could establish sea control. The Hormuz crisis suggests a different question entirely: would commercial shipping continue to flow through the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea once insurers withdraw coverage and container lines suspend service?

The same insurance mechanism that shut Hormuz in 72 hours could shut the commercial sea lanes on which Chinas economy depends. Unlike a naval blockade, an insurance withdrawal cannot be stopped by force. No navy can compel an underwriter to write a policy.

China has been building state-backed maritime insurance mechanisms and positioning its commercial fleet to operate under sovereign-risk coverage precisely to insulate itself from the kind of Western-backed market dependency that has strangled Gulf shipping. The Hormuz crisis validates that investment.

On the other hand, it also reveals how far Beijing needs to go. Chinas maritime insurance ecosystem does not yet have enough depth or international credibility to underwrite the scale of coverage that a Taiwan-related disruption would demand. A harder problem still is even if China can ensure its own flag vessels, it cannot compel foreign-flagged ships to continue sailing into a warzone.

The roughly 750 vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf were a preview of what the South China Sea could look like 48 hours into the Taiwan crisis. Commercial shipping was frozen, supply chains severed, and the Chinese navy unable to restart them regardless of how many ships it deploys.

The Hormuz crisis is also teaching China a lesson about commercial shipping as a military instrument. When the United States declared a maritime warning zone in the Persian Gulf, it came with an unusual public admission: it could not guarantee the safety of merchant shipping. The major container lines made their own risk calculations and suspended operations. The financial architecture of global trade enforced a blockade more completely than any naval minefield.

Sinokor, a South Korean shipping conglomerate, began asking the equivalent of roughly $20 per barrel to transport oil to China. This was an extraordinary premium compared to the nominal $2.50 per barrel, and this illustrates how quickly commercial sealift becomes a strategic weapon when maritime risk spikes.

China has been preparing for exactly this scenario. Over the past two decades, Beijing has expanded its merchant fleet to over 4,000 internationally trading ships, captured over 46 percent of global commercial shipbuilding, and invested in the mariner training pipeline to crew those vessels. Critically, the Chinese military has also been integrating commercial shipping into military logistics planning. Chinas national defense mobilization laws allow the requisitioning of civilian vessels, and its merchant fleet has been designed with dual-use capability in mind.

The Hormuz crisis is validating Chinas investment in a state-linked merchant marine fleet while simultaneously demonstrating the cost of Americas failure to maintain one. However, it is also exposing a gap in Chinas own planning: a fleet that can be mobilized for war is also a fleet that can be commercially paralyzed by insurance withdrawal, sanctioned by coalition financial instruments, or stranded at foreign ports. In a Taiwan contingency, the Chinese militarys ability to move troops across the Strait may matter less than whether Chinas commercial fleet can continue to feed, fuel, and supply the mainland economy under wartime conditions. The Hormuz crisis is the first live demonstration of how quick commercial architecture can collapse.

Desert Storm inspired China to spend 35 years building the military it now has. Operation Epic Fury will not trigger the same kind of wholesale structural overhaul  the Chinese military has already done that work. What the 2026 crisis is doing is stress-testing Chinas maritime strategy against live data and finding specific, uncomfortable gaps: chokepoint dependency that blue-water naval investment has not yet solved, an insurance architecture that can impose a blockade no navy can break, and a commercial fleet that can be mobilized for war but paralyzed by the financial instruments.

Each lesson applies directly to the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Chinese military planners are not watching the Hormuz crisis as a distant curiosity. They are watching it as a dress rehearsal, and they are taking notes on themselves as much as on the United States.

Mahan argued that sea power rests on two pillars: naval force and commercial maritime enterprise. China has been absorbing both halves of that doctrine. The Strait of Hormuz crisis is revealing that even both halves may not be enough. The question is whether the United States, which builds less than one percent of the worlds commercial ships, fields fewer than 80 vessels in international trade, cannot crew the sealift fleet it already has, and had no war risk insurance mechanism ready when the crisis broke, is learning it too.
26 April 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The remarkable expansion of economic ties between Azerbaijan and the United States in early 2026 marks more than a statistical milestoneit reflects the steady maturation of a strategic partnership grounded in mutual economic benefit, diversification, and long-term cooperation.

According to official customs data, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the United States reached $296.265 million in JanuaryMarch 2026, more than doubling compared to the same period of the previous year. This rapid increase underscores a dynamic phase in bilateral relations, where economic engagement is expanding at an unprecedented pace.

What stands out most in the latest figures is not only the scale of growth but also its composition. Azerbaijans imports from the United States reached $273.969 million, reflecting strong demand for American industrial goods, technology, and high-value products. At the same time, Azerbaijani exports to the United States grew by 41.7%, reaching $22.296 million, signaling gradual but steady progress in diversifying export markets beyond traditional partners.

This dual growth trajectory highlights an increasingly balanced economic relationship, where both sides are contributing to and benefiting from expanding trade flows. While imports continue to dominate the structure, the rising export figures demonstrate Azerbaijans growing capacity to integrate into global value chains and expand its non-oil export footprint.

The broader context of this development is equally significant. In recent years, Azerbaijan has pursued a deliberate strategy of economic diversification, aiming to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and strengthen non-oil sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and technology. Expanding trade with advanced economies like the United States plays an important role in this transformation.

The United States, for its part, remains one of the worlds most technologically advanced and innovation-driven economies. Increased trade engagement therefore provides Azerbaijan with access to high-quality equipment, advanced industrial inputs, and new business practices. These inputs are essential for improving domestic productivity and supporting long-term economic modernization.

Beyond goods trade, the growing economic interaction between the two countries also reflects broader strategic alignment. Recent diplomatic developments, including expanded dialogue on energy security, transport connectivity, and investment cooperation, have contributed to a more robust framework for economic collaboration. The rise in trade turnover is therefore not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a wider strengthening of bilateral relations across multiple dimensions.

Another notable aspect of the data is the pace of change. A 2.2-fold increase in total trade within a single year is a strong indicator of accelerating economic engagement. Such rapid growth suggests that both sides are actively working to expand commercial ties and identify new opportunities for cooperation. In particular, the sharp increase in imports from the United Statesmore than doubling year-on-yearpoints to rising confidence among Azerbaijani businesses in sourcing high-quality American goods and technologies.

At the same time, the increase in Azerbaijani exports to the United States, though smaller in absolute terms, carries symbolic and strategic importance. It reflects the gradual opening of new markets for Azerbaijani products and the countrys ongoing efforts to enhance its global trade presence. Even modest export growth in a highly competitive market such as the United States can be seen as a positive indicator of improving product standards and competitiveness.

From a regional perspective, the strengthening of AzerbaijanUS trade relations also contributes to broader economic connectivity. Azerbaijans geographic position as a bridge between Europe and Asia gives it a unique role in international logistics and energy corridors. Expanding ties with the United States complements this role by integrating Azerbaijan more closely into global economic networks.

Importantly, this growth also demonstrates resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty. In an era marked by shifting supply chains and fluctuating trade dynamics, the ability of Azerbaijan and the United States to significantly expand bilateral trade reflects stability and adaptability on both sides.

Looking ahead, the current trajectory suggests further potential for expansion. Areas such as technology transfer, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and agricultural cooperation offer promising avenues for deeper engagement. As both economies continue to evolve, the foundation laid by current trade growth may serve as a catalyst for broader investment and innovation partnerships.

In conclusion, the more-than-doubling of AzerbaijanUS trade turnover in early 2026 is a clear reflection of strengthening economic ties and shared interest in long-term cooperation. It highlights Azerbaijans ongoing integration into global markets and the growing importance of diversified international partnerships. Far from being a temporary spike, this development signals the emergence of a more interconnected and forward-looking economic relationship between Baku and Washington.
26 April 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The International Transport Forum titled "Kyrgyzstan  Regional Hub: Connecting Continents" has been held in Bishkek, AzerNEWS reports.

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by a delegation led by Javid Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport.

The 9th meeting of the transport ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held within the framework of the forum. The event discussed changes in international logistics chains, the growing importance of alternative transport routes, and the expansion of cooperation along the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route).

It was noted that the Middle Corridor plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and diversified transport links between regions. In addition, the importance of simplifying administrative procedures, harmonizing requirements, and removing existing infrastructure barriers to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the corridor was emphasized.

Within the framework of the visit, a bilateral meeting was also held with Durmus Unuvar, Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, during which the sides exchanged views on issues of mutual cooperation.
26 April 2026 10:53 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has shared a post on his X social media page about the shooting in Washington, AzerNEWS reports.

"Deeply disturbed by the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. Such acts of violence are unacceptable and must be firmly condemned.

Relieved that President Trump, the First Lady, and all attendees are safe. Wishing them continued safety and well-being," the post reads.

Earlier, a shooting occurred in Washington during an official dinner attended by President Donald Trump at the Washington Hilton hotel.

One Secret Service officer was wounded and taken to the hospital.

According to official reports, the suspect is a 31-year-old man from California.

The detained suspect is scheduled to make his first court appearance on April 27.
26 April 2026 13:25 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The 75th regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Statistical Services of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has taken place in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting was attended by heads and authorized representatives of statistical services from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, the CIS Interstate Statistical Committee, the Eurasian Economic Commission, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

The main topics of discussion included the activities of the Council and the CIS Statistical Committee in 2025, as well as the implementation of the "Development of CIS Statistics" project.

Key objectives of the project were identified as the development of statistical methodology across the CIS region, the creation of an international statistical hub, the use of microdata for modeling and forecasting, and the formation of a unified statistical space within the CIS framework.

The meeting also discussed issues related to statistics outlined in the action plan for implementing the second phase (20262030) of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030.

At the end of the meeting, relevant decisions were adopted.
26 April 2026 14:28 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

In anticipation of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will take place in Baku from May 1722, 2026, a series of events is being organized in various cities across Azerbaijan to raise public awareness about this major international forum, AzerNEWS reports.

The WUF13 Festival will officially open on April 28 in Baku. Following this, the festival will travel to Sumqayit on April 29, Guba on April 30, Lankaran on May 2, Gabala on May 4, Shaki on May 5, Mingachevir on May 6, Ganja on May 8, and conclude in Khankandi on May 10.

The festival program is divided into two parts. During the day, universities in each host city will organize informational sessions about WUF13, allowing students and the academic community to learn about the forums goals and themes. In the evening, outdoor public programs will engage the wider community through interactive activities, educational games, presentations, and discussions.

Key topics of the festival include sustainable urban development, inclusive city environments, innovative urban solutions, and cities of the future. Attendees will also be introduced to the main themes and ideas of WUF13, helping to foster public understanding and participation.

Participation in all festival events is free, offering citizens across Azerbaijan a unique opportunity to engage with global urban development initiatives and prepare for the upcoming WUF13 session in Baku.

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is a global conference organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to address issues related to urbanization, sustainable cities, and human settlements.

Since its inception in 2002, the forum has brought together government officials, urban planners, architects, academics, civil society representatives, and private sector actors to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and promote innovative solutions for urban development.

The Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 1722, 2026. The main theme of WUF13 is "Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization," emphasizing the creation of environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, resilient, and innovative cities that address the challenges of urban growth while improving quality of life for all citizens.

WUF13 will provide a platform for participants to discuss sustainable urbanization, share successful experiences from around the world, and foster partnerships to implement solutions in cities of all sizes. The forum aims to engage governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society in promoting urban policies that are inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking.

In addition to formal sessions, WUF13 will feature exhibitions, workshops, and public events designed to raise awareness about urban development issues, encourage citizen engagement, and showcase innovative projects.
26 April 2026 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

April 26 marks International Intellectual Property Day, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to highlight the importance of intellectual property in fostering innovation, creativity, and economic growth, AzerNEWS reports.

In Azerbaijan, the Intellectual Property Agency organizes annual events to commemorate the day and promote awareness of intellectual property rights.

Recent years have seen a notable increase in patent and invention activity across the country. In 2025, the Intellectual Property Agency received a total of 481 applications for inventions, utility models, industrial designs, and Eurasian patents, reflecting a significant growth compared to 2024. In particular, invention applications rose by 38 percent, utility models by nearly 12 percent, industrial designs by 76 percent, and Eurasian patents by 46 percent. Overall, patent-related applications increased by 37.8 percent compared to the previous year.

During 2025, the Agency granted 214 patents, including 137 for inventions, 57 for utility models, and 20 for industrial designs, representing a 15.7 percent rise over 2024 figures. Trademark registrations also grew, with 4,196 applications submitted in 2025.

The trend continued into the first quarter of 2026, when 109 invention applications were fileddouble the number from the same period last yearand a total of 149 applications for inventions, utility models, and industrial designs were received. Trademark registrations during this quarter reached 539.

Azerbaijan has also invested in digital infrastructure to streamline intellectual property registration. The "Open Target for Patents and Trademarks" (PNAH) digital information system enables efficient submission and processing of patent and trademark applications.

Recent amendments to the "Law on Patents" aim to further simplify access to patents, supporting inventors and innovators nationwide.

Education and training in intellectual property are a major focus in the country. In 2019, the first Department of Intellectual Property Law was established at Baku State University, and since 2021, BSU has partnered with France's Lyon 2 University to offer an international dual-degree program in the field.

In 2023, the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction launched its own Intellectual Property Department, offering courses in Azerbaijani, Russian, and English at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Agency experts participate in teaching, providing students with direct insights from professionals active in the intellectual property sector.

AI Generated Photo
26 April 2026 16:40 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The relevant agencies of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) have organized a series of events to educate the public on proper behavior during emergencies, AzerNEWS reports.

These events were held with the participation of experts from the State Fire Control, Small Vessels Supervision, and Water Rescue State Services of the MES.

The Baku Regional Center (RC) conducted awareness events at the Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Yasamal District, the Baku Youth Center in Sabuncu District, the Central Oil Workers Hospital in Khatai District, Lyceum No. 287 "Zkalar," and Secondary School No. 63. The Sumqayit RC held events at Khirdalan Medical Center, Altiagaj Village Secondary School in Xz District, and Novkhani Village Secondary School No. 1 in Absheron District. The Southern RC organized activities at Ballabur Village Secondary School in Lankaran District.

Additionally, the Aran RC conducted events at the Yevlakh City Executive Authority office for the Aran settlement administrative area and at Kindergarten No. 1 in Zardab City. The Ganja RC held an event at Secondary School No. 15 named after M. Azizbeyov in Ganja City. The Mughan RC visited Neftchala City Secondary School No. 3 named after N. Ganjavi. The Karabakh RC conducted activities at Mirzalibeyli Village Secondary School named after Asman Ismayilov in Barda District.

The Northwest RC held events at Chaparly Village Secondary School named after I. Rustamov in Agsu District, and the Northern RC conducted activities at B. Hemya Village Secondary School in Siyazan District.

The purpose of these events was to provide citizens with the necessary knowledge about how to act during potential natural and man-made emergencies.

Participants were provided detailed information on the classification of emergencies, typical hazards in Azerbaijan, including fires and earthquakes, and essential safety rules. The function of the MES "112" hotline was explained, and the proper use of basic fire-extinguishing equipment was demonstrated.

During the interactive sessions, participants' questions were answered thoroughly, allowing citizens to gain practical knowledge on emergency preparedness.
26 April 2026 18:23 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

A video about the Khudavang Monastery has been produced by the Azerbaijan State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, with the support of the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar district and the Culture Ministry, AzerNEWS reports.

The video provides a detailed overview of the monastery's history, architectural features, and its significance in the cultural heritage of the region.

The project aims to promote the centuries-old history as well as the tangible and intangible heritage of the area.

Khudavang Monastery is a historic Albanian church complex located in the Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan.

Often called the jewel of Albania's ecclesiastical heritage in the region, the monastery was built between the 6th and 18th centuries. It is renowned for its architectural features, cultural significance, and role in preserving the centuries-old religious and artistic traditions of the area.
26 April 2026 20:28 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has presented a review of the events of last week.

Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.

Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.

By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.

Subscribe

You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper

Thank you!
26 April 2026 15:41 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the "Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation" ceremony, AzerNEWS reports.

Dear friends,

I express my profound gratitude to the Town Councils of Gernika-Lumo and Pforzheim, the Gernika Peace Museum, the Casa de Cultura and the Gernika Gogoratuz Peace Research Center for awarding me with the Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition of my efforts to achieve peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to encourage dialogue.

It is a great privilege to receive this prominent award, which aims to perpetuate the historical memory of the Gernika tragedy and to honor individuals who contribute to peace and reconciliation processes. The presentation of this award on 26 April  Gernika Victims Remembrance Day  holds particular symbolism. This heinous crime perpetrated against the civilian population in Gernika 89 years ago, remains one of the most horrific and bloody pages of the last century. I believe that any crime against civilians constitutes a violation of humanity and humanistic principles. I share in the pain and grief of Gernika and solemnly pay tribute to the memory of its victims.

The message of peace and reconciliation arising from the history of Gernika carries profound significance for all peoples. The memories and experiences of peoples who have endured the dire consequences of war must serve as a crucial lesson for new generations, enabling them to live in a more stable and secure world.

The people of Azerbaijan, who have experienced the grave ramifications of war and lived in a conflict environment for nearly 30 years, understand the value of peace and reconciliation all too well. Today, Azerbaijan is learning how to live in an atmosphere of peace. For us, it is a novel and extraordinary feeling, as we have not had the opportunity to experience this since regaining our independence.

The Summit in Washington, D.C., in August 2025 witnessed the initialing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the signing of the Joint Declaration, thus bringing a complete end to the three-decade-long conflict and laying the foundation for peace, reconciliation, and partnership between our peoples.

At present, Azerbaijan is adjusting to this new reality and to life in a peaceful environment. This positive atmosphere, and the growing confidence in stability and security, enable us to advance and devote greater time and resources to our development agenda. In the meantime, we are taking steps to consolidate peace and translate it into practical actions, and both of our societies are already witnessing tangible benefits of peace in economic, trade, and other spheres. Today, Azerbaijan facilitates the export of its petroleum products, as well as wheat and other goods from third countries, to Armenia through our territory.

Confidence-building measures between the two countries are crucial for the establishment of lasting peace. Regular meetings among representatives of civil society, along with initiatives at the state level, make a positive contribution to this process.

The example of Azerbaijan and Armenia demonstrates that despite protracted conflict, suffering, and mutual mistrust, peace can be achieved when there is strong political will and international support.

Dear friends,

The Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation is not merely a recognition of past accomplishments, but also an inspiring impetus and a responsibility regarding future steps to be taken for the sake of the shared prosperity of the international community and the cause of peace.

I renew my gratitude for this award and extend my best wishes to everyone for success in their endeavors to promote peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
April 24, 2026: Recently Vladimir Putin reacted to the theoretically huge rise in Russias oil income as a result of the Iran war. Putin is profoundly concerned about Russia's economic dilemma. On March 26 the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Russias most powerful industrialists were warned against undue confidence over rising economic costs from the war in the Middle East.

If the market changes one way today, tomorrow it could turn the other way. Putin sought to have this message be widely heard as the full contents of such meetings are normally not disclosed. Since the Ukraine War began, the list of attendees has been declared a secret.

Behind closed doors, Putin did something more significant. Even as he promised to take all of Ukraines Donbas region, he invited the assembled gathering of wealthy businessmen to contribute voluntary aid to the war effort.

The notion of shaking down business in a problematic time for the country originated with the Rosneft director, who proposed the issuance of war bonds as the fundraising process. Since he was not a major shareholder in the company he runs, he will be spared the questionable honor of contributing his own money.

Others, though, responded immediately, offering $1.1 billion. Another sanctioned businessman agreed to contribute when asked.

These men had little choice. It is beyond belief that Russias major billionaires would refuse, and thats closely linked to why these men should no longer be called oligarchs. Decades ago, they could impose their will on Russia, manipulate the legislature, and bend or subvert the law: they were oligarchs in the true sense of the word.

But since the financial crisis of 200809, and with increasing speed after Putins return to the presidency in 2012, they bend to the Kremlins will rather than shape it. The invasion of Ukraine marked a new stage in this subservience. Putin has offered his tycoons state support in weathering Western sanctions in exchange for complete loyalty and public backing of the war. Squeezed between those sanctions and the threat of domestic reprisals, the billionaires fell into line. They are creatures of Putin now, not a power unto themselves.

Putins demand might seem odd given the financial windfall the war in Iran has delivered; estimates suggest this could amount to $2.8 billion monthly if prices stay high. Add in gas and fertilizer revenues, and its clear the budget is benefiting.

But there is no disagreement. Russia's posture is that commodity windfalls are temporary, while the costs of war are structural and open-ended. Therefore, the state reaches for both simultaneously and forces the rich to finance some of the war effort to remove it from government accounts.

Four weeks of war in the Middle East, and the oil price surge it has triggered, have given the Russian government room to breathe for the moment. Both the Russian government and the Finance Ministry know the situation remains unpredictable. The immediate improvement in revenues has allowed Russia to abandon plans to tighten budget management which would have redirected a larger share of oil income into reserves rather than spending. The Finance Ministry has not, however, abandoned a separate round of planned budget cuts.

Annual revenue increases will depend on how long prices stay high and nobody can predict that with confidence. There are some grounds for the government to feel optimistic; even the most hopeful oil analysts argue that were the war to end tomorrow, supply disruptions would persist for at least four months given the need to repair infrastructure, restart facilities, and clear backlogs in tanker traffic. The average oil price for this year is unlikely to fall below $80 a barrel even in optimistic situations.

Given this uncertainty, the Finance Ministry has decided to suspend its budget rule entirely until the summer. That means all oil and gas revenues will flow directly to the budget, regardless of the price level, rather than being diverted to the National Wealth Fund. The ministry is pursuing two objectives: ensuring the deficit is brought under control while conditions allow and avoiding strain on currency markets. Had the rule remained in force, the ministry would have been obliged to purchase exporters foreign currency earnings before those companies could pocket the bulk of their windfall.

Oil revenues are not the only source the state is turning to. Whether the government will follow through on its earlier spending cuts remains unclear: with oil prices high, the immediate fiscal pressure has eased, and cutting budgets in a boom is politically awkward. Spending has, in any case, been inflated by four years of wartime fiscal stimulus. At his meeting with business leaders, Putin himself warned against using the oil bonus to pay out dividends or ramp up state expenditure. The logic is plain: if elevated prices are temporary, windfall profits cannot simply be spent.

And if they cannot be spent, but the war still needs funding, other sources must be found. That is where the voluntary contributions come in. The surge in profits flowing to fertilizer, grain, and aluminum businesses will tempt the state to force owners to share their gains, just as it did in 2022.

The war in Iran has given Russias budget breathing space, but it has not resolved the fundamental problems. The very fact that even with oil at $100 a barrel, Putin is passing around the collection tin tells you that the gap between structural expenditures and revenues has not closed.

Other risks loom too. If prices stay too high for too long, which they could as in 2008 and 2014, this will prompt a global demand slump. Combined with rising supply, that would push prices sharply lower, potentially very fast. For now, the government is making the most of the moment, and making sure business pays its share.
26 April 2026 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

I express my profound gratitude to the Town Councils of Gernika-Lumo and Pforzheim, the Gernika Peace Museum, the Casa de Cultura and the Gernika Gogoratuz Peace Research Center for awarding me with the Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition of my efforts to achieve peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to encourage dialogue, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the Gernika Award for Peace and Reconciliation ceremony.

It is a great privilege to receive this prominent award, which aims to perpetuate the historical memory of the Gernika tragedy and to honor individuals who contribute to peace and reconciliation processes. The presentation of this award on 26 April  Gernika Victims Remembrance Day  holds particular symbolism, the head of state stressed.
26 April 2026 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Poladova Read more

The United States has agreed to ease certain sanctions on Venezuela, allowing the Venezuelan government to pay legal fees for former president Nicolas Maduro, AzerNEWS reports, citing Reuters.

This development comes after a hearing held a month earlier, during which prosecutors claimed Maduro had "plundered Venezuelas wealth and should not be able to use its money for legal fees."

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by U.S. special forces in Caracas on January 3 and transferred to New York City to face charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody in Brooklyn pending trial.

The issue of legal representation became a central point of contention in the case. Maduros lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued that U.S. sanctions had prevented the Venezuelan government from covering legal expenses, effectively violating Maduros constitutional right to counsel of his choice.

Neither Maduro nor Flores can afford lawyers on their own, and the Venezuelan government is prepared to pay their fees, their lawyers have said.



Image: Matias Delacroix / AP
26 April 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Donald Trumps decision to cancel a planned diplomatic mission to Pakistan after dismissing Irans proposals as insufficient is more than a momentary setback. It reveals a deeper truth about US-Iran diplomacy: pressure can create openings, but it rarely creates trust.

According to reports, Trump called off the Islamabad talks after concluding that Tehrans latest offer failed to meet American expectations. His message was blunt: the United States holds the leverage, and Iran must come back with something better. It is classic Trump negotiating theatre  maximal pressure paired with an open door.

But the collapse of the Pakistan channel also shows why Iran remains so difficult to move through coercion alone.

Tehran has long avoided direct talks with Washington, preferring mediators such as Oman, Qatar or Pakistan. This is partly ideological, partly political. Iranian leaders cannot easily be seen engaging face-to-face with a country they publicly portray as hostile. Indirect diplomacy allows them to negotiate without appearing to surrender.

There is also the reality of Irans internal system. Foreign policy does not rest in one pair of hands. The president, the foreign ministry, the Revolutionary Guards and the Supreme Leader all shape decisions. That makes clear, swift concessions difficult. What Washington sees as a delay is often the product of Tehrans fragmented power structure.

Yet the more striking point is why the United States, despite its military superiority, still seeks talks at all.

If force were truly the preferred option, the Pakistan talks would not have been arranged in the first place. Washington knows that military escalation with Iran would be costly, risky and regionally explosive. Iran can threaten shipping lanes, strike through allied groups, disrupt Gulf energy flows and drag the US into another open-ended Middle East conflict.

Trump understands this, even if he rarely says it plainly. Negotiation is not weakness; it is cheaper than war.

That is why the cancellation should be seen less as the end of diplomacy than as a bargaining tactic. Trump wants Tehran to feel the pressure and return with a more substantial offer. Iran, meanwhile, wants sanctions relief and recognition without appearing to bend.

So the stalemate continues.

For all the rhetoric on both sides, neither Washington nor Tehran truly wants the alternative. America does not want another regional war. Iran does not want deeper isolation or devastating strikes.

The Islamabad talks may have been cancelled, but the logic of negotiation remains intact. In the end, both sides may dislike diplomacy  yet still need it more than conflict.

Photo: VOI.id
Lawmakers Return to Raleigh: A Week of Signals and Substance

The North Carolina General Assembly returned to Raleigh last week to resume the peoples business. From the outset, it was clear that this session would be marked by urgency and uncertainty. With the state still operating without a finalized budget and key policy disagreements unresolved, lawmakers moved quickly to address immediate needs while signaling where the larger debates are headed.

https://revmarkcreech.org/lawmakers-return-to-raleigh-a-week-of-signals-and-substance/

When Loyalty and Conviction Collide

The contrasting responses of Riley Gaines and Franklin Graham to a recent controversy involving former President Donald Trump offer more than a passing moment of disagreement. They provide a revealing window into a deeper struggle among Christian conservatives in America.

https://revmarkcreech.org/when-loyalty-and-conviction-collide/

The Real Divide in American Politics Isnt What You Might Think

Have you ever heard someone ask, How did we become so polarized in this country? or Why cant Congress work together anymore?

https://revmarkcreech.org/the-real-divide-in-american-politics-isnt-what-you-might-think/



Rev. Mark Creech is a longtime pastor and former executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina. He now writes and speaks on issues of faith and culture and serves as Director of Government Relations for Return America.
In the latest incident of transgender violence in schools, a "transgender" substitute teacher has been arrested in Loudon County, Virginia for a plot to go on a murder spree in a high school there. The tranny, who is a man but claims to "identify" as a woman, was arrested on school grounds, but was not armed at the time. He was jailed as what he is, a man.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/24/us-news/trans-substitute-teacher-19-allegedly-plotted-chilling-murder-spree-at-a-virginia-school/

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/25/transgender-loudoun-county-substitute-teacher-arrested-for-threatening-murder-spree-kill-list/

One of the most chilling transgender school nassacres happened at a religious school in Tennessee. The shooter's manifesto was hidden from the public for years in that case by the Biden regime, and finally released to the public under Trump. A former student at the school who was a woman pretending to be a man committed that crime.

Meanwhile, in Washington state, a federal judge has ruled a state law requiring foster parents to "affirm" the gender confusion of any children placed in their care was likely unconstitutional as he denied a motion to dismiss the case. Tellingly, this was even a Biden judge who made this ruling.

https://justthenews.com/nation/free-speech/washington-gender-ideology-mandate-foster-care-oregons-likely-unconstitutional
A radicalized California school teacher, who is a former Teacher of the Month, has been arrested in Washington, DC in an assassination attempt on Trump administration officials, likely including Trump himself. The would-be assassin was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives. He fired five shots, one of which struck a Secret Service agent in the chest at close range, but he was saved by his bullet proof vest. He was dressed in all black, the typical attire of ANTIFA.

The assassin had participated in the far left "No Kings" rallies and was identified as a member of a "woke" radical group called the Wide Awakes. Anti-Trump and Anti-Christian messages were found on his electronic devices. A family member who had received some disturbing communications from the assassin had notified police, but there was no connection then to the event where he attacked, the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/whcd-shooting-should-force-serious-conversation-about-teacher/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/26/washington-donald-trump-gunman-cole-tomas-allen-teacher/

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/whcd-shooter-identified-as-cole-allen-30-year/

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15766553/White-House-shooter-Cole-Allen-suspect-motive-revealed.html

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-evacuated-shots-fired-white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooter-dead
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Sunny this morning then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Sunshine early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Azerbaijan for a working visit, AzerNEWS reports.





On April 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held one-on-one and expanded meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Gabala.





During the conversation, the presidents fondly recalled their previous meetings. Confidence was expressed that the Ukrainian Presidents visit to Azerbaijan would provide a good opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation. The sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation in many areas, including energy, discussed agricultural cooperation, and touched upon the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission.




April 26, 2026: Russian leader Vladimir Putin has caused numerous errors, driving down his support. As Russians rage about Putins moves to disable the Russian internet increases, Russian analysts are revealing more errors Putin has been making and surveys show his support declining to disastrous levels.

There are increasing indications that hostility to Putins policies is spreading throughout the leaders, increasing the probability that they will merge into groups which might seek and perhaps even succeed in blocking Russian government policies and erode voter support.

None of this means Putin is about to be emasculated, let alone overthrown. But it could persuade Putin to take even more repressive and aggressive measures. Taken together, these developments suggest Putin is now less able to act as if opposition to his policies is irrelevant.

Russian anger over President Vladimir Putins moves against the internet is growing and spreading even to groups long thought to be his most loyal supporters. Russian commentators are pointing to other mistakes Putin has been making, and opinion surveys show that his approval rating is falling to the lowest level since before he launched the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He now faces a buildup of disapproval that some have called an apocalypse. There are even posters and carrying of signs, which are important indications in the Russian system that opposition to Putins policies is spreading, increasing the likelihood of groups coalescing that will seek and perhaps even succeed in blocking government policies that they do not approve of. None of this, to be sure, means Putin is about to be overthrown as it could lead him, as it has in the past when he felt at all cornered, to take even more repressive and aggressive steps. This combination of factors, however, does suggest that he will no longer be able to act as if opposition is irrelevant and will likely have to devote more time to rebuilding his authority among leaders and in the population.

Putins moves against the internet are increasingly unpopular because they have affected the lives of so many Russians, including members of the leadership in government, the military, and business who have grown accustomed to using various internet channels. Recent polls show that support for and trust in the Government leader have fallen to seven year lows. The decline reflects anger over his internet policies, a flood of bad news at home and abroad in recent months, and signs that Putin does not intend to change strategy. This marks a shift from the past, when he often backed away from the more extreme aspects of his policies or sought to isolate unpopular ones by restricting their impact, as was the case with his war against Ukraine, where, instead of general mobilization, he relied on huge bonuses to encourage enlistment. That policy is now failing. In 2022, only 15 percent of Russians had a close relative in the war. Now more than twice that share do. Russian analysts argue that popular anger over Putins moves against the internet is compounded by other concerns, including the lack of progress in Ukraine toward either victory or peace, failures in Venezuela and Iran, and deteriorating economic and social conditions at home.

Putin has responded to protests about the internet in two ways, repression and silence. He has ordered widespread arrests and detentions of those who have taken to the streets to protest his actions. He has not spoken out about the internet restrictions or any of these other problems in recent times, reducing his public appearances in the last quarter by a significant amount compared to 2025. The Russian leader may suppose that repression is enough, but his failure to address various issues may result in an even larger problem, analysts say, as it contributes to the sense that he is out of touch.

Putin may not care very much about popular opposition to his internet policies. He still has reliable security forces to control the situation, and his popularity ratings are above 60 percent in polls released by his government. Putin certainly has reason to worry about the appearance of opposition to his internet policies among members of his leaders, especially technocratic groups that favor development over tighter control. Ever more members of these groups have been speaking out, contributing to the sense, not only among other elite groups but also in the Russian population, that splits are developing in the government. This perception encourages others to resist, in the hope of tipping the political balance away from Putin and toward those who share their views.

The question now is how far this process, involving the alienation of the Russian population and of leaders beyond the loyal generals. Russian commentators imply that Putin has been committing more mistakes and angering more ordinary people and members of the leadership than at any time since he began his expanded Ukraine war. While the situation has not yet reached a critical level and, as a result, Putin may be able to ride out this storm, it will come with increased difficulty, especially if he does not return to the tactics he used in earlier crises his government faced.

In six earlier crises since Putin became president, government leaders not only took public positions to seize the propagandist high ground but also modified his policies. This signaled that he was paying attention to the population and would avoid angering it more than he felt necessary. Now Putin is doing neither, however, appearing in public far less frequently and showing no signs of being willing to modify his original decisions. This increasingly sclerotic approach has come to a head over the last three months, as the government has suffered a series of policy defeats abroad amid a rising tide of problems at home. Dictators fail when the number of problems grows too large for them to handle. Such rulers, however, risk serious problems if they do not show themselves responding to crises and act as if they are not required to. That is where the Putin dictatorship now stands. The number of problems is growing, although likely not yet to the point where they alone will be enough to bring the government leader down. Putins failure to react now is undermining his rule, perhaps not enough to lead to his ouster in the immediate future but likely reducing the number of additional crises that could prove sufficient to produce that outcome.
GREAT BARRINGTON  Since 2012, voters each year have chosen to tap into free cash  the town's surplus account  to the tune of nearly $39 million in order to ease the burden on taxpayers.

Over the last five years, the annual amount has ranged from $3.5 million to $4.17 million.

But with the town facing a budget shortfall of $5 million in fiscal 2027, Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove is asking voters to approve a Proposition 2 1/2 override to shoulder more of the burden. If that fails, she said, the towns reserves will drop to $454,000  far below what state guidelines consider financially healthy.

"So there's basically no money left," Hartsgrove said during a Select Board meeting.

After years of using free cash to lower the tax rate, Hartsgrove said the town has hit its breaking point and cant afford to use its little reserves for recurring costs. So she proposed a $42 million budget that will begin reducing the town's reliance on free cash and includes no new borrowing.

To make up for the $5 million shortfall, town staff made over $1 million in cuts; an additional $2 million will come from free cash, and the remaining $2 million will come from taxpayers by way of the override.

Free cash is generally recommended to be used for one-time expenditures, funding capital projects or replenishing other reserves. Using it to reduce the tax levy is typically considered a one-time benefit because it lowers bills that year, but doesnt increase the levy limit for the future  a practice that can create a long-term budget gap as costs rise faster than the towns allowed tax growth.

Around one in six communities in Massachusetts used at least some free cash for tax rate relief in 2022, according to state data.

In Great Barrington, this practice helped to lower property tax rates for years while simultaneously creating a structural gap between what the town spends and what it brings in. But that gap now needs to be made up.

The town's debt has also increased over the past decade. In 2019, capital spending jumped from an average of $3 million to $6.8 million. After two years, at around $3 million, it jumped to nearly $5 million in 2022, $8 million in 2023 and $13 million in 2025.

A significant portion of capital spending is for major infrastructure projects, including improving the town's long-neglected roads and bridges. These projects have historically been mostly paid for through borrowing, leading to major debt that eats a large portion of the budget.

About 17.75 percent of the general fund is tied to debt payments  more than double the healthy benchmark for a town of Great Barrington's size.

But despite those efforts to lower taxes, Great Barrington homeowners still see higher tax bills than their neighbors, leaving the Finance Committee concerned that raising taxes even more would tax residents out of town.

With the town out of options, Hartsgrove initially proposed an override to cover the entire $5 million shortfall, but in the face of pushback from members of the Select Board and Finance Committee, she came up with the compromise override of $2 million.

If it fails, the town will need to draw $4 million in free cash, along with a number of additional cuts, to close the budget gap.

That would include omitting all discretionary services and special articles, including the co-responder program, lifeguards and skatepark monitors, and denying the funding request from the Southern Berkshire Ambulance service.

It would also eliminate all capital projects that are dependent on free cash funding and cancel all planned service enhancements, such as arts and culture celebrations and employee professional development

The additional use of free cash would put the town into the danger zone in terms of money in its savings. The state recommends towns have at least 3 to 5 percent of their annual budget in free cash reserves.

For Great Barrington, that would be $1.27 million to $2.1 million in free cash. If the override fails, the town will have $454,000, Hartsgrove said.

Town meeting is May 2 and town election, where the override is on the ballot will follow on May 12. To prevent the need for a special town meeting, the articles are worded in a way that if an article passes, but the override fails, the backup free cash plan automatically goes into effect.
DPIIT releases operational guidelines for Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 of Rs 10,000 Cr

April 26, 2026 | Sunday | News

For the utilisation, operation, and monitoring of the fund

image credit- freepik

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has released the operational guidelines for the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0). These guidelines provide a structured framework for operationalising the Rs 10,000 crore fund, including clearly defined mechanisms for the utilisation, operation, and monitoring of the fund. It aims to improve the efficiency of capital flows into India's startup ecosystem.

The scheme will be implemented through commitments to Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) of Categories I and II registered with SEBI, which will invest in startups accredited by DPIIT. Doing so is expected to bring discipline in capital allocation, attract private investments, and ensure wider access to financing across multiple sectors, stages, and geographies.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will act as the initial implementing agency and implement through a streamlined AIF selection and monitoring process. DPIIT will also engage additional implementing agency to enhance outreach, improve sectoral expertise and build institutional capacities to manage such schemes.

To address the specific gaps in the ecosystem, the Operational Guidelines structurally categorise AIFs (Alternative Capital Investments) to include intensive technology-focused funds, micro venture capital funds supporting early-growth startups, funds focused on innovative and technology-based manufacturing sectors, and sector and phase-related funds.

There are criteria set for each segment, including fund limits, government contribution limits, tenure, and minimum private capital raising ratio, ensuring that capital is directed to priority sectors while maintaining market discipline.

The guidelines prescribe a two-stage selection process for AIFs. The implementing agency will conduct preliminary investigations, which will be followed by an evaluation by the Venture Capital Investment Committee. The committee will assess the proposals based on the team's track record, fund management capacity, and investment strategy. The committee comprises eminent leaders from industry, academia, and the innovation ecosystem.

Startup India FOF 2.0 has been developed to act as a catalyst rather than a direct investor, enabling multiplier effect through private capital participation. The guidelines mandate minimum private capital mobilisation, thereby strengthening the market-based investment discipline.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has expressed his sadness at the death of Barrai Mescall of TG4, whom he described as having been an institution in journalism, particularly in the Cork area.

Mescall died in the presence of his family at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork city on Friday.

Speaking earlier today at a Chornobyl commemoration in Cork, the Taoiseach said that Mescall was a an outstanding Gaeilgoir who had a particular interest in traditional music.

He covered many national programmes as well. A journalist in the old school, of the old school, who always revelled in getting the scoop, and getting the exclusive.

"A decent man, a very sound person, and to Jo and his family, we extend our deepest sympathies. He will be a loss to his journalistic colleagues and to the world of journalism.

Advertisement

Tanaiste Simon Harris said in a statement that Mescall was a dedicated voice in Irish journalism and broadcasting in Cork and nationally.

His contribution to radio and public service broadcasting will be fondly remembered as will his tireless advocacy for the Irish language and culture. My condolences to his family and friends and all those who knew him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Meanwhile, Mescall, who was late of Rochestown and Lower Killeens in Cork, had retired from his role as a journalist for Nuacht TG4.

He was also well known for his work with RTE News and with RTE Radio Cork.

Mescall is survived by his partner Jo Cronin, his siblings Finola, Margot and Hugh, his nieces, nephews and extended family, Lilibeth Horne and family and Dan and Aideen Cronin and family. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Esther, and his sister Clare.

His requiem mass will take place at 11am on Tuesday in the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Clogheen, Co Cork, with his funeral taking place privately afterwards.

Mourners can make donations, if desired, in lieu of flowers to the Irish Heart Foundation.
The accused gunman who tried to storm the ballroom at the White House Correspondents Association dinner with guns and knives travelled across the country before the event and is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, officials have said.

Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche said it is believed the suspect travelled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington, where he checked in as a guest to the hotel where the glitzy event was being held on Saturday night.

Investigators have not publicly named the suspect, but two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter have identified him as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California.

Law enforcement officials who have examined the gunmans electronic devices and his writings preliminarily believe he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner.





The gunman attempted to charge into the cavernous ballroom but was tackled to the ground in a chaotic scene that resulted in shots being fired, President Donald Trump being rushed off the stage and guests ducking for cover beneath their tables.

The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Mr Blanche said. He added that the suspect is not being co-operative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.

Advertisement

It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president, Mr Blanche told NBCs Meet The Press.

Speaking at the White House two hours after the incident, Mr Trump said: When youre impactful, they go after you. When youre not impactful, they leave you alone. They seem to think he was a lone wolf.



US Secret Service agents surrounded Donald Trump and escorted him from the area amid the incident (Alex Brandon/AP)

The shooting unfolded just outside the vast subterranean ballroom holding thousands of dinner guests, disrupting minutes after it began an annual event meant to honour journalism and the First Amendment that was being especially scrutinised this year because it was the first time since Mr Trump became president that he had attended.

The president told reporters later that he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, though the fact that an armed man was able to rush towards the ballroom raised instant questions about security precautions at a dinner attended each year by senior US government officials.

Advertisement

Video posted by Mr Trump showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran towards him. One officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but is recovering, officials said.



Members of law enforcement control the suspect on the ground outside the hotel (Alex Brandon/AP)

Inside the ballroom, guests scurried for cover at the sound of shots while Secret Service agents, including the heavily-armed counter-assault team, swarmed the stage after the incident.

Vice-President JD Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Mr Trump in place before escorting him and First Lady Melania Trump from the room. The president briefly stumbled on the way off-stage, before being assisted by his security detail.

He was held for some time in a secure presidential suite at the hotel as the president and organisers initially sought to resume the event  hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president  before Mr Trump was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.



Armed law enforcement swarmed the scene following the incident (Tom Brenner/AP)

It was the third time since 2024 that the president had been under threat by an attacker in his immediate vicinity  including the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, that injured him and killed a local firefighter.

Today we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before, the president said. But he also said: Were not going to let anybody take over our society.

Advertisement

FBI director Kash Patel, flanking Mr Trump, said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward.



US Secret Service agents escorted the president and first lady from the room (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife, Kelly, who both attended the event, were praying for our country tonight. The House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, wrote on social media: The violence and chaos in America must end.

Republican Mike Lawler of New York, a guest at the dinner, said he heard a pop and we didnt know what the hell it was. And then you heard all sorts of things clatter.

Mr Lawler said he gets death threats often and said: I think we live in a climate where everybody recognises its a problem, but I dont think people fully appreciate how much of a problem it really is.
Advertisement

NationalNSWCrime Opinion The fraud triangle crushing our trust, from gangs to the NDIS Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser April 26, 2026  5:00am

April 26, 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

On Thursday morning, readers of The Sydney Morning Herald woke up to front-page fraud. The three top stories were an overhaul of the NDIS to clear out shonky providers, announced the day before by Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler; millions of dollars being laundered through poker machines by people whose occupations could not justify the possession of such large sums; and the alleged pilfering of $1.5 million in cash and purchases from billionaire Judith Neilson by her private secretary. Side by side, each story exhibits the three points of the fraud triangle  a model explained to me by Paul Curby, founding partner of Curby McLintock, a boutique professional services firm specialising in fraud and corruption risk. Experts use the triangle to explain fraud risk within an organisation. The three points of the triangle are motivation, opportunity and rationalisation. Illustration by Simon Letch The sheer scale of the fraud represented by this front page is staggering. In his National Press Club address, Butler referred to a lack of integrity in the NDIS system that has opened the door to the worst parts of organised crime. He cited information provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission that criminals are paying cash kickbacks to participants and their families, and sometimes resorting to intimidation and threats of violence towards vulnerable people. He described the NDIS as having become an ATM for shonks, grifters, fraudsters and crooks, in which large cash withdrawals, asset purchases and fraudulent financial transactions are common. Its appalling enough that there are people defrauding a scheme designed to help disabled Australians. But it gets worse. Butler described reports of NDIS participants falling out of wheelchairs while a support worker was scrolling on their phone. Its possible to imagine fraudsters could dehumanise an organisation created by the government to the point that they dont even think about the hardworking taxpayers who pay for it or the people it is supposed to assist. Its horrific to realise that they dont care, even when the vulnerable they are defrauding are physically present and in need of immediate help.

Advertisement

Pushing scads of cash through poker machines, described in the second story, somehow seems moral by way of comparison. But the money comes from organised crime, which peddles in many forms of human misery. Increasingly, as the Australian Federal Police has warned, these crime syndicates arent just drug dealers serving human frailty, but international operations importing the agendas of hostile foreign regimes into Australia. The AFP linked some of the antisemitic graffiti and arson attacks carried out in Australia over the past couple of years to Irans security agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ratcheting up the temperature in Australia around foreign conflicts. When theyre not terrorising suburbs with high Jewish populations at the behest of the IRGC, these gangs are making life uncomfortable and unsafe in the suburbs they dominate. Related Article Letters NDIS model has built profit into every service Those suburbs are in what Ive come to think of as shutterlands. They are areas that seem to have a notably higher number of solid pull-down security shutters on residential windows. Suburbs where crime gangs conduct increasingly brazen wars with each other, including home invasions and shooting at houses. Where its reasonable to fear a stray bullet flying into the familys front room. Mounties, the club named in Thursdays report as a major money-laundering factory, is at Mount Pritchard in south-west Sydney. The Australian Financial Review recently reported on suburbs in which NDIS providers outnumber patients. Liverpool and adjoining suburbs, which include Mount Pritchard, have the highest number. The fraud triangle articulates whats going on. There is motivation in the form of big pots of money. There is opportunity in the poor controls put in place to make it harder to fraudulently obtain or illegally launder the loot. And rationalisation: were constantly told that were being ripped off by faceless companies and the rich (anyone wealthier than you hope to be), who are making out like bandits. Why not be a bandit, too?

Advertisement

That eats away at interpersonal trust  the idea that we do right by strangers  which is fundamental to the viability of a generously redistributive social democracy. Related Article Updated

Crime Sydney rappers bodyguard snatched from family home in alleged late-night abduction Well-meaning commentators who havent been exposed to the soul-crushing consequences of entrenched welfare culture are prone to the belief that concerns about welfare abuse are just a way to demonise those who receive it. But those who have become trapped by welfare dependence are, as polling I recently conducted found, more sceptical. They are more likely than others to disagree with the proposition that most welfare spending ends up helping people who genuinely need it, as well as more likely to agree that welfare does more harm than good by making people too dependent on assistance. That may seem counterintuitive, but these are the people who suffer when rip-offs, which start as seemingly victimless crimes, hurt people who depend on support. The overlap of crime and fraud in suburbs with high numbers of providers suggests that NDIS fraud hurts communities where youll see the most I heart NDIS stickers when walking down the main street. As the third story in the Heralds Thursday of fraud illustrates, while there may be hotspots, fraud can transcend suburb boundaries and class barriers. Judith Neilsons private secretary had no material need to defraud her employer, but allegedly did so anyway. Since that story was first published, the private secretary has been criminally charged. She is yet to enter a plea. Some may see the allegation, yet to be tested in court, that she took a small fraction of the billionaires fortune as hardly even immoral. The attitude of perpetrators that fraud expert Paul Curby often comes across is that if youre too stupid to put controls around it, you dont deserve to keep the money.

Advertisement

Fraud is the symptom, but the bigger issue is whats happening to trust  something Mark Butler knows all too well. Hes now battling to save the NDIS, but the bigger challenge is restoring mutual trust in a society that thought it didnt need controls. Related Article Courts Overwhelming case: Billionaires ex-secretary refused bail over alleged $1.6m fraud Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
April 26, 2026: Hampered by shortages, delayed aid and restrictions on using some Western weapons, Ukraines response has been built gradually, driven by necessity and the will to survive. It has filled gaps where traditional weapons were unavailable or inadequate. Drones have become critical.

Ukraines innovation has helped blunt Russian assaults, while its domestic defense industry is moving toward production on a scale that would have seemed impossible at the start of the invasion.

The so-called drone wall is less a fixed system than an evolving one: primarily defensive today, but steadily expanding across the air, sea, and now ground spheres.

What began as an improvisation is increasingly hardening into a technological and durable defense system, as the country seeks to become an indigestible steel porcupine for its rapacious neighbor. Since the full-scale invasion, Ukraines defense-industrial base has grown at an unprecedented pace, with annual production capacity increasing five times to $50 billion.

Mavic drones, for example, became emblematic of the war not because they were built for combat, but because Ukrainians adapted them to drop grenades when no better option existed. That judgment overlooks Ukraines repeated demonstration that systems assembled quickly, adapted continuously, and fielded at scale can have major battlefield impact. For the defenders, its been a race to build effective systems that are cheap and can be quickly mass-produced.

This is underlined by the US-Israeli war in Iran, which is offering reminders that expensive and procurement-heavy systems do not guarantee a quick victory, see for example, the reported destruction of 16 Reaper drones over Iran, each costing up to $30 million. Meanwhile, an opponent equipped with cheap drones can still impose disproportionate costs and disrupt forces in ways that traditional procurement models struggle to match. Russia was also slow to absorb some of the lessons. But bogged down in trench warfare in the Donbas, it was eventually forced to adapt, increasing its own drone capability with the help of partners such as China and Iran.

Ukrainian drones are not a revolution at the level of physics or materials, they are a revolution at the level of application, scaling, and adaptability. They systematically change the balance on the battlefield. Now Ukraines drone wall is expanding. Mid-range strike drones have wreaked havoc on Russian air defenses, aided by the increasing use of Starlink connectivity over occupied territories.

In March, Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russias Security Council and a former defense minister, warned that Ukraines drone production is at a pace that means no region is beyond reach. Ukrainian drones are regularly flying more than 1,000 kilometers into Russia to strike at oil production, export facilities, and factories supporting the arms industry. Russia is poised to cut oil output by a fifth following Ukrainian drone strikes on port facilities; tankers are meanwhile backed up in the Baltic Sea as they cannot fill up at damaged docks.

The most strategically significant development of this war is Ukraines ability to strike Russias oil and gas infrastructure across vast distances. Ukraine can now reach from the Arctic submarine bases to southern energy infrastructure, he added. Russia cannot defend everything.

Ukraine is also pouring millions of dollars into missile development to match the success of its drones. Ukraines defense minister said the government is acting like a venture capital investor by giving large grants to local companies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in March that every long-range capability Ukraine now possesses, from 500 kilometers to more than 1,000 kilometers was developed domestically.

At sea, Ukrainian naval drones have effectively forced Russias Black Sea Fleet to retreat from occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk and are being used to attack shadow fleet oil tankers, possibly including this March 22 strike near Istanbul. Ukrainian drone vessels are now being adapted as carriers for interceptor drones, extending Ukraines defensive reach over the water.

Units that integrate ground robotic systems could cut frontline infantry requirements by up to 30 percent by the end of this year and reach 80 percent in the future.

In December, one machine-gun-equipped ground robot reportedly held a position for 45 days. Ukrainians are right when they send robots, not humans. Now Ukrainian engineers are working on ways to integrate land drones into the fortification network.

While Russia has continued to pound Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles, Ukraine has developed low-cost interceptor systems that are attracting worldwide interest, including in the Middle East.

With its young, technology-focused defense minister, many of the key elements are beginning to align. Across the battlefield, drones and other emerging systems are helping fill critical gaps, and Ukraine will continue using that unequal advantage to deny Russia the chance to achieve its goals.
Thank you for reading our rolling coverage of the war in the Middle East and the shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

Our live blog has closed for the evening but will resume tomorrow.

Heres what we covered today:
Iran's foreign minister returns to Pakistan

Iran's top diplomat has returned to Pakistan, as Donald Trump says both sides can talk by phone over ending the war.
Advertisement

Analysis WorldNorth AmericaTrump's White House Footage shows getting Trump out of harms way was far from smooth Bevan Shields April 26, 2026  7:15pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In the immediate aftermath of the latest possible attempt on US President Donald Trumps life, much of the fast-flowing information was wrong  an irony given it came from the hundreds of reporters and newsroom executives who were inside the Washington ballroom when the first shots rang out. The alleged assassin was dead, we were told by some, when he actually wasnt. Cole Tomas Allen was not even shot during the incident, let alone killed by Secret Service agents or police. We were told the 31-year-old Californian teacher had got into the same room Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and cabinet members were in. Loading That wasnt quite right, either, although he did get far too close for comfort. The alleged gunman in fact charged at a security checkpoint in a lobby just outside the ballroom doors before being tackled and apprehended. We were also told the correspondents dinner would proceed despite the extraordinary scenes that had just unfolded. Again, that was wrong. The dinner was postponed and Trump was rushed back to the safety of the White House.

Advertisement

It is early days in the latest major security event to rock US politics, and it will take much more than a few hours for the full facts to emerge. We still dont even know for sure whether Trump was the target, or someone else in the room. But amid the blur of conflicting information, there are at the very least eerie similarities between the Washington Hilton scare and the 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt, which wounded Trump and killed a member of the crowd, Corey Comperatore. US President Donald Trump (left) before he is bundled off the stage. AP Unsurprisingly, the fallout didnt quite capture the same attention as the incident itself. Much was made of the unbelievable near miss of a bullet passing through Trumps right ear in that Pennsylvania field, but the subsequent investigation sank like a stone. In the wake of this weekends near-miss, its worth revisiting the damning findings of the Butler probe. In short, the Senate judiciary committee found the Secret Service had failed to implement security measures that could have prevented the assassination attempt at Trumps campaign rally. One of the most unsettling revelations in a cascade of failures was that senior Secret Service officials had been made aware of a threat to Trump before the rally but did not pass it down the chain, or to local law enforcement personnel involved in site security plans. While the threat did not relate to the rally or the gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, its existence shone a light on serious problems with communication between the many organisations charged with the presidents safety, including the Secret Service, local police and the FBI.

Advertisement

Republican senator Chuck Grassley said the investigation also highlighted a series of procedural and planning errors, including the misallocation of resources, a lack of training and pervasive communication failures, all of which contributed to an unsecure environment. Kimberly Cheatle resigned as the director of the Secret Service 10 days after the shooting, and six Secret Service agents received suspensions of up to six weeks. Trump shared an image of the alleged gunman, who was arrested at the Washington Hilton. Truth Social Has much changed since? Black and white security footage from Sundays incident at the Washington hotel suggests those charged with protecting Trump, his inner circle and media elite at the dinner had been caught on the hop by Allen, in the same way they had been nearly two years ago by Crooks. The teacher managed to rush through the security area without being stopped in the first instance. He was eventually taken down after exchanging gunfire with the Secret Service, including one agent who was shot but survived because he was wearing a protective vest.

Advertisement

Related Article Trump's White House Shots fired: How the aborted gala for White House journalists unfolded How did someone with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives even get to that point? It is as astonishing as Crooks being able to crawl onto the roof of a building to take his shots at Trump in 2024. Grilled by reporters, interim Washington, DC, police chief Jeffery Carroll said there was preliminary information that Allen was a guest at the hotel. The hotel was closed to the public from 2pm on Saturday (US time) ahead of the dinner, which began at 8pm, according to AP. Questions will also be asked about why all stages of security screening had not taken place in a temporary facility outside the hotel building, rather than in a lobby just near the ballroom where everyone was gathered. The gunfire exchange was so close to Trump and his team that the sound was clearly audible to everyone inside the room, including the president. Connor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent for Britains Telegraph, told readers entry was easy: Upon arriving at the Hilton, I had remarked to a colleague just how light the measures had been. No ID checks. No pat-downs on entry. A simple flash of a cardboard ticket, which was the exact same from last years event, was all that was needed to enter. MAGA loyalist Kari Lake, said on X that security was incredibly lax. Upon entering, nobody asked to visibly INSPECT my ticket nor asked for my photo identification, she wrote.

Advertisement

For his part, Trump was full of praise for the officials who sprang into action. The situation was incredibly acted upon by the Secret Service and police, Trump said, adding he would be the first to complain if he felt there was a problem given it was his life on the line. But like the aftermath of Butler, an inevitable review into this weekends events might not support Trumps view that all had gone well outside the ballroom, or inside it. Related Article Updated

Crime What we know about the alleged shooter arrested at the presidential dinner Footage from the event shows the process of getting Trump out of harms way was far from smooth. Vance was dragged off the stage about 15 seconds before Trump, who then fell as he was being moved to safety. Vance was off the stage before heavily armed agents swarmed the podium and surrounded Trump. Asked at the White House press briefing room whether he was concerned how long it took for some high-ranking officials to be evacuated from the room, Trump again backed his protective detail. They acted very quickly, he said. The last time shots rang out at a presidential function at the Washington Hilton, the commander in chief wasnt so lucky. Ronald Reagan was walking out of the hotel on March 30, 1981, when John Hinckley Jr fired a gun, hitting and wounding the president, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, police officer Thomas Delahanty and the presidents press secretary, James Brady. The death of Brady in 2014 was ruled a homicide as a result of the injuries he sustained 33 years earlier.

Advertisement

Keeping Trump alive is a dangerous job, and few of us would have the guts or skills to do it. But when the stakes are as high as the life or death of a president who leads a deeply divided, fragile nation, its on those charged with protecting him to learn from the past and get it right. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Advertisement

WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Trump uses shooting to demand all-clear for his White House ballroom Michael Koziol April 27, 2026  9:08am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: The Trump administration is using the weekends shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner to pressure opponents of the presidents planned ballroom to drop their legal challenge on national security grounds. The move comes amid widespread concerns about security shortcomings at the Washington Hilton hotel, where dozens of senior Trump administration officials were present, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and many cabinet members. Donald Trump shows off plans for his new White House ballroom while on Air Force One. AP The National Trust for Historic Preservation successfully halted progress on the $US400 million ($560 million) ballroom after a judge ruled Trump must obtain congressional approval to build the 1000-capacity venue on White House grounds. Underground parts of the project can continue to be built. On Sunday (Washington time), acting attorney-general Todd Blanche made public a letter he sent to a lawyer representing the National Trust, threatening to seek the dissolution of the current injunction if the Trust does not voluntarily withdraw its lawsuit by 9am on Monday.

Advertisement

Yesterdays assassination attempt on President Trump proves, yet again, that the White House ballroom is essential for the safety and security of the president, his family, his cabinet and his staff, Blanche wrote. He noted that when the ballroom was complete, Trump and his successors will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of the White House perimeter to attend large gatherings, such as those at the Hilton. Put simply, your lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family and his staff at grave risk, Blanche said. I hope yesterdays narrow miss will help you finally realise the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter what. Enough is enough. The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement

The lawsuit was technically brought on behalf of one of the Trusts board members, architectural historian Alison Hoagland, who claims the ballroom would infringe on the quality of her walks and views of the city. In a post on X, Blanche said: This lawsuit is on behalf of a single person who walks in the vicinity of the White House once a month and expects to dislike the East Wings new design. The passing aesthetic gripe of a single person cannot possibly justify delaying the construction of a secure facility for the president to do his job. Trump was not harmed in the shooting and was evacuated along with other dignitaries. The shooter  alleged to be 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California  was taken down by Secret Service agents after he ran through a security checkpoint inside the hotel. He did not make it to the stairwell leading down to the ballroom on a lower level. However, concerns have been raised by dinner attendees  politicians and journalists alike  about security procedures at the venue. Although the hotel was closed to the public earlier in the afternoon, attendees were only required to show a paper invitation to the dinner to reach the security checkpoint inside.

Advertisement

Allen was reportedly staying at the hotel after travelling to Washington by train. He ran through the security checkpoint just after 8.30pm (Washington time), by which time Trump was inside the ballroom, and no additional guests were allowed to enter the secured area. Related Article National News Live US politics as it happened: Trump becomes hostile in 60 Minutes interview after manifesto revealed of alleged White House Correspondents dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen; Iran offers new deal over Strait of Hormuz reopening Republican congressman Michael McCaul, a former prosecutor who worked in counter-terrorism and national security, attended the dinner as a guest of Bloomberg and told the network he thought the outer perimeter was very free access for a function with such high-profile attendees. Its an open hotel. I think that was part of the risk involved here if you had to analyse it. Its very difficult to harden that environment, he said. McCaul noted Vance and House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson were also present at the dinner  first and second in line to the presidency, respectively.

Advertisement

If a bomb had gone off or something more dramatic, it would fall to [Iowa senator] Chuck Grassley, amazingly, he said. Grassley, the president pro tempore of the US Senate, is 92. Trump dismissed criticism of the security setup, saying the agents involved did an outstanding job, and noting the would-be assailant did not get near the ballroom itself. Security video of the alleged shooter sprinting through the lobby of the Washington venue where the White House Correspondents dinner was being held. Truth Social @realDonaldTrump But he also used the incident to make the case for his beloved White House ballroom, saying the shooting would never have happened on White House grounds. It cannot be built fast enough! Trump said on Truth Social.

Advertisement

Related Article Updated

Trump's America Friendly Federal Assassin: Alleged shooters manifesto says he was targeting Trump officials While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is, plus, there are no rooms sitting on top for unsecured people to pour in, and is inside the gates of the most secure building in the World, The White House. The ridiculous Ballroom lawsuit, brought by a woman walking her dog, who has absolutely No Standing to bring such a suit, must be dropped, immediately. Nothing should be allowed to interfere with its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!! 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.
Google has officially released the first Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1, extending its testing cycle as the operating system moves closer to a stable rollout expected in September. The update follows Android 17 Beta 4 and is now available for Pixel 6 and newer devices, including the latest Pixel 10a lineup.

The rollout is part of Google's ongoing refinement process, which provides beta testers with early access to system improvements, performance enhancements, and behind-the-scenes stability upgrades. While this QPR1 release does not introduce major visual changes, it's a good patch to polish the latest OS update ahead of its public launch.

How To Install Android 17 QPR1 Beta On Pixel Devices

Users interested in trying Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 can join the official Android Beta Program. Once enrolled, eligible Pixel devices will automatically receive the update through an over-the-air installation.

Google also confirmed that this beta build is stable enough for daily use, making it suitable for users who want early access without dealing with major system-breaking bugs.

Supported devices include the Pixel 6 series and newer models, ensuring a wide range of users can participate in testing. After enrollment, installation is straightforward and mirrors standard system updates.

Google emphasizes that this release focuses primarily on system optimization. Instead of introducing new features, the update improves background performance, enhances stability, and fixes lingering bugs reported in earlier Android 17 beta builds.

The official changelog highlights refinements to memory handling, system responsiveness, and background app behavior. These changes may not be immediately visible to users, but they contribute significantly to smoother long-term performance.

For developers and enthusiasts, this beta also serves as an opportunity to test app compatibility ahead of the final Android 17 release.

Pixel Users Can Switch Back Without Losing Data

One of the most user-friendly aspects of the Android Beta Program is the ability to opt out without losing personal data. Google confirmed that users currently running Android 17 Beta, including QPR1 Beta 1, can safely leave the program and return to the stable channel.

By opting out of the next beta update, users will be automatically downgraded to the latest public release without requiring a full device wipe, according to GSMArena. This flexibility makes the beta program more accessible, especially for users who want early access but prefer stability for daily use.

However, Google still advises caution. While the QPR1 Beta is considered stable, beta software may still contain minor bugs or unexpected behavior compared to final releases.

Android 17 Nears Stable Release

Pixel users are anticipating additional beta updates over the coming weeks. The focus is expected to revolve around bug fixes and performance tuning rather than new features.
A CARLOW man with 28 previous convictions has received two concurrent one-month suspended sentences after pleading guilty to possession of heroin and theft from a Carlow town shop.

John McCarthy (29) currently residing at De Paul Hostel, Riverdale, Haymarket, Carlow, appeared before Carlow District Court, represented by solicitor Joe Farrell, where guilty pleas were entered in relation to a section 3 drugs offence and a section 4 theft.

The court heard that on 13 August 2023 at 10pm, Garda Moulton was on mobile patrol in the car park of Riverdell apartments in Carlow when he noticed Mr McCarthy sitting on a wall and observed him discard something wrapped in silver paper. The substance was sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis and was found to be diamorphine (heroin) to the value of 70.

In a separate matter, the court heard that on 6 December 2025 at 4.21pm, a sportswatch and lighter fluid were reported stolen from Eurogiant in Carlow town. Mr McCarthy was identified on CCTV and subsequently arrested.

He has 28 previous convictions, including 11 for theft and four for drugs offences. His most recent conviction was in November 2024 at Kilkenny District Court, where he received a three-month prison sentence for a section 3 drugs offence. His most recent theft conviction was in July 2021, when he received a two-year sentence, suspended for four years, in relation to a robbery offence.

Judge Catherine Ryan enquired as to whether Mr McCarthy had any section 15 convictions  possession of drugs for sale or supply  and was told he had not.

In mitigation, Mr Farrell asked the court to give credit for the guilty plea and told Judge Ryan that his client was currently engaging with Ardu Carlow, a substance misuse service, and had secured accommodation through Focus Ireland.

Hes very keen that he doesnt get a custodial sentence so he can hang onto his accommodation, Mr Farrell said, adding: He does have a drug issue and is trying to work through that. This offence goes back to August 2023. He had other matters before court in recent months, begging offences, but they didnt proceed.

Mr Farrell asked the court to consider a suspended sentence on the condition that Mr McCarthy continue to engage with Ardu and the probation services. He presented letters to Judge Ryan, including one from Ardu and another from St Catherines Community Services, where Mr McCarthy had linked in with its Traveller programme.

He seems to have done quite a bit of work here, Mr Farrell said.

Judge Ryan questioned why the matter was only coming before the court so long after the 2023 offence, to which Sgt Grainne McPartlin replied that the delay was most likely due to backlogs at Forensic Science Ireland.

Diamorphine is a serious drug, Judge Ryan remarked, adding that the court was obliged to treat it as such. Of the theft charge, she noted it was on the lower end, but observed that the two matters together shed a certain light and that one may be reliant on the other.

It is concerning to the court that there are other drugs matters at play here and it is affecting your behaviour, she said, imposing a one-month custodial sentence for the drugs offence and a concurrent one-month sentence for the theft, suspending both in their entirety, taking into account Mr McCarthys engagement with Ardu.

The judge placed Mr McCarthy under the supervision of the probation services for 12 months and ordered him to continue engaging with support services.

I do wish you well and I hope that youve turned a corner on your drug habit, Judge Ryan said, noting that she had imposed the suspended custodial sentences in light of his previous record.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Bhopal implements Indore Model to curb nightlife violations 73 booked on day one. Establishments mandated to upload closing photos by midnight





Staff Reporter :

The crackdown on illegal nightlife activities in Bhopal has officially commenced with Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar mandating the Indore Model for all bars and clubs. During a high-level meeting with operators, the Commissioner clarified that all establishments must cease operations by 12 midnight. To ensure compliance, a specialised software has been introduced where owners are required to upload a real-time photograph of their closed establishment at midnight. The announcement was immediately followed by a co-ordinated strike against illegal liquor outlets (ahatas) across the capital. On Friday night, teams from the Crime Branch and local police stations executed simultaneous raids at 10 strategic locations.

The operations spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Habibganj, Jahangirabad, TT Nagar, MP Nagar, Misrod, Govindpura, Shahjahanabad, Hanumanganj, Nishatpura, Kotwali, and Chhola Mandir. By the end of the night, authorities had registered criminal cases against 73 individuals involved in late-night violations. The Police Commissioner has assigned direct accountability for the success of this model to the respective Station House Officers (SHOs). They are required to conduct regular physical inspections and ensure that every bar and club in their area adheres to the photo-upload protocol. This move follows persistent investigative reporting by

The Hitavada regarding the rising disturbances in the citys nightlife. Any failure to comply with the timing or reporting standards will trigger immediate punitive measures against the operators. Seventy-Three Booked Under Excise Act Provisions: Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shailendra Singh Chauhan stated that five specialised teams conducted the raids after identifying establishments operating without valid permits. Many venues were found serving liquor illegally beyond permissible hours. Despite attempts by several suspects to evade arrest during the surprise inspections, 73 individuals were apprehended.

All accused have been booked under Section 36(B) of the Excise Act, and separate proceedings are being initiated against the operators of illegal ahatas. While the first day of enforcement has seen a significant number of cases, the focus now shifts to the sustainability of this campaign. The Indore Model has functioned successfully for years in the neighbouring city, but its long-term impact in Bhopal remains to be seen. Officials emphasised that the campaign is not merely a temporary drive but a systemic change aimed at dismantling the deep-rooted illegal nightlife culture.
5/31/2026

Prep Schedules for Week of: April 27 All times are local to the event Schedules are subject to change (Coaches/ADs: Please send any schedule corrections or additions to Dennis ... more




The stage is set in Chattanooga as the Morning Pointe Senior Living Top Chef Challenge prepares for its final round, following an exciting Regional Round II competition in Middle Tennessee.At Morning Pointe of Brentwood Assisted Living and Memory Care, top culinary talent from the Cumberland Nashville-area region gathered for a live cook-off after advancing through Round I, where residents and regional leaders cast their votes.After an evening filled with creativity, competition, and standout dishes, Caletta Alsup, food service director at Morning Pointe of Brentwood, earned first place with her Chicken Monterey.With the win, she now advances to the final competition, set for May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga - the home base of Morning Pointe Senior Living, founded by Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow - where she will compete for the title of Morning Pointe Senior Living Top Chef 2026.Alsup will join other regional winners from across the Southeast, each bringing their own signature style and resident-inspired dishes to the final stage.Second place in the Cumberland region went to Jamie Rutherford, Food Service Director at Morning Pointe of Spring Hill, for his Mamas Potato Soup, while Eric Harshfield, Food Service Director at Morning Pointe of Louisville, placed third with his Hawaiian Sliders.The Top Chef Challenge highlights the passion, creativity, and dedication of Morning Pointes dining teams, giving residents a voice in selecting their favorite dishes and offering communities a closer look at the thought and care behind every meal.Each round of this competition builds excitement and showcases the incredible talent within our communities, said Justin Leiter, director of Dining Operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living. Were looking forward to bringing our top chefs together in Chattanooga for a final competition that celebrates everything our dining program stands for.The final event at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga will bring together the best of the best, with competitors evaluated on taste and texture, presentation and creativity, nutrition and balance, resident appeal, cost and feasibility, and overall professionalism.Community members, families and guests are invited to experience the energy and talent behind Morning Pointe dining as the competition comes to a close.For more information about the dining experience at Morning Pointe Senior Living, visit https://morningpointe.com/life-at-morning-pointe/dining/.
Home News Over 60% of churchgoers worried about AIs influence on Christianity, survey shows

Three in five Protestant churchgoers in the United States say they are worried about artificial intelligences influence on Christianity, according to a new survey that finds deep divisions within congregations over whether pastors should use the technology to prepare their sermons.

Among churchgoers surveyed for a new Lifeway Research study, 61% expressed concern about AIs effect on the faith, including 67% of Evangelicals compared with 55% of those without Evangelical beliefs.

Caution is an instinctive reaction to new things, and pastors and churchgoers share some concerns around AI, Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement. The majority of younger churchgoers would welcome hearing biblical principles applied to AI in a sermon to help them shape their perspective on it.

The study is based on two polls: a phone survey of 1,003 Protestant pastors conducted in September 2025, with an error margin of 3.3 percentage points, and an online survey of 1,200 American Protestant churchgoers conducted last September, with an error margin of 3.2 percentage points.

About 44% of churchgoers see nothing wrong with pastors using AI to prepare sermons, while 43% are opposed, including 24% who disagreed strongly. A further 13% were undecided.

Less frequent attendees (48%) were more open to AI-assisted sermon preparation than those who attend weekly (42%), as were churchgoers without Evangelical beliefs (49%), versus those with Evangelical beliefs (40%).

Churchgoers are evenly split on whether it is right or wrong to use AI in sermon preparation. While only a quarter strongly reject this use, more than 5 in 6 have some pause on whether pastors should have a free pass on its use," McConnell added. "The caution may be from a desire to limit its use to certain activities or from not yet giving its morality much thought."

Among denominations, Presbyterian and Reformed churchgoers registered the highest levels of concern about AI at 64%, followed by Baptists at 62%, while Methodists were the least worried at 48%.

Men were more likely than women to say they had no concerns about AIs influence on Christianity (31% to 25%). Churchgoers who attend services one to three times a month (31%) were also more likely than regular weekly attendees to say they were unconcerned (26%).

Opinion was similarly divided on whether AI should be the subject of a sermon.

While 42% said they would find value in a sermon applying biblical principles to artificial intelligence, 43% were opposed, with 25% among them disagreeing strongly. Younger churchgoers were more receptive to the idea.

Those ages 18 to 29 and 30 to 49 were more likely than those 50 and older to say such a sermon would be worthwhile, at 50% and 53%, respectively, compared with 38% among those ages 50 to 64 and 33% among those 65 and older.

Among pastors, adoption of AI is limited and uneven.

One in 10 Protestant pastors describes themselves as a regular user, and one-third (32%) say they are experimenting with the technology. A further 18% are waiting to see more convincing examples of how AI might help before committing. At the same time, 18% are actively avoiding AI, and 20% are simply ignoring it.

AI is embedded in many tools we use every day, so some pastors may be using AI technology without even knowing they are, McConnell said. Pastors use of AI for ministry reflects a typical spread of technology adoption with a few avid users and plenty testing it out in different ways.

Pastors who are more likely to be regular users or experimenters tend to be younger, based in cities, more formally educated and leading larger congregations. Among those 65 and older, just 4% identify as regular users and 23% say they are experimenting with AI. In rural areas, 27% of pastors say they are ignoring the technology, compared with 18% in urban settings.

Pastors without a college degree are the least likely to be regular users (5%), while those with doctoral degrees are the most likely (14%). Congregations with 250 or more in attendance are disproportionately led by pastors who are experimenting (43%) or regularly using (15%) AI, according to Lifeway.

Denominational lines are also evident.

Lutheran and Baptist pastors are among the most resistant, with both groups the most likely to say they are ignoring the technology (22% each) or intentionally avoiding it (24% and 20%, respectively). Holiness pastors, by contrast, are the most likely to be experimenting with AI (43%) and to identify as regular users (18%).

Whatever their level of adoption, virtually all pastors raised at least one concern about AI in ministry. The most widely shared concern was that AI-generated content contains errors requiring editorial correction, cited by 84%. Some 81% said it was difficult to ensure AI tools drew only on reliable sources, and 76% said they believed biases may be embedded in how AI systems reach their conclusions.

A majority of pastors, 62%, worried that those using AI in their work were not disclosing it as a collaborator. Concerns about plagiarism were raised by 59%, and 55% said God has always communicated through human beings and that AI is not a person. Evangelical pastors were more likely than Mainline clergy to raise that concern (58% to 51%), while Mainline pastors were more likely to flag plagiarism (65% to 56%).
Home News Shots fired: Trump, cabinet, Erika Kirk rushed out of White House Correspondents dinner

Updated at 9:40 p.m. ET on April 25, 2026: President Donald Trump announced that authorities advised him that all attendees at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., must leave the premises after the annual event was abruptly halted by a shooter who targeted the venue.

The president said he will hold a press briefing at the White House this evening, and the WHCA dinner will reconvene in 30 days.

In a post on Truth Social, the president wrote: "Law Enforcement has requested that we leave the premises, consistent with protocol, which we will do, immediately. I will be giving a press conference in 30 minutes from the White House Press Briefing Room. The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition. We will be speaking to you in a half an hour. I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Following the president's post on Truth Social, White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang stepped up to the podium at the WHCA gathering to confirm that law enforcement requested that everyone exit the premises "consistent with protocol" and said the president "wanted to emphasize that nobody was hurt."

"He and the first lady, the cabinet, everybody's safe. The president will be having a press briefing at the White House in 30 minutes. That is not a joke. And he insists that we will reschedule this event in the next 30 days," she added. "He wanted to continue despite the news that we have to follow security protocol.

"I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service because when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it. And on a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are."

Original report:

The White House Correspondents' Association dinner was abruptly halted Saturday night after the sound of gunfire echoed inside the venue, spurring the Secret Service to escort President Donald Trump, the vice president and members of the cabinet to safety, followed by several members of the press.



Chaos ensued minutes after White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang sat down next to the president and first lady Melania Trump at the dais after giving the introductory speech at the annual WHCA dinner held at the historic Washington Hilton hotel.

Jiang, a senior White House correspondent for CBS News, was quickly escorted out of the room along with the president, first lady and Vice President JD Vance by Secret Service agents who reporters described as jumping on tables to lead government officials to safety.

C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" host John McArdle reported hearing a succession of four loud noises, "boom, boom, boom, boom," while other reporters at the dinner said they heard the sound of plates crashing. CNN's Jake Tapper said he heard nothing inside the venue, while his colleague, Wolf Blitzer, who had stepped out to go to the bathroom, reported being pushed to the ground by a police officer who was protecting him from gunfire.

???? JUST IN: SHOOTER IS DOWN  CNN



Terrifying moment as President Trump is shuffled away by Secret Service who LEAPED into action after reports of shots fired at the WHCA dinner



BLESS THE PRESIDENT, BLESS THE SECRET SERVICE ????????



This is insane. pic.twitter.com/8g43jQUAZG  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 26, 2026

CNN initially reported that Kaitlan Collins, the cable news outlet's chief White House correspondent, had "confirmed" the shooter was dead. Other news outlets, however, reported that the suspect was apprehended and in custody.

Bret Baier, Fox News chief political anchor and host of Special Report, called in to Fox News to report from the scene. I was really concerned. I mean, I heard shots and everybody dove down. I was sitting next to the Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. His staff, the Secret Service, jumped on him and pushed him down."

All the Fox security told everybody to get under the table, and you can imagine 2,000 people in that room really jam packed in, he added. There was mass chaos, but within seconds, the entire place was filled with Secret Service, guns drawn, and there were a lot of shaken-up people still.

Baier continued: There is a lot of police presence right outside the building. As we were going out, I saw FBI Director Kash Patel and Erica Kirk was being consoled by some of her folks. Obviously, she was very shaken up and she was right next to us and was under the table.

"And I didn't get a chance to talk to Kash Patel, but there was still a sweeping going on inside the building. So while the president's saying that he's coming back, I think that there is a lot going on, still going room to room inside the convention hall.

Blitzer told his CNN colleagues that as he walked back to the dinner after stepping away to go to the men's room, "all of a sudden I started hearing gunshots in the hall right near me."

"And the next thing I knew, a police officer threw me to the ground and was on top of me, and I was listening and watching what was going on," he said. "And apparently, they got the gunman, [found] a major weapon there, but it was so worrisome.

"The noise was so loud in a small area, and all of a sudden, I'm seeing gunshots," Blitzer continued. "And then they grabbed me, the police officers, and they take me back into the men's room where it was safe, and there were about 15 other men who are stuck in there and they won't let them out."

According to Blitzer, the shooting occurred near the main magnetometer screening area at the hotel.

Some attendees quickly exited the venue, while others stayed and settled back into their seats after being ordered to duck under tables for protection. After a long pause amid the evening's interrupted schedule, Jiang returned to the presidential podium to announce that the event would continue.

I know everyone's going to want as many details as possible, and right now we don't have that, but I can tell you, the program is going to resume momentarily, and we will have more details to share. But for now, please just be patient as we figure out just how much time it will be, but it shouldn't be that much.

At 9:26 p.m. ET, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and well just, plain, have to do it again. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

The Washington Hilton is the same hotel where former President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

This is a developing story, and some details might change as authorities release additional information.
Home News Trump strikes defiant tone after WHCA dinner shooting, calls Americans to resolve differences peacefully

President Donald Trump called on Americans to resolve their differences peacefully during a brief impromptu press briefing Saturday evening, shortly after the U.S. Secret Service escorted him back to the White House after a shooter brought an abrupt end to the White House Correspondents Association dinner at the nearby Washington Hilton hotel.

"That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law

enforcement," said Trump, who was still dressed in a tuxedo while flanked by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel.

"This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press, and in a certain way, it did," he said. "I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in a way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see."

After praising the quick response of the U.S. Secret Service in subduing the shooter, who has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, Trump went on to strike a defiant tone during his remarks, saying he "fought like hell to stay" at the dinner but had to defer to security protocol.

Trump described the shooter as a "thug that attacked our Constitution," and praised the Secret Service and law enforcement who "acted on our country's behalf, really did a great job." He said one officer was shot, but is "doing great" after being "saved by the fact that he was wearing an obviously a very good bulletproof vest."

Noting the Saturday shooting is the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent years, Trump went on to ask "that all Americans recommit with their hearts and resolve our differences peacefully."

"We have to. We have to resolve our differences," he said.

Calling the shooter "a sick person, very sick person," Trump framed the incident as an attack against an event that symbolized "free speech and our Constitution," and assured that the WCHA dinner would be rescheduled.

"We're not going to let anybody take over our society. We're not going to cancel things out, because we can't do that," he said, adding that the incident also showed the necessity of the ballroom he has been building on the former site of the East Wing.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche then took to the podium, saying, "Mr. president, tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country."

"You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward that the president just talked about, but you also saw the very best, because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they're supposed to do," he said, adding that charges would shortly be filed against the suspect and that justice would be served.

FBI Director Kash Patel likewise praised the swift response of law enforcement, whose "best result" he said was because they were inspired by Trump's example and support.

Trump then took questions from the press in the briefing room, most of whom were also still in their formal attire after coming from the dinner at the Hilton, where former President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

Trump took his first question from CBS News Senior White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents Association and was seated next to him when the Secret Service whisked him from the dais. She appeared to help him when he stumbled as he was being escorted out and then crawled to safety herself, according to footage.

When asked what was going through his mind when shots rang out, Trump said he first thought it was a tray dropping, but soon understood otherwise. He reiterated that he wanted to continue with the event, but was prohibited by the Secret Service.

"We very much wanted to continue it, because I don't like to let these sick people, these thugs, these horrible, horrible people, change the fabric of our life, change the course of what we do," he said.

When asked by Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy why he keeps being subjected to assassination attempts, Trump suggested assassins tend to target "the most impactful people, the people who do the most."

"I hate to say I'm honored by that, but we've taken this country, and we were a laughingstock for years, and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world," he said. "We've changed this country, and a lot of people are not happy about that."

Regarding whether he is concerned about political violence, Trump said he is concerned about violence of all kinds, but that danger comes with the presidency.

"I can't be so concerned that you can't function. I'm here. It's a dangerous profession," he said.
Home Opinion I was scared, and I took the abortion pill. What I did next saved my baby girl

This is over, I whispered between tears, I need you to forgive me, God.

I sat panicking in the Planned Parenthood parking lot, waiting until I calmed down to drive home. The entire drive there, Id prayed for a sign  or for someone to tell me  that I didnt need to use the abortion drug to end my childs life. It hadnt come, and I had gone through with the appointment.

After, filled with regret, I frantically texted my OBGYN asking if I could reverse the effects of the first pill in the abortion drug regimen, mifepristone. There was silence, and after a few moments, I received the news I dreaded most: there was nothing that could be done.

Then I saw it. Staked in the grass at the edge of the parking lot stood a sign, with bold lettering, which read: If you took the pill, its not too late.

I thought about that sign when I saw the news recently of proposed legislation to ban the use of mifepristone in abortion. An event introducing the bill featured multiple women who, like me, have taken mifepristone in a state of panic and soon regretted it. Nobody warned us of its dangers or that we had a window of time to reverse its effects if we changed our minds.

Women deserve clear information about risks and the possibility of Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) before taking mifepristone, so that a moment of panic doesnt become a lifelong regret.

In my own case, I was going through a stressful divorce and custody battle when I started seeing another man and became pregnant. Id always found abortion repugnant, but fear began to outweigh my convictions. What if this pregnancy could be used against me in the custody litigation? How could I take care of my other four kids if I had morning sickness? I had been a stay-at-home mom for years, and the concept of supporting five children on my own was terrifying. I was 9 weeks and 5 days pregnant when I drove to the abortion facility.

When I arrived, the staff didn't notice my visible distress and uncertainty, much less give me additional time to think. Instead, they gave me an incredibly simplistic and inaccurate overview of what I would endure: a heavy period that was safer than birth and the promise that I wouldnt see my baby when it passed. They gave me the pill and ushered me out of the clinic without any information for follow-up care.

Back in my car, the panic of my pregnancy then gave way to the panic of life without this precious child. It wasnt until I saw the sign advertising APR that I felt a glimmer of hope. Googling the phrase on the sign, if you took the pill, its not too late, an APR hotline popped up.

I immediately called the number and spoke with a doctor who answered my questions and assured me there was still a chance I could have my baby and that he or she would be healthy. Would you have your own daughter do this? I asked. Absolutely, he responded. That was good enough for me.

The doctor explained that the mifepristone pill essentially was starving my child of nutrients, but that progesterone could successfully override its effects. He prescribed me progesterone, connected me with a nurse that I could call at any time of day with questions, and connected me with a pregnancy clinic near my home that gave me an ultrasound and confirmed my baby still had a heartbeat. Everyone, including my OBGYN, was astounded at this news and began calling my child a miracle baby.

A few months later, I delivered a healthy girl.

A moment of panic almost made me end my daughters life. Information about my options ultimately saved her  and me. Today, my daughter is a happy and healthy 2-year-old. Despite my worst fears, my divorce settled smoothly, and I retained custody of all my children. I am also engaged to my daughters father, and planning a life for our family that I thought was impossible years ago when I sat in the Planned Parenthood parking lot.

Since then, Ive talked with other women about their troubling experience with the lack of information on their risks and options when taking abortion drugs and their serious regrets in the aftermath of seeking to end their pregnancies. I tell them that I understand why fear is prompting them to do something they might not normally consider, and that there are so many people who want to help them. In numerous cases, they share that clinic staff downplayed the serious adverse effects of mifepristone  which new reports show is 22 times higher than previously reported  and blatantly lied about mifepristone being safer than birth.

Every woman deserves to know exactly what mifepristone entails, and to learn about APR in case she changes her mind. Any patient who makes a decision based on fear, ignorance, or pressure is not truly making a choice.

I am grateful to use my experience to help women in their time of need, and today I can tell women truthfully: Its not over, and its not too late.
Home Opinion Is the IDF anti-Christian? Examining the evidence after the Lebanon statue incident

In recent days, a disturbing video and photos have circulated widely on social media showing two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in southern Lebanon destroying a statue of Christ on the cross.



The soldiers reportedly tore the statue down and smashed it with a hammer while another filmed the act. The incident occurred in the Christian village of Debel during routine operations against Hezbollah terrorists. As a Christian who has followed the Israel-Hezbollah conflict online, I found the images as shocking and indefensible as anyone else.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) itself confirmed the event in an official statement released shortly after the reports surfaced.

No, it wasnt fake. No, it wasn't AI-generated. It was real.

According to the IDFs findings, the soldier who damaged the Christian religious symbol and the one who photographed it acted in clear violation of orders. Six other soldiers present failed to intervene or report the misconduct. The militarys response was swift: both primary offenders were removed from combat duty and, as of now, sentenced to 30 days of military detention. The remaining soldiers were summoned for disciplinary review. The IDF has also taken steps to assist the local Christian community in replacing the statue and has reinforced training on respecting religious institutions and symbols for all troops in the area. The Chief of the General Staff publicly condemned the act as unacceptable conduct and a moral failure that contradicts IDF values.

This official accountability is significant. It demonstrates that the Israeli military does not tolerate or excuse desecration of sacred Christian sites, despite what Tucker Carlson and other woke right media pundits may have you believe, even in the fog of war against a terrorist group that embeds itself among civilians. The IDFs operations in Lebanon target Hezbollah, not Lebanese Christians or their places of worship. Yet the incident has provoked two equally unhelpful and extreme reactions that obscure this reality.

Lets examine them closely:

On one side are those exhibiting blind loyalty. They insist the footage must be fake, AI-generated, or somehow staged by Israels enemies. Any suggestion that an IDF soldier could act wrongly is dismissed out of hand as impossible. This reflexive denial does no favors to Israel or the cause of truth. Every military in history has included individuals capable of moral failure and sin, including our own. Pretending otherwise erodes credibility and prevents genuine accountability. Some people hate Christians, even some people within the IDF. This is an unfortunate truth that is not best dealt with by brushing it under the rug for often political reasons.

On the opposite (and Id argue much larger  at least louder  online currently) extreme are voices from both the woke right and the progressive Left (ironic, per usual) who treat the desecration as hard proof that the entire IDF, the state of Israel, and Jews worldwide are inherently hostile to Christians or engaged in some broader yet secretive campaign of cultural erasure lead by some sort of Jewish Central Command. This camp seizes on the video not to lament an isolated wrong but to fuel generalized skepticism and, in many cases, outright hatred toward Jewish people at large. The leap from two soldiers behaved disgracefully to this represents the entire Jewish ethnic group is as illogical as it is dangerous, yet this is exactly the conclusion drawn by many (some out of naivety, some maliciously). It echoes classic antisemitic tropes that hold an entire people collectively responsible for the sins of a few  queue the Third Reich.

We saw another example of this recently. A post gone viral on April 21, 2026  over 6.2 million views on X alone at the time of me typing this sentence, and 200k likes  claimed, and I quote, Israel shot a little girl in front of her brother while she was collecting water. Notice how its worded: Israel did it. Not an individual acting in his own, disobedient, rogue will, but Israel. It assumes the whole nation  the whole people group  must be responsible for this, rather than the individual who allegedly committed this atrocity. This is collective guilt, agitating propaganda at its finest  the kind that would make the Soviet Union proud.

Now, I said allegedly for a reason. This crime never happened by way of Israel, a Jew, or even an IDF soldier at all. It was committed by the Houthis Islamic terrorists in Yemen  in the year 2020, not now. But, nonetheless, this post has been reshared and reposted across the internet, as if it happened right now by the Jews, in order to continue this online trend of conspiratorial hatred against the Jewish people worldwide.

Heres the thing: both reactions fail basic tests of intellectual honesty and moral clarity. Yes, the statue incident happened. Yes, it was wrong  full stop. And yes, individual soldiers can and do commit evil acts; that is a tragic reality of human institutions everywhere, from militaries to governments to churches. But no, this single event does not define the IDF, which has repeatedly demonstrated respect for Christian sites in Lebanon and elsewhere. It does not indict the nation of Israel, whose foundational values include religious freedom for all citizens and visitors (Christians, Jews, and even Muslims are free to worship in the Holy Land). And it certainly does not indict Jewish people as a whole, the vast majority of whom had nothing to do with the act and would condemn it.

Context matters. The IDF is fighting a defensive war against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that has fired thousands of rockets into Israel, displaced entire communities, and used southern Lebanon as a launchpad for attacks. In that high-stakes environment, the overwhelming majority of IDF personnel conduct themselves professionally while navigating complex rules of engagement designed to minimize civilian harm. If they wanted to mass-murder civilians and Christians en masse, they surely have the firepower to do so. They simply arent. The militarys rapid investigation, public apology, disciplinary measures, and commitment to restitution reflect institutional integrity, not systemic hatred against Christians in war-torn countries. Agree with the war or not, this is objectively true.

As Christians, we are called to love truth, pursue justice, and reject both mindless tribalism and scapegoating. The desecration of a crucifix is an outrage worthy of condemnation but weaponizing it to smear millions of Jews  or, conversely, pretending it never occurred  serves neither justice nor the Gospel. The proper response is measured: acknowledge the sin, support appropriate punishment, and refuse to let extremists on either side distort the broader picture. Allowing an incident like this to cause a response in us of downplaying evil or stooping further into it is unbecoming of a follower of Jesus.

The IDFs handling of this case offers a model worth emulating. It owned the failure without excusing it or allowing it to define the force. In doing so, it reinforced its stated commitment to fighting terror while upholding ethical standards. For observers of faith, this moment is an opportunity to model the same discernment: grieve the wrong, reject collective guilt, and pray for wisdom and restraint on all sides as the conflict continues.

In the end, wars expose the worst and best of humanity. This incident revealed a momentary moral lapse by a handful of soldiers. The IDFs response revealed something better  an institution willing to correct course. Let us respond with the same honesty rather than the comforting extremes of denial or demonization. Truth, not narrative, should guide our judgment.
Home Opinion Pope Leo XIV on war, Iran, and the power of prayer. Where I agree and disagree.

Pope Leo XIV said something last month that needs to be heard, examined, and answered honestly. Not politically, but biblically.

The first American pope in history stood before tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square and declared that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war. He called for an end to the conflict in Iran. He warned against the weaponization of God's name to justify military campaigns. He cried out for peace.

On several of those points, he is right. Completely and without qualification.

Let me start there.

When political leaders reach for Scripture to sanctify bombs, they are not honoring God. They are using Him. And the Church has a shared obligation to say so, loudly and without apology.

Psalm 89:14 says it plainly: righteousness and justice are the foundation of Gods throne, and love and faithfulness go before Him.

Not power. Not military superiority. Not victory. Righteousness and justice, love and faithfulness. That is the framework we should be bringing to this moment. On that framework, the Pope and I are in agreement.

Blessed are the peacemakers. Jesus said so in Matthew 5:9. Not blessed are the powerful. Not blessed are the victorious. The peacemakers. A world consumed by war, by escalating casualties, by suffering Christians across the Middle East who could not observe Holy Week in peace, desperately needs voices willing to speak that truth from the highest platforms available. Pope Leo has one of those platforms. He used it.

But I cannot leave the conversation there. Because the specific line that has traveled around the world, that God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, requires a careful, respectful, and necessary biblical examination.

With deep respect for the office and the man, that statement goes further than what Scripture allows.

The Bible is not a pacifist document. It is a document full of soldiers who prayed and were heard. David, a man of war, was called a man after God's own heart. He cried out to God before every battle and God answered. Joshua fell on his face before the Lord at Jericho and Heaven responded. Likewise, the Psalms are saturated with warriors seeking God in moments of conflict and danger. Psalm 91 promises that God will be a refuge and fortress to those who call upon Him. There is no asterisk. No exemption for soldiers defending their spouses, their children, and their community.

And today, in bases and battlefields across the world, young men and women bow their heads before a mission not to glorify war but to ask God to bring them home. To protect the person beside them. To give them courage in a moment of fear. Are we really to tell them that God has closed His ears because of the uniform they wear?

That is not the God of the Bible. That is not the God who told Joshua, I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. That is not the God who met soldiers throughout Scripture, not with rejection but with presence.

The rightful target of rebuke is the weaponization of faith by political leaders who are hostile to free and democratic nations. Of course, Im talking about Iran  a nation ruled by hostile, antisemitic leaders who have on several occasions framed a military campaign as a divine mandate. That deserves every prophetic word the Pope has spoken and more. But condemning the soldier who prays is not the same as condemning the leader who exploits faith. Those are two different people. They should not receive the same word.

Justice without mercy is brutality. Mercy without justice is sentimentality. As Christians, we are called to hold both. Psalm 89:14 does not give us the option to choose one and abandon the other.

Whats more, in Romans 13:1, we read, There is no authority except that which God has established. Were also told to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:5). That means God himself has ordained for rulers to lead nations  nations that are expected to defend and protect their people.

So here is what I believe this moment requires from the Church.

We must call for peace without abandoning those who serve. We must speak truth to political power without politicizing the Gospel. We must do all of it together because when the church speaks in a dozen contradictory voices, it will not move anyone toward reconciliation.

The right response to this moment is not condemnation from a distance. It is engagement up close. The pastoral conversation that does not make the front page but changes the heart of the person in the room.

That is what peacemakers do.
Mass resignations of doctors raise concerns in health sector





Staff Reporter :

Raipur :

Despite claims of substantial improvements in the health sector in Chhattisgarh by both the government and the health department, there has been a steady exodus of doctors from medical colleges, civil hospitals, community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) across all districts of State. Over the past four years, doctors ranging from MBBS graduates to super-specialists have left government service, resulting in a severe shortage that continues to affect public healthcare delivery. In such a situation, it has become increasingly difficult for the health department to ensure quality medical services for the states population.

According to data sourced from the Chhattisgarh Department of Health and Family Welfare, as many as 339 doctors resigned between January 2022 and December 2025 from positions such as medical officers and assistant professors in government-run health institutions. The figures reveal that 51 specialist doctors, holding qualifications such as MD, MS, and postgraduate diplomas in various clinical and non-clinical branches, have quit their posts. Most were serving as senior medical officers in civil hospitals, while some were posted in CHCs to deliver specialised care.

With poor salaries compared to public healthcare services in other states, lack of regularisation, and several other issues, I resigned from my position as a medical officer at a community health centre in Bilaspur district, said Dr Dev Chandrakar. In addition, 125 MBBS doctors went on unpaid leave to pursue postgraduate or diploma courses. However, many of them have not returned after completing their studies, instead submitting their resignations via email or formal letters. It is quite shocking that several of these doctors secured postgraduate seats under quotas reserved for government doctors, yet chose private practice over returning to public service, noted Dr A K Dani.

The situation in state-run medical colleges is equally concerning, with more than 75 teaching faculty members leaving their posts to join private medical institutions within the state and elsewhere. Dr Shashikant Swarankar, who is in charge of hospital administration and doctor appointments, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and said that the department is considering strong measures to address it. Meanwhile, a senior official in the health department pointed out that salaries and facilities in private healthcare institutions are four to six times higher than those offered in state services, prompting many doctors to leave within six months to a year of joining.
Sai wishes Haj pilgrims safe, successful journey





Staff Reporter :

RAIPUR :

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday distributed first aid kits to Haj pilgrims in a programme organised by the State Haj Committee at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium of Medical College, in Raipur. He wished the pilgrims a safe and pleasant journey. This is for first time, the Health Department has provided special training to the pilgrims along with medical kits for their journey. It has been an honour and great privilege to welcome Haj pilgrims continuously since my tenure as Member of Parliament from Raigarh.

A total of 815 pilgrims from the state will undertake the Haj pilgrimage this year. I request pilgrims to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country and the state, and wish all pilgrims a successful journey, said Sai. In his address, Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agrawal said that it is a matter of happiness that Haj pilgrims from

Chhattisgarh are getting this sacred opportunity. Appealing them to complete their journey successfully and pray for the well-being of state and the nation. Chhattisgarh State Haj Committees Chairman Mirza Ejaz Beg also addressed the gathering and shared key information related to the Haj pilgrimage. Chairman of State Commission for Minorities Amarjeet Chhabra, Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporations Chairman Lokesh Kawadia, Chairman of State Waqf Board Dr Salim Raj, and Chhattisgarh State Haj Committees CEO Dr Khushboo Usman, along with distinguished members of society and Haj pilgrims from across state, were present.
President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials were evacuated from an annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday after shots rang out soon after the start of the dinner.

At least five shots were heard at the event in the Washington Hilton hotel around 8:35 p.m. ET.

Trump, who was seated on stage at the front of the ballroom next to first lady Melania, was quickly surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents, while hundreds of attendees ducked under their tables for cover.

It appeared that no one was seriously injured. The gunman was taken into custody.

Here are some of the chaotic scenes that occurred in the aftermath of the shooting.
A man armed with multiple weapons charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night before being "taken down" by U.S. Secret Service agents, President Donald Trump said hours after he was evacuated from the event. One officer was shot, but he was "saved by the fact that he was wearing obviously a very good bulletproof vest," Trump told reporters during a press conference in the White House briefing room.

watch now

"I just spoke to the officer, and he's doing great," Trump said. The suspected shooter was identified later Saturday as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, a former senior law enforcement official briefed on the matter told MS NOW. The suspect is 31 years old, the Associated Press reported, citing two law enforcement officials.

Photo of the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account on April 25th, 2026. @realdonaldtrump | Truth Social

Trump was rushed off the stage of the Washington Hilton hotel ballroom seconds after the sounds of gunfire sent attendees diving under their tables. He said he "fought like hell" to stay at the dinner, where he was set to speak for the first time as president, but that law enforcement had asked him and other administration officials to leave the premises. Before the presser, Trump, via his Truth Social account, shared pictures apparently showing the alleged shooter after he was subdued, as well as security footage of the incident.

watch now

First lady Melania Trump and all other Cabinet members in his administration who were attending "are in perfect condition," the president wrote in a separate post after leaving the event. He added, "I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days." At the White House, Trump praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for their quick action. "This was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press," Trump said. "And in a certain way, it did, because the fact that they just unified, I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful."

U.S. President Donald Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026, in this screen capture from video. Bo Erickson | Reuters

A source who was attending the event, and was briefed by Secret Service after the shooting, told CNBC's Eamon Javers that a man with a shotgun had approached metal detectors and was shot by Secret Service agents. Law enforcement officials later told MS NOW the gunman was not shot before he was subdued and taken away in handcuffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2026 Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

Key details about the incident remain unclear. U.S. Attorney for Washington Jeanine Pirro said at a separate press conference later Saturday night that the suspect will be arraigned on Monday. At the same conference, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll said authorities believe, based on preliminary information, that the suspect was a guest at the hotel. "We have secured a room here at the hotel," Carroll said. He also said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. At least five shots were heard around 8:35 p.m. The shots rang out from the back of the ballroom as attendees were eating their first course, several minutes after White House Correspondents' Association President Weija Jiang delivered remarks. Trump, who was seated on a stage at the front of the ballroom next to the first lady, was quickly surrounded by U.S. Secret Service members, while many attendees ducked under their tables. Video of the event shows the president being ushered off the stage a few seconds later, as armed guards wearing tactical gear and large rifles appeared on the dais.

President Trump is evacuated off stage by Secret Service after multiply gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. on April 25th, 2026.
Photo of the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting incident posted on President Donald Trump's Truth Social account on April 25th, 2026. @realdonaldtrump | Truth Social

The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner was derailed Saturday night after an armed man, Cole Allen, allegedly rushed through a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement. The suspected gunman was apprehended at the scene and is expected to be arraigned on Monday. One law enforcement agent was shot but not seriously injured, and all Trump administration officials and lawmakers were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported among the attendees. After the incident, President Donald Trump  who was attending his first White House Correspondents' dinner as president  requested that the event be rescheduled. While the dinner was initially set to proceed, it was canceled because law enforcement deemed the venue an active crime scene.

Here's what we know about Allen:

He was allegedly targeting Trump administration

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" that the suspected shooter was likely targeting administration officials. "It does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration," Blanche said, noting that authorities are still "looking to try to understand a motive from our preliminary investigation." Blanche said it is unclear whether the shooter was targeting "particular members" of the administration, only that "we do understand that that was his goal and his target."

He traveled from Los Angeles

Blanche said Allen, of Torrance, California, traveled by train from "Los Angeles to Chicago, then Chicago to D.C." Allen was booked at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was being held, and Blanche said he checked in on Friday. Blanche said the suspect is not cooperating with authorities, and officials have obtained most of the information about him "from other means." "We've already started talking to folks who knew him, we've already started going through the evidence that we collected," he said.

FBI tactical agents clear a path as they prepare to depart the investigation scene near a house associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, California, early on April 26, 2026. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images

He was a teacher

Allen was a teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring, test prep and college admissions counseling provider, according to his LinkedIn profile. C2, in a statement to CNBC, said they "were shocked to hear the news of the horrifying incident that transpired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner." "We are cooperating fully with law enforcement to assist them in their investigation. Violence of any kind is never the answer," the company said. His LinkedIn profile shows he graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and from California State University, Dominguez Hills, with a master's degree in computer science.

Allen wrote a letter

Allen allegedly wrote a detailed letter about his plans, the contents of which were obtained by the New York Post. In the note published by the Post, Allen allegedly said he is "no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes." Allen refers to himself as the "friendly federal assassin" in the letter. The suspected shooter also noted that the security at the event and the Washington Hilton was lighter than he expected, a caveat that many elected officials and attendees have also noted. Oversight briefings are now expected on Capitol Hill in response to the shooting, which is the third attempt on Trump's life since 2024. A spokesperson for Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told MS NOW that the U.S. Secret Service is scheduling a bipartisan briefing on "security protocols and related law enforcement matters involving the White House Correspondents Dinner." Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told MS NOW the suspect's brother contacted the New London, Connecticut, police department about the letters, who then contacted the Secret Service. The Secret Service learned of the letters sometime between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET on Saturday.

He was not on law enforcement's radar

Blanche said Sunday that there's "not any indication yet" that Allen was on law enforcement's radar. "We're still investigating what we knew, if anything, about this individual," he said.

Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), left, and Todd Blanche, acting US attorney general, during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Daniel Heuer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with Pakistani Chief of General Staff Asim Munir (R) amid efforts to revive stalled peace talks between the U.S. and Iran to end their eight-week war, in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on April 25, 2026. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Iran's foreign minister briefly visited Islamabad again on Sunday as Pakistan's political and military leadership scrambled to reignite ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington, but U.S. President Donald Trump said they could talk by phone instead. Abbas Araghchi had left Pakistan's capital late the previous day, creating confusion around an expected second round of talks there, but he returned before continuing on to Moscow on Sunday, Iranian state media said. He had been in Oman, which previously mediated talks and is on the other side of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The White House last week said it would dispatch envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to follow up on historic face-to-face talks earlier this month. But shortly after Araghchi's departure Saturday, Trump said he had called off the mission because of a lack of progress with Iran. "If they want, we can talk but we're not sending people," Trump told Fox News on Sunday. He said earlier on social media: "All they have to do is call!!!" Indirect talks between the two sides were ongoing, two Pakistani officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Trump last week indefinitely extended the ceasefire that the U.S. and Iran agreed to on April 7, which has largely halted the fighting that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. But a permanent settlement remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

Strait of Hormuz at center of Iran's talks in Oman

A standoff remains at the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway, as Iran restricts movement through it and the U.S. enforces a blockade of Iranian ports. Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows in peacetime, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter. Oman's response wasn't immediately clear. The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insists on ending the U.S. blockade before a new round of talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries. Araghchi also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Even before Saturday's developments, Iran's foreign ministry said any talks would be indirect and Pakistani officials would act as go-betweens, reflecting Tehran's wariness after rounds of indirect talks last year and earlier this year ended with Iran being attacked by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump said Iran has offered a 'much better' proposal

The economic fallout is growing two months into the war as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the strategic strait. Both sides have continued to make military threats. Iran's joint military command on Saturday warned that "if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy" it will face a "strong response." Trump last week ordered the military to "shoot and kill" small boats that could be placing mines in the waterway. Trump told journalists on Saturday, before a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, that within 10 minutes of his canceling Witkoff and Kushner's trip to Islamabad, Iran sent a "much better" proposal. He did not elaborate but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran "will not have a nuclear weapon." The status of Iran's enriched uranium has long been at the center of tensions. Tehran has 440 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. Syed Mohammad Ali, an independent political analyst in Pakistan, said the delay in the talks must not be seen as a setback and that indirect talks were progressing. He said tensions between Washington and Tehran cannot be eased overnight and the negotiation process requires patience. "But the good thing is that the ceasefire is holding, and both sides have a desire to end the conflict in a way that does not backfire at home," Ali said.

A growing toll even as fragile ceasefires hold
Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026.

Oil prices were higher on Monday morning as plans for a second round of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran unraveled again.

International benchmark Brent oil futures with June delivery rose nearly 3% to close at $108.23 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with June delivery added about 2% to settle at $96.37.

"Oil is trading stronger this morning after attempts to get US-Iran peace talks back on track broke down, erasing hopes for a resumption of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz anytime soon," Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at Dutch bank ING, said in a research note.

"The lack of progress means the market is tightening every day, requiring oil prices to reprice at higher levels," he added.

Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, raised its oil price forecast on Sunday. Exports through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf production will take longer than expected to normalize, Goldman analysts said in a note.

Goldman now expects Brent prices to average $90 per barrel in the fourth quarter, compared to $80 under the bank's previous forecast. It expects West Texas Intermediate to average $83 per barrel, compared to $75 prior.

Citi analysts said Brent prices could reach $150 per barrel if oil flows remain disrupted through the end of June.

Though uncertainty looms large, Iran has offered a new proposal to the U.S. for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war while suggesting that nuclear talks be deferred, Axios reported Monday, citing a U.S. official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.

President Donald Trump on Saturday canceled plans to send U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations with Iran.

"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership,'" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," the president said. "Also, we have all the cards; they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!"

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Islamabad over the weekend but met only with Pakistani officials before leaving.

"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S.," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a social media post late Friday.

 CNBC's Sarah Whitten, Azhar Sukri and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., talks with reporters outside the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, nominee to chairman of the Federal Reserve, in Dirksen building on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Sen. Thom Tillis said Sunday he is willing to end his blockade of Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh after the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Warsh now has a clear path to replacing Powell as the next leader of the Fed when Powell's term expires in mid-May. The Senate Banking Committee is set to vote on his confirmation on Wednesday, and the full Senate could take it up shortly after.

With Tillis's support, the confirmation of President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Fed is all but assured.

"I am prepared to move on with the confirmation of Mr. Warsh, I think he's going to be a great Fed chair," Tillis, R-N.C., said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "We were very clear that we have assurances from the DOJ that I needed to make sure they were not using the DOJ as a weapon to threaten the independence of the Fed. So this will allow Mr. Warsh to move on with his confirmation on time."

Tillis had vowed to withhold his vote for Warsh, whom he supports, before the Senate Banking Committee until the DOJ dropped its investigation of Powell. The Justice Department was investigating Powell over alleged cost overruns related to renovations at the Federal Reserve building.

The Fed declined to comment Sunday. Warsh didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tillis' vote is critical to Warsh's confirmation, as the Banking Committee is made up of 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats. One Republican defection would have deadlocked the panel and blocked Warsh from advancing.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia, announced Friday that her office was turning the investigation over to the Fed inspector general's office.

Tillis said he had spoken to DOJ officials after Pirro's announcement and had received assurances that "the only way an investigation would be open would be a criminal referral" from the IG.

"They have made it very clear that the current investigation is completely and fully ended," he said.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also appeared on "Meet the Press." He was asked if the DOJ would consider reopening the investigation after Warsh was confirmed. Blanche said the investigation was in the hands of the inspector general.

"If he uncovers evidence of criminal conduct, there is no doubt that we will investigate," he said.

Pirro's office still plans to continue an appeal of a recent federal judge's decision quashing subpoenas issued to the Fed, Tillis said. Pirro has said the judge's decision interferes with her ability to lead grand-jury investigations in general.

Tillis said he had received assurances on that issue as well. "Any appeal of Judge Boasberg's ruling will be with respect to legal principles and not for the purpose of reissuing subpoenas," Tillis said in a social-media post Sunday.

Former federal prosecutors have said Pirro's chances of success in an appeal are slim. She has until May 4 to file it.

Pirro's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Warsh is likely to move quickly to implement significant change at the Fed. He said in his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that he wants "regime change." He noted that he would change the way the central bank measures inflation and how it communicates, among other issues.

Warsh is expected to push quickly for rate cuts, though he would need to convince his fellow members of the Fed's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee to join him. With energy prices rising sharply due to the war in Iran, many Fed members are likely to be skeptical.

Tillis' decision also has implications for Powell. He can remain a voting member of the Fed's board until January 2028, even after he steps down as chair. Powell said recently he plans to do so while the threat of prosecution hangs over him.

Powell will likely face questions about his plans at the Fed's next press conference, scheduled for Wednesday.
Investors continue to grapple with stock market volatility due to tensions in the Middle East. Those looking for a stable stream of passive income amid ongoing uncertainty can add stocks of some well-established dividend-paying companies to their portfolios.

In this regard, insights from top Wall Street analysts can help investors pick attractive dividend stocks, as the ratings of these experts are backed by in-depth analysis of a company's financials and growth prospects.

Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street's top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.

ConocoPhillips

This week's first dividend-paying stock is oil and gas exploration and production company ConocoPhillips (COP). The energy company is scheduled to announce its first-quarter results on Thursday. COP paid a dividend of 84 cents per share for Q1 2026 and offers a dividend yield of 2.64%.

In a preview note on Q1 earnings, Jefferies analyst Lloyd Byrne reiterated a buy rating on ConocoPhillips stock and raised his price target to $160 from $129. He expects the company to beat first-quarter expectations on higher oil volumes.

Furthermore, the 5-star analyst highlighted that his Q1 2026 earnings per share estimate of $1.89 is higher than the Street's consensus of $1.70 (which he expects to be revised to $1.80). Byrne noted that while higher realized pricing is the biggest driver of sequential improvement in Q1 2026, one headwind that could persist through the year is natural gas realization in the Lower 48, with about a 6-cent discount compared with standard prices.

Byrne believes that COP is well-positioned to benefit from volatility triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict, given that about 57% (the highest in his coverage) of the company's production is exposed to crude and TTF (Title Transfer Facility index is the primary benchmark for wholesale natural gas prices in Europe).

"Using ~$90 Brent and $16 TTF in '26 we find COP has a compelling FCF [free cash flow] uplift compared to '25," said Byrne. Notably, the analyst expects ConocoPhillips to make $8.5 billion worth of repurchases while adding $3 billion to the balance sheet at $90 Brent in 2026. He emphasized that the estimated $8 billion in incremental free cash flow is the highest among peers.

Byrne ranks No. 225 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 61% of the time, delivering an average return of 20.9%. See ConocoPhillips Stock Buybacks on TipRanks.

Viper Energy

Viper Energy (VNOM) is a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy (FANG) and owns and acquires mineral and royalty interests, primarily in the Permian Basin. In February 2026, the company announced a 15% increase to its annual base dividend to $1.52 per share. Considering the base and variable dividends declared over the past year, VNOM offers a dividend yield of 4.6%.

In an earnings preview report, Roth Capital analyst Leo Mariani reaffirmed a buy rating on Viper Energy stock and raised his price target by 4% to $50 to reflect higher cash flows resulting from increased commodity prices. His bullish stance is backed by VNOM's "highest organic growth rate vs. peers, a solid and growing dividend, strong free cash flow even at lower oil prices, and a multi-year line of sight on its operations not had by its peers."

The 5-star analyst expects Viper to deliver strong first-quarter results, with oil production expected to surpass consensus by 0.8% and come in near the high end of the company's 62,500 to 64,500 Bopd (barrels of oil per day) guidance. Mariani also expects the company's total production in Q1 2026 to exceed the Street's consensus estimate by 0.4%.

Additionally, Mariani anticipates that Viper's first-quarter results will reflect solid oil price realizations. However, he expects weaker prices for gas and NGL (natural gas liquids), given that Diamondback Energy has already reported lower pricing. Nevertheless, he expects Viper to continue to fare better than Diamondback on gas and NGL.

Regarding shareholder returns, Mariani estimates cash distributions of 60 cents per share in Q1 2026 and stock buybacks of $90 million. Interestingly, the analyst expects Viper's capital return plan to rely a bit less on share buybacks this year and variable dividends to gain priority, given the strength in oil prices.

Mariani ranks No. 23 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 72% of the time, delivering an average return of 35.4%. See Viper Energy Ownership Structure on TipRanks.

Kinetik Holdings

Finally, let's look at Kinetik Holdings (KNTK), a midstream operator in the Delaware Basin. The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of 81 cents per share, payable on May 1. Based on an annualized dividend of $3.24 per share, Kinetik offers a dividend yield of 6.74%.

Ahead of first-quarter results on May 6, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a buy rating on Kinetik stock and slightly raised the price target to $50 from $49 to reflect higher commodity price expectations.

The 5-star analyst expects lower volumes due to weak Waha prices to continue weighing on Kinetik's performance until incremental pipeline capacity becomes available in the second half of 2026. Nevertheless, Scotto expects this headwind to be offset by higher commodity prices and marketing gains from pricing spreads.

Meanwhile, Scotto raised her estimates based on insights from her quarterly catch-up call and RBC's new commodity price deck. The analyst now expects Kinetik to deliver adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of $236 million, $1.014 billion, and $1.194 billion in Q1 2026, 2026, and 2027, respectively, up from the previous forecast of $234 million, $1.011 billion, and $1.184 billion.

Overall, Scotto remains bullish on Kinetik, given its Permian Basin focus, high-quality assets, and pipeline connectivity. The analyst believes that "KNTK pays an attractive dividend that could grow over time as leverage and coverage improves."

Scotto ranks No. 162 among more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Her ratings have been successful 70% of the time, delivering an average return of 16%. See Kinetik Holdings Options Activity on TipRanks.
Youth murdered in violent assault





Staff Reporter :

A 26-year-old youth was murdered in a violent assault in Nichi Nunsar village under the jurisdiction of Patan police station limits on Friday night. Police registered a case and started a rigorous search operation to arrest the accused. The deceased has been identified as Manish Chadhar, resident of Nichi Nunsar village.

According to Patan police, Prahlad Chadhar (61), a resident of village Nichi Nunsar, lodged a complaint that he has three sons. On Friday, his nephew Manoj informed him that villagers Vivek Patel, Abhishek Patel and Paras alias Kanha Patel were assaulting his son Manish near a banyan tree in front of Swamidatt Pyasis shop. Upon reaching the spot, Prahlad found the three accused beating his son with fists, sticks and the wooden handle of an axe, while also hurling caste-based abuses. When he tried to intervene, the accused threatened to kill Manish. Vivek and Abhishek held Manish, while Kanha strangled him by tightening a cloth around his neck. Manish fell unconscious after the assault and accused managed to escape from the spot.

The family brought him home and laid him in the courtyard but in the evening he was found dead. Acting on the complaint, Patan police have registered a case under Sections 296(B), 109, 351(2) and 3(5) of BNS and started investigation into the case. It may be mentioned that Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur, Sampat Upadhyay (IPS), has taken the incident seriously and directed immediate arrest of the accused. Acting on his instructions, Additional SP (Rural) Suryakant Sharma and SDOP Patan Lokesh Dabar have guided the formation of a special police team. The team led by SHO, Gopendra Singh Rajput has been deployed to trace and arrest the accused.
US President Donald Trump takes questions during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026.

President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his calls for construction to continue on the planned White House ballroom.

Trump and members of his Cabinet were evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night after multiple gunshots were heard by attendees. The shooter was "taken down" by U.S. Secret Service agents, Trump said after the event.

"What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House. It cannot be built fast enough!"

Trump was invited as an honoree to the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which is a privately held function. If a ballroom were constructed on the grounds of the White House, Trump or any future president would likely face political blowback for using taxpayer dollars to host and provide security for private events, such as the D.C. press dinner, there.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States is suing the Trump administration to block construction of the planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the White House's former East Wing, which was demolished to make room for the project.

On Sunday, the Department of Justice sent a letter to the lawyer representing the organization, demanding it drop its legal challenge and specifically citing Saturday night's shooting at the press dinner.

"Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night's assassination attempt on President Trump," says the letter signed by General Brett Shumate for the DOJ's civil division. "If your client doesn't dismiss the lawsuit by 9:00 AM on Monday, the government will move to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case in light of last night's extraordinary events."

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., said Sunday in a post on X that he plans to introduce and seek unanimous consent this week for legislation granting approval for the ballroom's construction.

"A President of any party should be able to host events in a secure area without attendees worrying about their safety," Sheehy wrote.

For now, courts have allowed construction on the ballroom to continue.

On April 16, a federal judge issued a revised order that largely blocked the administration from continuing above-ground construction. Underground construction, including work related to national security facilities, was allowed to continue, as well as above-ground work that is "strictly necessary to cover, secure, and protect such national security facilities," according to the order.

The next day, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit put a temporary hold on the order and scheduled a hearing for June 5 to review the case.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation argues that Trump overstepped his authority by proceeding with the project without congressional approval.

In his Sunday post, the president said that the suit must be dropped and reiterated his stance that construction of the ballroom is a matter of national security.

"Nothing should be allowed to interfere with with [sic] its construction, which is on budget and substantially ahead of schedule!!!" Trump wrote.
Getty Images photographer Andrew Harnik takes photos as agent points his weapon after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC.

World leaders reacted on Sunday with shock and support for U.S. President Donald Trump after a man armed with multiple weapons charged a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday before being apprehended by U.S. Secret Service agents.

Trump, first lady Melania, and members of Trump's Cabinet were evacuated from the event. One officer was shot, but he was "saved by the fact that he was wearing obviously a very good bulletproof vest," Trump told reporters during a press conference in the White House briefing room following the incident.

The suspected shooter was identified later Saturday as Cole Allen of Torrance, California. He is being held by authorities as they investigate the shooting.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "shocked" by the scenes at the dinner.

"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," said in a post on X.

Starmer has faced repeated criticism by Trump for not being more supportive of the U.S. and Israeli-led war against Iran.

King Charles III of the U.K. is "being kept fully informed of developments" in the U.S., according to media reports citing a statement from Buckingham Palace. The monarch is due to visit Trump in the U.S. on Monday.

"A number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with U.S. colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit," the BBC quoted the palace as saying.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks at the start of a government meeting, said: "There is no place for violence, not against political leaders and not against anyone. This includes not only the United States; it includes, first and foremost, the State of Israel, from within."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, whose country has been under attack as Israeli forces pursue Iran-backed Hezbollah forces, added to the condemnation of the shooting.
by Eric Feigenbaum

When I lived in Singapore during the mid-aughts, it seemed like the only thing you needed to do Hot Yoga was to turn off the air conditioning or go outside.

In recent years, I have made hot yoga a part of my daily routine and am used to doing a variation of the Bikram set sequence at roughly 104 degrees and 50 percent humidity. On my last visit to Singapore, I decided to see if I could continue staying true to form.

There are a surprising number of yoga and hot yoga studios in Singapore today, so I sampled a few. The one whose format and facilities most resembled what Im sued to at home was Hom Yoga in the Orchard Center Mall.

A very friendly American-Singaporean couple owns and runs it. Hom Yoga had all the elements one would expect of a nice corporate yoga studio  spacious, light, well appointed locker rooms with showers and hair dryers, towels, fancy water  the whole nine yards. They went the extra mile  providing mats and have them all laid out like parking spaces, which felt very Singaporean.

Hom Yoga provided exactly what I sought  the classic Bikram 26 and 2 sequence pervasive in American Hot Yoga.

Of course, the command, Change! between asanas was a bit jarring. No gentle, rock forward into plank or lets all meet in downward-facing dog. While it felt shocking un-yogic, maybe you get used to it with time.

One very noticeable difference was the vibe. Maybe Im just spoiled, but the studios I have attended in the US are very community oriented. People know each other. There are hugs and catching up between classes or while waiting for one to start. One teacher calls the ten minutes leading up to his class, The Muppet Show because of the quiet din of everyone chatting.

No one at Hom Yoga was talking. Maybe they were waiting for the change!

When I first came to Singapore on my first visits in late 2003-early 2004, I would be shocked if there were even half as many yoga studios as there are today. In 2005, when my friend Alex came to join me to recruit nurses for US hospitals, he was taken aback by how disconnected Singapore was from clean living, healthy food, self-care  all the things Alex experienced in abundance in the Bay Area for several years prior.

Alex noticed Singapore lacked its own art. He felt the amazingly strong and tight systems design that led to a successful Singapore in just one generation and was catapulting itself to higher heights in the next  didnt leave its citizens the pathos that comes from suffering that when combined with creativity, often leads to great art.

While I never liked that assertion, the proof seemed to be in the pudding  Singapore had one modest art museum and a handful of small galleries. If there was any thriving art in Singapore, it was architecture  not the fine arts.

Once you plant a seed, you cant really know what will happen. The tree or plant could develop in any number or ways with variances in shape or even a mutation producing a new crop or color. Of course, a terrible frost, blight or man with an axe or scythe can come along too.

One of the most common conversations I used to have with both Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans about the small nations future is what would happen in another generation? What would happen once Lee Kuan Yew  the force of nature who throughout his life claimed titles such as founding Prime Minister, Senior Minister, Minister Mentor, and for all intents and purposes Mastermind and Father of Singapore  died? Would the incredible system prove unsustainable and break down when the maker was gone the way it did when Portugals Salazar died? Would young Singaporeans want something different? Would a generation that knew only prosperity and never the fear and suffering of their grandparents continue on the path LKY meant for them?

It has been almost 12 years since the Minister Mentor passed and Singapore has not changed much. But maybe change wont come radical bursts, but evolutions of organic growth? Maybe the tree will take on some of its own direction and shape?

After my enjoyable hot yoga class, I walked along Orchard Rd toward Bras Basah  one of my favorite areas. As I rounded a very familiar curve in the road, there in front of me was a massive building I didnt recognize at all  interesting, artistic and covered with live plants. School Of The Arts Singapore. My heart smiled. Apparently, the pathos was just waiting for expression. The time had finally come. The tree was growing toward the light.

A major barrier to clean eating in Singapore is the produce itself. Early in Singapores nationhood, LKY and his group of leaders made the difficult decision to end all agriculture in Singapore because there wasnt enough land and resource to ever make the country self-sufficient. Instead, they reasoned, it was better to develop better housing and industry with Singapores precious and limited land  using its comparative strengths to its advantage. Food can be bought from other countries  and so it has been ever since. The supermarket produce section offers a selection of onions from Australia, the USA, China and Malaysia. Pricing corresponds to cost of import and freshness (generally Malaysian agriculture is the freshest). Produce is sprayed and treated to have longer shelf life because it has already come such a long way before reaching the supermarket display.

Alex made the point about how dull the produce was in Singapore. I used to spend a lot of time in Bali in those days and his comment opened my eyes. Balinese product is incredibly vibrant and flavorful  fresh off the farm and the trees. When returning to Singapore, the contrast was glaring. All the tastes and smells were muted.

Today, Singapore is a pioneer in low-resource hydroponic farming and is beginning to once again produce its own food. The times have changed and it turns out that Singaporeans are happy to have the freshest, healthiest produce if they can get it. Through their investments in science and research, Singapore may well be agriculturally independent again and even organic.

Many critics of the paternalistic flavor of Singaporean governance believed that younger generations would rise and change Singapore radically after LKY was gone. It could still happen. But I dont think it will.

My Singaporean ex-girlfriend was smart, educated and spent significant time in Australia and the United States. When it was election time, I asked her who she would vote for  assuming she would support an opposition party because she would want change.

The answer is obvious, she told me, I would only vote for the PAP (the party that has always held the majority in Singapore). You cant trust someone else can successfully govern Singapore  the whole thing could unravel!

And there it was. Even a younger generation thought of LKY like Roger Moore  Nobody Does It Better. And sometimes they probably wish someone would.

Maybe the Singaporean way isnt to revolt or want drastic change. Maybe theres too much to lose that way. Trees seem unmoving and very stable. However, if you took a photo of a tree every week for 50 years and made a flip book of the photos, you would discover trees move a lot. I believe the Singaporean tree is moving and changing. You see it in the architecture, art walks, yoga studios, increasing farm-to-table restaurants and through charity work, civic planning, education, and exposure through travel.

Perhaps it is as Lee Kuan Yew predicted in 2004, Friends tell me many young Singaporeans believe Singapores best years are behind usThey are pessimists and wrong. Singapore is like an aircraft flying at 30,000 ft. We have another 6,000 ft to rise to 36,000 ft, the height top US and EU airlines are flying. Furthermore, we have not reached First World standards in the finer things in life, music, culture and the arts, the graces of a civilized society. The generation now in their 30s to 50s can take Singapore there in the next 15 to 20 years. The best is yet to be.

***

Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.
The assisted dying Bill, which on Friday finally ran out of time in the Lords, has been almost as divisive as Brexit. Two of my dearest friends have fallen out over it, and there have been strong words on both sides.

The cross-bench peer and former Paralympian, Baroness (Tanni) Grey-Thompson, has been targeted with highly abusive emails accusing her of letting people die in pain. The MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Bill, has also been the object of abuse, which must be very frightening for her given that her sister was the murdered MP Jo Cox.

At every level the whole thing has been fraught with emotion, whether via the testimony of high-profile celebrity campaigners such as Esther Rantzen or the quietly moving and very dignified Baroness Prentis, who spoke about her own experience of cancer and the siren call of death at moments of deep despair.

But I, for one, am relieved that the Lords has pressed pause on this whole debate.

Dont get me wrong: I am not against assisted dying as a notion per se. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Im strongly in favour, in principle. Like many people, I have known friends and relatives who have suffered appallingly in the final stages of their lives and have often wished there could be some mechanism in place to help end their suffering in a dignified and painless manner.

But there is a big difference between principle and practicality, and thats why this Bill ultimately didnt stand up. For it to work, it needed to balance the heartfelt desire to help those in the final stages of life with the cold, hard practicalities of how to safeguard the vulnerable. And it just didnt.

As Baroness Grey-Thompson put it, there were too many gaps and too few ways of protecting people from coercion (which by its very nature is hard to spot), especially in the case of the disabled or cognitively impaired. There were also concerns about the definition of terminal illness, and whether conditions like diabetes might be interpreted as such.

Theres a reason more than 1,000 amendments were tabled: the Bill had more holes in it than Swiss cheese. As well-intentioned as it was, it just wasnt fit for purpose.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and campaigner Sophie Blake join supporters of the Assisted Dying Bill from the group Dignity in Dying in Parliament Square urging the House of Lords to pass the bill

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has been targeted with highly abusive emails accusing her of letting people die in pain

It wasnt only the Lords who identified this: every reputable body, from the Royal College Of Physicians to campaigners against domestic abuse, the British Association Of Social Workers, Mind, the Royal College Of Psychiatrists and many others, including Professor Sir Louis Appleby, the Governments suicide prevention adviser, had serious reservations about it (the latter argued that the Bill would effectively concede the principle that suicide can be seen as rational).

So however disappointed or frustrated its supporters may feel, they have only themselves to blame for doing a poor job in the first place.

And it is wrong for them to frame opposition to it in the Lords as driven by spite or outmoded religious concerns, as some have done. It was stopped because it would have had serious unintended consequences.

As to the accusation that the Lords acted undemocratically, Im afraid that is just childish.

For a start, the Bill was never in the Labour manifesto, meaning that the public did not vote for it. In fact, arguably it was pretty undemocratic to introduce such an important piece of legislation via the back door in a private members bill. But mainly, did its supporters really think the Lords were just going to nod something as important as this through?

Of course not. It would have been a dereliction of duty. This is a highly complex moral issue that requires open and honest debate, not a quick fix with the potential for unintended consequences.

A stark reminder of this is the example of Noelia Castillo Ramos, who was euthanised by the Spanish state last month at her own request. As is the more recent case, widely reported over the past few days, of Wendy Duffy, the bereaved mother who ended her life in a Swiss clinic last week. Both these women had suffered great tragedy in their lives, but neither was terminally ill. They were not suffering in agony on their deathbeds, they were just very vulnerable individuals. With the right help, they might have recovered. Now they never will.

The House of Lords is often characterised as nothing more than a gilded nursing home for toffs and brown-nosers. And sometimes it can seem that way. But on this occasion it has shown it can have real purpose. Thanks to the dogged determination of certain individuals it has done its job, which is to block a poorly drafted piece of legislation that would have done more harm than good.

That is exactly why the second chamber exists, and exactly what it is for: to stop bad government passing bad law. Far from undermining democracy, the Lords has helped safeguard it.

Kates great in heels

Catherine, Princess of Wales at the Anzac Day memorial at the Cenotaph in Westminster, London

One is always slightly in awe of the Princess of Waless general composure. But her ability to carry out high profile public engagements in even higher stilettos is almost a superpower. The pair she wore to yesterdays Anzac Day memorial at the Cenotaph, pictured left, were unusually vertiginous, even by her standards. How on earth does she do it? I would fall flat on my face.

As one of the many renters in Britain now in possession of a Section 21 notice of eviction thanks to the Governments new Renters Rights Act (and they say irony is dead), which comes into effect on May 1, I see I am in good company. Tory housing spokesman James Cleverly finds himself in the same boat, having been given his marching orders in his Braintree constituency. I wonder if any of the Labour Cabinet are affected? Or do they, like Angela Rayner, have their own property portfolios to fall back on?

Another casualty of class war

Malvern Girls, aka Malvern St James, has become the latest school to succumb to Labours VAT raid on private schools. Now all those who work there will lose their jobs  and the pupils will have their educations upended. What have they done to deserve this? Nothing. Just casualties of Labours vicious class war.

Last week, Meta fired 8,000 staff  10 per cent of its workforce  to make way for AI. Even more worrying, the company is installing tracking technology on its remaining employees computers to capture mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes for use in training its artificial intelligence models. In other words, its using humans to train the machines that will eventually render them redundant. As dystopian visions go, this is about as sinister as it gets.

Oluwole Omofemis portrait of Prince William, right, is in a style known as hyper realism. Except he seems to have miraculously grown a full head of hair. Not since Holbein has a courtly painter deployed such shameless licence. Lets hope it pays off. Arise, Sir Oluwole?

A 'hyper realistic' portrait of Prince William by Oluwole Omofemi for the cover of Tatler magazine

If I had a pound for every commentator who has predicted the departure of Keir Starmer, I might be able to afford a sandwich at Gails. Meanwhile, the PM clings on. Sure, hes a disaster. But why get rid of him now? Someones got to take the flak for this Governments incompetence.

Rapists grin says it all

Egyptian asylum seeker Karin Al-Danasurt, one of three men who brutally gang-raped a woman on Brighton beach, left Hove Crown Court grinning from ear to ear despite being found guilty. To him, its all just one big joke  and you can see why: not only has the taxpayer been funding his accommodation since he arrived here in 2024 (not to mention his legal representation in this case), but the judge also heard the three men are in the process of appealing their asylum refusals and may not even face deportation. Surely such an act of barbarity should automatically halt any such claim?
She vanished while preparing for her sons third birthday party nearly 24 years ago but finally there has been an arrest in her case after a group of students began digging into it again.

Michelle Rust was last seen on the morning of July 20, 2002, when her husband told investigators she left their home in Arbutus, Maryland, around 9.30am to pick up items for their sons celebrations.

This week her husband Dwight 'DJ' Rust Jr, 48, was arrested and indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge in connection with her disappearance, according to Baltimore County Police.

A judge on Wednesday ordered that he be held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Dwight had been the one to report her missing later that day 24 years ago.

Her disappearance quickly raised suspicions. Detectives said there was never any activity in her bank accounts after she vanished, no ATM withdrawals, no checks written, and none of her credit cards were ever used or recovered.

She was also dependent on medication for diabetes, investigators said, and friends and family told police she would not have left her young son behind.

Her father-in-law later found her 1988 green Dodge Caravan abandoned in nearby Lansdowne, at Zion Road and Clyde Avenue, with a key broken off in the drivers door lock.

Michelle Rust was 24 when she vanished from her Maryland home in 2002

Michelle Rust is pictured with her husband Dwight Rust Jr and their young son. Dwight has now been charged with murder

Dwight Rust Jr, 48, has been charged with the murder of his wife who vanished in 2002

Police, along with Michelles family, searched for her in various neighborhoods, but she was never found.

We canceled the party. We knew she was missing, and everybody was just frantically looking for her, Michelles mother, Gwen Lins, told WMAR-2 News in 2023.

Detectives returned to the Rust family home in 2023 alongside forensic students from Towson University, using ground-penetrating radar to search for signs of disturbed soil at the property.

Dana Carter, with Baltimore County police, told WBAL-TV 11 News in 2023: We are out here today to do ground-penetrating radar just in an effort to try to obtain any information related to her disappearance.'

It remains unclear whether that search played a role in the recent arrest, as the indictment against Dwight is sealed and officials have not disclosed what new evidence led to the charge.

His defense attorney Jeremy Eldridge said they had not seen any new evidence linking him to his wifes disappearance.

Eldridge told WBALTV: 'Every member of his family has cooperated with law enforcement. There is no forensic evidence, no DNA, no latent fingerprints. There is no witness that has come forward to say that they saw a crime occur or had evidence that a crime occurred.

'The police simply cannot solve Michelle's disappearance and have chosen - although we have no new evidence in 21 years - to blame Dwight Rust Jr.'

The Arbutus, Maryland home where Michelle Rust was last seen before she vanished

Michelle Rusts 1988 green Dodge Caravan was later found abandoned with a broken key in the door

Investigators search the Rust family property in 2023 as part of renewed efforts to find evidence in Michelle Rusts disappearance

'There's no prior history of domestic violence. There are no allegations that he ever threatened her or caused any physical harm, or even verbally abused her.

'There's only evidence that he was going to leave the marriage. He didn't profit from her disappearance. There was no life insurance policy.'

Police said they do not believe Michelle had any contact with anyone after the day she disappeared.

Daily Mail has reached out to Baltimore County Police for further comment.
Beverly Bryan sat in a small hospital chapel in Florida, head bowed and hands clasped, praying her Navy veteran husband would pull through.

Moments earlier, a chilling announcement had echoed over the loudspeaker: a medical emergency in the operating room.

Her husband, Bill Bryan, 70, was undergoing what was supposed to be a routine procedure to remove his spleen at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach.

Despite a 99 percent chance of survival, Bill didn't make it.

Dr Thomas Shaknovsky entered the chapel and explained to Beverly that her husband had suffered a ruptured artery during an unexpected complication. His spleen, the surgeon told her, was diseased and four times its normal size.

But Beverly, a nurse with decades of experience, immediately sensed something was wrong. The swelling described by Dr Shaknovsky had not appeared on scans taken just days earlier and she could not understand how such a rupture had occurred.

Still, she was too overcome with grief to press him. The doctor sat beside her, prayed with her and assured her that her husband was in a better place.

He later followed up with a text: 'Praying for you and your family,' according to messages shared with the Daily Mail. When she did not respond, he tried again the next morning: 'I am just reaching out to check on you. Please call me when you're free.'

Now, Beverly believes Dr Shaknovsky's reasons for reaching out were not pure.

Prosecutors allege that Dr Thomas Shaknovsky removed the wrong organ from a patient who later died at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida, in 2024

Bill Bryan died on the operating table in August 2024 during what should have been a standard procedure to remove his spleen. Above, with his wife Beverly

Text messages sent to Beverly by Dr Shaknovsky were shared with the Daily Mail

'I don't think he was trying to be nice. I think he was just trying to get an idea of whether or not I had actually believed what he told us,' she told the Daily Mail. 'It was apparent to me that something wasn't right.'

In another message, Dr Shaknovsky reiterated that he was praying for the Bryans and added, 'We are all heartbroken. I just wanted to reach out to you and let you know I'm here if I can help in any way I know he's in the better place. He was a wonderful person and I know he's with the lord.'

The shocking truth of what happened in the operating room emerged just hours before Bill was due to be cremated.

He had not died from an aneurysm. Instead, investigators with the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners found that his liver had been mistakenly removed during the operation - a catastrophic error that caused fatal blood loss.

'I never dreamed my husband would not live through that surgery,' Beverly said. '[Dr Shaknovsky] is a menace to society.'

It soon emerged that Bill was not the only patient to have recently been harmed or died under the surgeon's care.

In an incident from May 2023, a year before Bill's death on August 21, 2024, Dr Shaknovsky was accused of removing part of a patient's pancreas during a routine surgery.

The patient, Michael Turner, was supposed to have his left adrenal gland removed - a small gland that sits above the kidney - but instead lost part of his pancreas, a completely different organ located deeper in the abdomen.

Dr Shaknovsky said at the time that the adrenal gland had 'migrated' to another part of the patient's body, according to court documents.

Turner accused Dr Shaknovsky of medical malpractice and claimed to have suffered permanent injury and mental anguish as a consequence. State records show that the medic paid $400,000 to settle Turner's claim.

Turner's filing alleges that, beyond his case, Dr Shaknovsky had been subject to multiple complaints regarding 'adverse surgical outcomes' after joining Ascension Sacred Heart in May 2020.

Dr Shaknovsky was arrested last week after being indicted by a grand jury on second-degree manslaughter charges. He has pleaded not guilty

Dr Shaknovsky on the night of Bill Bryan's fateful surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital

In July 2023, months after the bungled adrenal gland surgery, another patient, Dorothy Dorsett, died days after being operated on by Dr Shaknovsky.

Dr Shaknovsky was accused of removing part of Dorsett's intestine, triggering a massive fatal infection, according to a second lawsuit.

Shortly after the surgery, she was moved to the ICU and died, the filing states.

The claims made in the lawsuits were ratified by an investigation conducted by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, records show.

The lawsuit over Dorsett's death continues and Dr Shaknovsky has denied wrongdoing.

Joe Zarzaur, a lawyer representing Beverly, Turner and Dorsett's family in the civil claims against Dr Shaknovsky, called the medic's trail of surgical errors unconscionable.

'The first complication we know of happened in 2022, and we now have about 16 different people who have come forward to report bad results,' Zarzaur claimed.

'The day before Mr Bryan's surgery, he [Dr Shaknovsky] had another complication, where the patient had to be rushed to another facility.'

Zarzaur claimed Dr Shaknovsky was an incompetent surgeon who should never have been able to operate on Bill to begin with.

He likened the surgeon to Christopher Duntsch, a Dallas-based neurosurgeon known as Dr Death, who, between 2011 and 2013, operated on 38 patients, leading to two deaths and the maiming and paralyzing of 33 others.

'Let me put it in the words of the expert surgeons that I've hired in this case, to consult with me,' said Zarzaur.

'They said either this man is a Dr Death character, or he's got a substance abuse problem, or some kind of brain injury or condition that is causing him to not understand what he's doing, because the mistakes he's making are not mistakes.'

Bill was a US Navy veteran and a retired boilermaker from Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Another of Dr Shaknovsky's patients, Dorothy Dorsett, died in August 2023 after surgery. Her family has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against him

Pointing to the Medical Examiner's report, Zarzaur said the liver's size and the complexity of detaching it from multiple vital connections make it nearly impossible for any competent surgeon to mistake it for another organ.

'When you look at the records... it makes me feel as if it's more towards the Dr Death kind of scenario,' alleged Zarzaur.

After an 18-month investigation, Dr Shaknovsky was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Bill. He was taken into custody in Miramar Beach on April 13.

Dr Shaknovsky could not be reached for comment. He pleaded not guilty last week and has since been released on a $75,000 bond.

The disgraced surgeon lives at a sprawling five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion valued at $4.2 million in Destin, Florida.

For Bill's widow, the news of Dr Shaknovsky's arrest came as a great relief.

Beverly told the Daily Mail her family has been torn apart by Bill's death, and she is now hopeful that no others will have to suffer as hers has.

Even getting out of bed in the morning can be a challenge some days, she said.

Adding to the family's anguish was learning of how her husband's final moments of life were spent on the operating table.

She and Bill, from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, had been vacationing in Florida when Bill started complaining of sharp pains in his abdomen.

The surgeon lives at a sweeping five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion valued at $4.2 million in Destin, Florida

A subsequent scan revealed a suspected enlarged spleen and 'blood in the peritoneum with no active hemorrhage,' a court order filed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners revealed.

Per the filing and Beverly's recollection, Bill wanted to return home to undergo surgery, but Dr Shaknovsky spent two days 'pressuring' Bill to have the procedure in Florida.

He told Bill he needed to have his spleen removed urgently. He eventually agreed.

However, the procedure was not regularly performed at Ascension Sacred Heart, records from the state's Health Department show.

Colleagues present in the operating room also had 'concerns that [Dr Shaknovsky] did not have the skill level to safely perform this procedure,' per the Health Department.

Problems surfaced almost immediately.

The doctor began the procedure as a keyhole surgery - a minimally invasive technique using small incisions and a camera - but switched to open surgery when he could not clearly see Bill's organs, something the Health Department said may have been caused by a swollen colon blocking part of his view that he had not identified beforehand.

Staff members in the operating room reported that Bill's colon 'burst out of the abdominal cavity.' He soon began hemorrhaging and went into cardiac arrest.

Nurses and other staff members tried to revive him while Dr Shaknovsky continued to dissect Bill's organ, 'even though the abdomen was full of blood,' the department said.

It is also claimed that Dr Shaknovsky did not ask for a clamp or cauterizer - a medical tool to stop bleeding. He eventually removed Bill's liver, believing it was his spleen.

'The staff looked at the readily identifiable liver on the table and were shocked when Dr Shaknovsky told them that it was a spleen,' the state documents said. 'One staff member felt sick to their stomach.'

Dr Shaknovsky has been released on a $75,000 bond and will reappear in court next month

In its report, the Health Department noted that, in addition to being on opposing sides of the abdomen, 'spleens and livers are anatomically distinct, have different consistencies, and are different colors.'

In a later interview, Dr Shaknovsky told the state the same story he told Beverly: that he dissected the spleen from its surrounding tissue when an apparent aneurysm in the spleen ruptured suddenly.

The account contradicted those of numerous others in the operating room, records show. An autopsy found his spleen was intact. There was no evidence of a ruptured aneurysm.

Beverly said she will be forever haunted by the details of her husband's death.

'It's made my life almost unbearable to think that my sweet, wonderful husband was treated this way,' she said, her eyes welling with tears.

'But since these criminal charges were made, it makes it more bearable to know that [Shaknovsky] will not hold a knife in his hand to operate on people if he's convicted.'

A spokesman for Ascension Sacred Heart said safety was the hospital's 'top priority.'

'Dr Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024,' the representative said.

'We remain focused on upholding the standards our patients and community expect of us.'

Dr Shaknovsky's next court appearance has been set for May 19. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The family of a British widow killed in a car crash in Ghana, after being conned out of her entire 1million life savings by romance fraudsters, have laid bare how her life dramatically unravelled.

Janet Fordham, 69, was the victim of a 'sustained fraud' between 2017 and 2022, before she mysteriously died after travelling to Africa to meet a man called Daniel 'Kofi' Anyapong, 52, who claimed he could help her retrieve her money.

Her family had set an online dating profile up for her on Match.com after the deaths of her first husband and a second long-term partner, but she was cruelly targeted by fraudsters - including a man claiming to be a British Army sergeant major.

Kofi said he would help the retired housekeeper get her money back after she was fleeced out of her life savings, leaving her destitute, unable to afford food and living in a caravan at her son's farmhouse in Devon.

As the fraud escalated at an alarming rate, the widow was withdrawing the maximum 500 a day of cash, had her car seized to stop her going to ATM machines and even sent 140,000 of her family's money to scammers.

Mrs Fordham's family desperately tried everything to stop her and detectives spoke to her about allegations of fraud in 2017, 2020 and 2022. But no matter what they tried, police could not investigate further, as Mrs Fordham refused to engage.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Mrs Fordham's son Martin and daughter-in-law Melanie Fordham have today revealed the heartbreaking tragedies she suffered in the years before she was scammed to death.

They revealed how Mrs Fordham was in fact an incredibly 'shrewd' woman who had saved a huge fortune for her retirement - including the life insurance from her first husband's death - but 'it all went to fraudsters'.

Mrs Fordham's first tragedy dates back to nearly 50 years ago when her husband, a plumber, was killed while building the family home in Offwell, East Devon.

'We lost our dad when I was one,' Martin says. 'He was digging a well and the earth fell in on top of him and he died.'

Janet Fordham is pictured with her boyfriend Daniel 'Kofi' Anyapong in Ghana. He was driving the car when she was killed

This is the wreckage of the Suzuki that Kofi crashed in Ghana, which killed British widow Janet Fordham

Janet Fordham is pictured with her son Martin. She was the victim of 'sustained fraud' between 2017 and 2022

It was therefore left to Mrs Fordham to raise Martin and his sister, and they moved to Honiton.

'Mum brought my sister and I up together,' Martin, who is now a farrier, says. 'She had two jobs in order to pay for horses.

'She worked really hard, six or seven days per week. She never remarried but moved in with another partner Gerald, who she was with for 20 years, but he sadly got dementia.

'She was caring for him from around 2014 and looked after him until the end.'

Melanie, a childminder, explains that this was a key moment in Mrs Fordham's life.

'That's what triggered all of this really,' she says. 'He became aggressive and his care was incredibly difficult.

'Then, when she was out of the country for our wedding, his adult children changed the locks, bagged up her stuff and threw her out even though his will said she could stay at the house until she died or met somebody else.

'She had some land near Martin's sister Julie outside Honiton and lived in a caravan but I don't think she ever really got over that.

'He died soon after but she wasn't allowed contact with him because of the children.'

Martin and Melanie were determined to get Mrs Fordham back on track. 'She was lonely so we helped her set up an account on Match.com,' Melanie reveals.

'It feels terrible that we helped her set it up, she was in her early 60s and lonely.'

Another relationship with a man called Mike didn't stick, as she worked full-time as a housekeeper for extremely wealthy companies and he was retired.

'She worked for years and earned bloody good money doing it,' Melanie says, describing how she would pick up families' children up from school, look after their dogs, do their shopping and cook their meals.

They admit it might be hard to believe, but describe Mrs Fordham as a 'very shrewd woman', revealing how she sold her home when she moved in with Gerald and saved huge amounts on top of the insurance money from her first husband's death.

'But it all went to fraudsters,' Melanie says.

Mrs Fordham was initially scammed by a man she met on a dating website in 2017, who claimed to be a British Army sergeant major working in Syria.

He told her he had acquired gold bars and needed her help in getting them back in the UK. She sent him around 150,000 but later realised it was a scam and reported it to police.

'He was retiring soon to return to the UK. She said they were in love and they were going to buy a house together,' Melanie said at Mrs Fordham's inquest at Devon Coroner's Court this week.

'Janet mentioned nothing about any money at that point, but I remember candidly saying to her that it all seemed a little unbelievable, and the next thing he would be asking for money.

Join the discussion Has online romance become too dangerous to trust?

Martin and Melanie Fordham pictured with Mrs Fordham before her death

'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.'

The widow later learned she had been further defrauded by a 'diplomat' after her UK bank accounts were frozen.

'How it escalated from there we won't ever know because she wasn't forthcoming with us once she knew what we thought,' Melanie says.

Martin adds: 'She knew she was being scammed but didn't want to admit it, she was a really stubborn woman.'

In 2018, Mrs Fordham was then contacted by a man called Kofi on WhatsApp, who claimed he was a doctor in Ghana working part-time in a friend's mobile phone repair shop.

Kofi told her he believed she was being scammed and said he would help her get her money back after she was fleeced out of her life savings.

In what would prove to be a heartbreaking warning, Martin tells the Daily Mail: 'Before she went I said "if you get on that plane I'll never see you again", I felt she was going to get knocked over the head trying to get her money back but she said "I've got no other choice".

'We were trying to shock her into understanding but she was so blinkered.'

But Mrs Fordham ignored her son's advice and flew to Accra in October 2022. She became romantically involved with Kofi, agreeing to marry the man, who was 17 years her junior.

But on February 14, 2023, while Kofi was driving them to meet a family member to discuss the marriage, his Suzuki Altos swerved off the road and somersaulted before crashing into a tree.

Mrs Fordham, who was not wearing a seat belt, was rushed to hospital but died from head injuries. Kofi, who walked away with minor injuries, admitted driving offences and escaped with a fine.

At her inquest this week, Philip Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, recorded a narrative conclusion, meaning he opted not to say whether her death was suspicious or an accident, but said it was 'probably' due to the car crash.

But the family told the Daily Mail there are numerous glaring holes in the Ghanaian investigation, and they are convinced she was killed and the murder was covered up by corrupt officers.

Melanie said: 'We believe she was killed. She was murdered. Everything points to that.'

Martin only discovered her mother was dead after Kofi sent him a video of the car crash wreckage on February 14, 2023.

He then proceeded to send her three distressing videos showing her laying unconscious on a hospital bed with doctors performing CPR, her dead body on a mortuary table and then in a mortuary drawer.

Mrs Fordham's family desperately tried everything to stop the scams, while detectives spoke to her about allegations of fraud in 2017, 2020 and 2022

Along with the videos, Kofi requested 10,000 to cover hospital fees.

Martin said: 'I'm not sure what he was thinking when he sent it or what it was to bloody do. Was it to prove she's there and he was trying to get her care?

'I don't know what went through my mind seeing the video, it was such a shock I just put the phone down.'

His wife said: 'She was dead in a morgue and all they could think about was money... Why was that necessary to send? How was Kofi able to film that?

She added: 'Kofi used her phone and started contacting her brother too, asking him to send money, even right to the end he was trying to squeeze every last penny out of us.'

The family are adamant that Mrs Fordham did not die in the car crash and are demanding answers.

Melanie explained: 'After the autopsy, they kept a quarter of her brain, the only bit that could definitely tell us how she died.

'The British pathologist said she had severe head injuries but the thing that killed her was a blow to the back of the head that wasn't normal in a car crash.

'It was something small she was hit with, nothing in the car would do that damage.'

The family claim the police reports were 'inconsistent' and that they initially investigated it as a murder investigation before they 'suddenly changed their minds'.

She added: 'It's institutional corruption, if it's completely innocent why didn't she come back whole? Why keep the segment of skull and brain we needed to understand why she died?

'The Ghanaian authorities won't talk to the pathologists here, they refuse to answer questions. That's guilty.'

Devon and Cornwall Police concluded there was no evidence of any third-party involvement in Mrs Fordham's death.

Police spoke to Mrs Fordham about Kofi, but officers could not further the investigation due to her lack of engagement.

The court heard Melanie contacted police again because her mother-in-law was continuing to transfer money abroad using bitcoin and ATMs.

'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,' she said.

'Whether she genuinely believed what she was being told, we will never know.'

She also borrowed money from other family members, which totalled around 140,000, and was also in arrears on loans and credit cards.

'Janet wouldn't tell us much, so we started opening some of her mail and discovered that she had cashed in a chunk of her pension,' Melanie said.

'She was withdrawing the maximum 500 a day, we believe to stockpile, and then transferred cash as the banks had stopped her doing electronic transfers.

'I was very aware that we don't know everything and there is probably a whole lot more.'

'As a family, we tried everything to stop her, but she was adamant,' her daughter-in-law added.

'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.'

Neighbours this week told the Daily Mail they were heartbroken to hear about how Mrs Fordham's life ended.

One elderly neighbour said: 'It is terrible. She was always very pleasant. It's a tiny little village but I guess you don't know what's going on. Aren't there some horrible people in the world to target her?

'They're a really lovely family.'

Another neighbour and family friend said: 'Janet very much kept herself to herself. I would see her in the car and you'd wave and say hi. She was living in Martin and Melanie's caravan but Martin wouldn't speak about it.

'We know Martin and Melanie. But it's a tiny village but because everyone drives everywhere you don't speak to people that much.'

At the time of travelling to Ghana, the retired housekeeper was living in a caravan at the home of her son Martin (pictured with Janet) in Honiton, Devon

Detective Sergeant Smith said on the day she died, Mrs Fordham and Kofi were driving from Accra to the Oti region 'to get approval from a family member for marriage'.

Mrs Fordham suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Mr Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, recorded a narrative conclusion.

'The evidence shows that Janet Fordham lost a considerable amount of money between 2017 and 2022,' he said.

'The true figure is not known, but it's believed to be between 800,000 and 1million.

'Devon and Cornwall Police investigated these matters, although I should point out that Janet herself did not ever make a formal complaint to the police, nor did she co-operate fully with the police investigation.

'In October 2022, she travelled to Ghana to meet a man named Kofi. He had agreed to help her try and recover some of the money.

'The family believed that she also went for romantic reasons. Indeed, it's believed that she planned to marry Kofi.'

He added: 'I conclude that Janet Fordham died as a consequence of a head injury that was probably sustained in a road traffic collision.'
An exuberant Angela Rayner was all smiles as she welcomed her old friend Andy Burnham into her constituency home, confident the so-called secret summit would not stay private for long.

She wasnt disappointed. Within 48 hours of their meeting two Fridays ago, a photograph appeared on a tabloid front page of Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, outside the four-bedroom detached house in Ashton-under-Lyne, having arrived in his gleaming new silver Mercedes.

As befits a so-called man of the people, he drove himself. Some reports suggested that he arrived in disguise, complete with an odd-looking hat. Not so, Im assured by one of the mayors supporters. It was a trick of a camera. He was hatless.

The meeting, about the deepening crisis in the Labour leadership, came only days after Burnham and Rayner were photographed with Sir Keir Starmer at a school in Greater Manchester. They looked like one big happy Labour family. But what were they really thinking in that shot? asked one Labour MP.

For the plot took another twist two days ago when it emerged that MPs are demanding Starmer lines up Burnham as his successor as Labour braces for a battering in the local elections. The idea is that Starmer could set a timetable for his departure, giving Burnham, 56, enough time to find a seat.

But Rayner, 46, who was forced to quit the Cabinet last September after failing to pay 40,000 stamp duty on an 800,000 seaside flat which she bought in Hove four months earlier, has one very good reason to continue plotting her own coronation.

I have heard from several sources that she has come close to an agreement with HMRC after its lengthy investigation over the unpaid tax, something she expects to be confirmed publicly  possibly as early as this week. She is over the moon, says a trusted source.

If she is ordered to pay a fine, she expects it to be for a minor technical infringement  certainly not grave enough in her mind to rule her out of a leadership bid.

Sir Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham at Holy Trinity Primary School in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

She has a short memory and, it seems, a tendency towards hypocrisy. In April 2022, it was Rayner who led calls for the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Chancellor Rishi Sunak to quit after they were each fined 50 for a minor breach of the Covid lockdown rules. Rayner tweeted: You made the rules. You broke your own law. Just go.

But that was then and this is now. While she once considered a minor fine to be a career-ending setback, today Rayner and her supporters dont see her HMRC misdemeanour as any impediment to challenging Starmers leadership after next months local election results, which are expected to be catastrophic for Labour. It sounds like its a technicality, so she can go for it, declared one supporter.

Whether she would be clear in the court of public opinion is another matter. The investigation into the stamp duty affair by the Prime Ministers ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, concluded Rayner cannot be considered to have met the highest standards of proper conduct as envisaged by the [Ministerial] Code.

And yet her popularity in the Party means she has strength in numbers  which is handy. To mount a bid for leadership she will need the backing of 81 MPs, a fifth of the parliamentary party.

Team Rayner is split on the wisdom of an immediate challenge. While some say fortune favours the brave and she should seize the initiative; others argue she should wait for a stalking horse candidate to mortally wound Starmer. She must not wield the knife, says one supportive MP, who cites the fact that those who have in the past often fall themselves.

But what unites all her supporters is the firm conviction that Rayner is a Prime Minister in waiting. Which represents a remarkable turnaround for a woman who, as little as nine months ago, was in despair over her political future after resigning as deputy PM and Housing Secretary over the stamp duty row.

For years, she denied she was interested in running for leader. Now she thinks about little else. I am told by several sources that theres one major reason for her change of heart: her boyfriend Sam Tarry. The couple have been in a tempestuous on-off relationship since he helped run her deputy Labour leadership campaign six years ago. While he has been separated from Julia Fozard, the mother of his two children, I can disclose they have now divorced.

His and Rayners relationship hasnt been plain sailing either. They went through a brief separation in 2023, but now appear to be very much on.

Rayner and Burnham canvassing on the streets of Birmingham in 2024. The pair met up only days after their visit to Holy Trinity Primary School with Sir Keir

And that should be a grave concern to Mail on Sunday readers given we are talking about a potential future Prime Minister. Because to describe Tarry as a socialist firebrand would be to underplay just how Left-wing he is.

A member of the extreme Socialist Campaign Group, which wants to nationalise the commanding heights of the economy, he ran Jeremy Corbyns successful leadership campaign in 2016. Now he believes he can work the same magic with Rayner.

As one senior figure told me: Tarry has persuaded her she can and should be leader.

One very telling indication of the strength of their relationship is that she bought the Hove flat so Tarry, 43, would have a base close to the home of his former wife and their two children. Another senior MP told me: Ange is in the mess over her tax affairs because of the Hove flat, which she bought because of Sam. She loves him. There is even talk that Rayner has been debating whether or not, in the event of her becoming Prime Minister, she should walk hand in hand into No 10 with Tarry. Some supporters insist she would because there is every indication that they plan to marry before such an eventuality.

Asked if Tarry would propose, a close source said: Sam never comments on his private life.

Whatever happens, Tarrys Left-wing beliefs are no bar to him enjoying the high life with Rayner. A couple of years ago, she was spotted buying him suits in a Savile Row tailors shop. And for New Year in 2024, he and Rayner stayed five nights in the 2 million apartment  complete with jacuzzi and pool  of multi-millionaire Lord Alli, who donated 30,000 of clothes and designer spectacles to Starmer.

Would Tarrys influence be felt in any Rayner government? Almost certainly. Tarry can count Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband among his allies. What now worries Rayners many Labour opponents is that she will make net-zero fanatic Miliband her Chancellor, meaning even higher green taxes.

For a glimpse of how Britains workplace would change if Rayner and Tarry were given the keys to No 10, look at her Employment Rights Bill, in which she planned to give people the right to sue for unfair dismissal from their first day in a new job. That plan, which horrified employers, was watered down to six months after Rayner left government. Tarry was an advocate of the ditched proposal.

Angela Rayner with boyfriend Sam Tarry at Parklife Festival in Manchester in 2022

However, he was conspicuous by his absence when she made her most serious intervention in the nascent leadership race last month. Rayner was the star turn at an event for Mainstream, the Labour pressure group associated with Burnham, where she warned that the very survival of Labour was at stake. Some supporters thought it was misjudged, too showy. Shes already the favourite to be next leader, said one MP. With whats happening in the Middle East, her timing was terrible.

Others argued the speech was flat and boring. Just like the robotic-sounding Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, whos eschewed voice training, Rayner refuses to seek professional help for her public speaking. She wants to sound authentic, said an admirer.

Before the speech, Rayner, whos trying to cut back on her drinking, had downed glasses of white wine. Shes also tried and failed to give up vaping. Shes hooked. Her kids want her to give up but she cant, said the admirer.

Rayner has always been a party animal but another way she likes to unwind, I can reveal, is by listening to true crime podcasts the more horrific the better. She loves retelling her staff the grisliest bits the next morning, said a friend. There is little doubt that she is relishing the grisly skewering of Starmer. And all the more so now that she feels the weight of the HMRC investigation beginning to lift.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

That was the exact sound I heard as I reached across the table at the White House Correspondents' Dinner for a bread roll.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had entered the room what felt like minutes earlier, and we had just sat down to our entree of lukewarm cucumber and burrata.

There was no denying what I was hearing. Gunshots.

But my reaction surprised me.

'Oh, that's gunshots,' I said calmly, before diving straight under the table.

And while I was scared, strangely I wasn't entirely shocked.

I was in a room full of politicians and personalities - Trump, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, FBI Director Kash Patel - at a pretty tense moment in time.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had entered the room what felt like minutes earlier, and we had just sat down to our entree of lukewarm cucumber and burrata

Jana Hocking (right) is pictured with Kash Patel and his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins

In the lead-up to the event, everything had felt almost a little too relaxed when it came to security. And the crowd of aggressively angry protestors gathered outside was a reminder that emotions were running high.

When I first arrived, there was barely a security check. A quick flash of an invite, a bag scan and a stroll through the metal detectors. No ID checks. No real scrutiny.

I'd even said to my colleagues at the time that it felt like anyone could have walked in.

In the ballroom, my fellow dining companions took a second longer to register they had heard gunshots.

It wasn't until FBI Director Patel, a guest at our Daily Mail table, started shouting at people to 'get under the table' that everyone else followed.

Within seconds, four of us women were clinging to each other, asking what was happening. The tablecloth lifted slightly and another woman from a nearby table asked if she could join us. We pulled her in.

As we tried to stay still and quiet, Kash continued, calm but firm, telling us to stay down.

My initial instincts were right. There was an active shooter.

One of the women huddled beside me started to panic, and I felt this strange, almost detached calm. As I hugged her, I heard myself say, 'Whoever is out there is surrounded by Secret Service. There is no way they're getting in here.'

And when I said, 'out there,' I meant right outside the nearby ballroom doors. That's how close it sounded.

My editor and friend Laura told us to put our phones on silent if we had them. This clearly wasn't her first rodeo. Later, I'd realize she has nerves of steel - especially when she jumped into action as soon as she could get cell service.

Eventually, one of our political reporters, Jon Michael, who had been bravely keeping an eye on things from outside the safety of our table fort, told us he could see Secret Service removing Trump and everyone else from the main stage. Then came the politicians. Patel, too, was taken away by his own security detail, but not before checking we were okay.

I couldn't see much. But I could hear everything.

The Secret Service agents crashed over tables, boots heavy, voices sharp, filling the room, armed and urgent. It seemed like they were sweeping the room, making sure no one else had made it inside.

And then silence. Eerily quiet.

Within seconds, four of us women were clinging to each other, asking what was happening. (Pictured: Unidentified attendees hide under tables and crouch on the ground)

The Secret Service agents crashed over tables, boots heavy, voices sharp, filling the room, armed and urgent

Politicians and cabinet members were whisked away by their security detail to safety. (Pictured: Robert F Kennedy Jr being rushed out of the ballroom by Secret Service agents)

At one point, someone started shouting 'USA!' and my first thought was, oh no, protestors have stormed the room. But it was just some guy trying to make a statement.

I felt a flash of anger at that. While the rest of us were frozen, trying to work out the safest move, that felt more like grandstanding than patriotism. Not the time, mate.

Eventually, we were told it was safe to come out. And that's when my body betrayed me.

For all the calm I'd felt under the table, the second I stood up and saw the aftermath -upturned chairs, spilled drinks, broken glass, people searching for lost shoes and phones  my whole body started shaking uncontrollably.

I messaged my parents to tell them I was okay, but they had no idea what I was talking about. It hadn't hit the news yet. Probably because every journalist was in that very room.

Phones were whipped out and everyone was frantically trying to get signal. The ballroom, buried underground, made that almost impossible.

For some reason, my Australian number had perfect reception. So did my colleague Kelly. She was getting updates from her husband outside and feeding us information as we all scrambled to piece together what had happened.

We were still in lockdown. And the reports kept changing.

One shooter. No, maybe two. He's dead. No, he's alive. No one really knew.

Then, just as we assumed the night was over, White House Correspondents' Association President Weijia Jiang returned to the podium and announced that Trump would be coming back and the event would continue.

Minutes later, Trump also posted on Truth Social praising the Secret Service and suggesting the show should go on.

What?

I wasn't sure I even wanted to stay in the room.

Relief washed over me when it became clear the program would not go on as planned.

By then, the messages from loved ones were flooding in. The story was breaking. The reality was catching up. In all the madness I noticed a missed call from my brother, and suddenly, another moment came rushing back to me.

On December 14, he had called me telling me to stay inside. There was an active shooter in Bondi Beach, Australia. I had just come from the park where it happened. I'd missed it by minutes.

This was now the second time in under six months my brother had called to check if I was safe during a shooting.

I remember thinking very clearly: This is not a normal life.

For all the calm I'd felt under the table, the second I stood up and saw the aftermath -upturned chairs, spilled drinks, broken glass, people searching for lost shoes and phones  my whole body started shaking uncontrollably

Eventually, we were allowed to leave the ballroom. A few of us grabbed nearby wine bottles as we went. Plenty of people were already clutching full glasses, taking large, unapologetic sips.

Because an odd thing happens after something frightening: humor creeps in. It's a bit dark, a bit misplaced, but you cling to it.

One of the women I'd been hiding with laughed as we realized I'd spotted her Chanel heels under the table during the chaos. She'd lost them in the panic and I told her she was lucky I hadn't stolen them. Even in that moment, I'd admired them.

It wasn't the funniest joke. But a bit of laughter cut through the heaviness.

And what struck me most was how quickly strangers became allies. People who hadn't spoken an hour earlier were now swapping stories, checking on each other, sharing drinks.

Upstairs in the lobby, people got straight back to work. Laptops appeared out of nowhere. Fingers flew across keyboards.

It was mad to think we had just been inside the biggest news story of the day.

Then an email came through. The official afterparty at the Swiss Ambassador's residence would still go ahead '...in recognition of the vital role journalists play every day, and especially at times like these.'

So, we went.

Cabs pulled up and we left the Hilton, a place I was now relieved to escape. We stepped back into a version of the night that was meant to be glamorous, though I couldn't fully enjoy it.

Once the adrenaline wore off, it left behind a tremor that took over my entire body and wouldn't let go. My legs were still shaking  a physical reminder of what had just transpired - and I couldn't get them to stop.

At the party, I tried to rally but couldn't. I suddenly felt exhausted, overwhelmed  and I just wanted to leave. I apologized to my friends and slipped out early.

Back at the hotel, I called my parents. They'd been watching everything unfold on the news. I told them what happened, and somewhere between describing the sound of the shots and the moment under the table, I broke down.

This morning, it still doesn't quite feel real. What I can't quite shake isn't just the fear, it's the familiarity of it.

Two calls from my brother in under six months. Two moments where everything normal stopped.

On Saturday night, someone tried to get into that ballroom with two guns and multiple knives, getting close enough that we all had to hide for cover. Close enough that I now know exactly what gunfire sounds like in real life. Not in a movie, but in loud, unmistakable detail.

And I'm not sure how many times you're supposed to hear gunshots before it changes you for good.
The streets of Britain were alive with music, cigarette smoke, and the chatter of bustling weekend nightlife when, more than 1,000 miles away, one of the most catastrophic accidents in history occurred.

Reactor number four at Chernobyl, a then-Soviet nuclear facility near Pripyat, Ukraine, exploded at 1.23am local time - three hours ahead of the UK - on April 26, 1986, and with it, emitted more than 100 radioactive materials into the atmosphere.

While many of the elements decayed quickly, some of the most dangerous ones carried far beyond neighbouring nations Russia and Belarus, spreading across the northern hemisphere and even to the UK.

Among them were iodine, strontium, and caesium, which have been linked to serious health conditions including thyroid cancer, leukaemia, and damage to organs such as the liver and spleen.

Yet, Britain remained unaware that the event had even occurred for days. As Soviet officials remained silent, newspapers rolled off the presses carrying front pages of political drama, while TV and radio broadcasts continued as normal.

That was until Swedish nuclear engineer Cliff Robinson exposed the catastrophic revelations two days later. Conducting a routine safety test, the results were so extraordinary that he thought a nuclear bomb had gone off and quickly alerted the world.

As news began to filter through, BBC Newsnight reporter Peter Snow told the nation: 'It does now seem likely, that some time in the last couple of days, there has been perhaps the worst accident in the short history of the world's nuclear power industry.'

While Soviet officials remained tight-lipped, the evacuation of 45,000 Pripyat residents was underway in an attempt to shield them from radioactive contamination.

But for many it was already too late, and experts have now warned the true death and cancer toll from Chernobyl may be far higher than officially announced - raising an important question: how safe are Britain's nuclear workers today?

Reactor number four at Chernobyl, Ukraine, exploded at 1.23am local time on April 26, 1986

At a gathering of reporters before the 40th anniversary of the disaster, Professor Jim Smith, a Chernobyl researcher and from the University of Portsmouth who frequently visits the remains of the powerplant, says the health effects from the explosion are still felt today.

During the late 1980s, Professor Smith explained that thyroid cancer cases stood at around one or two cases per 100,000 children in Belarus. Since then, this has increased to between six and eight cases per 100,000.

'There was a big increase in thyroid cancer after the accident,' he explains. 'And what the Soviet Union failed to do was stop people - particularly children - from consuming contaminated produce in the weeks after the accident.

'Lots of people, particularly children, got, very very high doses of radioactive iodine.

'Iodine is only around in the environment for a few weeks after a nuclear accident - it decays away very fast.

'But if you don't stop people consuming it in those weeks, then they get really high doses to the small thyroid gland in the neck.

'That has caused - up until 2015 - 5,000 extra cases of thyroid cancer.'

Though this is a major concern, there is some reassurance when Professor Smith explains that thyroid cancer often responds well to treatment - ironically, he says, through the use of iodine.

However, one of the most troubling revelations concerns the death toll as a result of the Chernobyl disaster.

'People got acute radiation sickness [after the explosion],' he says. 'The official figure is 134 people: the firemen and plant operators got acute radiation sickness.

'Of those, about 40 deaths were caused by the radiation sickness - or that's what was attributed.'

But this is a contentious subject - and one which drums up debate 40 years on. So, how many people does Professor Smith think may have died from radiation exposure?

A man measures radioactivity in the area surrounding Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1990

'If somebody was holding a gun to my head, and I had to get it right, I think I'd probably say 15,000,' he says.

Professor Smith explains that Chernobyl caused an estimated 300,000 person-sieverts of radiation exposure - meaning on average 300,000 people each received 1 sievert, which is a high level of radiation exposure.

He adds that, with roughly 750 million people in Europe, natural background radiation amounts to about 2.25 million person-sieverts annually, leading to around 100,000 cancers each year from natural causes.

In his view, this is greater than the estimated 15,000 early cancer deaths linked to Chernobyl in total.

He adds: 'If we analyse the stats on air pollution, we know that around 700 million people in Europe got a tiny dose [of radiation] from Chernobyl.

'That is a tiny individual risk, but if you add that up over 700 million people and the 600,000 cleanup workers group, as well as evacuated areas and so on, then you can reach 25,000.

But, he says: 'The reason I don't give [an answer] as high as that is because life expectancy amongst most of the exposed people - particularly for men in that liquidator group (the workers who entered Chernobyl's contaminated areas) - is low.

'So cancer rates in the liquidator group are determined much more by smoking and alcoholism and poor diet and so on than by radiation. That's why it's been hard to pin down what the cancer risk to that liquidator group was.'

Such was the trauma of the Chernobyl disaster that skepticism over the use of nuclear power intensified for years in its aftermath.

Those fears were further deepened in Britain by memories of the Windscale fire, which had occurred 29 years earlier during a routine heating test at one of the reactors in Cumbria.

Where are the UK's nuclear power plants?

Active Hartlepool, County Durham

Heysham 1 & 2, Lancashire

Sizewell B, Suffolk

Torness, East Lothian Being defuelled Dungeness B, Kent

Hinkley Point B, Somerset

Hunterston B, West Kilbride

A blaze broke out and burned for three days, releasing radioactive contamination across the UK and Europe and hundreds of deaths are thought to have been linked to the event.

Only recently has the UK lifted restrictions introduced after the Chernobyl disaster on farms, too, which were designed to prevent sheep carrying high levels of radioactivity from entering the food chain.

The measures remained in place because radioactive caesium - which has a half-life of around 30 years - from Chernobyl contaminated grazing land in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Today, nine nuclear reactors are in operation across the UK at five power plants, where workers may be exposed to some ionising radiation including gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and neutrons.

These types of radiation can be harmful as they can cause skin burns and acute radiation syndrome - which brings on nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea - as well as long-term cancer risks.

Public Health England calculated previously that, on average, people are exposed to about 2.7 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation per year.

The 134 workers who battled the fire at Chernobyl were exposed to 700 to 13,400 mSv. Meanwhile, the average occupational exposure for a nuclear power station worker in the UK was calculated at 0.18 mSv.

Nine nuclear reactors are operating in the UK, where workers may exposed to some radiation

Still, government statistics published this week shed an interesting light on cancer risks among nuclear workers.

The figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week, showed that between 1946 and 2011, 8.5 per cent of British nuclear workers - 12,556 out of 147,872 - died from a form of cancer.

As a proportion, this was lower than the figure recorded among nuclear workers in the US, where 13.4 per cent died from cancer, but slightly higher than France where 8 per cent died from cancer over the same period.

The report also found that greater radiation exposure over time was linked to a higher risk of developing the disease, with lung cancer identified as particularly common. It does not, however, imply that working in the nuclear industry causes cancer.

The UKHSA has a dedicated radiation team which continues to investigate the effects of radiation on the body.

During his chat with reporters, however, Professor Smith said it is highly unlikely that the UK would ever face a Chernobyl disaster-style event on its own shores.

'Chernobyl had a potentially dangerous reactor design, almost no safety culture and no strengthened containment building,' he explained.

He then compared this to Sizewell B, a nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast.

'Sizewell B is designed and operated much more safely than Chernobyl was,' Professor Smith added.

'It has a secondary containment building, which is a strengthened dome designed to withstand external and internal shocks.'

While that may reassure many Britons, it also serves as a reminder of the safeguards now in place against a disaster which is remembered every day - perhaps even more sharply now, 40 years on.
Scientists have discovered the hidden brain flaw that causes people with schizophrenia to lose touch with reality - and say it could open the door to better treatments.

Researchers at MIT have discovered a faulty circuit deep within the brain that prevents a person from updating their beliefs when the world around them changes.

The findings could help explain why some sufferers become 'detached' or trapped in false ideas and delusions even when faced with clear evidence that those beliefs are wrong.

Experts say the findings shed new light on one of psychiatry's most perplexing illnesses, which affects up to 3.7 million Americans.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder that can cause psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, confused thinking and a reduced ability to function day to day.

Patients may hear voices, believe strangers are watching them, or become convinced ordinary events carry secret personal meaning.

In the hunt to find out why, the MIT researchers focused on a gene called GRIN2A, which helps build part of the NMDA receptor  a protein on brain cells involved in learning, memory and flexible thinking.

A person without schizophrenia would see the traffic, realize 'Main Street is no longer fast,' and immediately turn onto a side street. No second thoughts. For many people with schizophrenia, that simple mental update breaks. They stick with Main Street.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness marked by hallucinations, paranoia, scrambled thinking and a diminished ability to manage daily life (stock)

Your browser does not support iframes.

They trust their old belief more than the new information right in front of them, even when it clearly isn't working. Their decision becomes detached from reality.

Researchers at MIT have now identified the grin2a mutation as the reason.

It provides instructions for building part of the NMDA receptor, a protein on the surface of brain cells that is critical for learning, memory and adaptation.

When grin2a is mutated, that receptor doesn't work properly. Scientists call this 'NMDA receptor hypofunction,' or reduced function.

This discovery fits a long-standing theory of schizophrenia called the glutamate hypothesis  the idea that problems with glutamate signaling, a key brain chemical, are a root cause of the disorder.

The genetic link to the disorder is strong. In the general population, about 1 in 100 people develop schizophrenia. But if a parent or sibling has it, the risk jumps to 1 in 10. For identical twins, it is 1 in 2.

Grin2a, one of the many genes linked to schizophrenia, makes people more than 20 times more likely to develop schizophrenia.

To understand how this single genetic error causes real-world problems, researchers used CRISPR gene editing to create mice carrying the exact same grin2a mutation found in human patients.

Mice with the grin2a mutation (mutant) made far less efficient (written here as optimal) choices than healthy mice, scoring significantly lower on a measure of optimal decision-making

Then, they designed a test. Mice were given a choice between two levers. One lever gave a high reward, three drops of milk, but required more and more presses over time. The other lever gave a low reward, one drop of milk, but always required exactly six presses.

Healthy mice figured out the pattern quickly. When the high-reward lever became too much work, they switched to the low-reward lever and stayed there.

The mutant mice kept pressing the high-reward lever long after it became no longer worth it.

They struggled to update their strategy based on new information, just like schizophrenia patients who cannot let go of an old belief even when the world has changed around them.

Next, the researchers needed to find where in the brain this was going wrong.

They used a technique called optogenetics, which uses light to control genetically modified neurons.

They silenced a brain region called the mediodorsal thalamus in healthy mice. Immediately, those mice started behaving just like the mutants. They made the same poor choices. They got stuck.

Then came the critical test.

With the laser off (gray line), healthy mice quickly abandoned a worsening choice. With the laser on (green line), silencing their mediodorsal thalamus, they kept making the same poor choice, just like mice with a schizophrenia-linked mutation

The researchers activated the same brain region in the mutant mice using a brief pulse of blue light and saw a dramatic result. The mutant mice's behavior improved; they switched levers at the right time and made optimal choices.

By turning a single brain circuit on and off with light, the researchers proved that the mediodorsal thalamus is the source of the problem. Silencing it caused the deficit. Activating it reversed it.

'We are quite confident this circuit is one of the mechanisms that contributes to the cognitive impairment that is a major part of the pathology of schizophrenia,' said Dr. Guoping Feng, a neuroscientist at MIT and senior author of the study.

The latest study, published in Nature Neuroscience, does not offer an immediate cure, and optogenetics  using lasers to control brain cells  is a laboratory tool, not a human therapy.

But by identifying the mediodorsal thalamus as a key node in the broken circuit, researchers have given drug developers a specific target to aim for.

Dr Tingting Zhou, a co-author of the study, said: 'Our brain can form a prior belief of reality. When sensory input comes in, a neurotypical brain uses that new input to update the prior belief. That allows us to generate a new belief close to what reality is.

'What happens in schizophrenia patients is that they weigh too heavily on the prior belief. They don't use as much current input, so the new belief becomes detached from reality.'

That detachment does not come on in full force all at once.

At first, the changes are small. A person might start doubting things they once knew to be true, such as a friend's loyalty or the meaning of a random comment from a classmate.

Soon, internal thoughts and external reality begin to blur. Early signs typically include withdrawing from social life, anxiety, neglecting personal hygiene, reducing motivation and isolating oneself.

Someone may begin to believe they are in an alternate universe or that others are inserting thoughts or voices into their mind. Over time, they stop trusting what they see and hear.

Instead, they rely on ideas that have no connection to the outside world.

A passing car is not just a car; it is following them. A news anchor is not reading the news; they are sending a secret message.

The person does not choose to believe these things, but their brain has lost the ability to update its understanding of reality.
by Daniel Gauss

If the United States reinstated the military draft, many defense experts and policy analysts argue that this would weaken the all-volunteer force by lowering personnel quality, hurting morale and negatively affecting retention. Yet, the administration of Donald Trump is moving to automate draft registration under Pete Hegseth, streamlining a system the military itself would prefer not to use.

Why modernize a program widely seen as unnecessary, or even potentially harmful? To answer that, we need to look at how draft registration was quickly reborn (1980) after the draft ended (1973) and registration was suspended (1975), and why registration has not been abandoned, even though it should have been.

President Jimmy Carter proposed reinstating military draft registration in the late 1970s, after it had been suspended just a few years earlier. Only someone oblivious to the lessons of Vietnam could have ignored the well-documented problems with the draft (lower morale, discipline issues and personnel quality) that severely plagued the military for years.

PostVietnam, Army leaders, most prominently Gen. Creighton Abrams, became champions of an allvolunteer force. Abrams believed draftees undermined discipline and unit cohesion, so he redesigned the Army around high-quality volunteers, proving the draft was neither necessary nor desirable long-term and establishing a model that the other services ultimately adopted.

Carter reinstated registration for the military draft anyway, apparently for self-serving political reasonspure political theater to prop up a failing presidential run. Since then, maintaining the Selective Service has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, money spent to keep a draft machine ready that an all-volunteer force has made obsolete.

Given how quickly and eagerly the draft was disbanded, and given the significant problems revealed about it in Vietnam, its hard to believe that Carter and his advisors did not understand that a draft might be detrimental to the interests of the US military. It would follow that they should also have realized that responsible leadership in the future would probably never allow a draft to happen again. Thus, the reintroduction of draft registration was probably a calculated move: a way to project strength without risking a disastrous future conscription.

Carter and his staff definitely knew that the Carter administration looked weak and incompetent due to the crisis in Iran and needed some bold strong-man moves to beat Ronald Reagan. Reagan was running on a platform critical of Carters foreign policy decisions and he vowed to bring respect and strength back to the USA.

So, allow me to explain why Carter might have wanted draft registration and why a draft would, basically, harm the US military and our national security.

It is 1979/1980 and Jimmy Carter is suffering badly in the polls. Sure he beat Ted Kennedy in the primaries, but who wouldnt have (just 11 years after Chappaquiddick)? He has largely botched the Iranian situation, primarily by allowing a brutal, cruel dictator into the US for medical treatment, thus harboring a despot widely accused of torture, repression and corruption, a man Iranians passionately wanted tried for human rights crimes committed under his regime.

This decision helped spark the seizure of the U.S. embassy by Iranian students, who took American embassy personnel hostage. TV news shows, starting in November 1979, soon begin counting the days that Carter has been unable to secure the release of innocent Americans harassed and brutalized as hostages in a foreign country. They stop at 444.

It is December 1979 and the Russians have invaded Afghanistan. Americans really do not care, we have our own problems  wheres Afghanistan? Let the Russians fight in the mountains, thats their problem, not ours. The invasion aimed to prevent a friendly communist government from collapsing and to keep Afghanistan within Moscows strategic sphere, possibly as a stable buffer state on the USSRs southern border.

But Carter, reeling from Iran, uses this invasion to assert that the world is a very dangerous place and he must take action to make it more secure, showing that domino theories can be recycled quite easily. He had to keep the free world safe from the clutches of the Soviet bear and Afghanistan was where he would take his stand against those sneaky commies hell bent on world domination.

So Carter decided the fate of humanity and freedom depended on doing two things: taking our athletes out of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and starting draft registration (which had, again, been enthusiastically disbanded in the recent past for all the right reasons). Both measures were completely ineffective things to do. Neither helped him beat Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election. He got clobbered, really clobbered, as Reagan won 44 states.

We cant do anything about the Olympics and the dreams of American athletes crushed by a politician who got propelled into office by the aftershock of Watergate and who nearly destroyed his own political party within four years. Did I mention 44 states (489-49 electoral votes)? Did I mention twelve consecutive years of a Republican executive branch following Carter? Im a registered Democrat from Chicago/New York and I know Im not supposed to say this, but I did. Its called history.

So we cant bring back the Olympics for all the hard working and patriotic, amateur American athletes who got nothing for their commitment, dedication and trust; but we can, and should, reverse draft registration because it is totally counter-productive to the needs of our military and if we ever re-established the draft, it would mean we were in a desperate situation and probably making it worse. Why?

Lets go back to American involvement in the Vietnam War. The draft during that conflict was divisive and corrosive toward military effectiveness. You saw the movie Platoon, which reflected the problems of an army of unwilling draftees in an ambiguous and terrifying situation.

Many of those guys became drugged out and angrier with their own officer corps than the Vietnamese. Many draftees were unwilling, unfit or resentful. Discipline collapsed in certain units, insubordination spread and morale plummeted. Atrocities occurred. The Vietnam War Crimes Working Group documented 320 substantiated atrocities by U.S. forces. Some enlisted men fragged (blew up or shot) their own officers or NCOs (at least 904 documented cases from 1969-1972).

The image of soldiers refusing orders or mistrusting their leaders is, unfortunately, not a myth, it was a direct consequence of forcing large numbers of young men into a war they did not understand or believe in. It was also due to the absurdly selective nature of who did the fighting.

During Vietnam, the draft disproportionately swept up men from working-class and poor backgrounds. College students could get deferments, so the middle and upper classes were underrepresented in combat units. By the late 60s, nearly half of enlisted soldiers in Vietnam did not even have high school diplomas.

By 196667 the Pentagon started lowering standards. There was Project 100,000, also known as (and I apologize for writing this, but this is what many called the project) McNamaras Morons, (McNamara was the Secretary of Defense) and the Pentagon inducted tens of thousands who failed basic aptitude tests. History shows these men were far more likely to be injured, killed or cause discipline problems.

The United States wisely abandoned conscription after 1973, and the transformation into an all-volunteer force (AVF) has been one of the greatest successes of U.S. defense policy.

So what do you get when you take volunteers who are carefully screened and selected and rewarded after their service, instead of soldiers who cannot get deferments and do not want anything to do with the military?

When the U.S. shifted to an all-volunteer force after 1973, the Vietnam War dynamic changed radically. Volunteers, even if motivated by pragmatic reasons like the GI Bill, generally chose to be there. That choice alone increased buy-in, discipline and morale. On top of that, the military raised its standards, requiring high school diplomas, screening for aptitude and health and weeding out those least likely to adapt to military life.

The result has been a professional force that is smaller, better educated and far more disciplined than the Vietnam-era draft army. So once recruitment shifted from reluctant draftees to willing, qualified volunteers, the military culture transformed. The overall baseline of professionalism and order is now much higher. But arent we exploiting the poor by having an all-volunteer army? No, lets look at who serves our country militarily.

The most surprising fact about the U.S. military may be this: it does not draw heavily from the very poorest Americans. Studies that track recruits home ZIP codes and census tracts show that the lowest-income neighborhoods are actually underrepresented. The reasons are pretty straightforward. Poverty often creates barriers  poor schooling, health problems, encounters with the criminal justice system  that disqualify many young people before a recruiter ever speaks to them.

At the same time, the wealthiest Americans are also underrepresented. Their children have abundant civilian opportunities, college paid for, internships lined up, professional networks waiting for them and little incentive to risk combat for benefits they dont need.

So the sweet spot lies in the lower-middle and middle classes. These families are stable enough to see their children finish high school and stay healthy, but not so wealthy that college tuition and career entry are easy or a sure thing. Parents might be tradespeople, nurses, teachers, truck drivers or small business owners. For their kids, the military looks like an effective and highly honorable way to gain independence, fund higher education and build a resume that sets them apart in the job world.

Current data show that White folks still make up the majority of enlisted personnel, about two-thirds of the force, but Black Americans account for roughly 1719%, a share slightly higher than their proportion in the civilian population. Hispanics are growing quickly within the ranks, now making up 1518% of enlisted troops, reflecting broader demographic changes in our country. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serve at lower rates than their share of the population, but they are present across all branches.

In short, the military is diverse but not dramatically skewed. It looks fairly representative of Americas working and middle classes and more diverse than elite universities. Its worth noting, however, that the officer corps looks different.

Officers almost always have college degrees and disproportionately come from more affluent backgrounds. This creates a class divide inside the military: enlisted troops are more working-to-middle-class, while officers skew toward more upper-middle-class. Minority representation is also thinner at the officer level. That imbalance has been a source for reform efforts, as the Pentagon tries to open leadership pipelines to a more representative cross-section of society.

The all-volunteer force is much more skilled, disciplined and cohesive than the Vietnam-era draft force. Modern warfare is highly technical, requiring trained, motivated and educated service members. A surge of unwilling conscripts, most of whom might be unqualified or uninterested, would degrade effectiveness rather than help. The Department of Defense has testified that the all-volunteer force is sufficient for Americas defense needs, with no draft required for foreseeable conflicts.

Only about 30% of young Americans even meet the militarys minimum standards (health, fitness, education, no disqualifying criminal history). Drafting from a pool where 7 out of 10 wash-out is resource madness. Its almost as if the US military is like a highly selective American university. West Points acceptance rate is about 10%, and basic recruit standards for enlisted personnel allow for selective college acceptance percentages. In a crisis, the military could expand incentives, pay and benefits to draw more volunteers before ever considering a draft. Indeed, given the need for high quality soldiers, the draft is what needs to be avoided more than anything.

Most importantly for senior commanders, the allvolunteer force is made up of people who follow lawful orders, operate independently and dont require the coercive discipline that plagues conscript armies. They are educated, selfmotivated problemsolvers who enlisted with clear goals and a sense of future direction. They serve because they want to, and the country treats them with respect, gratitude and admiration.

Public support for our troops is one of the few stable features of American political life, and we try to take care of them. Unlike many European powers that historically accepted staggering battlefield losses, the United States has developed a culture that monitors casualties closely.

Since 1775, excluding the Civil War, roughly 600,000 American service members have died in combat. In contrast, major European armies in the First World War sometimes lost more than 50,000 soldiers in a single day. Compare our numbers to total British WWI deaths: 887,000, total French WWI deaths: 1.3 million, total German WWI deaths: 2 million, total Russian WWI deaths: 1.7 million. We lost 600,000 over 250 years. American voters notice military deaths, and politicians who appear indifferent to them face serious consequences.

The last thing our generals would want is to go back to drafting folks willy-nilly. If you know of a young person who is serving in the US military, this is a remarkable person who made the cut.

So, imagine Toby, a smart person and a good student, no legal or discipline problems. He finishes high school with decent grades but doesnt feel excited about college right away. He isnt struggling in poverty, but his parents might not be able to easily pay for four years of tuition/campus housing either. In the meantime, hes a little tired of school and wants independence, a paycheck and maybe some adventure.

His uncle reminds him: serve four years, and the government pays for college. In the meantime, Toby might pick up valuable technical skills, live abroad and return home more mature and focused. So Toby doesnt join because hes desperate, he joins because he sees the military as a viable, secure pathway to adulthood, a chance to turn uncertainty into opportunity. Multiply Toby by thousands, and you get a kind of profile of todays enlisted force.

But Jimmy Carter needed to reinstate draft registration, right after it was disbanded. Why has no one found the guts, or honesty, to end this pointless, potentially harmful boondoggle? Why is the Trump administration not just maintaining but also automating a service that would harm the country, especially when this administration is so interested in pinching pennies to meet our 34 trillion-dollar debt? Here are the reasons that I have inferred.

First, draft registration only has been throwing away about $30 million dollars each year and we dont seem to care about throwing millions of dollars away. But for $30 million we could pay full Pell Grants ($7,400/year) for about 4,000 low-income college students. We could provide outpatient mentalhealth care to tens of thousands of veterans through the VA. We could fund millions of free school lunches for children. We could provide tens of thousands of COVID or flu vaccine doses. We could replace dozens of rural bridges. We could fund at least one hundred competitive National Science Foundation research grants.

Automatic draft registration came out of the Congress during a period when both the House and Senate were under Republican control, and the Armed Services Committees, where the National Defense Authorization Act is written, were led by Republican chairs with Democratic ranking members who did not have the will to block the provision.

In committee, where most of the real policymaking happens and where amendments rarely draw public attention, the automaticregistration language was treated as a routine administrative update and moved forward with bipartisan consent. Once it was stuck into the massive FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a bill that almost always passes because it funds the entire military, both chambers approved it by wide margins.

The President then signed it on December 18, 2025. In effect, automatic draft registration became law not because the country debated it or the Pentagon requested it, but because a Republicanled Congress inserted it quietly into a mustpass bill and no one in either party chose to fight over it because they feared for their political futures by doing so. What do I mean?

Ending registration might also be interpreted as Congress saying, America will never fight a big war again, which lawmakers shy away from saying. But, we probably, hopefully will never fight a big war again, because it might be the last big war as that big war may not last long and might yield neither a winner nor loser, just ashes. And, anyway, a big war can be fought with fewer soldiers.

I think many of us are concerned that after the attack on Iran, virtually anything can happen out of the blue. This, of course, is another reason we need to disband the draft  why allow a possibly incompetent, irrational demagogue the capacity to begin drafting people to engage in unnecessary wars? Is this why Hegseth needs to automate a system that can only hurt the military and country? He is looking ahead to another big war courtesy of the Trump administration and hell start another Vietnam-style draft to try to sustain it?

Some folks argue that in an absolute, total, existential war, conscription might be unavoidable, even if inefficient, so, registration keeps this legal framework alive. But, again, do we want a Vietnam situation where we are forcing people to fight? No, we want what the Pentagon has said will always be possible  a volunteer force, possibly expanded, to handle the high-tech equipment that will win a big war.

A smaller, highly motivated army with good technology can stand up to a much larger force of unmotivated soldiers. Please notice what has been happening in Ukraine. Putin tried to motivate his soldiers by claiming the Ukrainians were Nazis (they didnt buy that) and then to motivate them he started painting the letter Z on all his tanks (not a great motivator and, no, I dont know what it means either). The Ukrainians are already highly motivated as they are fighting for their very survival as a people. As long as they have munitions, they will hold their own against a larger army.

But, nobody is complaining and so the Congress can leave this. But, we should be complaining. The program should never have been re-created in the first place. Furthermore, it points to a possibility that will harm all of us: if some demagogue starts the draft again to make himself seem to be a big, strong-man amidst dwindling poll numbers and the need for more soldiers in over-extended wars.

The all-volunteer force has produced a force that is more skilled, better educated and more professional than the Vietnam-era military. Modern warfare demands technical expertise, whether in cybersecurity, intelligence, aviation or logistics. Soldiers must be willing and able to master complex systems, operate in small teams and adapt quickly. This is not a job for the unwilling or the unqualified. Again, raw numbers of service personnel look nice but often do not mean as much as we might think them to.

Bringing in a wave of reluctant conscripts would strain training resources, dilute unit cohesion and lower readiness. It would not strengthen Americas ability to fight, it would weaken it. A draft would also mean wasting time and money screening out the majority of registrants. This raises an obvious question: why maintain a system designed to draw from a pool of potential draftees when the vast majority would fail to even qualify?

It is bureaucratic theater, not serious policy. If the U.S. ever needed to expand the military, it could do so more effectively by raising pay, offering bonuses or improving veterans benefits, all of which have proven to boost enlistment without the negative effects of conscription.

Draft registration also fails the fairness test. Currently, only men between 18 and 25 are required by law to register. Women, who now serve in every combat role and make up an essential part of the military, are exempt. Why? This has, in fact, been challenged in court. A federal court ruled in 2019 that a maleonly draft was unconstitutional because women do currently serve in combat roles. When the ruling was appealed, a higher court decided, however, that Congress, and not the courts, needed to fix it. Congress, however, does not want to fix it. The result is a system that is outdated, potentially harmful to us all and discriminatory.

Draft registration is militarily unnecessary, inefficient and inequitable, but it remains. Ending registration would require Congress to admit that conscription is no longer a viable option, but lawmakers fear that doing so might look like weakness. In reality, the draft would immediately initiate the weakness we fear.

The United States should prepare for future challenges not by clinging to an outdated relic of the Vietnam era but by doubling down on what works: professionalization, technology and voluntary service. Draft registration is a Cold War holdover that no longer serves Americas needs. Congress has had 45 years to fix this mistake and its time they admit the truth: America doesnt need the draft, and never will again.

When Carter reinstated draft registration, he probably did it believing it would never lead to an actual draft. But that logic collapses now. Today the United States has a president whose public statements often happen suddenly, impulsively and without warning, and a Congress that has shown little ability to restrain him.

If the president were to wake up one morning and announce on social media that he now believed conscription was a great idea, and that it would give the United States the manpower to pursue new conflicts abroad, the machinery would be in place. Automatic registration would make it far easier to claim that the system is ready and that a draft could be activated quickly. This would be a disaster that an incompetent president might nevertheless choose.

This is why Congress should not be handing any president the ability to revive conscription through a modernized, automated system. A draft would weaken the military and open the door to reckless decisions in moments of political pressure. No president should have that temptation sitting on their desk. We are committed to an all-volunteer force, and it would be irresponsible to even consider a draft for the future. No draft should obviously mean no draft registration.

***

Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.
We parked, as we always do for the 3Arena, on the Ringsend side of the toll bridge, and made our way over the river to join the queue. It snaked back and forth, but it moved quickly, and the mood was light-hearted.

It was the Saturday night of last weekend, and everyone was here to for the same reason, to forget the world and its problems for a couple of hours and have a good laugh at Peter Kay. Tickets scanned, we walked up the many steps to Row 44 in Block P, high above the stage.

As we did so, I was a little contemplative. In the way of so many events these days, I bought that ticket a long time ago, and in what for me personally, was a very different world. You see, going to a gig in the 3Arena sounds easy, but it took determination to get there.

On the bridge, I held the railings all the way across. Where there were open spaces, and when getting up and down kerbs, I linked arms with my sister. Inside, we took the lift as far as we could.

On the steps to our seat row, steeply raked, I went up slowly, clutching the guardrails, looking for all the world like Id had too much to drink  and, to get to my seat, I took hold of complete strangers as I made my way along the row.

When I bought my ticket, it was November 2024. I was able-bodied, and booking to go to a gig, be it comedy, music, theatre or sport, posed no challenge at all.

It did now, though, because in the intervening months between buying the ticket and getting to use it, something I never expected to happen, something grave and unpredictable, happened to me.

In Rome, there to work as a journalist at the funeral of Pope Francis, I had a massive stroke. Over the next four months, in hospitals in Rome and in Co. Wexford, I had to face the laborious challenges of using my right arm again and, more importantly, of walking again, but one thing was always on my mind.

The first anniversary on 25 April and that Peter Kay gig more or less coincided. Come hell or high water, I was going. No matter what, I would be there.

I won't bore you with all the details of my stroke, since many have been relayed here before.

To recap briefly, though, I was taken to the Policlinico Umberto 1, one of Europes largest hospitals, by ambulance from a cafe.

Phillip Nolan photographed exactly one year after his stroke in Rome

Speedy intervention there in the form of a thrombectomy, removing the clot that interrupted blood flow to my brain, left me with less damage than might have been the case had this happened at 3am when I was at home alone.

Forgive the pun, but that actually was the first stroke of good luck.

Fortuitous events followed in quick succession. The office flew my siblings out, with one replacing the other  except for the first night, when my younger sister had arrived but wasnt allowed in, I was never alone.

My brother got me home by an air ambulance he organised with our managing director and editors.

The staff when I arrived to the ambulance on the tarmac at Dublin Airport, and to Wexford General Hospital, couldnt have been nicer or more accommodating.

The same goes for St Johns Community Hospital in Enniscorthy. The nursing staff were tremendous fun, delighting in puncturing my occasional pomposity  I have notions, apparently!  but it was to the physiotherapy staff I ultimately owe everything.

From a tentative start, passing an inflatable ball between my knees as I lay prone, to walking along the bars, to stretching with resistance bands and learning how to use stairs, they coaxed and cajoled.

I took a wheelchair home, just in case, but I never used it even once, and I brought it back for someone who actually needs it.

The same holds true for the rollator, the walker as it perhaps is better known. On flat surfaces, Im fine without it, albeit not for huge distances, and while I can get around the supermarket without any significant problems, I like the stability of a trolley to return to, and Im not wild about looking up at any shelves that are set at greater than head height.

Overall, though, the rehab staff got me back on my feet, and I cant praise them highly enough.

The speech and language woman taught me how to say my Rs again, as the inevitable droop on one side of my mouth slowly righted itself. It may never be perfectly symmetrical again, but I dont look like a sad clown anymore.

As for the occupational therapists, they got me cooking again, which I love, and filling the washing machine, and stacking and emptying the dishwasher, which I dont love, but has to be done.

On my last day in St Johns, the doctor confessed that when she first saw me and the sullen lump of gristle that hung uselessly on my right side, she assumed Id never again have the use of my right arm.

The fact Im typing this is testament to their skill and perseverance, as repetition that occasionally drove me mad instead paid off.

To a woman  and they were all women  they were magnificent. They knew when to push me, and when they indulged me, it still was with the proviso that while kid gloves were the order of that day, it was back to knuckledusters the next. Proper order.

All of this shows that everything is fine and back to normal, yes? Well, no. I still dont have a great sense of temperature on the right side.

My hand knows where it shouldnt be, but since the feedback is exactly the same if an item is too cold as it is when its too hot, its best for now to lead with the left, in the freezer, the grate, the oven and hob, the shower and sink.

My handwriting also needs a lot of work. Again, I can label food in trays for the freezer, but they look like theyve been written by an eight-year-old.

This is an improvement, given that just months ago, they looked like they were written by a five-year-old, and I couldnt hold a pen or pencil at all last year.

I cant do the dot over the letter i with anything resembling conviction, which is annoying when my forename has two of them.

These are small things, though. Much bigger is the perennial fear of falling. All the floors in my house are tile or wood, so theres nothing to cushion me.

Public Enemy No.1, apparently, is the pedal bin, so I hold on to the countertop while using it. Small modifications with big rewards. Where possible, Ive also removed items from the floor  if its a tripping hazard, its gone.

Ive added only one thing, and thats a grab bar in the shower. I dont need it as such, but its handy when my eyes are closed because my face is wet and Im temporarily disorientated. In retrospect, I should have done this anyway, years before I had the stroke.

Other than that, through grim determination or utter stupidity depending on your point of view, everything is as it was before.

Ive changed. Nothing else has to, for now.

Having said that, a few brief negatives. You dont notice it until youre disabled, but everyone is in such a hurry.

In supermarkets, they brush past when youre not moving quickly enough for their liking. If they do need to pass, and I appreciate the demands of modern life, a simple excuse me costs nothing, and means a lot.

Ditto with sentences. I dont need them finished for me, but I sometimes need a little longer to get the words out.

The same goes for thoughts  presenting me with options just fries my brain, presumably since its constantly working to rearrange the old, and now dead, pathways.

Its much better all round if Im allowed a little longer to reach a conclusion. Ill get there, I promise, and in seconds. Ill grant you its not nanoseconds, but theres no need to be so rushed!

My family and friends give me that space, and all I ask is that others give it too.

As for strokes in general, in this country, if you recover at all, youre on your own from then on.

After months of waiting, I was delighted to be called to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in my native Dun Laoghaire to have a chat with the doctor there.

I was told they were busy, but I would get an online programme for my hand in a few weeks. Ive heard nothing since. That was the 14th of November.

So, it's a year on from my stroke, and what have I learned? Well, everyone improves at a different pace, and in different ways.

For some, that means walking straight away, but with impaired cognition. Others, like me, knew the passwords and codes for all my email addresses and bank account and credit cards, but couldnt walk, or move my arm. No two strokes are the same.

Lets not ignore the indignities either, the nakedness in front of strangers, the nappies and the catheter, the being dressed and showered, even wiped, by others.

Guess what?

The nurses, women and men, are saints. They do things I wouldnt do for someone I love, yet they do it day in and day out for strangers.

I was occasionally unruly, largely out of frustration at the uselessness of my body, but I hope mostly respectful. I appreciated everything that was done for me, even if I didnt always show it.

I was reminded that the most important people in your life when your parents are no longer around are your siblings.

Theyre the ones who have been with you the longest, who know when to humour you, but also when to tell you that its time you dispensed with the drama and realised youre special only to them  others have more on their minds.

Friends have been brilliant at keeping in touch, and the motoring crew have been great too. Just recently, I stayed overnight in Marlfield House up the road at the launch of the DS.4 and DS.8. It felt, I dont know, normal.

My neighbours here in Co. Wexford constantly ask if I need anything at all, and social media, so often vilified, has been indispensable.

Cards and gifts from people I have never met (one from Australia, for heavens sake), and probably never will meet, often moved me to the point of tears.

On my down days, few and far between, thankfully, when I asked the heavens why this happened to me, I was reminded to not be such a fool, and be grateful for what I had, not rueful over what I lost.

Above all, though, and I hope you will indulge me on this, I found within myself reserves I didnt know I had.

Maybe it comes from close to home, because my mother had a breast removed in her late 40s, before reconstruction was common, and lived for another 30 years. She refused to be self- pitying, and was just glad to be alive.

I dont know yet if that will be enough to sustain me in the long term, because I loved my cars, my wine and my travel, and all are pretty much denied to me for now.

Ill do my best to follow her example, though, and live a new reality, and come to terms with a much smaller universe.

Theres an old saying, which goes along the lines that men make plans, and God laughs. He had a good old giggle at me, Id say, but do you know what? Im still making plans.

Long after I had the stroke, I went online and bought tickets. Ill be back in the 3Arena again next month for Les Miz. Sure, feck it  were only here the once.
Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson (Century 20, 432pp)

Judge Stone is available now

Oscar-winning actress Davis, star of the television series How To Get Away With Murder, joins forces with the legendary Patterson to sculpt a spellbinding story about a black female judge in Alabama, Mary Stone, who finds herself on the bench for a hugely controversial trial.

Doctor Bria Gaines has conducted an abortion on 13-year-old Nova Jones without her mothers permission. The black teenager gets ill and admits whats happened  then all hell breaks loose.

Gaines is arrested for murder, Novas mother is incandescent, and the affair escalates into a national scandal. The ghosts of the Klan loom everywhere. On the surface it is an open-and-shut case, but is it? In the tradition of To Kill A Mockingbird, this is a tale that is impossible to put down, elegant, thoughtful and terrifying.

The Hiding Season by A. C. Glass (Century 16.99, 400pp)

The Hiding Season is available now from the Mail Bookshop

Heartbroken after the collapse of her marriage, Maya Landry takes refuge in an exclusive gated community in Bozeman, Montana, determined to get her life back.

But her recovery falls apart when she stumbles upon the dead body of an American Senator in one of the houses she looks after. She reports it to the police, but when they arrive back at the isolated property the body is gone, the house is spotless  and the police dont believe her.

Enter shadowy FBI agent Riley Maguire who insists Maya leaves Bozeman immediately, or she will be killed because of what she knows. So begins a gripping journey, with Maya on the run  first to Texas and then to Chicago.

With an indomitable heroine, this is superb storytelling that tugs at the heartstrings, and leaves you begging for more.

Its Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh (HarperCollins 16.99, 400pp)

It 's Not What You Think is available now from the Mail Bookshop

The mother of two young girls, Nadeeka Prasanna is convinced that her new man, Jamie  who is not the girls father  is having an affair and sets off to catch him out, but when she gets to their home she finds a detective inspector outside and police tape across her front door.

Inside, her new partner is lying dead in a pool of blood in the sitting room. Hes been murdered. At first the police believe she had nothing to do with the killing, but, gradually, their opinion changes as DCI Lauren Caldwell and her team investigate.

As the mystery deepens, Nadeeka becomes increasingly alarmed. Packed with twists and turns, this intricate plot is exquisite.








For men of a certain age, brought up in the dull, grey world of Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s  and sadly that includes this reviewer - Paris 68 represented a kind of utopia: a stylish, dangerous world that woke at night, its streets full of cheap hotels, dive bars, jazz clubs, small-time crooks and pimps, bouncers and drug dealers, actors and chancers, gangsters and girls.

Alain Delon c 1964

It was also a world of glamour, brought brilliantly to life here by Edward Chisholm, a young writer who has lived in Paris since 2012. And no one in 1968 was more glamorous than Alain Delon, the most famous film star in France, with his extraordinary good looks, a taste for bad company and a shady past  and always surrounded by a bevy of beautiful actresses. Intriguingly, Delon is today a style icon for Gen Z, celebrated on social media and in magazines for his effortless cool.

Behind the stars hypnotic eyes and glittering beauty, though, lay a sense of danger. He played killers and cops: how much of it was real?

In this remarkable book, utterly gripping over 400 pages, high-end novelised non-fiction takes a big leap forward. This astonishing story deserves a lavish TV treatment too in due course. Chisholm has studied an encyclopedic amount of files on the mysterious murder of a young Yugoslav man, Stefan Markovic, who was beaten, shot and then dumped by the side of the road in the Parisian suburbs in 1968. Markovic was a good-looking young chancer from Belgrade who made a few francs hustling pictures of holidaymakers, honeymooners, and  especially  beautiful women.

Eventually he worked his way into Delons circle, as a part-time bodyguard , associate and general helper. He was never as valued as he wanted to be by the star, who refused to help him get a work permit and certainly didnt pay him. But a huge amount of second-hand glamour rubbed off on him, helping his own pursuit of actresses and film stars.

He also had a brief but intense affair with Delons wife Nathalie, which strikes me as a pretty risky career choice for anyone who valued a long life. In fairness, it only started after Delon told Nathalie he was divorcing her.

Alain Delon kisses his wife Nathalie

As he researched more deeply into what was known as the Markovic Affair, Chisholm became more amazed by what he found. The murdered Markovic in a plastic sheet, a legendary film star, blackmail, orgies, spies, a web of rumour and intrigue that dragged in Claude Pompidou, the prime ministers wife. He has spoken to former spooks, retired cops and former journalists, and combed through acres of archive material, including thousands of police documents, letters and diaries.

Skilfully, he links the murder with the seismic upheavals going on in a France still scarred by memories of the war, occupation and betrayal. Here we witness the end of the old regime of Charles de Gaulle and the election of Georges Pompidou, the riots of 1968 when the streets of Paris were transformed by student revolutionaries, all set against the huge power of French cinema.

Movies were absolutely central to post-war French life. There were more cinema screens in Paris than in any other city, and the French New Wave  led by Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard  revolutionised cinema in the 1960s. France was modernising and cinema was a chief medium. The new guard was rebelling against the shame of the war, the guilt of occupation and betrayal. The central characters in their films were drifters and poets, young people, crooks and grifters. Like the audience, they stayed up all night, talking, drinking and sleeping with each other. Into this landscape comes Alain Delon, absurdly handsome, enigmatic, and with a very dodgy military record. He was fiercely ambitious and Chisholm charts his ruthless pursuit of stardom. His films were fatalistic and detached, superb thrillers, part of a rich crop of post-war gangster flicks. More than an actor, he became an icon, a living representative of the new France, where wealth was acquired and pleasure ruthlessly pursued.

Sex symbol Delon

The film that shot Delon to fame was Plein Soleil, a version of Patricia Highsmiths The Talented Mr Ripley. Although originally given a bit part, he schemed his way into taking the lead, playing Tom Ripley, bronzed and shirtless in the Italian sun, stylish, treacherous and murderous. Is this life imitating art? Or art imitating life? He might look like an angel but underneath lies something much more threatening, a dark star with menace. The premiere was in 1960 and a huge success. From then on there was no looking back.

The investigation into Markovics murder ran for seven years, and by the end involved rumours of compromising photographs featuring senior politicians, and the rich and powerful taking part in orgies. Unofficial branches of the French secret service were asking questions. A rent boy came forward, claiming to have pictures of Delon in gay orgies. It was never proved, and was dismissed by Delon though Claudia Cardinale, his co-star in the Visconti masterpiece The Leopard, said the queues outside his hotel room were of men and women alike. Delon would take his pick, she recalled.

Murder in Paris is available now from the Mail bookshop

When the investigation grew too wide and too dangerous, it was shut down. But who killed Markovic, and what was the true nature of his relationship with the film star? Was he blackmailing Delon? Had friendship soured into jealousy? Did the actor just want rid of the troublesome Yugoslav, and drop a remark? Was organised crime involved? Markovic left a note: If I get killed its 100 per cent the fault of Alain Delon and his godfather Francois Marcantoni.

Marcantoni  a Corsican  was a big-time gangster and a former Resistance leader, and well known to Delon. Both men were held and questioned but there were no convictions, although the plastic sheeting that covered Markovics corpse was linked to Marcantoni.

In France the ripples of the affair deepened the Delon myth. He carried on making remarkable films, but age was no friend to a man whose beauty was part of his legend. And though Markovic was denied justice, he at least never had to age. A remarkable book about an extraordinary time.
A South Australian winemaker has revealed how a mysterious, full-body rash he suffered just months before being diagnosed with bowel cancer set him on a years-long investigation into one of the world's most widely used chemicals.

Nick 'Duggie' Dugmore, 41, believes the unexplained reaction he experienced in 2022, after unknowingly sleeping on land sprayed with glyphosate, was the first warning sign of the disease that would later change his life.

Now living with stage four bowel cancer, the father-of-two is speaking out, urging Australians to question what he claims is a 'slow' and 'insidious' exposure happening through everyday life.

'I don't want people to think I just chose glyphosate to blame for my cancer,' he told Daily Mail.

'This rash is the reason for and the starting point of my research into glyphosate,' he said, referring to the active ingredient in many widely used weed killers sprayed on farms, crops and public spaces.

The moment that changed everything came during a short stay on a private property outside his Adelaide vineyard in 2022.

Duggie had been sleeping in a swag and walking barefoot around the farm when a rash suddenly appeared across his forehead while he was having dinner on his second evening.

At first, it seemed minor, but within days, the rash and its 'unbearably' symptoms escalated dramatically across his entire body.

South Australian winemaker Nick 'Duggie' Dugmore (pictured) has revealed how a mysterious, full-body rash he suffered just 14 months before being diagnosed with bowel cancer set him on a years-long investigation into one of the world's most widely used chemicals

He believes the unexplained six-day-long reaction he experienced in 2022 (pictured), after unknowingly sleeping on land sprayed with glyphosate (the active ingredient in many widely used weed killers), was the first warning sign of the disease that would later change his life

'It was only on day four that I went to emergency because my face swelled up so much,' he recalled.

What followed was a week of intense, relentless symptoms that left him unable to sleep for six nights, describing the itching as 'torturous'.

'The only relief I could get from the itching was scalding hot showers I was having to have around eight to ten a day and nearly running our tanks dry.'

Doctors initially suggested it could have been a spider bite, but with no clear cause or bite marks detected, it was impossible for experts to ever confirm at the time.

It wasn't until more than a year later, after a devastating cancer diagnosis, that Duggie began to connect the dots.

In 2023, he was told he had stage three bowel cancer after a tumour was discovered in his bowel. His surgeon estimated the tumour had been growing for around 14 to 16 months.

'These words changed my life and gave me a starting point for investigation.'

Looking back through photos on his phone, Duggie realised the timing aligned almost exactly with the rash he had experienced after camping on the sprayed land.

Duggie had been sleeping in a swag and walking barefoot around the farm when a rash suddenly appeared across his forehead while he was having dinner. Within days, the rash and its 'unbearable' symptoms escalated dramatically across and he went to hospital

'The only relief I could get from the itching was scalding hot showers I was having to have around eight to ten a day,' he said. Doctors initially suggested it could have been a spider bite, but with no clear cause, it was impossible for experts to ever confirm at the time

More than a year after the unexplained rash, Duggie was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in 2023, with doctors estimating the tumour had been growing for 14 to 16 months, a timeline he later realised closely matched his exposure to sprayed land

'It was exactly that amount of time before I slept on the ground and I got this rash,' he said.

While he acknowledges the link is not definitive, the discovery prompted him to begin researching glyphosate and its potential impact on human health.

'The biggest issue is not acute exposure, it's chronic exposure,' he said.

'It's the stuff in our food, in our water, in everything, so very slow exposure of this stuff is consistent.'

Duggie now believes the chemical may disrupt biological processes in the body, particularly in the gut, and has become increasingly concerned about its presence in everyday environments.

Backing some of his concerns is Dr Stephanie Seneff, a senior research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has studied glyphosate extensively and believes the chemical may interfere with the body in a unique way.

Duggie was treated with chemotherapy and radiation and his tumour disappeared, only to return in his lungs one year later, this time advancing his cancer to stage four

'I believe that this is its primary mechanism of toxicity,' she said, referring to glyphosate's ability to substitute for the amino acid glycine during protein synthesis.

'The best way to explain that is to assume that it is getting into the protein in place of glycine.'

Dr Seneff added that glyphosate is widely known to suppress the shikimate pathway - a biological process found in plants and microbes - which some researchers believe may play a role in gut health.

However, the scientific community remains divided on the issue.

While some studies have raised concerns about potential links between glyphosate and disease, regulatory bodies in Australia and around the world continue to maintain that the chemical is safe when used as directed.

'It's the stuff in our food, in our water, in everything, so very slow exposure of this stuff is consistent.' Duggie now believes the chemical may disrupt biological processes in the body, particularly in the gut, and has become increasingly concerned about its presence in everyday environments

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) recently reapproved glyphosate for use until 2035, citing insufficient evidence to restrict it.

For Duggie, though, the question goes beyond official guidance urging Australians not to ignore it, especially as the potent chemical has been banned in 33 other countries.

He has since sent off samples of rainwater, creek water and tap water for testing from his Adelaide home, driven by concerns about long-term exposure.

'I think parts per billion can actually make a difference especially over years,' he said.

While some studies have raised concerns about potential links between glyphosate and disease, regulatory bodies in Australia continue to maintain that the chemical is safe when used as directed - despite being banned in a staggering 33 other countries

However, industry voices say the conversation is shifting, but still very slowly.

Blair Beattie, Executive Director of Farmers Footprint, said glyphosate remains deeply embedded in Australian agriculture, but attitudes are beginning to change.

'Glyphosate is still deeply embedded in Australian agriculture, but the old model of heavy reliance is being challenged,' he said.

'Farmers are being told it's safe, but many are quietly asking 'safe for how long, and at what cost?'

He added that while alternatives exist, they require a broader shift in farming systems rather than a simple replacement.

'There are alternatives, but they are usually system alternatives, not silver bullets.'

Now, Duggie is turning his focus to action, having already presented to his local South Australian council to urge a rethink on glyphosate use in public spaces, while also calling for a broader national review

Now, Duggie is turning his focus to action, having already presented to his local South Australian council to urge a rethink on glyphosate use in public spaces, while also calling for a broader national review.

He hopes sharing his story will encourage others to question what they're exposed to, as well as to think more deeply about the systems around them.

'I think people need to slow down a little bit and think about what it truly means to be a part of this planet,' he said.

Despite his diagnosis now progressing to stage four, with small metastases in his lungs, Duggie said his outlook has shifted completely.

'Cancer is death by a thousand cuts, but glyphosate was a big one,' he said.

'Once you start looking into this stuff, you can't unsee it.'
When my husband-to-be Sam first told me, in no uncertain terms, that he wasnt going to wear a wedding ring, I thought he was joking.

Looking up at his face, however, which bore the countenance of a person about to deliver a eulogy, I realised this was no laughing matter.

I stared at him for a minute, my head cocked in confusion. I had many questions whirring through my head, all of which stemmed from the most simple: But why not?

I had never heard of a man not wearing a wedding ring. Like getting married in a bikini, or mid-bungee jump, it was something Id never considered to be an option.

It seemed akin to refusing to kiss the bride after being instructed to.

Why would he object to something so generic? I wasnt asking him to change his religion, political beliefs or gender; I was merely asking him to wear a ring (of his choosing) on his wedding finger  like every other married man I knew.

Growing up I was told that a wedding ring is a declaration to the world of your bond with another person. You only need to look at the speculation sparked when someone is spotted not wearing their ring  as was the case this week with actress Keira Knightleys husband James Righton  to see the significance.

As for choosing not to wear one at all? Well, thats viewed with inherent suspicion.

Eilidh and Sam Dorgan. He wanted to follow family tradition by refusing to wear a wedding ring

Eilidh eventually decided she didn't care about the issue enough to persuade him to wear one

Though my initial reaction to Sams announcement was one of shock and mild hurt, I never viewed his choice as nefarious. Even in my darkest moments, when I look like an electrocuted llama and act like a feral squirrel, I feel confident that his eyes arent wandering. The mere thought of cheating on me, I believe, would be enough for him to have a panic-induced heart attack.

And so, with the most obvious reason for not wearing a ring out of the way, I was left again asking: Why?

For one, he did not want to wear jewellery he said firmly, as though I was asking him don a pair of statement earrings.

I argued that a wedding band transcends the realm of jewellery and is more a wearable symbol of your unity, of a relationship that cannot be abandoned without legal ramifications.

Besides, many people find wearing a wedding, or indeed engagement, ring a bit strange at first. But they all just, you know, get used to it. So it seemed like a flimsy argument.

But his main reason, it transpired, was tradition.

Sam is a man who mentally lives 200 years ago and knows more about his dead relatives than his living ones. He has a deep love of history and in his family, according to him, none of the men have ever worn wedding rings. Not his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, nor, we assume, any man prior to that. It was a tradition he wished to continue, furthered by his obstinate desire not to adhere to current societal norms.

When I pointed out that his younger brother, whod got married two years prior, wore one, Sam rolled his eyes.

Sam could cite several public figures who don't wear a wedding ring, such as Prince William

Hes weird, he claimed, he doesnt count!

I rolled my own eyes and glared at him, but he declared his brothers choice was irrelevant. He reminded me that men didnt generally wear wedding rings before the Second World War, and happily pointed to a slew of his friends who are equally unspoiled by finger jewellery.

He could also, off the top of his head, cite a long list of public figures who dont wear wedding rings: Prince William, and every male Prime Minister after Harold Wilson (except Rishi Sunak) to name but a few.

Had I felt strongly enough, then perhaps I could have talked him round, or forced him to wear a ring.

But, once my initial shock had worn off, I realised I didnt care enough to have what would surely become a recurring, never-ending philosophical debate.

I did, however, sense that I could gain something from ceding to this argument  and my bargaining chip was to suggest that I got an extra ring instead to wear on his behalf. My acquiescence was literally bought in gold. While my friends initially had some questions, when I told them about the second ring I was getting as a consolation prize, many changed their view.

One friend nudged her then-boyfriend in the ribs and exclaimed: Thats what we should do!

Essentially, I found that most women were open to forgoing their husbands ring if it meant extra jewellery for themselves.

My family, however, was less distracted by shiny objects, and appeared slightly concerned at the prospect of my husband being ringless.

The news was met with a puzzled silence, which was finally broken by my grandmother exclaiming: But how will anyone know hes married?

My father seemed to think that hed misheard us, and spent the ensuing months repeatedly asking Sam if he was going to wear a ring, as though he was sure hed imagined it and had to reconfirm if hed dreamt the whole thing up.

Even on our wedding day he asked, with the same curious look as he had six months prior, So, are you going to wear a ring? Some days I fear hes still waiting for Sam to put one on.

After we said our vows, it was slightly strange to have two boxes for me and nothing for my husband; the uneven wedding ring exchange was a slightly awkward interaction. I was given one ring for my ring finger and another to sit next to it on my pinky, while Sam happily received nothing.

My additional ring is a Russian wedding ring, featuring three bands to represent the past, present and future. While Id like to say I chose it for its symbolism, it was mainly because I liked the look of it.

Six years on, I cant remember the last time Ive noticed that Sam doesnt wear a ring. I certainly dont feel I need a thin band of gold to prove our marriage. Living together and being endlessly tortured by the two children we created is more than enough confirmation to me that he is, indeed, my husband.

I dont really consider what other women think when they see his ringless finger. To me, it seems mad to equate someones fidelity to wearing a ring.

After all, they can be quickly removed should anyone want to appear single for underhanded reasons. And its hardly as though affairs only occur when someones hidden their marital status. If you have a genuine concern that your partners ability to be faithful hinges on whether or not they wear a ring, then you probably shouldnt be marrying them.

Like any relationship, a lot of negotiation is required to keep ours well-oiled and drama-free. From where we live to our childrens names, theres always something that requires meeting someone halfway, conceding a win, or sticking to your guns if you feel strongly enough.

To me, my husbands lack of a ring is just one of those situations where I chose to let it go  just as he begrudgingly allows me to watch a horror movie every night in October, or paint our bedroom a new colour on a whim.

If anything, Im beginning to come round to his point of view. More and more, you see married men who have made some truly questionable choices when it comes to their wedding ring.

Perhaps the world could actually do with one or two fewer bedazzled husbands.

By comparison, as I look at my own extra ring, Im thankful that I not only have a husband whose choices I trust implicitly  but who is also willing to pay me off in precious metals.
Joy Reid blasted President Donald Trump's Justice Department (DOJ) as 'absolutely insane' after it brought a sweeping federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

The DOJ accused the group of secretly funneling millions of dollars to extremist organizations including the Ku Klux Klan. The SPLC said the payments were to informants embedded with the groups.

Former MSNBC star Reid used her show to sharply criticize the case unveiled by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, which alleges the civil rights nonprofit defrauded donors by paying informants.

'This is absolutely insane,' Reid said on The Joy Reid Show. 'What they're trying to do is criminalize the very work of identifying extremism.'

At the center of the storm is an 11-count federal indictment announced by Blanche, accusing the SPLC of orchestrating a years-long scheme to secretly funnel more than $3 million to individuals tied to extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan.

Prosecutors allege the nonprofit defrauded donors by claiming funds would be used to combat hate groups, while allegedly using some of that money to pay informants embedded within those same organizations.

According to court filings, the payments made between 2014 and 2023 were routed through accounts set up under fictitious names, with at least nine informants allegedly compensated, including individuals connected to groups such as the Aryan Nations and the National Socialist Party of America.

Joy Reid called the indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center 'absolutely insane,' accusing the Trump administration of targeting a civil rights group for its work exposing extremism

Donald Trumps Justice Department is pursuing the case, framing it as a major fraud prosecution against the SPLC over alleged misuse of donor funds

Blanche did not mince words when announcing the charges, accusing the organization of deception at a fundamental level.

'The SPLC was not dismantling these groups. It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose,' he said.

The SPLC has flatly denied wrongdoing, insisting the payments were part of legitimate intelligence-gathering efforts aimed at preventing violence.

Its chief executive Bryan Fair said the organization worked with confidential informants to monitor threats and regularly shared information with law enforcement.

'We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC,' Fair said in a statement, adding that the work 'saved lives.'

The organization, founded in 1971 in the aftermath of Jim Crow-era segregation, has built its reputation tracking hate groups and pursuing civil litigation against white supremacist organizations.

Its widely cited 'hate map' has long made it a lightning rod for criticism from conservatives.

On her show, Reid argued the SPLC's focus on white supremacist extremism has made it a target, particularly among Republicans who view the group as partisan.

The SPLC has been charged with fraud for allegedly secretly funneling more than $3 million to informants embedded in violent extremist groups including the Klu Klux Klan

The center's chief executive, Bryan Fair, said payments were only made to confidential informants in order to monitor threats of violence from extremist groups

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the center improperly paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups without disclosing the payments to donors. The SPLC was charged on Tuesday

The indictment alleges how more than $3million in funds was secretly funneled to white supremacist and extremist groups

'We don't look at it left, right. They look at who's the danger. And it is racially motivated, violent extremists of the white supremacist variety,' Reid said, referencing remarks from former FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Wray had previously stated: 'Racially motivated violent extremists over recent years have been responsible for the most lethal activity in the US.'

Reid emphasized that assessment, arguing it aligns with the SPLC's work and helps explain the backlash.

'And now you've got the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has also really p****d off the right by focusing on exactly the kinds of extremism that the groups affiliated with them and therefore with Republicans engage in,' she said.

'They need those far right wingers in their voting base and they don't want to alienate them and they're p****d off when they get called out.'

Months before the indictment, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the bureau would sever ties with the SPLC, calling it a 'partisan smear machine.'

That break marked a dramatic shift in a relationship that had historically seen the SPLC provide research and intelligence on hate groups to federal authorities.

Patel has since backed the prosecution, accusing the organization of operating 'a massive fraud operation to deceive their donors.'

Former FBI Director Christopher Wray said racially motivated violent extremists have driven the deadliest attacks in recent years, stressing how under his tenure FBI did not view threats through a left-right political lens

The SPLC is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. It was launched in 1971 to combat hate

The SPLC has faced increased criticism from conservative groups after the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college campus in Utah

A month after Charlie Kirk's death, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau would sever its relationship with the SPLC, asserting that the organization had been turned into a 'partisan smear machine' while criticizing its 'hate map'

Even as the DoJ presses forward, some legal analysts have raised concerns about the unusual nature of the charges.

Phil Hackney, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said the case represents a novel, and potentially risky, legal theory.

'That's a new way of going after a charity - I'm somewhat surprised,' he said.

Traditionally, fraud cases involving nonprofits center on personal enrichment, not operational decisions about how funds are used. Here, prosecutors are targeting the SPLC's methods, specifically its use of confidential informants.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell, who is representing the SPLC, is expected to challenge that framing as the case unfolds.

The indictment lands amid an already charged political climate, where debates over extremism, free speech and law enforcement have become deeply polarized.

Conservatives have long accused the SPLC of unfairly labeling right-leaning groups as extremist, while the organization argues its work is rooted in documenting real threats.

The case also follows heightened scrutiny after the 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which reignited debate over the SPLC's classifications and influence after it put his organization Turning Point USA on its hate map.
Politics is fast. We're faster. Sign up to the DC Insider newsletter for a front-row seat to Washington... and unlock 3 FREE months of DailyMail+

A Democratic congressman refused to confront his outward anti-MAGA sentiments just hours after an armed man attempted to storm and attack Trump administration officials.

A teacher from California named Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was seen attempting to bolt past a security checkpoint for the White House Correspondents' Dinner while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives on Saturday night.

He exchanged fire with Secret Service agents and struck one in a bulletproof vest before he was tackled to the ground and arrested. The agent is expected to be okay, and no one else was harmed.

On Sunday morning, Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin was interviewed about his experience attending the dinner by CNN.

'You have, as many of your fellow Democrats, have used some heated rhetoric against the president, and do you think twice about that when something like this happens?' asked journalist Dana Bash.

Seemingly taken aback, Raskin replied: 'What rhetoric do you have in mind?'

'Just talking about the fact that he is terrible for this country and so on and so forth. I understand that that's your democratic right, but overall, do you have a responsibility?' Bash then asked.

Before she could finish the question, Raskin said: 'I have no personal problem with Donald Trump at all. I mean, I talk about the policies of this administration, the authoritarianism like we saw on display in Minneapolis.'

Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin refused to confront his outward anti-MAGA sentiments during an interview with CNN on Sunday morning

Raskin appeared to be taken aback by a question about his rhetoric potentially inciting violence less than a day after the White House Correspondents' Dinner was attacked

A teacher from California named Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has been identified as the suspected shooter. He was tackled to the ground and arrested before he could kill anyone

The congressman from Maryland went on to discuss Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the American citizens who were fatally shot by ICE agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, as well as people who have died in ICE custody.

'I'm talking about policies. I don't personalize it, and I certainly have never called the press the enemy of the people,' Raskin continued.

That part of the congressman's statement likely alluded to the shooter's targeted event, the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which brings together journalists and politicians at a black-tie gala every year.

Although Raskin denied making personal attacks against the president or inciting political violence with his rhetoric, he has been highly vocal in his critiques against the Trump administration.

At an April 16 congressional hearing for people who were separated from their children by ICE , the Democratic representative said: 'This administration is focused on mass arrests, mass detention and deportation that are dividing our country in unprecedented ways.'

'Federal agents simply started indiscriminately rounding up immigrants and American citizens who looked like immigrants, according to the agents,' Raskin continued.

'They don't target the worst of the worst, they are the worst of the worst,' the representative then said, referencing Trump's campaign promise to go after the 'worst of the worst' undocumented immigrants.

Raskin's last comment was heavily criticized by people who accused him of unfairly targeting law enforcement officials responsible for immigration enforcement.

Raskin has been criticized for comments in which he vehemently criticized ICE. He was also the lead manager of Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021

The White House Correspondents' Dinner descended into chaos after it was attacked. Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders

The representative was also the lead manager of Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021. The case was unsuccessful, and the Senate acquitted Trump.

Other Democrats have recently tapped Raskin's expertise in that realm as they evaluate fresh efforts to impeach the president a third time or invoke the 25th Amendment.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner descended into chaos as top administration officials were rushed to safety by Secret Service agents after the suspected gunman attempted to break into the event armed with multiple weapons.

Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, was sitting next to Raskin at the dinner. She described her harrowing experience in a post on X shortly after the shooting and praised Raskin for 'heroically' protecting her.

'I hit the floor at the White House Correspondents Dinner mid conversation with Jamie, who heroically protected me, whispering, Youre ok, youre ok, youre ok,' Kerry wrote.

She added that her host from the Boston Globe lay on the ground while 'furiously' taking notes and that thousands of people in attendance took cover under tables and chairs before Secret Service agents and security secured and cleared the room.

'It was terrifying. But I am still grateful to the brave Secret Service, to my friends at the Boston Globe, and most especially to Jamie,' Kerry concluded her tweet.

The shooter is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration, according to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities

Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Your browser does not support iframes.

Blanche said officials believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington. He checked into the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being hosted, days before the event.

Evidence found on Allen's electronic devices points towards the theory that he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner.

'It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president,' Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press.

The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.

'He failed,' Blanche said. 'Law enforcement did their jobs.'

Federal prosecutors have announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, are pictured ducking as they were escorted to safety by Secret Service agents

House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members

Allen is facing three charges, and more may be added in the near future. He is highly educated and has no prior criminal record

'It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,' United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.

'There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,' she added.

Cops swarmed on Allen's parents' $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.

Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.

He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.

On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: 'A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.'
The beauty industry is booming  as it tends to when the economy hits a ugly patch. But this time, the sector's biggest names such as Estee Lauder and L'Oreal are deploying artificial intelligence to ensure they survive, thrive and innovate.

The willingness of women to spend on cosmetics when times are tough has been dubbed the 'lipstick effect'  the theory being that consumers still buy small, affordable luxuries in a downturn.

In today's 525 billion-a-year global beauty business, it's now more known as the 'Nvidia effect' since it is this American tech titan's systems that power the AI transforming the sector.

Essentially, the revolutionary technology is enabling beauty giants to get products into stores more quickly. The time it takes to develop a perfume can be cut by 30 to 50 per cent while new moisturisers can now be made in months not years.

It also allows beauty giants to keep up with the latest trends such as 'K-Beauty', which promotes South Korean skincare.

Carolyn Bell, manager of Stonehage Fleming's Global Best Ideas fund, which invests in L'Oreal, said: 'When 'glass skin'  that is the craze for a translucent and poreless look came out of South Korea  L'Oreal was able to tilt its existing products to fit in.'

Pioneering: Kendall Jenner promotes LOreal, whose brands include Garnier and Lancome

The less flawless 'cloud skin' style is rumoured to be supplanting 'glass skin'  underlining why the beauty sector is making the most of AI to stay relevant to a much wider age-range of consumers than before.

Women born between 1946 and 1964 typically only began to apply cosmetics and creams after their 18th birthday. Today an interest in skincare can start as early as eight, according to a US study, due to the controversial rise in child influencers on social media.

L'Oreal, established in 1909 and is promoted by model Kendall Jenner, announced it was partnering with the world's biggest company Nvidia, which is just 33 years old, last June. However, this is just one of the link-ups now happening between cosmetics conglomerates and Silicon Valley 'newbies'.

The 80-year-old US group Estee Lauder, whose ranges include Clinique and Jo Malone, is collaborating with Microsoft and OpenAI, owner of the ChatGPT bot.

And Unilever, which is spinning off its food division to focus on beauty, has struck a deal with Google Cloud.

L'Oreal, whose brands include Garnier and Lancome, began its Nvidia partnership in marketing. Now it is moving into the lab.

'Nvidia's Alchemi innovation tool superpowers the skills of L'Oreal's 4,000 scientists, speeding up research,' Bell said. 'AI cuts costs.'

Last week L'Oreal reported its strongest quarterly sales in two years. The firm, which is quoted on the Paris stock exchange, attributed this to the 'lipstick effect'.

And earlier this month UK firm The Beauty Tech Group hailed a 'transformational year', highlighting demand for its 400 LED masks that treat skin problems.

Its boss Laurence Newman said the company works with Manchester University's School of Dermatology to harness AI and gain insights into different types of skin and hair, and how devices can adapt to the varying needs.

He added: 'For the moment, we are using AI to better understand insights which helps in decision-making. But in the future, we will be using AI to sort through the results of clinical studies to make sense of where devices do and do not work.'

The increase in AI adoption among UK, US and European companies seems to have been spurred by the extraordinary boost that AI has provided to the corporate stars of K-Beauty, such as APR.

The firm's share price has soared by more than 500 per cent over the past year, thanks largely to its Medicube AGE-R devices.

These gadgets, evolved with the assistance of AI, and promoted on TikTok by Kardashian clan member Kylie Jenner, aim to maximise the efficacy of skincare. Some 6 million have been sold to date. And the latest models even incorporate an AI mode that analyses the condition of your skin.

Shares in another K-Beauty firm Amorepacific are 15 per cent up on a year ago as it embraces AI to create creams and devices. The firm has an app on the ChatGPT platform that allows users to compare products and receive personalised recommendations.

Its shops offer AI labs where robots mix bespoke creams, foundations and lipsticks, which are again tailored to customers' skin.

K-Beauty's spectacular rise came as a result of publicity over bizarre natural ingredients in its creams, such as bee venom, salmon sperm and snail mucin.

But, in reality, its ascent has been turbo-charged by AI  and that's a route rivals in the West are following with fervour.
Thames Water's jilted bidder is trying to 'bully its way back into contention' and has 'an umbilical link to the Chinese state', a source close to the bid process has said.

Hong Kong-based infrastructure investor CKI lost out last year to a group of the stricken utility firm's creditors led by Wall Street hedge funds.

They plan to write off some of the water supplier's 20 billion of debt in return for control of Thames Water and a waiver from regulator Ofwat on future fines and penalties for poor performance.

CKI, which owns Northumbrian Water and a string of critical energy assets, claims it would be better to allow Thames Water to enter a form of administration so CKI can re-enter the bid process.

It recently said the Government and Ofwat were 'sleepwalking into a dreadful outcome' if Thames Water were taken over by its creditors.

But the source said CKI was 'interfering in another country's key economic decisions' in a 'tactic straight from the Beijing playbook', noting that chairman Victor Li is an advisor to the Chinese Communist Party.

Foul play: David Thewlis, left, Naomi Battrick and Jason Watkins in Dirty Business

It comes as a petition calling for a referendum to take the water industry back into state ownership, backed by Ash Smith, who was played by David Thewlis in the hit docu-drama Dirty Business about Thames Water, has had 70,000 signatures as public anger mounts over leaks, sewage spills and higher bills.

Smith, a retired police officer, investigated numerous sewage discharges, especially into Oxfordshire's River Windrush. The petition will be considered for debate in Parliament if it reaches 100,000 signatures.

Ministers are under mounting pressure not to allow Chinese-linked firms access to vital infrastructure following a spate of spying and hacking scandals linked to Beijing.

But they are also keen to avoid picking up the bill for any re-nationalisation of Thames Water if talks between creditors and regulators fail.

Andrew Hunter, co-managing director of CKI, said: 'These claims are factually wrong and distract from the real issue: securing the best long-term owner for Thames Water.'

CKI had three decades of operating UK infrastructure 'to a high standard', he added, and the bid process 'should be re-opened and run on a level playing field'.

A spokesman for creditor group London & Valley Water said CKI's bid 'would have cut Thames Water's investment programme significantly'.

'CKI is not the preferred bidder because they put forward a wholly inadequate offer,' she added.
The value of the local government pension scheme (LGPS) has surged to 550 billion as a row rages about turning it into one of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds.

Unlike pensions for doctors, teachers and civil servants  which are paid out of general taxation  the LGPS is funded by thousands of employers who pay into the scheme that mainly invests in shares and bonds.

In return it guarantees seven million council workers past and present a 'gold-plated' retirement income linked to their final or average salaries.

The LGPS in England and Wales was valued at 400 billion a year ago but if the Scotland and Northern Ireland equivalents are included it is estimated to be worth 150 billion more as stock markets hit record highs.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice wants to merge the town hall schemes into a sovereign wealth fund  which would make it the eighth biggest in the world (see table).

Sovereign wealth funds are mainly based on windfall revenues their governments have received, including from oil and gas production in states such as Norway, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Amalgamation: Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice wants to merge local government pension schemes into a sovereign wealth fund

Tice says the fund would 'patriotically back Britain' by pumping an extra 100billion into UK-listed shares. The sum invested in domestic assets such as infrastructure and strategic sectors such as steel would also double to a third of the portfolio.

He admits this would see lower returns for the scheme, which has grown 7 per cent a year on average after fees in each of the past three decades, though recent performance is mixed. Tice says the LGPS is 'underperforming hugely' by investing in 'woke nonsense' and wasting billions in high fund management fees for City advisors.

'It's a huge gravy train and it's appallingly managed,' he said.

Reform, which is expected to do well in next month's local elections, already controls some of the pension committees of the dozen councils it leads.

The LGPS also has a record surplus  the value of its assets minus the current cost of paying pensions  of 148 billion with each member scheme in the black for the first time, according to industry consultant Isio.

That has led to calls for local authorities, school academies and housing associations, who pay 10 billion a year into the LGPS, to cut their contributions to curb council tax rises.

Improved funding levels provided 'strong support for reducing employer contributions when many LGPS employers are under significant financial strain,' said Isio's Steve Simkins.

Employers typically pay about 17 per cent of a council worker's salary into the LGPS, with the employee contributing 6 to 7 per cent  more than in most private sector workplace pension plans.

Reform wants to shut the LGPS to new joiners to cut costs while preserving past pension pledges.

The party is seeking to go further than Labour's plan to merge local authority pension funds into six pools to boost growth.
The crew of NASA's Artemis II space mission were giving their first press conference after returning to Earth when its commander Reid Wiseman was asked a question that seemed even more unlikely than being quizzed about the malfunctioning on-board toilet.

Having warned the four-strong crew that the question would be 'a little bit deep,' Kristin Fisher, host of the space-related YouTube channel The Endless Void, asked them if they'd had a spiritual moment way up in space.

When Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell was returning from the moon, he had an experience so profound that when he returned to Earth, he devoted the rest of his life to studying the nature of human consciousness, Fisher explained.

'Do any of you feel as though you had an experience similar to what Mitchell described - the sense of universal connectedness,' she asked. 'And did you experience somehow a shift in consciousness?'

Wiseman simply answered, 'Yes.' He said he could best explain by recounting a story of how when they were on a navy vessel after landing back on Earth, he asked to talk to the navy chaplain.

'I'm not really a religious person but there was really no other avenue for me to explain anything or experience anything, so I asked for the [ship's] chaplain to just come visit us for a minute.'

He went on: 'I'd never met him before in my life, but I saw the cross on his collar and I just broke down in tears.'

'It's very hard to fully grasp what we just went through.when the sun eclipsed behind the moon, I think all four of usI turned to Victor [Glover, the Artemis pilot] and I said, "I don't think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we are looking at right now," because it was otherworldly and it was amazing.'

The crew of NASA's Artemis II space mission were giving their first press conference after returning to Earth when its commander Reid Wiseman was asked if he's experienced a 'shift in consciousness'

Wiseman said: 'I turned to Victor [Glover, pictured right] and I said, "I don't think humanity has evolved to the point of being able to comprehend what we are looking at right now," because it was otherworldly'

The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, spent roughly 10 days in space

Captain Glover, sitting next to Wiseman, supportively patted his commander on the shoulder. He'd been in the room, he revealed, when the chaplain came in and it had been 'a really special moment.'

He said: 'The only thing I would add is that I am a religious person, but everything else is the same. There is something in there and as we start to process I'll have to tell you next week, but I haven't had a chance to really unpack it all yet.'

It's something that a surprisingly large number of space travelers have found themselves 'unpacking' over the decades.

While space exploration has long been wrapped in science, the experience of seeing the Earth from space has left astronauts undergoing a profound and very unscientific shift in consciousness.

For often that mind-expanding experience involves a conviction that there may be something out there that science cannot explain.

It may be premature to seize on mission commander Wiseman's very personal admission - as some Christians have done - as proof that he had some sort of Damascene conversion, (he didn't actually say he'd suddenly found religion). But he is far from the first space traveler to return to Earth with feelings about the divine that are rather stronger than when he left.

There is even a name for the phenomenon - the 'Overview Effect' - frequently experienced by astronauts as they view the Earth from afar. In some viewers, it has produced an intense feeling of common humanity and a desire to protect a fragile planet, in others it provokes an equally profound feeling of awe as they comprehend man's insignificance amid the immensity of space.

For the religious, it often simply confirms what they already believe - that humanity is special and has a higher purpose. However, it is sometimes transformative, changing people's lives forever. Astronauts often admit it reduces them to tears, although skeptics claim it is usually a passing emotion.

'The overview effect describes the cognitive and emotional transformation that astronauts experience when gazing at Earth from space,' said neuroscientist Dr. Claudio Waisburg. 'The experience generates awe, a sense of transcendence and a keen awareness of interconnectedness. Everyday concerns dissolve. The sense of belonging to something greater than oneself becomes overwhelming.'

Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell called it an 'explosion of awareness' and an 'overwhelming sense of oneness and connectedness... accompanied by an ecstasy... an epiphany.' Other spacemen have alluded to it by remarking that while astronauts go into space to see new planets, the most telling revelation they find is actually about the Earth.

When Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell was returning from the moon, he had an experience so profound that when he returned to Earth, he devoted the rest of his life to studying the nature of human consciousness

Mitchell called it an 'explosion of awareness' and an 'overwhelming sense of oneness and connectedness... accompanied by an ecstasy... an epiphany'

The 'Overview Effect' is a phenomenon frequently experienced by astronauts as they view the Earth (pictured April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew's flyby of the moon) from afar

All four of the Artemis II crew described experiencing something profound.

'I just had an overwhelming sense of being moved by looking at the moon,' said Artemis astronaut Christina Koch. 'It lasted just a second or two, and I actually couldn't even make it happen again, but something just threw me in suddenly to the lunar landscape and it became real.'

Victor Glover told CBS News on Easter Sunday: 'You guys are talking to us because we're in a spaceship really far from Earth. But you're on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos.'

Space experts note that throughout history societies have looked to the stars for spiritual answers, so it's hardly surprising that astronauts experience a spiritual effect when they actually get into space.

Frank White, a space philosopher who coined the phrase 'overview effect' in 1987 after interviewing myriad astronauts, has compared it to Zen Buddhism, in that it is impossible to explain in words.

He said: 'Part of it is seeing the Earth itself. Part of it is seeing the Earth against the backdrop of the universe. You're actually seeing the universe for the first time in a way that no human has seen it.'

Other factors - such as the way astronauts are moving around the Earth frequently, their weightlessness and the passage of time changing (due to Einstein's theory of relativity, clocks in space tick faster than those on Earth because of weaker gravity, but faster velocity makes them tick slower) - all contribute to them feeling dislocated from Earth and experiencing the overview effect, said White.

According to the philosopher, not all astronauts experience the overview effect and the strength of the experience depends on how far they get from Earth. If you are in so-called low-Earth orbit, for example, and only able to see part of the planet, the overview effect is unlikely to be as intense as seeing the planet in its entirety against the backdrop of the cosmos.

As with Artemis II commander Wiseman, reduced to tears by the sign of the cross, the overview effect is often framed in religious terms - a fact that from the early years of space travel has caused controversy.

According to NASA, of the astronauts who visited the moon during the Apollo program, 23 were Protestant and six Catholic, with a high proportion of them as church leaders in their congregations. Some astronauts believe that early space travel was so dangerous that those willing to do it needed to have some sort of religious belief to buoy them up.

On Christmas Eve 1968, Apollo 8 crewmen Jim Lovell, Frank Borman and Bill Anders - the first astronauts to orbit the moon - did a memorable live TV broadcast as they went into lunar orbit and were able to show pictures of the Earth and moon as seen from their spacecraft. They'd wanted to send a message of peace but decided it was too controversial with the US involved in the Vietnam War, so they found an alternative in the Bible.

Announcing they had a message 'for all the people of Earth,' they took turns reading from the Book of Genesis, starting - predictably - with: 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth' and ending with 'and God saw that it was good.'

Borman signed off, saying: 'Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth.'

One in four people back on Earth were estimated to have listened to the reading. The US was, of course, a much more church-going country in those days, but the broadcast still managed to outrage Madalyn Murray O'Hair, a militant atheist who launched a lawsuit against NASA that alleged the reading had violated the First Amendment.

The case was dismissed in the courts, but NASA became paranoid about astronauts - perhaps spiritually awakened by the overview effect - delivering further religious homilies from space.

The agency told crews to tone down religious statements and, when it actually came to the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing the following year, NASA bosses urged the devout Buzz Aldrin - an elder in his Presbyterian church - not to recite any Scripture while he was on the moon's surface.

That didn't stop Aldrin - who'd taken bread and wine with him into space after his pastor gave him permission to celebrate Communion up there.

In 1968, Apollo 8 crewmen (pictured L-R) Frank Borman, Bill Anders and Jim Lovell - the first astronauts to orbit the moon - did a memorable live TV broadcast, taking turns reading from the Book of Genesis

In 2013, astronaut Mike Hopkins, a Catholic on board the International Space Station, was allowed to take up enough consecrated supplies to have weekly Communion for the 24 weeks he was in space

Apollo 11 astronauts (pictured L-R) Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin in 1969

On the night before they touched down, he used a TV broadcast to read a passage from the Bible - Psalms 8:3-4 - that some have dubbed the 'lunar-landing Bible verse.'

Listeners back on Earth heard him intone: 'When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained; What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the Son of Man, that thou visitest him?'

Later, just before he and Neil Armstrong became the first people to step on to the moon's surface, Aldrin radioed Mission Control in Houston to 'request a few moments of silence,' saying, 'I would like to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his own individual way.'

Aldrin said he was one of many astronauts who believed it was part of God's plan that mankind venture into space. And he certainly wasn't the last astronaut to risk embarrassing NASA by daring to bring up the G word - God - when they were up there.

During the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, astronaut James B Irwin was exploring the moon's surface in the Lunar Roving Vehicle when he radioed Mission Control to say that it reminded him of one of his favorite Scripture passages: 'I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help.'

NASA crews have repeatedly celebrated communion in space, including Space Shuttle astronauts Sid Gutierrez, Thomas Jones and Kevin Chilton (a Catholic layperson authorized to assist priests with the Eucharist) who did on a 1994 flight.

In 2013, astronaut Mike Hopkins, a Catholic on board the International Space Station, was allowed to take up enough consecrated supplies to have weekly Communion for the 24 weeks he was in space.

And given that people have worshipped the moon and stars for centuries, perhaps it's no surprise that getting there can be a religious epiphany.
Australians could face more cancelled flights and supply chain woes from July due to looming industrial action on a massive scale combined with the ongoing fuel crisis.

Bombshell internal government documents, seen by the Daily Mail, reveal some senior Commonwealth officials are concerned Australia's skies and freight routes could grind to a halt.

The papers, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, show the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations was asked to urgently prepare for nationwide disruption sparked by coordinated industrial action across aviation, freight, and transport.

The authority has closely tracked warnings from the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) about the synchronised strikes, despite senior officials later claiming ignorance at Senate Estimates.

Major companies identified internally as potentially affected include Linfox, Toll, Cleanaway, Fedex, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Amazon, Aldi, and Armaguard.

An alarm was triggered in May last year, when TWU national secretary Michael Kaine warned workers were prepared to 'shut down Australian transport' by aligning the expiry of hundreds of enterprise bargaining agreements set to end this financial year.

On May 17, the same day national media reported the union's plan, a senior departmental official ordered urgent analysis.

'We have been asked to start preparing some background in response to the TWU warning that its members are prepared to shut down Australian transport with the simultaneous expiry of 200 enterprise agreements,' the internal email stated.

A double hit of fuel prices and industrial chaos could see flights cancelled from July

Freight and supply chains could also be affected with more than 130 industrial agreements needing to be renegotiated from July 1

Within weeks, officials compiled detailed spreadsheets tracking more than 500 expiring enterprise agreements across the transport, postal and warehousing sectors, covering over 78,000 workers nationwide.

Of particular concern were 137 agreements, covering 33,500 employees, all set to expire on June 30, a date officials acknowledged was deliberately selected by union strategists to maximise disruption.

An internal departmental brief titled 'Bargaining in 2026' warned of 'very significant protected industrial action' across the transport sector and confirmed the union's claims were 'broadly correct'.

But, when the issue surfaced publicly months later, officials downplayed the urgency.

At a Senate Estimates hearing in February, senior departmental officials Greg Manning and David Cains were questioned on the issue, with Mr Cains saying he could not recall hearing Mr Kaine's warning and describing any potential disruption as purely hypothetical.

Liberal Senator Maria Kovacic pressed David Cains on whether internal modelling or risk planning had taken place.

'Has the department produced any internal briefing notes, risk assessments or scenario planning documents related to what very much appears to be a coordinated expiry?' she asked.

'Not to my knowledge,' Mr Cains replied.

Greg Manning (pictured) said he had no 'recollection' of hearing TWU threats, despite the Department tracking the claims the day after they were made.

Asked directly whether he was aware of the TWU's threat to 'shut down Australian transport', Manning again said he wasn't aware: 'I do not have a recollection of hearing that comment.'

Officials also repeatedly assured senators no economic modelling had been undertaken because the threat remained hypothetical.

However, the FOI documents show other detailed work was indeed being done on it.

Internal briefings show the department had been actively monitoring the TWU campaign, briefing ministers, and preparing media talking points well before appearing before Parliament.

One ministerial brief noted the TWU was party to 218 expiring agreements, covering almost 50,000 workers, with 87 agreements sharing the same 30 June expiry date.

'This is the first time in history that transport workers have aligned more than 200 enterprise agreements to expire together,' the briefing states.

The agreements stretch across aviation, road freight, airport ground handling, waste services, bus operations and even ambulance transport.

Officials warned the timing could not be more unfortunate, with winter school holidays, regional tourism and freight supply chains all exposed if industrial action escalates.

Mr Kaine has been explicit about the union's intentions if bargaining demands are not met.

'Significant disruption will occur if worker safety is not improved and higher pay and better conditions are not achieved,' he said.

Those warnings now loom over an aviation sector already under significant strain.

The industrial threat is unfolding alongside a worsening fuel cost crisis, which has already forced Qantas and Virgin Australia to cancel flights in recent weeks as soaring fuel prices and supply pressures bite.

A spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations told Daily Mail that the internal emails relating to threats from the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) were sent 'a significant time prior to the Estimates hearing', meaning officials would not necessarily be expected to recall every email.

'That is why questions are taken on notice,' the spokesperson said.

They confirmed that in mid2025 the department conducted a review of its Workplace Agreements Database to verify how many enterprise agreements in the Transport, Postal and Warehousing sector were due to expire in 2026.

'The search confirmed the Transport Workers' Union's claim that approximately 200 enterprise agreements are due to pass their nominal expiry date in mid2026,' the spokesperson said.

However, the department downplayed concerns that the expiry of these agreements would lead to widespread industrial action.

'The expiry of a large number of agreements does not mean that widespread industrial action will occur. There are legislative requirements that must be met before protected industrial action can occur,' they said.

'For example, an agreement must have passed its nominal expiry date, bargaining must have commenced and a secret ballot of relevant employees needs to have been undertaken.'

'Parties must also have participated in conciliation before the Fair Work Commission, employees must provide notice before taking industrial action and there is a prohibition on employees being paid for any period where they have participated in stoppages as part of protected industrial action.'

'The department notes that the overwhelming majority of enterprise agreements are finalised without recourse to protected industrial action.'

The spokesperson also revealed that no modelling had been undertaken on the likelihood of industrial action, saying it would be 'premature and speculative' to do so.
With Chris Trybus's 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 barrister.

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 this week dramatically cleared of all charges in relation to his first wife Tarryn Baird  manslaughter, coercive behaviour and two counts of rape.

Now the Daily Mail can reveal how Trybus, while trying to clear his name, was also meeting, wooing and finally marrying a second, glamorous blonde single mother, Beata.

And while his eminent lawyer, Katy Thorne KC, was defending him in the dock, it was his new bride who mounted a robust defence out of it.

This is the extraordinary story of how divorcee Beata Trybus, 39, offered unwavering support throughout his criminal probe  never doubting his innocence before it was finally confirmed by a jury.

Mr Trybus is thought to have met the Polish mother-of-two and begun dating her in early 2020, soon after her divorce from the father of her two young children.

At the time she was living as a single parent in his adopted home, Swindon.

During Chris Trybus's trial for driving his wife to commit suicide there was one woman who accompanied him to court almost every day  his second wife Beata Wheelhouse

It emerged during the case that the man cleared of pushing his first this week dramatically cleared of all charges in relation to his first wife Tarryn Baird that he had married again

Beata walks hand in hand with Porsche-loving IT consultant Mr Trybus to Winchester Crown Court for his long trial  the woman who never doubted his innocence

Ms Baird was 34 years old when she took her own life in November 2017. Her husband had been on trial accused of her manslaughter but was found not guilty of all charges

Her Facebook charted their relationship as it developed.

In early 2020, she posted about her divorce from her 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 cheerful posts also featured them attending Reading Festival, boating on The Solent and taking her children around tourist sights like 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 showed them kissing and is captioned: 'With you every moment is a fairytale' with heart emojis.

Another again touted his qualities as a step father and says: 'love you to the moon and back.'

They got a dog, a spaniel, which they named Snoopy.

All this culminated in their marriage, in August 2024. She shared pictures of the ceremony 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 upbeat social media posts showed her and her husband visiting Winchester's famous cathedral during breaks from the hearing at the town's Crown Court.

But it was only as the trial was about to begin that she pivoted from supporting him privately to defending him publicly.

Posting as 'Bea Trybus, Chris's wife' on a specially created website 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.'

She went on: '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.'

Mrs Trybus stated that he had been 'falsely accused' and that the couple were 'devastated' but 'determined to fight for the truth', in her a statement issued as the eight week of trial opened in February.

And she cited her husband's 'quiet kindness and integrity' and praised him as a 'loving husband and stepfather' to her two children.

She added: 'Those who know him described him as kind, hardworking, and deeply devoted to his family.

'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.'

Mr Trybus is thought to have met the Polish mother-of-two and begun dating her in early 2020, soon after her divorce from the father of her two young children

The couple tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony and shared their photos on social media

For every day of the case, despite not featuring as a witness, she would become recognisable to all as Trybus's 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 because of 'a tsunami of abuse'  with his defence based on her having framed him by storing up false records, some of which were made while he was proved to have been overseas.

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.

Then, at the end of each day's hearing, the couple would descend the court steps together, drive home, and then return the next day.

In a further post, she described Trybus as 'a husband, a stepfather [who has touched] countless lives with his quiet kindness and integrity', adding: 'That's the man we know. That's the man we're standing by.'

He was finally cleared of all counts on Wednesday  after an agonising 40 hour of jury deliberations.

Outside court, Trybus hugged Bea, with both of them in tears.

After her faith was vindicated by his acquittal, Bea Trybus later issued a further statement again thanking those who had believed in him.

She said: 'Seeing Chris go through this ordeal has been heartbreaking. He is the most wonderful person I have ever known, my best friend and I am incredibly proud to be his wife.

'Listening to the accusations throughout this process felt surreal. They were deeply upsetting and difficult to comprehend. I am grateful that the jury was able to see the truth and reach the right verdict.

Beata was a single mother from Swindon when she met the 300,000-year IT consultant

At the conclusion of the trial, Mr Trybus told reporters: 'I want to thank my wifefor unwavering support.' They have shared photos of holidays and music festivals together

'This has been the most difficult chapter of our lives, and the impact will stay with us for a very long time. We are extremely grateful for the love and support we have received from our family, friends, and everyone who stood by us.'

The person who had supported him most staunchly was the top of his list to thank in turn.

Mr Trybus told reporters: 'I want to thank my wifefor unwavering support.

'This has had a profound impact on my life and those closest to me.

'Right now, my focus is on moving forward and rebuilding my life with my family.'
Donald Trump took a shot at predecessor Barack Obama as he bragged about his thrifty makeover of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial.

The President, along with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, has promoted beautification efforts of various landmarks in Washington during Trump's second term.

Trump said that the renovation was supposed to cost $301 million over three years but revealed that he pulled off the job for $2 million in one week, noting it was much less expensive than a $32 million job done under Obama in 2012.

However, it is worth noting that the 2012 renovation was a much more comprehensive restoration of the memorial involving structural changes.

'I do many such things for Government and, as President, it is my Honor to do so. This is just one of them,' he posted to Truth Social.

Trump separately posted a comparison photo of the Reflecting Pool under the man he referred to as 'Hussein Obama' next to one under Trump.

He revealed he had ordered the swimming pool's surface to be covered in a shade of 'American flag blue,' covering up a decades-old granite surface that he said was 'leaking like a sieve' and would take years to replace.

The president announced the renovation at an Oval Office event Thursday, saying the coating had already begun.

Donald Trump took a shot at predecessor Barack Obama as he touted his cost effective cleanup of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial

The President has promoted beautification efforts of various landmarks on Washington during his second term

He was inspired to tackle the project after a friend visited from Germany and lamented that the water was filthy and looked disgusting, Trump said.

'And I went over there with Secret Service in tow, and I said, "isn't that a shame? That's terrible,"' Trump said, showing reporters a photo of the site as it undergoes work.

The project is the latest in a series of renovations in Washington, DC and follows others such as the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.

Lined with stately elm trees between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the reflecting pool is one of the most iconic sites in the capital. It is also where Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963.

In Trump's telling, the Reflecting Pool project is a case study in business acumen. The president said he scrapped plans to have the granite replaced, which he said was going to bring the cost to the previously estimated $301 million figure.

Instead, Trump said he called a few pool contractors he knows from past real estate projects.

'I have a guy who's unbelievable at doing swimming pools up the road,' he explained.

Join the discussion What do you think Trump's Reflecting Pool makeover says about his leadership and priorities for America?

Trump said that the renovation was supposed to cost $301 million over three years but that he pulled off the job for $2 million in one week - much less than a $32 million job done under Obama in 2012

The president went with a plan to clean the granite and lay down a new 'industrial grade pool' surface for $1.5 million which could take a few weeks, he previously said.

Trump noted it would be ready well before July 4, when the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence.

Trump brought up the project unprompted and spoke about it for several minutes at a White House event on efforts to reduce drug prices on Thursday.

He said he initially wanted a turquoise-colored surface 'like in the Bahamas' but was sold when a contractor suggested 'American flag blue.'

'You're going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool,' Trump said, 'the way it's supposed to be, much better than it ever was.'

Trump has pitched and put into plan various renovation projects during his second term, which include the controversial new White House Ballroom.

He has also promoted efforts made to clean up the National Mall in Washington, another task spearheaded by Burgum.
A wealthy California town is at war over controversial bunny statues located in a popular park.

Locals in Newport Beach are divided over the collection of more than a dozen 4ft concrete rabbits commonly known as Bunnyhenge.

While popular with many residents including children, not everyone is a fan of the unusual sculpture.

Now, their fate hangs in the balance after city officials decided their location could be the prime spot for a new police headquarters.

The proposal has sparked a fierce debate between lawmakers and their constituents who are not only concerned about losing Bunnyhenge, but also a large part of Civic Center Park.

The development, one of four proposals, would require roughly a third of the park's space including where Bunnyhenge sits.

Local resident Nancy Skinner told a city council meeting: 'We have to keep [the new station] out of the park. I'm just shocked to think that we, with just a small ad hoc committee, made a decision without any significant input from the residents in the city.'

Former Newport Beach Mayor Don Webb also told the Orange County Register: 'If you take a third of it, it will totally minimize the feeling we have today. I suggest looking across the street.'

Civic Center Park in Newport Beach California, is home to 14 4ft statues of bunnies known as Bunnyhenge

However, a proposal suggests building a new police headquarters directly where the sculptures sit

Councilmember Sara Weber said in a city council meeting that she supports the police headquarters replacing the area of the statues

'Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think I would be sitting up here talking about the bunnies, but here we are,' said Councilmember Sara Weber in a March 10 meeting of the Newport Beach City Council, according to the SF Gate.

'So from a location perspective, central access is extremely important for police operations, response times, and, in my opinion, maintaining a visible public safety presence in the center of our city.'

Other locations or redeveloping the current police headquarters were also floated as potential options, but Councilmember Erik Weigand said building on the park is the best option.

'We need to study whether the Civic Center even works, but it is the best option at the moment because we own the land,' said Weigand.

'If we can find something in Newport Center that is affordable, I'd be happy to support that. We cannot build on Santa Barbara [the existing police station], nor do I support moving all the way out to the airport.'

The 14 bunny statues were installed in the park in 2014, along with two larger rabbits, after the city purchased them for $221,000.

But Former Newport Beach Mayor Don Webb is against relocating the rabbits over fears it will reduce the size of Civic Center Park where they are located

Newport Beach is about 50 miles from Los Angeles and is one of the Golden State's few conservative areas

According to SF Gate, if the headquarters is built on the park, the bunnies are likely to be relocated.

Newport Beach is about 50 miles from Los Angeles and is famous for being one of California's few conservative enclaves.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman, Newport Beach City Council, and the Newport Beach Police Department for comment.
Few British growth industries have been more successful than the treatment of patients with ADHD. Cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as it is properly known, are booming.

A staggering 20,000 people a month are referred for assessments for this fast-growing form of mental disability, which is said to involve restlessness, difficulties concentrating and impulsive behaviour.

Yet with predicted waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment stretching to ten years in some parts of the country, few pretend the situation is a happy one  or that we can afford it.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has admitted that the NHS cannot cope with an epidemic that is fast becoming a crisis.

Yet not everyone is suffering. Faced with a huge growth in demand, health service chiefs have resorted to paying for tens of thousands of patients be assessed and treated privately at vast expense. And in the process they are blowing an ever-bigger hole in the cash-strapped NHS budget. In some cases, up to one pound in every three spent by the taxpayer leaks out in private profit. Real-term spending on disability benefits primarily related to ADHD has tripled between 2020/21 and 2024/25, from 193 million to 577 million.

Dr Phil Anderton is among those private operators who seem to have done rather well from this profitable industry. The 62-year-old has been hailed for revolutionising care for sufferers. Anderton was described in one online hagiography as a visionary who doesnt just think outside the box, but has completely reinvented it. In another, he was said to be passionate about transforming the lives of his patients.

The clinic he established, ADHD360  said to be the largest of its kind in Europe  has helped tens of thousands of sufferers since it started work in 2018. And the rewards have flowed. Dr Anderton and his wife, Samantha, 56, earned an estimated 15 million when they sold the clinic to a private equity-backed firm last year.

The registered address for his new business venture, Anderton Aviation and ADHD Ltd, is a sprawling four-bedroom country pile on the edge of a picturesque village in Lincolnshire, complete with hot tub and fire pit. Anderton has also posted photos of an Aston Martin with a personalised number plate on what appears to be his Instagram account.

Dr Phil Anderton, who set up ADHD 360 before selling it for 22.5million last year, with his wife Samantha

This is not to say their work has not been valuable. ADHD can be crippling. When unsupported, the neurodevelopmental disorder can be a potent route into educational failure, long-term unemployment, crime, substance misuse, mental ill health and suicide, according to the NHS. Research suggests that early intervention could save the taxpayer billions across health, education and criminal justice  but right now, it doesnt feel quite that way as the health service struggles to pay for an ADHD crisis spinning out of control.

With an estimated 700,000 people in England on waiting lists for assessments, GPs can speed up the process by referring patients to private clinics, with the NHS footing the bill. With as many as half of the NHSs assessments carried out privately, it is estimated to have paid 128 million to independent clinics last year, up from 36 million two years ago.

Revenues are booming. Turnover at ADHD360 increased by more than 80 per cent to 22.5 million in 2024, its latest figures show.

Gross profits were up to 9.7 million at a margin of 43 per cent, with pre-tax profits rising to more than 2 million.

In an interview with a trade magazine, Dr Anderton  whose PhD is in workforce appraisal and competence measurement  acknowledged that the balance sheet matters but insisted that helping people improve their lives was more important.

Yet job adverts for patient success advisers at ADHD360 describe how employees are expected to upsell treatment plans and discuss benefits of our patient proposition and convert into patient commitment by securing payment for assessments.

ADHD360s essential care package of an assessment via video call and treatment has an upfront cost of 1,740, while its comprehensive care package, which offers a priority assessment and enhanced care, is priced at 2,850. Sales reps must also hit daily targets for making calls to potential new patients, the job adverts state. It is likely that these packages relate to private clients, not those referred to the clinic via the NHS. Regardless, some might ask if this reflects an ethos that always puts patients above profits.

This is not the sort of challenging question that Dr Anderton is prepared to answer. He terminated an interview with The Mail on Sunday after he was asked about a 2023 BBC Panorama investigation, which highlighted concerns about the quality of ADHD assessments carried out at private clinics, including ADHD360.

Anderton has posted photos of an Aston Martin with a personalised number plate on what appears to be his Instagram account

As part of the BBC investigation, an undercover reporter was diagnosed with ADHD and offered powerful drugs after flawed assessments at three private clinics. An earlier, rigorous assessment by an NHS consultant psychiatrist concluded that he did not have the condition. The reporter said he chose to investigate ADHD360 after patients and former staff had told him that appointments were short and almost everyone received a diagnosis.

Last week, ADHD360 was at the centre of controversy when a patient it had diagnosed as having the condition was told she could win a payout as high as 126,000 because her employer, Avon & Somerset Constabulary had failed to provide a set of noise-cancelling headphones to help her concentrate  even though she had a suitable pair at home.

ADHD360 found Donna Vale had the condition after an online consultation, even though her own GP thought her symptoms were down to low self-esteem. Her line manager questioned the diagnosis, for which Ms Vale won a claim of disability harassment against the force.

In its response to the Panorama allegations, ADHD360 said it is regulated as an NHS provider and that its qualified clinicians deliver high standard assessments, diagnosis, treatment and care. It added that on this occasion its prescription policy was regrettably not followed and procedures had been reviewed.

ADHD360 is one of three clinics to have been snapped up by private equity-backed firms in recent years. Between them, they reported more than 30 million in gross profit in their latest accounts. David Rowland, director of think-tank the Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI), says ADHD clinics are proving popular with private equity firms because they represent an opportunity to make quick profits.

Historically, when private equity gets involved in the NHS this can mean large sums of taxpayer money is sucked out of the service to provide high rates of return for investors, he added.

Psicon, which was set up in 1998 by South African L.J. Conradie, a former NHS neuropsychologist, says it provides a warm and welcoming safe space, where every troubled, different, unhappy or challenged individual feels understood and hopeful for their future.

In 2023, it was sold for 33.2 million to OneBright, a healthcare group backed by private equity firm EMK Capital. The sale resulted in a bumper payday for the Conradie family, who netted around 20 million for the transfer of their shares in the company. Mr Conradie is now retired.

LJ Conradie, who set up Psicon Ltd before selling to to OneBright private equity for 33.2million in 2023, with his wife Christine

Psicon made net profits of almost 6 million in 2024, paid out 4.6 million in dividends to shareholders and a salary of almost 300,000 to its managing director.

A Psicon spokesman said the firm has a long-standing record of working successfully with the NHS under formal contractual frameworks set by the NHS and was proud to have helped reduce waiting times.

He added: All providers with qualifying NHS contracts are obliged to accept patients on to their waiting lists if they meet the clinical criteria specified in that contract. We ensure we deliver care in line with the standards and costs set out by the NHS and always use public resources responsibly.

Private clinics say they are alleviating the burden from the NHS, bringing down unacceptably long waiting times and providing more cost-effective services. They also point out that it is the NHS that dictates commercial terms, including tariffs and standards, not the providers.

An ADHD diagnosis is commonly followed by prescriptions for powerful stimulants. The most famous brand name is Ritalin.

While more than 800,000 people in the UK have a formal diagnosis, an estimated 2.6 million have the condition. And with more than 325,000 adults and children now taking ADHD medication  more than double the number in 2018/19  it has become an increasingly contentious field. So, is this a mental health crisis or a business opportunity? And how is any of this sustainable for the taxpayer?

Some experts are convinced that ADHD is now being over-diagnosed. Sir Simon Wessely, former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has warned that some private clinics do not have the standards that we would expect and seem to make the diagnosis incredibly easy.

He also cited cultural and social factors. Recently, a raft of celebrities have come out as having ADHD, including director Greta Gerwig, reality TV star Sam Thompson and TV host Sue Perkins. Discussion about ADHD is rife on social media, with #ADHD attracting more than 20 billion hits on TikTok alone.

Joanna Moncrieff, a consultant psychiatrist and professor at University College London, says subjective diagnostic criteria are muddying the waters. Moncrieff, who conducts ADHD assessments at an NHS clinic, says many consultants are really uneasy with the spike in diagnoses and feel that theyre being asked to treat people who dont have very significant problems.

She believes some clinics are cashing in on a social phenomenon and, by doing that, helping to drive the whole phenomenon.

There is no suggestion that her comments, or those of Sir Simon Wessely, refer to any of the clinics named in this article.

It seems some of the bigger firms are well aware of the need to promote their wares more effectively. For example, the MoS has found that ADHD doctors are accepting payments from drug manufacturers in a move critics fear could be fuelling over-prescriptions. Two leading ADHD specialists, who run their own private clinics, have accepted more than 200,000 from drug firms since 2022, according to analysis of data compiled by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

The data entries  made by the pharmaceutical firms  do not detail exactly what the payments are for, but they often remunerate experts for their time on advisory boards or to attend medical conferences. This is within the rules, but critics say there is evidence that the cash affects prescribing habits, fostering a drugs-first mentality.

What no one disputes about the ADHD boom is that it cannot go on like this. NHS spending on the condition is set to reach 314 million this year, more than double the years 150 million ADHD budget. That means other services could face cuts to offset the 164 million overspend.

Rowland, of the CHPI, is calling for a cap on the profits of private companies delivering NHS care.

An increase in autism and ADHD diagnoses has fuelled a surge in spending on pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, which has increased by two-thirds since 2012/13 to hit 11.1 billion this year. Eight in ten local authorities have said they face insolvency over the mounting costs.

In a study by the Centre for Social Justice, charities reported that parents were putting their children through ADHD assessments knowing they would receive additional benefits if diagnosed.

One charity worker told the think-tank that getting a diagnosis was a golden ticket to extra cash, which can amount to more than 25,000 a year.

In the meantime, the system is failing those who need it most. Waiting times can now stretch to a decade, while some have had to ration their medication because of the costs involved. Private clinics have even taken to offering buy now, pay later services.

All the while, the tax bill continues to climb, even if one enterprising corner of British commerce is in the rudest of good health.
Someone in Washington DC has chosen to create a quarrel between the US and this country about the Falkland Islands.

In truth, the American view of the Falklands has never been especially helpful to Britain. Though individual members of the Reagan administration were generous and sympathetic to us when Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, others wanted to stay friendly with the Buenos Aires military junta.

Not much has changed since. The Pentagon leaker will have been as keen on pleasing the Argentine president Javier Milei as he was on irritating London.

President Milei, a maverick showman Right-winger, is a soulmate of Donald Trump. It appears that, as payback for Sir Keir Starmer's hesitant and lukewarm support for Mr Trump's war in Iran, the US could review its policy of 'endorsing European claims to long-standing imperial possessions' such as the Falklands.

This is, of course, ridiculous and ill-mannered, especially on the eve of the King's visit to the US.

The Falklands are not a 'colonial possession' but free islands, where British people live under British protection by their own clear choice.

There is no doubt about this. In 2013 the Falklands government held a referendum on the issue. On a 92 per cent turnout, 99.8 per cent voted to stay British. Indeed, it is various British governments, not the Falklanders themselves, who have since the 1940s sought to make the islands less British, most notably in notorious plans for a 'leaseback' arrangement.

Since 1982, when many brave Servicemen died to retake the islands after the Argentine invasion, such deals have simply not been an option for any serious British politician.

As payback for Sir Keir Starmer's hesitant and lukewarm support for Mr Trump's war in Iran, the US could review its policy of 'endorsing European claims to long-standing imperial possessions' such as the Falklands

Pictured are soldiers from The Household Division operating their SA-80's during a live fire exercise, training thousands of miles from home on the infamous Onion Ranges in the Falklands

The Pentagon should note that a colonial power being forced by its subjects to stay in possession is pretty much the opposite of imperialism.

Perhaps the new US attitude has something to do with recent discoveries of substantial oilfields in Falklands waters, which are due to come on stream in 2028. Argentina arrogantly claims all oil found in the area as its own.

But responsible powers should not allow or encourage any such dispute to develop. There should certainly be no need for a repeat of the perilous, costly 1982 Task Force.

For 40 years now, the modern airfield at Mount Pleasant in the Falklands has allowed Britain to swiftly reinforce and resupply its modest garrison there.

As long as the Government does so in a timely fashion, and makes its resolve clear, all should be well.

So we should certainly not now be redeploying a vital air-to-air refuelling tanker, normally based in the Falklands, to join in the Middle East conflict. It should fly back to the South Atlantic, and the Pentagon should be informed.

As long as we maintain proper readiness, Argentina would fear to attempt an opposed landing, unless President Milei wants to share the fate of his forerunner General Galtieri, whose decision to launch the failed 1982 war ended in defeat.

Galtieri lived out his days in disgrace after narrowly avoiding prison. Interestingly, yesterday was 44 years to the day that Margaret Thatcher urged the British people to 'rejoice' after the Royal Marines recaptured South Georgia in the first victory of that war. It is generally unwise to underestimate this country.
The HSE consultant who exposed the Kerry CAMHS scandal has revealed emergency referrals involving suicidal children were routinely ignored in other areas, describing the neglect as systemic homicide.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mail on Sunday, Dr Maya Sharma, who is now homeless in London, said her biggest regret is that she did not raise red flags about systemic governance failures and inappropriate prescribing practices earlier.

Dr Sharma has been credited with saving childrens lives by exposing horrific practices at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Kerry.

Her whistleblowing has since been vindicated in two HSE reports, the Maskey and Halpin Reviews, and has been widely commended.

These reports found hundreds of children in Kerry had been put in danger by dangerous practices, including the inappropriate prescription of cocktails of heavy anti-psychotic medication and a lack of consultant-led care.

But this week Dr Sharma revealed for the first time that she witnessed similar dysfunction while working in Cork CAMHS services before transferring to Kerry.

This is something I have not spoken about before. I worked in three Cork teams and I should have whistle-blown there. I kick myself for not having done that.

The guilt I have is about why I didnt do it for Cork, but I just got down to work there and then it was all hands on deck, she said.

The psychiatrist stressed that she does not place any blame on the teams she worked with in Cork.

They were good teams and very dedicated professionals without exception, she said.

Instead, Dr Sharma said a wider dysfunction  an inability to attract consultants and a lack of clinical governance across the system  led to children who could have been saved taking their own lives.

According to Dr Sharma, the way children and young people in need of mental health interventions were let down amounts to systemic homicide.

Dr Sharma said she spotted problems straight away when she began working in Cork in March 2020.

In my first week, I walked through the administration office just to familiarise myself and I found folders marked with years going back up to 2016, she said.

There was one that was marked priority. I picked that up and it had 12 referrals, from 2016 onwards, that were made by A&E.

These cases involved children and adolescents in mental distress who had presented with life-threatening crises at emergency departments in Cork and been referred for specialist CAMHS help.

Other files contained referrals from GPs dating back half a decade.

But from reading the files, Dr Sharma could see they had been ignored for years.

Children and young people in crisis had presented to A&E and there was no follow-up, she said. Instead of help, each file contained the same formulaic letter.

According to Dr Sharma, the letters said: We currently do not have a psychiatrist in the team, a consultant psychiatrist or any, actually, and therefore we are going to put your referral on hold.

Dr Sharma said it was incomprehensible that referrals would be treated like this.

We have accepted it [the referral] but we are not going to be doing anything. I mean, it was so bizarre for me.

Dr Sharma was speaking after it emerged this week that she is now living in homeless accommodation in London after she was unable to find employment as a result of her whistleblowing in Ireland.

My forehead is tattooed with risk of reputational damage to organisations, Dr Sharma said.

In 2023, Dr Sharma  who was known as Ankur Sharma prior to gender-transitioning  settled a lawsuit against the HSE for 75,000.

The case alleged she had been bullied and mistreated because of her decision to lift the lid on dysfunctional prescribing practices in Kerry.

Dr Sharma then returned to India and began to apply for jobs in the UK health service.

But according to Dr Sharma, her reputation as a whistleblower has made it impossible to find work in any publicly funded service.

For example, one job with an NHS trust was lost after a negative reference from the HSE resulted in Dr Sharma being let go before her initiation period had concluded.

Suddenly theres an email from the head of HR, which is two lines saying the Trust has decided to withdraw your conditional offer of employment due to unsatisfactory references.

It was a punch in my gut, Dr Sharma told the MoS. I refer to it as a thunderous, cosmic slap. It deafened me, and it just numbed me completely in that moment.

At one point during the winter, Dr Sharma revealed she had to sleep for several days at Heathrow Airport, telling staff she had missed her flight.

While living rough in London, Dr Sharma was also brutally assaulted in a random attack that left her hospitalised with severe injuries.

Now, with her savings exhausted, she has been seeking to be re-registered with the Irish Medical Council (IMC) and hopes to return to Kerry to open a private practice for children and young people that will charge people on a sliding scale based on family income.

She began the process of re-registration in February 2024 but, due to circumstances beyond her control, the application remains unresolved. Her reinstatement is due to be considered by an IMC adjudication panel on Tuesday.

According to Dr Sharma, previous adjudication hearings have not gone ahead because there were not enough members present for a quorum.

Last night, the junior minister with responsibility for mental health, Mary Butler, paid tribute to Dr Sharma for her role in bringing prescribing and diagnostic concerns in Kerry to light.

I am very grateful to Dr Sharma for their service and for coming forward with their concerns, Ms Butler said.

They have made a profound difference to the quality of mental health services for children in Kerry, which are now vastly improved and the best-staffed in the country.

The Waterford TD and Government Chief Whip added: I am confident the recent changes made by the HSE, including the establishment of a new National Office for Protected Disclosures, will provide more structured support to whistleblowers and ensure whistleblowers can report issues confidentially.

The HSE said it is committed to protecting workers from penalisation or a threat of penalisation because the worker made a protected disclosure.
At least 13 people have died in an explosives attack in western Colombia on Saturday, a police source said, with 17 people wounded.

Octavio Guzman, the governor of Cauca, said a device was activated while a bus was traveling along the Panamerican Highway in Cajibio.

Dramatic aftermath images show people rushing towards the mangled vehicle hoping to rescue survivors.

Gen. Hugo Lopez, commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, described the explosion in a press conference as a 'terrorist act'.

He blamed the networks of a man known as 'Ivan Mordisco' - one of Colombia's most wanted figures - and the Jaime Martinez faction.

Both are dissident groups of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region and did not adhere to the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro decried the attack on X.

'Those who carried out the attack and killed seven civilians - and wounded 17 others - in Cajibio - many of them Indigenous people - are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers,' he wrote.

The attack is the latest in a spate of explosives attacks and thwarted attempts to target public infrastructure.

At least 26 criminal incidents have taken place in the past two days in southwest Colombia, which Lopez said has only affected civilians.

At least 13 people have died in an explosives attack in western Colombia, a police source said on Saturday, with 17 people wounded

Octavio Guzman, the governor of Cauca, wrote on X that the device was activated while the bus was traveling along the Panamerican Highway in Cajibio

Gen. Hugo Lopez, commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, described the explosion in a press conference as a 'terrorist act

No one was injured in the previous assaults, which include a shooting at a police station in the rural area of Jamundi, and an attack on a Civil Aviation radar facility in El Tambo, where authorities took down three explosives-laden drones earlier on Saturday.

On Friday, two vehicles rigged with explosives were detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira, causing material damage.

The escalation of violence in that region - a territory contested by illegal armed groups linked to drug trafficking - prompted the mobilization of high-ranking officials on Saturday.

Led by Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, the delegation that includes regional governors and local authorities, was meeting in Palmira when the deadly explosion occurred.

'These criminals seek to instill fear, but we will respond with firmness,' Sanchez wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, has called upon the national government to provide 'immediate support'.

In a message posted on X, Toro called for a reinforcement of public security forces, enhanced intelligence operations and 'decisive actions' against crime in the face of a 'terrorist-level escalation'.

According to authorities, Cauca and Valle del Cauca serve as a critical hub for illicit activities of illegal armed groups.

These groups are vying for control over maritime and riverine access routes leading to the port of Buenaventura - a key transit point used to traffic drugs to Central America and Europe.

The government has blamed the attacks on the Jaime Martinez faction, a dissident group of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, operating in the region that did not adhere to the peace accord signed with the state in 2016.

The government is also offering a reward of more than a million dollars for information leading to the capture of 'Marlon,' who is identified as the leader of the dissident group in that region.

The previous day, local authorities offered more than $14,000 for information leading to the identification and location of those responsible for the attacks in Cali and Palmira.
Labour MPs are urging Sir Keir Starmer to shelve plans to lower the voting age to 16 at general elections amid fears that it will hand votes to the Green Party.

They are calling for the PM to realise it would be 'total madness' to press ahead with the measure now, as Zack Polanski's party is surging in popularity among younger voters.

Instead, Labour backbenchers are privately suggesting that 16 and 17-year-olds should only get the right from 2030 - safely after the next general election, expected in 2029.

One senior MP told The Mail on Sunday: 'With the way opinion polls are going, it would be total madness to bring this in before 2029.'

He appealed to Local Government Secretary Steve Reed, who is overseeing the reform, to realise that 'otherwise, we're just giving Zack Polanski and the Greens more votes'.

When the plans were first set out last year, Labour faced claims of trying to rig future elections on the grounds that younger people tended to vote for them over the Tories. But one survey appeared to show that the Greens, a threat in some Labour-held constituencies, could benefit even more.

An ITV Youth Tracker poll by Savanta published last November showed support for Labour among 18 to 25-year-olds had collapsed from 43 per cent in March last year to just 25 per cent. Backing for the Greens had soared from 16 to 32 per cent.

And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp suggested Labour MPs were only having second thoughts now because 'it's set to blow up in their face as this cohort is more likely to end up voting Green'.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski with the newly elected Green MP Hannah Spencer. Labour MPs are urging Sir Keir Starmer to shelve plans to lower the voting age to 16 at general elections amid fears that it will hand votes to the Green Party

A polling station in Manchester. Labour backbenchers are privately suggesting that 16 and 17-year-olds should only get the right from 2030 - safely after the next general election, expected in 2029

He accused them of 'a cynical political ploy' and reaffirmed that Tory MPs would vote against lowering the vote age.

On Saturday, a senior Labour source confessed that he was 'sympathetic' to the idea of postponing the change.

But he insisted that the plan to make it effective for 2029 would go ahead, adding there were 'so few' of this new voting age group that it would not change the outcome of the next general election.

That's despite Labour's manifesto saying it would 'increase the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy'.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said the change 'will be delivered during this Parliament, and will encourage democratic participation and delivers on a manifesto commitment'.

However, despite the apparent help from the voting age reform, the Greens have branded Mr Reed the embodiment of the 'self-serving and out-of-touch culture voters associate with Labour'.

A leaked Green Party internal memo accused Mr Reed of 'sending out dossiers to smear Green voters as extremists' and anti-Semites but said it had 'commissioned further research' to bring him down.

But Mr Reed hit back, saying: 'Many of the anti-Semites that joined Labour under Jeremy Corbyn have now strolled in to the Green Party. Zack Polanski initially ignored it but after weeks of pressure he has finally acknowledged the problem and taken action. I welcome that and will keep shining a light on this vile racism.'
Ulviyya Poladova

The United States has agreed to ease certain sanctions on Venezuela, allowing the Venezuelan government to pay legal fees for former president Nicolas Maduro, AzerNEWS reports, citing Reuters.

This development comes after a hearing held a month earlier, during which prosecutors claimed Maduro had "plundered Venezuelas wealth and should not be able to use its money for legal fees."

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by U.S. special forces in Caracas on January 3 and transferred to New York City to face charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody in Brooklyn pending trial.

The issue of legal representation became a central point of contention in the case. Maduros lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued that U.S. sanctions had prevented the Venezuelan government from covering legal expenses, effectively violating Maduros constitutional right to counsel of his choice.

Neither Maduro nor Flores can afford lawyers on their own, and the Venezuelan government is prepared to pay their fees, their lawyers have said.



Image: Matias Delacroix / AP
AI teachers could be launched in schools as early as this summer in a controversial scheme targeting teenagers whose parents cannot afford private tuition.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson who has given the green light for 'AI labs and EdTech (education technology) companies' to create and test 'AI tutoring tools' in secondary schools says they will 'take tutoring from a privilege of the lucky few to every child who needs it'.

Tools being considered as part of the new 23m scheme are an AI chatbot which asks and answers pupils' questions and tools which even analyse and monitor their progress.

Companies chosen to develop them will be allowed to test them in pilot schools on target 13-15 year olds from this term before they become more widely available at the end of next year.

But campaigners warn the government is planning to 'experiment on disadvantaged children' and say 'vulnerable children' could be at risk if they are left to be taught by unsafe AI systems when they are the most in need of 'teacher-led support'.

And they have accused Ms Phillipson of 'prioritising cost savings over proven education' and trying to justify 'unproven AI systems' by rushing her plans through at the expense of children.

Together with education leaders and unions they warn that using AI is 'no substitute for face-to-face teaching' and must never be used to teach children in isolation but only as a teaching aid.

Their comments came as the government officially invited bids last week to develop what they call 'safe, personalised AI tutoring tools designed to improve learning outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils'.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has given the green light for 'AI labs and EdTech (education technology) companies' to create and test 'AI tutoring tools' in secondary schools

Campaigners warn the government is planning to 'experiment on disadvantaged children' and say 'vulnerable children' could be at risk if they are left to be taught by unsafe AI systems when they are the most in need of 'teacher-led support'

They claim using them in the classroom could 'level the ground' between those whose parents can afford private tutoring which 'accelerates learning by up to 5 months' and those who cannot, benefiting around 450,000 pupils in the UK.

But Molly Kingsley, Co-Founder of SafeScreens, which campaigns against EdTech infiltrating the classroom, said the most vulnerable children were effectively being used as guinea pigs.

She said: 'While framing the programme as levelling the playing field the DfE has also overlooked the teacher-led support these vulnerable pupils need most.

'This seems to be the DfE prioritising cost savings over proven education. Bridget Phillipson has prematurely declared the tools 'safe' despite the tender only just being issued, contracts being pending, and systems not yet designed or tested with teachers. This is not equity but a false economy set to experiment on disadvantaged children.'

Jane Lunnon, Head at Alleyn's School in south London, said AI tools should only be used in the classroom 'to free up all-important time for teachers to spend with pupils, because that is where the real support and the spark of learning happens'.

'We lose sight of the human in the room at our peril,' she warned.

Use of the tools has also raised fears they will be used to replace teaching support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Dr Nic Crossley, CEO of Liberty Academy Trust, which runs three special schools supporting autistic pupils, said AI could not 'replace or replicate the human side of teaching, especially for disadvantaged and SEND students'.

'The idea of AI being used as a form of tutoring, even with teaching assistant oversight, is particularly risky. It risks reducing access to high-quality teacher interaction, and given known issues with accuracy in AI systems, robust human monitoring would be essential.'

Meanwhile, Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders warned using AI was 'no substitute for face-to-face teaching'.

'It's disappointing that, despite acknowledging the huge benefits of tutoring, the government seemingly has no appetite to resume a national tutoring programme. Closing the disadvantage gap is a huge task that cannot be done on the cheap, and while AI undoubtedly has some benefits, it must not be seen as the sole solution to such a complex, longstanding issue,' he said.
The organiser of a rally calling for charges against SAS veteran Ben RobertsSmith to be dropped has threatened that 'there will be violence' if governments don't change and begin 'helping the people'.

Chaos unfolded outside Victoria's Parliament House on Sunday as the 300-strong rally in support of the nation's most decorated war veteran, which was organised by the far-right National Workers Alliance, clashed with a smaller rival protest.

The two groups were separated by two lines of about a hundred ready-to-go riot cops, backed by the Mounted Police Branch and other support units. The protests brought busy Melbourne thoroughfares and trams to a grinding halt.

Victoria Cross recipient RobertsSmith has been charged with five war crime murder offences over alleged actions during his military tours in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

The bigger rally was demanding the charges against the former SAS corporal be dropped, but the 47-year-old said he and his family had nothing to do with the rally or its organisers.

National Workers Alliance leader Matt Trihey made baseless claims that members of Roberts-Smith's family would attend the rally and would march at the front.

'Mr Roberts-Smith and his family are not involved in any way in this rally, nor associated with its organisers,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail.

'As far as he's aware, no member of Ben's immediate or extended family has ever spoken to the organisers of this event.'

Pro-BRS protesters marched through Melbourne's CBD on Sunday

Ben Roberts-Smith said neither he nor any of his family had anything to do with the rally or its organisers

National Workers Alliance leader Matt Trihey (pictured) had organised the rally

The demonstration began with a rendition of Waltzing Matilda, before Trihey urged authorities to withdraw the charges and voiced support for other Australian soldiers hit with war crimes allegations.

The National Workers Alliance's publicly stated goals include a moratorium on all immigration and the 'preservation of Western culture and identity'.

'Melbourne is a great city and Australia is the best country in the world... Liberal democracy is a cancer,' Trihey said.

'We are here for the veterans who are having their legacy, their honour and their integrity questioned by what is an illegitimate government that is acting against the will of the people.'

The group later observed a minute's silence and played the Last Post, which was interrupted by the counter protest; an anti-racism rally, chanting 'always was always will be' and 'no Nazis'.

At one point, masked men, including a person with a swastika tattoo, stormed towards the other group, which sparked riot police to rush and split the parties. Daily Mail witnessed a group of neo-Nazis, identifiable by tattoos and other insignia in among the pro-BRS supporters, who were mostly peaceful.

There were a scattering of red ensign flags, but many were draped in Australian flags while some young men wore them as bandannas.

One rally participant was seen yelling at people in an al-fresco dining setting, telling them to 'go back to where you came from'.

Victoria Police were forced to form a cordon between pro-BRS supporters and the smaller group of counter-protesters

About 300 pro-BRS supporters march through Melbourne

Right-wing protesters keep an eye on counter-protesters

One pro-BRS protester was warned away by police after taunts from a pocket of left-wingers

Two lines of police, the riot squad and mounted cops, kept opposing protesters apart

A protester wears a t-shirt emblazoned with neo-Nazi symbolism

The protesters marched through the CBD with AC/DC blaring

Among the crowd was former Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick from the newly formed Fight Back Against Racism Party who chanted 'fight back against racism, fight back against Nazi scum'.

Pockets of pro-Palestine and Indigenous rights protesters also heckled from distances.

Victoria Police were forced to form a cordon between pro-BRS supporters and members of the newly formed political party which has yet to be officially registered.

The party had set up earlier in the morning before the pro-BRS rally which was set to commence at 12pm. Police moved the antiracism group further away from the parliamentary steps, allowing the proRobertsSmith rally to continue.

Quick-moving cops also intervened after pro-Palestine and Indigenous rights hecklers sparked a scuffle between opposing protesters.

The pro-BRS rally played a selection of music including iconic Redgum song 'I was only 19', a song about a young Australian soldier's experience fighting in Vietnam.

After some words calling for Roberts-Smith to be exonerated and warning people who never went to war to keep quiet, the march kicked off with AC/DC blasting throughout Melbourne's CBD.

The group proceeded down Bourke Street and along Swanston Street but police diverted the rally up Collins Street to the sound of AC/DC's Highway to Hell.

Protesters gathered at Victoria's Parliament House just before noon

Trihey had earlier said they would march to the Flinders Street Station intersection but police ordered him not to do so.

Pockets of left-wing agitators heckled the marchers but scuffle spotfires were narrowly avoided.

Cops were, however, forced to intervene and quash multiple scuffles when the rally returned to parliament.

A pro-Palestine protester was grabbed by a young man in an aggressive manner after they heckled pro-BRS supporters.

Police pinned the man against a building while other officers surrounded the group of pro-Palestine protesters.

Right-wingers called the counter-protesters 'cucks' and told them to 'go live in Palestine'.

Trihey, who lambasted critics of people who booed Welcome to Country ceremonies at Saturday's Anzac Day event, addressed the crowd a second time.

This time he warned 'there will be violence' if governments 'don't change and help the people'.

The group observed a minute's silence after the Last Post was played to the crowd

He warned of unrest if they fail to change course and address the needs of the majority before the protest wound up in the early afternoon.

Police maintained a heavy presence until the crowd dispersed a few hours later.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said no arrests were made.

'Police are aware of two counter demonstrations which occurred in the city about 12pm on April 26,' the spokesperson said.

'In total about 330 people were in attendance. There were no arrests or other issues identified.'

Roberts-Smith was just days ago released on bail after he was arrested at Sydney's Domestic Airport on April 7.

He spent 10 days in custody and last Sunday, he made his first public statement where he reiterated his denials of the allegations and insisted he had acted within the rules of engagement at all times.

He attended an Anzac Day memorial on Saturday and has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges.

'I deny these allegations and have always done so,' he said in a statement.
Monty Python fans have been invited to rub Terry Jones's bottom for good luck after the late star was immortalised in a naked statue.

Sally Jones, the daughter of the funny man, who died in 2020, encouraged supporters of the comedy troupe to make the cheeky gesture.

It comes after a model of Jones, created in consultation with his family, was unveiled in his hometown of Colwyn Bay, north Wales, on Saturday.

The bronze sculpture depicts the actor as the nude organist, a character he played in the much-loved sketch comedy television series Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Ms Jones told Radio 4's Today programme: 'People can come and sit down on the bench next to him. They can put their hands on the piano.

'They can see every element of the statue. And hopefully people will enjoy it and possibly rub his bum for luck.'

Michael Palin, Jones's Monty Python co-star, similarly said he hoped his friend's 'wonderfully generous bottom' can be 'an emblem of the town he loved so much'.

Terry Jones's Python co-star Terry Gilliam touches the statue's bottom in Colwyn Bay, north Wales

A model of Jones (pictured in 2012) created in consultation with his family was unveiled in his hometown of Colwyn Bay on Saturday

The statue, made by sculptor Nick Elphick, was funded by fans of the comedy troupe across the world, according to The Telegraph.

Three other Python members - John Cleese, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam - supported the campaign, which raised more than 120,000 for the statue's creation.

They were joined in their efforts by fellow actors Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan and Suzy Eddie Izzard.

Thousands gathered to watch the sculpture's unveiling at the weekend, including Palin and Gilliam.

The pair led the crowds in singing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, their co-star Idle's iconic comedy song from the 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian.

They were also the first to rub the statue's backside - and were joined by frequent Python collaborator Carol Cleveland in marking the occasion.

Palin also spoke out in tribute to Jones, describing him as 'loyal', 'funny' and 'bright', with 'so many virtues'.

The late comedian was born in Colwyn Bay before his family moved away when he was around five years old.

But he remained connected to the town throughout his life, later becoming patron of Theatre Colwyn and helping to support its renovation in 2011.

The bronze sculpture depicts the actor as the nude organist (pictured), a character he played in the much-loved sketch comedy television series Monty Python's Flying Circus

Michael Palin (left), Jones's Monty Python co-star, said he hoped his friend's 'wonderfully generous bottom' can be 'an emblem of the town he loved so much'. Pictured: Palin, with Python co-star Gilliam, right, and frequent collaborator Carol Cleveland, centre

Thousands gathered (pictured) to watch the sculpture's unveiling at the weekend

Jones (centre, with co-stars Eric Idle, left, and Graham Chapman, right) starred in, co-wrote and directed 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian (pictured) and 1983 film The Meaning of Life

Jones starred in, co-wrote and directed Life of Brian and 1983 film The Meaning of Life.

He co-directed 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Gilliam and co-wrote TV series Ripping Yarns with Palin, who he met at the University of Oxford.

The comedian died aged 77 from a rare form of dementia - and his family hope the statue will bring comfort to others who have lost loved ones to the condition.

Ms Jones said his relatives chose to depict him as the nude organist as they knew he would not have wished to be portrayed in a 'boring' way or just as himself.

Sculptor Mr Elphick, from nearby Llandudno, said: 'I hope rubbing his bum for luck will become a new tradition!'

He said he felt it was especially important to get Jones's smile right - and he tried out ten different facial expressions before settling on his final design.

'I hope I have done him justice,' Mr Elphick said.

'I feel like Im the luckiest sculptor ever, a little bit of being in the right place, at the right time, to bring Terry Jones back to north Wales.'

Dilwyn Price, chairman of Conwy Arts Trust, said: 'Conwy Arts Trust have been privileged to be partners in this exciting project to pay tribute to the acclaimed actor, author and historian, who never forgot his Welsh heritage and especially his Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn roots.

'The inspirational statue will be a lasting testimony to Terry Jones and a reminder to everyone who sees the statue that we have not forgotten him.'
Hundreds of migrants are pouring into Britain from Belgium on a new front in the small-boats crisis, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Smugglers are launching vessels from beaches in Flanders as the French clamp down on them under British government pressure.

The migrants are using free buses that shuttle them along the coast to move from the so-called Jungle refugee camps in France to Belgium, where they are then picked up to cross the Channel.

An unprecedented five boats left three Belgian beaches last Saturday carrying more than 200 migrants. They made it to Dover hours later, the MoS understands.

The Belgian arrivals made up almost half the total 602 migrants who were escorted into the Kent port on Saturday by Border Force.

A senior Belgian politician warned last night that thousands of migrants would arrive in the UK on small boats from Flanders if smugglers continue to switch operations there at the same rate, and called for the France/Belgium border to be closed temporarily to stop the migrants crossing.

In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Carl Decaluwe, governor of West Flanders, said he had never seen this many boats being launched from the Belgian beaches.

Mr Decaluwe, governor for 15 years, said 29 migrant boats carrying as many as 80 migrants per vessel were launched from beaches since January.

Carl Decaluwe, governor of West Flanders, said he had never seen this many boats being launched from the Belgian beaches

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed the three-year agreement with France on Thursday to pay 662million to support beach patrols as part of efforts to drive down the number of arrivals

He also criticised the renewal of the long-running agreement this week under which Britain sends money to France to stop small boats. He said the British get nothing out of the deal, with record numbers of crossings year on year.

More than a dozen migrants crossed the Channel yesterday, marking the first small-boat arrivals since the UK renewed the deal.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed the three-year agreement with France on Thursday to pay 662million to support beach patrols as part of efforts to drive down the number of arrivals.

It is understood that no boats left for England from Belgian beaches last week due to bad weather. Mr Decaluwe met police chiefs and local mayors on Tuesday as they are expecting a surge leaving for England from today with conditions in the Channel set to improve.

Already, people smugglers have tried to set up camps on the dunes of Belgian beaches, which the police have torn down immediately, fearing West Flanders will soon have sprawling migrant camps like Dunkirk and Calais.

Mr Decaluwe said: 'If you do nothing, the next day it's 20 tents, and the next day it's 100, and then it's finished. Every time we see camps, we try to clean them.'

Belgian police intelligence shows most migrants who board the dinghies in West Flanders live in the camps in France, but come over to Belgium the night before, with many sleeping in the sand dunes.

The migrants usually take the number 20 free bus from Dunkirk, which brings them to the Belgian town of De Panne, 14 miles north.

MoS reporters last week watched migrants arrive at the bus station in De Panne from Dunkirk. One Afghan migrant told us: 'Yeah, this bus is always used by migrants.'

It's estimated the distance by boat from De Panne to Dover is around 56 miles, compared to the over-20-mile crossing from Calais.
The Barefoot Investor has delivered the 'brutal truth' to an Australian mother who shared that she had covered her husbands gambling debts for years.

Writing to Scott Pape, the 49-year-old said she had paid close to $100,000 over four years to service losses caused by her husbands gambling addiction.

Despite that, she alleged her husband still had $55,000 owed on a personal loan and was demanding a further $6,000 immediately.

The woman, who wrote to Pape anonymously, said her husband refused to provide evidence of where the money had gone, making her suspect the true figure could be higher.

'My salary goes into the offset account but he keeps his account separate,' she said.

'If I dont pay his debts, he stops paying for groceries and stops contributing to the mortgage.'

She said she was afraid for both her own and her son's emotional and financial wellbeing, adding that she does not have the support to separate from her husband.

Pape, responding in The Herald Sun, shared his sympathy for how 'exhausted' the woman must be, adding: 'Heres the brutal truth: this isnt over. It wont stop until he puts his hand up and gets help.'

Barefoot Investor Scott Pape (pictured) said gambling is a 'disease' that 'takes every cent'

A woman revealed to Pape that her husband had racked up over $100,000 in gambling debts

Pape said it would be a long recovery from the financial stress and highlighted that she was dealing with a 'disease designed to take every cent'.

He warned that, as long as the woman covers her husband's bills, the stress would continue for their family.

'Its time to be ruthless. For your son. Do not pay another dollar towards your husbands gambling debts. Do not give him any money. Pay the bills yourself,' he wrote.

After the woman has made that decision, Pape advised that she work with a financial counsellor to develop a plan - and said she could also reach out to him.

He also urged her to consult a family lawyer who could explain her options for the future of her marriage.

'Hope is not a strategy. Youve carried this for four years. That has to stop,' Pape said.

National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007
A widow whose husband and 19-year-old son died in the Titan submarine disaster has told of her relief at learning they were killed instantly.

Christine Dawood was left devastated after Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood lost their lives on the submersible on June 18, 2023.

The vessel had been attempting to dive down to the seabed to see the wrecked HMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

But the craft imploded 500m above its destination in a tragedy that also killed three other passengers - and made headlines around the world.

Mrs Dawood, from Surrey, who has a surviving 20-year-old daughter, has now spoken out in detail about the disaster for the first time.

At one point in the search and rescue operation, operators realised the sub must have collapsed inwards within a fraction of a second, killing all five men instantaneously.

The trained psychologist, who has written a book about her ordeal, told The Guardian: 'My first thought was, "Thank God"...

'I knew Shahzada and Suleman didn't even know about it. One moment they were there and the next they weren't.

Christine Dawood (pictured) was left devastated after Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood lost their lives on the submersible on June 18, 2023

The vessel had been attempting to dive down to the seabed to see the wrecked HMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Pictured: Mr Dawood, right, with his son, left

But the craft (pictured, file photo) imploded 500m above its destination in a tragedy that also killed three other passengers - and made headlines around the world

'Knowing they didn't suffer has been so important. They're gone, but the way they went does somehow make it easier.'

She first came across an advertisement for the expedition, which was run by submersible diving company OceanGate, during lockdown in 2020.

The firm was founded by chief executive Stockton Rush in 2009, with the aim of increasing access to the deep ocean.

In 2013, he began developing Titan, which was constructed experimentally, using a carbon fibre hull and cylindrical shape.

It marked a change from the titanium or high-strength steel spheres more often used for building submersibles for their ability to withstand underwater pressure.

But Mr Rush was convinced of the strength of the vessel, named for the Titanic, which had been dubbed 'unsinkable' before its infamous crash in 1912.

Mrs Dawood began exploring the idea of embarking on an expedition on the craft with a travel agency, Quintessentially, which said it was feasible.

She suggested to her husband that they initially attempt a shallow dive, to get accustomed to the feeling of being locked inside the 6.7m-long craft.

But Mr Dawood was determined to take on the full journey down to the Titanic immediately.

His wife said this was a mark of the purposefulness that made him successful in business.

The family's idea of taking the trip was, however, forgotten for the next two years while the world recovered from lockdown.

It was only in late 2022 when Quintessentially called to ask if they would still be interested that they began to revisit the notion.

The cost, of $500,000 for two seats, was staggering even for the Dawoods, with Mr Dawood being a member of one of the wealthiest families in Pakistan.

But they decided to go for it, reassured by their research into the safety of civilian submersible trips - they could not find a single one that had ended in a accident.

The family also trusted Quintessentially, which they paid a sizeable subscription to - and had previously organised trips for them to Antarctica and Greenland.

A spokesperson for the travel agency has since said in a statement that the services it provides to its members are confidential.

But they emphasised the firm has never had a commercial relationship with OceanGate, promoted their expeditions or recommended it to clients.

The spokesperson said the agency 'will continue to be supportive to the Dawood family'.

In February 2023, Rush and his wife Wendy, OceanGate's director of communications, flew from Seattle to London to meet the family.

The couple reassured the Dawoods the trip was unique and worth their money, as no other submersible could take as many as five people to the deep ocean.

Rush said he had taken the vessel down to the Titanic 13 times and described the incredible sights they would see during the journey and upon arrival.

The family had little experience with any kind of underwater activities, even snorkelling - and Mr Dawood, his wife said, was soon enraptured by Rush.

But she noted Mrs Rush appeared quieter and more tense during the conversation - perhaps in the knowledge there were risks her husband was not mentioning.

She was notably alarmed, Mrs Dawood said, for instance, when Mr Rush acknowledged contact was sometimes lost with the sub.

The chief executive had indeed failed to mention to the Dawoods the hundreds of technical issues and countless aborted dives OceanGate had previously faced.

He had also failed to investigate an explosive noise on the submersible during an expedition in July 2022.

The vessel was also operating under the radar, without inspection or classification by a maritime authority, a process he said was too slow and 'stifled innovation'.

Titan was also not registered to carry passengers - and had spent the icy Canadian winter sat uncovered and unmonitored in a car park in the city of St John's.

And in a tragic twist of fate, Mrs Dawood's son, who was fascinated by the Titanic, ended up taking one of the pair of tickets that was meant to have been hers.

'I was happy for him to make memories with his father. I can't change that,' she said.

On June 14, 2023, the Dawoods set off, flying from London to Canada before taking a ship the some 400 miles out to the waters where the Titanic lay.

What the family did not know is the vessel, an old ice breaker called the Polar Prince, was all OceanGate could afford, with its funds running low.

Among those onboard the doomed vessel were OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush

Also killed in the tragedy were Paul-Henri Nargeolet (left) and British businessman Hamish Harding (right)

The boat had not been designed to carry passengers so it constantly pitched and rolled. Conditions inside were unpleasant too, with bunk beds and scratchy bedding.

It was also impossible to store the submersible on deck so it was towed behind on a platform, where it was repeatedly beaten by the choppy waves.

They were also headed right into a persistent heavy fog - which had meant that since the start of their 2023 expedition, OceanGate had not managed a dive below 10m.

The family had only two days onboard before the dive so were left with little time for nerves or apprehension.

Mrs Dawood, suffering a bad bout of seasickness, planned to see her family on the sub, before spending the rest of her time on the boat sleeping off her illness.

Her husband and son wore jumpsuits similar to those worn by astronauts, bearing their names and the OceanGate logo.

They were joined by Rush, who was acting as pilot, British businessman Hamish Harding, and French diver and Titanic expert guide, Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

The latter, known as 'Mr Titanic', as the world's leading authority on the wreck, had already seen the ship some 37 times previously, five of which were on Titan.

The group even, in darkly comic jokes, discussed crashing - Mr Harding said he had never been on a helicopter because he thought they were too dangerous.

But when the time came to depart, the tone was light-hearted, with everyone laughing good-humouredly as a self-professedly clumsy Mr Dawood tried to board.

His son was even making jokes about his plans to take his Rubik's Cube on the sub, as he planned to achieve the world record for solving it at the deepest depth ever.

The family soon quickly said their goodbyes as father and son boarded the dinghy that would take them to the submersible.

Things began to go wrong at around 11am that day when Mrs Dawood was in the dining area of the boat, trying to ease her seasickness.

News came the ship had lost contact with the sub - but the crew reassured her it was nothing to worry about and it had happened before.

But despite their assurances the vessel would be back by 3pm as planned, there was still no sign of the submersible by 6.30pm.

Kyle Bingham, OceanGate's mission director, called an urgent meeting and declared the Titan was officially missing.

Mrs Dawood described how it felt to hear those words: 'It's like an avalanche. You see it coming. This is it, I'm going to be hit.

'But you're on a cliff, so where can you go? I had to make a conscious choice. I knew I couldn't let the emotions come.

'So, I grew wings, I flew away in my mind. That's how I saved myself from the avalanche.'

She began telling herself the sub was just stuck - but inevitably began to worry about her husband and son, who both felt uneasy in the dark, like that of the deep sea.

An OceanGate doctor gave her something to aid her seasickness and asked another of the tourists, who was set to join the next dive, to look out for her.

Mrs Dawood recalled walking around the ship in desperation for news - but worried about what she might overhear.

She remembered hearing hushed voices everywhere she went, which would stop whenever she was near. To her face, crew acted like nothing was happening.

But the mother did catch staff saying water could run out on the sub and the passengers could be forced to drink condensation off the walls through straws.

She did her best to banish such thoughts from her head and avoided reading the news, trying to remain hopeful.

But she knew, from the crew, the sub passengers could only survive four days at most before they ran out of oxygen.

A search and rescue operation by the US and Canadian Coast Guards began in earnest as media attention and public speculation increased.

But the truth was beginning to come out about OceanGate, as rumour spread saying Mr Rush had ignored previous warnings or dismissed safety as a waste of time.

Meanwhile, on the Polar Prince, crew created a schedule of jamming sessions, movie nights and poker games to keep everyone occupied.

Though Mrs Dawood attempted to watch films, she said it ultimately just felt jarring, given the ongoing search.

On June 22, the Horizon Arctic ship arrived at the scene with a remotely operated vehicle that could dive to the depth of the Titanic.

It was immediately deployed and reached the seabed 90 minutes later, transmitting footage to the US Coast Guard above, which had taken control of the rescue mission.

At one point in the search and rescue operation, operators realised the sub must have collapsed inwards within a fraction of a second, killing all five men instantaneously. Pictured: Coastguard footage of the debris of the submersible

Operators soon spotted the twisted remnants of Titan's tail cone.

A coastguard officer soon made a grim announcement on the Polar Prince: 'Every indication at this point is that a catastrophic event has occurred with the Titan.'

It transpired the Titan's hull had failed nearly three hours into the dive - and imploded under the pressure of the deep ocean.

Mrs Dawood described the pain of leaving the Polar Prince after she found out the news, forced to consider what to do with her husband and son's bags onboard.

She ended up packing Mr Dawood's, but asked someone else to do her son's - though she eventually carried his backpack on to the plane.

The bag ended up becoming important for her mother-in-law, who just wanted to hug it all the way back to the UK.

Over the next 18 months, the US Coast Guard investigated Mr Rush and OceanGate - and all the firm's flaws eventually came to light.

Mrs Dawood was advised it would be too distressing to attend the public hearings and to this day, she remains cautious about what information she is exposed to.

The official report into the tragedy concluded it was preventable and caused by inadequate testing and engineering, along with Mr Rush's reckless approach.

If he survived, he would have faced criminal proceedings.

In the years since, Mrs Dawood said she has had days completely paralysed by panic attacks - and her husband's study and son's bedroom both remain untouched.

The family kitchen still contains a Lego model of the Titanic which her son dedicatedly spent almost two weeks building.

But the family did not receive their bodies for nine months, she said: 'Well, when I say bodies, I mean the slush that was left.

'They came in two small boxes, like shoeboxes.'

This 'slush', as she called it, was the remains recovered from the seabed which were separated and DNA tested by the US Coast Guard.

In recent times, Mrs Dawood undertook a five-week walk from Hampton Court in Richmond, London, to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Her son had been studying business there and she completed the journey in tribute to him.

She plans to set up a grief and trauma centre in her husband and son's memories.
Revellers were lucky to escape injury during a suspected drive-by shooting at a busy bar.

The attack follows a wave of firebombings, shootings and kidnappings that have plagued Melbourne's late-night hospitality scene over recent months.

Police are investigating after a car reportedly pulled up outside South Yarra's The Emerson just before 2am on Sunday.

Several shots were fired before the vehicle drove away.

Investigators were still at the scene later in the morning and police have called on anyone with any information about or footage of the attack to come forward.

It's the second known attack on the venue in recent weeks after the bar was targeted in a suspected arson attack in the early hours of April 15.

As a result of that fire, the venue was forced to close for the following weekend.

Another venue, in nearby Chapel Street, also fell victim to a suspected arson attack on Sunday.

Police are investigating after a car reportedly pulled up outside South Yarra's The Emerson just before 2am on Sunday

Bar Up, in nearby Chapel Street, also fell victim to a suspected arson attack on Sunday

Emergency crews were called to the licensed premises just before 5am following reports a male offender had set fire to the building before fleeing on foot.

Police also charged three teenage boys over an alleged arson attack at a venue in Melbourne's city centre on Saturday.

Melbourne City Council staff spotted a suspicious vehicle on safety cameras near the corner of Flinders and ACDC lanes, notifying police shortly after 5am.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and found the front of licensed venue Bambi alight.

Police chased down two offenders and arrested another nearby.

It's the second suspected arson attack on the venue in April.

They were later charged with a swathe of charges, including criminal damage by fire, burglary and theft of motor vehicle.

The trio, aged 17, 16 and 15, are expected to appear before a children's court at a later date.

It's the second suspected arson attack on the venue in April

The Arson and Explosives Squad have called for public assistance over a series of apparently linked incidents at hospitality venues across metropolitan Melbourne.

Detective Inspector Chris Murray recently noted the arson attacks, including a factory fire at an alcohol distribution centre in Keysborough on Thursday night.

He said there had also been two kidnappings that police believed might be linked to the incidents.

'At this stage, the motive for the incidents remains unclear,' Det Insp Murray said.

'We have not had any reported extortions from any of the owners of the venues which have been subjected to arson or attempted arson.'
A British influencer visiting Australia has sparked a social media firestorm after calling Anzac Day the best day of the year and enjoying 'pre-drinks'.

Allegra Phipps, who is documenting the trip for her 51,000 followers, drew backlash after sharing the remark on the day of national remembrance.

Anzac Day is traditionally marked by dawn services and moments of reflection to commemorate Australian and New Zealand service members who served and died in military conflicts.

After the solemnity, many Australians gather at pubs and RSL clubs to play Two-Up, a gambling game that is only legally allowed on a few days of the year.

Queues began to form outside pubs from as early as 8.30am on Saturday in Sydney, with a massive line of pub-goers waiting to get into The London in Paddington.

Among revellers in Sydney was Phipps, who posted a now-deleted video on her social media, alluding to drinking at home at 7am, before joining the crowds.

'Pres (pre-drinks) at 7am?!!!!' she wrote in a caption alongside a shot of her dancing.

However, while the video was removed, social media users took a screenshot and quickly shared it in a Facebook group, questioning her tone.

Allegra Phipps (pictured) posted a video on social media on Anzac Day, appearing to dance and allude to 'pre-drinking' on the day of remembrance

People on social media angrily shared the video, questioning whether Phipps had mixed up Anzac Day with Australia Day

'Why are we having pres for ANZAC Day,' one user wrote.

Another said: 'Referring to ANZAC Day as the best day of the year is just extremely out of touch.'

A third suggested Phipps may have misunderstood which public holiday it was.

'Surely, they're mixing it up with Australia Day? That's all I can fathom,' they said.

The Daily Mail has contacted Phipps for comment.

On Sunday, she appeared in a video with another female content creator, hitting back at the haters online.

The pair could be seen dancing, pouting and blowing kisses at the camera with the caption: 'How it feels to be super hot, funny, skinny, happy and not a member in a... Facebook group'.
The Opposition has declared the Albanese government must do 'everything possible' to prevent Australian women linked to ISIS fighters from returning home.

Four Australian women and nine children and grandchildren left the AlRoj detention camp in northeastern Syria on Friday, beginning a 10hour journey to Damascus.

Camp coordinators confirmed 13 people had departed with logistical support from Syrian authorities, raising concern in Canberra about whether the group could ultimately attempt to reach Australia.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has said the women knowingly abandoned Australia to support a terrorist organisation and should not be permitted to return.

'These are people who left this country to be part of the Islamic State caliphate,' he told ABC's Insiders host David Speers on Sunday.

'ISIS is a terrorist organisation. Supporting it is a terrorist offence, and Australian security must come first.'

Taylor accused the Albanese government of failing to use the powers available to it, claiming ministers were allowing third parties to assist with repatriation efforts.

'The government should be making every possible effort not to accept these people back into the country,' he said.

Four Australian women and nine children left the AlRoj detention camp on Friday

Angus Taylor (pictured) said ISIS brides should not be allowed to return to Australia

'That includes passport issuance and preventing thirdparty involvement. We put legislation to the Parliament to stop this, and Labor rejected it.'

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles had been reluctant to comment on the reports of repatriation attempts by the women and children.

'Look, I am loath to go into that on this day, other than to simply say this: the Australian government is not repatriating those people from Syria,' he told Sky News after appearing to discuss Anzac Day commemorations.

'But as I say, today, given the significance of it, I'm loath to go into it in any more detail.'

A spokesperson reiterated that the federal government 'is not and will not repatriate people from Syria'.

The discussion on ABC's Insiders also reignited debate about Taylor's controversial remarks on migration and socalled 'bad countries'.

Earlier this month, the Coalition unveiled a new migration policy under which all visa holders would have to comply with the Australian Values Statement.

Anyone who breaches this could potentially trigger refusal or cancellation of their visa, and it could affect permanent residency assessments. It would also introduce a safe-country list.

David Speers (pictured) pushed Taylor over comments he made regarding 'bad countries'

In his speech about the policy, Taylor said immigration screening should be based on beliefs, adding that people who came from liberal democracies were more likely to adopt Australian values.

'Let's be clear, some of the great Australians have come from countries that were bad countries at the time,' he told Speers on Sunday.

'There is a higher risk that some bad people come from those bad countries and so what we have to do is we have to screen not based on country of origin, not based on race, but based on values.'

Asked which countries were bad, Taylor would only mention Iran by name, refusing to say whether he considered nations such as the Communist Party-run China as part of the same group.

'The government itself has put legislation in place to make it harder for people to come from Iran,' he said.

Taylor also said visa decisions should be driven by intelligence and values rather than ideology.

'If someone wants to come here and overturn our democracy or does not believe in the rule of law, they should not be coming to Australia,' he said.

'If they are already here, their visas should be cancelled.'
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a shooter opened fire.

DC's biggest night of the year was plunged into chaos after shots rang out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at around 8.15pm.

The President and First Lady were immediately taken to safety, followed by members of the cabinet who were hauled over barriers by the Secret Service.

The glitzy event was barely underway when a suspect armed with guns and knives stormed the hotel lobby. A source told the Daily Mail that Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is the alleged shooter.

Terror erupted on Saturday night after Secret Service agents stormed the hotel ballroom instructing everyone to take cover.

Thousands of guests were forced to dive under tables and chairs as audible gasps rippled through the room and the president was bundled out. Hundreds of journalists got on phones to call in information.

United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference shortly after that the suspect faces firearms and assault charges.

The president has since confirmed that a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was shot, but is in 'great shape.'

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech

The suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from California

He and the First Lady have since departed the hotel and returned to the White House, where he held a press conference and revealed he did not want to be evacuated.'

I fought like hell to stay,' Trump said. 'But they, it was protocol. They said, "Please, sir," because they didn't know. There was a lot of action going on, and they didn't know.'

When asked if he was the target, Trump replied, 'I guess.'

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech.

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests dining on burrata salad ducked under tables by the hundreds.

'Out of the way, sir!' someone yelled. Others yelled to duck.

'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. One individual is in custody,' a White House official told The Daily Mail in a statement.

The condition of those involved is not yet known and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.'

Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again.'

Security officials evacuate US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and his wife, Cheryl Hines, as a shooter opens fire

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson

About an hour later, however, WHCA President Weijia Jiang said that the Secret Service had asked everyone to leave.

'We will do this again,' said Jiang. Shortly afterward, staff began breaking down table settings and the presidential lectern.

Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and hearing Secret Service agents yelling to get down.

Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired.

The banquet hall  where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump's speech  was immediately evacuated.

Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight.

It was not immediately clear what happened. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter but no further details were immediately available.

Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Anchor Wolf Blitzer later reported that the police said the gunman had a 'major weapon.'

Law enforcement respond during an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner

Trump alongside WHCA President Weijia Jiang, did not appear to notice the gunshots before they were evacuated, as the President was speaking to the host, mentalist Oz Pearlman.

Shouts of 'God bless America' were heard throughout the ballroom as the entire dais was led out of the room, with many of the other guests still inside.

Protesters had been spotted both outside and inside the Washington Hilton related to the Iran War and Israel's war on Hamas ahead of the dinner.

Jiang announced about a half hour later that the program was set to resume in 'not much longer.'

Trump arrived Saturday night to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities, journalists and even a puppet  Triumph the Insult Comic Dog  in a dinner that typically generates debate about whether the relationship between journalists and their sources should include socializing together and putting aside sometimes adversarial relationships.

Trump and wife Melania popped up on stage after leaving the White House Saturday night, as the rest of the star studded attendees walked the red carpet and took their seats with JD Vance and his wife Usha, as well as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The President has had a rocky relationship with the annual shindig, held by the White House Correspondents' Association, but was pleased to be named an honoree for this year's event.

Past presidents who have attended have generally spoken about the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, adding in some light roasts about individual journalists.

The president has since confirmed that the suspect has been apprehended and that a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was shot, but is in 'great shape'

Trump arrived Saturday night to an event where the leaders of a nation at war mingled with celebrities and journalists

Journalists at the glitzy event were left diving under tables and chairs after being instructed to take cover

The Republican president did not attend during his first term or the first year of his second.

He came as a guest in 2011, sitting in the audience as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, made some jokes about the New York real estate developer.

Trump also attended as a private citizen in 2015.

Past dinners have also featured comedians who poke at presidents. This year, the group opted to hire mentalist Oz Pearlman as the featured entertainment.
The moment a group was kicked out of an Anzac Day dawn service in Perth has been caught on camera as new details suggest booing at ceremonies across three states had been pre-planned.

WA Police blocked 15 people they identified as members of 'issue-motivated groups' from attending dawn services in the city on Saturday morning, amid fears they would disrupt the commemorative event.

The decision was made after hecklers disrupted Welcome to Country ceremonies at dawn services in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The boos sparked widespread condemnation from First Nations leaders, RSL officials and state premiers, who described them as disrespectful and out of step with the spirit of Anzac Day.

Over the weekend, the right-wing group Fight for Australia, formerly known as March for Australia, appeared to take credit for the hecklers.

Organiser Bec Freedom posted a montage of the disruptive moments on social media - including an encounter between police and the group in Perth.

In the video, an officer tells them they are being removed over concerns they would interrupt proceedings.

'Due to your association with the March for Australia group and their actions in the eastern states, you are being removed from the ceremony due to the belief you will interrupt it,' the officer can be heard telling them.

WA Police (a member of the force is pictured) issued move-on orders to members of 'issue-motivated groups' at an Anzac Day dawn service in Perth

'If you fail to leave, you will be arrested and you will be taken to Perth Watch House.

'Your association to that group has unfortunately ruined your opportunity to remain at the ceremony today.'

Earlier in the week, Bec Freedom had written on social media encouraging followers to 'express disapproval' of Welcome to Country ceremonies on Anzac Day, and do so in 'whichever way they see fit'.

March for Australia has been behind a series of anti-immigration rallies nationwide, some of which have also featured neo-Nazi speakers and attendees.

On Sunday, WA Police confirmed they had issued 15 formal move-on orders across the state, 14 in metropolitan Perth and one in regional WA, with no arrests made.

'Anzac services are not the time or place for disruption, provocation or criminal behaviour of any kind,' the force said in a statement.

'In relation to the dawn service, a total of 15 move-on orders were issued across WA. No arrests were made. The individuals involved were identified as members of issue-motivated groups.'

'As a result of police intervention, the group was removed without incident, and the dawn service proceeded uninterrupted.'

Uncle Ray Minniecon was heckled as he performed the Acknowledgement of Country at a dawn service at Sydney's Martin Place on Saturday morning

Uncle Mark Brown was also booed while conducting an Acknowledgement of Country during the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

Pictured: Members on the navy march past the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne during the Anzac Day parade on Saturday

WA Police stressed the behaviour reflected only a fringe minority and not the broader community.

'These actions reflect the behaviour of a small minority and do not represent the values of the overwhelming majority of people who attended Anzac Day services respectfully across Western Australia,' police said.

'WA Police attended to protect the dignity of the commemorations, maintain public safety, and ensure the community could pay their respects without disruption.

'Police thank the community for the respectful and dignified manner in which the vast majority conducted themselves.'

In Sydney, a 24-year-old man was arrested at the Martin Place dawn service after a small but vocal group booed during the Welcome to Country.

NSW police said the man was arrested for an alleged act of nuisance and will allege he booed at the cenotaph site.

Victoria Police confirmed similar behaviour at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.

The fact that some Australians booed elders, including those who had fought for the nation, was disrespectful to Indigenous servicemen and women and to other Anzacs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Katie Kiss said.

'Australians are starting to stand up to that and we saw that yesterday in the thousands of people who stood with our elders during what was a disgraceful display of vilification,' she told ABC News.

She added that it remains the prerogative of Traditional Owners and event organisers to decide whether an Acknowledgement of Country is appropriate.
Erika Kirk sobbed 'I just want to go home' as she was rushed to safety after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

The widow of Charlie Kirk was among the first to be evacuated from the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, not long after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were bundled out.

The head of Turning Point USA was seen in floods of tears as she was flanked by what appeared to be two Secret Service agents.

In a post shared to X, Turning Point Action sponsor Derek Myers wrote: 'Erika is okay but very upset. She was crying.'

It comes just seven months after her husbands violent death at the hands of an assassins bullet at Utah Valley University.

The events bear haunting echoes of the fateful day in September last year, although no fatalities were reported out of DC.

But President Trump confirmed that a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was shot.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from the Los Angeles area, has now been identified as the suspect in Saturday's shooting and faces firearms and assault charges.

Erika Kirk sobbed as she was evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting

The widow was heard wailing 'I just want to go home' as she was escorted out

Trump is escorted out as a shooter opens fire during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington

Kirk was among the first to be evacuated, not long after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from the Los Angeles area, was identified as the alleged shooter

Police revealed the suspect had a number of weapons on him, including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

It is believed Cole may have been a guest at the Hilton hotel where the event was taking place.

Trump shared an image shortly afterwards, showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the ground, describing him as a 'sick person - a very sick person' during a press conference.

'He's a lone wolf, a whack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people,' he said at a White House briefing shortly after.

Dramatic video shows the suspect sprinting past a security checkpoint and attempting to reach the doors to the ballroom.

Wolf Blitzer, who was inside the venue and just feet away from the shooter, told CNN the suspect was armed with a 'major weapon' and fired around six shots.

'Apparently they got the gunman, he had a major weapon there, it was so worrisome. The noise was so loud. I was a few feet away from the gunman who was shooting randomly, half a dozen shots they were so loud,' Blitzer said.

Guests take cover behind a table after Trump and the First Lady were evacuated

Secret Service agent points his weapon in the Washington Hilton ballroom

President Trump confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended by Secret Service

Video showed the suspect as a blur making a run for it as he breached a security checkpoint and tried to reach the doors to the ballroom

Security officials evacuate US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and his wife, Cheryl Hines, as a shooter opens fire

DCs biggest night of the year was thrown into chaos after gunfire erupted in the Washington Hilton lobby at about 8.15pm, where Trump was attending for the first time since 2015 and was set to be honored and speak.

Asked whether he believed he was the target, the President said: 'I guess.'

As guests ducked under tables by the hundreds, Secret Service agents and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall, with one person heard shouting, 'Out of the way, sir.'

Cabinet members were lifted in the air over a barricade and dragged to safety.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, a White House spokesperson said: 'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents Dinner.'

'One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,' the statement added.

The President took to social media to share an update immediately after he was made safe.

'Quite an evening in DC Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,' the President wrote on Truth Social.

FBI Director Kash Patel was in attendance as the Daily Mail's guest and sprang into action

'The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we LET THE SHOW GO ON but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly,' he added.

'Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and well just, plain, have to do it again.'

However, the event ended up being canceled and Trump decamped to the White House where he delivered a press conference.
The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting has been identified as a California teacher.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California is the alleged shooter who opened fire at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.

The educator from the Los Angeles area faces firearms and assault charges after he allegedly breached a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement.

Police revealed the suspect had a number of weapons on him including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

President Trump shared a stunning image shortly after the shooting, showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the carpet.

Law enforcement confirmed he was not struck by gunfire while being stopped but has since been taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Itis understood Allen may have been a guest at the Hilton hotel where the event was taking place.

Surveillance video shows the suspect sprinting past a security checkpoint and attempting to reach the doors to the ballroom where the president was gathered along with his most senior cabinet members and thousands of journalists.

President Donald Trump posted a photo of the alleged shooter on Saturday night, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California

Allen is accused of opening fire at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night while the president and his cabinet were in attendance

Agents stand guard after an incident at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner shooting

During a press conference, Trump described him as 'a sick person, a very sick person.'

'He's a lone wolf, a whack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people.'

The suspect is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, DC, said. Pirro said he will be arraigned on Monday in federal court.

'It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,' Pirro said.

'There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,' Pirro added.

The suspect was 'tackled to the ground' and handcuffed by law enforcement, Jeffrey Carroll, interim chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department, said.

Carroll explained the suspect was not struck by gunfire in the altercation, but did exchange shots with an officer who was struck.

Wolf Blitzer, who was inside the venue and just feet away from the shooter, told CNN the suspect was armed with a 'major weapon' and fired around six shots.

Agents rushed to secure the room and evacuate President Trump, who had been preparing to deliver remarks.

President Donald Trump speaks, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, during a press briefing at the White House shortly after the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Trump held a press briefing at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth by his side

The suspect was caught on surveillance footage sprinting past a security checkpoint and headed straight for the ballroom where thousands of journalists were gathered for the annual event

Agents leapt into action as the suspect streaked past. A Secret Service Agent was shot during the incident but is expected to survive

Guests were told to take cover as Secret Service agents stormed the ballroom

Security officials evacuate U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson as a shooter opens fire

At one point, the president stumbled briefly, appearing to trip, before being helped up and escorted off stage.

From one corner of the room, a spontaneous chant of 'God Bless America' broke out as the evacuation unfolded.

Among those in attendance were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio - all of whom were safely removed from the venue.

Authorities say there were no immediate reports of additional injuries beyond the Secret Service agent who was shot but partly protected by a bullet proof vest.

Outside, the response intensified rapidly. Law enforcement and Secret Service personnel flooded the area, while members of the National Guard took up positions inside the building.

Guests were allowed to leave but were prevented from re-entering as security teams swept the premises.

The suspect is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, DC, said

Secret Service Agents are seen responding to the active shooter

Officers assist guests to exit during the White House Correspondents Dinner

Organizers initially considered resuming the dinner, but officials ultimately decided to cancel the event

The White House released a statement confirming a suspect was in custody.

'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.'

Shortly after being evacuated, Trump also posted a message on his Truth Social platform praising the response.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.'

Organizers initially considered resuming the dinner, but officials ultimately decided to cancel the event.
FBI Director Kash Patel acted swiftly to protect others as shots rang out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Chaos broke out inside the Washington Hilton after a shooter opened fire in the lobby around 8.15pm, prompting the Secret Service to rush into action, securing President Donald Trump and thousands of guests.

Patel, who was a guest of the Daily Mail alongside his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, immediately instructed others at the table to get down.

As reporters huddled on the floor and underneath the tables, Patel yelled 'stay down.'

Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and Secret Service agents yelling to get down.

When it was safe to stand back up, Patel and Wilkins asked nearby reporters if they were OK, before being escorted out of the ballroom by his security detail.

FBI Director Kash Patel and his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, leave the White House Correspondents' Dinner after a shooter opened fire

Patel did not take cover under the table like others, remaining upright as he told those at his table to stay down

'The US Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. One individual is in custody,' a White House official told the Daily Mail in a statement.

'The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation,' the statement said.

Trump confirmed the gunman was in custody in a post to Truth Social, which he reiterated at a White House briefing a little after 10:30pm.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we'll just, plain, have to do it again,' the President wrote on Truth Social.

Trump and the First Lady departed the hotel and returned to the White House.

Melania Trump wasn't on hand during the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on the then-presidential candidate's life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump noted how the experience at the dinner tonight was 'rather traumatic' for her.

'I can't imagine there's a profession that's more dangerous,' he also said at the press briefing.

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2015 and was set to be delivering remarks for the first time as a sitting commander-in-chief.

FBI Director Kash Patel seen moments after a gunman opened fire at the dinner on Saturday night

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton. They are seen during the National Anthem

Journalists immediately huddled on the floor as Secret Service agents rushed into the room

Join the discussion Did Patel show leadership when it mattered most?

'I was all set to really rip it,' Trump said at the briefing. 'This would be the most inappropriate speech, but I don't know if I could ever be as rough as I was going to be tonight.'

The President generally delivers a roast at Correspondents' Dinner.

Patel later spoke alongside Trump in the briefing room, commending law enforcement for their swift action.

He also asked Americans for any information they could reveal about the shooter's motive.

'No piece of information is too small, no piece of information is inadequate,' Patel said. 'We will evaluate it all.'
Donald Trump has revealed what First Lady Melania Trump told him just after bullets were fired in the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

'It's always shocking when something like this happens,' the President said at a White House press briefing in the West Wing within an hour of the violence.

'The fact that we were sitting next to each other, the first lady on my right, and I heard a noise,' Trump said, adding they thought 'it was either a tray or a bullet.'

'I heard a noise and kinda thought it was a tray going down,' he said.

Trump said that immediately Melania Trump recognized the sound as a 'bad noise,' adding that 'it was a rather traumatic experience for her.'

'Melania was very cognizant,' he continued.

The President also shared his wife's fear for his safety given the multiple assassination attempts against him.

'The first lady was doing a terrific job. She loves the country. She recognizes it better than any. But she told me numerous times, she said "you are in a dangerous job."'

Trump said at a Saturday night press conference that he wasn't sure if he heard gunshots or a crashing dining tray when a gunman was taken down trying to breach the White House Correspondent's Dinner within the two hours of his address

The President and First Lady were seated at the head of the table on stage when the incident occurred

Melania Trump stood in the briefing room as the President delivered an update to the nation during the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Inside the dining room, just over an hour before, several shots rang out, and attendees immediately ducked under their tables to protect themselves in a frantic scramble.

A few journalists stayed seated or knelt, filming the fallout. Secret Service agents and other security began rushing through the room, securing the many top-ranking politicians.

Within seconds of the shots, the President, First Lady, and Vice President ducked for cover under their table on stage at the front of the room.

Moments later, agents began combing through the hundreds of tables in the massive banquet hall to secure top Cabinet officials.

The Secret Service's Counter Assault Team (CAT) rushed the stage draped in black tactical gear with large rifles drawn.

'It was a gun and some people understood that pretty quickly and other people didn't. I was watching to see what was happening,' the President remarked. 'Melania was cognizant of what happened, and I think she knew.'

'Again the performance of the Secret Service and the police, all of law enforcement were very good. It was very quick. There was not a lot of time to be thinking. It was a matter of seconds before we were out the door and got into an area.'

Video of the aftermath shows VP JD Vance being helped off stage by Secret Service agents as Trump and Melania duck for cover.

Many of Trump's top Cabinet members were in attendance at his late night press briefing

Trump posted an image of the man who tried to breach security on his social media

Join the discussion Was rescheduling the dinner the right move after this scare?

Clips then show several agents reach for the President and quickly pull him to safety.

While extracting him, the President appears to slip and crawl for a second as agents help him regain his footing and rush him to a space behind the stage.

The DC Metropolitan Police Department released a statement indicating that the suspected shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was a guest at the Hilton hotel where the event was held.

The gunman shot one officer during the exchange, Trump said.

'One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing an - obviously - a very good bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.'

He said that he had spoken to the officer, adding 'he's doing great' and is in 'very high spirits.'

The President also struck a defiant tone at the briefing, saying that he will not let the shooting derail the dinner and that it will be rescheduled within the next month.

'We're going to be doing one hopefully within the next 30 days,' he said.

He noted he was excited to deliver his speech and that he was 'all set to really rip' some of the journalists in the room. 'This would be the most inappropriate speech.'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he is 'pleased' to hear US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are safe after an alleged shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.

Guests had just taken their seats at the event on Saturday night, local time, when Secret Service agents surged into the ballroom, shouting for people to 'get down'.

Trump, his wife and senior cabinet members were swiftly escorted out of the venue.

At one point, the president stumbled briefly, appearing to trip, before being helped up and escorted away.

Among those in attendance were Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio - all of whom were safely removed from the venue.

Following the incident, Albanese issued a statement on Sunday, sharing his relief that those present were unharmed.

'I am pleased to hear the President and the First Lady, along with all attendees at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, are safe,' Albanese said.

'We applaud the work of the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies for their swift action.'

Anthony Albanese (pictured) said he was 'pleased' the President and First Lady were safe

President Donald Trump and other government officials were evacuated from the Washington Hilton after what sounded like gun fire at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner

Trump (right) said the alleged perpetrator was 'taken down' after attempting to breach the security checkpoint

President Trump later appeared in the White House Press Briefing Room to address reporters following the incident at the Hilton, where the annual dinner was being held.

'That was very unexpected, but incredibly acted upon by Secret Service and law enforcement,' Trump said.

'It was in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing to see. A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service. And they acted very quickly.'

US authorities have since released further details about the suspect, who has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California.

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, said the individual faces two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as a separate charge of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

Pirro confirmed the suspect is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Monday and indicated additional charges are likely.

'There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,' she said.

Authorities said there were no immediate reports of additional injuries beyond the Secret Service agent who was shot but partially protected by a bulletproof vest.

President Donald Trump posted a photo of the alleged shooter on Saturday night, identified later as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California

Guests were told to take cover as Secret Service agents stormed the ballroom

Outside, the response intensified rapidly. Law enforcement and Secret Service personnel flooded the area, while members of the National Guard took up positions inside the building.

Guests were allowed to leave but were prevented from re-entering as security teams swept the premises.

Shortly after being evacuated, Trump also posted a message on his Truth Social platform praising the response.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.'

Organisers initially considered resuming the dinner, but ultimately decided to cancel the event altogether.
An Australian journalist who attended the highprofile White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was interrupted by an alleged shooter, has revealed the limited security in place at the event.

Guests had just taken their seats at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, local time, when Secret Service agents surged into the ballroom, shouting for people to 'get down'.

US President Donald Trump, his wife Melania and senior cabinet members were swiftly and safely escorted out of the venue.

Surveillance video from the incident shows a figure sprinting past a security checkpoint and attempting to reach the doors to the ballroom.

ABC News' Americas editor John Lyons was at the event, which is an annual gala that brings together journalists, politicians, and celebrities in Washington DC.

He told colleagues in Australia that he was 'shocked' by the security process.

'The security here at the Washington Hilton was less than the security you would face at Sydney or Melbourne or Brisbane airports,' he said.

'All you needed was this little yellow ticket to get yourself downstairs, and then you just went through a metal detector. That's it.'

ABC Americas editor John Lyons (pictured) holds up the single yellow ticket that was all that stood between the public and restricted areas at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

The US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were seated at the head of the table on stage when the incident occurred

Pictured, authorities respond to an incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Trump posted an image of the man who tried to breach security on his social media

The suspect, who has since been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California, was 'tackled to the ground' and handcuffed by law enforcement.

He has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as a separate charge of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

Police allege he had a number of weapons on him, including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

It's believed Allen may have been a guest at the Hilton hotel where the event was taking place.

While Secret Service agents were visibly stationed throughout the venue, Lyons said their attention appeared narrowly fixated on the president.

'They're coming in and out of the reception and nobody's showing any ID or any passports,' he said.

Authorities said in briefings there was a 'multilayered approach' to security at the event, and that the line of defence where the man was intercepted did its job.

Shortly after being evacuated, Trump posted a message on his Truth Social platform praising the response.

'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,' he wrote.

'They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.

'He's a lone wolf, a whack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people.'

Organisers initially considered resuming the dinner, but officials ultimately decided to cancel the event.
Suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner gunman Cole Tomas Allen has been charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump after he stormed through Secret Service security checks with a rifle and knives on Saturday night.

Allen, 31, is accused of opening fire as the President gathered with senior cabinet members and thousands of journalists for the annual event on Saturday night.

Since the carnage unfolded on one of the biggest nights in the nation's capital, more details of his life have emerged - including his upbringing in a tight-knit, church-going family.

The dinner at the Washington Hilton was barely underway when the Secret Service was forced to leap into action after a series of shots rang out.

They managed to apprehend the suspect after he breached a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement, authorities said.

The alleged shooter has since been identified as Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California.

Federal prosecutors moved quickly on Saturday and charges of two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.

The attempted assassination of Trump carries a life sentence. Allen appeared emotionless in court as he heard the charges against him on Monday.

'It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,' United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said, adding that 'there will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation.'

Suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, is facing at least three charges

Cops swarmed on Allen's parents' $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.

Despite the scale of the attack, officials say Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington, DC.

He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.

Photographs circulating online show him smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings.

His social media details he is highly educated and academically accomplished.

On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: 'A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.'

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.

During his time at Caltech, Allen listed his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship and the Caltech Nerf Club.

More recently, Allen had been working in education. In December 2024, he was named Teacher of the Month at C2 Education, a recognition typically reserved for standout instructors.

It is a far cry from the violence which prosecutors say he unleashed in a DC hotel lobby on Saturday.

Join the discussion Does this raise bigger questions about security failures?

Less than 18 months ago, Allen was named teacher of the month at a school in Torrance

The Allen family are seen with Allen, second from right, together with brother Gabriel, his mother Kathy, father, Thomas, and sisters Stephanie and Avriana

Allen has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence

Allen was 'tackled to the ground' and handcuffed by law enforcement after he allegedly broke through a security checkpoint and opened fire

Members of law enforcement respond during the White House Correspondents Dinner. Allen can be seen lying on the ground with their hands behind his back

Authorities say Allen, armed with a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives, charged toward the ballroom before being stopped.

Interim Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Jeffrey Carroll said the suspect was 'tackled to the ground' and handcuffed by law enforcement after exchanging gunfire with officers.

One officer was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover.

Carroll confirmed Allen was not hit by gunfire during the confrontation but he was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.

Investigators believe Allen was staying at the hotel where the dinner was being held.

'So preliminary information, we do believe he was a guest here at the hotel. We have secured a room here in the hotel, and again, we'll go through the appropriate procedures to determine what was inside there,' Carroll said.

Inside the ballroom, hundreds of guests dove under tables as shots rang out nearby.

The President and First Lady were swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and his wife Cheryl Hines, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller are escorted out of the room by Secret Service

Law enforcement surrounds the Washington Hilton Hotel where shots were fired

Late on Saturday night, the family home in Torrance was swarmed by armed officers looking for evidence connected to the shooting

Allen seen here with family members including brother Gabriel, right, and his sisters Stephanie and Avriana

Cole Tomas Allen is seen, far left, alongside his siblings Gabriel, Stephanie and Avriana

'When you're impactful, they go after you. When you're not impactful, they leave you alone,' Trump said hours later, describing the suspect as a 'lone wolf' and a 'sick person.'

Authorities have said they have 'no reason' to believe anyone else was involved and have not identified any motive yet.

The charges already filed carry significant penalties and officials have made clear they are only the beginning.

Officials say Allen never breached the ballroom itself, crediting the rapid response of Secret Service and law enforcement for preventing what could have been a far more devastating outcome.

'You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward, but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they're supposed to do,' Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. 'I promise you justice will be served.'
CNN's Wolf Blitzer was seen visibly shaken in harrowing footage taken just moments after he narrowly escaped gunfire at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Blitzer, 78, was just 'a few feet away' from the gunman when he heard around six shots fired at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.

He was on his way out of the upper men's restroom when he came face to face with suspected shooter Cole Tomas Allen, 31.

'Next thing I knew a couple of police officers were jumping on me trying to protect me. I think then the gunman was shot, I could be wrong, but he stopped firing,' Blitzer told CNN. 'It was a terrible, very frightening moment for me.'

As President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the nearby ballroom, Blitzer was bundled back into the bathroom by the officers, appearing to lose a shoe in the process.

Eyewitness Jack Fattall who was also in the area when the chaos erupted captured the panic in the moments immediately after on video.

'He was being shot at,' Fattall told the Daily Mail. 'The shooter was shooting in his direction, so he had to duck on the floor before running into the bathroom.'

Within seconds, he said the gunshots began ringing out and Blitzer was in the direct line of fire.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer was left visibly shaken and missing a shoe after narrowly escaping gunfire at the White House Correspondents Dinner

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage after around six shots were fired at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday

Blitzer was just 'a few feet away' from the gunman when he opened fire at around 8.15pm

Blitzer is seen in the footage with one shoe on after he lost it rushing back to a bathroom after hearing gunshots

The veteran anchor recalled having 'no idea' what was going on, what he was hearing, who the shooter was targeting, or whether it was simply someone trying to scare people at Washington DC's biggest event.

'Of course, the first thing that went through my mind was whether he was going to shoot me,' Blitzer told CNN.

'I did see the gunman on the ground after he started shooting,' he added. 'Police officers threw him to the ground but he was still shooting. And I could hear the shots going off.'

Footage shared by Fattall showed Blitzer taking a few tentative steps forward with just one shoe on and the other foot covered only by a black sock.

He appeared to be in shock, standing motionless with irregular breathing, and gave vague, uncertain responses when asked what had happened, saying he 'just heard a bunch of shots right near me.'

Fattall, also seen in the video, said officers took Blitzer back into the restroom, where about 15 other men were seen sheltering with the door blocked by a Secret Service agent.

'Secret Service basically held the door, kept us in and started pointing the gun at least in the direction of the shooter,' Fattall said.

'At some point, the shooter went down, but they still kept us in the bathroom for about 25 minutes until they kicked us out of the event,' he added.

Jack Fattall, an eyewitness, told the Daily Mail that Blitzer was 'being shot at' and that shooter was 'running in his direction'

The suspect has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, an educator from the Los Angeles area

Photos taken moments after Allen was pinned by agents show officers restraining him as others moved in to secure the area

Fattall's video showed the bathroom door being blocked by a Secret Service agent

Trump was rushed from the stage after gunfire broke out at the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents Dinner, where the president - attending for the first time since 2015 - was set to be honored and deliver a speech.

Erika Kirk was also among the first to be evacuated and was later seen in a flood of tears as she was escorted out by what appeared to be two Secret Service agents.

Cabinet members were lifted over a barricade and rushed to safety, while a Secret Service agent wearing a protective vest was confirmed shot. The agent was taken to hospital, with their condition unknown.

Police revealed Allen had a number of weapons on him, including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He was charged with firearms and assault charges.

Video footage showed the suspect, heavily blurred, running as he attempted to reach the ballroom doors just seconds before firing. It is believed he may have been a guest at the hotel.

In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that the suspect had been apprehended.

The president also shared an image shortly afterward showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the ground, describing him as 'a very sick person' during a press conference.

'He's a lone wolf, a whack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people,' he said.
It sounded like the muffled popping of champagne corks in rapid succession, but no one opens bottles that fast.

The 'pops' reverberated from a foyer and through the open main door into the Washington Hilton ballroom, where I was sitting at one of the tables closest to the entrance.

With my dinner companions, I was in the middle of starting a sweepstake on how long President Trump would speak for and guessing which news outlet he would roast the most.

'I think he's going to speak for...' someone said, trailing off as the shots broke out.

We looked at the open doorway, wondering if it was going to be followed by a lunatic running through and unloading.

Diving for the floor, I squashed under the table with several other guests, sending what remained of our cheese salad starters flying.

Wine glasses went tumbling, a woman nearby lost her heels, chairs overturned, and half-drunk bottles rolled across the carpet.

For several moments, lying under the table, we looked at each other silently, asking the same question - would there be more shots?

Terror rippled through the Washington Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night after a gunman opened fire

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were almost immediately ushered out of the Washington Hilton's ballroom

Then, lifting a flap of the white tablecloth, I saw armed men come flying through the doorway.

They ran past our table and down the aisle, clambering over other tables and past prone dinner guests.

As they grabbed a man with gray hair, my first thought was that he must be the shooter, but he turned out to be a high-profile politician.

At the other end of the room, the President had by now been bundled out, pushed so hard by a Secret Service agent he almost fell over.

What appeared to be Secret Service agents in night goggles were now standing on the dais where he had been sitting, pointing their weapons in the direction of the diners.

An uneasy silence hung over the cavernous ballroom, with the odd head poking out from under tables nearby. Someone shouted 'USA' and tried to start a chant, but it fell flat.

I hesitated to get my phone out to start filming in case the agents thought it was a gun.

Instead, I walked to the main entrance door, through which the sound of the shots had come. It was now closed with a security guard, dressed in black, in front of it.

Daily Mail reporters in attendance reported hearing three to four shots and Secret Service agents yelling to get down

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests were dining on burrata salad

The banquet hall contained thousands of journalists who frantically took cover under tables and chairs before they were also evacuated

Mike Bell, the guard, told me: 'You can't go out, there's a man down out there on the other side of the door. I don't know if he's dead, Secret Service are cleaning it up. It's up one flight of steps where the magnetometers are.'

He went on: 'I heard the shots and got down. I don't know how many shots it was. After they came in, a Secret Service guy tapped me on the shoulder and told me to go lock this door.

'I got here, and I could smell the gunfire on the other side. I know what that smells like.

'I normally work the magnetometers, but the Secret Service took that over for this tonight. I don't know what side of the mag the shooter was on.'

Soon, agents were rushing Cabinet secretaries up the aisle, passing within a few feet of my table, and out another exit.

Pete Hegseth, the War Secretary, was among the first, striding out with a face like thunder.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, whose father was assassinated in a hotel, looked grim. Scott Bessent seemed determined, while Kash Patel looked calm amid the chaos.

In a room full of journalists, rumors immediately began spreading like wildfire.

At a White House press conference after the shooting the president revealed he campaigned to stay at the event but was forced to leave due to Secret Service protocol

The alleged shooter was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of California

Was it even gunshots at all? Some speculated it could have been a prank sounds from a tape recorder.

A Medal of Honor recipient I was under a table with said it sounded like a suppressor had been used.

Others had heard for sure it was an Iranian terrorist, while more pointed the finger of blame at noisy anti-war protesters stationed outside the hotel.

But soon, everyone was talking about the questions that would surely dominate the inquest into this latest assassination attempt - how was a gunman able to get so close?

There is no doubt that security at the event was sorely lacking.

I was amazed that I never had to show any form of ID to enter the venue.

All that was required was to flash a paper ticket in the vague direction of a security guard when walking into the parking lot.

Indeed, anyone staying at the hotel did not even need that, they simply had to show a room key card.

Guests are assisted and whisked away during the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting aftermath

The suspect is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon, Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for Washington, DC, said

The President was attending the event for the first time since 2011 and was set to be honored and give a speech

From the parking lot, I walked inside the hotel and did not have to show a ticket again until I reached an escalator, where one security person was attempting to check several tickets a second.

The first and only set of magnetometers was separated from the main ballroom entrance by one short flight of stairs leading down.

If he had gotten past the magnetometer, a gunman could have been into the ballroom in just a few seconds.

Presidential appearances at the White House Correspondents' Dinner go back many years, and the security operation should, by now, be a well-oiled machine.

Yet, during a time when America is at war with Iran, checks appeared minimal.

Both the President and Vice President were at the event, further begging the question of why security was not tighter.

When the event happens again in 30 days' time, it will have to be.
It is typically the biggest night of the year for Washington, DC's journalists and power players.

But this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner will go down in history for all the wrong reasons after a shooter unleashed a hail of bullets during the glitzy event.

Guests barely had chance to tuck into their appetizers before Secret Service agents swarmed the Washington Hilton's ballroom following a series of 'loud noises.'

As Donald Trump and the First Lady were whisked to safety, terrified guests took cover anywhere they could as they waited anxiously for news.

We now know that the source of the commotion was a lone shooter, who breached a security checkpoint and was taken down by law enforcement following an exchange of gunfire.

One Secret Service agent was shot but is expected to recover, while the suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, now faces at least three charges.

As investigators works to piece together a motive amid the chaos, see some of the most striking images from the dramatic event below.

The harrowing moment President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were informed of the shooting before they were swiftly evacuated

A collection of celebrities, journalists and other Washington power players duck for cover after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton

Erika Kirk sobbed 'I just want to go home' as she was evacuated from the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting

Secret Service agents ready to spring into action. One of their own was the lone victim of the shooting, though he was protected by his bulletproof vest

Shooting suspect Cole Thomas Allen, 31, lies in an ambulance after being escorted from the dinner. US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro said he will be arraigned Monday on at least three charges

President Trump shared this dramatic image of the shirtless alleged shooter after he was taken down by law enforcement

Allen is seen wrapped in a foil blanket on a stretcher after investigators say he unleashed a hail of bullets. He was taken to the hospital for a medical check but appeared unharmed, police said

A frantic guest makes a phone call shortly after being evacuated from the ballroom

Guests were whisked out shortly after the gunfire erupted at around 8.15pm

White House Deputy Chief of staff Dan Scavino leaps over a chair amid the chaos

Security officials evacuate US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)

CNN's Wolf Blitzen was just feet away from the shooter when he opened fire and appeared visibly shaken and missing a shoe in a video taken moments after

Guests congregate outside of a Washington DC 7-Eleven following the shooting. All of the guests were evacuated and the dinner was postponed

The president called a press briefing at the White House just thirty minutes after he was whisked away from the event

Journalists still trapped at the Hilton tuned into his briefing using any devices they could find
A wheelchair user was threatened with a $400 fine if his ride home from the airport parked in the disability pick-up zone.

Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec shared a video of his interaction with a worker at Adelaide Airport, where his mother attempted to pick him up on Saturday.

The three-minute clip showed the worker explaining his mother couldn't park in the pick-up area as she did not have a disability permit, despite her son being confined to a wheelchair.

'It's really clearly signed, all motor users have to have their permit,' the worker said.

Mr Hryhorec asked: 'So all these wheelchair icons here - you can't drop off and pick up people with disabilities unless they've got a permit, is that right? So my mum can't pick up me in my wheelchair?'

The worker confirmed: 'That's correct.'

Mr Hryhorec asked where he would have to wheel himself to in order to get his ride, considering the general pick-up area was too 'chaotic' and parts were inaccessible.

The Adelaide Airport worker insisted he would either need to use the general pick-up area or his mother could pay $400 for using the disability area without a permit.

Shane Hryhorec called on Adelaide Airport (above) to change its policy, adding it would be 'impossible' for everyone who picks him up to hold a permit

Mr Hryhorec was shocked to be caught out by the odd rules as he frequently uses Adelaide Airport to get around for his travel blog.

'For many, many years, I've been using the disability pick-up and drop-off area at Adelaide Airport and all airports all around the world,' he said in the video.

'If you're in a wheelchair and have a service animal, you know firsthand how hard it is to use pick-up areas that are not designated accessible ones.

'It's hectic, it's chaotic and what airports have is designated disability areas to make it easier for people with disabilities, getting dropped off and picked up from the airport.'

Mr Hryhorec called for Adelaide Airport to urgently change the rules, adding it's 'impossible' for users to organise for every ride they get to have a permit.

'Life with a disability is not easy, travelling with a disability is really, really hard,' he told ABC News.

'We have enough barriers as there is without having to deal with situations like this just by getting dropped off and picked up from the airport.

'I'm hoping the airport doesn't send us a $400 fine, but if they do I certainly will be appealing it.'

Mr Hryhorec (above) was told his mother couldn't pick him up from Adelaide Airport's disbaility pick-up area as she didn't have a disabled permit

Adelaide Airport told ABC it was investigating the incident and apologised for 'the frustration and distress' Mr Hryhorec and his mother endured.

'Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will review our policies and procedures and make any necessary changes,' it said.

'We are committed to ensuring a seamless and positive experience for all our customers.'
Keir Starmer has vowed to stay as PM into the 2030s as he faces another week of trial by fire over the Mandelson scandal.

The PM insisted he will fight the next election and moaned that the voices of 'loyal' Labour MPs are not heard, despite mounting unrest in the party and Cabinet.

The comments came with his former chief aide Morgan McSweeney due to give potentially explosive evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee on Tuesday. On the same day, there could be a key Commons vote on whether to refer Sir Keir to the privileges committee over allegations he misled Parliament.

Meanwhile, Labour anxiety is rising over the looming local elections  which are looking apocalyptic for the party across English councils, as well as in Scotland and Wales.

Allies of Angela Rayner have been mobilising for the results to trigger a crisis, with one MP telling the Daily Mail the 'deadly stalemate' cannot be allowed to drag on. However, the ex-deputy PM is still not thought to have resolved her wrangling with HMRC about unpaid stamp duty.

Keir Starmer has vowed to stay as PM into the 2030s as he faces another week of trial by fire over the Mandelson scandal

The comments came with his former chief aide Morgan McSweeney due to give potentially explosive evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee on Tuesday

Allies of Angela Rayner have been mobilising for the results to trigger a crisis, with one MP telling the Daily Mail the 'deadly stalemate' cannot be allowed to drag on

Sir Keir has also benefited from the fact another prospective successor, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, remains outside of Parliament and not able to be a leadership candidate.

The premier attempted a fightback this weekend by giving an interview to the Sunday Times. Asked if he planned to fight the next election  expected in 2029  Sir Keir said: 'Yes.'

He said: 'We didn't wait 14 years to get elected, we didn't change the Labour Party, we didn't do all that it entailed to win the election and the mandate for change, not to deliver on it.'

Sir Keir voiced frustration over the ongoing questions about his handling of the Mandelson situation, and his decision to sack Foreign Office mandarin Olly Robbins.

'I've answered I don't know how many of them,' he said.

'But at the same time, I've got a huge amount of work to do on the war on two fronts.'

Sir Keir insisted the 'vast majority' of MPs wanted him to stay and 'get on with the job'.

'What you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job,' he said.

'And that is the vast majority of people in the parliamentary Labour Party.

'They're pleased to be in power. They've waited a long time to be in power. And they just want to get on with their job. They don't make a lot of noise about it,' he said.

Despite the PM's bullish comments, Survation polling for grassroots site Labour List found 46 per cent thought the party should change its leader, against 44 per cent who wanted Sir Keir to hang on.

Fielding questions from broadcasters on behalf of the Government this morning, Cabinet minister Darren Jones said Sir Keir had 'no case to answer'.

He stressed it was for Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to decide whether a vote on such a move is something that goes ahead or not.

But Mr Jones told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg: 'You have to remember, what are these privileges committees about? The last time it was used was when Boris Johnson told the House of Commons there were no parties in Downing Street.

'It was then shown he was at five of them and got a fine from the police.

'That's what these processes are in place for, so the Opposition are just using tactics to try to distract from the fact that the Government is doing good work in this pre-election period.'

Asked if it would not be the right thing to have the investigation and clear up different interpretations of what has happened, he said: 'As far as I understand the case, there is no case to answer.'

Mr Jones was also pressed on a 'warm' message he allegedly sent to Mandelson on the day the peer was sacked as ambassador to the US last September.

The minister said: 'I was asked what was going on in Downing Street and I replied along the lines of, "I don't know what's happening. I'm not in the room. I'm sorry. It all seems so difficult".

'And that was the exchange that I think has been referred to.'

Mr Jones added: 'I wouldn't say it was warm and I didn't know what was taking place. I just felt that it was difficult at the time for everybody involved.'

Elections guru Sir John Curtice has warned that Labour's drubbing on May 7 could be of an 'existential' scale.

He told The Independent: 'The Labour Party's at 19 per cent in the opinion polls. They're running at a half of the level of support they got in 2022, which is when two-thirds of the seats were last contested. Starmer is deeply unpopular in the polls.

'Labour and the Tories are heading for a horrendous set of results. They may be bad, they may be very bad, and they may be existential.'

Labour Mayors are already gearing up to blame the dire outcome on the Government's performance.

Sir Keir has also benefited from the fact another prospective successor, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (pictured right with the PM and Angela Rayner), remains outside of Parliament and not able to be a leadership candidate

Join the discussion Would YOU back Rayner if Labour moved against Starmer?

Sadiq Khan told the Financial Times last week was 'really frustrated' about the Mandelson 'omnishambles'.

'I'm 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,' he said.

Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool Metro mayor, said Sir Keir's U-turns on policies were 'overshadowing the good stuff'.

Mr Jones said today: 'I get that that's frustrating. I've been campaigning all across the country with colleagues, and I know how hard they're fighting in these midterm elections, and I know that the May elections are going to be difficult for the party.

'After a run of four or five years on the upside of the curve, you know, people know that these are going to be challenging, and this latest round of issues has made that slightly harder.'
Authorities in Warsaw are facing mounting criticism after deploying hunters to kill thousands of rampaging wild boars plaguing the city.

The operation, launched earlier this month, targets around 3,000 animals across the capital, including in districts such as Bemowo and Mokotow, which have seen a rise in sightings.

Specialist teams equipped with dart guns respond to reports logged on a mobile phone app, tranquilising the animals before killing them with lethal injections.

However, the methods have sparked anger after boars were killed in residential areas, including playgrounds, and their carcasses were seen being placed in wheelie bins.

The backlash prompted protests outside city hall, with hundreds of residents and animal rights activists demonstrating against the cull.

Dorota Suminska, 69, a vet and newspaper columnist, told The Telegraph: 'What is happening in Warsaw recently is pathology and barbarism.

'It frightens me that something like this was allowed to happen.'

City officials say the scale of the problem is unprecedented, with at least 3,000 wild boar recorded in Warsaw as of March 2026.

Authorities in Warsaw are facing mounting criticism after deploying hunters to kill thousands of rampaging wild boars plaguing the city

Edward Warchocki, a humanoid robot dubbed an 'influencer', spotted chasing off a herd of wild boars inthe polish capital

Wildlife experts attribute the surge to several factors, including the animals' growing resistance to African swine fever since 2017, as well as reduced human activity during COVID lockdowns and EU restrictions on relocating boars to forests.

The animals have also become more accustomed to urban environments and are increasingly entering the city in search of food, sometimes being fed by residents.

Some locals have criticised the decision to use lethal methods.

One resident said a recent cull in Biaoeka took place outside a school for autistic children.

She told the newspaper: 'My neighbours often report encounters with wild boars because they are afraid, even though they've never actually interacted with them. The boars were sleeping under a tree. They were killed very quickly, with stun darts and then a lethal injection.

'Their determination [to kill the animals] was frightening they should show respect when taking the life of a living creature.'

One more said they did not agree with the 'mindless killing' of animals.

Officials say growing boar populations are a wider European issue, with countries including Spain, Germany, France, and Estonia carrying out regular culls.

In Britain, wild boar are culled annually in the Forest of Dean to maintain a population of around 400.

Experts say milder winters linked to climate change and a decline in natural predators such as bears and wolves have contributed to the increase.

The animals have also become more accustomed to urban environments and are increasingly entering the city in search of food, sometimes being fed by residents

The cull has also drawn attention online after footage circulated of a humanoid robot, Edward Warchocki, appearing to chase boars through a Warsaw car park, although there are no plans for it to be used in the operation

Karol Podgorski, head of Warsaw's culling programme, defended the operation.

He told the newspaper: 'I understand the concerns of animal rights advocates, but in a situation with so many conflicts between wild boars and people, we, as authorities, must take steps that are not liked by part of society.'

He added that the number of animals justified the measures and said non-lethal options are used where possible.

'Another issue is that wild boars also cause damage in the city. They dig up lawns, destroy fences, attack dogs and damage cars. And damage caused by wild boars is not covered by insurance,' he said.

The cull has also drawn attention online after footage circulated of a humanoid robot, Edward Warchocki, appearing to chase boars through a Warsaw car park, although there are no plans for it to be used in the operation.
Virgin Atlantic's boss has warned the aviation industry 'cannot absorb' jet fuel prices at their current levels as airfares surge by as much as 360.

It comes as Sir Richard Branson's carrier has raised ticket prices as the war in Iran continues to threaten jet fuel supplies.

The airline has added a fuel surcharge of 50 to economy-class tickets, 180 to premium economy tickets and 360 to business class seats.

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, as the conflict has disrupted production and obstructed key transport routes across the Middle East.

The Gulf is a critical supplier of the world's oil and gas - including aviation fuel - accounting for roughly half of Europe's imports.

Much of this supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed in response to US and Israeli strikes.

Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic's chief executive, said his hopes for the airline to have a 'much smoother' financial year had been derailed by the fallout from the Iran war.

He attributed this to jet fuel prices being at record highs 'never seen' for the airline before - and cautioned that the industry cannot withstand increases on this scale.

Virgin Atlantic boss Corneel Koster (pictured) has warned that the aviation industry 'cannot absorb' jet fuel prices at their current levels

Your browser does not support iframes.

'I was looking at improving our financial results by a really significant chunk. And then this happens,' Mr Koster told the Telegraph.

'We have never seen jet fuel at these levels, with prices more than doubling.

'The industry cannot absorb increases like this.'

Britain is especially reliant on jet fuel from the Middle East.

Kuwait - which supplies more than four million tonnes a year, around 38pc of total British imports - has seen its Mina Al-Ahmadi plant hit by a series of attacks, raising doubts about whether it can meet demand even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

To offset this, airlines could be granted unusual flexibility this summer under new plans allowing them to adjust flight schedules in advance to offset potential fuel shortages.

Ministers are finalising proposals to temporarily ease rules that require airlines to run part-full flights from UK airports.

Currently, carriers that fail to operate these services risk forfeiting their valuable take-off and landing slots, which can be worth tens of millions of pounds.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Under the changes, airlines would be able to consolidate schedules months ahead of any disruption, reducing the risk of last-minute cancellations.

While this could mean fewer flight options than usual, services that do run are more likely to go ahead as planned.

Airline chiefs said the move would be crucial in avoiding widespread travel chaos and helping to prevent millions of Britons' summer holidays from being disrupted.

Whitehall sources stressed that the measures, still being finalised, would be temporary.

'We are actively looking at what can be done. If it becomes necessary, we can implement the plans quickly,' a government source told The Times.

Yet hundreds of flights have already been cancelled as the jet fuel crisis takes hold.

Virgin Atlantic confirmed it has scrapped flights from London to Riyadh this month, while several other airlines - including British Airways, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and Norse Atlantic Airways - have also announced route reductions.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has cut more than 500 flights from its schedule in the coming weeks for 'mandatory maintenance' on aircraft.

The airline is set to cancel several scheduled transatlantic services, including flights to and from Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St Paul and Toronto, according to internal documents seen by the Irish Independent.

The same internal information shows that services to London Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh will also be suspended, with passengers rebooked onto alternative flights.

Departures from Dublin to a range of European destinations - including Berlin, Zurich, Athens, Faro and Amsterdam - are also being reduced.

Airlines UK, which represents major carriers such as British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, said: 'We are talking to the Government about crucial measures that will be needed to support aviation in the event of fuel disruption.'

And across the Continent, disruption has also been widespread.

Earlier this month, German carrier Lufthansa said that a regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, will suspend operations due to high kerosene prices and labour disputes.

Dutch airline KLM has also cancelled 160 flights across the next month as a result of rising fuel costs.
The sculptor of the Elizabeth II memorial statues has defended his design after critics complained that it did not look like her and the late Queen was not on horseback.

Martin Jennings, 68, revealed scale models of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the royal family on Tuesday at the British Museum.

The statues will be put up in prominent position on The Mall near Buckingham Palace outside St James's Park in central London in 2028.

But critics said the models looked 'nothing like' the Queen.

Mr Jennings hit back saying that they had mistaken his preparatory scale models -called maquettes - for the final statue, which he assured 'everybody will recognise as the late Queen and nobody else'.

The King and Queen 'were very happy to see the models', Mr Jennings said, and were 'particularly pleased with the idea of representing the Queen and Prince Philip at this early stage of her reign, which symbolised so much optimism and hope'.

But while the royals seemed 'affable' and 'interested' in the initial design, the high-profile monument attracted high-profile critics.



Iconic British actress Dame Joanna Lumley, 79, joined critics in saying she was 'sorry' the Queen was 'not on a horse'.

Martin Jennings, 68, has defended his designs for the statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip after they were revealed this week for the late Queen's memorial outside Buckingham Palace

Critics thought that the Queen would be on horseback and said that the maquette's face did not look like her

She told The Daily Mail on Thursday: 'We all wanted her to be on a horse. We wanted her on Burmese. An equestrian statue, that's what we wanted.

'We really wanted her on a horse because we know she loved horses above everything.'

But Mr Jennings defended the decision for her to stand alone, without her famous mount Burmese.

He told the Daily Mail: 'When I was appointed, we came to the conclusion that it needed to be a single standing figure, not an equestrian one.

'Primarily because this represents the Queen as the sovereign, as the head of state.

'Had we put her on a horse, she'd have needed to be in military uniform, and that would have reflected only one part of what she stood for.'

The King was kept informed and 'approved' the designs put forward, Mr Jennings added.

He pointed out that there is already an equestrian statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Great Park and that he 'didn't want to replicate that idea'.

He added: 'This is what we'll have, the Queen herself, rather than the Queen and an awful lot of horse.'

The original mock-up of the statue by the architects showed Elizabeth on horseback but this was meant to be 'a placeholder', Mr Jennings explained, 'rather than a statement about exactly how she would be represented'.

Elizabeth's statue will feature the monarch in her majestic garter robes, hand on her heart, looking into the distance, 'making a promise to her people', Mr Jennings said.

Her pose and outfit are based on 1954 portrait of Elizabeth by Pietro Annigoni when the Queen was 28.

Philip's statue is 'related' and depicts him at a similar age in his Admiral-of-the-Fleet uniform. It shows the duke standing as he often did with both arms behind his back.

His statue will be looking up to Elizabeth's larger and taller figure. Mr Jennings said this would represent the playful and 'teasing relationship' the couple appeared to have in footage together.

British acting icon Dame Joanna Lumely told the Daily Mail she was 'sorry' Elizabeth would not be on a horse, but Mr Jennings defended the decision

The young Queen will be in her garter robes with her hand on her heart 'making a promise to her people', Mr Jennings said. Prince Philip will be smaller and looking up to his beloved wife in an affectionate 'teasing' fashion

Mr Jennings wanted to represent the Queen 'as the sovereign, as the head of state' and said after discussion it was decided her being on horseback would detract from this

Responding to those questioning the Queen's likeness, Mr Jennings said that the model should be seen like a painters sketches so he is 'not concerned yet' about it not looking 'exactly like the Queen'. He assured the final statue would resemble her

'It's as if he's looking up at her, saying, "What are you doing up there?"'

But critics online also took aim at Mr Jennings' scale model of Elizabeth for not looking enough like her.

The sculptor said he 'fully accepts' the model does not currently look like the late Queen. But he explained that maquettes are like a painter's sketches, so a rough outline rather than a finished product.

He said: 'All I was trying to do was to suggest an idea - the costume, the pose, the turn of the head - really simple things.

'You don't really worry too much about likeness at this stage. The head on the models that I was showing is no bigger than the end of your thumb, so I'm not concerned yet about making it look facially exactly like the Queen.'

He spoke to the gravity of this project: 'It's extremely demanding to make this piece of work. But to put a large monument onto the Mall - what I think of as being within the Golden Mile of great British monuments - is an extraordinary honour and a great responsibility.'

'In a way, this is the final marker for the Queen's reign', he said, recognising this will be an internationally important monument to a figure with a strong global memory.

The decision to have her standing alone was made to depict her in 'as simple a way as possible' to guard against excessive regalia 'that can detract from the sculpture' but 'nonetheless referred to her as the head of state'.

When asked if the weight of the memorial's significance scared him, he said 'it's certainly intimidating, but there's time to do it well.'

It is due to be finished in 2028 and Mr Jennings said he would be working on the statues full-time until then.

Mr Jennings has been in the figure sculpting world for 45 years. He started his artistic career studying calligraphy, lettering and stone carving at the City and Guilds of London Art School following his graduation from Oxford University, studying English Language and Literature in 1979.

From carving gravestone inscriptions and architectural tablets, Mr Jennings slowly chiselled his way into figure sculpture and has made his name painstakingly recreating legendary celebrities put up in public across the country.

Notable works of his are the statue of George Orwell at BBC Broadcasting House, Mary Seacole at St Thomas' Hospital in London, Charles Dickens at Guildhall Square in Portsmouth, Philip Larkin at Hull Paragon Station and John Betjeman at St Pancras station in London.

He has done extensive work with the royal family before with his bust of the Queen Mother which sits in St Paul's Cathedral and is also behind the coinage portrait of King Charles, as well as a crowned edition for the coronation.

The architectural mockup was merely meant to be 'placeholder' and not 'exactly how she would be represented', Mr Jennings explained

Prince Philips statue will be smaller and closer to the ground that Elizabeth's which he will be looking up at from 100 yards away through the Marlborough Gate in St James's Park

The statues are about the embodiment of sovereignty, said Mr Jennings, who wanted to reflect this in having the monarch stand on her own in her youth at the beginning of her reign which 'symbolised so much optimism and hope'

To be awarded the commission, Mr Jennings won a competition last summer and said after interviews and the consideration of his previous works he was appointed in part because he wanted 'to design the monument on which she stood' as well as the sculptures.

The project has 46million set aside for it and will include a glass unity bridge, inspired by the late Queen's wedding tiara nearby the statues in St James's Park.

The glass structure will replace the Blue Bridge across the lake in the park and be designed by architects Foster and Partners.

Commenting on the project, Charles said at the British Museum on Tuesday: 'Fantastic. It's a wonderful idea for the bridge to be based on the Russian Fringe tiara, the one my Mama wore at her wedding.'

On the large budget, Mr Jennings said the money is 'not going on me. There's a very expensive bridge and a lot of landscaping.'

The Grade II-listed Marlborough Gate will be dismantled and re-erected in 'modified form' to make way for the statues.

Mr Jennings said that all parts of the project are designed in close conjunction with the others working on it.
The King's security in America is being taken 'very seriously' in the wake of a gunman storming a Washington dinner where Donald Trump was speaking, ministers said today.

Keir Starmer has spoken to the US President to express his 'shock' and 'relief' he was not hurt in the disturbing episode.

'Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,' the PM posted on X.

'It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.'

In interviews this morning, Cabinet minister Darren Jones insisted 'appropriate' measures would be in place for the monarch's State Visit this week.

The White House Correspondents' Association dinner was thrown into chaos by the attack last night.

Mr Trump, who was injured in a previous assassination attempt, was swiftly evacuated by secret service agents along with other senior members of the administration. The President said later that the culprit appeared to be a 'lone wolf whack job'.

One officer, who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest, was taken to hospital.

The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.

The President and First Lady were seated at the head of the table on stage when the incident occurred

The King is due to arrive in the US in the coming days for his State Visit

In interview this morning, Cabinet minister Darren Jones insisted 'appropriate' measures would be in place for the monarch's State Visit this week

He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel where the event was being held and faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting attorney general Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.

A Downing Street readout of the PM's call with Mr Trump this afternoon said he 'extended his best wishes to the President and First Lady following the shocking scenes at last night's White House Correspondents Dinner'.

'He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,' the readout added.

Mr Jones, the Chief Secretary to the PM, told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'These are remarkable scenes. The Prime Minister has, this morning, sent a message to the president of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place.

'As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.'

Asked if there are any extra concerns for the King's safety during his upcoming state visit to the US, Mr Jones said: 'As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.'

Mr Trump vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had 'unified' political opponents and the media.

Keir Starmer has sent a message of 'solidarity' to the US President after the disturbing scenes

Trump posted an image of the man who tried to breach security on his social media

He was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president.

Mr Trump said: 'My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.'

The president praised the secret service and said the gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he sat on stage at the time of the incident.

He added: 'I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing.

'To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of secret service, and they acted very quickly.'
A 'TikTok famous' takeaway with a zero-star food hygiene rating is making neighbours' lives a misery as they're kept awake at night by constant noise, litter and fights.

Families living on the Bourne Estate in Camden, central London, have claimed Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane is ruining their lives.

Despite years of documented complaints to Camden Council, the Met Police and the kebab shop itself, the takeaway continues to serve customers from dusk until dawn.

Residents have said they are 'desperate' for the Lebanese Grill Express to be shut down, claiming the eatery plays music until 1am 'every day of the week' with deliveries beginning as early as 5.30am and chimney smoke polluting the air for '14 to 15 hours'.

However the owner allegedly had previously dismissed neighbours' concerns as 'racism' and accused the police and council of incompetence.

For the past five years families have put up with the anti-social behaviour, which they have claimed stems from the takeaway.

But they have now decided enough is enough as they fear for their children's safety, as the area is compared to the 'Wild West'.

Some residents have said it's got so bad they want to move away altogether.

A police van is pictured as dozens of diners gather outside Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane in Camden, central London

Neighbours have claimed anti-social behaviour pouring out of the kebab shop has ruined their lives

Pictured: The remnants of takeaway meals bought by punters at Lebanese Grill Express littered on the ground nearby

One woman, who lives on the Bourne Estate with her two children, says Lebanese Grill Express appears to be 'above the law'.

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: 'If this were happening in Chelsea or Hampstead, the place would be shut down.

'This is the most deprived area in Camden, that's why all this is allowed to happen. The company is dissolved and they have a zero food hygiene rating, yet they are still there.

'They are making people's lives a misery and they seem to be above the law. My child goes to bed at nine o'clock, but music is playing until 1am every day of the week. Why do we have to put up with this?'

Lebanese Grill Express is famed on social media for serving large portions of meat with salad, rice and chips for a low price.

After opening in 2021, a meeting was held between the restaurant's owners, local residents, police and the local council to find ways to reduce the disruption that had already begun.

At another meeting two years later, after matters hadn't improved, residents claimed Lebanese Grill Express' owner accused the police and council of incompetence and residents of racism.

Last November the restaurant's late-night licence was reviewed on the basis of pollution, which later led to it being revoked.

Two police officers are pictured on the streets outside the restaurant, where residents have reported loud noise, litter and fights, at night

The Food Standards Agency have rated the kebab shop's food hygiene as 'zero' out of five stars following an inspection in February

The FSA deemed 'major improvements' were 'necessary' in hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and management of food safety

However the decision was appealed, meaning the restaurant can still operate until 1am until their appeal is heard.

It was given a zero-star food hygiene rating by the Food Standards Agency in February, which determined that 'major improvements' were 'necessary' in hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and management of food safety.

To add to residents' misery, they say loud deliveries to the takeaway begin as early as 5:30am before the chimney begins puffing at 9am.

'You only have two hours to sleep, if you can,' the resident continued. 'I can't sleep. I'm exhausted.

'At 9am the smoke starts. At 11am they open their doors. From then until 1am - 14 to 15 hours - we have the smoke.

'At around 3pm all the schoolkids come, driven by social media, to eat.

'At around six o'clock is when the fun starts: fights, vehicles playing loud music, urinating, eating on top of cars.

'Residents can't even send their children to Sainsbury's. It isn't safe for our kids anymore. It's like the Wild West.

Multiple bags from the kebab shop are littered on the ground next to a nearby bin

'These people have ruined my life. My peace and tranquillity are gone. The disruption is always happening.

'It's a hub for delinquents. It takes your sanity away. They have caused us so much pain over the years.

'People are afraid. They don't know what's going to happen. Does someone have to die? Is that what we are waiting for?'

Another Bourne Estate resident said she and her neighbours were 'desperate' to get the kebab shop shut down.

'The issues are escalating,' the mum-of-two said. 'Everyone on the Bourne Estate is directly affected.

'The smoke from the Lebanese Grill chimney causes a huge problem. You can't have your windows open.

'At about 5pm, teenagers from all over London come to do TikTok videos. That, in itself, causes problems with noise.

'But then there's violence and fighting, suped-up cars that turn up late in the evening, driving up and down Leather Lane. Some people have even had fireworks fired at their windows.

One resident said: 'When it's cold or raining, they gain access to our estate and eat inside the blocks.' Pictured: Takeaway bags and boxes scattered in one of the housing blocks

'Then there's the level of noise and the fear factor, which is real. People don't want to go out on Leather Lane after the market's gone.

'It's not a safe area to walk around now. A lot of women have told me they don't feel safe. If they were just going to Lebanese Grill and then going away, it would be fine.

'But they're hanging around the area, using seating on the estate, using the children's playground and leaving all their rubbish behind.

'When it's cold or raining, they gain access to our estate and eat inside the blocks. Lebanese Grill say whatever happens outside their shop is not anything to do with them.

'They say anything against Lebanese Grill is down to racism, which is not true. We don't understand why they're being allowed to continue like this. It's ridiculous.

'It's got so bad that people want to move. They don't leave their houses after a certain time.

'I've asked teenagers why they come and they say: "The food's good and it's cheap". But it's just because it's viral. We want it shut down. We're desperate.'

A Camden Council spokesperson said: 'We removed the late-night licence for Lebanese Grill Express in November due to ongoing noise and disturbance issues.

'This decision has been appealed, meaning the venue can continue to trade until the appeal has been determined by the court.

'Our community safety team will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and offer reassurance to residents, ahead of the appeal hearing which is scheduled for August.'

A spokesperson for the Met Police added: 'Officers are aware of ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour in and around the Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane, Farringdon.

'Since these issues have come to light, police have increased patrols at the location to address the anti-social behaviour and reassure the local community.

'In December, the business underwent a licensing review, during which the Met made representations to the panel in support of the revocation of the premises' late-night licence.

'Camden Council subsequently made the decision to revoke the business's licence.

'We understand this decision has since been appealed and as a result, the establishment is still operating.

'We continue to work closely with partners to explore all options to address concerns at the venue.'

The Daily Mail approached Lebanese Grill Express for comment.
Several popular beaches south of Sydney have been closed due to a higher risk of sharks in the area.

The warning was triggered by the appearance of a 25-tonne partial whale carcass on Era Beach in the Royal National Park on Saturday morning.

Nine beaches in the park were closed for Anzac weekend and are expected to remain closed for the public holiday on Monday.

The whale body was found by lifesavers and is expected to be removed sometime this week.

Surf Life Saving NSW told visitors at the beaches - including Garie, Wattamolla, Era and Burning Palms - to stay out of the water due to increased shark activity.

'We know that there are some great white sharks that have been sighted around the carcass and some bull shark sightings there,' NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's royal area manager Brendon Neilly told ABC.

'The advice is not necessarily avoid the area, but stay out of the water.

'We've been liaising closely with several of the Surf Life Saving Clubs and also Surf Life Saving Sydney to ensure swimmers and beach users are safe and the beaches in that location are currently closed.'

A large whale carcass (above) in Royal National Park has caused increased shark activity at nine beaches

The partial whale body (above) won't be removed until later this week

The 25-tonne partial whale carcass was discovered on Era Beach (above) in the Royal National Park on Saturday morning

Lifesavers are patrolling the water using jetskis and drones.

The closures will remain in place until the risk has reduced.

The affected areas are: Figure Eight Pools, Garawarra Farm carpark, Garie Beach picnic area, Governor Game lookout, North Era campground, Palm Jungle loop track, Royal National Park Visitor Centre, The Coast track and Wattamolla picnic area.
The dramatic events at the White House Correspondents Dinner last night will inevitably raise worrying questions about the security surrounding King Charles and Queen Camillas state visit to the US this week.

The fact that an armed man got so close to assassinating the President of the United States is extraordinary given that Donald Trump is reputed to be the best protected individual on earth.

As a former head of royal protection, I would expect all venues hosting the President to be surrounded by what I call an onion system of security, with at least three different layers.

And yet, the shooter, who was apparently armed with a shotgun and multiple knives managed to storm through the final layer  which did not consist of a physical barrier  and was heading for the entrance to the ballroom where 2,300 members of the political and media elite were gathered.

It would appear that he would have had no problem breaching the outer perimeter as he was actually staying at the Washington Hilton Hotel, the venue hosting the event, and so presumably made his way into the lobby before heading for the banqueting suite.

Security there was said to be disturbingly lax, with a number of accounts testifying to guests being allowed in without proper bag checks and beeps from security wands often ignored.

The assassination attempt on Trump raises questions about the King's visit

The fact that the would-be shooter, a 31-year-old teacher from California, appears to be a clean skin  that is someone with no track record of criminality, of campaigning against Trump or plotting his downfall  would also have made his actions that much more difficult to predict.

We are very unlikely to see a repeat of such a security lapse at the state dinner for the King and Queen on Tuesday night.

For a start, there will be many fewer guests. It is being held in the White Houses East Room because Trumps much-vaunted new ballroom is still under construction, so there will be capacity for just 120 people.

That event will also benefit from the protection offered by the well-established ring of steel that surrounds the building which acts as both the Presidents office and residence.

But there is likely to be an urgent review of the security surrounding the King and Queens external engagements, particularly those that involve them mixing with members of the public.

Before the state dinner they will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at a military site and on Wednesday they will visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York to meet with first responders and victims families.

There will also be visit to a sustainable urban farming event and a trip to a national park to meet indigenous community leaders and conservationists, as well as a block party on Thursday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Americas independence, which is the main purpose of the visit.

Questions are being asked about how the shooter was able to breach the security rings

The fact that someone got so close to assassinating Donald Trump, despite the fact he is protected 24/7 by a rotating team of 300 Secret Service agents supported by other law-enforcement agencies when circumstance demand it, has inevitably prompted speculation that the whole thing was a set-up to boost his popularity ahead of the mid-term Congressional elections in November.

I personally doubt that the administration would get involved in anything so fraught with risk of exposure but theres no doubt the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and setbacks in its war in Iran have thrown the Trump White House into crisis.
Thanks for visiting !

The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.

We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.

Thank you for your support!
A huge fire broke out at a UK military air base used by the US to strike Iran in the early hours of this morning and residents have been urged to shut their windows.

The inferno ripped through RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and videos show black smoke billowing above the rising flames of the blaze.

Fire crews rushed to the base - used by the US Air Force - at 1.52am to battle the blaze which has now been brought under control.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said it believes the fire was started accidentally after wiring caught alight in an old disused building - reportedly the base's commissary.

There have not been any injuries or damaged to aircraft reported and no RAF personnel were involved in fighting the fire, the MoD added.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) said that flames engulfed a single-storey industrial storage building but it was brought under control safely.

Firefighters remain at the scene this morning as a precaution to ensure no further fires will catch alight.

A fire investigation has been opened, but the GFRS said that they belive the cause of the fire was 'nothing other than accidental.'

The huge fire broke out at RAF Fairfield - an airbase used by the US to strike Iran- at 1.52am this morning

A US Air Force Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on March 17. The base has been used by the US to strike Iran as one of two European bases that can host heavy bombers

A GFRS spokesperson said: 'We were called at 1.52am this morning to reports of a fire at RAF Fairford.

'Fire engines from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended and were supported by neighbouring fire and rescue services.

'The fire involved a single-storey industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties.

'Crews remain at the scene this morning as a precaution and to ensure the incident is fully resolved.

'Fire investigation is ongoing and the early indication suggests the cause of fire was nothing other than accidental.'

RAF Fairford has hosted US Air Force planes and personnel since 2019 and has been used by US forces for the Iran War.

It is one of two European airfields designed for heavy bombers and routinely supports US Bomber Task Force operations.

This means all three of the US long range bombers - the B-1 Lancer, the B-2 Spirit and the B52 Stratofortress - can be stationed there.

The blaze was brought under control by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue service (GFRS)

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental the GFRS said. The Ministry of Defence claimed wiring caught alight in a disused building, reportedly the bases commissary

Some of its most prominent uses have been as an airfield for US Air Force B-52 bombers during the first Gulf War in 1991, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the 2003 Iraq War and this year's Iran War.

The US Military spokesperson: 'At approximately 1 a.m. on 26 April, a fire was identified in an unoccupied building on RAF Fairford, leading to a response from on-base emergency services with the support of our partners from surrounding communities.

'There were no injuries sustained, the fire has been contained and currently poses no risk to the base populus or local community.

'We are thankful for the support of our local community members and services, the safety of our personnel, families, and surrounding communities remains our top priority.

'An investigation has been initiated and is ongoing, more information will be released as it becomes available.'
Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of 'nuclear terrorism' on the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster after overnight drone attacks claimed the lives of three people.

In a social media post marking the Chernobyl anniversary, Zelensky said Russia, through its invasion, was 'again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster'.

He highlighted how Russian drones regularly pass over Chernobyl and that one had hit its protective shell last year.

'The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks,' he added.

In January, the power plant lost its external power supply after a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Serhiy Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian expert in electronic warfare, warned at the time that the missiles being launched at energy infrastructure were landing in proximity to nuclear reactors - some just 300 metres away.

If a Russian strike against such a substation were to miss, it could trigger a disaster, he warned.

Last February, a Russian drone attack on the plant significantly damaged a radiation shelter covering one of the reactors, sparking fears of a radioactive leak.

In a social media post marking the Chernobyl anniversary, Zelensky said Russia, through its invasion, was 'again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster'

Chernobyl nuclear power plant a few weeks after the disaster, in May, 1986

Zelensky said at the time that a Russian attack drone 'with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.'

He said the shelter was damaged but that the fire had since been extinguished.

The cover is used to prevent radiation after the 1986 nuclear disaster, which sent a radioactive cloud across Europe.

The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was the worst civilian nuclear disaster in history and changed global perceptions of nuclear energy.

Thousands are estimated to have died as a result of exposure to the radiation, though assessments of the precise human toll vary.

Some 600,000 people involved in the clean-up operation - known as 'liquidators' - were exposed to high levels of radiation.

A 2005 UN report put the number of confirmed and projected deaths at 4,000 in the three worst-affected countries.

Greenpeace in 2006 estimated that the disaster had caused close to 100,000 deaths.

Russian strikes across Ukraine killed three people and wounded at least four others, Ukrainian officials said Sunday.

In the northeastern Ukraine border region of Sumy, a Russian drone attack killed two civilians, according to the head of Sumy's regional military administration.

'The enemy struck civilians in the territory of Bilopillia community - near one of the settlements, less than five km from the state border with the Russian Federation,' Oleg Grygorov said in a post on Telegram.

He said two men aged 48 and 72 were killed.

Black smoke rising into the sky is seen above the city on April 25, 2026 in Dnipro, Ukraine

Ukraine came under another massive Russian missile and drone attack overnight into Saturday

Drone and artillery attacks in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, meanwhile, killed one person and wounded four more, the region's military administration head Oleksandr Ganzha said, adding that homes and vehicles were damaged.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired 144 drones overnight, of which 124 were downed.

Earlier Sunday, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol in Russian-annexed Crimea said a man was killed in a vehicle during a Ukrainian drone attack that damaged several homes and a dance school in different neighbourhoods of the port city.

The governor said Russia shot down 43 drones in the attack.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities said at least eight people were killed in Dnipro, which was hit by waves of Russian strikes for 20 hours straight.
A grandfather who relearned how to walk after being struck in a 50mph crash is now preparing for a world record water-walking challenge, with hopes of raising 1million for charity.

Tony Fahey, 82, suffered life-changing injuries nearly five years ago when he was hit by a car while out walking. He underwent 18 months of intensive rehabilitation and at one stage was unsure if he would ever walk again.

During his recovery, Manchester-born Mr Fahey spent several hours a day on a cross-trainer rebuilding strength in his legs.

It was during this time, and driven by a determination to give something back, that the grandfather-of-16 first developed the idea of a water-walking challenge.

Now, father-of-six Mr Fahey will attempt to walk on water continuously for 24 hours in aid of the children's charity Make-A-Wish, with the goal of raising 1million.

He will lead the Walking on Water challenge at Sale Water Park in Trafford, Greater Manchester, on 7 and 8 May.

Alongside a team of tour, Mr Fahey will use a specially designed human-powered 'aqua elliptica' to complete the venture - a watercraft that uses a forward walking-style motion to move across the water.

Mr Fahey, a retired businessman, said the challenge is not just about him, but 'proving what's possible, no matter your age or circumstances.'

Tony Fahey, who relearned how to walk after being struck in a 50mph crash, is now preparing for a world record water-walking challenge, with hopes of raising 1 million for charity

Mr Fahey (pictured) will use a specially designed human-powered 'aqua elliptica' to complete the challenge - a watercraft that uses a forward walking-style motion to move across the water

He said: 'I've rebuilt myself step by step.

'My greatest wish is to raise as much money as possible for the children.

'This is only the start of what I want to achieve for Make-A-Wish. I plan to take on more challenges over the next couple of years, each one pushing me further than the last!'

To prepare for the endurance challenge, Mr Fahey has been training five days per week and has taken the aqua elliptica for various test rides.

Yet this is not Mr Fahey's first brush with record-breaking challenges.

In 1977, he persuaded legendary racing mechanic Leo Villa OBE - chief engineer to Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE and later Donald Campbell CBE, and a key figure in Britain's historic land and water speed record programmes - to come out of retirement and mentor him.

Mr Villa went on to guide Fahey into Formula One powerboat racing, where he quickly found success in Grand Prix events, including the Paris six-hour race, competitions in Belgium, and races on Lake Windermere.

Within a year of Mr Villa's involvement, Fahey had set two world records and a British national record, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

His achievements included the R6-category speed world record, which remains unbroken today, as well as the world production-engine powerboat record and the British national water speed record.

During one of his runs on Lake Windermere, Mr Fahey also reached a peak speed of 158mph, underlining the scale of performance achieved during his record attempts.

Supporters can follow Mr Fahey's water-walking journey and preparation on social media, and donate to his fundraiser for Make-a-Wish, here.
Britain's shoplifting epidemic has hit a record high of more than 500,000 cases in a year, figures show.

Police recorded 530,000 offences in England and Wales last year  a 48 per cent increase on pre-pandemic levels.

And retailers estimate that the true figure is far higher, as shoplifting has become increasingly organised on Britains broken high streets.

Reoffending has also spiralled, with 67 per cent of shoplifters going on to commit another offence within the year, compared to just 55 per cent before the pandemic.

Experts have warned that this reflects a growing scourge in career criminals.

In fact, the average shoplifter commits 9.1 offences, which has nearly doubled in the past five years, according to analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).

Video footage showing Liam Hutchinson stealing from Boots. He went on to be jailed for a year

However, just one in five shoplifting offences resulted in a charge or court summons, meaning the vast majority of thieves faced no formal consequences.

The figures, spanning from April 2024 to March 2025, were released following a parliamentary question by CSJ chairman Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

It comes after the organisation has launched an inquiry seeking to repair Britains broken high streets.

CSJ researchers have identified a growing link between shoplifting levels and the spread of dodgy vape shops and mini-marts operating as fronts for illegal activity.

Meanwhile, one in four independent retailers have reported seeing goods stolen from their shops being resold in their area.

Sir Iain, the MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said Britain is suffering from a high street crime wave.

He added: Set against years of economic difficulties, there is a risk that some of our town and city centres are left permanently hollowed out.

In my own constituency, rising levels of shoplifting point to a broader social breakdown that is fuelling crime.

Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. There must be zero tolerance for criminals who target shopkeepers and undermine our local communities.

Polling suggests crime will be an important battleground in the upcoming local elections. In a recent survey by Ipsos, one in three Britons said it was a key issue that would influence how they vote.

It comes after former Met detective David McKelvey warned that a 'nonsense' ban on supermarket staff confronting shoplifters leaves stores 'wide open' to criminal gangs.

Waitrose sparked fury earlier this month after it sacked a veteran employee of 17 years for tackling an Easter egg thief due to its strict 'non-intervention' policy.

Walker Smith, 54, confronted the 'repeat offender' at the chains Clapham Junction branch and got into a tug-of-war, causing a 13 bag of Lindt eggs to spill across the floor.

Meanwhile, hundreds protested outside Morrisons near Walsall on Saturday in support of ex-manager Sean Egan, 46, who was sacked after 29 years following an altercation with a career criminal who spat in his face.

Other recent high-profile shoplifting cases have seen some perpetrators jailed for stealing up to 300,000 of goods.

In October, Daniel Cleveland, 33, was jailed for three years after stealing 16,000 worth of taps from B&Q in Bromley, south London.

Another thief, Liam Hutchinson, was jailed for a year after CCTV footage showed him swiping whole shelves of Boots products into his bag, totalling 100,000.
The FBI raided the home of the White House Correspondents Dinner shooter early Sunday, and investigators have said they are now examining his financial records as part of the probe.

Chaos broke out inside the Washington Hilton after Cole Tomas Allen opened fire in the lobby Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC.

The Secret Service rushed into action, securing President Donald Trump and thousands of guests attending the black-tie gala that brings politicians and journalists together.

A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told the Daily Mail they believe Allen acted alone and are tracing his finances to determine how he paid for the hotel stay.

Authorities gathered outside a California home linked to Allen, blocking off a residential street in Torrance with caution tape.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said officials believe the suspect traveled by train from California to Chicago and then on to Washington. He checked into the Hilton on Thursday.

Evidence found on Allen's electronic devices and in his writings point towards the theory he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner.

Photos from the raid showed law enforcement in tactical gear and armored vehicles lining the street as officers assessed the scene, with officials telling the Daily Mail they were working to access Allens car.

A source told the Daily Mail that this shooting had likely been planned for a while.

'Obviously, this was well planned. Getting the reservation at that hotel was nearly impossible,' they told Daily Mail.

FBI agents and police officers work outside the residence associated with Cole Tomas Allen

An FBI tactical team prepares to enter a house associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, California

FBI officers leave the scene after responding to an address connected to Allen

'What else did he buy? Where did he go? Were going back to where he lives. They were already there last night. They were waiting on a search warrant. Same at the hotel room,' they said.

Investigators are also looking into the shooters motive, operating on the theory he may have been targeting President Trump and people in his administration.

'As far as I know he was the only person in his room. I dont know when he checked in. It was definitely not yesterday. Not sure if Friday or Thursday,' the source told the Daily Mail.

Allen, a 31-year-old teacher, faces firearms and assault charges after he allegedly breached a security checkpoint and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement.

Police revealed the suspect had a number of weapons on him including a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives.

Chilling surveillance footage captured the moment the suspect stormed past security.

Allen was seen wearing all black as he sprinted inside the Hilton hotel with a gun in hand.

Just moments before he ran, security guards were seen standing in the hallway, but as soon as he sped by, they immediately reacted and pulled out their firearms.

The clip ended with several armed guards rushing toward Allen before he exchanged gunfire with authorities.

'He was on the outermost layers of security,' the source said of how close the shooter was. 'He charged that outermost layer. Thats when our guy engaged him.

Police officers and FBI agents stand in front of the media gathered outside Allen's home

The California home of Allen that the FBI raided

Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities

Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, was tackled to the ground and arrested after running past security with a gun in hand

House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by secret service members

Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton. They are seen during the National Anthem

'He was not shot. Im still unclear who shot where. Were operating under the premise that he fired rounds and our guy returned fire, but were going to let ballistics help us out and tell the full account,' they added.

When asked about hotel security for guests arriving days before the event, the source said the focus is on securing the area and screening everyone entering and exiting.

Blanche also added he was unsure about how the suspect snuck in a firearm into the hotel.

'We're still looking at video surveillance and footage of where he walked and how he got in and how those firearms got in, but at the end of the day, I expect we'll have a lot more about that in the coming days,' he told ABC.

President Trump shared a stunning image shortly after the shooting, showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the carpet

During a press conference, Trump described him as 'a sick person, a very sick person.'

'He's a lone wolf, a whack job. These are crazy people. Sick, sick people.' Trump also posted a message on his Truth Social platform praising the response.

'Quite an evening in DC. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely. The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we 'LET THE SHOW GO ON' but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement.'

Organizers initially considered resuming the dinner, but officials ultimately decided to cancel the event.
A farmer has captured night vision of hundreds of mice running through his paddock in the latest display of the mouse plague's severity.

Australians farmers already under pressure from limited fertiliser supplies are now contending with a mouse plague in large parts of South Australia and Western Australia.

Matt Davey, who farms on the northern end of the Yorke Peninsula, told the ABC he noticed the mouse population boom with levels reaching the worst seen since 2021.

'Probably within the last month and a half, we've started seeing the odd one around the sheds,' he said.

'There's more moisture around, which has probably allowed them to breed up, because the last few years have been so dry.'

CSIRO research officer Steve Henry said sites that previously saw 100 to 200 mice per hectare are now seeing up to 600 mice per hectare.

Mice can have six to 10 babies every 19 to 21 days, meaning numbers can quickly spiral out of control.

A plagued is officially declared at 800 mice per hectare but Mr Henry warned farmers to start preparing for their crops to suffer.

Farmer Matt Davey captured hundreds of mice (above) in his paddock on the northern end of the Yorke Peninsula

Farmers and agriculture supply businesses have started preparing for a mouse plague

'You get 'UFO rings' where around their holes there's just nothing because they've eaten the grain, so that can thin the crop pretty well,' he said.

'In plague levels, I've seen huge areas wiped out.'

Robert Davis, an Associate Professor in Wildlife Conservation at Edith Cowan University, detailed why a plague would be devastating in a piece for The Conversation.

'Many farmers are about to start seeding  the process of putting seeds into the soil to grow crops  after recent rains. These farmers are now at risk of losing their crops before they even have the chance to germinate,' he wrote.

'This all suggests this latest mouse plague could be as bad as the plagues of 2020 and 2021 that affected communities across SA, western Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland.

'Over an 11-month period, millions of mice devoured spring crops and destroyed farm machinery.

'This series of plagues cost the agricultural sector an estimated $1billion, with many farmers and local businesses struggling to make ends meet. And this economic uncertainty took an immense psychological toll.

'This plague event also exposed rural communities to rodent-related disease, leaving some residents highly anxious or fearful.'

Large parts of SA and WA have reported booming mice populations (pictured is mice in SA)

Farmers in WA and SA have already begun deploying baits to help curb the mouse population.

Several agriculture supply businesses reported ordering more bait in to prepare for a boom in sales.

'Anyone who's lived through a mouse plague knows how destructive, both economically and emotionally, they can be,' Davis wrote.

'So let's hope this latest plague event comes to a swift end. That way rural communities across WA and SA can get back on their feet.'
A top North Dakota lawmaker was killed in a small plane crash just moments after takeoff, police said.

Rep. Liz Conmy and a pilot died on Saturday afternoon after the aircraft crashed into a nearby park in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, around noon, state Sen. Tim Mathern told the Star Tribune.

The mother of four was aboard a Beechcraft BE33 on the runway at Crystal Airport when the aircraft suddenly 'couldn't get up in the air,' Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesperson Jeff Lea said, the outlet reported.

Conmy, 67, and the unidentified pilot were pronounced dead after the fiery crash, the Brooklyn Police Department said.

Although authorities have not yet identified either of the victims, Mathern said one of Conmy's family members confirmed to him that she died in the crash.

He also said that the late Democrat had a good friend who is a pilot, and that she flew with them for the past year-and-a-half, according to the report.

'She was a very zest-filled person, and we will all miss her,' Mathern, Conmy's running mate, said of his late colleague.

Horrifying footage captured the moment the aircraft plummeted into the ground, causing a massive fireball.

Rep. Liz Conmy, 67, died in a fiery plane crash on Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Footage showed bright orange flames spark after the plane slammed to the ground

Startled neighbors recalled hearing a loud boom and seeing bright orange flames spark.

'I was in the house, in my bedroom, and my daughter was eating cereal at the kitchen table, and there was a really loud boom,' Ashley Capp, who lives across the street from the crash site, told Fox 9.

Kim Clark, another local whose outdoor surveillance camera captured the crash from across the street, said everyone immediately called the police.

'We look across the street, and it was a huge flame, huge fire. And then everybody started calling 911, and some people were getting close to see if there were [sic] anybody alive.

'But then it kind of started to spark, and the flames started to get bigger,' Clark told the outlet.

Clark added: 'It was scary because it was like, it's really close to my home, and my family stays here.'

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong also confirmed that Conmy was one of the victims in a statement he released after the fatal crash.

'Kjersti and I are saddened by this tragic loss and offer our deepest condolences to her family, friends and fellow legislators. We ask North Dakotans to join us in keeping them in our prayers,' he said.

She served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022, representing the 11th district

A local captured the fatal crash on her outdoor surveillance camera from across the street

Another devastating image showed what appeared to be the wheel of the plane thrown on the grass after the collision.

Several people also took to Facebook to share heartbreaking tributes about Conmy.

'I am in utter shock as this is a painful loss for me and my legislative colleagues. Representative Conmy and I had served together for the pass [sic] 4 years,' Rep. LaurieBeth Hager shared.

'She sat directly behind me in the chamber and alongside me on the Education Committee. She brought a JOYFUL spirit to our caucus, every meeting, and the entire legislative chamber. Liz made me laugh regularly and often which is much needed during session,' Hager added.

The North Dakota House Republican Caucus has remembered Conmy as someone who 'brought not only dedication and integrity to her work, but also a warmth and sincerity that made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of serving with her.'

'Her death is a profound loss for our state. As a lawmaker, she championed public education, the environment, and transparency,' the North Dakota Democratic-NPL posted.

'Liz had a natural ability to make friendships across the political spectrum. We send our deepest condolences to her children, family, and friends.'

Anastassiya Andrianova, another one of Conmy's running mates, also shared a touching post about her.

Anastassiya Andrianova, another one of Conmy's running mates, also shared a touching post about her

Another devastating image showed what appeared to be the wheel of the plane thrown on the grass after the collision

'Representative Liz Conmy was a leader and a friend to all. She was my running mate, and I couldnt wait to go to Bismarck with her. Liz was a mentor and a role model to me, my husband, and our daughter Freya, whom she knew and adored from birth,' Andrianova wrote.

She served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022, representing the 11th district.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the cause of the crash.

When contacted by the Daily Mail, an NTSB spokesperson said it is too early to determine what caused the plane to go down, but an investigator with the agency is expected to arrive at the scene on Sunday 'to document the site and examine the airplane.'

'The aircraft will then be transported to a secure facility for further evaluation,' the spokesperson said.

The Daily Mail contacted the Brooklyn Park Police Department for comment.
A Green MP has complained that she can smell alcohol on other politicians as they go into vote.

Hannah Spencer, who embarrassed Labour in the Gorton & Denton by-election in February, hit out at the 'unprofessional' culture in Parliament.

The MP has talked up her status as the first female plumber to become an MP, and again stressed her outsider credentials in an interview with Politics Joe.

The exclusive bars on the Westminster estate, and the taxpayer's support for them, have long been a controversial issue.

A pint of Carlsberg is currently 5.45 in Strangers' Bar - the main venue and scene of notorious incidents including fights over the years. That compares to around 7 for a pint of lager in nearby pubs.

Alcohol-free beers have been added to the menus in Parliament, and are cheaper than boozy options.

The exclusive bars on the Westminster estate, and the taxpayer's support for them, have long been a controversial issue

Hannah Spencer, who embarrassed Labour in the Gorton & Denton by-election in February, hit out at the 'unprofessional' culture in Parliament

Some 305,000 was spent in Strangers' in 2023-24, the most recent year that figures are available. But it made a 56,000 loss, despite having no overheads for renting the premises.

The overall catering operation in the Commons was propped up with 7.4million from the public purse in 2024-25. The House has pointed to irregular hours and the relatively small group of clientele as factors in the costs.

In her interview, Ms Spencer said: 'I'm really uneasy about - and I noticed this the other day - when you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes... as everyone's going in to vote, some people have been drinking.

'There's a room where I walked past and I doubled back and looked in because people are just sat having a drink.

'But again that's a job. I can't imagine if a cleaner did that or someone working in a bank - like, had a few drinks and then went back to work smelling of alcohol - that wouldn't happen.'

She added: 'I think there's been so many cases recently of like questionable and dangerous behaviour allegedly from MPs, but staff because this culture of a really unprofessional and worrying setting where people can just drink alcohol... while they are in work.

'That is what I find very out of touch about that place... the vast majority of us that have come from like backgrounds of normal jobs - that's not how the world works, so why does it work in somewhere where arguably the most important decisions get made?'

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has previously raised questions about the sale of alcohol on the parliamentary estate.

In an interview in 2023, Daniel Greenberg acknowledged there had been 'behaviour problems' linked to drinking, but said it was an issue that MPs were 'looking at for themselves'.

'That's clearly a matter for the House to decide for itself,' Mr Greenberg said.

'What I will say is it is one of the things that clearly many MPs are thinking about for themselves.

'I think the behaviour, I think the attitude to alcohol in the workplace has changed throughout all workplaces.

Ms Spencer said the Commons was where the 'most important' decisions get made

'It is something that MPs are looking at for themselves. Some different people have different views.

'Have there been problems, behaviour problems that have been linked to alcohol? Of course there have.

'And therefore it is something that again requires to be kept under review. Individual MPs will obviously will decide what works for them.'
The family of the suspect who stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner has revealed his past radical statements and his plans to 'fix' the world as his manifesto is uncovered.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, was seen attempting to bolt past a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives on Saturday night.

He exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before they tackled him to the ground and arrested him. One agent was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. No one else was harmed.

Authorities have now discovered that Allen wrote a chilling manifesto before he arrived at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being hosted.

Allen's family members told law enforcement that he had sent them some of his disturbing writings before the attack, which prompted his brother to alert police. The writings did not specifically mention the dinner on Saturday, CBS News reported.

Allen's brother notified the New London Police Department in Connecticut of the manifesto minutes before the attack, a White House official confirmed to CNN.

Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he had heard about the report and wished the department had informed federal authorities earlier.

US Secret Service and Montgomery County Police also interviewed the suspect's sister in Rockville, Maryland, a White House official told CNN.

Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, pictured above, has been named as the suspect in a shooting that occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Several Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders

Top cabinet officials were seen getting rushed to safety by Secret Service agents. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr and his wife Cheryl Hines are pictured getting taken to safety

She reportedly told authorities that Allen had previously made radical statements and referenced a plan to do 'something.'

The family added that Allen would regularly visit a shooting range to train with his guns. A senior US official told CBS News that the suspected gunman was part of a group called The Wide Awakes and that he attended a No Kings protest in California.

Authorities also found anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on his social media accounts.

The New York Post reported that the manifesto read, in part, 'Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial.

'I'm not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes.

'In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).

'I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn't come to that.'

The suspect is believed to have purchased the firearms he carried within the last couple of years, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. He is not being cooperative and is expected to face multiple charges on Monday.

Allen's sister also reportedly told authorities that he regularly visited the shooting range to train with firearms.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is thought to have been targeting members of the Trump administration when he charged into the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. He is pictured after he was tackled to the ground and arrested

House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both rushed off stage from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after gunshots were heard inside the Washington Hilton

The White House Correspondents' Dinner, an annual black-tie gala that brings politicians and journalists together, was barely underway when the Secret Service was forced to leap into action after a series of shots rang out.

Trump released surveillance footage of Allen, dressed in all black, sprinting inside the hotel with a gun in hand before he was rushed by armed guards.

Journalists in the room captured images of top administration officials getting rushed to safety.

Video footage showed Vice President JD Vance being frantically helped off stage by Secret Service agents, as Trump and Melania ducked for cover.

Clips then showed several agents reach for the President and quickly pull him to safety.

Other images showed chaos quickly unfolding, with one picture showing House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members.

Another image showed Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and his wife Cheryl Hines ducking as they ran to safety.

Right behind them was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller.

After everyone was rushed to safety, the president spoke at a White House press briefing in the West Wing within an hour of the violence.

'It's always shocking when something like this happens,' he said. 'I heard a noise and kinda thought it was a tray going down.'

Trump said that immediately Melania Trump recognized the sound as a 'bad noise,' adding that 'it was a rather traumatic experience for her.'

An agent is seen drawing his gun and shouting after gunshots were heard at the dinner

Several gunshots rang out as panicked attendees immediately ducked under their tables to protect themselves. A few journalists stayed seated or knelt, filming the chaos

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Melania was very cognizant,' he continued.

The president also shared his wife's fear for his safety, given the multiple assassination attempts against him.

Federal prosecutors have announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.

'It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,' United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.

'There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,' she added.

Cops swarmed on Allen's parents' $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University

The Allen family are seen with Allen, second from right, together with brother Gabriel, his mother Kathy, father, Thomas, and sisters Stephanie and Avriana

Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Officials said Allen had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington DC.

He is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.

Photographs circulating online showed him smiling alongside family members at graduations and gatherings.

His social media details he is highly educated and academically accomplished.

On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: 'A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.'

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.

During his time at Caltech, Allen listed his involvement in the Caltech Christian Fellowship and the Caltech Nerf Club.

More recently, Allen had been working in education. In December 2024, he was named Teacher of the Month at C2 Education, a recognition typically reserved for standout instructors.

United States Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn called Allen 'a coward' who 'attempted to create a national tragedy.'

'He underestimated the protective capabilities of the U.S. Secret Service, and was stopped at first contact,' Quinn said before commending agents for their fast response.
This morning we read an interview the Prime Minister gave to a Sunday newspaper in which he made the following  staggering  claim.

Brushing aside news that the patience of his MPs has finally snapped, and they were preparing to oust him, he said: 'What you never hear from are all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job. And that is the vast majority of people in the parliamentary Labour Party.'

The worst thing is, I think Keir Starmer genuinely believes it.

Over the past week I've talked to Ministers. I've talked to MPs. I've talked to advisors. I've talked to people who despise Keir Starmer and never wanted to see him elected Labour leader in the first place.

I've talked to people who grudgingly accepted him on the basis he was the man who could drag his party out of the wilderness of opposition and into power.

I even spoke to a couple of people who really rate him, backed him from the off, and thought he would prove to be a genuinely great Prime Minister.

Yet I could not find a single one who was 'supportive'. They might have been in the past but not now. Nor anyone steadfastly loyal. Nor anyone who thought it was remotely conceivable they could get on with their jobs and successfully deliver the change they were elected to bring while he remained in power.

'I'm staying out of this now,' one Starmer stalwart told me.

Sir Keir Starmer talks during a visit to Kenton United Synagogue, in north-west London, which was recently the target of an attempted arson

Meanwhile, a former loyalist Minister confided: 'He may be able to stagger on for a while because they [the Parliamentary Labour Party] can't agree on a replacement. But it's now only a matter of when, not if.'

But Sir Keir really can't see it. He honestly does think the silent majority of his MPs back him and want him to carry on with his bold strategy of changing the world one breakfast club at a time.

Partly, this is a reflection of the bunker mentality that has enveloped No 10 Downing Street, which now resembles that famous scene in the 2004 film Downfall, in which Adolf Hitler asks his tremulous generals where all the reinforcements have gone.

On Friday, Starmer held a 'crisis meeting' at Chequers. It was attended by Chief Secretary Darren Jones and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden. The rest of the Cabinet were otherwise engaged.

The loyal band of aides that guided Starmer into office has been dispensed with. The wider network of special advisors built up by his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has collapsed.

It leaves Sir Keir effectively cut off from the outside world. In Downfall, the late Swiss actor Bruno Ganz's Hitler yells: 'Where is Steiner?!' We are not far from the point where Starmer will be heard to bellow: 'Where are Reeves, Cooper and Miliband!'

A compounding issue is Sir Keir's chronic lack of self-awareness. Trapped within the bubble that surrounds all Prime Ministers, his perception of himself as a principled man, battling a tide of reactionary forces that are seeking to undermine him and his progressive vision, has decoupled him from reality.

He is unable to fathom the level of contempt he is now held in, by both his colleagues and the country at large. It's antipathy that has been cemented by the spectacle of him chucking everyone out of the balloon to save his own political skin.

Left to right: Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky in the grounds of the Mariynsky Palace in Kyiv

As one Labour grandee told me over the weekend: 'The parliamentary party used to think he was useless but basically decent. After this week they still think he's useless, but also that he's a guy who will stab them and anyone else to save himself.'

But the biggest problem is this: Keir Starmer has no idea what his colleagues think because he's never bothered to actually take the time to ask them.

There has not been a Prime Minister in modern British political history who has been so detached  by choice  from their own Cabinet and backbenchers.

As one Cabinet minister told me just a few months into his premiership: 'It's like we're not here. He has no interest in what we say. He has no interest in what we do. He actually seems to have no interest at all in what's happening in his Government.'

That is the refrain from his own most senior ministers. His backbenchers are even more scathing. 'He doesn't even know I exist,' one told me. 'I won one of our most marginal seats. He couldn't care less. I've never spoken to him. Never had a call from him. Never once had him ask me what I think about anything.'

Sir Keir's interview claiming that the passionate support of his loyal party would see him march to victory at the next election is generating ridicule and despair in equal measure  chiefly among MPs who are now desperate for him to set out a clear timetable for his departure.

'He's in total denial,' one told me.

But he isn't. Denial requires a basic degree of comprehension. And Keir Starmer really does remain blissfully unaware of just how much everyone loathes him.
A new poll along with inside information shows the Victorian Liberals are starting to take the rising threat of One Nation very seriously.

So much so, that two inside sources from the Liberals told The Age the party would preference One Nation ahead of Labor at the state's next election in November.

However, the move has been condemned by former Labor premier Steve Bracks who warned the centre-right would be pushed out.

'All that will do is legitimise One Nation and that is outrageous,' he told the Sorrento Writers' Festival last week.

'It will be the beginning of the end of the centre-right party in this country.'

A Resolve Political Monitor poll for the outlet suggested Bracks' warning is falling on deaf ears with votes amid the growing popularity of Pauline Hanson's party.

Support for One Nation was present in one in five voters and it appeared to have established itself as a 'third party' alternative for the Victorian election on November 28, rather than being lumped with other minor parties.

Twin surveys in March and April found 21 per cent of the primary vote went to One Nation, compared to 27 per cent for Labor and 29 per cent for the Coalition.

The Victorian Liberals are planning to preference Pauline Hanson's (above) One Nation ahead of Labor as a default position at the Victorian state election

Former Labor premier Steve Bracks (above) warned against the move, saying it would 'legitimise' One Nation

The news follows a wave of success for One Nation in the South Australian election earlier this year where it claimed four seats, including the key gain of Narungga.

Resolve founder Jim Reed said the results indicate Australians are tired of the two-party system.

'One Nation voters are fed up with Labor and don't like Jacinta Allan but think the Liberal Party is not in a position to win or govern either,' he said.

'For some people, backing One Nation is a tactical choice to vote out Labor. For others, it is a Trumpian 'drain the swamp' mentality that seeks to get rid of both major parties. Either way, people are voting for change.

'...This doesn't mean that One Nation are going to suddenly form government, but they are making that mountain harder to climb for the Coalition and may help to keep Labor in power.'
A memorial has been held on the first anniversary of the death of Virginia Giuffre.

More than 100 family and supporters gathered near the Washington Monument in the US capital to remember the mother-of-three, who took her own life on April 25 last year at her home in Western Australia.

Sky Roberts gave a speech and said his sister - who rose to global prominence when she accused Jeffrey Epstein of sex trafficking her as a teenager - had turned 'pain into purpose' by advocating for victims.

The family also renewed their calls for the King Charles to meet with them during his upcoming state visit to the US, to 'show unity with survivors'.

Sky along with Amanda Roberts, Ms Giuffre's sister-in-law, had 'strongly' urged Charles to meet with them earlier this month.

Charles and the Queen are due to arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day visit during which they will meet President Donald Trump.

They will also be guests of honour at a White House banquet, and Charles has been invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.

'We need the King of England to stand up and show his unity with survivors,' Sky Roberts, speaking to BBC Newsnight on Friday evening, said.

(L-R) Lanette Wilson, Danny Wilson, Sky Roberts, and Amanda Roberts speak during Remembering Virginia Roberts Giuffre: A Butterfly Vigil on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC

Giuffre was one of the most prominent accusers of Jeffrey Epstein

'We will be 10 minutes from him. We will be lobbying that same day in the same buildings that he will be entering in and out of.

'And all we ask is for a 10-minute meeting with the King to show him that we're real people, with real feelings.'

On Friday it was also revealed Epstein continued to house women in London flats for years after the Metropolitan Police decided not to investigate Ms Giuffre's original allegation in 2015.

'This has been systematic failure from not only the FBI, but the Metropolitan Police there in the UK,' Mr Roberts said.

'I mean if they would have listened to Virginia and took her claim seriously the first time, it could have avoided so many other years of abuse that had occurred right under the noses of these officers.'

Mr and Mrs Roberts also vowed to join Lisa Phillips  another Epstein survivor  in her call for a public inquiry into allegations made by women in the UK against the paedophile financier.

'We would 100 per cent call for an inquiry,' Amanda Roberts said.

'Clearly, there is more things to be investigated and there's more evidence sitting there, especially if it was just discovered that, you know, he (Epstein) had been having flats years after the first reports came forward.'

Another Epstein survivor Lara Blume-McGee attends to flowers at the vigil

Lanette Wilson - Giuffre's sister-in-law - speaks at the vigil

Earlier this week, controversy erupted in Congress following reports that some Republican members of an influential committee investigating Epstein were open to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, being granted clemency in return for her giving evidence before them.

This has been seized on by Democrat opponents, who have condemned it as 'sick' and branded Maxwell a 'monster'.

The British socialite is serving a 20-year prison sentence in the US for luring young girls for the paedophile financier to sexually abuse.

Asked if a pardon for Maxwell in exchange for evidence is something they could support, Ms Roberts replied: 'Never'.

US congressman Ro Khanna has also made repeated calls for Charles and Camilla to meet with Epstein survivors.

But royal sources have previously said the legal implications of Charles and Camilla having contact with any of Epstein's survivors, and the King's constitutional position, would make a meeting impossible while there are ongoing UK police investigations into the matters.
The gunman who opened fire outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner called himself the 'Friendly Federal Assassin' in a chilling manifesto he wrote before the attack.

Cole Allen, 31, sent the eerie anti-Trump writing to his family members just 10 minutes before he fired shots at the hotel in Washington, where the ritzy press gala was taking place on Saturday night.

The harrowing writing was given to the police by a relative, a US official said.

According to the New York Post, Allen's manifesto read: 'Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial.

'I'm not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes.

'In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).

'I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn't come to that.'

His targets included 'administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.'

Allen wrote, allegedly referencing the president: 'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.'

Cole Allen, 31, sent the eerie anti-Trump writing to his family members just 10 minutes before he fired shots at the hotel in Washington, where the ritzy press gala was taking place on Saturday night

Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding shooter Cole Tomas Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

An agent is seen drawing his gun and shouting after gunshots were heard at the dinner

Guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner were told to get to the ground after shots were fired outside the ballroom

Donald Trump spoke out on Sunday morning, following the chaotic night at the dinner.

He told Fox that the shooter 'had a lot of hatred in his heart' and that religion was a reason why the gunman attacked.

The President said this morning: 'He had a lot of hatred in his heart for quite a while.'

He added that the manifesto was 'a religious thing. It was strongly anti-Christian.'

'He's got some big problems with the rest of his life, but it's very, very bad, very bad situation,' the President continued.

Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California, had a manifesto, and his siblings knew he had firearms and were worried about him.

On Saturday night, chilling surveillance footage captured the moment gun-wielding Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Allen was seen wearing all black as he sprinted inside the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday evening with a gun in hand, video posted by President Trump on Truth Social showed.

Just moments before he ran, security guards were seen standing in the hallway, but as soon as he sped by, they immediately reacted and pulled out their firearms.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is thought to have been targeting members of the Trump administration when he charged into the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. He is pictured after he was tackled to the ground and arrested

Shattered glass lies on a staircase near the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel, where a shooting incident occurred yesterday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, in Washington, DC

Your browser does not support iframes.

A woman is arrested as members of the US Secret Service and local police work to contain the scene outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner, during a shooting inside the Washington Hilton, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Washington, DC

House Speaker Mike Johnson being rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members

Police revealed the suspect had a number of weapons on him, including a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

President Trump shared a stunning image shortly after the shooting, showing the suspect shirtless and lying face down on the carpet.

Law enforcement confirmed he was not struck by gunfire while being stopped, but has since been taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Allen was a guest at the Hilton hotel, where the event was taking place.

Surveillance video shows the suspect sprinting past a security checkpoint and attempting to reach the doors to the ballroom where the president was gathered, along with his most senior cabinet members and thousands of journalists.

President Donald Trump takes questions from media at a press briefing at the White House, following a shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, in Washington, DC, US, April 25, 2026

The Allen family are seen with Allen, second from right, together with brother Gabriel, his mother Kathy, father, Thomas, and sisters Stephanie and Avriana

FBI tactical agents leave on a vehicle after entering a house believed to be linked to the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting in Torrance, California

Evidence found on Allen's electronic devices and in his writings points towards the theory that he intended to target administration members in attendance at the dinner.

His family members told law enforcement that Allen had sent them some of his disturbing writings before the attack, which prompted one of them to alert police. The writings did not specifically mention the dinner on Saturday.

Another family member told investigators that Allen has made radical statements and that he frequently mentioned plans to do 'something' to fix problems with today's world.

The family added that Allen would regularly visit a shooting range to train with his guns. A senior US official told CBS News that the suspected gunman was part of a group called The Wide Awakes and that he attended a No Kings protest in California.
President Donald Trump has been left with three hard choices to make about the war with Iran after he canceled peace talks and rejected the country's last-minute offer.

Trump, who was rushed to safety alongside the First Lady on Saturday night when a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, is still determined to win the war and get Iran to agree to a deal.

With that, he can go one of three ways: escalate the conflict, use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran into a compromise, or decide to settle for a deal he does not want, The Wall Street Journal reported.

On Sunday morning, Trump claimed that Iran's oil pipelines will erupt in about three days' time.

'What happens is that line explodes from within. Both mechanically and in the earth, something happens where it just explodes and they say they only have about three days left before that happens,' he told Fox News.

'And when it explodes, you can never rebuild it the way it is. It's a very powerful thing that takes place sort of having to do with nature.'

Just hours before chaos unfolded at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening, the President revealed that Iran had made an offer to the US about ten minutes after he canceled the trip to Pakistan that his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were supposed to embark on.

The trip was meant to work towards peace negotiations between the US and the Middle Eastern country, but Trump said it was not happening because of 'tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership",' he wrote on Truth Social.

Donald Trump has three hard choices to weigh amid the war with Iran, and said its oil pipelines will explode in about three days

The US President can either escalate the conflict, use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran into a compromise, or decide to settle for a deal he does not want

'I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,' he wrote.

'Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their leadership. Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday and held a series of meetings with Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday.

They discussed what Araghchi described as Iran's red lines for negotiations, and said Tehran would engage with Pakistan's mediation efforts 'until a result is achieved.'

Soon after Trump decided to abort the trip, he revealed that Iran had made an offer, but he wasn't happy with it.

He told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Palm Beach, Florida, that Tehran 'offered a lot, but not enough.'

'They gave us a paper that should have been better,' Trump said. 'And interestingly, immediately when I canceled it, within ten minutes, we got a new paper that was much better.'

Trump also reiterated his claim that there is 'tremendous infighting' within Iran's government. He said Iranian officials are 'probably fighting for leadership,' adding that he will 'deal with whoever runs the show.'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (center) arrived in Islamabad on Friday and held a series of meetings with Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday. He did not meet with US officials after Trump scrapped the meeting

Iran has not yet acknowledged or confirmed what Trump said about its supposed 'offer.'

The country's remaining leaders often contradict the President's statements on the status of diplomacy between Iran and the US.

Iranian officials previously said it was not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with American officials, citing Washington's refusal to abandon 'maximalist' demands on key issues.

Tehran also said it will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US, rejecting claims made by Trump.

Iran has further asked how they can trust the US after talks last year and early this year over Tehran's nuclear program ended with it being attacked by the US and Israel.

But Araghchi could still agree to meet with Trump in the next couple of days, people briefed on the matter, including an Iranian diplomat, told the WSJ.

An open-ended ceasefire has paused most of the fighting in Iran, but the economic fallout grows with global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and other supplies disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Islamabad had been in near-lockdown ahead of the expected talks. Pakistan has been trying to get the US and Iran back to the negotiation table since Trump this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire, honoring Islamabad's request for more diplomatic outreach.

An open-ended ceasefire has paused most of the fighting in Iran, but the economic fallout grows with global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and other supplies disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz (pictured on Friday)

Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation in the first round of talks with Tehran that collapsed, was not expected to attend the second round of negotiations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted on Friday that he had been placed on 'standby' to travel to Pakistan should peace talks become serious and said it was not a case of the VP being sidelined by Trump.

The first round of talks between the US and Iran lasted more than 20 hours and were face-to-face, the highest-level direct talks between the longtime adversaries since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Araghchi and Trump's envoys also held hours of indirect talks in Geneva on February 27 but walked away without a deal.

The following day, Israel and the US started the war against Iran.
Police have resorted to painting 'blue plaques' on pavements to warn people about phone snatchers as thousands are grabbed out of unsuspecting hands across London.

It comes as police revealed how officers swooped on a suspected phone snatcher just 40 minutes after he struck in the street.

A 34-year-old man was arrested after a mobile was snatched from a victim's hand in the early hours of April 15 on Old Broad Street in the City of London.

The suspect had tried to strike up a conversation before grabbing the phone and fleeing, prompting a swift call to police with a description.

Officers used an extensive camera network to track him down on nearby Bishopsgate - before moving in to detain him.

The phone was recovered from the man and returned to the victim shortly afterwards, while a second suspected stolen handset was also found in his possession.

A spokesperson for City of London Police said: 'We're grateful for the early reporting of this crime and description of the suspect which enabled us to mobilise the extensive camera network in the City to locate him and then quickly detain him before any further victims were targeted.

The police have spray painted a 'blue plaque' to warn people of phone snatchers in the style of commemoratory signs on buildings where historic celebrities lived

An example of phone snatching in London where moped riders steal them from people's hands

'We have already reduced phone snatching by 40 per cent compared to last year, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal, from proactive patrols to complex financial investigations, to drive that figure down even further.

'We would urge people to turn on advanced anti-theft features on their phones, hide financial apps behind biometrics and always shield your pin in public.'

Police said they are now working to trace the owner of the second phone and return it.

The force said that tackling phone snatching forms a key part of its three-year policing plan.

Similar stickers on Oxford Street warning pedestrians of phone thieves were branded a 'joke' last August, with critics saying more officers on the street would be a more effective deterrent.

The purple sticker is an initiative by Curry's to remind people to be mindful of using their phones on theft hotspot where one phone is snatched every 15 minutes.

It features a graphic of a hand holding a mobile phone and the slogan 'Mind the Grab' and is positioned in front of Curry's and Miniso.

One man, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail: 'The fact Currys have had to put this sticker outside is a joke.

'The police dont care.

'No one gives a f*** if your phone with all of your pictures and emails and basically your whole life gets snatched by some lowlife on a bike they probably stole as well.'

Similar phone snatching sticker warnings were installed on Oxford Street last August by Currys but was branded a 'joke'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Top Metropolitan Police brass threw their weight behind the 'Mind the Grab' publicity stunt, which has been permitted by the Labour-controlled Westminster Council, in the hopes it reduces thefts on a street where a phone is stolen every 15 minutes.

Some 61,331 devices were snatched throughout 2025  equivalent to 1,179 a week or 168 a day, according to analysis of the Metropolitan Police's crime dashboard data.

There was a decrease last year in phone snatchings, down to 61,331 from the peak of 70,255 in 2024.

But the general trend is still rising, given almost double the number of phones were stolen in 2025 compared to the 36,637 in 2022, although this excludes this January.

More than 224,000 phones have been reported stolen in London over the past four years, but the total will likely be higher given not all phone thefts are reported.

Nearly a third of phone thefts in London were in Westminster last year with 18,932 taken - followed by 5,543 in Camden, 5,276 in Southwark and 3,977 in Hackney.

The other boroughs in the capital completing the top ten in 2025 were Newham (2,990), Islington (2,737), Tower Hamlets (1,921), Haringey (1,704) and Brent (1,531).

Sutton and Richmond-upon-Thames recorded the lowest levels of the crime at 88 and 106 respectively, followed by Bexley on 107, Merton on 138 and Havering on 198.

Ed Connolly, Chief Commercial Officer at Currys, previously defended the Mind the Grab purple stickers on Oxford Street: 'Phone theft isn't just about losing a device - it's frightening, invasive, and cuts people off from their loved ones, their money, and their daily lives.

'Enough is enough. It's time to draw the line on phone theft - that's why we've launched the Mind the Grab campaign: a bold pavement marking we believe can make a real difference by encouraging people to step back from the kerb.'
A Kentucky couple is facing 20 years behind bars after they starved and tortured children in their 'house of horrors.'

Jerome Norman and Mary Hall, both 44, were indicted back in March on three counts of first-degree criminal abuse.

Hall had gained custody of her sisters children after she died in a 2018 car accident, and their father was later convicted of manslaughter in the crash and jailed, WYMT reported.

The couple moved to Pike County with the kids in 2023, where prosecutors say the abuse began.

Staff at Kimper Elementary School noticed bruises and unusual hunger patterns in one child.

Concerns escalated into a formal complaint after a winter storm in 2025, when the student returned from an extended break malnourished and bruised, with a chipped tooth.

An investigation followed, and police said the children had been locked in a room with boarded-up windows, comparing the situation to torture.

Jerome Norman and Mary Hall, both 44, are facing 20 years in jail for child abuse

Mary Hall entered a blind Alford plea deal in connection with first degree criminal child abuse

Jerome Norman also entered the plea. The two are currently in jail

The children were starved, punished, and forced to do manual labor, with one child appearing to suffer the worst abuse, according to police.

'He sucked the insulation in the walls trying to get water,' said Amber Hunt, appointed guardian ad litem, per the outlet.

Prosecutors said the children were forced to lie to their peers, and the child who suffered the most abuse was not allowed to take part in school activities.

The couple entered a blind Alford plea to the charges, meaning they did not admit guilt but acknowledged that the evidence could likely lead to a conviction at trial.

As part of the plea deal, two charges were reduced to lesser felonies. The judge sentenced Hall and Norman to a total of 20 years in prison, with credit for time served.

They must serve 85 percent of their sentences before they are eligible for parole, according to Appalachian News-Express.

Norman in a Facebook post that Kentucky State Police put out back in 2025

Norman in court, he moved to Pikeman County with Hall back in 2023, where the school noticed patterns of abuse

Hall sits in court during Friday's sentence

Bill Slone, Pike County Commonwealths Attorney, says he is pleased with the sentence the couple received

Aerial view of Pikeville, Kentucky

The couples attorneys asked for leniency, but Prosecutor Bill Slone said he saw a win when they received the maximum sentence.

'And he imposed a 20 year sentence. We are pleased with that,' Slone said.

'Our laws dont allow for cruel and unusual punishment, even to prisoners. So, theyll never be subjected to the kind of punishment that they subjected those children to,' he told WYMT.
A Tennessee woman has been accused of leaving a seven-month-old baby unattended in a hot car for eight hours while she worked, causing the infant to die.

Linda Stevens, 69, was arrested on Friday and charged with criminally negligent homicide for allegedly leaving her foster grandson, Gabrielle Alonzo, in her car from 8am to 4pm on April 15 and allowing the child to die.

The baby's foster mother had entrusted Stevens, her own mother, to drop the baby off at daycare on her way to work at a public library in Monterey, Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris told WKRN.

Stevens confirmed to police that her plan had been to drop off the infant, 'but she did not,' according to Bryant Dunaway, the District Attorney General for the 13th Judicial District of Tennessee.

The prosecutor said that earlier this month, Stevens placed the seven-month-old in a child car seat secured with a seatbelt in the back of her vehicle before driving to Monterey Branch Library.

When she arrived, she clocked into work and left the baby in her locked car in the library's parking lot, which has little shade, Dunaway continued.

When Alonzo never showed up at the daycare, the staff called the baby's foster mother, who in turn called Stevens.

It was only then that the foster grandmother went to check on the infant, and a 911 call was placed about an unconscious child in a car around 4pm, Dunaway said.

Linda Stevens, 69, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide for allegedly leaving her seven-month-old foster grandson, Gabrielle Alonzo, in her car for eight hours and allowing the child to die

Stevens was meant to drop off the child at his daycare, but she instead drove straight to work at the Monterey Branch Library (pictured) and allegedly left the child in her locked car from 8am to 4pm

Officers with the Monterey Police Department responded to the call, but by the time they arrived, the baby was already dead.

Farris, the Putnam County sheriff, told WKRN that officers attempted to perform CPR, but the life-saving measures were unsuccessful.

Temperatures in Monterey reached a high of 82F on that cloudless day, according to The Weather Channel.

Under those conditions, temperatures inside the vehicle could have reached between 140F and 155F, according to a hot car calculator.

It may have taken just around an hour for Alonzo's internal body temperature to reach the life-threatening threshold of 104F. He was in the car eight times longer than that.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and obtained Stevens's arrest warrant, which they served on Friday.

Stevens was booked into the Putnam County Jail that morning and given a $50,000 bond. She posted bail and was released the same day, according to the jail's records.

She will enter a plea at a later court date. If convicted of her criminally negligent homicide charge, she will face a sentence of up to six years in prison.

Stevens was booked into the Putnam County Jail (pictured) on Friday and given a $50,000 bond. She posted bail and was released the same day

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 52 percent of hot car deaths occur because someone forgets a child in a vehicle.

About 47 percent of the time a child was forgotten, the caregiver was supposed to have dropped them off at a daycare or preschool, and about 55 percent of the children who have died in hot cars were less than two years old, the NHTSA added.

All of those statistics are in line with the way Alonzo died earlier this month.
Sometimes its not what you say, its what people hear. For anyone under a certain age, it was thoroughly unremarkable when John Swinney said he would enjoy the cooperation with counterparts in Plaid and Sinn Fein in order to change the dynamics of the United Kingdom.

Its only to be expected that three parties committed to ending British rule in their respective nations would want to work together.

For those whove made a few more trips around the sun, Swinneys comments summoned up memories of the Troubles and Sinn Feins historical role as the political face of Irish republican terror.

Cooperation is especially offensive given the predilection of some Sinn Fein politicians for commemorating the IRA and whitewashing its bloody crimes.

I am as opposed to Northern Irish secession as I am to the Scottish variety. I also oppose Welsh independence and, since Im on a roll: Mr Trump, the Falklands are British and will be remaining so.

Nevertheless, Sinn Fein is a democratic political party, as is the SNP. Their overlapping causes (a united Ireland, Scottish statehood) are lawful and successive UK governments, Labour and Tory, have been content to work with them.

Elizabeth II famously shook hands with Martin McGuinness, a convicted terrorist, and Westminster signed a peace agreement on Northern Ireland that led to former bombers and their apologists being rehabilitated as legitimate representatives of their communities.

If the SNP wishes to make common cause with Sinn Fein, that is a matter for those two parties. More troubling is Swinneys reference to the apparatus of the state.

John Swinney unveils the SNP's manifesto for the coming Holyrood election

The late Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with convicted terrorist Martin McGuinness

Asked to explain his assertion that the United Kingdom would be changed irreversibly if the SNP and Plaid Cymru win on May 7, the First Minister cited the fact that all of those three countries would be led, potentially, by governments that are committed to fundamental change in the United Kingdom.

This would alter the nature of the discussions that would then be taking place around the United Kingdom and between the devolved governments and the United Kingdom Government.

This describes something very different from cooperation between political parties. What Swinney seems to hint at is the prospect of devolved administrations working together to bring about the demise of the UK as currently constituted. That is, parts of the British state colluding in a campaign against the state itself.

That ought to cross a line. Devolution was not set up for this purpose. Devolved administrations have extensive duties which do not include trespassing into constitutional matters.

Unionists are great ones for rules and are baffled and appalled when their opponents disregard them. But politics isnt about rules, its about power, and if you dont want your foes to use power against you, dont give them power in the first place.

Democracy is not a prisoner of the Scotland Act. When Labour set up the Scottish Parliament in the wake of the 1997 referendum, it effectively said that the Scots must govern themselves in a wide range of areas.

When the Tories amended the Act  twice  to transfer further powers to Holyrood, and without any referendum this time, they inadvertently confirmed Ron Davies assessment that devolution was a process, not an event. Not only the powers of the parliament but the scope of the voters to grant mandates was expanding.

Devolution said Scotland should govern itself on almost every issue but in four elections in a row  and likely five come May  Scotland has elected a party whose explicit and primary purpose is to see Scotland govern itself on every issue.

The logic of devolution is the logic of independence not carried to its natural conclusion. It is the idea that Scotland must govern itself, just not too much. Yet having set up a proto-state apparatus, including a Scottish parliament and a government with an army of civil servants and a treasure chest from which to buy the loyalty of the voluntary sector, devolutionists are ignored when they demand separatists not use this apparatus to advance separation.

The problem is devolution itself. Imagine the year was not 2026 but 1996 and the leader of the SNP announced his eagerness to work with Sinn Fein to break up Britain. It would have struggled to make a nib on the politics pages.

The SNP was barely a parliamentary rump, with fewer Commons seats than even Plaid Cymru. It was devolution that gave the SNP the opportunity and the platform to become the dominant party of Scottish politics and it was devolution that gave them their first taste of executive power and control of institutions which they have since placed in service of their constitutional objectives.

Devolution was a historic error for Britain, an extraordinary act of national self-harm that will continue to imperil the Union, especially though not exclusively, when separatists dominate the Scottish Parliament.

It might seem tempting to throw up your hands and wail in despair but a more practical course of action would be to do something about it. Despite the constitutional damage it has inflicted, there is no prospect of the devolution error being undone any time soon.

As Chesterton put it: The business of progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected. Even when the revolutionist might himself repent of his revolution, the traditionalist is already defending it as part of his tradition.

So the answer must be reform. Among the many flaws of the Scotland Act is the latitude it grants to the devolved parliament and government.

The issuing of the Section 35 order against the Gender Recognition Reform Bill was a dramatic moment because Holyrood so rarely faces consequences for straying into reserved matters. Time to create some more consequences.

The Scotland Act should be amended to create a legal duty for the Holyrood and Westminster governments to preserve the national unity and indivisibility of the UK and for each to respect the constitutional status, institutions, powers and functions of the other.

The SNP's Gender Recognition Reform Bill was stopped after straying into reserved matters

The language here is drawn from Section 41 of the South African constitution, a document highly regarded among political and legal theorists.

Unionists behave as though their opponents ought to play by some unwritten rules of good sportsmanship but the only rules that matter are laws.

Make it unlawful for either government to work towards breaking up the Union, except in the scenario of a future referendum, and you shut down an avenue that has consistently distracted the political class for almost two decades now.

Obviously, the SNP would still be free to campaign for independence as a political party, but when its ministers exercise the functions of the Scottish Government, the law would require them to set aside their constitutional agenda. Agitate to break up Britain in your own time and on your own dime.

Devolution reform is the only hope for steering this system back to its original purpose and nudging the Scottish Government into serving the public within its areas of responsibility rather than exploiting the system to wage constitutional war on the UK.

As for John Swinney, he might want to reflect on who he makes friends with and how he talks about them. This may be just another election message to him but to some people in this country the name of Sinn Fein stirs up fraught, frightening, painful memories.

The First Minister ought to exercise caution, to say nothing of good taste, when discussing such matters.
An enormous crocodile crawled into a luxury hotel near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and mounted itself over the kitchen counter.

Footage filmed by a courageous employee reveals the 12ft beast pulling itself up, tail wagging, onto the surface in A'Zambezi River Lodge.

The croc's legs move in attempts to find grip while it balances its body. Proving successful, it stays disturbingly still on the counter.

The animal is believed to have crept in last week from the banks of the Zambezi River, which is mere metres away from the four-star hotel.

The hotel's staff alerted the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), and the Nile crocodile was captured and taken away without causing any harm.

In a post on social media, AZambezi River Lodge described 'living on the Zambezi' as a 'privilege [they] don't take lightly'.

It continued: 'After last Friday's very early morning croc visit, we want to assure you he was safely returned to the river the same day, thanks to our fantastic team and National Parks & Wildlife.

'Your peace of mind is our privilege: prominent safety signage, daily perimeter checks, emergency drills and 24/7 security.

Footage filmed by a courageous employee reveals the 12ft beast pulling itself up, tail wagging, on to the surface in A'Zambezi River Lodge

The croc's legs move in attempts to find grip while it balances its body. Proving successful, it stays disturbingly still on the counter

'The wild stays wild. Your stay stays safe.'

Lackmore Safuli, a spokesman for ZimParks, said the crocodile was 'safely immobilised' and 'released back into the Zambezi'.

He added: 'There were no human injuries or damage to the property.'

Nile crocodiles are carnivorous reptiles, deemed one of the most dangerous species of crocodile.

The animals are known to attack humans when hungry or when jumping at an opportunity, although people are not their primary source of food.

With the use of their size, Nile crocodiles are able to triumph over a human's strength.

They can do so with the use of a 'death roll', a move designed to incapacitate and disorientate their prey while they are immobilised in the animal's jaws.

The animal bites down on its victim and spins its body rapidly underwater, while also drowning its target.

The animal is believed to have crept in last week from the banks of the Zambezi River, which is mere metres away from the four-star hotel (pictured)

Last year, ZimParks raised concerns over an increasing number of deaths by crocodiles.

In a statement, the authority said: 'ZimParks has noted with concern the rising number of fatalities from crocodile attacks, which have resulted in nine deaths and 11 injuries in the last two months.

'At least 44 cattle and 60 goats were also killed during the same period in 49 reported cases of human-crocodile conflict'.

It encouraged people to remain vigilant, especially during the rainy season of December to March.

It said: 'We urge communities to be especially cautious around water bodies during this rainy season.

'Livestock and children must not be left unattended near rivers or lakes to prevent them from becoming easy targets.

'Additionally, when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming or domestic chores, it is essential to set up barriers around these areas to enhance safety.'
Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump remained miles apart over Iran after their first telephone call for a fortnight.

The Prime Minister warned the US President of the 'severe consequences' resulting from blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

After they spoke President Trump had another public dig at Sir Keir over Britain's failure to send warships to protect oil tankers.

The conversation came just after President Trump and the First Lady survived an apparent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

This was understood to have been their first official conversation since 9th April following the Prime Minister's remarks he was 'fed up' with the US President and Vladimir Putin.

Downing Street confirmed their latest telephone call and said the Prime Minister extended his best wishes after the dramatic scare.

The two leaders remain miles apart over policy. To Trump's disappointment Starmer has refused to send Royal Navy ships during the conflict.

The UK's position, agreed with its major European allies France and Germany, has been mocked repeatedly by the White House.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump (pictured on September 18 2025) remained miles apart over Iran after their first telephone call for a fortnight

Sir Keir Starmer has been a diplomatic bystander throughout the conflict. He is seen here welcoming a Royal Navy submarine on its return to Britain after a record length mission on April 18

A spokesperson said: 'The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz given the severe consequences for the global economy and the cost of living for people in the UK and globally.

'The Prime Minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with France's President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation.'

The US and Iran appear to have reached a stalemate after peace talks expected to take place in Pakistan were cancelled.

The Iranian delegation left Pakistan over the weekend while the US team led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were called back by Trump.

Addressing the cancellation of negotiations yesterday Trump invited Iran to call the US saying the country has plenty of security telephone lines.

Trump said: 'If they want we can talk but we're not sending people. They know what has to be in the agreement.

'It is very simple: they cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there is no reason to meet.'

The tempo of the conflict has dropped dramatically since a temporary ceasefire agreed on 7th April but a permanent agreement remains far off.

A standoff remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

Iran has called on the US to end its blockade before talks can start. Iran wants to charge companies vast sums to pass safely along the Strait and to share the proceeds with Oman.

The economic fallout is growing two months into the war as global shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertiliser and other supplies are disrupted by the near-closure of the Strait.

Both sides have continued to make military threats. Iran's joint military command on Saturday warned that 'if the US continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy' it will face a 'strong response'.

Last week Trump ordered military units to 'shoot and kill' small boats that could be placing mines.

Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 people in Lebanon, where the Israel-Hezbollah fighting resumed two days after the Iran war started.
The gunman suspected of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner looked worlds away from an alleged criminal in a newly resurfaced video of him helping the elderly.

Cole Allen, 31, was arrested on Saturday night after he entered the Washington Hilton hotel armed with two guns and knives while around 2,600 politicians and journalists gathered in the dining room for the lavish event.

President Donald Trump and Melania took to the stage with other members of his cabinet just moments before shots rang out and chaos unfolded.

Allen was soon tackled and arrested by Secret Service agents, one of whom was struck in his bulletproof vest. He is expected to recover and no one else was harmed.

Nearly a decade ago, Allen's name was in the news, but in a much more positive light as he showed off an invention that would help senior citizens feel more secure in their wheelchairs.

Allen proudly spoke to ABC 7 News in March 2017, displaying his invention, an emergency brake he created out of PCV pipes, during an 'Aging into the Future' conference in Los Angeles.

The event was run by St. Barnabas Senior Services and the Eisner Foundation and offered people the chance to test out their products that would help enrich an elderly person's life.

'The wheelchair brakes tend to lock the wheels, but don't lock the chair to the ground,' Allen, a then student at The California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), told the outlet.

Cole Allen, the 31-year-old suspected gunman accused of opening fire inside the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, in a resurfaced clip from 2017

He was tackled to the ground and placed in handcuffs after charging past a security checkpoint inside the hotel

'But with this device, that will prevent the chair from skidding at all,' he added.

He also posed in a picture with other young innovators at the convention.

Allen was seen in chilling surveillance footage taken from inside the hotel, wearing all black with a gun in his hand.

The clip, shared by Trump on Truth Social shortly after the incident, saw security guards standing in the hallway until Allen charged by the checkpoint.

The guards immediately drew their weapons and darted after him before tackling him to the floor and placing him in handcuffs.

The dinner, an annual black-tie gala that brings politicians and journalists together, was barely underway when the Secret Service was forced to leap into action after a series of shots rang out around 8.15pm.

Several agents rushed on stage to secure the president and other high-level personnel before others jumped into the crowd and ushered cabinet members to safety.

Allen is facing charges of two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

Allen proudly spoke to ABC 7 News in March 2017, displaying his invention, an emergency brake he created out of PCV pipes

Allen (far left) also posed in a picture with other young innovators at the convention

He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years, with a possibility of life behind bars.

Since the shooting, Allen's eerie manifesto has been revealed, and showed that he is not a fan of Trump.

In the manifesto, which he sent to his family just 10 minutes before he opened fire, Allen referred to himself as the 'Friendly Federal Assassin.'

According to the New York Post, Allen's manifesto read: 'Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial.

'I'm not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes.

Around 2,600 politicians and journalists attended the yearly event. Many of them ducked under tables after hearing shots ring out

First Lady Melania Trump is seen stunned just moments before she and the president were rushed out of the room following gunshots

'In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).

'I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn't come to that.'

His targets included 'administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.'

Allen wrote, allegedly referencing the president: 'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.'
The Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the 'terrible violence inflicted on innocent people' worldwide, standing in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV following his clash with President Donald Trump.

Dame Sarah Mullally also highlighted the importance of speaking up for and defending 'the dignity and worth of every human being', including refugees.

She was preaching in the Italian capital ahead of her meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Monday.

Her words come at a time when the Pope has faced scathing criticism from President Trump, who earlier this month branded the religious leader 'weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy' and demanded he 'focus on being a great Pope, not a politician'.

The pontiff had used his first Easter message to strongly criticise war, calling on 'those who have weapons (to) lay them down'.

Leo doubled down on his comments following Mr Trump's criticism, warning during his recent four-nation Africa tour that the world is being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants'.

He said he regrets that his 'tyrant' remarks were interpreted as a response to criticism from Trump, insisting he has no interest in debating the US leader.

The Pontiff, 70, claimed they had been written well before Trump's 'comment on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting'.

The Archbishop of Canterbury condemned the 'terrible violence inflicted on innocent people' worldwide

Dame Sarah Mullally also highlighted the importance of speaking up for and defending 'the dignity and worth of every human being', including refugees

'And yet it was perceived as if I were trying to start a new debate with the president, which doesn't interest me at all,' Leo said.

'Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said,' he said.

Trump had said on April 12 he was 'not a big fan of Pope Leo', and accused him of 'toying with a country (Iran) that wants a nuclear weapon'.

He later doubled down on his comments to reporters with a post on Truth Social, saying: 'I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.'

'Pope Leo is weak WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,' the US leader said.

Trump also said that Leo was only made Pope 'because he was an American', and 'If I wasn't in the White House , Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican.'

He added: 'I don't think he's doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess.

'We don't like a Pope who says it's ok to have a nuclear weapon. We don't want a Pope that says crime is ok. I am not a fan of Pope Leo.'

She was preaching in the Italian capital ahead of her meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Monday

Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard a flight on his way to Luanda, Angola. The Pope faced scathing criticism from US President Donald Trump , who earlier this month branded the religious leader 'weak on crime'

Dame Sarah issued a statement at the time backing the Pope's calls for peace.

She said she stood in solidarity with the pontiff 'in his courageous call for a kingdom of peace' and urged 'all those entrusted with political authority to pursue every possible peaceful and just means of resolving conflict'.

On Sunday, she delivered a sermon at St Paul's Within the Walls - the first non-Roman Catholic church to be built within the city's walls - calling for justice and peace.

She said: 'The Book of Wisdom reminds us that 'God did not make death but created all things so that they might exist'.

'God's desire is life - life in its fullness, life shared, life given.

'And yet, we look at our world today and often we see something very different: instead of making justice and peace a priority, we see terrible violence inflicted on innocent people in conflicts across the globe.

'In such a world, the Church cannot lose confidence in the Gospel. For the Gospel is precisely this: that life, not death, has the final word; that Christ has broken the power of violence, not by greater force, but by self-giving love.'

Dame Sarah is on her first pilgrimage to Rome since being formally enthroned in March as the first woman to hold the role of top bishop in the Church of England.

The purpose of her four-day visit is said by Lambeth Palace to be to 'strengthen Anglican-Roman Catholic relations' and 'aims to deepen bonds of communion, affirm a shared witness, and encourage ongoing collaboration at both global and local levels'.

In her sermon on Sunday at the Episcopal church, she also described an 'increasingly polarised world', in which she said the Church must continue 'its outward service and acts of love: in care for the marginalised, in welcome to the stranger, in accompaniment of refugees and those who find themselves displaced, unseen, or unheard'.

Dame Sarah is expected to meet the Pope on Monday morning for private prayer and discussion, after which each will give an address.

The archbishop will also join the Pope for midday prayer in the Chapel of Urban VIII within the Apostolic Palace.

She is accompanied on the trip by the Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, who is the leader of Catholics in England and Wales.
John Swinney and most of his Holyrood candidates have been condemned for backing the unhinged ideology of an extreme SNP trans rights group.

The First Minister and 61 other hopefuls have signed a pledge to fight for trans bodily autonomy and ban conversion practices if elected in May.

Critics said in practice that meant support for irreversible surgery, prescribing life-changing drugs on demand and the silencing of worried parents and therapists.

Drafted by the Out for Independence (OFI) faction, the pledge claims gay and trans people are being scapegoated by other parties in a culture war, partly to deflect from Brexit.

OFI, which calls itself the official LGBTQIA+ wing of the SNP, this month called the UK Supreme Court ruling on sex-based womens rights harmful.

The Sunday Times reported that as well as Mr Swinney, the OFI pledge had been signed by Health Secretary Neil Gray, equalities minister Kaukab Stewart and Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who hopes to switch to Holyrood next month.

Susan Smith and Marion Calder of For Women Scotland

Trans rights campaigners outside Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh

More than two-thirds of the SNPs constituency candidates have signed, as have nine regional list candidates.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: There is a real danger that Holyrood will be filled with MSPs after the election who will once again bombard the parliaments agenda with their fringe obsessions.

For Women Scotland, the feminist campaigners who secured the Supreme Court ruling, said the SNP had learnt nothing from its gender debacle under Nicola Sturgeon.

Conversion practices are usually thought of as bigoted attempts to fix same-sex attraction.

But FWS founder Marion Calder said a sweeping ban could be a Trojan horse for stopping teachers, parents and therapists merely discussing with young people why they might be transgender, locking them into an affirmative pathway towards more radical measures.

She said: It is clear that the SNP have learnt nothing from the past five years, and it is very disappointing to see so many sign up to the demands of this extreme pressure group.

Asked for comment, the SNP referred to its manifesto, which says conversion practices are harmful, abhorrent and abusive actions intended to change or suppress an individuals sexual orientation or gender identity.

Out for Independence was asked for comment.
Tensions are growing in a Pennsylvania town as developers prepare to build six large data centers.

Archbald, near the Pocono Mountains, is undergoing major changes as about 14 percent of its land could be developed into 51 data warehouses.

Each warehouse is roughly the size of a Walmart Supercenter, according to the Washington Post.

The rural town sits near the 500-kilovolt Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line, a major power line that supplies electricity across the region.

This reliable energy source makes it attractive for data centers, which need a lot of power.

Archbald also has abundant freshwater and land suitable for the sites, but many residents are angered by the construction plans.

'Those animals now have no place to go,' resident Tim Bachak told WaPo. He said that last month, construction workers began clearing forests for the data center.

'It's disgusting.  Why are they putting these things near us, near our schools and near our parks?'

A group of Archbald locals hold up bright yellow 'NO DATA CENTERS' signs to protest the construction

Archbald, Pennsylvania is located near the Pocono Mountains, about 14 percent of its land could be developed into 51 data warehouses

Locals have started to rally together over social media and community meetings to push back against the plans

Locals have started to rally together over social media and community meetings to push back against the plans.

The 'Stop Archbald Data Centers' Facebook group has nearly 10,000 members, more than the town's population of about 7,000, where people share meeting updates and opposition to the data centers.

Hundreds of outraged locals have placed 'NO DATA CENTERS' signs in their yards and turned once-quiet board meetings into uproar.

'I want to know the effects of electricity usage, water usage, noise pollution, light pollution,' resident Michael Pilch, 54, told WaPo.

Despite their efforts, the outlet reported that the data center developers are pushing forward with construction plans. Residents say they have not disclosed which tech companies will occupy the buildings.

'This debate has destroyed this community,' Archbald Mayor Shirley Barrett told the outlet.

'We want answers, but we have no clue what is going on because this is all happening so quickly.'

Cornell Realty Management, the developer for Wildcat Ridge AI Data Center, applied to build 14 massive centers across 400 acres.

Calling the project 'ultramodern,' they said it would help generate $7 million in annual tax revenue for the borough and another $23 million for the school system.

Calling the project 'ultramodern,' they said it would help generate $7 million in annual tax revenue for the borough and another $23 million for the school system

They claimed the campus would be at least 1,500 feet from homes, create 1,280 jobs, and be as quiet as a 'normal conversation'

Cornell Realty Management, the developer for Wildcat Ridge AI Data Center, applied to build 14 massive centers across 400 acres

The community gathers at a council to oppose the data center construction

Residents have many unanswered questions about environmental concerns and fear for the animals as the forests are starting to be cleared

They claimed the campus would be at least 1,500 feet from homes, create 1,280 jobs, and be as quiet as a 'normal conversation.'

Developers also said it would use about 50,000 gallons of water a day, not the 3.3 million gallons critics allege.

But 500 residents packed a council meeting in mid-April to denounce the Wildcat Ridge zoning permits.

Outraged locals taunted the developer's lawyer, and tossed the pamphlets into the trash at the council podium.

'They think we are stupid and think we are pushovers,' Judy Quinlan, 81, told WaPo.

She added that the community is prepared 'to stand in front of bulldozers' to prevent construction.

Archbald Borough Council members who once supported the data centers have even stepped down. Three of the four seats are now held by opponents, with one seat still vacant, per the outlet.

It could take months to years before any construction begins, even after the local planning board approves the project, since additional state and local permits are still required.

'No one wants this,' Bachak told the outlet, 'except the people making money off it.'
Sir Tom Hunter and Jackie Bird led thousands of Scots on the annual Kiltwalk yesterday.

The duo donned matching tartan kilts to tackle the gruelling 28-mile walk from Glasgow to Loch Lomond alongside 14,000 others.

The day before, a further 6,000 people had also hiked from Clydebank to Balloch, raising a combined 4million for 1,111 Scottish charities.

Mr Hunter told crowds: You good folks got out of your beds this morning to be part of something that has become a fantastic movement for Scotland.

Youre here because of someone you know, or a charity you care about, and youve chosen to help. That, in my opinion, is what makes Scotland the greatest wee country in the world.

Helped along by the spring sunshine and supportive cheers from onlookers, the selfless Scots marched in aid of small and large charities like the Beatson Cancer and Glasgow Childrens Hospital.

Sir Tom Hunter and Jackie Bird lead the way as the walkers set off

Smiles in the sun as these Kiltwalkers prepare to set off

The Kiltwalk is expected to raise millions for charity

770 walkers also chose to support Sir Chris Hoys Tour de 4 campaign, which supports cancer charities across the UK.

The show of support for the Olympic champion, who has stage 4 prostate cancer, comes six months after the Edinburgh leg of the charity walk raised a further 95,000 for Hoys Tour de 4.

Speaking a decade after his first Kiltwalk, Sir Tom revealed that over ten years, the annual fundraiser has generated 62 million for over 4,400 charities.

Of this, 48 million was raised by 240,000 walkers, while 14 million was donated by the businessmans The Hunter Foundation.

Sir Tom also announced his own ambitions for Kiltwalk to reach 100mil of funds in the next five years, to be there for Scottish charities during economically challenging times.

Ahead of the event he stressed: The need has never been greater and Kiltwalk is one of the few remaining events still enabling fundraising to go ahead.
A mother and her seven-year-old son have died in a 'tragic accident' after getting into difficulty in the water at a west London park, police have confirmed.

Officers rushed to the scene at Elthorne Park, in Ealing, just before 4.30pm on Saturday.

The large park, a popular spot in the leafy west London suburb, leads on to the Grand Union Canal Walk and is bordered by the River Brent.

The mother and son were pulled from the water, but they were both tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

A Met spokesman said: 'Further inquiries carried out by officers into the incident have established it was a tragic accident and the deaths of the woman and child who very sadly lost their lives are being treated as non-suspicious.'

They added: 'Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

A police car parked near the corner of Elthorne Park in west London where the 'tragic accident' took place

A mother and son died after 'getting into difficulty' in the water at Elthorne Park (pictured) in Ealing

'This is understandably an incredibly difficult time for them and they have requested that their privacy be respected.'

On Saturday, Detective Superintendent Pete Thackray, from the Met's west area command unit, acknowledged 'the efforts of the first responders and members of the public who did their very best in an incredibly challenging situation'.

In an X post, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ealing Common Jon Ball said: 'My thoughts go out to the family of those involved in the tragic accident in Elthorne Park today.'
A man has been heralded as an unsung hero after he moved in front of President Donald Trump as soon as the alarm was sounded about gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

In dramatic footage that has since gone viral, the man  whose identity is currently unknown but is likely a Secret Service agent  was seen reacting with lightning speed.

As the first pops of gunfire echoed through the subterranean lobby of the Washington Hilton, the man did not duck; instead, he lunged toward Trump, using his own body as a human shield to block the Commander-in-Chief from potential fire.

A grainy still from the footage showed the man jumping on to the stage, covering the President as he is ushered toward the backstage exit.

The suspect, identified by authorities as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, reportedly charged a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives.

Allen was tackled by agents after a brief but terrifying exchange of gunfire in the hotel lobby.

One Secret Service officer was shot at close range during the melee. In what many are calling a miracle, the bullet was stopped by his ballistic vest.

President Trump later praised the officer's bravery, stating from the White House: 'He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job.

'I just spoke to the officer and he's doing great.'

As the first pops of gunfire echoed through the subterranean lobby of the Washington Hilton, the man did not duck; instead, he lunged toward President Trump, using his own body as a human shield to block the Commander-in-Chief from potential fire

Footage shows guests in tuxedos and evening gowns huddled under tables as Secret Service patrol the ballroom floor

The White House Correspondents' Dinner  Washington's most glitzy 'nerd prom'  descended into a scene of blood-curdling chaos last night

The ballroom, filled with the nation's top journalists, Hollywood celebrities, and Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, became a scene of pure pandemonium.

Footage shows guests in tuxedos and evening gowns huddled under tables as Secret Service patrol the ballroom floor.

The incident occurred at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981  an eerie historical parallel that was not lost on those in attendance.

Just like Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy, the agent who took a bullet for Reagan 45 years ago, last night's 'hero agent' is being celebrated across social media for his 'extraordinary courage.'

Trump, still wearing his tuxedo, addressed the nation just two hours later. 'When you're impactful, they go after you,' he said defiantly. 'They seem to think he was a lone wolf. We're not going to let anybody take over our society.'

The White House has confirmed that the dinner will be rescheduled within 30 days, promising an event that is 'bigger and better.'

But for now, Washington remains on high alert as it grapples with yet another attempt on the President's life.

The family of the suspect who stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner has since revealed his past radical statements and his plans to 'fix' the world as his manifesto was uncovered.

A grainy but powerful still from the footage showing the man jumping mid-air, covering the President as he is ushered toward the backstage exit

Patel did not take cover under the table like others, remaining upright as he told those at his table to stay down

Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, was seen attempting to bolt past a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives on Saturday night.

He exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before they tackled him to the ground and arrested him. One agent was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. No one else was harmed.

Authorities have now discovered that Allen wrote a chilling manifesto before he arrived at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was being hosted.

Allen's family members told law enforcement that he had sent them some of his disturbing writings before the attack, which prompted his brother to alert police. The writings did not specifically mention the dinner on Saturday, CBS News reported.

Allen's brother notified the New London Police Department in Connecticut of the manifesto minutes before the attack, a White House official confirmed to CNN.

Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he had heard about the report and wished the department had informed federal authorities earlier.

US Secret Service and Montgomery County Police also interviewed the suspect's sister in Rockville, Maryland, a White House official told CNN.
The suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter mocked the lack of security at the event and on his journey to Washington DC in his chilling manifesto.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, was seen attempting to bolt past a security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives on Saturday night.

He exchanged fire with Secret Service agents before they tackled him to the ground and arrested him. One agent was struck in his bulletproof vest and is expected to recover. No one else was harmed.

Allen's manifesto, which was obtained and published in full by the New York Post, detailed his reasoning for the attack, his 'rules of engagement' and a 'rant' about how little security he encountered.

'What the hell is the Secret Service doing?' Allen wrote in a postscript to his manifesto.

'I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo. What I got (who knows, maybe theyre pranking me!) is nothing,' he continued.

The radicalized teacher described a 'sense of arrogance' at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the dinner was held.

'The security at the event is all outside... because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before,' Allen wrote.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, a teacher from Torrance, California, is the suspected shooter of the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He mocked the event's lack of security in his manifesto

Allen is understood to have been targeting top officials in the Trump administration. First Lady Melania Trump is pictured looking shocked just before the dinner descended into chaos

Secret Service agents were seen with their guns drawn as they gave people orders

Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities

He said that the security was so lacking that, 'if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed sh**.'

Ma Deuce is a nickname for the M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun.

Earlier in his manifesto, Allen explained why he had attempted to break into the dinner and kill top Trump administration officials.

'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,' he wrote, likely in reference to President Donald Trump. He said that as a citizen of the US, what his representatives do reflects on him.

The suspected shooter added that he had wanted to take action for a long time, 'but this is the first real opportunity Ive had to do something about it.'

He then went on to explain his 'rules of engagement' and outlined who his targets were.

'Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,' Allen wrote. It is unclear why Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, was spared from his hit list.

Allen then listed other targets in order of priority. He wrote that Secret Service agents who get in his way were 'targets only if necessary,' and that he hoped to incapacitate them 'non-lethally if possible.'

Allen wrote in his manifesto that Secret Service agents would only be targets if necessary and that he would try to incapacitate them 'non-lethally if possible.' A Secret Service agent is pictured shouting during the shooting

Allen wrote that national guardsmen would only be targets if they fired at him first. Members of the National Guard are pictured responding to the shooting

Allen also wrote that he would 'go through most everyone here to get to the targets' because they '*chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor.' Guests of the dinner are pictured taking cover during the shooting

'I hope theyre wearing body armor because center mass with shotguns messes up people who *arent*,' he wrote. Allen reportedly did later shoot one Secret Service agent in a bulletproof vest.

He also wrote that hotel security, Capitol police and national guardsmen would only be targets if they shot at him first.

Hotel guests and employees were 'not targets at all,' he wrote.

'In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls),' Allen's manifesto continued.

But he ominously added: 'I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesnt come to that.'

In the manifesto, Allen also included a section of 'Rebuttals to objections' of him carrying out the shooting, and he apologized to family members, his students and the people he encountered on his way to carry out the shooting.

It is believed that Allen traveled by train from California to Chicago, and then onto Washington DC to check into the Washington Hilton Hotel before the dinner on Saturday. He may have chosen to travel by train to avoid airport security.

He signed the manifesto 'Cole coldForce Friendly Federal Assassin Allen.'

Harrowing surveillance footage captured the moment Allen stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

In his manifesto, Allen apologized to his family, students and people he encountered on the way to commit the shooting. He signed the manifesto 'Cole coldForce Friendly Federal Assassin Allen'

Your browser does not support iframes.

Federal prosecutors have announced that Allen is being charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years with a possibility of life behind bars if fired.

'It is clear, based upon what we know so far, this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could,' United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.

'There will be many more charges based upon the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation,' she added.

Cops swarmed on Allen's parents' $877,000 home on Saturday night shortly after he was arrested.

Allen is one of four siblings, including two sisters, Stephanie and Arviana, and a brother, Gabriel, according to publicly available information.

His social media details indicate he is highly educated and academically accomplished.

On LinkedIn, he describes himself as: 'A mechanical engineer and computer scientist by degree, independent game developer by experience, teacher by birth.'

Allen is highly educated and academically accomplished, according to his social media. He has no prior criminal record and was unknown to law enforcement in Washington DC

Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and later a Master of Science in Computer Science from a California State University.

Officials said Allen has no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement in Washington DC.
Meghan Markle has suggested the 'hardest seven years' of her life are coming to an end, with two horoscope posts on Instagram.

The Duchess reshared a video posted by a page called Astrology is for Everyone, which features two men dancing ecstatically.

It is captioned: 'Taurus, Leo, Scorpio & Aquarius ending the hardest seven years of their lives on April 25th.'

Meghan was born on August 4, 1981, so is a Leo star sign.

Her recirculation of the clip to her 4.5million followers suggests she subscribes to the prediction - and feels that the past seven years have been particularly challenging.

The video, created by influencers Harrison Keefe and Nepia Takuira-Mita, was accompanied by an explanation of how the movement of Uranus has supposedly dealt people with Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius star signs the 'toughest years of their lives'.

Celebrating the fact that Meghan shared the video, the person behind the astrology account wrote: 'The Queen herself has been public proof of this transit... here's to reigning again.'

Another post on Meghan's Instagram story claimed to describe signs that Leos are 'about to exhale for the first time in seven years'.

Meghan reposted a video showing two men dancing joyfully, with a caption about seven hard years coming to an end

She also posted an explanation of the challenges Leos have faced

Meghan opened up about some of the challenges she has felt during her tour of Australia this month alongside her husband, Prince Harry

It read: 'The tension between who you actually are and what the world around you was willing to see has been exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to people who have not lived it.

'Your confidence took hits it had no business taking.

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

'You questioned your creative direction, your spotlight, your worth.

'April 25th, the pressure lifts. You get the space to just exist without fighting for it.'

Meghan and Harry both stepped back from royal duties in early 2020, before moving to California to bring up their children, amid a storm of public scrutiny.

Since then, they have been dealt a number of further blows.

Spotify's deal with the Duke and Duchess, estimated to be worth 18m in late 2020, ended in 2023, and this year it was revealed that Meghan was splitting from Netflix.

She and Harry also came under fire for their quasi-royal tour of Australia this month, with some critics complaining they were treating the country 'like an ATM'.

During the trip, Meghan gave some indication of the challenges she felt she had battled over the past few years, telling crowds she had been 'the most trolled woman in the world'.

Speaking to students at Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology about the dangers of social media and its impact on mental health, she said: 'I can speak to that really personally, which is why I like to listen, because it rings true for me in a very real way.

'For now, ten years, every day for ten years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world. I'm still here.'

On the same day, Prince Harry declared that he never wanted to be a working royal because it 'killed' his mother.

Speaking at the $1,000-a-head InterEdge Summit in Melbourne Park, Harry said he had felt 'lost, betrayed, or completely powerless' during his life.
As journalists and politicians cowered under the tables at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, one man calmly sat and enjoyed his meal.

Michael Glantz, a top agent at Creative Artists Agency, was caught on video calmly picking at the salad still on his plate and bringing it to his mouth in the moments after suspected gunman Cole Allen, 31, opened fire at the lavish event.

The footage quickly went viral on social media, as some netizens said they related to the man.

'NEVER miss the opportunity to tuck into a nice piece of lobster,' one X user wrote.

Another suggested: 'This old dude doesn't know what's going on. He knows he wants his cake though.'

But Glantz said he was simply unfazed by the commotion and wanted to see what was happening as Secret Service agents tackled and arrested Allen, who police say had entered the annual dinner at the Washington Hilton hotel armed with two guns and knives.

'I'm a New Yorker. You know, we live with the sirens and activity happening all the time. So, it didnt really bother me,' he told the Daily Mail.

He also described how he was just a few feet from the dais where the president was sitting when the commotion began.

As others cowered under the tables at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, one man was seen calmly picking at his food

The unidentified man did not seem worried as he forked the food into his mouth

At that point, the burrata salad had already been served.

'I dont usually eat greens, so I was eating the cheese on top  it was burrata! And then all of a sudden, I saw these guys with heavy weapons and bullet proof vests storm the room, and I just watched, eating the burrata,' Glantz recounted.

'They literally went from table to table, some of them were on top of the tables and were so quick to escort the dignitaries out of the room.

When he was later asked why he did not duck for cover like his colleagues, Glantz said he has a bad back and getting up would be even more difficult than going down.

Also, he is not a fan of dirt.

'I mean, this is going to sound kind of corny. And it's funny, you know, but I'm good with it. I'm a hygiene freak. The thought of going down with my new tuxedo, on a floor of the Hilton, is disgusting,' Glantz said.

'And then later on when I saw a number of people walking, and they had schmutz and food on their gowns because they were on the floor. I think I made the right decision.

He noted that a lot of the people were shaken up by the experience and he does not want to 'make light of what happened.'

'But you know, this will be another memory I wont forget,' the agent said, noting he had been to the Correspondents Dinner at least 15 times before, and though he had not come for years he decided to attend the event this year.

'And now I might be known as the Burrata Guy!'

The lighthearted moment came as Secret Service agents tackled and arrested Cole Allen, 31, who allegedly charged past a security checkpoint inside the hotel

President Donald Trump and Melania took to the stage with other members of his cabinet just moments before shots rang out and chaos unfolded.

One Secret Service agent was harmed when he was struck in his bulletproof vest, and was expected to recover.

In eerie surveillance footage taken from inside the hotel, Allen could be seen entering the Correspondents' Dinner clad in all black with a gun in his hand.

The clip, shared by Trump on Truth Social shortly after the incident, saw security guards standing in the hallway until Allen charged by the checkpoint.

The guards immediately drew their weapons and darted after him before tackling him to the floor and placing him in handcuffs.

The dinner, an annual black-tie gala that brings politicians and journalists together, was barely underway when the Secret Service was forced to leap into action after a series of shots rang out around 8.15pm.

First Lady Melania Trump is seen stunned just moments before she and the president were rushed out of the room following gunshots

Several agents rushed on stage to secure the president and other high-level personnel before others jumped into the crowd and ushered cabinet members to safety.

Allen is facing charges of two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

He is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Monday.

If convicted, Allen could face 20 years in jail for the assault, while the weapons charges come with a minimum of ten years, with a possibility of life behind bars.

Since the shooting, Allen's eerie manifesto has been revealed, and showed that he is not a fan of Trump.

In the manifesto, which he sent to his family just 10 minutes before he opened fire, Allen referred to himself as the 'Friendly Federal Assassin.'

Guests are seen taking cover after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed out of the dinner

According to the New York Post, Allen's manifesto read: 'Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I'm not the person raped in a detention camp. I'm not the fisherman executed without trial.

'I'm not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor's crimes.

'In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).

'I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn't come to that.'

His targets included 'administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest.'

Allen wrote, allegedly referencing the president: 'I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.'
Ban can ang nhap e thuc hien chuc nang nay!
The heartbroken family of an influencer who died after allegedly being run over by a former X Factor finalist outside a Soho nightclub have paid tribute, saying she 'touched many hearts'.

Klaudia Zakrzewska, 32, from Essex, was struck by a car near the Inca venue, on Argyll Street in central London, in the early hours of Sunday, April 19.

The Polish social media personality spent almost a week in hospital undergoing treatment, but tragically passed away on Saturday.

Gabrielle Precious Carrington, 29, who was on The X Factor in 2013 as a member of girl group Miss Dynamix, appeared in court charged with attempted murder, and the charge has now been amended to murder.

Ms Zakrzewska's grieving family have now revealed they spent the week in 'living hell', keeping vigil at her hospital bedside.

A close relative told The Sun: 'Klaudia touched many hearts and we are all in agony.'

They added that her 'kindly heart' had been slowing down in the days after she was struck, and her 'organs failing'.

Many well-wishers also expressed their sympathy through comments on Ms Zakrzewska's social media.

Klaudia Zakrzewska, 32, died a week after allegedly being run over by a car driven by a former X Factor finalist

Ms Zakrzewska's death has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media, and her heartbroken family has paid tribute

A fellow London-based influencer, Sophia Ray, wrote: 'Truly heartbreaking. Praying for your soul, you didn't deserve this. Condolences to your loved ones. RIP.'

Khloe Terae, a successful model and influencer from California, wrote: 'Rest in peace.'

Carrington, also known as RIELLEUK, followed up her X Factor stint with a career as an influencer in recent years, with some 362,000 followers on Instagram.

She was arrested after police were called to the scene at 4.30am on Sunday, following reports a black Mercedes car had crashed into pedestrians.

A 58-year-old man also sustained life-changing injuries in the same crash and was taken to hospital. A third woman, aged in her 30s, was treated for minor injuries.

The Metropolitan Police has previously said the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

Carrington, of Broadfield Road, Manchester, is also accused of dangerous driving, being nearly twice the drink-drive limit and causing injuries to two other people.

She appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last Tuesday and was remanded into custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on May 19.

Gabrielle Precious Carrington, 29, was arrested and charged after the incident outside a Soho nightclub

Carrington appeared in court to face charges including attempted murder, which has now been amended to murder, and made a heart sign from the dock

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said after the news that Klaudia had died: 'We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Klaudia's family and friends in light of this tragic update. Our thoughts are also with everyone impacted by this incident.

'We recognise that this case has generated significant interest and discussion on social media; however, we would urge the public to refrain from further speculation.

'We also ask that people do not share graphic footage out of respect for Klaudia's loved ones and for those who have been injured.

'The circulation of such material could also undermine our ongoing criminal investigation and potentially prejudice future court proceedings.'

Polish-born model Ms Zakrzewska, who has more than 250,000 followers on Instagram, had posted videos from the nightclub on Sunday.

When Ms Zakrzewska still remained alive in a critical condition last week, her mother posted on a GoFundMe page set up to help cover legal fees and medical costs.

She wrote: 'My daughter is currently in a coma and desperately fighting for her life. This is the most devastating time our family has ever faced.

'Anyone who knew my gorgeous daughter knows how truly wonderful she is.

'She has touched so many people with her pure heart and kindness.'

Her mother added: 'If at any time things take a turn for the worst, additional funds will go towards funeral costs and continuous support for the family.'

The fundraiser has now seen nearly 26,000 donated to support Ms Zakrzewska's grieving family.
A Morrisons manager who was sacked for tackling a violent serial shoplifter said he has been 'blown away' by supportive protests outside the store but accused the supermarket's bosses of ignoring him.

Sean Egan, 46, worked at the Aldridge store, near Walsall, for 29 years but was fired after intervening during an 'abusive' altercation with a prolific thief who stole good last December.

Morissons bosses fired him at a disciplinary hearing for not following the company's deter-and-not-detain policy even after the shoplifter became 'aggressive' and started spitting at him.

The employee, from Wolverhampton, who had worked for the company since he was 17, said he and his family are now struggling to 'survive', with his last pay cheque coming through in January.

The father added that it has been difficult to move forward from the dismissal after being so invested in his work.

Mr Egan has been branded a hero by local shoppers and dozens gathered outside the Aldridge store on Saturday, demanding his reinstatement.

Protesters vowed to boycott the supermarket and held signs calling for 'justice for Sean Egan' and telling Morrisons to 'do the right thing'.

Mr Egan, who has suffered with crippling anxiety since being sacked, said the support he received from the protest was 'incredible'.

Sean Egan, 46, has worked at Morrisons for his entire life but was fired after tackling a shoplifter

Mr Egan has been branded a hero by local shoppers and dozens gathered outside the Aldridge store on Saturday, demanding his reinstatement

Protesters demanded a boycott of the supermarket and held signs calling for 'justice for Sean Egan' and telling Morrisons to 'do the right thing'

But he admitted he was upset to be blanked by bosses at the supermarket who were watching from nearby.

He said: 'Wow. I'm genuinely blown away. The support I received yesterday was incredible.

'My community, my customers, my colleagues you showed up. And those that didn't even know me, you showed up for me! And that means more than I can put into words. Even those who felt they had to support quietly, I see you, and I'm grateful.

'Yesterday was something special. I had customers bringing me handwritten letters, signs, banners even Factor 50 sunscreen, but more than anything, it was the genuine warmth and support that stood out. I had goosebumps all day.

He added: 'The turnout exceeded anything I expected, and it's a reminder of just how powerful the community can be when people come together for something they believe in.

'I was disappointed not to receive a simple acknowledgement from the Senior Leadership Team at Morrisons who were nearby observing events today, particularly after everything I've given over the years.

'But I won't let that take away from what today was really about.

'Gratitude. Community. And people standing together. And this is not the end. I have so many things planned. There are changes I want to help make happen. This is just the beginning.

'Nothing but love.'

Mr Egan said he was 'genuinely blown away' by the protests, adding: 'The support I received yesterday was incredible'

The employee, from Wolverhampton, who had worked for Morrisons since he was 17, said he and his family are now struggling to 'survive', with his last pay cheque coming through in January

Drug addict Daniel Kendall spat in Mr Egan's face and became aggressive after stealing two bottles of Jack Daniels from a Morrisons near Walsall

Morrisons has been contacted for comment.

The fallout of the incident saw the father, who had transformed numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable branches in the West Midlands, left penniless just three weeks before Christmas.

Mr Egan was sacked for trying to thwart drug addict Daniel Kendall who regularly targeted the store and others nearby, launching a one-man crime wave with more than 100 offences to his name.

He once told a court that he needed to steal to fund his 50 per day heroin habit.

After being convicted of robbery and shoplifting in 2019, a judge told him: 'You have been a public menace because of your addiction. Shopkeepers and those who work in shops need to be protected by the court.'

Following his latest crime spree which included the theft that led to Mr Egan's sacking, he has since been imprisoned for 46 weeks for multiple offences.

Mr Egan told the Mail: 'I dedicated my whole life to Morrisons, but they did not even take my 29 years of service into account and just threw me under the bus for standing up for what is right.'

Speaking previously, he said: 'I dont think people understand what this really does to someone. Just 3 weeks before Christmas I was asking myself one question How am I going to give my kids the Christmas they deserve?

'I joined Morrisons at 17. It wasnt just a job. It was my identity. My life. My purpose. 29 years of loyalty. And now its gone.

'Not only have I lost my career, Ive never felt so unheard, unseen, and disposable in my entire life.'

Mr Egan said he was investigated by Morrisons and dragged through a disciplinary which he appealed the results of to no avail.

He told BBC News: 'I've given so much to a business where I've actually lived for work... but in that moment I felt like everything I had given was attacked.'

Typical policy would see Mr Egan escort a shoplifter off the premises, but the store manager said the thief had become 'aggressive' and was spitting on him.

He said it was his 'instant reaction' to fling his arm back. He said he then grabbed the shoplifter's own arm to stop him reaching into his bag, which led to the altercation.

Mr Egan continued: 'My thought is, 'I've got to stop this guy. I don't know what he's going to do, not only to me, but anybody else'.'

He told how he felt pressure not to lose money and protect the store's products. Mr Egan said he called police called but was still investigated by the company.

A Morrisons spokesman said: 'We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.

Sean Egan intervened during an 'abusive' altercation with a prolific shoplifter in December

Your browser does not support iframes.

'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.

'As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.'

Mr Egan is thought to be meeting with Morrisons Chief Executive, Rami Baitieh, next week.

In a letter to MP Wendy Morton, MrBaitieh said the company had 'refrained from detailed public comment because he claimed it would not be helpful for Mr Egan.

A Morrisons spokesperson said the shop could not comment on individual cases but correct procedures were followed and 'subsequent reporting does not reflect the full facts of the situation'.

'The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons,' they added.

'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.

'We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk where they could suffer unintended consequences.'

Mr Egan is not the only shop worker to face consequences after tackling shoplifters.

Waitrose shop assistant Walker Smith, who had been employed by the chain for 17 years, revealed earlier this month that he was sacked for tackling an Easter egg thief.

Mr Smith was fired days after confronting a 'repeat offender' who had filled a bag with eggs at the branch in Clapham Junction, South West London.

The 54-year-old grabbed the bag from the thief, sparking a tug-of-war and the 13 bag of Lindt eggs to spill on to the floor.

Waitrose has a strict policy that staff should not confront shoplifters and Mr Smith was sacked a few days later.

Waitrose defended its decision, claiming there is a 'serious danger to life' in tackling thieves and its staff policies must be 'strictly followed'  but the chain faced a furious backlash over the decision.

Meanwhile, an Asda supermarket worker who confronted a shoplifter was sacked after 25 years' loyal service for trying to prevent him from getting away.

Gavin Ramsay, 49, worked as a porter collecting trolleys and shopping baskets at the Asda supermarket in South Shields when he saw a group of rowdy young people emerge from the store with bottles of alcohol they had stolen.

He was dismissed for gross misconduct two weeks after the incident for not adhering to the retailer's policy that staff should not physically challenge shoplifters.
The Greens were on Sunday accused of choosing local election candidates who boast of 'compassion' despite openly promoting 'abhorrent' anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Prospective councillors selected to stand in next month's polls include those who have claimed Jews and Zionists were behind the 9/11 terror attacks, that they 'love genocide' and are 'cockroaches'.

Ironically, some also boast in campaign leaflets about 'compassion in action' and 'safe and inclusive communities'.

The shocking revelations come as the Greens are expected to make huge gains in council seats next month.

Aziz Hakimi, a civil engineer and local businessman, was selected to stand for the Greens in Camden, north London, despite reposting content blaming 'Zionists' for the terror attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001 and posting support for Hamas in 2018.

He also shared a post claiming that arson attacks on four Jewish charity ambulances last month were a 'false flag'.

Richard Olszewski, Camden council's Labour leader, called Mr Hakimi's posts 'abhorrent' and was appalled he'd been selected by the Greens.

Raja Ateeq, standing in Walsall, talks in his election flyer of 'compassion'. But after the October 7 attacks, the travel company salesman posted: 'Finally Muslim countries are being united' and referred to 'Jewish cockroaches'.

The Greens were on Sunday accused of choosing local election candidates who boast of 'compassion' despite openly promoting 'abhorrent' anti-Semitic conspiracy theories Pictured: Green Party leader Zack Polanski attended a campaign event at Gorton and Denton in February

Raja Ateeq, standing in Walsall, (pictured) talks in his election flyer of 'compassion'

After the October 7 attacks, the travel company salesman posted: 'Finally Muslim countries are being united' and referred to 'Jewish cockroaches'

Feda Shahin, a candidate in Bournemouth, falsely claimed that in the Soviet Union 'the Zionists killed 20 million Christians' and that they 'love genocide'.

Green Party campaign literature describes how she 'cares deeply about social fairness' and 'a safe, inclusive community'.

After being selected in Lambeth, south London, it emerged that charity boss Saiqa Ali had previously posted 'England has a government overrepresented with Zionists'.

Another post from 2024 showed a snake with the Israeli flag printed on its skin wrapping itself around the globe. She wrote: 'It's time to cut the head of this snake. #FreePalestine.'

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism urged the Greens to 'expel those peddling dangerous conspiracies'.

Ms Ali has since quit as a Green candidate. She said: 'I unequivocally reject anti-Semitism in all its forms.'

A Green Party spokesman said it was 'investigating' the comments which, in Mr Hakimi's case, it discovered after candidate nominations had closed, and that both his and Mr Ateeq's posts were being removed

She added: 'These examples don't represent the views of the Green Party.'

Mr Hakimi was contacted for comment.
Kemi Badenoch has accused Keir Starmer of a 'vindictive' plan to pursue veterans through the courts ahead of a crunch vote on Monday.

The Tory leader told Labour MPs to join her party in opposing the Government's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill which former soldiers have branded a betrayal.

The Daily Mail has campaigned passionately to protect veterans who served during this period from vexatious prosecutions.

One of Labour's first acts in power was to announce it would repeal and replace the previous Conservative government's legislation for a conditional amnesty. Writing for the Daily Mail, Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of 'hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals'.

She questioned why it was such a high priority when ministers were yet to set out a plan to properly fund defence over the next few years.

Accusing Starmer of having an 'obsession with lawfare' which had prompted the attempted surrender of the Chagos Islands, she said she hoped to force 'yet another U-turn'.

She called on Labour MPs to 'examine their consciences' and vote with the Tories against the legislation returning to the Commons. Her intervention came as it emerged that the Armed Forces minister would miss today's crucial vote to carry over the legislation to the next parliamentary session.

Al Carns, a former Royal Marine and serving reservist, will be overseas visiting troops on defensive missions against Iran when MPs vote, The Sunday Times reported.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of 'hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals'

Upon taking office, one of the Labour government's initial moves was to declare the repeal of the Conservative-era conditional amnesty law, pledging to replace it with new legislation

It means the Government's most senior veteran will be absent from the debate about the legislation which is bitterly opposed by former soldiers. Mr Carns, who was a colonel and completed a tour of Northern Ireland in the 2000s, is expected to stand for leader if Sir Keir is challenged or steps down.

The veterans' community say Labour's Bill reopens the door to the prosecution of elderly former soldiers for events which happened decades ago.

The Tory legislation it replaced offered conditional immunity for conduct during the Troubles.

Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has pledged to introduce measures to protect veterans, including allowing them anonymity and giving them protection in old age.

But veterans' supporters say the legislation will allow for vexatious prosecutions and have called for cases to be reopened only if there is new and compelling evidence. Today's vote will enable the Government to bring the legislation back before MPs and is essential for its survival.

A government source said Carns's trip was long planned. They added that veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones would be sitting alongside Mr Benn on the front bench.
Labour MPs will urge the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure in the wake of the local elections.

Following what is expected to be bruising results, MPs are expected to write and call for beleaguered Keir Starmer to stand down by party conference in the autumn.

This would allow time for a contest to be held and a new leader to take over in an orderly manner.

Crucially, it would also buy time for rivals such as Andy Burnham to find a route back to Westminster and Angela Rayner to resolve her tax affairs.

It comes amid warnings that losses of more than 1,500 council seats on May 7 could trigger a Cabinet revolt.

Labour sources suggested that Mr Burnham's allies were behind the letter to oust the PM, and that an MP from the North-West could stand down to give him a seat.

Names of potential candidates include Marie Rimmer, Charlotte Nichols and Peter Dowd  though the former two said they had not been asked to make way for him.

The statement is said to be circulating among MPs and will be sent in the aftermath of torrid local election results.

Labour MPs will urge the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure in the wake of the local elections Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer visited Kenston United Synagogue on Thursday

One source said: 'Most of the MPs on the Left of the party are turning against Angela or recognising her weaknesses are too great. So they're moving towards waiting for Andy.'

On Sunday allies of Mr Burnham said they were not aware of the move but said they had noticed that Labour MPs across the party were growing tired and wanted change.

MPs pointed out that should Sir Keir stand down ahead of party conference, it would allow time for Labour's ruling body to elect members who are close to Mr Burnham.

The current panel  which is packed with Sir Keir's allies  blocked the Manchester mayor from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

However, some Labour MPs questioned why there was any talk of replacing the PM ahead of the local elections, saying any move should come afterwards to avoid handing political rivals a victory on May 7.

Another said the intent to remove the PM was more important than the process, saying: 'When the time comes and if the numbers are there, a process will be found.'

The threats to Sir Keir follows one of the worst weeks of his premiership during which his judgment in appointing Peter Mandelson was repeatedly questioned.

Sir Olly Robbins, the official he sacked over the vetting scandal, has claimed he was put under pressure to approve the appointment by No 10.

Labour sources suggested that Andy Burnham's allies were behind a letter to oust the PM, and that an MP from the North-West could stand down to give him a seat Pictured: Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham arrived at Downing Street last month

This week, there will be further evidence from key figures involved in the appointment of Mandelson which could spell trouble for the Prime Minister.

He also has the shadow of a possible investigation by the Privileges Committee hanging over him. Several letters are believed to have been submitted to the Speaker who will decide whether MPs vote on the possibility tomorrow.

Sir Keir also faces a Cabinet revolt amid warnings that losses of more than 1,500 council seats on May 7 would provoke a challenge.

A loss on this scale would amount to more than half of the seats Labour is defending during the local elections, though some analysts suggest they could be greater than that.

'That would be the cut-off for a collective nervous breakdown among cabinet colleagues,' one Cabinet minister told the Sunday Times.

But a defiant Sir Keir vowed to fight the next election and insisted most of his MPs still backed him following one of his worst weeks in the job.

He said: 'What you never hear from are the all the people who are supportive, loyal and just want to get on with the job.'

However, he has faced opposition from several Cabinet ministers in the past week who have struggled to defend his actions over the Mandelson scandal.

These include Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Deputy PM David Lammy and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones.

It came as polling found that 50 per cent of voters thought that Sir Keir should stand down, and 17 per cent favoured Mr Burnham as his successor in that scenario.

The majority, however, had no preference or didn't know, the Ipsos poll by Global showed.

A Labour source said on Sunday: 'Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election. He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.'
A group of ISIS brides and their children have obtained commercial airline tickets and are preparing to return to Australia, with plans to depart Damascus within days.

The group comprises four women and nine children, all Australian citizens, who left the alRoj detention camp in northeastern Syria on Saturday.

They had been held at the camp for seven years after the collapse of the Islamic State caliphate.

A source with direct knowledge of the arrangements told the Sydney Morning Herald the return is being organised privately, without assistance from the Australian government.

The group expects to fly out of Damascus in the coming days.

Defence Minister Richard Marles told ABC Radio National on Monday the government is not involved in the repatriation of the families.

'The fundamental point to make is that the government is not involved in the repatriation of these people,' he said.

'We are not providing any assistance for them to come back to Australia at this time.'

A group of ISIS brides and their children are on their way back to Australia from Syria (file)

Marles said Australia's intelligence agencies were closely monitoring the situation and would assess any security risks associated with people returning to the country.

'Our intelligence agencies monitor everyone who comes into Australia,' he said.

'Where there are security concerns, they are identified and managed appropriately. I won't go into individual cases, but our agencies are very much on the job.'

The group is making a second attempt to return to Australia after a failed effort earlier this year.

In February, a larger cohort of 11 families, comprising 34 women and children, tried to leave but were stopped about 50km into their journey and forced to turn back.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued oneoff emergency passports to all members of the group earlier this year, although authorities later placed at least one woman under a Temporary Exclusion Order, barring her return to Australia for up to two years while investigators consider potential criminal charges.

The Australian government has previously warned the cohort would be met with 'the full force of the law' if they were found to have committed a crime when they returned.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the government should do everything possible to prevent the return of Australians who left the country to join the Islamic State.

Marles (pictured) said the government was aware of the group, and not offering repatriation

'These are people who chose to leave Australia to be part of Islamic State, which is a terrorist organisation,' he told the ABC on Sunday.

'Supporting ISIS is a terrorist offence, and Australian security and national interests must come first.'

Taylor accused the government of quietly facilitating the group's return through administrative support, including the issuing of passports, DNA testing and assistance from third parties.

'It is clear the government has been providing assistance, whether directly or indirectly, to enable this repatriation,' he said.

'We introduced legislation to stop that from happening and the government rejected it.'

Asked whether citizens were entitled to passports, Taylor said ministers retained discretion.

'The government should make every possible effort not to accept these people back into the country,' he said.

AlRoj camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim said the situation had changed since the failed attempt to return the group earlier this year.

A group of ISIS brides attempted to return to Australia in February, but were turned back

Speaking to the ABC on Friday, Ibrahim said authorities had now resolved coordination issues.

'Unlike February, the coordination was perfect,' he said.

'It was done between us and the Syrian government, to be able to fly back these families to their country.'
He once temporarily ditched Queen Camilla to embark on a fling with Princess Anne when she was 19  a scenario gratuitously immortalised in season three of The Crown where the pair enjoy a post-sex Bloody Mary.

Now, at the age of 86, Andrew Parker Bowles, who inspired Rupert Campbell-Black in Jilly Cooper's Rivals, has slipped into a new, and rather more edifying role as a right-hand man to the royals.

On Sunday, Queen Camilla's ex-husband represented Princess Anne at the memorial service for Clare Balding's father Ian, according to Daily Mail columnist Richard Eden, after stepping in for the Princess Royal on several previous occasions.

'I learn that Andrew Parker Bowles formally represented Princess Anne on Sunday at the thanksgiving service for Ian Balding, Queen Elizabeth II's former race trainer, who died in January aged 87,' Eden, the Daily Mail's diary editor, wrote.

It's the second time in two months that Parker Bowles has stepped in for his ex-girlfriend Anne, having previously stood in her place at Field Marshal Lord Guthrie's memorial service at the Guards' Chapel.

The pair are old friends  they got together after a chance meeting at Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother's home at Windsor, when Andrew was adjutant in the newly formed Blues and Royals regiment, a former aide-de-camp to the Governor-General in New Zealand.

Despite his reputation as a practised seducer and the age gap, the attraction between the Princess and the soldier was intense.

Indeed, many believe it was revenge that fuelled Camilla's determined attempts to seduce Prince Charles: if Andrew was going to have the Queen's daughter as his lover, she would have Her Majesty's son.

At the age of 86, Andrew Parker Bowles has slipped into a new role as a right-hand man to the royals, including Princess Anne (pictured together in Hyde Park, London, in 1989)

She had no trouble attracting Charles, but was said to be truly in love with Andrew  whose Catholic faith meant he was never husband material for Anne.

The relationship fizzled out when he was posted to Germany and he reunited with Camilla. In July 1973, they were married at the Guards' Chapel in Wellington Barracks, Central London.

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

Despite their divorce 22 years later, Queen Camilla has maintained a strong and close friendship with Andrew  and he even had a special invitation on the guest list to the Coronation in May 2023.

Camilla was famously Charles's mistress during her marriage to Andrew, while the latter is described by friends as having been 'very naughty with women' throughout.

But it seems any differences have been put aside as the pair are 'joined at the hip', as one insider has previously put it  claiming they are constantly in touch and make a great team.

The author Tina Brown has claimed it was Andrew, rather than Charles, who was the love of Camilla's life. Whatever the truth, the man Brown describes as 'a walking pink gin' is said to remain one of her chief confidants.

'They are joined at the hip,' according to a friend. 'He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. He's right in there. He was always, and still is, Camilla's co-conspirator.'

The Marchioness of Lansdowne, one of Camilla's Queen's Companions, has said: 'Everybody loves Andrew. He's a real charmer but he's always terribly misbehaving.'

She said of his enduring bond with Camilla: 'Andrew will ring her up and tell her when she's got something wrong and she'll ring him up and say when he's misbehaving.

Pictured: Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles at the Gold Cup Day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 18, 2016

'Through adversity they've kept a really good family ethic. It helps with their children and grandchildren.'

Known as 'The Brigadier' in reference to his former career as an army officer who served with the Blues and Royals and was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe, Andrew has moved in royal circles for decades.

As a 13-year-old, he served as a page to Lord Simonds, then the Lord High Chancellor, at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

'My mother was a good friend of the Duke of Norfolk,' he recalled. 'The Lord Chancellor had no children so Bernard Norfolk suggested me to Lord Simonds. I have to say that he was the nicest man alive and gave me a very nice set of cufflinks.'

He described a sword fight during the dress rehearsal, saying: 'All the pages had these little swords. If a group of bored small boys all have swords, you know what's going to happen.' He also played polo on the same team as Charles when both men were young and rode in the Grand National in 1969, coming 11th.

He first met Camilla in the late 1960s and they dated on and off for several years before marrying in 1973.

According to Andrew's cousin John Bowes-Lyon, the couple were pressured into making the commitment when both their fathers published an engagement notice for them in The Times.

'His hand publicly forced, Andrew proposed to his girlfriend of nearly seven years,' wrote the author Sarah Bedell Smith.

'Camilla was very much in love with [Andrew],' Bowes-Lyon told Smith. 'Her parents were very keen that Andrew should marry her.'

The Queen Mother, Princess Anne and Princess Margaret all attended their wedding, and the reception took place in St James's Palace.

As a commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, Andrew accompanied the newly married Charles and Diana on horseback following their wedding in 1981  but the marriage was not a faithful one on either side.

According to royal author Penny Junor, Andrew was 'never be short of opportunities to be unfaithful' when spending his weekdays in London, where his regiment was based.

The Daily Mail's Richard Kay wrote in 2017: 'All too often, the women were indeed friends of his wife, and showed scant loyalty to her by succumbing to his charms.'

But the royal expert claimed that 'Andrew's affairs were just a fact of life and not something Camilla often spoke about', noting how there 'was never a tense atmosphere in the couple's home'.

Tina Brown later claimed that Camilla only resumed her affair with Charles because she was angry at her husband's infidelities.

Andrew and Camilla divorced in 1995, saying in a statement that 'throughout our marriage we have always tended to follow rather different interests, but in recent years we have led completely separate lives'.

The following year, he married his long-term mistress Rosemary Pitman. They were together until Rosemary passed away in 2010 of cancer, aged 69.

At the time of her death it was reported that Camilla was 'deeply saddened' by the news.

Andrew was a guest at Charles and Camilla's wedding in April 2005, attending their service of blessing at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Well thats the conversation-starter sorted out when the King meets President Trump this time tomorrow. For both heads of state belong to the same exclusive club: world leaders who have come under attack in public  and survived.

In the Kings case, it was during his 1994 tour of Australia that a gunman came charging through the crowd in a Sydney park firing wildly at the royal dais.

No one knew that the rounds were blanks as the then-Prince of Wales calmly stood his ground while his protection officer, Colin Trimming, jumped in front of him.

The attacker  a young man who, astonishingly, would later pursue a successful career as a lawyer  was swiftly tackled by police and bundled away while the Prince simply straightened his tie and resumed his engagement.

There is a similar sense of Keep Calm and Carry On here in Washington as the White House prepares to welcome the King and Queen for the monarchs first state visit to the USA.

President Trumps response to last nights apparent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner was not to retreat to a bunker but to host an immediate White House press conference, where he reflected that his is a dangerous profession and that his would-be attacker was a lone-wolf whack job. This was, after all, the third time that an assailant has tried to kill him.

It was, incidentally, the best-dressed press conference in modern Washington history as all those present were still in ballgowns and black tie, having been herded out of the ballroom of the Washington Hilton just as the burrata salad starter was landing on their tables.

A black tie-clad President addresses reporters after Saturday night's shooting

Indeed, British diplomats may be a tad relieved that all those media folk will now be fixating on last nights drama at the Hilton rather than the catalogue of awkward bilateral stumbling blocks that have dominated the airwaves in recent days and weeks.

Following on from rows over defence spending and the shortcomings of the Royal Navy, the most recent has been a leaked Pentagon email suggesting that the US may no longer support British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

However, these are all matters for the British Government. And the King is not coming to Washington as a minister (he will have the Foreign Secretary in his entourage to handle all political matters) but as the representative of the British people. He comes bearing the UKs best wishes for the USAs 250th birthday.

The only row which he will be addressing is the one between George Washington and his own great, great, great, great, great grandfather, George III, which resulted in the Declaration of American Independence in 1776.

A gunman opened fire on Prince Charles in Sydney in 1994

The King will be hoping to avoid discussing throny political issues with Mr Trump

He might also touch on the unfortunate postscript of British troops torching the White House in 1814. However, the subsequent trans-Atlantic alliance between our two nations has proved to be one of the most consequential in human history and beneficial to the entire planet, never more so than during the Second World War.

All that shared sacrifice, along with all our other deep-rooted commonalities, will be the focus of the Kings speeches.

This visit is about looking forward and looking back while trying not to look too closely at the present. However, the King will undoubtedly want to commiserate with his host while also saluting the Presidents sang froid under fire. He has been there before himself.
Queen Camilla will give a stuffed toy to a library during the royal US visit to complete its collection.

Roo, a character from Winnie-the-Pooh, has been specially created by a British teddy bear maker for the New York Public Library, which will receive the gift from the Queen.

Camilla and the King are due to arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day visit, during which they will meet Donald Trump and enjoy a White House banquet as guests of honour.

Trump has said the state visit could work towards repairing the US-UK relationship, which has come under severe strain over the war in Iran.

On Camillas itinerary is a visit to the New York Public Library, where she will view its permanent Treasures collection.

This is home to the teddy bears that belonged to Christopher Robin, son of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A A Milne, and which are believed to have inspired the stories first published a century ago, in 1926.

The collection on display currently includes Winnie, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga and Eeyore.

It is missing the original baby kangaroo toy - Roo - which was lost in an apple orchard in the 1930s.

A specially-made soft toy of Roo, from Winnie the Pooh, will be presented by Queen Camilla to the New York Public library

The current collection has all the main characters other than Roo, after the toy was lost in an apple orchard

Queen Camilla will take the toy with her when she travels to the States on Monday, alongside King Charles, for the state visit

The Queen will give the library a Roo made specifically for the visit by traditional British teddy bear makers Merrythought, who produced the original toys at the start of the 20th century.

The design is based on the original illustrations.

The Roo toy, currently in Buckingham Palace, will join Camilla on the royal plane for the transatlantic journey.

The build-up to the visit took an unexpected turn after a gunman targeted top Washington officials at a dinner attended by the President.

Trump, who was injured in a previous assassination attempt, was swiftly evacuated by secret service agents along with other senior members of the administration.

The President said later that the culprit appeared to be a 'lone wolf whack job'.

Ministers said on Sunday that the King's security in America is being taken 'very seriously' in the light of the attack.

Keir Starmer has spoken to the US President to express his 'shock' and 'relief' he was not hurt in the disturbing episode.

'Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,' the PM posted on X.

'It is a huge relief that @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.'

In interviews this morning, Cabinet minister Darren Jones insisted 'appropriate' measures would be in place for the monarch's State Visit this week.
A former director of a secret US government psychic program claims every person has the hidden ability to tap into what he describes as the infinite consciousness of the universe.

Dale Graff, who led the CIA's Project Stargate, a classified Cold War initiative that explored psychic spying, said humans possess natural abilities that modern technology may be interfering with.

He believes devices such as cell phones could disrupt humanitys ability to access these intuitive skills, though such claims remain controversial among scientists.

Graff led Project Stargate, a secret US military program that trained individuals to mentally perceive distant locations from the early 1970s until 1995, a technique known as remote viewing- the alleged psychic ability to perceive hidden, distant, or future information, places, or objects using only the mind, without physical senses.

The program explored whether trained viewers could gather intelligence simply by focusing their minds on specific coordinates.

Graff was not just overseeing the effort, but also participated as a remote viewer himself, attempting to perceive distant events without leaving his desk.

'We all have the potential to develop and use our natural psi ability,' Graff said.

Psi refers to alleged psychic abilities such as sensing distant places, anticipating future events, or accessing information beyond traditional senses.

'The keys lie in accepting the possibility of your psi nature, following a consistent approach to exercising that talent, and seeking ways to apply,' he added.

A former director of a secret US government psychic program claims every person has the hidden ability to tap into what he describes as the infinite consciousness of the universe

For Graff and other remote viewers in Project Stargate during the 1970s and 1980s, this often meant attempting to locate secret military bases or weapons linked to the Soviet Union.

In one early success, remote viewers working with Project Stargate reportedly helped locate a missing Soviet bomber, producing estimates that were considered more accurate than some field-based intelligence efforts.

Other tests involved individuals aboard a submarine selecting images from a book, while remote viewers on land attempted to visualize the same pictures, exercises Graff said demonstrated the mind's ability to access distant information.

Graff later documented many of these experiments in his book, Tracks in the Psychic Wilderness, where he described what he viewed as evidence of humanity's hidden mental potential.

He believes society is only now beginning to rediscover the possibility of using intuitive brain abilities, roughly three decades after the program ended.

Despite remote viewing being discontinued by the US government, Graff remains a passionate advocate for what he describes as the benefits of developing psychic awareness.

'I discovered that by exploring our psychic realm, we automatically become more creative and intuitive. We sense deeper aspects of our psyche. As we uncover our psychic talents, we can help others in ways that would not be possible otherwise,' he wrote.

Graff added that he believes these abilities may even allow people to influence healing, suggesting that mental focus could one day be used to support recovery from injuries at a distance.

Dale Graff was the former director of Project Stargate, a secret US military project that weaponized the ability to see distant targets around the world with the mind

However, Graff's work extended beyond drawing sketches of distant locations; he also claimed to foresee catastrophic events before they occurred.

He described one vivid, life-like dream in which he saw a mid-air collision unfolding near mountainous terrain, with one aircraft flying away safely while the other crashed with no survivors.

Graff added that he even recalled seeing what appeared to be a newspaper headline from The Denver Post reporting the disaster while still inside the dream.

About a week later, he claimed, a real mid-air collision occurred near Colorado Springs, involving two aircraft, one that continued flying and another that crashed.

'How could it happen?' Graff later recalled asking himself.

He believes the answer lies in the mental training he developed through years of practicing remote viewing and lucid dreaming techniques.

Graff said he intentionally trained himself to visualize distant objects, interpret mental impressions, and explore what he described as the ability to anticipate future events.

A physicist and aeronautical engineer by training, Graff first became involved in research into remote viewing and lucid dreaming at the Stanford Research Institute during the 1970s.

Graff's book Tracks in the Psychic Wilderness looks back on some of the amazing achievements by the remote reviewers of Project Stargate

That research program, funded in part by US intelligence agencies, would later evolve into Project Stargate during the height of the Cold War.

Graff said he believes psychic ability is not limited to trained specialists but may exist in many people who learn how to develop it.

'We found over the years that even people that didn't have any inkling that they could do this, given the motivation, and given the right kind of atmosphere... many people even though they didn't have prior experience, could do some level of what we call high-quality remote viewing,' Graff told the Outer Limits Of Inner Truth Reborn podcast in January.

'We've come to the conclusion that most people have a latent ability to do something of this nature. We all can do this in varying degrees,' he continued.

In the 21st century, however, Graff warned that modern lifestyles may be limiting people's ability to tap into what he described as the infinite consciousness.

When asked about heavy smartphone use and social media addiction, Graff suggested that radiation emitted from wireless technology is 'definitely going to affect' a person's mental structures, a claim that remains debated among scientists.

'We are drifting away from our intuitive state of mind when we rely so much on these external aides,' Graff shared.

The Stargate project was officially shut down in 1995 after government officials questioned how reliable remote viewing was as an intelligence tool.

Despite the program's closure, Graff maintains that the experiments conducted during the Cold War revealed untapped capabilities of the human mind.
I read the first to the fourth chapters of Pearl S. Buck's book "The Promise". This book is a continuation of "Dragon Seed.

A) (1) Cp.1. In their despair men must hope when a promise is given. Ling Tan believed the men of Ying and Mei to be the strongest and fiercest of all men in the earth. Ling Tan and his sons heard that war was now being made on the enemy in five provinces at once.

Ling Tan heard some news of his third son, Lao San. The word came through a traveling priest. The priest said. He was on the way to battle.

Not long after this Jude received a letter. It was from Mayli. Mayli said, Tell your parents that their third son has come here to this city. He has fought in the battle of Long Sands.

On the day when we hear that the men of Mei have come into this war on our side, Ling Tan said to his sons,  we shall all be given strength to rise up.

A young fellow, the son of a neighbor, came running to Ling Tan and told him that the enemy had fallen upon the ships and the airplanes of the people of Mei, and had destroyed them utterly. Ling Tan never mentioned the war again.

After the victory of Long Sands Lao San had been made a commander and his general called him Sheng.

To Kumming he had come after victory. But Mayli was not willing to marry him. She wanted to marry a man whom she could love until she died and he must have the power to be great. Had Sheng that power? She did not know.

Sheng stood before his general. The general said: I have had an order from the One Above that our two best divisions are to match into the Burma.  Where is your fathers house and what is his name? I shall write him myself if you do not come back from the this battle. I have told the One Above that we must not fight on soil that is not our own. The people in Burma will not welcome us. The men of Ying despite those not of their own pale color.

When Sheng came out of the room where the general was, it suddenly came to Sheng that he might never return. It would be a long time before he could see again the woman he loved. He strode toward where Mayli lived.

(2) Cp. 2

Maylis house was very still when Sheng entered it. Mayli! he called. I came to tell you that I am to be sent with the armies to Burma. he said. When do you go? she asked.

He said: It has been talked of for weeks. My general is against it. But the One Above is for it. Why is your general against this? she asked. My general says that the white men will fail, he said. How can they fail? she asked.  My general says that white men have held them as dogs, and now those peoples hate the white men even more than this enemy.

This Mayli heard without understanding it. But the people of Mei do not despise us, she said. Sheng replied: It is the people of Ying who rule there.

They heard the raising wail of a siren. It is the enemy! he shouted. If we were outside the city! To be caught in the city is like being in a pen.

Come! he shouted. He was hurrying her down the street to the South Gate.

They could hear the drone of planes coming near. Sheng put out his arms and hold Mayli.

Mayli cried out, I am so angry! We can do nothing but hide ourselves. I must go back to my men, Sheng said. I will come to see you as quickly as I can, Sheng said.

He went his way and she went hers.

Every child whom the enemy kills is my own blood! Mayli cried. I can not go back to America, she thought.

Suddenly it came to her what she would do. She would go west, too. When Sheng went to fight. She would go with the armies, but how ?

Why should I not go to the One Above? she asked herself. I could ask him, and if he will not let me go, then his lady will. We both grew up in the same foreign country. She is an important woman, too.

(3) Cp.3

At that moment Mayli was high above the mountains in the generals own airplane, and the general was beside her.

She had gone straight to his headquarters. Will you be going back once more to see the One Above before you go to Burma? Mayli asked. Who told you we go there?he asked. I know, she said, smiling. And I want to go, too. She said gently, Take me with you to the capital when you go to see the One Above. I must do something. That I will do, he said.

And this was how it came about that she went with him in his own plane. These Ones Above were not strangers to Mayli. The lady had been her mothers friend, and the One Above was himself her fathers friend.

There was scarcely a whole house to be seen anywhere, so heavy had the summers bombings been in the city of Chungking.

This is Mr. Weis daughter, Mayli, the lady said to One Above. I still believe in my allies, he said to the lady, and I am sending my best divisions to Burma. If we fight side by side, we will win the campaign to keep the Big Road open. The man rose and went away.I am afraid of this campaign, the lady said. I wish I were a man and could go and see what happens from day to day. Maylis heart leaped. Send me in your place, she said.  Let me be the one who takes care of the nurses. Yes, the lady said, now leave me and I will prepare your way.

Mayli took a ricksha and went to the generals headquarters. I come to ask you to help me, she said. I am always glad to help you, the general said. Your work will not be under my direct command. You will report to one of my commanders, Pao Chen. But that is not what I have come to you. She repeated ,  It is this please tell no one that I am going.

Mayli went on foot to the place where she had been told to go, and there she found Pao Chen. He commanded. Your co-worker will be the head doctor, Chung Liang-mo. Together you will be responsible for all the concerns the sick and the wounded, and the nurses will work under both of you. A soldier came in. Invite Dr. Chung to come here, he said.

From the moment the doctor came in, Mayli liked him. Mayli followed Dr. Chung into the other room. We shall have great hardships in this campaign, I will ask you to help me prepare the boxes of goods, he said. Be ready to leave at any moment.

 And so Mayli went to Dr. Chungs office each morning. However early she arrived, the doctor was there before her. He always spoke to her in English.

Slowly the crowd of men and women grew into order and readiness. Mayli came to know her nurses one by one. There were several score of them, they felt that what they did was a necessary thing.

Three she soon knew because they were always near. One of these was Han Siu-chen, a student whose family had been killed in the sack of Nanking . The second girl was a small one from Tientsin. Her two brothers had been killed in battle. Her father besought to avenge herself for her brothers.This girls name was Tao An-lan. The last girl was a young widow. She had been a soldier in the army and had been captured and had escaped. Her name was Mao Chi-ling.

Then suddenly one day the order came down, and within an hour all knew that the next morning at dawn the great march would begin.

(4) Cp.4

The march began the next day at dawn in confusion and shouting. They began to climb into their trucks. I feel I have already marched a hundred miles, Mayli said to Sky- Chen.

When they had eaten their noon meal, Mayli found herself beside a pale, thin young man. He handled his vehicle with care. The young man said. I am an engineer. I have a degree from an American college. Then why are you doing this? she asked in English. In English he answered her. Ours is the most beautiful country in the world. I came back for this land and these people.

She slept that night in the back courtyard of a temple. When she woke in the morning she washed herself and combed her hair. Then she opened her pack and took out the little scissors. Holding her hair in her left hand, she cut it off at her neck with the scissors.

The young engineer was in the truck when Mayli was ready to leave, and said, My name is Li Kuo-fan. Called Charlie by the Americans. Charlie? she repeated. And I am Mayli, surnamed Wei.

As they had neared the border, the order had come down to move south on the Big Road. They all knew that it had been by men and women whose tools were the spades and hoes. Those who had no tool had used their hands. The road now rose very rapidly, clinging to the side of the steepening hills like a trail. Charlie said proudly. Foreign engineers were asked how long it would take to make this road with their tools. They said, Years. But the One Above said, It must be months. We will use our own tools. So it was months.

In the middle of the morning they passed a great hole in the road from an enemy bomb, and there they saw such men and women as had built the road. When Maylis vehicle stopped, she went over to a woman. Near her in an old basket a little child slept. Mayli spoke to her politely, Have you eaten? The woman answered. I have worked all night, I eat while I work.

It was indeed a dangerous spot. At the foot of the precipices they saw the wrecks of trucks and cars. The wrecks were surrounded by men who were talking them.

The next afternoon they were winding along a very hazardous part of the road when seventeen planes suddenly appeared out of the sky. Then four other planes came and attacked the enemy. Six enemy planes crashed into the valleys. The Flying Tigers, Charlie said.

Now they were coming down the mountain walls into the lowlands that led to Burma. A certain town lay waiting for them at the end of the day.

There Mayli saw a handful of young women who were not hers come by. Among them was one she did know, Pansiao, Mayli said in a low voice but very clearly, Pansiao! Oh, the girl cried. How Ive missed you. Where do you go now? She asked Pansiao. I dont know, the girl replied. Would you like to join us? she asked. Oh, I would like to go with you, Pansiao cried.

B) I think:

The article mentioned that the third son and Mayli were going to Burma to fight against the Japanese invaders. It describes the enthusiasm of the Chinese people in resisting Japanese aggression. Ordinary men and women were building roads, and engineers and doctors who had studied in the United States returned to China to join the battle. Back then, I was too young to remember the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
It's a riddle that has baffled millions in offices and institutions across the world for decades: where have all the blooming teaspoons gone?

Now British scientists have concluded there really is no definitive answer.

Edinburgh University academics, seemingly driven to distraction by the ever-shrinking resources available to lift their own teabags, set up an experiment to explore the phenomenon.

They bought 48 new teaspoons, half of them gold-coloured and the rest a cheaper-looking silver, and left them in the staff common room  then kept a discreet count for ten months. The team  led by neuroscientist Professor Tara Spires-Jones  were appalled to discover that two-thirds of them vanished during the course of the study.

And there was also a bias towards the gold items, which had a half-life of 182 days compared with 280 days for the silver.

Their report, published in journal Brain Communications, said: Teaspoons are an essential component of any research institute.

Some people use a spoon daily to eat their mousse while many others use them for dispensing instant coffee, fishing tea bags out of cups, or adding sugar or milk and stirring their beverage of choice.

From this study, we conclude that in our building, people indeed steal teaspoons from the common room. Where [they] have gone remains a mystery.

It's a riddle that has baffled millions in offices and institutions across the world for decades: where have all the blooming teaspoons gone? (file image)

We did observe a few appearing in places outside of the common room in the building but most remain untraceable.

The Edinburgh study was inspired by a similar experiment carried out in 2005 at the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health in Melbourne. In the Australian version, scientists lost 80 per cent of their 70 stirrers in only five months.

They calculated that 250 new pieces of cutlery would need to be bought each year to keep their institute common rooms stocked up with a steady 70.

The Edinburgh study concluded: Over 20 years later, the issue of teaspoon loss from common rooms has not abated... Pilfering of teaspoons from academic common rooms remains a problem that warrants further research as it impacts the well-being of scientists.

Future work that was suggested in our lab... included examining migration of other types of cutlery, particularly forks.
For days, wildfires have been scorching tens of thousands of acres of land in Florida and Georgia, with one of the blazes killing a volunteer firefighter.

On Thursday evening, James 'Kevin' Crews succumbed to an unspecified medical emergency while battling a brush fire in Hilliard, a Florida town near the Georgia border.

Crews, a member of the Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department, received life-saving measures at the scene but later died at the hospital at 6.50pm, according to First Coast News He was 59.

Hilliard Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry Johnson said in a statement: 'Kevin was the epitome of courage and dedication. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.'

Across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia, there have been dozens of individual fires that have broken out over this past week. Experts say extremely dry weather and drought conditions have allowed the fires to flourish.

In Georgia, officials say more than 120 homes have been destroyed so far in two major blazes. No fire deaths or injuries have been reported in the state.

The Pineland Road fire in Clinch County, which first ignited last weekend, has now grown to more than 31,000 acres, according to public data. It is only 10 per cent contained.

Victim: James 'Kevin' Crews, a member of the Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department, died while battling a brush fire in Hilliard

Georgia: Smoke rising from the Pineland Road fire in Clinch County on Wednesday

Clinch County: An aircraft drops a flame-retardant chemical mixture over the Pineland Road fire

One mobile home community in a wooded area off Pineland Road was completely destroyed. Over 23 trailers burned to the ground, along with 12 ATVs, according to WALB-TV.

The Brantley County fire had scorched more than 9,500 acres of land as of Saturday. Firefighters are still trying to shrink the flames, though crews estimate it is still just 10 per cent contained.

Michael Gibson lost his home in this fire. He lived there along with his fiancee and four children, he told the Associated Press.

He returned home from his job on Thursday to see firefighters on his property. After getting his family to safety, he tried to return to retrieve some of his belongings but was stopped by police.

Gibson said: 'Weve lost everything, but Im one of the lucky ones. Weve been prepared to leave. And Im truly blessed to have my family and to have somewhere to sleep at a relative's.... A lot of people in my county didnt make it out with the clothes on their backs.'

Georgia: Flames from the Brantley County fire burning in a wooded area

Governor Brian Kemp said during a press conference on Friday that officials suspect that the cause of the Brantley County fire was a foil party balloon that floated up and made contact with power lines. This, he said, caused an electrical arc that ignited the ground.

Kemp said federal authorities assessed these fires as being the 'two most dangerous, biggest, problematic fires anywhere' in the nation.

'We need a change in the weather, but until we get that, we're just going to stay after these fires and do everything we can to get them contained.'

Ash: Many areas of southeastern Georgia have been reduced to rubble-filled fields

Lucky escape: Michael Gibson looks on as his daughter jump ropes outside the trailer of a relative the family is staying with

Dangerous: The drought is helping wildfires spread, with hundreds still being fought by fire crews

According to the latest US Drought Monitor map, 98 per cent of Georgia is facing 'exceptional', 'extreme' or 'severe' drought - the first, second and third most serious levels, respectively, of drought.

Nearly 93 per cent of Florida is experiencing these same conditions. The largest ongoing fire in the northeastern part of the state is the Railroad/Crews Road fire, which has swelled to nearly 5,000 acres. It is roughly 70 per cent contained.

The largest fire statewide this week ignited in northern Broward County. It burned nearly 10,000 acres before it was fully contained.

There are well over two dozen active wildfires in Florida with varying levels of containment, according to the state's forest service.

Between Georgia and Florida, there are more than 150 wildfires still being fought by fire crews.

These fires have produced smoke that is being carried far away from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities, including Jacksonville, Savannah, Brunswick, Valdosta and Waycross.
A woman who claimed she was held in ICE custody for two days has been sued by a Wisconsin sheriff for defamation after allegedly fabricating her story.

Sundas Naqvi, 28, claimed immigration officers stopped her at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on March 5 and detained her for 30 hours.

The U.S. citizen alleged federal agents then took her across state lines to the Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin and kept her there for 43 hours.

Busted: Sundas Naqvi, 28, appears to have been at a spa retreat at the same time of her alleged ICE incident

However, Dodge County sheriff Dale Schmidt has now filed an assault libel and slander civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court For The Eastern District Of Wisconsin, and is seeking $1million.

Schmidt said: 'She checked into the Hampton Inn And Suites in Rosemont, Illinois, for the entire duration of this alleged event.'

He showed alleged WhatsApp messages from Naqvi on March 5 in which she told an unnamed witness that she was 'going to look into this hotel' before later adding that she was 'in the room now'.

The following day, Naqvi allegedly asked the same person if she could use their credit card to 'pay for my spa lady' and 'order some food'.

Schmidt added: 'There is no spa lady in our jail here in Dodge County.'

The Department Of Homeland Security announced on X that Naqvi's 'claims of spending 43 hours in DHS custody are FALSE'.

Caught on camera: Naqvi moving around freely on March 7

Surveillance footage from the Chicago airport showed her going into Customs And Border Protection at 10.21am on March 5, entering secondary inspection at 10.46am and leaving at 11.42am.

Schmidt said Naqvi checked into the Hampton Inn And Suites at 1.17pm that same day and did not leave until March 8.

Hotel records allegedly verified her stay, while Schmidt offered other details that also cast doubt on Naqvi's story.

On March 7, Naqvi allegedly asked the witness to drive her to Wisconsin so that she could help her sister with some car problems.

Schmidt explained: 'This is the morning when she allegedly was released from the sheriff's office over at the jail.'

Carefree: Surveillance footage shows her at a gas station in Slinger, Wisconsin, at around 5.38am on March 7

While on the way to see her sister, Naqvi stopped at a gas station in Slinger at 5.38am.

Schmidt played surveillance video that allegedly captured Naqvi at the station for around ten minutes.

In addition to the evidence, Schmidt also confirmed there was 'no record of booking, there is no record of detention, there is no record of release, no contact with the individual'.

He went on: 'At no point was Sundas Naqvi in the custody of the Dodge County Sheriff's Office.

'For the life of me, I can't figure out why somebody would do that. In the end, it has taken her reputation and that will now take a nosedive.

'The claims that have been made about the situation are not supported by facts.'

Freedom: Cook County commissioner Kevin Morrison posted a photo of Naqvi's supposed reunion with her loved ones after her alleged detention

Schmidt's lawsuit also names Cook County commissioner Kevin Morrison as a defendant.

Morrison, who described himself as the 'best friend' of Naqvi's sister Sarah Afzal and was running for Congress at the time, repeatedly posted about her alleged detention on social media.

One of his Facebook posts shared by Schmidt showed Morrison claiming that Naqvi was 'in a detention facility in Wisconsin'.

Morrison also posted a photo of Naqvi 'reunited with her family back at home' after her alleged detention.

Schmidt said he was filing the suit with Morrison included to hold Naqvi 'accountable and reinforce that misuse of the system will not go unanswered'.

Schmidt added that the point of his suit went beyond the $1million sought in damages, and was about Naqvi's alleged history of false claims.

He said Naqvi allegedly made false accusations of abuse against a former college professor and an ex-boyfriend.
Within the next 80 years, some of the world's most iconic holiday destinations could be swallowed by rising seas - vanishing from the map altogether.

By 2100, climate change is expected to drive an average global sea level rise of between 17 and 33 inches (32 to 84cm), according to the Intergovernmental Panel.

While major cities like New Orleans and Tokyo are projected to face serious flooding, low-lying island nations such as the Maldives, Fiji and the Seychelles are at risk of disappearing entirely.

Meanwhile, places including Venice, New York, Amsterdam and Hong Kong could see up to six feet of sea level rise in the coming decades, reshaping tourism and displacing tens of thousands of residents.

But if you're hoping to tick these destinations off your bucket list before they're gone, you may want to reconsider - as your visit could unintentionally accelerate their decline.

Experts warn against the 'see it before it's gone' mindset, explaining how increased flights and higher footfall can become a risk to locals, tourists and the environment.

Izzy Nicholls, founder of The Gap Decaders, says: 'The most obvious issue is emissions. Extra long-haul flights taken specifically for last-chance trips add to warming and sea-level rise, and tourism as a whole has a sizeable carbon footprint.

'Many fragile islands also have limited water supply, transport space and emergency response capacity. When visitor numbers surge, the impacts show up fast, from water shortages and sewage stress to damaged paths and crowded streets that reduce quality of life for residents.'

Andre Robles, owner of Voyagers Travel Amazon, added: 'Dragging people to see a destination on the premise that it might not exist in the same way in the future can drive the conversation away from environmental stewardship to an obsession with consumption.

'This ends up meaning more crowding and more strain on infrastructure and more pressure placed on a community already subjected to environmental changes.'

As specialists and environmentalists urge travellers to remain ravel conscious and self-aware, we take a look at the nations most at risk of disappearing by 2100.

1. The Maldives

The Maldives has an average elevation of just 1.5 metres, meaning around 80 percent of its 1,100 islands could be at risk of being swallowed by rising seas in the next 30 years

The Maldives, a chain of islands south of India, covers only about 298 square kilometers.

After periods of Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule, it became independent in 1965 - and has since become one of the most exclusive holiday and honeymoon destinations in the world.

What makes the country especially vulnerable to rising sea levels is its height - or lack of it.

With an average elevation of just 1.5 metres and a highest point of 2.3 metres, it is the lowest-lying nation in the world.

Over 500,000 people live here, many concentrated in the capital, Male, where more than 200,000 residents occupy a small, low-lying area.

And if sea levels continue to rise as expected, around 80 per cent of the Maldives' 1,100 islands could be uninhabitable by 2050.

2. Kiribati

Kiribati sits at just three metres high, making it most at risk of disappearing in the next 100 years

The Republic of Kiribati stretches across three million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, and is known as one of the first places on Earth to enter a new day and year.

Despite its size on the map, its land sits dangerously low at just three metres high.

Sea levels here are rising at roughly 1.2 centimetres per year - four times faster than the global average, according to Active Sustainability.

This combination of low elevation and rapid sea level rise puts Kiribati among the countries most at risk of disappearing in the coming decades.

3. The Bahamas

The Bahamas faces a growing threat from rising seas, particularly on New Providence, its most populated island.

The island, home to the capital Nassau, reaches only about five metres at its highest point.

A map generated by the University of California suggests that large parts of it could be submerged within 75 years, with new inland lagoons forming as water pushes further inland.

The situation is made worse by the islands' limestone geology, which allows seawater to seep up through the ground - meaning flooding can occur from below as well as from the coast, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine.

4. Fiji

Extreme climate events, paired with rising sea levels, continue to pose a serious risk to the residents of Fiji

Fiji, a tropical paradise known for its white-sand beaches and volcanic landscapes, covers around 1.3 million square kilometres in the South Pacific.

While rising sea levels remain a concern, extreme weather events are an equally serious threat.

Heavy rainfall in 2009 led to severe flooding, killing 19 people, displacing thousands, and causing major damage to infrastructure.

Key industries like tourism and sugar production were also badly affected, highlighting how climate events can impact the economy as well as residents' lives.

5. Samoa

Samoa, with a land area of under 3,000 square kilometres, became independent from New Zealand in 1962, and has managed to stay largely unspoiled by excessive tourism.

However, one of its main environmental challenges is the loss of coral reefs due to rising ocean temperatures, according to Active Sustainability.

These reefs act as natural protection against powerful waves - should they disappear, coastlines will be left exposed, leading to increased erosion and flooding.

6. The Seychelles

The Seychelles is a key holiday destination for those seeking sun, sea and a touch of luxury - but it may no longer exist in the next 100 years if sea levels continue to rise

The Seychelles, another luxury holiday spot, is made up of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean - many of which are low-lying and vulnerable.

Rising sea levels threaten not just the land itself but also the way people live.

Most of the 130,000-strong population and key infrastructure are located along the coast.

This means even the smallest increases in sea level or stronger storm surges can have serious consequences, with the possibility that much of the country could be underwater within the next 50 to 100 years.

7. Tuvalu

The independent island nation of Tuvalu is one of the clearest examples of how unpredictable the impacts of climate change can be.

Sea levels there have risen by about 21 centimeters over the past 30 years - nearly twice the global average.

The UN estimates that up to 95 per cent of the country - which has a low average height above sea level - could be submerged by 2100.

Despite contributing very little to global emissions, Tuvalu faces an uncertain future, with limited resources to respond to the threat.

8. The Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands covers just 181 square kilometres - though much of its land is being lost year by year.

Here, the effects of rising sea levels are already visible in areas such as the capital, Majuro, where land that was once above water has been lost to the sea.

Rather than a distant possibility, the gradual disappearance of land is already happening in real time.

9. Solomon Islands

Entire islands have all but disappeared across the Solomon Islands due to rising seas

The Solomon Islands, which stretches nearly 30,000 square kilometres, is a little pocket of paradise in Oceania that is home to over 800,000 people.

However, over recent years, scientists have raised concerns about their long-term survival.

Rising sea levels have already caused noticeable erosion - and, in some cases, entire small islands have disappeared, with sinking countries now a serious threat.

10. Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu is widely considered one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.

Alongside rising sea levels, the country - situated in Melanesia - regularly experiences powerful cyclones.

One such storm, which saw Cyclone Pam batter the island in March 2015, caused widespread destruction, damaging the 90 per cent of the buildings in the capital.

With both sea-level rise and extreme weather intensifying, the risks facing Vanuatu continue to grow.

11. Venice

Venice has experienced several flooding incidents in the last 20 years - forcing tourists to equip themselves with wellies, umbrellas and protective clothing

Venice, like Amsterdam, draws millions of tourists every year who flock to explore its extensive canal system.

But the famed 'Floating City' isn't just buckling under the weight of overtourism - it's slowly sinking in the very waters that surround it.

The tourist hotspot has experienced 18 severe flooding events in the last two decades due to rising sea levels, with researchers at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology revealing the city is sinking by about 1 to 2 millimetres per year.

Protecting Venice may require large-scale and costly solutions - like using large flood barriers to isolate parts of the land from the lagoon, or, as recently suggested, dismantling infrastructure and relocating them further inland.

But, in the worst-case scenario, some parts of the city could simply become uninhabitable - the flooded remains only able to be viewed by submarine.

To relieve some of the pressure Venice faces, Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital & engagement at eurochange, suggests a trip to an alternative Italian spot that offers a similar experience.

She said: 'Whilst Venice is a fantastic place to experience Italy's true culture and history, there are plenty of other, much less visited destinations in the country that offer similar qualities.

'Matera, in the Basilicata region, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. You might recognise it from the James Bond film, No Time To Die, which was filmed on its beautiful streets.

'Trieste is another Italian port city worth visiting, which holds many similarities to Venice and is just 1.5 hours away by train. 'Close to the Slovenian and Croatian borders, its culture is a unique blend of Italian and Slovenian influences.

'The beautiful Canal Grande runs right through the city, dotted with restaurants and bars on the water's edge, making it a great alternative to Venice.'

12. Palau

Across Palau, shorelines are disappearing, with much of the nation being vulnerable to rising sea levels and erosion

Palau, a nation in the western Pacific, consists of more than 300 islands and is known for its rich natural environment and cultural heritage.

However, much of its population and infrastructure is concentrated along the coast, making much of the nation highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, storm surges, and erosion.

Signs of damage are already visible, with shorelines steadily receding and vegetation struggling to hold its ground.

Nearby roads are also become increasingly vulnerable to flooding and wave action, according to NAP Global Network.

13. Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait Islands lie between northern Australia and Papua New Guinea and are home to several small communities.

Sea levels in this region have been steadily rising over recent decades, with flooding having already damaged homes, crops, and coastal defenses.

In addition, saltwater intrusion is affecting local wildlife, reducing access to traditional food sources, with one man testifying that a notable rise in seawater had killed crabs, fish and other seafood locals would feed on.

In a 2025 landmark case, the Australian Federal Court heard evidence that sea levels in the Torres Strait rose by 6cm per decade between 1993 and 2019, threatening the traditional way of life of local residents.

14. Bangladesh

Up to 20 million people could end up displaced in Bangladesh if sea levels rise by up to 1.5 metres within the next century

By the end of the century, Bangladesh could lose up 17 per cent of its territory due to rising tides - potentially resulting in the displacement of around 20 million people.

Sea levels along the coast may rise by up to 1.5 metres by 2100 - with extreme weather potentially driving that increase even higher.

Those living in rural areas are already having to grapple with the option of changing their way of life or finding a place elsewhere to settle due to unpredictable conditions.

At the same time, saltwater intrusion and more frequent storms are making farming harder and driving migration.

Joyce Chen, economist at The Ohio State University, told the BBC: 'The climate is becoming more volatile so we are seeing a higher frequency of migration.

'Where in the past we see migration due to annual flooding, or river bank erosion, now we see saltwater intrusion more commonly which affects the environment long term.

'It makes it harder to grow crops because the land is permanently altered by the saline water.'

15. The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, around 60 per cent of the population lives in areas at risk of flooding

Even developed lands aren't safe.

The Netherlands - famous for its winding canals and overlapping bridges - has long managed the challenge of living with water, with more than a quarter of its land below sea level.

Around 60 per cent of its population lives in areas at risk of flooding, making the country highly vulnerable to sea level rise driven by climate change, as reported by National Delta Programme.

Future projections from the KNMI Climate Scenarios suggest sea levels could rise by over one metre by 2100 if the climate warms by even 2 degrees.

As a result, the country must continue investing heavily in advanced flood defenses and water management systems.

16. Miami

Miami, a popular beach hotspot in the state of Florida, faces an entirely different kind of flooding risk.

Although it's surrounded by water, the city is built on porous limestone - allowing water to rise not just from the ocean, but from beneath the ground as well.

Due to its low elevation of roughly 6 feet, the city faces a severe, long-term threat from rising sea levels, with ongoing urban flooding already causing damage to upland properties and infrastructure.

In the coming decades, flooding is expected to become more frequent due to higher king tides, storm surges, and extreme weather - with hurricanes being a key concern.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy brought waves of up to 10 feet high to Miami's shores, causing extensive destruction.

Although it's not set to be completely underwater within the next century, there is a risk the city can become partially submerged, as reported by Rising Above Miami Beach.

17. Nauru

Nauru is a tiny island nation in Micronesia, covering just over 20 square kilometres.

Its low average height makes it particularly exposed to rising sea levels, while 80 per cent of its land already devastated by decades of phosphate mining.

If global warming continues at its current pace, ocean levels are expected to increase further here, putting the long-term survival of the island and its population in serious doubt.
Growing up with her family near Glasgow, Alexandra Wilkie's life was just like any other nine year old.

Until she heard about an opportunity through her dance school to audition in an upcoming film. And not just any film, none other than Brian Cox's directorial debut.

Released last week, Glenrothan follows the story of a pair of warring Scottish brothers whose family is torn apart as they battle over their whisky distillery.

Starring Brian himself as the protagonist Sandy, the Succession star is joined by Alan Cummings, Barbie star Alexandra Shipp and Harry Potter star Shirley Henderson.

Known for his role as tyrannical media mogul Logan Roy in Succession, like his character Brian isn't afraid to speak his mind, recently insisting he 'doesn't want to be careful anymore'.

From criticising 'woke culture' to brutal digs at the acting world's biggest names, Brian, 79, is a force to be reckoned with.

However when it came to Alex (and her mum or 'momager' Kim) the legendary star couldn't have been any nicer and has been embracing the youngster as if she was his own grandchild.

Alexandra Wilkie has revealed what Brian Cox is really like after the 11 year-old starred in his latest film Glenorothan (pictured with Brian and his wife Nicole Ansari Cox)

For Alex (and her mum or 'momager' Kim, right) the legendary star couldn't have been any nicer and has been embracing the young star as if she was his own grandchild

Recalling meeting Brian and Nicole for the first time, Alex told The Daily Mail: 'It was the last stage of the auditions and I just went and in and they started talking to me.

'He is so nice and so welcoming and just so different to some of the characters hes played.'

After sending off a self tape, Alex, who is now 11, found herself in a complete whirlwind as she was whisked into the audition process and upon meeting Alex, Brian and his wife Nicole knew she was the one for the part.

Brimming with pride her mum Kim added: 'As soon as she met Brian Cox and his wife Nicole they just loved her instantly.'

While the film is set in Glasgow, Alex's character Sasha has a North American accent and Brian and Nicole were keen to find an actress who was local, but could also perfect the yank twang.

And Alex was the perfect match: 'Nicole and Brian still talk about how good her accent is throughout it,' gushed Kim.

She added: 'Him and his wife Nicole are just scooping her up like she was their own granddaughter.

'I felt so safe that I really could leave her with them instantly. They were so genuine and really caring, nothing like we thought they would be.'

And after shooting for six weeks just outside of Glasgow, Brian and Nicole have made sure to keep Alex firmly in their fold.

Travelling across the globe, Alex found herself soon swapping the school playground for red carpets.

Glenrothan premiered during the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and Alex grinned beside Brian and Shirley as she held her own in front of the bright lights.

Kim added: 'Him and his wife Nicole are just scooping her up like she was their own granddaughter' (pictured with fellow co-star Alexandra Shipp)

Glenrothan premiered during the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and Alex grinned beside Brian and Shirley as she held her own in front of the bright light (pictured)

Glenrothan follows the story of a pair of warring Scottish brothers whose family is torn apart as they battle over their whisky distillery

Looking back at the pinch me moment, the pair described suddenly attending the most glamorous of parties, filled with frozen champagne glasses and gourmet chocolate fountains.

Earlier this year they also attended the Palm Springs Film Festival, where they soon found themselves once again hanging out with Brian and Nicole like old friends, enjoying dinners together and even accompanying Nicole on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway when Brian didn't want to go.

As the Palm Springs Film Festival in California happened to coincide with Alan Cumming getting his star on Hollywood Boulevard, Alex decided to surprise her co-star.

'We literally had 45 minutes and jumped in an Uber and blagged our way in,' explained Kim: 'and when the Coxes and Alan saw her, they literally ran over to the security and scooped her up in big cuddles.'

Alex also bonded with Alexandra, with the American actress desperate to embrace the Scottish wildlife during her time up North.

'Me and Alexandra, we went to go see some Highland cows, so we took her up to a farm and we had a day there,' explained Alex.

Kim added: 'We're brought up on a farm and Alexandra Ship said "Can you get me into some cows? I need to see cows." So we literally spent a day driving around farms with her.

'She came to our farms and fed the ducks and met our horse.'

And when Alex and Kim touched down in LA for the Palm Springs Festival, Alexandra made sure to repay the favour as she picked them up in her Barbie jeep and took them to a classic American diner.

'It just showed the strength of the friendships we have secured,' added Kim.

With opportunities at her feet, Alex is unsure what she wants to do next, but is constantly receiving scripts and is keen to use her love of dance in a musical theatre role.

One thing is for sure, not every 11-year-old can say they are friends with Brian Cox.
Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine was pictured enjoying a sunny outing in Malibu over the weekend.

The Terms of Endearment star, 91, made a rare public appearance while grabbing lunch on Saturday, ahead of her birthday on April 24.

While leaving a Malibu eatery, the Oscar winner was seen getting assistance from an aide, as she leaned on his arm to steady herself.

MacLaine opted for comfort, wearing a cozy brown cardigan over a matching t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

She was previously seen in January while having a bite to eat at celebrity hotspot Nobu.

The actress, who is the older sister of fellow Hollywood icon Warren Beatty, 89, has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years.

Hollywood legend Shirley MacLaine, 91, was pictured enjoying a sunny outing in Malibu over the weekend

Shirley's astounding run of screen credits goes all the way back to 1955; Pictured in 1970

MacLaine has previously spoken candidly about the habits she credits for her longevity, including decades of dance training that began when she was just three years old.

'I started my dance training at age three and stopped at about 67. It taught me discipline, loving music, working with people and dealing with pain, she previously told People. The veteran star has also made it clear she has no intention of slowing down completely.

In recent interviews, MacLaine has expressed gratitude for her health, her friendships and the ability to keep working well into her nineties.

Although her public appearances have become increasingly rare, MacLaine continues to maintain a quiet presence in Malibu, where she is often spotted when not dividing her time at her ranch in New Mexico.

Shirley's astounding run of screen credits goes all the way back to 1955, when she made her debut - in one of the lead roles - in Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble With Harry, though she had already become a Broadway star with stints in Oklahoma! and The Pajama Game.

'I was this little pixie out of the chorus that didnt know what I was doing,' she told W Magazine in 2017.

Although she later came to believe Hitchcock was more focused on casting ideal actors than shaping their performances, it worked out for her because she was 'perfect for that character.'

Despite a run of hits and classics in the 1950s and '60s - including Some Came Running (1958), Ask Any Girl (1959), The Apartment (1960), and The Children's Hour (1961) - it wasn't until the 1980s that she won her only Oscar in the Best Actress category for the beloved romantic dramedy Terms Of Endearment (1983), which co-starred Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson.

The Terms of Endearment star made a rare public appearance while grabbing lunch on Saturday with the help of an aide, ahead of her birthday on April 24

In recent interviews, MacLaine has expressed gratitude for her health, her friendships and the ability to keep working well into her nineties (seen in 2025)

MacLaine won her first and only acting Oscar for 1983 Terms Of Endearment; seen in 1984 with co-star Jack Nicholson, who also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

The star made her debut in Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble With Harry (1955) and went on to star in numerous classics, including Billy Wilder's 1960 romantic comedy The Apartment (pictured, with Jack Lemmon)

MacLaine is the older sister of fellow Hollywood icon Warren Beatty (R, pictured in 1966)

The hit film also won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Nicholson. Some of her later performances include Bewitched (2005), Bernie (2011) and The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013).

Although Shirley's pace has slowed somewhat in recent years, she still averages about a film or TV role per year.

Her most recent appearances were a two-episode guest arc on the acclaimed comedy Only Murders In The Building from 2022, and in 2025 she starred in American Dreamers with Peter Dinklage, though the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022.

While speaking to Extra in 2024, Shirley revealed her surprising plans for her 90th birthday. Rather than having a big blowout, she said she would 'be on a set' in Atlantic City working on a new project.

That work ethic has kept her active in Hollywood for nearly seven decades, but she admitted that things just aren't like they used to be.

'The glamours gone out a bit, Im afraid,' she said of Hollywood and the changes that the rise of streaming services has wrought on it while speaking with Extra. 'I think its entirely different.'
Anne Hathaway has set the internet alight after fronting the latest issue of Vogue Australia - with fans declaring the striking cover 'the best one ever' amid ongoing chatter about her youthful appearance.

The 43-year-old actress stunned in a dramatic shoot, posing in a sculpted red mini dress and was, in the cover image, wrapped in an oversized red feathered shawl.

Her glowing complexion and striking features quickly became a talking point online.

Social media users flooded the comments section with praise, with one writing: 'Now THAT is a magazine cover.'

Meanwhile, another gushed: 'The one and onlyyyy,' as someone else quipped 'our queen,' and another chimed in with, 'Wow... what a cover!'

The buzz comes as Hathaway continues to face persistent speculation about her seemingly ageless look, with some fans questioning whether she has undergone cosmetic enhancements.

Anne Hathaway has set the internet alight after fronting the latest issue of Vogue Australia - with fans declaring the striking cover 'the best one ever' amid ongoing chatter about her youthful appearance

However, the Oscar winner has never confirmed any procedures.

Instead, she recently revealed a surprisingly simple beauty trick that can create a subtle 'facelift' effect - without going under the knife.

Sharing behind-the-scenes footage from her Oscars prep, Hathaway explained that her hairstylist creates two small braids at the sides of her head, pulling them back to give a gently lifted appearance.

'You look a little bit more awake, that's the trick,' she said.

Experts say the technique, which dates back to Old Hollywood, works by adding tension around the temples to slightly lift the face.

The renewed spotlight on Hathaway coincides with her return to one of her most iconic roles as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, nearly two decades after the original films release.

In her interview with Vogue Australia, Hathaway also addressed long-standing rumours that she was difficult early in her career, admitting she once felt the need to put up emotional 'armour'.

'The truth is, I'm not a perfect person by any stretch of the imagination,' she said.

The 43-year-old actress stunned in a dramatic shoot, posing in a sculpted red mini dress. Her glowing complexion and lifted features quickly became a talking point online

The buzz comes as Hathaway continues to face persistent speculation about her seemingly ageless look, with some fans questioning whether she has undergone cosmetic enhancements

'But one thing, I'm a sweet person, and I think for many, many years it really frightened me to be a young, sweet woman... so I think I armoured and hardened to try to protect myself.'

The actress, who rose to fame in her early 20s, said she no longer feels the need to shield her personality in the same way.

'Various things have happened to me in my life, challenges I've met that I'm proud of,' she added.

Hathaway's early years in Hollywood were dogged by 'diva' claims, including reports she sent back a breakfast order multiple times and made specific requests during press appearances -allegations that were often denied by her representatives.

Now, with a career resurgence and a major blockbuster on the horizon, public sentiment appears to have firmly swung back in her favour.

And if the reaction to her latest cover is anything to go by, Hathaway's return to the spotlight is being met with overwhelming public approval.
It was meant to be a sweet first birthday celebration but quickly became the talk of the town among society gossips.

Bridgett Roccisano, the co-founder of wildly successful breast tape brand Booby Tape, got tongues wagging after unveiling a $14,000-plus gift haul for her one-year-old daughter Elle - a display of luxury that's already being described in some circles as 'jaw-dropping' and in others as 'deeply out of touch.'

The multimillionaire entrepreneur took to social media on Thursday to share a glimpse of her little girl's eye-watering gifts, which included a toddler-sized pink Land Rover, worth around $300.

The tiny vehicle was unveiled in dramatic fashion at a Melbourne dealership, with footage showing a friend pulling back a silk sheet and red ribbon as little Elle looked on.

'I can't,' Bridgett captioned the moment, before sharing another clip of a salesperson handing over a set of miniature car keys.

The keys were attached to an Hermes horse-shaped key chain, which retails for around $2000.

Bridgett Roccisano (pictured), the co-founder of wildly successful breast tape brand Booby Tape, has drawn attention after unveiling a $14,000-plus first birthday gift haul for her daughter Elle

The multimillionaire entrepreneur took to social media on Thursday to share a glimpse at the eye-watering gifts, which included a toddler-sized pink Land Rover, worth around $300

Bridgett also shared a clip of Elle zipping around the dealership car park in the remote-controlled automobile, adding the caption: 'Elle's first car! Elle has officially joined the Land Rover family!'

But it was the final gift that truly raised eyebrows - a diamond 'E' pendant necklace said to be worth a staggering $12,000.

To mark Elle's first birthday, Bridgett threw a lavish dinner party at her home, complete with pink decorations, an elaborate cake and a five-course menu.

And while the social media clips painted a picture of pure luxury, insiders say the reaction behind closed doors has been far less glowing.

'It's all a bit tone-deaf, to be honest,' one well-connected insider said.

'People are really feeling the pinch at the moment, and then you see a one-year-old gifted a diamond necklace worth more than most people's annual rent.'

Another society figure didn't hold back, adding: 'There's always been wealth in those circles, but lately it's becoming more about showing it off than anything else. It just feels like an unseemly display given the cost-of-living crisis.'

The insider suggested the spectacle was 'less about the child and more about the image,' saying: 'No one is denying she's successful, but there's a growing sense that this kind of flaunting isn't landing the way it once did.'

The tiny vehicle was unveiled in dramatic fashion at a Melbourne dealership, with footage showing a friend pulling back a silk sheet and red ribbon as little Elle looked on

'I can't,' Bridgett captioned the moment, before sharing another clip of a salesperson handing over a set of miniature car keys. The keys were attached to an Hermes horse-shaped key chain, which retails for around $2000

Still, others defended the businesswoman - who co-founded Booby Tape with her sister Bianca - insisting she has every right to spend her money how she pleases.

Bridgett is a single mother, having split from her husband of just two years, Joshua Cavallaro, just months after they welcomed their first child, Elle, in April 2025.

In August last year, Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Bridget had told close confidants she was 'heartbroken' and felt 'totally blindsided'.

'It's not what she wanted. She's absolutely devastated,' said our source.

'She is going through very tough times at the moment, but being surrounded by family is helping. Every day, a little bit gets better.'

Bridgett, whose breast tape brand is stocked in more than 40 countries worldwide, took to social media in July last year confirm news reports she had separated from Joshua.

'I've always chosen to be open and honest with you all and with recent articles and speculation surrounding my marriage, I felt it was important to address this with you all,' she wrote.

'I am saddened to confirm I am going through a separation.

But it was the final gift that truly raised eyebrows - a diamond 'E' pendant necklace said to be worth a staggering $12,000

To mark Elle's first birthday, Bridgett threw a lavish dinner party at her home, complete with pink decorations, an elaborate cake and a five-course menu

The single mother had a custom pink cake made in the shape of a bow for the youngster's birthday celebrations

'This year has brought more change than I could have ever imagined. Becoming a mother has been the most profound and beautiful gift of my life.

'While I am devastated and disappointed the journey hasn't unfolded the way I envisioned, as family is everything to me, I've discovered a strength within myself that I never knew existed for both my daughter and I.

'Elle and I may be walking a different path now, but it's one filled with support and most importantly, stability and love.'

She concluded: 'While I wish I could share more about this extremely difficult time, I need to protect Elle, especially knowing my daughter may read this one day.

'I hope you can understand and respect our privacy during this incredibly challenging time.'

Days later, the businesswoman shared a heartfelt thank-you to her followers.

'I just wanted to take a moment as I wish I could respond to every message that has come through. To say thank you to everyone who has reached out to me during this incredibly difficult time,' she began.

Bridgett split from her husband of just two years, Joshua Cavallaro, in August 2025

'Elle and I may be walking a different path now, but it's one filled with support and most importantly, stability and love,' Bridgett said at the time of the split

'Your kind words, messages and support have meant more than I can put into words. It's truly been so incredibly overwhelming.

'Even in the hardest moments, knowing I'm not alone at a time where it's very easily felt has made all the difference.

'I'm so grateful to have such thoughtful, genuine and most importantly loving people around me.'

The estranged couple, who first met in high school, married at St Patrick's Cathedral in April 2023, with the wedding covered exclusively by the Daily Mail.

New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week

Punching walls. A bride accused of sleeping with a footy team... FORTY MAFS bombshells Nine cut from the show: ALI DAHER exposes all the unseen shockers from an 'out of control' season

Leaked: The property tax revolution plotted for Australia. Secret plan reveals Jim Chalmers' radical changes for capital gains taxes - including a twist no one expects

Tragic Annabelle Price's secret last love revealed by insiders - and why her funeral is on hold... Plus, dangerous witch hunt for 'rich lister' linked to bikies: THE GROUP CHAT

Insiders spill on Antony Catalano's France-Soir dinner with another woman before his alleged drug-fuelled assault on wife Stefanie 'while demanding to see her phone'

Mortifying new photos leak of 'middle-class' drug queen Tess Rowlatt after she vowed to get clean - as friends reveal exactly how she went from Monash party girl to ice dealer

The Aussie 'elites' clinging to Harry and Meghan are the most unbearable part of this tour. Their fawning fan club won't forgive me for this: AMANDA GOFF

Incestuous abuse, outrageous on-set behaviour and now accusations against Katy Perry: Inside story of how Ruby Rose went from Hollywood's hottest wildcard to spending years in the wilderness

'Dangerous'. 'Untested'. But when a mum-of-three with chronic back pain tried a controversial peptide, she noticed changes she could not explain... Now, doctors reveal the risk behind the hype

The cocaine mums' new habit has shocked even me. I thought I'd seen it all - but what happened at a posh children's party was so disturbing, I can't shake it: JANA HOCKING

Eye-watering debts of 'business savage' life coach Felicity Morgan's company laid bare in damning dossier - as we reveal her forgotten former life and her husband fires off from Bali
Mick Jagger has still not passed a 13million Georgian mansion to ex-wife Jerry Hall 26 years after they separated, it can be revealed.

The Rolling Stones' star bought imposing Downe House as the couple's London base in the early 1990s for around 5million.

But when the frontman and the Texan model went their separate ways in 1999, it was assumed she would get to keep the 18th century home in Richmond, south-west London, where she is still thought to live.

The house was put in their joint names in 2000 after they split up and Land Registry documents show that the pair remain joint owners to this day, even though both have since been in other relationships.

Jerry married media tycoon Ruper Murdoch in 2016 and then divorced him in 2022, while Mick was in a longstanding relationship with L'Wren Scott until her death by suicide in 2014 and then ballet dancer Melanie Hamrick, to whom he is now engaged.

Jerry began dating Stones' legend Mick in 1977 and the pair have four children, Elizabeth, 42, James, 40, Georgia May, 34, and Gabriel, 28.

The Rolling Stones' star bought imposing Downe House as the couple's London base in the early 1990s for around 5million

Jerry Hall is STILL living in Mick Jagger's house 26 years after they separated (pictured together in 1990)

In 1999, their partnership was annulled on the grounds that their 1991 Hindu marriage on the holiday isle of Bali was not legally binding in English law.

At the time of their separation, the supermodel was believed to be seeking a 30million chunk of Jagger's 150million fortune, with the claim understood to include Downe House.

It was reported in 2013 that Jerry was eager for Mick to put the house, which dates from 1780 and overlooks Richmond Park, into her sole name so she could sell it or pass it onto their children at a later date.

At the time, a source said of the ownership of the house: 'It is a source of increasing concern to her (Jerry) as she gets older.

'When she broke up with Mick in 1999, it was assumed that he had given Downe House to her as part of the settlement their lawyers thrashed out, but, to this day, his name as well as hers still appears on the official documents as the registered owners.'

Others speculated that when Jerry married Rupert Murdoch she would be asked to move out  a rumour that was further enforced when workmen appeared at the house to change the locks in 2016.

But it transpired it was simply a security upgrade and Mick had told Jerry she could stay in the property until her death.

And documents back that up, with both Mick and Jerry still named as joint owners.

The house was put in their joint names in 2000 after they split up and Land Registry documents show that the pair remain joint owners to this day

Jerry began dating Stones' legend Mick in 1977 and the pair have four children, Elizabeth, 42, James, 40, Georgia May, 34, and Gabriel, 28 (pictured with Georgia May in 2014)

No mortgage is mentioned either, hinting at the fact that it was bought outright.

Mick has a considerable property portfolio with another home in London as well as in Florida, France and the private celebrity haven of Mustique.

Meanwhile, Jerry is the sole owner of Holmwood, a 10million country house in Oxfordshire she bought while with then husband Rupert Murdoch in 2019.
Jackie 'O' Henderson appeared relaxed and unbothered as she was seen enjoying a casual walk through Sydney's Centennial Park on Saturday.

The veteran radio star, 51, put on a calm public face as her legal dispute with ARN Media continues to unfold.

She was seen taking in the greenery and open air in what appeared to be a low-key outing with a female friend, dressed casually in an easy, off-duty look.

Jackie looked effortlessly stylish for the outing, in a white Isabel Marant tee paired with blue tracksuit pants and open-toed shoes.

She added a touch of style to her look with slick sunglasses and a silver bracelet, appearing to be in great spirits as she laughed it up with her friend, with the pair at one point tenderly embracing.

Her blonde hair was worn in loose, tousled waves around her shoulders, and Jackie looked energetic and happy as she appeared in deep conversation with her pal.

Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) appeared relaxed and unbothered as she was seen enjoying a casual walk through Sydney's Centennial Park on Saturday

The veteran radio star, 51, put on a calm public face as her legal dispute with ARN Media continues to unfold

She was seen taking in the greenery and open air in what appeared to be a low-key outing with a female friend, dressed casually in an easy, off-duty look as paparazzi captured her weekend stroll

At one point, Jackie was seen resting for a moment on a park bench, before resuming her walk.

It looked to be a fun and lively outing for the famous radio star.

The sighting comes as Henderson remains at the centre of a high-stakes Federal Court case against ARN Media over the termination of her reported $100 million contract, following the collapse of her long-running radio partnership with Kyle Sandilands.

Court documents, filed as part of Henderson's statement of claim, outline months of internal tension leading up to the dramatic breakdown of the Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this year.

According to the filings, Henderson raised concerns about Sandilands' on-air behaviour with KIIS network management months before the relationship publicly deteriorated during a live broadcast in February.

The documents allege Henderson began speaking with senior KIIS executives in mid-2025 about what she described as 'degrading comments' made on air.

One August broadcast is cited in the claim, during which Sandilands made remarks about Henderson's personal life and used language she found offensive, prompting her to briefly leave the studio at the time.

The court material also outlines text exchanges between Henderson and KIIS executives in September, where she reportedly said she would not accept the way she was being spoken to, and raised concerns that listeners were describing the on-air dynamic as 'abusive'.

Jackie looked effortlessly stylish for the outing, in a white Isabel Marant tee paired with blue tracksuit pants and open-toed shoes

She added a touch of style to her look with slick sunglasses and a silver bracelet, appearing to be in great spirits as she laughed it up with her friend, with the pair at one point tenderly embracing

Her blonde hair was worn in loose tousled waves around her shoulders and Jackie looked to be energetic and happy

At one point, Jackie was seen resting for a moment on a park bench, before resuming her walk

It looked to be a fun and lively outing for the famous radio star

Court documents, filed as part of Henderson's statement of claim, outline months of internal tension leading up to the dramatic breakdown of the Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this year

According to the filings, Henderson raised concerns about Sandilands' on-air behaviour with KIIS network management months before the relationship publicly deteriorated during a live broadcast in February

The breakdown escalated in February during what would become the duo's final broadcast, when Sandilands criticised Henderson's interests on air and suggested she had become 'almost unworkable', comments that allegedly left her in tears and prompted her to leave the studio.

According to the claim, ARN did not intervene during the segment.

The following day, Henderson contacted senior ARN executives, describing Sandilands' conduct as 'unfair, inappropriate and completely unprovoked', and questioning what safeguards were in place going forward.

On 26 February, her lawyers formally wrote to ARN subsidiary Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation alleging bullying and stating she could not continue working alongside Sandilands, while leaving open the possibility of remaining within the network in a different role.

ARN later responded that her letter amounted to termination of her contract, a position Henderson disputes.

She is now alleging the broadcaster engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and breached the Fair Work Act, and is seeking compensation of at least $82.25 million, plus penalties, interest and costs.

Despite the ongoing legal dispute, Henderson's public appearance on Saturday suggested a composed front as the case continues to progress through the Federal Court system.
Elegant, iconic and distinctively racy... and that's just Kate Moss.

The supermodel was last week spotted zipping around Piccadilly Circus in a sporty white convertible based on the classic MGB Roadster.

And while the 52-year-old party queen has cleaned up her act in recent years, so too has the British soft-top  as its reinterpretation is a smoke-free electric model called the RBW Roadster, made last year.

It is not clear whether she has bought the 120,000 car to add to her collection of classic vehicles, but she also posed behind the wheel of a RBW Roadster for an editorial photoshoot in last month's edition of EE72, the glossy magazine founded by former Vogue UK editor Edward Enninful.

Moss is known for her love of vintage cars. Last year she was pictured behind the wheel of a 1968 Buick LeSabre convertible in Los Angeles, and in 2019, driving a canary yellow Mini Moke, which was originally designed in the 1960s as a lightweight military vehicle.

She has also driven a Mercedes 280 and a black London cab and owned a 1970s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and a blue MG Midget which she drives around the countryside near her Cotswolds home.

But even Kate has been unable to escape the fate that everyone who owns a vintage car experiences at some point  in 2021, her MG broke down on an A-road near Burwood, forcing her to abandon it on a verge to be recovered.

She turned heads in the sporty white convertible in Central London last week, wearing sunglasses and chatting with a friend as she navigated the busy traffic with the top down.

Kate Moss was spotted driving around London in a white MGB convertible last week

The British model, known to be a fan of vintage cars, drives past London's Royal Academy of Arts with a friend

The car features a red leather interior, with the manufacturers boasting that it combines 'vintage aesthetics with contemporary electric vehicle technology'.

It was reviewed by Top Gear's James May last year, who said: 'If you want an MGB, this is the way to do itit's a modern car.'

Moss will return to the spotlight next month with the release of movie Moss & Freud, about her relationship with the artist Lucian Freud, who painted her nude when she was 28 and he was 80. Ellie Bamber plays the model.
Sam Frost has revealed intimate details about her upcoming wedding while reflecting on a deeply painful period in her life that left her feeling like she had a 'hole in my heart'.

The 37-year-old star, who shot to fame on The Bachelor Australia before becoming the inaugural Bachelorette, is now embracing a quieter life in Melbourne with fiance Jordie Hansen and their two young sons.

In a candid interview with Stellar magazine, Sam described a chaotic but joyful home life.

'I have to hide otherwise one of them will come and try to find me,' she said.

For Sam, these small, noisy moments now represent everything she once longed for.

'It's the small moments of pure joy that remind you... this is what life is about,' she said.

Sam Frost has revealed intimate details about her upcoming wedding while reflecting on a deeply painful period in her life that left her feeling like she had a 'hole in my heart'

'I was playing outside with [sons] Ted and Bobby the other day and I was like, "This is joy." It's great to have ambitions, but for anyone who's gone through hard times  grief or mental health struggles  it's small things that make you feel peaceful.'

After years in the spotlight - including a stint on Home and Away - Sam says her proudest role is now a personal one.

'I'm a stay-at-home mum, and while I do little bits and pieces I'm so privileged to be able to stay with the boys and have that time,' she said.

The shift has also meant financial adjustments, with Sam admitting she and her Australian Survivor star partner are no longer living as comfortably as when she was working full-time.

'We aren't in the financial position we were in when I was working; we've had to make choices and live smaller,' she said.

That mindset extends to their upcoming wedding, which the couple are planning to hold in their backyard next February.

'Having something extravagant seems silly,' she said.

'It's not about that; it's about making a commitment to each other. I don't want to spend crazy amounts on this one day.'

The 37-year-old star is now embracing a quieter life in Melbourne with fiance Jordie Hansen and their two young sons. In a candid interview with Stellar magazine, Sam described a chaotic but joyful home life

After years in the spotlight - including a stint on Home and Away - Sam says her proudest role is now a personal one. Pictured with fiance Jordie Hansen

Instead, the ceremony will be intimate, with close family involved.

Alongside wedding plans, Sam has also launched a new podcast, Cracking On, with fellow Home and Away alum Sarah Roberts.

The show explores resilience and personal setbacks, with Sam explaining: 'We ask guests to talk about a time when they've hit rock bottom, whether it be getting fired from a job or a divorce, and they've just had to crack on with life.'

Reflecting on her younger years, Sam admits she was searching for something she couldn't quite define.

'I think back on who I was, and I was so desperate to be loved; so desperate to find it,' she said.

'All my 20s, and even my late teens, I've always wanted to find that love. I feel sad for myself that I felt I needed it so badly.'

Now, she says, that longing has finally been fulfilled - largely thanks to her family.
Wicked actress Marissa Bode has furiously accused the commuter airline Southern Airways of refusing to let her board because of her disability.

The 25-year-old has been reliant on a wheelchair since she was paralyzed by the injuries she sustained in a car accident at the age of 11.

She rose to fame in the two-part Wicked adaptation as Nessarose, the wheelchair-bound sister of the main character Elphaba played by Cynthia Erivo.

In a new TikTok video, Bode said that when she spoke to the gate agents of her Southern Airways flight, she was informed that they would be unable to seat her because all passengers had to climb stairs in order to board.

Bode insisted that she had been subjected to 'blatant segregation' by the airline, fuming that 'it is always something when I'm flying.'

She added when she called her manager, who booked the flight, he claimed the airline had 'assured' him his client would receive the 'accommodation' she needed.

The Daily Mail has contacted Southern Airways and a representative for Bode for comment.

Wicked actress Marissa Bode has furiously accused the commuter airline Southern Airways of refusing to let her board because of her disability; pictured in January

Under the terms of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), airlines are banned from discriminating on the basis of disability, per the Department of Transportation.

Passed in 1986, the ACAA demands that airlines provide accommodations like 'prompt wheelchair or other guided assistance to board, deplane, or connect to another flight,' and that they must do so 'in a safe and dignified manner.'

However Southern Airways stipulates that its 'customers must be able to ascend and descend several steps to board the aircraft,' in its Contract of Carriage.

Because the airline's planes hold 28 passengers or fewer, the ACAA does not require that it 'provide mechanical lift devices for enplaning or deplaning,' the contract said.

'At certain locations, portable boarding ramps may be available as an alternative to stairs; however, ramp availability cannot be guaranteed. Guests may use canes, walkers, or other assistive devices up to the ramp.'

Bode explained in her TikTok that she was trying to board a Southern Airways flight to Pennsylvania for a speaking engagement at a small town there.

Because the first leg of her connecting flight was with another airline, she had trouble finding her Southern Airways boarding pass online and asked gate agents for help.

'And the two people at the gate look at me and they're like: "Can you stand?"' the actress alleged in her video. 'And I said: "No." And they said: "I'm sorry but because of that we're going to have to deny you boarding."'

In a new TikTok video, Bode said that when she spoke to the gate agents of her Southern Airways flight, she was informed that they would be unable to seat her

She was told that all Southern Airways planes required passengers to climb stairs in order to board, to which she replied: 'I've never heard that before. You're telling me none of the people that have flown on your plane before are disabled?'

Bode claimed that the airline staff responded to her query by telling her: 'No. Even the elderly have a hard time getting up those stairs.'

She told fans on TikTok: 'So why use it as a cop-out and be like: "Oh, they're just old planes"? Why are we once again waiting around for a disabled person to be present to even think about changing things or accommodating things? And even then, I know they're not gonna do it. And that's exactly what I said to him.'

Bode said: 'I was like: "Disabled people are not an afterthought. Why, knowing that disabled people exist, which y'all clearly often forget, do you choose not to update your planes?" And I was like: "This is blatant segregation."'

She alleged that the staffer at the gate then 'decided to grasp at straws' and claimed the point at issue was in fact the weight of her wheelchair.

Southern Airways' Contract of Carriage states: 'One wheelchair per Passenger will be carried at no charge as Checked Baggage if it meets sizing requirements. A second wheelchair is subject to standard Baggage Fees and charges.'

The document adds that wheelchairs are 'carried in the cargo compartment of the aircraft,' raising the question of if they can be brought as carry-on luggage.

Bode said on her TikTok that she told the airline staffer: 'My chair is 35lbs. I am heavier than my chair. My chair is probably less than other people's luggage.'

She rose to fame in the two-part Wicked adaptation as Nessarose, the wheelchair-bound sister of the main character Elphaba played by Cynthia Erivo; pictured in Wicked with Ethan Slater

She claimed that the staffer 'realized what he said was bulls***' and started 'fumbling,' repeating to her that she would be unable to take the flight.

'And this is what I mean when I say it is always something when I'm flying,' said the Wisconsin-born thespian, alleging that 'It is very rare that I'm flying and there isn't a problem with my chair and I'm not talked down to.'

Bode said that while at the airport, she phoned her manager, who told her: 'I literally called them, talked to them on the phone, asked Southern Airlines if they could make that accommodation and they fully assured me and told me yes.'

She said snafus like the one she alleged are 'more than just bad miscommunication. It is so much more than a "mistake" and an "oopsie." These are our lives. This is our entire existence you're talking about. My wheelchair is my freedom.'

Bode noted that 'of course when I'm crying out of frustration and talking to the people at the gate very firmly, I look like a crazy person. I look like the one that's in the wrong. I look like a f***ing Karen.'

That perception of her as a 'Karen,' she observed, was also 'how airport staff treat' her when she makes complaints such as: 'Hey, you told me I could board this flight,' or: 'Hey, you f***ed up my mobility device.'

Bode said she had to take a 'very expensive' three-and-a-half hour drive to her destination, in a TikTok captioned: '@Southern Airways you should be ashamed.'

Southern Airways responded by saying that Bode's experience 'does not reflect the standard to which we hold ourselves,' in a statement to People.

'We are investigating the incident, and will take all appropriate action, including making any necessary improvements to our processes and training. We have reached out to Ms Bode to offer support and will work to address her concerns.'
William Shatner made a rare public appearance during the Calgary Expo in Alberta, Canada over the weekend.

The 95-year-old Star Trek icon - who is known for portraying Captain Kirk in the original sci-fi series - took to the stage during the festivities on Saturday for a panel discussion at the BMO Centre.

It comes shortly after the actor addressed brain cancer rumors following his denial that he had been 'rushed to the hospital.'

He touched on a variety of topics as he addressed the live audience, including memories from when he filmed Star Trek in the late 60s.

Shatner kept it casual wearing a tan jacket as well as a dark green button up and a pair of blue trousers.

The star held a smile on his face as he was greeted by the crowd and sat down in a comfy chair to take questions from fans.

William Shatner, 95, made a rare public appearance during the Calgary Expo in Alberta, Canada over the weekend

The Star Trek icon took to the stage during the festivities on Saturday for a panel discussion at the BMO Centre

At one point, he recalled a humorous memory when he had been filming a scene for the original Star Trek series, which had aired from 1966-1969.

He explained that production had once taken place at Vasquez Rocks located in Los Angeles County, per the Calgary Herald.

Call time had been early at 4a.m. and he dressed in his Captain Kirk costume while speeding to Vasquez Rocks, but was pulled over by an officer.

Shatner had initially thought that he would be arrested, but the police officer had been a fan of the show.

'He raises his hand in a Vulcan salute and says "live long and prosper,"' the actor told the crowd.

Shatner's appearance at the Calgary Expo comes not long after he firmly denied a rumor ricocheting around social media that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

His message was accompanied by a photo of him in a backyard patio chair, seated upright and offering the camera a sprightly grin.

'My Daughter came over to tell me her daughter heard that I had brain cancer,' he wrote with a rolling eyes emoji on X earlier this month.

He touched on a variety of topics as he addressed the live audience, including memories from when he filmed Star Trek in the late 60s

Shatner kept it casual wearing a tan jacket as well as a dark green button up and a pair of blue trousers

The star held a smile on his face as he was greeted by the crowd and sat down in a comfy chair to take questions from fans

At one point, he recalled a humorous memory when he had been filming a scene for the original Star Trek series, which had aired from 1966-1969

Shatner was later seen meeting and conversing with fans during the event over the weekend

Shatner's appearance at the Calgary Expo comes not long after he firmly denied a rumor ricocheting around social media that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer; seen in 2025 in Las Vegas

'She took this photo and sent it to me to upload to prove I'm not ill. The people who are ill are those that are spreading these ridiculous stories. I'm fit as a fiddle. You don't have to worry,' the native Montrealer assured his fans.

Shatner uploaded another X post that day to criticize a Facebook page that was 'using AI to create horrible fake news stories about me.'

Entitled The Beanstalk Functions Group, that page was according to Shatner the source of the brain cancer rumor, as well as a claim he had a spat with Erika Kirk.

'I wanted to put this out yesterday but given the day and the possibility that it would look like a joke I waited for today,' he wrote the morning after April Fool's Day.

Shatner then pointed fans to the offending Facebook page, which he wrote has 'created stories that say I have stage 4 brain cancer, was in some kind of fight with Erika Kirk and that I'm dying.

'All their stories are monetized. Most of the stories use an AI image of me. Facebook Support will not remove the page.'

He also contacted the CEO of Next.js - the web development framework that was apparently used to create the Facebook page - in a bid to have the stories pulled.

'None of these stories are true but they apparently seem genuine enough for fans to repost them across social media and send messages of support to me and my family all while the culprits behind the account make money,' he wrote.

His message was accompanied by a photo of him in a backyard patio chair, seated upright and offering the camera a sprightly grin

'She took this photo and sent it to me to upload to prove I'm not ill. The people who are ill are those that are spreading these ridiculous stories. I'm fit as a fiddle. You don't have to worry,' the native Montrealer assured his fans

'This is the downside of AI and yellow journalism. While [it] can be a wonderful tool in the right hands; it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands,' he warned.

'If you see a bizarre story about me; unless you see it posted on one of my verified accounts take it with a grain of salt,' the sci-fi icon added.

Last September he found himself denying a report that he was hospitalized for a medical emergency involving his blood sugar.

Insiders claimed that when the issue occurred, he called the emergency services and a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance arrived on the scene, via TMZ.

However his agency TalentWorks released a statement insisting that the report was false and that Shatner was all right, according to ABC 7 News.

His agent Harry Gold then said in a statement: 'I spoke to Bill earlier this evening, he is fine. He is not in the hospital. He is at home. He is 100 percent healthy.'

Shatner himself responded wryly to the report, posting a meme of himself playing Mark Twain on the Canadian series Murdoch Mysteries, along with the phrase: 'Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!'

That scare came over a year after Shatner revealed he is a cancer survivor, having previously been diagnosed with stage four melanoma.

Last September he found himself denying a report that he was hospitalized for a medical emergency involving his blood sugar; seen in March in Florida

Shatner is known for portraying the role of Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series; seen above in 1968

He explained that he had an operation and then underwent immunotherapy to treat the condition, although he did not disclose when, according to the industry publication Managed Healthcare Executive.

In 2016 he received a prostate cancer diagnosis that turned out to be a false alarm, thanks to a drastic spike in his levels of PSA (prostate-specific antigen), a protein produced by the gland.

'That was really scary,' Shatner remembered to NBC News. 'I was told by a doctor I had a terminal disease. That I was going to die.'

He attributed his elevated levels of PSA to testosterone supplements that he was taking at the time of his misdiagnosis, and that he has since stopped using.
Grange Hill star Sean Maguire looks almost unrecognisable from the TV roles that first propelled him to fame.

The actor, now based in Los Angeles, shot to prominence in 1988 as the fresh-faced Tegs Ratcliffe on the BBC childrens series.

Appearing on stage at a Once Upon a Time fan panel during the Calgary Expo at the BMO Centre in Canada on Saturday, Sean joined co-star Colin ODonoghue for the event.

With a stubbled beard and blonde hair, the star, now 50, looked worlds away from his fresh-faced on-screen persona.

In 2022, Sean revealed he left the UK for America because of the abuse he was receiving at home.

Grange Hill star Sean Maguire looks almost unrecognisable from the TV roles that first propelled him to fame

The actor, now based in Los Angeles , shot to prominence in 1988 as the fresh-faced Tegs Ratcliffe on the BBC childrens series

The actor moved to LA in 2001, after struggling to handle the fame that came with being a teen heartthrob.

Sean originally found fame in teen drama Grange Hill, his first notable role, before appearing as troubled drug addict Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders.

Sean left the soap in 1993 after a turbulent 11-months on the Square, during which his character suffered homelessness and depression before returning to Ireland in an attempt to reconnect with his parents.

He has since enjoyed a successful career in the United States, with a steady stream of minor roles leading to recurring part in fantasy drama Once Upon A Time.

Speaking to podcast Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did, he said: 'I found that level of being recognisable is not what you think its going to be.

'I was hit in the face so many times. Going on holiday with my friends led to so many altercations and terrible moments and it just made life so much harder than it did make it easier or cool, that I realised celebrity is not for me. I just wanted to just be an actor.'

After leaving the popular soap, Sean began a pop career, releasing three albums and bagging himself eight Top 30 hits.

However, he confessed that his success led to more problems, saying: 'I found with the pop thing I was too overexposed and inevitably people get sick of you. The job of an actor is to pop up, do something great and then disappear. Let them miss you. And I got to the point of being too everywhere at once - even I was getting sick of myself.

Appearing on stage at a Once Upon a Time fan panel during the Calgary Expo at the BMO Centre in Canada on Saturday, he joined co-star Colin ODonoghue for the event

Sean married wife Tanya in 2012, and together they share three children - two sons, Flynn Patrick, and Leo James, and a daughter Amelie Rose (pictured in 2021)

'So thats why when I got the opportunity to go to America, I thought maybe I could try it for a few years, then come back and maybe people wont be so bored of me.'

The risk paid off as the star immediately landed a starring role in a US sitcom alongside American Pie star Eddie Kaye Thomas and Star Trek actor John Cho, which Sean says was one the 'happiest times' of his life.

He explained: 'Other than now with my kids and my wife, it was probably one of the happiest times Ive ever had. I wasnt getting punched in the face anymore and it was sunny.. And Im thinking, "well this all worked out great".'

Elsewhere, Sean admitted to preferring Grange Hill to his own school, explaining his own teachers were 'terrible' to him, to the extent that it 'bordered on child abuse'.

He also revealed that a near-fatal motorbike crash he had, had stopped his character in EastEnders from being killed off by suicide.

He revealed he had begged the bosses not to kill the character off in that manner in an explosive Christmas episode, because of impressionable young fans he had at the time.

He admitted: 'My conscience couldnt deal with that. That would break me if I felt in any way responsible for something like that.'

'I said, "Please find another way. Im not telling you how to run your show, but please dont do that. Dont do that on Christmas Day. Itll ruin the countrys Christmas".'

However, a twist of fate meant that Sean was unable to film the scenes after suffering a terrible accident.

He said: 'And then as luck, bad luck, would have it, I broke my leg a week or two later in a I was doing a stupid motorcycle thing that I shouldnt have been doing.

'I broke my leg very, very badly and very nearly killed myself, very nearly actually died in the motorcycle accident, had I hit the wall differently.

'If Id have hit it with my head Id be dead for sure, because I hit the wall at about 50mph.

'And because I broke my leg I couldnt walk and because I couldnt walk, I couldnt jump off a building. So fate sort of stepped in and then Aidan just went off back to Ireland or something, I think.'

Sean married wife Tanya in 2012, and together they share three children - two sons, Flynn Patrick, and Leo James, and a daughter Amelie Rose.
Simon Cowell relaxed with a couple of beers after the first live semi-final of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday as he left the studio with his fiancee Lauren Silverman.

The music mogul, 66, was spotted with a couple of bottles of beer as he got into his car, while Lauren, 48, headed off in a separate vehicle.

Lauren appeared in high spirits, flashing a smile at the cameras as she got into another cab outside the London venue.

The couple first met in Barbados in 2004, but didn't start dating until around 2012. They welcomed their son Eric in 2014 and got engaged in 2021.

Now, four years on from his proposal, Lauren has poked fun at the length of their engagement in a rare interview.

Lauren joked that a funeral could come before their wedding 'at the rate we're going'.

Simon Cowell relaxed with a couple of beers after the first live semi-final of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday as he left the studio with his fiancee Lauren Silverman

The music mogul, 66, was spotted with a couple of bottles of beer as he got into his car, while Lauren, 48, headed off in a separate vehicle

Lauren appeared in high spirits, flashing a smile at the cameras as she got into another cab outside the London venue

During an appearance on ExtraTV, host and Simon's ex Terri Seymour asked if she needs 'to be buying a hat anytime soon.'

Lauren replied: 'You mean like for a wedding? Is that what that means?'

When the presenter joked that she meant 'for a funeral', Lauren laughed: 'Well, who knows which one is going to happen first at the rate we're going?'

The music mogul and Lauren have shared their lives in new Netflix docuseries The Next Act, which follows Simon's nationwide search for young, talented musicians.

Ahead of its release, she teased: 'It's a lot. Simon on his own is bad enough, but now to have Eric as his little sidekick  it's just diabolical.'

Meanwhile, Simon said a wedding is on the horizon after his fiancee Lauren legally changed her name.

In between scenes of the X Factor star at work are slices of family life with Lauren and their son Eric, 11, and one episode shows Lauren signing paperwork to formally change her name by deed poll to Cowell.

The music mogul, 66, was spotted with a couple of bottles of beer as he got into his car, while Lauren, 48, headed off in a separate vehicle

Meanwhile, Lauren flashed a smile at the cameras as she got into another cab

It comes after Lauren joked that a funeral could come before their wedding 'at the rate we're going'

Now, Simon, who has previously been vocal about his reluctance to marry before proposing to Lauren on Christmas Eve 2021, has insisted the two will wed.

'I always shied away from saying it's going to happen whenever,' he explained. 'When we decide to do it, it will be private then people will know about it but obviously the fact that she talks about changing her name, it's quite obvious where all this is leading to.'

'We have a very, very close bond. I adore her. We are a very happy family, genuinely,' he gushed.

Simon revealed that whilst he had to persuade Lauren to appear in his new show, the experience only strengthened his love for her.

'She was a bit reluctant [to be on camera] in the beginning, and then she got more used to it,' he told Us Weekly. 'The funny thing about her is that she is identical on the show as she is in real life,' he admitted.

'When I was watching the show back, I was absolutely cracking up at some of the scenes.

In the name change scene Lauren, who was previously married to businessman Andrew Silverman with whom she shares son Adam, 20, is seen explaining that she has decided she no longer wants to go by her old married name.

'Look, I am Mrs Cowell,' she says. 'I have created a life with Simon, we have a child together, we have a solid relationship.'

The name change, she says, was about aligning with Simon and Eric. 'This is more about the unity of our family and us having the same name. When we discussed it, Simon said, 'Yeah, I would really like you to change your name.' It wasn't a dramatic statement, it was just: 'This is who I am, and this is who we are'.'

Despite previously insisting that he 'didn't believe' in marriage, the father-of-one reassessed his views after falling in love with Lauren - who was left 'stunned' by the shock proposal.

Simon met Lauren when she was still married to millionaire property developer Andrew.

Their affair became public  and Simon's life changed  at the end of July 2013 when news broke of Lauren's pregnancy.

In 2015, Simon told Mail on Sunday Event magazine: 'I'm not proud of the circumstances, I can't hold my head up about it.'

And of the pregnancy, he admitted: 'This was not something I planned. But I remember going to the first scan with Lauren.

'I called him Tad because he looked like a tadpole. Something just kicked in. I felt unbelievably protective of both of them. I just absolutely wanted him. I just hadn't known that before.'

Meanwhile, Simon, who has previously been vocal about his reluctance to marry, has insisted the two will wed

Simon had previously stated that he 'didn't believe in marriage' and worried about what would happen to his fortune if he tied the knot.

The X Factor creator - who has a net worth of approximately $600million - said in 2008: 'I don't believe in marriage, certainly not in this business.

'The truth is that you get married and in a year or two they clean you out! It's just not going to work.'

The father-of-one has previously enjoyed high-profile relationships with the likes of Sinitta, Jackie St. Clair and Terri Seymour.

He was rumoured to have been secretly engaged to Page Three girl Louise Payne, after she split from her husband and Right Said Fred star Fred Fairbrass, yet never confirmed the reports.
They say the most iconic looks never truly go out of fashion  and this Gucci blouse may just be the proof.

When Tom Ford dressed a then 21-year-old Kate Moss in the blue satin shirt and velvet trousers for his 1995 Gucci show, it went on to become one of the most memorable looks of the decade.

Madonna even went on to wear the same ensemble at that years MTV Video Music Awards.

And now, 31 years on, the iconic shirt is making a comeback after Guccis creative director Demna Gvasalia quietly added it to his new collection, priced at 1,100.

After the original shirt quickly sold out, frustrated fans were left to hunt for second-hand ones on resale sites.

So rare and coveted was the blouse that one recently sold for 3,778  more than seven times the price of the 500 original. Now those who missed out first time around can finally get their hands on one.

When Tom Ford dressed Kate Moss in the blue satin shirt and velvet trousers for his 1995 Gucci show, it went on to become one of the most memorable looks of the decade

Mysteriously, former Balenciaga designer Gvasalia, 45, didnt include the shirt in his debut Gucci show, held with much fanfare in Milan in February.

To the delight of fans, he even invited Ms Moss, 52, to close the show in a black sequin gown. Impressive as it would have been for her to have worn the same shirt that she modelled all those years ago, perhaps Gvasalia felt it wouldnt have sent out the best message about the originality of his ideas.

Not that Gucci seems overly bothered. The brands Instagram account recently posted an image of the shirt to its 51.4million followers.

And its website proudly describes it as part of the Generation Gucci collection, which delves into the brands archival codes and combines different generations of design into one aesthetic narrative.

Whether Mr Ford is delighted or dismayed by the tribute is unknown, although its not the first time that the 64-year-old has been referenced by the house he left 22 years ago.

31 years on, the iconic shirt is making a comeback after Guccis creative director Demna Gvasalia quietly added it to his new collection, priced at 1,100

Madonna went on to wear the same ensemble at that years MTV Video Music Awards

During his seven-year tenure as creative director of Gucci, designer Alessandro Michele also revisited Mr Fords archives, presenting satin shirts unbuttoned in a deep V and worn with tailored trousers that recalled Ms Moss iconic look.

They say that good things come to those who wait. For fans of one of the most famous shirts in recent fashion history, that wait is finally over  at least for those who can afford the price tag.
Makita (OTCMKTS:MKTAY  Get Free Report) is projected to post its resultson Tuesday, April 28th. Analysts expect Makita to post earnings of $0.4369 per share and revenue of $1.2651 billion for the quarter.

Makita (OTCMKTS:MKTAY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.03. Makita had a return on equity of 7.85% and a net margin of 9.96%.The company had revenue of $1.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19 billion.

Get Makita alerts:

Makita Stock Performance

Shares of MKTAY stock opened at $33.21 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $35.18 and its 200 day moving average is $32.67. Makita has a 52-week low of $26.76 and a 52-week high of $41.20. The company has a market capitalization of $8.78 billion, a PE ratio of 17.57 and a beta of 0.60.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on MKTAY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Makita from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Makita from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Makita currently has a consensus rating of Sell.

Get Our Latest Report on Makita

Makita Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Makita Corporation (OTCMKTS:MKTAY) is a global manufacturer of professional and consumer power tools headquartered in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, it incorporated as Makita Electric Works, Ltd. in 1958 and has since expanded its product portfolio to serve both industrial and residential markets. The companys core business activities encompass the design, production and distribution of power tools, outdoor power equipment and accessories.

Makitas product lineup includes cordless and corded electric drills, drivers, saws, grinders, sanders and rotary hammers, as well as pneumatic and gasoline-powered machinery.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Makita Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Makita and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mitsubishi Electric (OTCMKTS:MIELF  Get Free Report) is expected to be announcing its resultson Tuesday, April 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.2064 per share and revenue of $10.0714 billion for the quarter.

Mitsubishi Electric Trading Up 4.2%

Shares of MIELF opened at $39.28 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $35.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.91. The stock has a market cap of $84.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.79 and a beta of 0.63. Mitsubishi Electric has a 12-month low of $18.35 and a 12-month high of $39.57.

Get Mitsubishi Electric alerts:

About Mitsubishi Electric

(Get Free Report)

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (trading OTC as MIELF) is a diversified Japanese multinational manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment. Established in 1921 as part of the broader Mitsubishi group, the company is headquartered in Tokyo and has grown into a global supplier of products and systems for industrial, commercial, infrastructure and consumer markets.

The companys operations span a wide range of businesses including power and energy systems, factory automation and industrial machinery, building systems such as elevators and escalators, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, transportation systems including railway and traffic control solutions, and space and defense-related products.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Capitec Bank Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CKHGY  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 439 shares, an increase of 100.5% from the March 31st total of 219 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 8,125 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Capitec Bank Price Performance

OTCMKTS:CKHGY traded up $2.46 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $134.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 544 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,735. Capitec Bank has a 1 year low of $88.70 and a 1 year high of $149.76. The businesss fifty day moving average is $131.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $125.41.

Get Capitec Bank alerts:

Capitec Bank News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Capitec Bank this week:

Capitec Bank Company Profile

Capitec Bank is a South African retail bank founded in 2001 and headquartered in Stellenbosch. From its inception, the company has pursued a digital-first approach to banking, combining a network of branches and automated point-of-sale terminals with mobile and online platforms. Capitecs streamlined service model targets individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises seeking straightforward banking solutions and transparent fee structures.

The banks core offerings include transactional accounts, savings products, unsecured personal loans and credit facilities.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Capitec Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capitec Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean authorities have intensified efforts to shut down illegal casinos and unlicensed betting platforms, warning that the growing shadow market is undermining state revenue, distorting competition and exposing the public to financial risks.The latest push follows a high-level meeting convened in Harare by the Lotteries and Gaming Board of Zimbabwe (LGB), which brought together industry players, government agencies and law enforcement to coordinate action against unregulated operators.Key institutions involved include the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, reflecting a broad, inter-agency approach to enforcement.Authorities say unlicensed operators have expanded significantly in recent years, operating outside the regulatory frameworkavoiding taxes, ignoring player protection standards and evading oversight. This has created an uneven playing field for licensed operators while reducing the government's ability to monitor and benefit from the sector.LGB chairperson Evgenia Chidhakwa said the scale of illegal activity had forced a shift in strategy."We realised that many entities are operating illegally, so we are now working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to clamp down on such activity," she said.Zimbabwe's gambling market is also complicated by the presence of offshore-licensed platforms that operate in a legal grey areaaccessible to local users but outside domestic taxation and regulatory systems.Officials say the crackdown is not only about enforcement but also about strengthening governance, promoting responsible gambling and protecting consumers.Permanent Secretary in the Corporate Governance Unit, Allan Choruma, stressed the need for a balanced approach."The public interest requires a balance between the needs of business and the needs of people. We are equally concerned about preventing money laundering and tackling gambling addiction," he said.Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe reminded regulators of their mandate to safeguard the public and ensure the sector contributes to national development."You have been entrusted with a critical mandate to regulate and oversee the gambling industry, protect the public interest and ensure that revenues are channelled into national development," he said.Authorities say the intensified campaign will combine licensing audits, compliance checks, police raids and prosecutions to dismantle illegal operations.The government is targeting four key outcomes: protecting consumers from fraud, curbing financial crimes such as money laundering, promoting responsible gambling and ensuring the sector continues to contribute sustainably to the economy.As enforcement tightens, officials say compliant operators can expect a more predictable business environment, while illegal platforms face increasing pressure from regulators and law enforcement.
MariMed (OTCMKTS:MRMD  Get Free Report) and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Volatility & Risk

MariMed has a beta of 1.15, meaning that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Medtronic has a beta of 0.75, meaning that its share price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Get MariMed alerts:

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares MariMed and Medtronics gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MariMed $159.83 million 0.20 -$14.48 million ($0.03) -2.63 Medtronic $35.48 billion 3.02 $4.66 billion $3.59 23.22

Medtronic has higher revenue and earnings than MariMed. MariMed is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Medtronic, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.2% of MariMed shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.1% of Medtronic shares are held by institutional investors. 19.0% of MariMed shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Medtronic 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.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for MariMed and Medtronic, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MariMed 0 2 0 0 2.00 Medtronic 0 11 15 0 2.58

Medtronic has a consensus price target of $107.80, suggesting a potential upside of 29.31%. Given Medtronics stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Medtronic is more favorable than MariMed.

Profitability

This table compares MariMed and Medtronics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MariMed -8.94% -5.85% -1.58% Medtronic 13.00% 14.82% 7.88%

Summary

Medtronic beats MariMed on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MariMed

(Get Free Report)

MariMed Inc. engages in cultivation, production, and dispensing of medicinal and recreational cannabis in the United States and internationally. The company sells flowers and concentrates under the Natures Heritage brand; and soft and chewy baked goods and a hot chocolate mix under Bubbys Baked brand; and drink mix under Vibations brand. It also offers chewable cannabis-infused mint tablet under the brand Kalm Fusion; and flower, vapes, and edibles under InHouse brand. In addition, the company provides supplement, nutrient-infused fruit chews under Bettys Eddies brand and ice creams under Emack & Bolios brand. The company licenses its brands. MariMed Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Norwood, Massachusetts.

About Medtronic

(Get Free Report)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. It also provides aortic valves, surgical valve replacement and repair products, endovascular stent grafts and accessories, and transcatheter pulmonary valves; and percutaneous coronary intervention products, percutaneous angioplasty balloons, and products. The company's Medical Surgical Portfolio segment offers surgical stapling devices, vessel sealing instruments, wound closure, electrosurgery products, surgical artificial intelligence and robotic-assisted surgery products, hernia mechanical devices, mesh implants, gynecology and lung products, and various therapies to treat diseases, as well as products in the fields of minimally invasive gastrointestinal and hepatologic diagnostics and therapies, patient monitoring, airway management and ventilation therapies, and renal disease. Its Neuroscience Portfolio segment offers products for spinal surgeons; neurosurgeons; neurologists; pain management specialists; anesthesiologists; orthopedic surgeons; urologists; urogynecologists; interventional radiologists; ear, nose, and throat specialists; and systems that incorporate energy surgical instruments. It also provides image-guided surgery and intra-operative imaging systems and robotic guidance systems used in robot assisted spine procedures; and therapies for vasculature in and around the brain. The company's Diabetes Operating Unit segment offers insulin pumps and consumables, continuous glucose monitoring systems, smart insulin pen systems, and consumables and supplies. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Receive News & Ratings for MariMed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MariMed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Eaton Vance High Yield ETF (NYSEARCA:EVHY  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 4,234 shares, a growth of 671.2% from the March 31st total of 549 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,901 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 0.6% of the companys shares are short sold.

Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA:EVHY traded up $0.05 on Friday, reaching $52.64. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,206 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,694. Eaton Vance High Yield ETF has a 12-month low of $48.57 and a 12-month high of $53.63. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $52.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.93.

Get Eaton Vance High Yield ETF alerts:

Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 27th were given a $0.2463 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.6%.

Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Company Profile

The Eaton Vance High Yield ETF (EVHY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing in a broad portfolio of US corporate high yield debt securities with varying maturities. The fund aims for high levels of income and capital growth EVHY was launched on Oct 16, 2023 and is issued by Eaton Vance.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance High Yield ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance High Yield ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTCMKTS:FGPR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 87 shares, a drop of 84.7% from the March 31st total of 567 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 7,188 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Ferrellgas Partners Stock Performance

Ferrellgas Partners stock traded up $1.20 during trading on Friday, reaching $27.20. The company had a trading volume of 2,093 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,323. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $24.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.62. Ferrellgas Partners has a 1-year low of $8.23 and a 1-year high of $27.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.64 billion, a PE ratio of -32.00 and a beta of 2.99.

Get Ferrellgas Partners alerts:

About Ferrellgas Partners

(Get Free Report)

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTCMKTS:FGPR) is a master limited partnership that operates as the retail propane distribution arm of Ferrellgas, Inc, one of the largest retail propane providers in the United States. Headquartered in Liberty, Missouri, the partnership was formed in 1997 to acquire and manage propane assets and inventory in support of Ferrellgass nationwide network.

The companys primary business activities include the procurement, transportation and distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Ferrellgas Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ferrellgas Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:GSJY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,916 shares, a growth of 607.0% from the March 31st total of 271 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 7,926 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF Price Performance

Shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF stock traded up $0.06 on Friday, reaching $49.82. The company had a trading volume of 3,109 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,301. The firm has a market cap of $79.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.30 and a beta of 0.64. The firms 50-day moving average price is $50.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $48.47. Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF has a 1 year low of $39.17 and a 1 year high of $54.30.

Get Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF alerts:

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Betterment LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 1,069,668 shares of the companys stock worth $49,836,000 after acquiring an additional 8,226 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF by 56.1% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 95,107 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,661,000 after purchasing an additional 34,188 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its holdings in Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 5,139 shares of the companys stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 502 shares during the last quarter.

Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF Company Profile

The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF (GSJY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of Japanese large- and mid-cap equities, with equal weights to each of 4 factor buckets and stocks within each bucket weighted by a factor score. GSJY was launched on Mar 2, 2016 and is managed by Goldman Sachs.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Japan Equity ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Hypermarcas (OTCMKTS:HYPMY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 16 shares, a drop of 99.5% from the March 31st total of 3,024 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 46,208 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Hypermarcas Price Performance

HYPMY traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $4.43. The company had a trading volume of 1,826 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,350. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.27. The company has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion, a PE ratio of 13.03 and a beta of 0.75. Hypermarcas has a twelve month low of $3.62 and a twelve month high of $5.50. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $4.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.45.

Get Hypermarcas alerts:

Hypermarcas (OTCMKTS:HYPMY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 12th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter. Hypermarcas had a net margin of 15.71% and a return on equity of 10.27%. The firm had revenue of $414.22 million during the quarter.

About Hypermarcas

Hypermarcas SA is a Brazil-based consumer health and pharmaceutical company whose shares trade over the counter in the United States under the symbol HYPMY. Founded in the early 2000s and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, the company operates as a holding group for a broad portfolio of branded products in the healthcare and personal care sectors.

Through its various subsidiaries, Hypermarcas develops, manufactures and markets prescription and over-the-counter medications, alongside personal care, baby care, home care and nutritional supplement products.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Hypermarcas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hypermarcas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco DB Base Metals Fund (NYSEARCA:DBB  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 133,178 shares, a growth of 146.7% from the March 31st total of 53,973 shares. Approximately 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 445,122 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DBB. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its holdings in Invesco DB Base Metals Fund by 1,518.5% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 335,433 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,497,000 after acquiring an additional 314,708 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in Invesco DB Base Metals Fund by 49.8% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 440,486 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,105,000 after acquiring an additional 146,416 shares during the last quarter. Leo Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco DB Base Metals Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,364,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Invesco DB Base Metals Fund by 114.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 86,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,664,000 after acquiring an additional 46,328 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Park Edge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco DB Base Metals Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $808,000. 40.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Invesco DB Base Metals Fund alerts:

Invesco DB Base Metals Fund Price Performance

Invesco DB Base Metals Fund stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $25.19. The company had a trading volume of 742,197 shares, compared to its average volume of 473,622. The company has a market capitalization of $348.88 million, a P/E ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.53. Invesco DB Base Metals Fund has a 12-month low of $17.78 and a 12-month high of $26.02. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $23.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.03.

About Invesco DB Base Metals Fund

PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB Multi-Sector Commodity Trust (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust organized in seven separate series. The Fund seeks to track changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the DBIQ Optimum Yield Industrial Metals Index Excess Return (the Index) over time, plus the excess, if any, of the Funds interest income from its holdings of United States Treasury Obligations and other high credit quality short-term fixed income securities over the expenses of the Fund.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco DB Base Metals Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco DB Base Metals Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:TBLL  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 17,741 shares, a decrease of 78.8% from the March 31st total of 83,746 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 470,057 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:TBLL traded up $0.02 on Friday, reaching $105.56. 460,131 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 322,086. Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF has a fifty-two week low of $105.39 and a fifty-two week high of $105.90. The companys 50 day moving average is $105.63 and its 200-day moving average is $105.67.

Get Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF alerts:

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Quaker Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 39.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 513 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. MAI Capital Management raised its stake in Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 90.0% during the 3rd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 950 shares of the companys stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the period. Robinson Value Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $175,000. Finally, Tidemark LLC raised its stake in Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF by 24.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tidemark LLC now owns 1,666 shares of the companys stock valued at $176,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the period.

About Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF

The Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF (TBLL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE US Treasury Short Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of debt issued by the US Treasury. Remaining maturity must be between 1-12 months. TBLL was launched on Jan 12, 2017 and is issued by Invesco.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Short Term Treasury ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Japan Tob (OTCMKTS:JAPAY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 90,374 shares, a decline of 60.9% from the March 31st total of 231,392 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 456,166 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short.

Japan Tob Stock Up 0.1%

OTCMKTS:JAPAY traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.18. 195,910 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 327,122. Japan Tob has a twelve month low of $14.02 and a twelve month high of $20.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.93 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $18.62 and a 200 day moving average of $18.24. The stock has a market cap of $64.55 billion, a PE ratio of 19.98 and a beta of 0.33.

Get Japan Tob alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Zacks Research lowered Japan Tob from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Sell and a consensus target price of $17.00.

About Japan Tob

(Get Free Report)

Japan Tobacco Inc (OTC: JAPAY) is a Tokyo-based multinational company primarily engaged in the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. The companys core activities include the development, production and distribution of cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery products for domestic and international markets. Japan Tobacco also pursues business activities beyond tobacco, including pharmaceutical and processedfood operations through subsidiary units and strategic investments.

In its tobacco operations the company serves both the Japanese market and a broad international footprint through its global operating arm, Japan Tobacco International (JTI).

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Japan Tob Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Japan Tob and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
K3 Business Technology Group plc (LON:KBT  Get Free Report) shares crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 40 and traded as low as GBX 37.55. K3 Business Technology Group shares last traded at GBX 40, with a volume of 1,167,285 shares changing hands.

K3 Business Technology Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.48, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 2.04. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 40 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 40. The company has a market cap of 17.87 million, a P/E ratio of -7.23 and a beta of 0.83.

About K3 Business Technology Group

(Get Free Report)

K3 Business Technology Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides computer software and consultancy services in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the United States, and internationally. It operates through K3 Products and Third-Party Solutions segments. The company offers K3 fashion, a concept-to-consumer solution; K3 pebblestone for small brand owners and retailers; K3 imagine, a unified retail commerce system; K3 MStore, an sale system that manages ticketing, sales, membership, fundraising, event planning, and email marketing; K3 Business Planning, an integrated module that enables enterprises to define multiple budgets for various business areas; K3 ViJi; Microsoft Cloud for Retail solution; and Business Central, an end-to-end solution for managing various business processes, as well as NexSys.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for K3 Business Technology Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for K3 Business Technology Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
KDDI Corporation Unsponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:KDDIY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 26,102 shares, a drop of 90.5% from the March 31st total of 274,135 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,032,931 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

KDDI Trading Down 1.4%

KDDI stock traded down $0.22 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $16.06. The stock had a trading volume of 320,655 shares, compared to its average volume of 404,889. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $16.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.81. KDDI has a twelve month low of $12.95 and a twelve month high of $19.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market cap of $61.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75 and a beta of 0.04.

Get KDDI alerts:

KDDI Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

KDDI Corporation (OTCMKTS: KDDIY) is a diversified Japanese telecommunications and information services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Formed in 2000 through the merger of DDI Corporation, KDD Corporation and IDO Corporation, KDDI provides a broad set of connectivity and digital services for both consumer and enterprise customers. The company operates under well-known consumer brands and through a network of subsidiaries and affiliates that deliver telecommunications, internet and ICT solutions.

At its core, KDDI offers mobile communications services (including the au consumer brand), fixed-line and broadband internet access, and fiber-optic services.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for KDDI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KDDI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
AzerNEWS Staff

If AI is a very fast car with no steering wheel then regulation must provide one, insists Nobel laureate and Artificial Intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, the visionary scientist widely known as the godfather of the self-learning tech, AzerNEWS reports citing the United Nations.

Speaking at the Digital World Conference (DWC): AI for Social Development  co-organized by the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)  Professor Hinton stressed that rapid advances in AI must be guided more carefully to serve societies  rather than undermine them.

If you ever went out with a car that had no brake, boy, you are in trouble if you go down a hill, he told delegates. But you're in even more trouble if theres no steering wheel.

His remarks came during a busy week for AI policymaking, as governments and UN panels stepped up discussions on governance, inclusion and risk management, amid the growing integration of artificial intelligence across the global economy and society.

The pace of AIs growth is staggering. According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)s Technology and Innovation Report 2025, the global AI market is projected to grow from $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033, an economy larger than Japans, built in a single decade.

Yet the capacity to build and shape it remains in the hands of just a few economies and firms, UNCTAD Acting Secretary General Pedro Manuel Moreno warned at the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), also meeting this week.

That concentration risks deepening global inequalities. Doreen Bogdan Martin, Secretary General of the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), pointed out that generative AI adoption in the industrialized Global North is growing nearly twice as fast as in the developing Global South.

Left unaddressed, this is a second great divergence - widening the gap between countries shaping artificial intelligence and those merely consuming it - Ms. Bogdan Martin said, adding that gaps in infrastructure, investment and capacity cannot be closed by any single country or organization alone.

This weeks flurry of international activity on AI and digital technology in Geneva and beyond, reflects the international push to ensure that all countries can benefit and regulate Artificial Intelligence as it increasingly shapes our economies, societies and daily lives.

While the focus of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development is on global level digital policymaking, discussions at the AI For Social Development Conference underscored the need for transparent, accountable and rights based AI governance to address risks such as bias, opaque algorithms and having large volumes of data concentrated in the hands of just a privileged few massive corporations.

Participants at the World Conference  convened by UNRISD and international NGO, the World Digital Techology Academy  examined AIs growing role in social protection, labour markets, education and the green energy transition, while stressing the importance of protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring the benefits of technological change are shared more fairly.

Any proposals for AI governance must be data-driven and this is the fundamental work of the UNs Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which convened its first in person meeting in Madrid on Wednesday.

Opening the Scientific Panels first in person meeting in Madrid, co-chair Maria Ressa explained the groups mandate to provide an independent, scientific and authoritative assessment of how AI systems are shaping societies.

Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and campaigning Philippines journalist, warned that increasingly powerful AI tools are accelerating the undermining of democratic systems using narrative warfare in which falsehoods are manufactured and amplified at scale; the weakening of institutions such as the media and courts; and, ultimately, strategic corruption once accountability erodes.

Its findings will inform the discussions of another key UN AI initiative  the UNs Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance  which meets in July, also in Geneva.

The Scientific Panels findings which Ms. Ressa co-chairs with renowned Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio will inform the discussions of another key UN AI initiative  the UNs Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance  which meets in July, also in Geneva.

The Global Dialogue brings together all 193 United Nations Member States, the private sector, civil society, academia and the tech world to share best practices and build common approaches to AI governance.

The policy conversation will be science and evidence-based, pooled perspectives, scientific perspectives from a multidisciplinary lens from across the world, says the UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, Amandeep Gill.

This is how policy discussions should be, and the UN is very proud to facilitate this first ever such confluence of science and policy in a fast-paced emerging technology.
News / National

by Staff reporter

As the curtain fell on the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), it was not just business deals that defined the week, but the human connections and shared experiences that lingered long after the exhibition halls emptied.At the close of the country's premier trade showcase in Bulawayo, the once-bustling stands grew quiet, banners fluttered gently in the fading light and the steady hum of commerce gave way to reflection.For six days, the fairgrounds served as a vibrant hub of ambition, culture and enterprise under the theme "Connected Economies, Competitive Industries." Yet beyond high-level engagements and polished displays, it was the everyday interactionshandshakes, conversations and aspirationsthat gave the event its lasting impact.On the final day, families lingered between pavilions, children clutching balloons and treats as vendors made last-minute sales. The atmosphere carried a sense of reluctant departure, as visitors savoured the closing moments.For exhibitors, however, the end of the fair marked the beginning of new opportunities. Business discussions initiated earlier in the week evolved into tangible prospects, with commitments for follow-up meetings, partnerships and potential contracts.In the ICT pavilion, exhibitor Susan Mathuthu said the platform had opened new markets."We connected with buyers from the region and beyond. The discussions we had here are promising and could significantly grow our export footprint," she said.Small business owners also highlighted the value of exposure. Entrepreneur Gilbert Moyo said visibility and networking were key outcomes."We have managed to meet potential partners and distributors, which is a big step for our growth," he said.International participants echoed similar sentiments. Botswana exhibitor Keletso Moetsi praised the organisation and engagement levels, noting that Zimbabwe presented itself as both a market and a potential partner.Visitors, too, played a central role in shaping the fair's atmosphere. First-time attendee Nomsa Ndlovu said the experience had reshaped her perception of local industry."There is a lot of innovation happening in Zimbabwe. The exhibits show that our industries are modernising and adapting to global standards," she said.Across the exhibition halls, there were clear signs of an economy in transition, with many companies showcasing value-added products rather than raw exports. Entrepreneur Chipo Mlambo said this shift is key to competitiveness and job creation.Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority stand drew large crowds with displays of local cuisine and tourism experiences, highlighting the country's cultural richness alongside its economic potential.The fair also provided opportunities for informal traders operating outside the main exhibition zones. Food vendors, artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs reported strong sales, with many describing the event as one of their most profitable trading periods of the year.Earlier in the week, the official opening by Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko set an optimistic tone, emphasising regional cooperation and praising Zimbabwe's economic trajectory."We appreciate that Zimbabwe is rising. The Zimbabwean economy is now buoyant and this phenomenal growth inspires confidence," he said.The International Business Conference, a key feature of the fair, brought together policymakers and industry leaders to deliberate on industrialisation, value addition and regional integration, helping shape future investment directions.As the final visitors departed and the gates closed, what remained was more than just the success of an eventit was a tapestry of human stories, each reflecting opportunity, resilience and hope.In that sense, the ZITF did not simply endit carried forward, in the connections made and the possibilities sparked across Zimbabwe's economic landscape.
Lee Danner & Bass Inc. increased its position in shares of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX  Free Report) by 5.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,460 shares of the shipping service providers stock after acquiring an additional 3,068 shares during the period. FedEx comprises 1.2% of Lee Danner & Bass Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Lee Danner & Bass Inc.s holdings in FedEx were worth $17,176,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in FDX. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of FedEx during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new position in FedEx in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. lifted its stake in FedEx by 103.3% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 124 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in FedEx in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC lifted its stake in FedEx by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 105 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.47% of the companys stock.

Get FedEx alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling at FedEx

In other news, EVP Kawal Preet sold 4,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $367.89, for a total transaction of $1,802,661.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 10,953 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,029,499.17. This trade represents a 30.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Susan C. Schwab sold 5,795 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $369.00, for a total transaction of $2,138,355.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 10,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,704,022. The trade was a 36.60% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 48,104 shares of company stock worth $17,599,006 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

FedEx Price Performance

FDX stock opened at $387.83 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $369.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $315.12. The company has a market capitalization of $92.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.64, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.28. FedEx Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.33 and a 52-week high of $399.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.47.

FedEx (NYSE:FDX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 19th. The shipping service provider reported $5.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.12 by $1.13. The firm had revenue of $24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.44 billion. FedEx had a net margin of 4.88% and a return on equity of 16.76%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $4.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that FedEx Corporation will post 19.72 EPS for the current year.

FedEx Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th were paid a dividend of $1.45 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 9th. This represents a $5.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. FedExs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.87%.

Key Stories Impacting FedEx

Here are the key news stories impacting FedEx this week:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on FDX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of FedEx from $364.00 to $369.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of FedEx from $425.00 to $442.00 in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of FedEx from $430.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Evercore increased their price objective on shares of FedEx from $364.00 to $380.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of FedEx in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Eighteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, FedEx has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $398.04.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on FDX

FedEx Profile

(Free Report)

FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is a global logistics and courier company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 and beginning operations in the early 1970s, the company pioneered overnight express shipping and has since expanded into a diversified portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain services. FedEx operates an integrated air-and-ground network that moves parcels, freight and documents for businesses and consumers worldwide.

FedExs core operating segments include express parcel delivery via its FedEx Express division, domestic and residential parcel delivery through FedEx Ground, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, and logistics and supply-chain management solutions.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of NJ grew its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 46.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 49,900 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 15,900 shares during the period. Merck & Co., Inc. accounts for 1.4% of Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of NJs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of NJs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,252,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. DLD Asset Management LP boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 30.1% during the 3rd quarter. DLD Asset Management LP now owns 47,500,000 shares of the companys stock worth $3,986,675,000 after purchasing an additional 11,000,000 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 19,844,936 shares of the companys stock worth $1,665,585,000 after purchasing an additional 2,821,766 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 20.7% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 15,933,909 shares of the companys stock worth $1,336,877,000 after purchasing an additional 2,735,459 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 254,322,763 shares of the companys stock worth $26,770,014,000 after purchasing an additional 2,185,853 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 61.6% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,325,033 shares of the companys stock worth $446,930,000 after purchasing an additional 2,029,342 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.07% of the companys stock.

Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts:

Insider Activity

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 47,434 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.04, for a total transaction of $5,599,109.36. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 443,602 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,362,780.08. This trade represents a 9.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Richard R. Deluca sold 37,685 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.92, for a total transaction of $4,556,870.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 160,174 shares in the company, valued at $19,368,240.08. This represents a 19.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 320,176 shares of company stock worth $38,281,735 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on MRK shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $142.00 price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $128.47.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MRK

Key Stories Impacting Merck & Co., Inc.

Here are the key news stories impacting Merck & Co., Inc. this week:

Positive Sentiment: Merck announced a multiyear, enterprisewide partnership with Google Cloud to deploy Gemini AI and advanced cloud infrastructure for drug discovery, manufacturing and operations  a strategic move that could improve R&D productivity and longterm margins. Read More. Read More.

Merck announced a multiyear, enterprisewide partnership with Google Cloud to deploy Gemini AI and advanced cloud infrastructure for drug discovery, manufacturing and operations  a strategic move that could improve R&D productivity and longterm margins. Read More. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Merck won FDA Priority Review for KEYTRUDA regimens in muscleinvasive bladder cancer  a potential nearterm upsid e for oncology revenue if approved, supporting key growth drivers beyond vaccines. Read More.

Merck won FDA Priority Review for KEYTRUDA regimens in muscleinvasive bladder cancer  a potential nearterm upsid e for oncology revenue if approved, supporting key growth drivers beyond vaccines. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Regulatory approval momentum: the company secured FDA approval for Idvynso (doravirine + islatravir) for HIV1 treatment, and is cited among defensive/countercyclical stock picks  positives for investor sentiment and diversification of approved products. Read More.

Regulatory approval momentum: the company secured FDA approval for Idvynso (doravirine + islatravir) for HIV1 treatment, and is cited among defensive/countercyclical stock picks  positives for investor sentiment and diversification of approved products. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Progress on M&A: the HartScottRodino waiting period expired for Mercks tender offer to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals, clearing an antitrust procedural hurdle and bringing the acquisition closer to closing  strategic but not immediately earningsmaterial. Read More.

Progress on M&A: the HartScottRodino waiting period expired for Mercks tender offer to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals, clearing an antitrust procedural hurdle and bringing the acquisition closer to closing  strategic but not immediately earningsmaterial. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Vaccines headwinds: reports highlight a sharp slump in Gardasil sales in China and Japan, which pressures MRKs vaccines revenue into the upcoming Q1 results and raises downside risk to topline guidance if the trend persists. Read More. Read More.

Vaccines headwinds: reports highlight a sharp slump in Gardasil sales in China and Japan, which pressures MRKs vaccines revenue into the upcoming Q1 results and raises downside risk to topline guidance if the trend persists. Read More. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Analyst expectations: several analyst notes expect a decline in Q1 earnings and flag that Merck may lack the nearterm drivers for an earnings beat  this raises the risk of downside surprise and explains shortterm selling pressure. Read More. Read More.

Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of MRK opened at $111.83 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $118.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $106.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The company has a market capitalization of $276.21 billion, a PE ratio of 15.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.26. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $73.31 and a 52-week high of $125.14.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.03. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 28.08% and a return on equity of 44.57%. The business had revenue of $16.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.72 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Merck & Co., Inc. has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.000-5.150 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 4.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Merck & Co., Inc. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th were issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 16th. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.70%.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

(Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products. Its portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas with a particular emphasis on oncology, vaccines and infectious disease, as well as therapies for metabolic and chronic conditions. Among its well-known products are the cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil; the company also markets a range of medicines and vaccines for veterinary use through Merck Animal Health.

Founded in the late 19th century as the U.S.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:BULZ  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 762,268 shares, a decrease of 51.3% from the March 31st total of 1,565,023 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,939,953 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA BULZ opened at $32.21 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $22.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $25.01. MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN has a 1 year low of $9.01 and a 1 year high of $33.56. The company has a market capitalization of $2.74 billion, a PE ratio of 37.09 and a beta of 4.45.

Get MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN alerts:

MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Read More

The MicroSectors Solactive FANG & Innovation 3X Leveraged ETN (BULZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Solactive FANG Innovation index. The fund tracks 3x the daily price movements of an equal-weighted index of US-listed technology companies. BULZ was launched on Aug 20, 2021 and is issued by REX Microsectors.

Receive News & Ratings for MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MicroSectors FANG & Innovation 3x Leveraged ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich lessened its holdings in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc (NYSE:PNC  Free Report) by 95.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,158 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 23,227 shares during the period. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munichs holdings in The PNC Financial Services Group were worth $244,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its stake in The PNC Financial Services Group by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 57,835 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,621,000 after acquiring an additional 6,572 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 287,236 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $57,714,000 after purchasing an additional 34,009 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,837,301 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $369,169,000 after purchasing an additional 22,325 shares during the period. National Pension Service increased its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,070,589 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $215,113,000 after purchasing an additional 26,305 shares during the period. Finally, Savant Capital LLC increased its position in shares of The PNC Financial Services Group by 8.7% during the 3rd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 87,952 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $17,672,000 after purchasing an additional 7,064 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.53% of the companys stock.

Get The PNC Financial Services Group alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on PNC. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on The PNC Financial Services Group from $263.00 to $267.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Barclays lifted their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $271.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $235.00 target price on shares of The PNC Financial Services Group in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $252.00 to $264.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on The PNC Financial Services Group from $247.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, April 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $241.69.

Insider Activity at The PNC Financial Services Group

In other news, EVP Louis Robert Cestello sold 4,279 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.01, for a total value of $1,001,328.79. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 18,867 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,415,066.67. This represents a 18.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Alexander E. C. Overstrom sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $233.91, for a total transaction of $584,775.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 21,120 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,940,179.20. This trade represents a 10.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 64,186 shares of company stock valued at $14,840,973 over the last ninety days. 0.38% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

The PNC Financial Services Group Stock Performance

Shares of PNC stock opened at $219.97 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $88.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.96. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc has a 1-year low of $156.70 and a 1-year high of $243.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $214.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $207.52.

The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 15th. The financial services provider reported $4.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.92 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $6.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.21 billion. The PNC Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 12.10% and a net margin of 20.89%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.51 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc will post 18.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The PNC Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 14th will be given a $1.70 dividend. This represents a $6.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 14th. The PNC Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is 39.51%.

The PNC Financial Services Group Profile

(Free Report)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offering a broad range of banking, lending, investment and wealth management services. PNC operates a national banking franchise with a significant retail branch network and dedicated capabilities for commercial, institutional and government clients. Its services are designed to serve individuals, small businesses, corporations and public sector entities across the United States.

PNCs core business activities include consumer and business banking, residential mortgage lending, corporate and institutional banking, asset management and wealth advisory services.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The PNC Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE:OVV  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the twenty-one research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fifteen have assigned a 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 $60.4211.

A number of brokerages have commented on OVV. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and set a $62.00 target price (up from $52.00) on shares of Ovintiv in a report on Monday, March 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Ovintiv in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. They set an overweight rating and a $58.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $54.00 target price on shares of Ovintiv in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Stephens upgraded Ovintiv to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on Ovintiv from $55.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th.

Get Ovintiv alerts:

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Ovintiv

Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Ovintiv news, Director Howard John Mayson sold 5,000 shares of Ovintiv stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.39, for a total value of $261,950.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 45,780 shares in the company, valued at $2,398,414.20. The trade was a 9.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, EVP Meghan Nicole Eilers sold 11,582 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.78, for a total transaction of $634,461.96. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 54,092 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,963,159.76. This represents a 17.64% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . 0.85% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steph & Co. acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the first quarter valued at $29,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the third quarter valued at $31,000. HM Payson & Co. acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the third quarter valued at $36,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the third quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Quent Capital LLC acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.81% of the companys stock.

Ovintiv Stock Performance

NYSE OVV opened at $55.74 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $54.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.06. The company has a market capitalization of $15.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.52, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.54. Ovintiv has a 1-year low of $32.91 and a 1-year high of $62.60.

Ovintiv (NYSE:OVV  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $1.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.89 billion. Ovintiv had a return on equity of 12.00% and a net margin of 13.94%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.23) EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Ovintiv will post 6.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ovintiv Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 13th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Ovintivs dividend payout ratio is 24.79%.

Ovintiv Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ovintiv Inc is a North American energy company focused on the exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Formerly known as Encana Corporation, the company rebranded as Ovintiv in January 2020 and established its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Ovintivs upstream portfolio spans multiple unconventional resource plays, reflecting a strategy centered on high-return projects and disciplined capital allocation.

The companys core business activities include the acquisition and development of acreage in major shale basins across the United States and Canada.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Ovintiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ovintiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK (OTCMKTS:PPERY  Get Free Report) is expected to be issuing its resultson Tuesday, April 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.3867 per share and revenue of $2.4477 billion for the quarter.

PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Stock Performance

Shares of PPERY opened at $10.52 on Friday. PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK has a 1 year low of $9.64 and a 1 year high of $13.73. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $11.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.47.

Get PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK alerts:

PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk is one of Indonesias largest banking groups, providing a full range of commercial banking services to corporate, commercial, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and retail customers. The bank was established in 1998 through a government-led consolidation of four state-owned banks as part of efforts to strengthen the financial system during the Asian financial crisis. Since then it has grown into a diversified financial services franchise offering deposit taking, lending, trade finance, payment and cash management, treasury, and wealth-management services.

Bank Mandiris product suite spans traditional retail and corporate banking products  including savings and time deposits, consumer and mortgage loans, working capital and project financing  alongside specialized services such as trade and export-import finance, foreign exchange and treasury solutions, card products, and digital banking channels.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Mandiri Persero TBK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Sanctuary Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,352,008 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 45,686 shares during the period. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF comprises 0.9% of Sanctuary Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Sanctuary Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF were worth $166,648,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 196.9% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 1,441,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,005,000 after buying an additional 955,862 shares during the period. CGC Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,544,000. Lido Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 3,639,449 shares of the companys stock valued at $439,354,000 after buying an additional 221,311 shares during the period. MGO One Seven LLC boosted its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 286.9% in the 3rd quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 261,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,618,000 after buying an additional 194,212 shares during the period. Finally, Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. boosted its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 231.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 273,381 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,003,000 after buying an additional 190,970 shares during the period.

Get iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF alerts:

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Price Performance

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF stock opened at $129.76 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $70.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.33 and a beta of 1.15. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $92.10 and a 1 year high of $129.94. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $119.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $121.55.

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Profile

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. The Growth Index is a subset of the S&P 500 and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest growth characteristics.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:DWAHY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,885 shares, a decline of 54.3% from the March 31st total of 4,122 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 184,611 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Daiwa House Industry Stock Performance

DWAHY stock traded down $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $29.97. 71,199 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 53,586. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $32.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.62. The stock has a market cap of $19.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.89 and a beta of 0.40. Daiwa House Industry has a fifty-two week low of $26.24 and a fifty-two week high of $38.72.

Get Daiwa House Industry alerts:

Daiwa House Industry (OTCMKTS:DWAHY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 13th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.42. The firm had revenue of $9.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.83 billion.

Daiwa House Industry Company Profile

Daiwa House Industry Co, Ltd. is a major Japanese construction and real estate development company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Founded in 1955, the company is best known as one of Japans largest homebuilders and a comprehensive provider of real estate solutions. Its core activities span the planning, design, construction and sale of detached houses, condominiums and rental housing, leveraging prefabrication and standardized building techniques to serve residential markets across Japan.

Beyond residential construction, Daiwa House operates broadly across commercial and industrial segments.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Daiwa House Industry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Daiwa House Industry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (NYSEARCA:XTL  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totaling 106,258 shares, a growth of 104.3% from the March 31st total of 52,017 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 138,758 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Approximately 3.4% of the companys stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SPDR S&P Telecom ETF

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arkadios Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Telecom ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $621,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Telecom ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $501,000. FSA Wealth Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Telecom ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $918,000. CWM LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Telecom ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,959,000. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its stake in shares of SPDR S&P Telecom ETF by 196.4% during the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 10,246 shares of the companys stock worth $1,570,000 after purchasing an additional 6,789 shares in the last quarter.

Get SPDR S&P Telecom ETF alerts:

SPDR S&P Telecom ETF Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of XTL traded up $0.84 on Friday, hitting $219.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 104,134 shares, compared to its average volume of 63,003. The firms fifty day moving average price is $194.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $168.05. SPDR S&P Telecom ETF has a fifty-two week low of $94.02 and a fifty-two week high of $224.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $700.83 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49 and a beta of 1.06.

SPDR S&P Telecom ETF Company Profile

The SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (XTL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P Telecom Select Industry index. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of US telecom companies selected by the S&P Committee. XTL was launched on Jan 26, 2011 and is managed by State Street.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for SPDR S&P Telecom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR S&P Telecom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
ThyssenKrupp AG Sponsored ADR (OTCMKTS:TKAMY  Get Free Report) shares crossed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.42 and traded as low as $10.25. ThyssenKrupp shares last traded at $10.3580, with a volume of 17,083 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on TKAMY. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of ThyssenKrupp from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating on shares of ThyssenKrupp in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Barclays reiterated an underweight rating on shares of ThyssenKrupp in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of ThyssenKrupp from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold.

Get ThyssenKrupp alerts:

Get Our Latest Analysis on ThyssenKrupp

ThyssenKrupp Stock Up 0.4%

The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.59 and a beta of 1.14. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $10.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.87.

ThyssenKrupp (OTCMKTS:TKAMY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.27). ThyssenKrupp had a net margin of 1.83% and a return on equity of 9.08%. The company had revenue of $8.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.42 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that ThyssenKrupp AG Sponsored ADR will post 0.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About ThyssenKrupp

(Get Free Report)

ThyssenKrupp AG (OTCMKTS: TKAMY) is a diversified German industrial conglomerate headquartered in Essen and Dusseldorf. Formed in 1999 through the merger of Thyssen AG and Friedrich Krupp GmbH, the company operates across multiple segments, including steel production, materials distribution, industrial engineering, elevator technology and automotive components.

In its Materials Services division, ThyssenKrupp supplies processed and semi-finished steel products and high-performance materials to industries such as automotive, construction and machinery manufacturing.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for ThyssenKrupp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ThyssenKrupp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Prominent lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa says electing a president through parliament can offer equal opportunity for candidates from different ethnic and regional backgrounds to ensure national inclusivity. pic.twitter.com/a485BA4Rra  Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) April 26, 2026

As debate intensifies over Zimbabwe's proposed constitutional amendments, prominent lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa has called for a shift toward a parliamentary system of electing the president, arguing it would promote inclusivity, stability and consensus-driven governance.Speaking in an interview with journalist Lenin Ndebele in Bulawayo, Mazibisa said electing a president through Parliament could create equal opportunities for candidates from diverse ethnic and regional backgrounds, while reducing the polarisation often associated with direct presidential elections.He argued that consensus-based systems encourage coalition-building and power-sharing, leading to more stable and collaborative policy outcomes compared to what he described as "winner-takes-all" politics."Consensus politics is the antidote to toxic contestations created by winner-takes-all systems," Mazibisa said, adding that such systems often concentrate power in what he termed an "imperial presidency."Zimbabwe is currently debating proposed constitutional changes backed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, including provisions that could extend his tenure from 2028 to 2030.Mazibisa suggested that, given Zanu PF's parliamentary majority, the proposed amendments are likely to pass. He said stakeholders should adopt a pragmatic approach by negotiating broader reforms in exchange for accepting the proposed extension."From a strategic perspective, it may be better to concede the two years and extract more progressive reforms, including dismantling the current concentration of power," he said.He pointed to countries such as South Africa and Botswana, where presidents are elected through Parliament, as examples of systems that promote inclusivity and accountability.Mazibisa also warned against repeating past mistakes, referencing the rejection of Zimbabwe's government-backed constitution in 2000, which he said was driven by emotional responses rather than strategic considerations.Drawing on ideas from Herbert Simon's work Administrative Behaviour, he emphasised the importance of pursuing practical and achievable reforms over ideal but unattainable outcomes."Reform should aim for satisfactory outcomes, not theoretically perfect ones," Mazibisa said.The remarks come as national debate over constitutional reforms continues to deepen, with legal experts, political actors and civil society weighing in on the future structure of Zimbabwe's governance system.
Canadian Natural Resources, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Celsius, TC Energy, Canadian National Railway, Baytex Energy, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce are the seven Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are equity shares that represent ownership in companies incorporated or primarily operating in Canada, typically traded on Canadian exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), and sometimes available abroad as Canadian-listed ADRs. For investors, they provide exposure to Canadas sector mix (notably financials and natural resources) and carry considerations like Canadian-dollar currency risk, domestic regulation, and often attractive dividend yields. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days.

Get alerts:

Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CP

Celsius (CELH)

Celsius Holdings, Inc. develops, processes, markets, distributes, and sells functional energy drinks and liquid supplements in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Middle Eastern, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers CELSIUS, a fitness drink or supplement designed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat; various flavors and carbonated and non-carbonated functional energy drinks under the CELSIUS Originals and Vibe name, as well as functional energy drink under the CELSIUS Essentials and CELSIUS On-the-Go Powder names; and CELSIUS ready-to drink products.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CELH

TC Energy (TRP)

TC Energy Corporation operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. It operates through five segments: Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines; U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines; Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines; Liquids Pipelines; and Power and Energy Solutions. The company builds and operates a network of 93,600 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, which transports natural gas from supply basins to local distribution companies, power generation plants, industrial facilities, interconnecting pipelines, LNG export terminals, and other businesses.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TRP

Canadian National Railway (CNI)

Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CNI

Baytex Energy (BTE)

Read Our Latest Research Report on BTE

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

Read Our Latest Research Report on CM

Further Reading
Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lessened its position in Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) by 20.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 62,894 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 16,086 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbHs holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $11,279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,139,477 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,199,961,000 after acquiring an additional 147,780 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 30.7% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,269,461 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $443,566,000 after acquiring an additional 532,995 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 3rd quarter worth about $254,778,000. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 31.6% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,094,336 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $213,888,000 after acquiring an additional 263,027 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 30.2% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 997,414 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $194,947,000 after acquiring an additional 231,489 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.29% of the companys stock.

Get Williams-Sonoma alerts:

Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

NYSE WSM opened at $190.28 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $22.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.58. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $192.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $193.00. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a one year low of $147.39 and a one year high of $222.00.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

Williams-Sonoma ( NYSE:WSM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 18th. The specialty retailer reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $2.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 13.94% and a return on equity of 51.45%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.28 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will post 9.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 17th will be given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This is a positive change from Williams-Sonomas previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 17th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. Williams-Sonomas payout ratio is 29.83%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, EVP Karalyn Yearout sold 2,267 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.49, for a total transaction of $436,374.83. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 23,351 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,494,833.99. This trade represents a 8.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.04, for a total transaction of $3,660,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 786,537 shares in the company, valued at $143,967,732.48. This trade represents a 2.48% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 71,370 shares of company stock valued at $13,268,623. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $235.00 to $225.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $206.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $188.00 to $208.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 6th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $250.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Finally, Evercore set a $200.00 price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Williams-Sonoma has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $209.56.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Williams-Sonoma

About Williams-Sonoma

(Free Report)

WilliamsSonoma, Inc is a specialty retailer focused on the home and culinary markets, best known for premium cookware, kitchen tools and home furnishings. The company traces its roots to a single cookware store founded by Chuck Williams in 1956 in Sonoma, California, and has evolved into a multibrand home furnishings and housewares business. Its merchandise mix spans cookware and kitchen electrics, tabletop and food prep items, furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories designed for both everyday use and higherend interiors.

The company operates a portfolio of consumer brands that target distinct segments of the home market.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Williams-Sonoma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams-Sonoma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
UPM-Kymmene Co. (OTCMKTS:UPMKY  Get Free Report) crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $26.45 and traded as high as $26.55. UPM-Kymmene shares last traded at $26.4501, with a volume of 6,600 shares traded.

UPM-Kymmene Price Performance

The businesss 50-day moving average price is $26.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.45. The company has a market capitalization of $14.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.98 and a beta of 1.23.

Get UPM-Kymmene alerts:

UPM-Kymmene Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

UPM-Kymmene Corporation is a Finnish forest industry company headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, that specializes in the production of renewable and sustainable wood-based products. The companys core activities encompass the manufacture of pulp, paper, plywood and sawn timber, with a strong emphasis on innovation in specialty papers and label materials.

In addition to traditional forest products, UPM-Kymmene has developed a range of advanced biorefinery solutions. These include renewable biofuels, industrial wood-based chemicals and specialty biomaterials designed to replace fossil-based alternatives.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for UPM-Kymmene Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UPM-Kymmene and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Zentek Ltd. (CVE:ZEN  Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$0.96 and traded as low as C$0.64. Zentek shares last traded at C$0.65, with a volume of 33,388 shares trading hands.

Zentek Trading Down 4.4%

The firm has a market cap of C$69.90 million, a P/E ratio of -8.13 and a beta of 0.36. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of C$0.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 7.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.41.

Zentek Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Zentek Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development of graphene and related nanomaterials in Canada. The company develops graphene-based antimicrobial coating under the ZenGUARD brand, surgical masks, HVAC filters, personal protective equipment, rapid detection point of care diagnostics tests, and pharmaceutical products based on graphene-based compounds. It is also developing graphene oxide synthesis and graphene synthesis. In addition, the company owns 100% interest in the Albany graphite project located in Northern Ontario, Canada.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Zentek Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zentek and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has called for a decisive national shift towards local production and consumption, warning that Zimbabwe's growing import bill is undermining industrial growth and economic sovereignty.Addressing the Buy Local Conference in Harare, Mudenda said the country's widening trade imbalance reflects deep structural weaknesses that require urgent and coordinated intervention."The import bill continues to exert an inexorable stranglehold on the economy, draining foreign currency and steadily corroding the very foundations upon which national prosperity must be built," he said.He revealed that imports have surged from US$4.5 billion in 2019 to a projected US$10 billion in 2026, with nearly US$800 million leaving the country each month."To place the figure in perspective, every single month, Zimbabwe bleeds enough foreign currency to fund multiple major national infrastructure projects," he said.While exports are expected to grow modestly, Mudenda noted that their composition remains problematic, as they are largely dominated by raw or minimally processed commodities."This pattern reflects continued dependence on raw material extraction rather than the industrialisation and beneficiation paradigm shift required for lasting economic transformation," he said.He warned that the imbalance is weakening domestic industry and turning Zimbabwe into a "dumping ground" for foreign goods."This insidious practice has systematically eviscerated the country's industrialisation agenda and entrenched a debilitating dependency that contradicts every foundational principle of national sovereignty," he said.Despite the challenges, Mudenda said Zimbabwe already has the necessary legal and policy frameworks to reverse the trend, stressing that the key issue lies in implementation and national commitment."The challenge before Zimbabwe is not the absence of a legal architecture, but mobilisation of the collective national resolve to activate these mechanisms with unwavering commitment to economic independence," he said.He emphasised that consumer behaviour will be central to driving change, urging citizens to prioritise locally produced goods."Every time Zimbabweans choose locally manufactured products over imported alternatives, they are casting a sovereign vote of confidence in their nation," he said.Mudenda also called on government to lead by example through strict adherence to local procurement policies, particularly by ministries, departments and agencies."The Government cannot credibly call upon citizens and the private sector to buy local if it does not lead by example," he said.He added that Parliament has a crucial role to play through oversight and legislation to reinforce the Buy Local agenda, in line with national development priorities such as National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2)."Parliament must exercise vigilant oversight to ensure that all ministries, departments and agencies honour local procurement policies," he said.As Zimbabwe works towards its Vision 2030 goals, Mudenda said success will depend on aligning policy, institutions and citizen behaviour around a shared economic vision."What is now demanded is the political will to implement these provisions with rigour and the social mobilisation to enlist every Zimbabwean as a conscious agent of economic emancipation," he said.
Following gunshots at a dinner the US president was attending in Washington, a suspected gunman who reportedly intended to target Donald Trump has been charged.

The person will face charges of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a violent crime.

SUSPECT NAMED AS 31-YEAR-OLD COLE TOMAS ALLEN

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were rushed off the stage after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner.#news pic.twitter.com/YQuG8gzTMf  MS NOW (@MSNOWNews) April 26, 2026

Veja momento em que agentes do Servico Secreto dos EUA tentam parar o atirador pic.twitter.com/fBSi7ijdUj  SPACE LIBERDADE  (@NewsLiberdade) April 26, 2026

At the annual White House correspondents dinner, which was held at the Washington Hilton hotel, Mr. Trump was dramatically rushed off stage after multiple gunshots rang out.

Reporters asked the US president if he thought he was the target, and he responded, I guess.

Shots fired, screamed the Secret Service agents. President Trump and Cabinet members were escorted out of the main ballroom by the Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals. pic.twitter.com/s1ikd8tun8  The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 26, 2026

In an incident where one agent was shot, secret service agents tackled the gunman, who officials said had been staying at the hotel, to the ground.

Since then, he has been accused of assault and firearms offences.

The incident occurred at a hotel security checkpoint, and grainy closed-circuit television footage captured multiple agents pulling out their weapons.

During the shooting, the secret service agent who captured the gunman sustained injuries.

The president and an estimated 3,000 guests, including Melania Trump, the first lady, cabinet members, Hollywood stars, and journalists in the capital, were about 60 to 100 yards away from the ballroom entrance.

This is the fourth solid attempt to take President Trumps life.
Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU  Free Report) had its price objective reduced by BMO Capital Markets from $91.00 to $87.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has an underperform rating on the financial services providers stock.

Get Prudential Financial alerts:

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Prudential Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $124.00 to $98.00 in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Prudential Financial from $103.00 to $95.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 10th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Evercore reiterated a negative rating on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Friday, March 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $133.00 to $127.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average target price of $101.75.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial Stock Down 0.0%

Prudential Financial stock opened at $94.31 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $32.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.43, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $97.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $104.72. Prudential Financial has a 12 month low of $91.89 and a 12 month high of $119.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The financial services provider reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.37 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $14.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.48 billion. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 16.32% and a net margin of 6.20%.During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.96 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Prudential Financial will post 13.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.9%. This is a boost from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.35. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Prudential Financial

In related news, EVP Jacques Chappuis acquired 1,000 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $100.97 per share, for a total transaction of $100,970.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president directly owned 1,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $100,970. This trade represents a  increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Joseph J. Wolk acquired 400 shares of Prudential Financial stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $105.32 per share, with a total value of $42,128.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 400 shares in the company, valued at $42,128. This represents a  increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 1,650 shares of company stock worth $168,841. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prudential Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jessup Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Garton & Associates Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 98.3% in the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 230 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 93.1% in the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 278 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lodestone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. 56.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Prudential Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Prudential Financial this week:

Prudential Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Prudential Financial, Inc, headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, is a diversified financial services company with roots dating to 1875. The firm provides a range of insurance, retirement and investment products aimed at helping individual and institutional clients manage risk, accumulate and protect wealth, and plan for retirement. Prudentials long history in life insurance and related financial services has positioned it as a major participant in the U.S. insurance market and a provider of services to a broad client base.

Prudentials core business activities include individual life insurance, annuities, retirement solutions and group insurance products for employers.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SAP (NYSE:SAP  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by research analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $210.00 to $200.00 in a report released on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the software makers stock. BMO Capital Markets target price indicates a potential upside of 14.22% from the companys previous close.

Get SAP alerts:

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on SAP. HSBC upgraded SAP from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a buy rating on shares of SAP in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered SAP from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Citizens Jmp lowered SAP from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered SAP from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, SAP has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $287.75.

View Our Latest Report on SAP

SAP Trading Up 7.3%

Shares of NYSE SAP opened at $175.10 on Friday. SAP has a one year low of $160.66 and a one year high of $313.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $215.11 billion, a PE ratio of 23.66, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $183.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $222.34.

SAP (NYSE:SAP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The software maker reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.07. SAP had a return on equity of 17.62% and a net margin of 20.08%.The firm had revenue of $11.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.21 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.52 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that SAP will post 8.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SAP

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CX Institutional boosted its holdings in shares of SAP by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 1,961 shares of the software makers stock worth $524,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of SAP by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the software makers stock worth $1,074,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Binnacle Investments Inc boosted its holdings in shares of SAP by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 338 shares of the software makers stock worth $90,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of SAP by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 740 shares of the software makers stock worth $180,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in shares of SAP by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 4,495 shares of the software makers stock worth $1,355,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period.

Key Headlines Impacting SAP

Here are the key news stories impacting SAP this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and cloud momentum  SAP reported $1.99 EPS vs. $1.92 expected, IFRS operating profit +17%, and strong cloud metrics: cloud revenue +27% at constant currencies and current cloud backlog 21.9bn (+25% CC). This underpins revenue visibility and margin improvement. SAP Quarterly Statement Q1 2026

Q1 results beat and cloud momentum  SAP reported $1.99 EPS vs. $1.92 expected, IFRS operating profit +17%, and strong cloud metrics: cloud revenue +27% at constant currencies and current cloud backlog 21.9bn (+25% CC). This underpins revenue visibility and margin improvement. Positive Sentiment: Market coverage highlights the beat and cloud strength  multiple outlets report the cloud-driven rebound and link it to the stock move, reinforcing investor confidence. SAP stock surges on cloud performance

Market coverage highlights the beat and cloud strength  multiple outlets report the cloud-driven rebound and link it to the stock move, reinforcing investor confidence. Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade / bullish write-ups  Seeking Alpha upgraded SAP to Buy citing accelerating cloud revenue and improving operating margins, which supports more bullish investor sentiment. SAP upgrade article

Analyst upgrade / bullish write-ups  Seeking Alpha upgraded SAP to Buy citing accelerating cloud revenue and improving operating margins, which supports more bullish investor sentiment. Positive Sentiment: Management and CEO positioning on AI  CEO comments emphasizing SAPs AI readiness and differentiated ERP positioning help calm sector AI fears and support the narrative that SAP can capture enterprise AI spend. CEO AI remarks

Management and CEO positioning on AI  CEO comments emphasizing SAPs AI readiness and differentiated ERP positioning help calm sector AI fears and support the narrative that SAP can capture enterprise AI spend. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst consensus and long-term targets still varied  coverage ranges from trimmed near-term targets to high long-term price targets (average reported around $297), reflecting differing views on valuation vs. growth runway. Brokerage targets

Analyst consensus and long-term targets still varied  coverage ranges from trimmed near-term targets to high long-term price targets (average reported around $297), reflecting differing views on valuation vs. growth runway. Negative Sentiment: Short interest rose sharply in April  short interest increased ~31.6% month-over-month to ~7.56M shares (0.7% of float). That shows some investor skepticism and could pressure the stock if sentiment weakens. (Short-interest ratio 2.4 days.)

Short interest rose sharply in April  short interest increased ~31.6% month-over-month to ~7.56M shares (0.7% of float). That shows some investor skepticism and could pressure the stock if sentiment weakens. (Short-interest ratio 2.4 days.) Negative Sentiment: Price-target trim from BMO  BMO lowered its target from $210 to $200 (still an outperform), a modest near-term downgrade that may temper upside in the near term. BMO note

Price-target trim from BMO  BMO lowered its target from $210 to $200 (still an outperform), a modest near-term downgrade that may temper upside in the near term. Negative Sentiment: Pre-earnings target trims  some analysts trimmed targets ahead of Q1, highlighting lingering concerns about sector headwinds and valuation that could limit momentum despite the beat. Analyst trims

About SAP

(Get Free Report)

SAP SE is a global enterprise software company headquartered in Walldorf, Germany. Founded in 1972 by five former IBM engineers, the companys name is an acronym for Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung (Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing). SAP develops and sells software and services that help organizations manage business processes across finance, human resources, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain and customer relationships.

SAPs product portfolio spans onpremises and cloud offerings, anchored by its enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions such as SAP S/4HANA and the SAP HANA inmemory database and platform.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for SAP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SAP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by BNP Paribas Exane from $172.00 to $165.00 in a research report report published on Thursday morning,MarketScreener reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock.

Get Procter & Gamble alerts:

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on PG. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $179.00 to $175.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $150.00 to $142.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $156.00 to $142.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $166.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Procter & Gamble presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $160.41.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PG

Procter & Gamble Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of Procter & Gamble stock opened at $148.11 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $344.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.94, a PEG ratio of 5.62 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $150.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $148.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Procter & Gamble has a 12-month low of $137.62 and a 12-month high of $170.99.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 24th. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $21.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.52 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 32.21%. Procter & Gambles quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.54 EPS. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.090 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Procter & Gamble will post 6.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Procter & Gamble Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 24th will be paid a $1.0885 dividend. This is a boost from Procter & Gambles previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 24th. This represents a $4.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.44%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Moses Victor Javier Aguilar sold 15,169 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.28, for a total value of $2,461,625.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 44,735 shares in the company, valued at $7,259,595.80. This trade represents a 25.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 36,093 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.33, for a total transaction of $5,858,976.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 34,994 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,680,576.02. This represents a 50.77% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 252,715 shares of company stock worth $40,966,904. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Procter & Gamble

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in PG. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1,000.0% in the 4th quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 165 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 65.1% in the 4th quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC now owns 180 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1,315.4% in the 4th quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 184 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Litman Gregory Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Procter & Gamble

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings and core metrics beat expectations  adjusted EPS topped consensus and net sales/organic sales rose yearoveryear, showing volume-led growth that suggests improving consumer demand. Business Wire: Q3 Results

Q3 earnings and core metrics beat expectations  adjusted EPS topped consensus and net sales/organic sales rose yearoveryear, showing volume-led growth that suggests improving consumer demand. Positive Sentiment: Beauty and premium brands outperformed (e.g., SKII growth), supporting higher-margin mix and contributing to marketshare gains cited by management. Reuters: Beauty Demand Strength

Beauty and premium brands outperformed (e.g., SKII growth), supporting higher-margin mix and contributing to marketshare gains cited by management. Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option buying and positive analyst notes pre/postrelease amplified buying momentum, signaling increased bullish positioning from traders and some brokers. (Options volume spike reported in market coverage.)

Unusually heavy call-option buying and positive analyst notes pre/postrelease amplified buying momentum, signaling increased bullish positioning from traders and some brokers. (Options volume spike reported in market coverage.) Neutral Sentiment: Management reiterated fiscal2026 guidance (EPS range ~6.837.09) and maintained its outlook  that gives reassurance on the plan but leaves upside capped until guidance is raised. P&G Press Release / Slides

Management reiterated fiscal2026 guidance (EPS range ~6.837.09) and maintained its outlook  that gives reassurance on the plan but leaves upside capped until guidance is raised. Negative Sentiment: P&G disclosed a roughly $150 million hit to annual profits from Middle East disruptions (higher energy/logistics/input costs), a tangible nearterm headwind that pressure margins and could constrain FY earnings. Benzinga: $150M Hit

P&G disclosed a roughly $150 million hit to annual profits from Middle East disruptions (higher energy/logistics/input costs), a tangible nearterm headwind that pressure margins and could constrain FY earnings. Negative Sentiment: Some sellside desks trimmed price targets and highlighted input-cost risks (resin, energy), which tempers upside and keeps valuation scrutiny on the stock. MarketScreener: PT Adjustments

About Procter & Gamble

(Get Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Free Report) had its price objective reduced by Mizuho from $107.00 to $105.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

Get Travel + Leisure alerts:

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $71.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $68.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. 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 research report on Thursday, February 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $88.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Travel + Leisure from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, April 11th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $85.20.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TNL

Travel + Leisure Stock Up 3.4%

NYSE TNL opened at $67.33 on Thursday. Travel + Leisure has a 52 week low of $42.58 and a 52 week high of $81.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $72.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.68. The firm has a market cap of $4.20 billion, a PE ratio of 18.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.32.

Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The company reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.14. Travel + Leisure had a negative return on equity of 48.06% and a net margin of 5.85%.The business had revenue of $961.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $954.81 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.11 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Travel + Leisure will post 7.46 EPS for the current year.

Travel + Leisure Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 20th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Travel + Leisures previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio is 67.42%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Travel + Leisure news, Director George Herrera sold 1,748 shares of Travel + Leisure stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.31, for a total value of $122,901.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 1,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at $130,284.43. The trade was a 48.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Michael Dean Brown sold 9,443 shares of Travel + Leisure stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.11, for a total value of $747,035.73. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 487,303 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,550,540.33. This represents a 1.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Insiders sold a total of 121,738 shares of company stock valued at $9,136,054 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 4.01% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Travel + Leisure

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Travel + Leisure by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,632,657 shares of the companys stock valued at $256,211,000 after acquiring an additional 146,484 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Travel + Leisure by 46.8% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,682,604 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,449,000 after acquiring an additional 855,151 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management grew its position in Travel + Leisure by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,612,657 shares of the companys stock valued at $113,741,000 after acquiring an additional 17,377 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Travel + Leisure by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,208,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $85,281,000 after acquiring an additional 10,137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in Travel + Leisure by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 906,101 shares of the companys stock valued at $63,907,000 after acquiring an additional 77,135 shares in the last quarter. 87.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Travel + Leisure

Here are the key news stories impacting Travel + Leisure this week:

Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat  TNL posted EPS and revenue slightly above consensus, showing modest top- and bottom-line outperformance that supports near-term cash flow and dividend visibility. Read More.

Q1 beat  TNL posted EPS and revenue slightly above consensus, showing modest top- and bottom-line outperformance that supports near-term cash flow and dividend visibility. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Earnings-call tone was constructive  management reiterated guidance, emphasized underwriting strength and committed to capital returns (dividend + buybacks), which underpins longer-term shareholder support. Read More.

Earnings-call tone was constructive  management reiterated guidance, emphasized underwriting strength and committed to capital returns (dividend + buybacks), which underpins longer-term shareholder support. Read More. Positive Sentiment: Insider purchase  CFO Erik D. Hoag bought 1,000 shares at about $65.67, a small but timely buy that signals management confidence at current levels. Read More.

Insider purchase  CFO Erik D. Hoag bought 1,000 shares at about $65.67, a small but timely buy that signals management confidence at current levels. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Analyst actions mixed  Mizuho trimmed its price target slightly but kept an outperform stance; other shops remain generally constructive, producing a range of price targets and reinforcing analyst disagreement on near-term risks vs. upside. Read More.

Analyst actions mixed  Mizuho trimmed its price target slightly but kept an outperform stance; other shops remain generally constructive, producing a range of price targets and reinforcing analyst disagreement on near-term risks vs. upside. Read More. Neutral Sentiment: Market deep-dive notes mixed signals  coverage highlights expansion of the multi-brand strategy and VOI strength but flags model sensitivity to credit trends, leaving markets to weigh growth vs. credit risk. Read More.

Market deep-dive notes mixed signals  coverage highlights expansion of the multi-brand strategy and VOI strength but flags model sensitivity to credit trends, leaving markets to weigh growth vs. credit risk. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Delinquency headlines driving the sell-off  recent coverage calling out early-stage delinquencies in newer loan vintages appears to have triggered the bulk of todays downside and higher volume despite analyst reassurances on underwriting and member FICO. Read More.

Delinquency headlines driving the sell-off  recent coverage calling out early-stage delinquencies in newer loan vintages appears to have triggered the bulk of todays downside and higher volume despite analyst reassurances on underwriting and member FICO. Read More. Negative Sentiment: Perception vs. reality  some commentary frames the postearnings weakness as overblown but the narrative risk (credit headlines) is currently outweighing fundamentals in near-term trading. Read More.

About Travel + Leisure

(Get Free Report)

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.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Travel + Leisure Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travel + Leisure and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Envista (NYSE:NVST  Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from $19.00 to $21.00 in a research report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Morgan Stanleys target price suggests a potential downside of 21.74% from the stocks current price.

Get Envista alerts:

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Citigroup initiated coverage on Envista in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. They issued a neutral rating and a $29.00 price objective for the company. William Blair upgraded Envista from a hold rating to an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Envista from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Envista from $21.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $31.00 price objective on Envista in a report on Friday, February 6th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.85.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Envista

Envista Price Performance

NVST opened at $26.84 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $26.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $23.72. Envista has a 12-month low of $15.49 and a 12-month high of $30.42. The company has a current ratio of 2.38, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 95.84, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.98.

Envista (NYSE:NVST  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.06. Envista had a return on equity of 6.54% and a net margin of 1.73%.During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.24 earnings per share. Envistas revenue for the quarter was up 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Envista has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.350-1.450 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Envista will post 1.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Mischa Reis sold 9,675 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.00, for a total transaction of $290,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 32,382 shares in the company, valued at $971,460. This represents a 23.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.99% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Envista

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Envista by 317.6% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,349 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,026 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its holdings in Envista by 16,711.1% during the 3rd quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,513 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,504 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in Envista by 75.4% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,805 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 776 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Envista by 46.1% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 636 shares during the period. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in Envista by 73.1% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,248 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 949 shares during the period.

Envista Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Envista Holdings Corporation is a global dental products company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of dental consumables, equipment and technology solutions. Headquartered in Brea, California, Envista serves dental practitioners, specialists and laboratories in more than 150 countries. The companys offerings span implant, orthodontic, endodontic and restorative product lines as well as digital imaging systems and practice management software.

Envistas product brands include Nobel Biocare for dental implants and restorative solutions, Ormco for orthodontic appliances and treatment systems, Kerr for restorative and endodontic materials, KaVo for dental imaging and handpieces, and Vista for surgical drills and instruments.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Envista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Envista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ryder System (NYSE:R  Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by equities researchers at Robert W. Baird from $202.00 to $253.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the transportation companys stock. Robert W. Bairds price target would suggest a potential downside of 0.01% from the stocks previous close.

Get Ryder System alerts:

R has been the topic of several other reports. Wolfe Research reaffirmed a peer perform rating on shares of Ryder System in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on Ryder System from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Ryder System in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Ryder System from $210.00 to $236.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Ryder System from $245.00 to $239.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $234.89.

Get Our Latest Research Report on R

Ryder System Stock Up 4.3%

Shares of R opened at $253.02 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $9.97 billion, a PE ratio of 21.03 and a beta of 0.93. Ryder System has a 12 month low of $133.73 and a 12 month high of $254.16. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $211.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $194.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.69.

Ryder System (NYSE:R  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The transportation company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.29 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $2.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion. Ryder System had a return on equity of 17.75% and a net margin of 3.91%.The businesss quarterly revenue was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.46 EPS. Ryder System has set its FY 2026 guidance at 14.050-14.80 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 3.500-3.75 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Ryder System will post 14.23 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director E Follin Smith sold 32,230 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.61, for a total value of $6,691,270.30. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 1,549 shares of the companys stock, valued at $321,587.89. The trade was a 95.41% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Rajeev Ravindran sold 14,367 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $211.73, for a total value of $3,041,924.91. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,832 shares in the company, valued at $4,410,759.36. This represents a 40.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 130,673 shares of company stock worth $28,233,471 over the last three months. Insiders own 4.90% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in Ryder System by 254.1% in the 3rd quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 34,835 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $6,571,000 after buying an additional 24,996 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Ryder System by 76.6% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 66,941 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $12,628,000 after buying an additional 29,029 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Ryder System in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,495,000. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Ryder System by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 867,658 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $163,675,000 after buying an additional 9,404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its position in Ryder System by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 31,763 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $5,992,000 after buying an additional 2,800 shares in the last quarter. 87.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ryder System News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Ryder System this week:

Positive Sentiment: Citigroup raised its price target to $276 and maintained a Buy rating  the largest analyst upside and a clear vote of confidence supporting the rally. Citigroup PT Raise

Citigroup raised its price target to $276 and maintained a Buy rating  the largest analyst upside and a clear vote of confidence supporting the rally. Positive Sentiment: Ryder reported Q1 EPS of $2.54, beating estimates, and management raised its FY 2026 adjusted EPS outlook  a core catalyst for the bullish move. Zacks Q1 Earnings Beat

Ryder reported Q1 EPS of $2.54, beating estimates, and management raised its FY 2026 adjusted EPS outlook  a core catalyst for the bullish move. Positive Sentiment: Earnings call highlights pointed to strong used-vehicle sales and favorable port-to-door logistics performance, helping margins and cash generation  positive operational signs for future free cash flow. Yahoo Earnings Call Highlights

Earnings call highlights pointed to strong used-vehicle sales and favorable port-to-door logistics performance, helping margins and cash generation  positive operational signs for future free cash flow. Positive Sentiment: Company press release and slide deck confirm the beat and the raised FY guidance (EPS range 14.0514.80), which supports upward revisions to valuation models. BusinessWire Q1 Results

Company press release and slide deck confirm the beat and the raised FY guidance (EPS range 14.0514.80), which supports upward revisions to valuation models. Neutral Sentiment: Multiple brokerages updated targets after the print  Barclays to $250 (Overweight), JPMorgan to $250 (Neutral) and Robert W. Baird to $253 (Outperform)  these lifts signal analyst support but some targets still sit near or below the current market price. Analyst PT Raises

Multiple brokerages updated targets after the print  Barclays to $250 (Overweight), JPMorgan to $250 (Neutral) and Robert W. Baird to $253 (Outperform)  these lifts signal analyst support but some targets still sit near or below the current market price. Neutral Sentiment: Extensive coverage (earnings call transcript, presentation, and analyst notes) provides detail for investors to re-evaluate models; implications depend on how traders weigh EPS beats vs revenue softness. Earnings Call Transcript

Extensive coverage (earnings call transcript, presentation, and analyst notes) provides detail for investors to re-evaluate models; implications depend on how traders weigh EPS beats vs revenue softness. Negative Sentiment: Total revenue missed consensus (reported ~$2.57B vs. ~$3.11B est.), which tempers the headline beat and is a reason some analysts remain cautious. MarketBeat Revenue Details

About Ryder System

(Get Free Report)

Ryder System, Inc is a leading provider of transportation and supply chain management solutions, serving commercial customers across a range of industries. The companys Fleet Management Solutions segment offers full-service leasing and rental of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers, along with maintenance and repair services at its network of service locations. Its Supply Chain Solutions segment provides integrated, technology-driven offerings that span managed transportation, dedicated contract carriage, warehousing and distribution, and e-commerce fulfillment.

Founded in 1933 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Ryder has grown from a regional truck leasing operation into a diversified, global logistics provider.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Ryder System Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryder System and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Chinese mining giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt has completed a full takeover of Zimbabwe's largest lithium operation, consolidating control over a strategic asset as the country intensifies efforts to promote local mineral processing.The company confirmed in its results for the year ended December 31, 2025, that it has acquired the remaining minority stake in Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, bringing its ownership to 100% and giving it full authority over production, processing and exports.The transaction, valued at approximately US$32.11 million, included a premium of about US$1213 million above book value, highlighting the importance of the asset within Huayou's global portfolio.At the centre of the deal is the Arcadia Mine, located about 30 kilometres east of Harare. The mine has rapidly grown into Zimbabwe's largest lithium operation and is now a key pillar in Huayou's strategy to move up the lithium value chain.The company has already committed significant investment to the project, including about US$300 million for a concentrator plant and a further US$400 million for a lithium sulphate facility. A 50,000-tonne lithium sulphate plant has been completed and entered trial production in the first quarter of the year, positioning Arcadia as an integrated processing hub.Exploration efforts have also expanded the resource base, with lithium carbonate equivalent estimates rising from 1.5 million tonnes to 2.45 million tonnes, while ore grades have improved to 1.34%. These gains strengthen the mine's long-term production outlook and its role in global battery supply chains.Huayou disclosed that 45% of its equity in the Zimbabwean unit has been pledged as collateral for financing, reflecting the complex funding structures underpinning large-scale mining investments.The latest acquisition completes a process that began in 2022, when the company bought an initial 87% stake from Prospect Resources for about US$378 million.Full ownership comes at a time when Zimbabwe is tightening regulations on lithium exports, restricting the shipment of raw concentrates in a bid to force investment into local processing.Industry estimates highlight the stakes, with Zimbabwe earning about US$375 per tonne from raw lithium exports compared to as much as US$20,000 per tonne for battery-grade material.As the country pushes towards exporting only processed lithium by 2027, Huayou's complete control of the Arcadia operation places it in a strong position to adapt to the evolving regulatory environment while deepening its role in the global energy transition supply chain.
Investment analysts at Stephens initiated coverage on shares of UWM (NYSE:UWMC  Get Free Report) in a research note issued on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage set an equal weight rating and a $4.00 price target on the stock. Stephens price objective suggests a potential upside of 5.68% from the companys previous close.

Get UWM alerts:

UWMC has been the subject of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $5.00 price objective on shares of UWM in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $4.40 price objective on shares of UWM in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on shares of UWM from $6.00 to $5.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Argus upgraded shares of UWM to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, BTIG Research restated a buy rating and issued a $10.00 price objective on shares of UWM in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $5.99.

Read Our Latest Research Report on UWMC

UWM Price Performance

UWMC opened at $3.79 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.64. UWM has a 12 month low of $3.38 and a 12 month high of $7.14. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $3.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.82. The stock has a market cap of $6.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 63.08 and a beta of 1.93.

UWM (NYSE:UWMC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.01). UWM had a net margin of 0.87% and a negative return on equity of 1.35%. The firm had revenue of $945.25 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $759.12 million. On average, research analysts expect that UWM will post 0.41 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other UWM news, CEO Ishbia Mat sold 1,000,574 shares of UWM stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.70, for a total value of $3,702,123.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 8,320,673 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,786,490.10. This trade represents a 10.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 27,400,916 shares of company stock valued at $112,469,538. Company insiders own 87.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of UWM

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of UWM by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 55,509 shares of the companys stock valued at $243,000 after purchasing an additional 2,329 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its stake in shares of UWM by 4.9% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 51,423 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 2,407 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of UWM by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 6,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 2,602 shares during the period. Choreo LLC raised its stake in shares of UWM by 16.1% in the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 19,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $84,000 after purchasing an additional 2,637 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming raised its stake in shares of UWM by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 14,552 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,000 after purchasing an additional 2,902 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.59% of the companys stock.

About UWM

(Get Free Report)

United Wholesale Mortgage (NYSE: UWMC) is a leading mortgage lender in the United States specializing in the wholesale channel. The company partners with independent mortgage brokers, community banks and credit unions to offer a full suite of residential mortgage products. Through its network of third-party originators, United Wholesale Mortgage underwrites, funds and closes loans, allowing its partners to focus on customer acquisition and service.

The companys product offerings include conventional fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, U.S.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for UWM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UWM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Analysts at Stephens assumed coverage on shares of PennyMac Financial Services (NYSE:PFSI  Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm set an equal weight rating and a $100.00 price target on the real estate investment trusts stock. Stephens price target indicates a potential upside of 9.56% from the stocks current price.

Get PennyMac Financial Services alerts:

PFSI has been the subject of several other research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of PennyMac Financial Services from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, March 16th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of PennyMac Financial Services from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, April 11th. BTIG Research restated a buy rating on shares of PennyMac Financial Services in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of PennyMac Financial Services from $137.00 to $122.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 2nd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of PennyMac Financial Services from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 3rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.25.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PennyMac Financial Services

PennyMac Financial Services Stock Up 1.6%

PFSI stock opened at $91.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34. PennyMac Financial Services has a 1-year low of $82.65 and a 1-year high of $160.36. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $89.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $114.69. The firm has a market cap of $4.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.81, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.52.

PennyMac Financial Services (NYSE:PFSI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.23 by ($1.26). PennyMac Financial Services had a net margin of 24.48% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The business had revenue of $538.01 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $639.81 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.95 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that PennyMac Financial Services will post 11.88 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at PennyMac Financial Services

In related news, CEO David Spector sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.83, for a total value of $928,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 70,604 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,554,169.32. This represents a 12.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Daniel Stanley Perotti sold 2,925 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.30, for a total transaction of $272,902.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 213,550 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,924,215. The trade was a 1.35% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last three months, insiders sold 51,280 shares of company stock worth $4,630,853. 15.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PennyMac Financial Services

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PFSI. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,518 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $482,000 after acquiring an additional 329 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 42.4% in the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 10,829 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $946,000 after acquiring an additional 3,227 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd lifted its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 7,600.0% in the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 231 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in PennyMac Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $379,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in PennyMac Financial Services by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,569,184 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $206,881,000 after acquiring an additional 106,088 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.87% of the companys stock.

PennyMac Financial Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc (NYSE: PFSI) is a leading mortgage banking company based in Westlake Village, California. The firm operates through two primary business segments: Production and Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSR). In its Production segment, PennyMac originates residential mortgage loans through retail, wholesale and correspondent channels, focusing on both purchase and refinance transactions. The MSR segment involves the acquisition and servicing of mortgage loans, whereby the company earns fees for managing loan portfolios on behalf of investors.

Since its founding in 2008, PennyMac has grown through a combination of organic origination and strategic acquisition of servicing rights, positioning itself as one of the largest residential mortgage loan servicers in the United States.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for PennyMac Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PennyMac Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT  Get Free Report) had its target price decreased by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $105.00 to $90.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus target price indicates a potential upside of 29.23% from the stocks previous close.

Get Planet Fitness alerts:

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Planet Fitness from $120.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Planet Fitness from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $117.00 price target on shares of Planet Fitness in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Planet Fitness in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Planet Fitness in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Planet Fitness presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $114.92.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PLNT

Planet Fitness Trading Up 0.8%

PLNT opened at $69.64 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a PE ratio of 26.58, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.31. Planet Fitness has a twelve month low of $67.82 and a twelve month high of $114.47. The firms 50-day moving average price is $77.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $92.77.

Planet Fitness (NYSE:PLNT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $376.26 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $366.48 million. Planet Fitness had a net margin of 16.55% and a negative return on equity of 97.97%. Planet Fitnesss quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.70 earnings per share. Planet Fitness has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.350-3.380 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Planet Fitness will post 3.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Planet Fitness

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 25.6% in the 1st quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,430 shares of the companys stock worth $255,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in shares of Planet Fitness in the 1st quarter worth approximately $659,000. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. lifted its holdings in shares of Planet Fitness by 36.9% in the 1st quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. now owns 164,797 shares of the companys stock worth $12,395,000 after acquiring an additional 44,404 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new position in shares of Planet Fitness in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,793,000. Finally, OP Asset Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Planet Fitness in the 1st quarter worth approximately $852,000. 95.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Planet Fitness Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Planet Fitness, Inc is a franchisor and operator of fitness centers based in Hampton, New Hampshire. Established in 1992, the company designs and equips its clubs to offer a non-intimidating workout environment, often marketed under its Judgment Free Zone philosophy. Planet Fitness markets affordable membership plans and a variety of cardio and strength-training equipment, positioning itself to attract casual and first-time gym users.

The company operates through a network of franchised and company-owned clubs.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Planet Fitness Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Planet Fitness and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG  Free Report) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. Raymond James Financial currently has $75.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $85.00.

Get West Fraser Timber alerts:

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of West Fraser Timber in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $81.00 price target on West Fraser Timber in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Zacks Research raised West Fraser Timber from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, West Fraser Timber presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $81.33.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFG

West Fraser Timber Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of WFG stock opened at $65.47 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $65.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $64.89. West Fraser Timber has a twelve month low of $57.34 and a twelve month high of $78.55. The company has a market capitalization of $4.98 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.38 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported ($2.42) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.71) by $0.29. West Fraser Timber had a negative return on equity of 5.69% and a negative net margin of 17.15%.The company had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.18 billion. Equities analysts forecast that West Fraser Timber will post -2.5 EPS for the current year.

West Fraser Timber Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 13th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 13th. West Fraser Timbers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -10.51%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On West Fraser Timber

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WFG. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 3.0% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 230,878 shares of the companys stock worth $17,764,000 after purchasing an additional 6,640 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 9.0% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 7,800 shares of the companys stock worth $571,000 after purchasing an additional 641 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new position in West Fraser Timber during the second quarter worth $5,248,000. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 2.2% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 114,850 shares of the companys stock worth $8,419,000 after purchasing an additional 2,419 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 2.1% during the second quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 23,919 shares of the companys stock worth $1,753,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. 40.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

West Fraser Timber Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

West Fraser Timber Co Ltd. (NYSE: WFG) is a leading North American diversified wood products company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company operates a broad portfolio of manufacturing facilities that produce lumber, engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood, as well as medium density fibreboard (MDF), particleboard, pulp and paper. West Frasers integrated production model spans harvesting, milling and finishing, allowing it to serve a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial construction markets.

Founded in 1955 as West Fraser Mills, the company has grown through both organic investment and strategic acquisitions to become one of the largest lumber producers in the world.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for West Fraser Timber Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Fraser Timber and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH  Free Report) had its price target upped by Susquehanna from $80.00 to $95.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Susquehanna currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Get Wyndham Hotels & Resorts alerts:

Several other equities analysts have also commented on WH. Truist Financial upped their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $99.00 to $107.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 26th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $85.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $95.50 to $93.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Barclays upped their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $98.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $97.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.64.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Price Performance

WH stock opened at $85.79 on Thursday. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a 52-week low of $69.21 and a 52-week high of $92.68. The business has a fifty day moving average of $81.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.79. The stock has a market cap of $6.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.37.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.04. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts had a return on equity of 64.18% and a net margin of 13.51%.The business had revenue of $334.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $337.63 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.04 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.620-4.800 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will post 4.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 30th. Investors of record on Friday, March 20th were paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Wyndham Hotels & Resortss previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Wyndham Hotels & Resortss dividend payout ratio is currently 69.64%.

Insider Activity

In related news, General Counsel Paul F. Cash sold 19,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.09, for a total transaction of $1,506,582.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 27,912 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,123,824.08. This represents a 41.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Scott R. Strickland sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.36, for a total value of $522,340.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 43,639 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,506,830.04. The trade was a 12.96% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 2.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 73.5% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 314 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 49.2% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 376 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 181.3% during the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 495 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 319 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.46% of the companys stock.

About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

(Get Free Report)

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc (NYSE: WH) is a leading global hospitality company specializing in hotel franchising and management. Established in 2018 through the spin-off of Wyndham Hotel Group from Wyndham Worldwide, the company focuses on the development, marketing and distribution of hotel brands designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers. Its core business model centers on franchising agreements, enabling third-party hotel owners to operate under the Wyndham portfolio while accessing the companys centralized services and support.

The companys brand portfolio spans economy, midscale and upper-midscale segments, featuring well-known names such as Wyndham, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Microtel Inn & Suites, and La Quinta by Wyndham.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The 2026 cruise season has officially commenced at Foyle Port with the arrival of its first passenger vessel of the year, an inaugural visit from leading French luxury cruise line, Ponant.

The ice-class rated expedition vessel, Le Laperouse, anchored in Greencastle on Thursday, April 16, marking the beginning of what is set to be a record year for cruise tourism for the Port.

The ship is calling as part of a 10-day Celtic Secrets & Landscapes cruise, sailing from Greenock to Cobh, with stops across Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This marks the earliest cruise call ever to the region and with the final call scheduled for September 19, this is set to be the longest season on record for Foyle Port.

To commemorate the inaugural call, a traditional plaque exchange was held on board between the ships Captain Adrien Eyssautier and local representatives from Foyle Port, Failte Ireland, Donegal County Council, Go Visit Inishowen and Hamilton Shipping Services.

Foyle Ports Harbour Master and Operations Director, Captain Bill McCann said, We are delighted to welcome Ponant to the North West for the first time. The arrival of a prestigious luxury expedition cruise line of this calibre is a strong endorsement of the regions offering and its growing reputation on the global cruise stage.

READ NEXT: NI drivers see the smallest drop in car insurance prices

"Ponant guests typically seek out culturally rich and off-the-beaten-track destinations, making the North West an ideal fit and creating valuable opportunities for local tourism businesses.

He added, This is the first of eight inaugural calls scheduled for 2026, alongside a strong return rate, with 87% of the cruise lines choosing to revisit the region. This year is set to be a record, with the highest volume of calls and almost 16,000 passengers, the most we have ever welcomed.

Expedition vessels continue to play a significant role in the 2026 season, accounting for 36% of all cruise calls, most of which are scheduled during April and May. Le Laperouse is due to return on Sunday, May 3, followed by another inaugural visit from Douglas Mawson, operated by Aurora Expeditions, on Saturday, May 16.
The island of Ireland is in an absolutely critical position amid tensions with Russia, the joint military commander in Northern Ireland has said.

Brigadier Piers Ashfield was speaking as the RAF brought a P-8 Poseidon from Lossiemouth in Scotland to the Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove in Co Antrim last week.

While the aircraft was primarily in Northern Ireland for a joint search and rescue exercise with the Coastguard and RNLI, there was also a military significance to the move.

The Poseidon, described as one of the RAFs primary intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (Istar) assets, was operating from Aldergrove for the first time.

Brig Ashfield, commander of 38 Brigade and the senior military officer in Northern Ireland, called the exercise the physical manifestation of the updated memorandum of understanding signed by the UK and the Republic of Ireland in March to enhance bilateral defence co-operation.

The aim of this has really been to test and adjust some of our operating procedures to provide an enhanced level of safety and security for people across the island of Ireland in the maritime domain, particularly focused on this exercise on search and rescue, he told the Press Association.

Ireland has always been a prisoner of that geography, and where it operates in the Greenland-Iceland gap, as youve seen the various ministerial leaders of the MoD (Ministry of Defence) describing the threat from Russian naval operations in that space that threatens both the critical national infrastructure that not only the UK depends on, but a significant part of Europe and our allies and partners depend on as well.

It occupies an absolutely critical position covering this really important stretch of water in the North Atlantic.

Its the most westerly (base), and I think that provides an advantage not only for the UK operating from here, but also our allies and partners across both Nato and through some of our bilateral arrangements as well.

Wing Commander Rob McCartney, the commanding officer of the Lossiemouth-based 201 Squadron, described the island of Ireland  with its position in the north Atlantic where the Russian navy regularly deploys  as strategically important to what is going on in the world.

The UK signed a memorandum of understanding with Ireland only a couple of months ago, which signals a much closer security relationship than we had before, he told Press Association.

While were here doing search and rescue, were also here to plant a little flag in Aldergrove and say the RAF is here in Aldergrove, we plan to operate here and we plan to operate much closer with our Irish partners

He added: The North Atlantic has been strategically important for about 100 years, and since the Second World War has become even more strategic.

The Russian navy regularly deploy in the North Atlantic and, on this side of the Atlantic, it is the island of Ireland that is closest to that battlefield, so while were not here today to conduct anti-submarine warfare, were not here to track Russians or drop torpedoes, we are here to make the point partially that Ireland, the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Aldergrove, this airfield, will be strategically important in the future  of that there is no doubt.

The RAF is here to get used to operating from here, and who knows where that will take us.

We in a war of deterrence, what were here to do is say to Putin were willing and ready to be stronger than you and do things that win this war, and airfields like Aldergrove will be part of that solution.
The Coastguard and RNLIs search and rescue capabilities in Northern Ireland have received a boost with the support of one of the RAFs latest maritime patrol planes.

The Poseidon is described as one of the RAFs primary intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (Istar) assets, and has the capability to operate with a greater reach than traditional Coastguard vessels, making it an important part of the UKs search and rescue provision.

On-board systems can allow it to pinpoint the location of people in distress at sea and send that information to either the Coastguard or other vessels in the vicinity.

Exercise Emerald Rescue, with the Coastguard and RNLI in Northern Ireland last week, was the first time this aircraft, based in Lossiemouth in Scotland, has operated from the Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove and been in involved in a joint search and rescue training exercise.

The Press Association joined the exercise on Friday for the flight from Aldergrove in Co Antrim to the regions north coast.

Working in close co-ordination with the Coastguard and RNLI, the plane scoured the expansive waters for a dummy casualty.

Wing Commander Rob McCartney, the commanding officer of the Lossiemouth-based 201 Squadron, described the task of spotting the speck of orange as notoriously difficult as crew scoured the water.

After locating the casualty, the lifeboat could be seen speeding to the location and pulling the dummy from the water before returning inshore to Portrush.

Wing Cdr McCartney hailed the opportunity to practise with the aircraft in the area.

Search and rescue is controlled by and commanded by the Coastguard, there are a lot of agencies who work for them, and we are one of those people, he explained.

We dont lead it, were one of the people who go out and do business for them. Its a reasonably new aircraft, and weve got this emerging search and rescue capability which we have practised out here for the first time.

Weve had a great week in Northern Ireland working with the Coastguard and the RNLI, and were much better as a result at hopefully finding people in the water and other search and rescue scenarios.

He said lifeboats and helicopters are very good in scenarios which are close to land.

We are really useful out there in the north Atlantic, hundreds of miles away, so while the Coastguard is mobilising their army of volunteers and search and rescue professionals, we can get there quickly, find the emergency and keep an eye on them, so we are ahead of them in a long-range search and rescue situation, he said.

He said they also work with the Irish Air Corps in a relationship which he described as close, and getting much closer.

The Irish Air Corps came and visited us at Lossiemouth two years ago so we know them, and we cant underestimate the power of relationships, knowing each other and trusting each other. Thats what alliances and partnerships have always been about, he said.

We hope to run a few more exercises with them in the coming years.

Were on the island of Ireland, we both have a treaty obligation to react to search and rescue incidents wherever that may be.

I know there is politics out there, but that doesnt affect what we do here. Were professionals, weve got a close relationship, were getting closer.

Gordon McCreadie, divisional commander of His Majestys Coastguard for Northern Ireland and the west of Scotland, described such live play exercises as invaluable in the incredibly difficult task of spotting people at sea.

The reality is you can tabletop exercises but some of the real-life learning that comes out of physical on-scene searching will help us hone and improve our skills going forward, he said.

The ability to work with partners like RNLI and RAF is invaluable to us.

Looking ahead to the summer months, Mr McCreadie said nice weather increases challenges for the Coastguard in terms of demand.

We naturally work with the public to try to improve safety and knowledge around the water, but we are coming up to our peak period and any asset that can help us save life at sea, improve our search effectiveness is always welcome, he said.

HM Coastguard already has fantastic aeronautical resources available, but the RAF can offer enhanced eyes, additional technical capabilities and increase our search effectiveness in order to save peoples lives at that critical moment, so the more people we have searching, the greater capability and the more technical asset the better.
Keep me signed in

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Keep me signed in' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
News / National

by Staff reporter

South Africa is taking a firmer stance on what it views as outdated "summit diplomacy," with President Cyril Ramaphosa opting not to attend the upcoming France-Africa Summit in Nairobi, signalling a shift in how Pretoria engages with European-led multilateral gatherings.The summit, co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, is scheduled for next month in Nairobi.South African officials say the decision reflects broader discomfort with what they describe as the practice of "summoning" African leaders en masse to single-country summits, arguing that it undermines Africa's sovereign equality and the role of the African Union.A senior government official said African states should be engaged through structured bloc-to-bloc relations rather than broad, one-off invitations."The EU operates as a trade bloc. We don't meet all the heads of state at once; we meet the heads of the bloc. The same must be done with us," the official said.Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa's absence was due to a pre-existing schedule, including domestic election-related commitments, and denied any diplomatic boycott."It's due to prior commitments that the president is not attending the Nairobi summit," Magwenya said, adding that the decision was not linked to tensions with France or other Western partners.The move comes amid wider diplomatic sensitivities following South Africa's exclusion from a recent G7-related engagement in France, although officials have downplayed any connection between the two developments.Analysts say the decision reflects a broader recalibration in South Africa's foreign policy as it seeks to prioritise key multilateral platforms such as the African Union, BRICS, and the G20, while placing greater emphasis on sovereignty and strategic engagement.While Pretoria insists it remains open to constructive bilateral relations with France and other partners, the stance signals growing resistance to what it sees as asymmetrical diplomatic practices that fail to recognise Africa's individual states and institutional frameworks.For now, South Africa will not be represented at the highest level in Nairobi, but officials say engagement will continue through alternative diplomatic channels.
A deeply historical building in County Louth is deteriorating amid significant exposure to the elements, an Oireachtas meeting has heard.

Louth Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne spoke on the subject of Carstown House on the outskirts of Drogheda during a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.

Deputy Byrne said: Carstown House in Drogheda is effectively a shell. Carstown House in County Louth, or Carstown manor as it may have originally been called, was built in 1612 by Oliver Plunkett and his wife Catherine Hussey.

They were members of prominent local dynasties, with Oliver being the grandson of the first baron and a relative of the later martyred archbishop, St. Oliver Plunkett.

It is a deeply historical site that is on the Irish Georgian Society website and is a dedicated building of national importance on the County Louth record of protected structures.

READ NEXT: 'We cannot wait' - Calls for 'essential' flood relief measures for Louth

She went on to outline the current state and status of the building.

It has not been lived in since the 1980s. The windows and doors are blocked up with cement blocks.

The roof was stolen off the property in 2014, which led to significant exposure to the elements and deterioration of the building.

I raised this umpteen times over my years on Louth County Council. I raised it directly with An Taisce and was told there was no money to acquire the property and restore it.

Deputy Byrne added that the building is just one of many such examples that you see across the country.

She concluded by asking whether there were any examples of similar buildings being brought back into use.

In response to Deputy Byrne, Donough Cahill of the Irish Georgian Society, outlined the difficulties in restoring the building.

Mr Cahill said: In the context of Carstown House, I recall at the time, which was maybe ten years ago, that the Louth archaeological society was actively campaigning for its protection.

A small grant was given by the Irish Georgian Society to support those works. If I remember correctly, there might have been a fire in the house.

That really brought an end to it, to the huge frustration of everybody. Perhaps to a certain degree, it reflects the limitations of planning enforcement.

He went on to give an example of a similar building in County Laois which has been successfully restored.

The impression you get is that local authorities are terrified of the idea of planning enforcement as it relates to compulsory purchase orders.

A case in point where it did work is in Millbrook House in County Laois, where the county council acquired the house through a compulsory purchase order, found a new owner for it, and it is in the process of being restored at the moment.

These sentiments were echoed by conservationist Ian Lumley, who also pointed to Millbrook House as an example.

Mr Lumley said: We have had some great cases of buildings being brought back from ruin in private ownership, including Millbrook, as Mr. Cahill has mentioned, where the CPO from the council triggered it in turn being able to find an owner to take on its restoration.

There have been other spectacular examples around the country of derelict shells that have been roofed in private ownership, as well as for uses such as hotels.

Unless the current owner of Carstown is willing to take on an initiative there, then the Millbrook example in County Laois is certainly one that the council should be looking at.

He added that Carstown House was one of the few buildings of the early 17th century in Ireland that had retained a roof and continuous habitation.

For this reason, he described the building as a huge national loss, as well as being of huge importance to Louth.
Millions of euro will be spent to protect properties in County Louth from flooding, following the widespread damage caused by Storm Chandra.

Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran provided an update on the flood relief schemes planned for the county in response to a recent parliamentary question submitted by Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan.

Deputy McGreehan requested an update on the planned schemes, as well as the Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu asked for an update on planned shorter term flood mitigation measures.

In response to the two TDs, Minister Moran outlined the flood relief schemes planned for the county.

Minister Moran said: In 2019, the Bellurgan Flood Relief Scheme was completed and is protecting 35 properties from significant flood risk.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is funding 6.5 staff in Louth County Council who lead the delivery of five flood relief schemes at Dundalk/Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford/ Greenore, Baltray and Ardee.

The Government has committed funding to support the delivery of flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan.

He highlighted the Dundalk/Blackrock South scheme, which aims to protect some 1,880 properties in the area.

Engineering and environmental consultants were appointed in 2020. When I visited Blackrock in December last year, I discussed the options for Blackrock.

The emerging options for Blackrock were presented to the public in March 2026 and the emerging options for Dundalk are due to be presented to the public at the end of this month.

The preferred options for the scheme are expected later in the year with planning consent submitted in 2028.

Meanwhile, Minister Moran noted that the combined Drogheda and Baltray Scheme will look to protect a further 425 properties.

Engineering and environmental consultants for that scheme were appointed in September 2021, with emerging options set to be presented to the public later this year.

A preferred option is expected to be selected by the end of the year, with a planning application to be submitted in 2027.

Minister Moran went on to say that the OPW has also approved 339,480 to protect 30 properties in Ardee.

Work in the area is expected to be completed by Louth County Council by the end of this year.

He continued by highlighting a number of works that are planned for other parts of the county.

Louth County Council and the OPW are reviewing requirements for a brief to procure engineering and environmental consultants for the Carlingford and Greenore Scheme.

In the interim, the council is assessing areas where works could improve the conveyance characteristics.

The OPW approved 27,685 in April 2025 for improved conveyance works at Browns Lane/Newry Street that are now complete.

Further funding of 924,636 was approved by OPW in March 2026 for an upgrade to the Carlingford Watercourse Culvert.

Minister Moran also outlined the engagement his Department has had with Louth County Council in the aftermath of Storm Chandra.

Following Storm Chandra in late January this year, I met with the Chief Executive of Louth County Council and other members of the council's senior management team on March 2 to discuss potential interim measures that could be introduced over the coming months, to protect against any future event.

The council has recently submitted a business case which is being reviewed by my office. I hope, shortly, to inform Louth County Council of the outcome of this review.

He concluded by saying that since 2009, 1.9 million worth of funding has been provided to Louth County Council for various flood relief projects.

Minister Moran added that he will soon announce a new set of criteria for flood relief schemes, which will reduce limits to funding access for local authorities.
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 Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), in collaboration with Fair Seas, is coming to the Dolmen Centre, Omeath in north Louth, on Thursday 30 April from 5.30pm to 8pm, as part of a series of free, in-person evening events in coastal towns around Ireland.

The Local Groups Roadshow aims to connect coastal communities and local members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group with the latest developments in marine conservation, marine protected areas (MPAs), the future of Irelands seas as well as discussing the species frequently seen off Irelands eastern and north eastern coasts.

The roadshows have already visited Donegal, Dublin, Wicklow, Mayo, Sligo, Galway, Clare, Cork and Kerry.

Fair Seas is a coalition of environmental organisations and networks campaigning to secure a science-led network of effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Irish waters. Fair Seas will also host the second World Ocean Week Conference in Cork on Wednesday, June 3rd, bringing together ocean advocates, the fishing community, government, industry and key stakeholders.

Eva Lambert, Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer with the IWDG said, We have local IWDG groups right around the country and each one is playing an important role.

Read also: Knockbridge locals left 'put out' by new Irish signage in village

"Citizen science is at the heart of everything we do, without people sharing what they see on our coasts, we simply wouldnt have the data we need to understand and protect Irelands whales, dolphins and seas.

Each stop provides an opportunity for local communities to:

Connect with IWDG and Fair Seas representatives directly

Learn more about Irelands marine wildlife and habitats

Understand current and proposed Marine Protected Areas

Hear about national marine policy developments in clear, accessible terms

Ask questions and share local knowledge and concerns

Celebrate IWDGs local groups and inaugurate a new flag for each group

The evening will include short presentations from IWDG and Fair Seas, guest speakers, a short film screening, followed by an open discussion with attendees. Free tickets are available here
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
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."
Fianna Fail TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the allocation of 30,000 for improvements to the main car park surface at Townley Hall, which will include tar and chip surfacing to provide better access for visitors.

The funding forms part of a wider government announcement which will see more than 3 million invested in Coillte recreational sites in 2026 for new trail infrastructure and ongoing maintenance across 224 locations nationwide.

A number of sites across Louth will benefit from maintenance funding to support and sustain Coilltes recreation forests and amenities throughout the county.

Carlingford Sliabh Foye: Minor trail repairs, verge cutting and targeted tree surgery where required.

Ravensdale: Minor trail repairs, verge cutting and targeted tree surgery where required.

Townley Hall: Minor trail repairs, verge cutting and targeted tree surgery where required, in addition to the 30,000 allocation for car park surface improvements.

Coillte manages 440,000 hectares of primarily forested land and is the largest provider of outdoor recreation space in Ireland, as well as the nations largest forester and producer of certified wood, a natural, renewable and sustainable resource.

Speaking on the announcement, Deputy McGreehan said:

Outdoor amenities are vital spaces that bring communities together, provide places for families and friends to meet and offer opportunities to reconnect with nature.

The funding announced today will ensure that these amenities across Louth can continue to be maintained to a high standard, allowing thousands of people to access and enjoy them in the years to come.

The work Coillte does to protect our forests and outdoor recreational sites is second to none, and the funding provided is essential to preserving the facilities we all value.

Read Next: Plans underway for 65 homes close to Oriel Park in Dundalk

The 2026 investment includes 2 million to support ongoing maintenance and associated works at more than 200 recreational sites across the country. A further 1.1 million will support the development of new recreation amenities and the upgrade of existing facilities at 20 locations nationwide.

In addition to maintaining and enhancing Coilltes trail network and recreation amenities, the funding will also support ongoing engagement with local communities and recreation groups across the country.
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.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has confirmed that it is investigating top lawyer Chipo Mahlangu following a complaint filed by the Assemblies of GodSpiritual Movement (AoGSM), which accuses her of gross misconduct in ongoing church property disputes before the courts.AoGSM, founded by Francis Nyika and now led by Phillip Zinyama, is locked in a protracted battle with the Assemblies of GodBack to God (AoGBTG), led by Nathan Setlhako, over ownership and control of church properties acquired during Nyika's tenure.Mahlangu, of Maposa Mahlangu Attorneys, is representing AoGBTG. She is also reportedly an active member of the church and has been publicly associated with its activities  a dual role that has raised concerns within AoGSM.In a letter dated 18 March, LSZ executive secretary Edward Mapara informed AoGSM that the complaint had progressed to the next stage."Upon receipt of your complaint, we commenced our investigations into the alleged conduct of the respondent. The respondent was invited to comment on the allegations you raised and we accorded you an opportunity to controvert the respondent's responses," Mapara wrote.He added that the matter had been referred to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee (DEC) for consideration in terms of ByLaw 61(5) of the LSZ ByLaws (SI 314 of 1982). The DEC's recommendations will be submitted to Council at its next formal meeting.Mahlangu is a former chairperson of the LSZ Compensation Fund Board of Trustees.Publicly available information shows that AoGBTG is using a Strathaven, Harare address that is also used by Maposa Mahlangu Attorneys - an overlap that has prompted questions about the relationship between the church and the law firm, and whether the property forms part of the church's assets.The LSZ complaint comes amid a wider dispute between the two church factions. At the Harare High Court, the Setlhakoled AoGBTG recently lost a bid to evict AoGSM from its headquarters in Dombotombo, Marondera. In that ruling, Justice Regis Dembure imposed punitive costs, saying the order was necessary "to deter church leaders from irresponsibly dragging the church into litigation".Asked whether AoGSM had received the more than US$8,000 awarded in that case and whether the church was still open to engagement, Zinyama said: "Yes, but we are also ready to defend our property."Two national executive members, speaking anonymously, said there were internal concerns about how legal matters were being handled and whether the full leadership structure was being adequately consulted. Another member said the church's governance model places responsibility on the entire national executive, not individual office bearers.The latest developments have also renewed scrutiny of issues within AoGBTG, including delays in completing the Mashava Auditorium project and questions from some congregants over how resources are being managed. One member said worshippers had expected to begin using the site in April but were later advised to remain in their regions, deepening concerns over project transparency.Some members also say the later election timetable has fuelled speculation that the current leadership - particularly those closely involved in legal and administrative decisions - is being given more time to manage unresolved issues before the national conference.
The allure of drugs being dangled in front of him proved irresistible for a 29-year-old man who got so intoxicated that he ended up verbally abusing a member of An Garda Siochana and actively resisting arrest.

Daniel Ciemiega, who now lives at Carrig Desmond, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to four separate charges arising out of the incident in Cork city.

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said Mr Ciemiega had been doing well in rehabilitating but slipped during a return to Cork city last September. He is now working for the past three weeks and hopefully the discipline of this will be of benefit for him, Mr Cuddigan said.

Judge Mary Dorgan fined him 200 for being drunk and a danger to himself or others, 300 for threatening behaviour, and imposed suspended sentences of three months and four months respectively for obstruction and possessing drugs for his own use.

Sergeant John Kelleher described what happened on September 8, 2025. Garda Shane Coakley was on the beat in Cork city centre when, as a result of a call, he attended at Smith Street, Cork, and observed the accused.

Garda Coakley approached Mr Ciemiega who was swaying from side to side and was intoxicated. Garda Coakley observed what he believed to be a number of small wraps of cannabis in the hand of Mr Ciemiega and Garda Coakley asked him to hand them over but Mr Ciemiega put them back into his back pocket.

"He refused to hand them over and then threw one package onto the ground.

He then leaned down and picked his hat up and attempted to run away. Garda Coakley brought him to the ground and restrained him.

"He shouted at Garda Coakley and passers-by, shouting F*** you a number of times while actively resisting. Assistance arrived soon after and three small wraps of cannabis were retrieved from Mr Ciemiega worth a total of approximately 100.
Cork City FC have presented a jersey signed by the squad to Heres Health, the winners of the best window display competition in the lead up to last Novembers FAI Cup final.

The competition, in association with Cork Business Association (CBA), encouraged businesses in Cork to get behind their team in the build-up to the FAI Cup final to create a special atmosphere for players and staff.

This marked the first collaboration between Cork City FC and the CBA for a major final, fostering city-wide support and proving to be a valuable partnership for the future.

Heres Health is a Cork-based family-owned business that sells natural, organic products, vitamins, and herbal supplements in their three locations across Cork and through their online shop. They also operate cafes in their Douglas and Oliver Plunkett St stores. Their Douglas store is based at Douglas Court Shopping Centre.

Cliona Barnes, of the Cork Business Association, said: I would like to thank all the Cork Business Association members and different businesses around the city for their tremendous efforts in cheering on Cork City FC back in November.

The competition helped to create a real buzz around Cork, and we look forward to the team creating more special days for the city and county.

Commercial Manager at Cork City FC, Anthony OSullivan, said: We were delighted to get the opportunity to work with the Cork Business Association in creating this competition.

They were extremely helpful in getting the whole city behind the team, and we look forward to working with them on many more projects in the future.

Congratulations to the Heres Health team for winning the competition.

Support for the team does not go unnoticed, and their display was fantastic.
Holiday bookings are down 20% due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the fuel crisis, according to the Cork-based president of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA).

The war in the Middle East and the ongoing fuel crisis have both resulted in uncertainty around what is the best course of action for people planning to travel over the coming months.

Tom Randles, managing director of Barters Travelnet in Cork city, told The Echo that he feels that if there are ongoing issues regarding fuel supply, then airlines could potentially review flight their schedules in the coming months.

What we can see happening and we've spoken to a lot of the airlines, is that they would probably look at their weaker performing routes and maybe cutting back on those.

Or they would also probably look at their routes where they have multi-rotations. For example, if they had a couple of flights to Malaga a day, cutting back maybe from four to three, or from three to two.

In other words, no point having three flights going on two thirds full, where you can have two flights going out full.

He added: The concerns for the public are obviously the budgetary concerns. What is the holiday going to cost and can they afford it, for particular potential cost increases coming down the line.

They are also concerned about fuel costs and fuel surcharges, and if they will be hit by those and whether their flights will go ahead or whether they will be impacted by potential airline cancellations."

For passengers planning to book holidays and plan to travel in the coming months, Mr Randles advised that there are consumer protections in place.

There are strict rules around it. The airline is responsible for getting you from A to B. Or if your flight is cancelled, to provide you with an alternative or a refund.

If you book your package through a travel agent, they are under the package holiday directive and there are consumer protections around that. That is the key selling point for booking with a travel agent  there are protections in place to protect the consumer."

He said that by doing it all together, it's part of a package and so there is consumer protection.

The ITAA advises holidaymakers to book through licensed and bonded travel agents, and to take out travel insurance at the time of booking, ensuring it includes disruption cover, while noting that known events and war zones are typically excluded.

Travellers should also consult www.dfa.ie and avoid destinations under a Do Not Travel advisory.

For long haul trips, registering with the relevant embassy or consulate in advance is recommended so authorities can make contact if necessary. These can be found also on dfa.ie
Cork County Council, in conjunction with University College Cork (UCC), has announced that Cork will host the 2026 Ocean Hackathon this autumn, with applications to partake now open.

The event, which will take place across 48-hours in 11 locations worldwide, aims to tackle critical challenges facing the Atlantics blue economy, such as the skills gap, limited access to marine infrastructure, and fragmented stakeholder collaboration.

The Hackathon will be held in Cork from October 16-18 as part of the Upwelling Interreg Atlantic Area project.

The Upwelling project addresses these issues by offering specialised training in emerging marine technologies and supporting prototyping activities.

The project aims to empower SMEs and start-ups while fostering a new generation of skilled professionals.

The county mayor, councillor Mary Linehan Foley, said the Ocean Hackathon is a nonstop, 48hour brainstorming event during which teams develop a prototype to tackle specific, searelated challenges.

This must be based on marine data made available by local, national, and international providers.

We are honoured that Cork has been chosen as one of the locations that is hosting this event and I encourage all interested parties to apply.

Individuals and organisations across Cork are invited to participate in the Ocean Hackathon, and to submit their challenges to the council by May 30.

Challenges may range from simple ideas and community initiatives to mature projects requiring expert support.

Eligible challenges must relate to oceans and seas, their sustainable development and/or preservation, inspire new ideas or innovative solutions, be based on data, and require prototype development during the event.

Application details and further information are available via Cork County Councils website at: www.corkcoco.ie.
More than 137,000 has been awarded to 10 groups in Cork by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).

The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan TD, announced that 137,167 in funding has been allocated to several projects across Cork aimed at improving water quality.

The funding has been awarded through the Community Water Development Fund and the Catchment Support Fund, both administered by LAWPRO on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Under the Community Water Development Fund, local communities and groups receive grants for projects and initiatives to enhance local waterbodies, thereby helping to improve water quality and protect biodiversity.

Projects in Cork awarded funding under the Community Water Development Fund include the Bandon Environmental Action Group, which was awarded 6,072 for the removal of riverbank invasives; Bantry Community Marine Centre CLG, which was awarded 14,000 for an ecological assessment of Bantry marine activity, and the Cork Sub Aqua Club, which was awarded 14,826 for the protection and promotion of Oysterhaven and Kinsale seagrass beds.

MONITORING

Other groups awarded under this fund include the Cork River Alliance Group, which was allocated 5,643 for river monitoring and a pipe and contaimination survey; Gougane Barra Angling Club, which was awarded 18,124 for a weed removal project; Schull Tidy Towns, which was awarded 6860 for Schull river enhancement, and The Crann Centre, which was awarded 3,995 for a nature-based solution to floodplain connectivity and habitat enhancement on the Owenanare River.

The Catchment Support Fund builds the capacity of community groups actively involved in water quality management by providing financial assistance for their core costs, including staff salaries, administration and promotional materials.

Groups allocated funding under the Catchment Support Fund include the Cork River Alliance Group, allocated 5,000, East Cork Rivers Trust, also allocated 5,000, Green Skibbereen CLG, allocated 16,397, StreamScapes CLG, allocated 24,750, and the Tracton Biodiversity Group, affiliated to Tracton Community Council T/A Knocknamanagh CLG, allocated 16,500.

Director of services for LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman said local communities play a vital role in protecting and improving our water quality.

The Local Authority Waters Programme is proud to support the work of community groups, volunteers and NGOs across the country through our funding programmes, helping them take action to improve and protect our waterways for current and future generations, said Mr Coleman.

"These funding schemes serve as an important commitment within Irelands Water Action Plan 2024 and help to support organisations that are working to restore our waterbodies to 'good' or a better status.

"They are also aimed at groups working to protect our waterbodies against further deterioration up to 2027, as required under the EUs Water Framework Directive."

For more information on available funding, or LAWPRO, visit: www.lawaters.ie.
Members of the Baltimore RNLI rescued three people and a dog aboard a yacht in difficulty off the coast of West Cork on Friday.

The 45-foot yacht, which was approximately three miles South of Sherkin Island, raised the alarm after getting into difficulty trying to make its way to Cape Clear on passage from Kinsale.

The main sail of the vessel ripped during their journey, which prompted the yacht skipper to attempt to make their way under motor.

The boat subsequently suffered engine failure, and the four passengers, including their four-legged friend, had no means to continue without assistance.

Following a request for assistance from the Irish Coast Guard, the volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 6.14pm and arrived at the casualty vessel by 6.33pm.

There were six volunteers aboard the lifeboat, including Coxswain Jerry Smith, mechanic Micheal Cottrell, navigator Kieran Collins, and crew members Colin Whooley, Brian McSweeney and Don ODonovan.

Conditions at sea during the call were fresh with an easterly force 5-6 wind and a 2.3m sea swell.

Upon arrival, Mr smith assessed the situation and after speaking with the yacht skipper, decided that undertaking a tow was necessary.

The lifeboat passed a tow to the yacht and arrived safely at Baltimore Harbour at 7.46pm, where the yacht was secured to the pier.

Pictured is the small dog which was among the passengers rescued from the yacht.

The RNLI lifeboat then departed and made the short journey back to the station, arriving shortly before 8pm.

Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer, Kate Callanan said the skipper did the right thing in calling for immediate assistance as soon as he realised that his situation had worsened.

It was good to see that he and all his crew, including the dog, were in lifejackets, said Ms Callanan.

Should you get into difficulty at sea, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
By Claudia Savage, Press Association

Northern Irelands political leaders have united in condemning an attack on a police station, which saw an explosive device detonate in a car.

Police said a vehicle was hijacked on Saturday night in west Belfast, and a gas cylinder device was placed in the boot.

A male delivery driver was ordered to drive the car to Dunmurry police station in the Kingsway area and abandon it outside, which caused police to activate the stations attack alarm.

No-one was harmed in the explosion despite the evacuation of residents, including two babies, being underway at the time.

On Sunday morning, forensic officers examined the burnt-out vehicle that had been moved to a side street beside the PSNI station.

First Minister Michelle ONeill said those behind the attack speak for absolutely no-one (Niall Carson/PA)

First Minister Michelle ONeill said those behind the attack speak for absolutely no-one.

She posted on social media: They have no vision, no support, and have nothing to offer our society

Our communities deserve peace. No-one is going to deny our young people and future generations that.

We will keep progressing and we will keep moving forward to a better future.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said all right-thinking people will reject this sort of behaviour and see it as a cowardly attempt to try and drag us all backwards.

We would like to commend the police officers for their swift response to this incident, their courage in the face of danger ensured local residents were protected.

We would appeal to anyone with information to contact the PSNI.

Sinn Feins Paul Maskey said elderly residents near the scene were left petrified (Niall Carson/PA)

Sinn Fein MP for west Belfast Paul Maskey told reporters outside Dunmurry station that residents had to be put out of their homes as a result of the attack.

Young families whilst they were being moved out of their homes last night, the explosion occurred, he said.

Elderly people who couldnt leave their homes were left petrified and terrified.

I have no idea about the motivation last night, and I think those who carried this attack out should come forward with their ideas, because its quite clear that their ideas mean absolutely nothing to this community.

People dont support them, people dont want them, and people dont want those people who are involved in this type of activity to be carrying out attacks such as this.

So people are saying quite clearly, get off the scene, leave the scene, leave people alone.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the incident as deeply concerning.

He said: If this was another attempt by dissident republicans to intimidate communities and target the police, then it must be met with the full force of the law.

Our police officers and the wider public should never have to face this kind of danger.

They are desperate, depraved and morally bankrupt gangsters seeking to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days. They will fail, just as their predecessors did Jon Burrows, UUP leader and ex-policeman

Those responsible must be identified and brought before the courts.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the attack was a cowardly attempt to cause injury and destruction.

He added: By targeting a police station in the heart of a residential area, those responsible have shown a total disregard for the lives of local people and for the men and women who work to keep our communities safe.

We are resolute in our commitment to peace, and these actions will only strengthen our collective determination.

Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said the incident was simply unconscionable just weeks after the widespread condemnation of the attack in Lurgan.

She added: Despite the fact that acts of violence such as this have been roundly rejected, lives have once again been put at risk by the actions of a very small minority who offer nothing but devastation and destruction.

Indeed, it is extremely fortunate that no-one was hurt or even killed as a result of this despicable attack.

Those behind this attack have demonstrated a total disregard for every single person living in the area.

The explosion at Dunmurry is hugely distressing for residents and worrying for police officers who were targeted.



For the rest of us it is a reminder there are people, however few, who still want to use violence to drag us to dark place.



They will fail.  Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) April 26, 2026

My thoughts are with the motorist who has no doubt been left utterly traumatised by their ordeal, as well as the officers who were targeted in this cowardly attack.

I would like also to pay tribute to those very same officers who, despite the threat they face, continue to turn up to work every day to serve the community.

UUP leader and former police officer Jon Burrows said the explosion was a display of cowardly criminality, almost certainly committed by dissident republicans.

He added: The PSNI are often the target of these dissident groups, but these groups dont care who else gets hurt or traumatised.

They are desperate, depraved and morally bankrupt gangsters seeking to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days. They will fail, just as their predecessors did.

SDLP MLA and leader of the Stormont Opposition Matthew OToole posted on X: The explosion at Dunmurry is hugely distressing for residents and worrying for police officers who were targeted.

For the rest of us it is a reminder there are people, however few, who still want to use violence to drag us to a dark place.

They will fail.
The countdown to this year's Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards is well underway.

The annual awards recognise exceptional women in business across multiple sectors and industries, with women recognised across eight different catgories namely; Networker of the Year, Emerging Businesswoman, Solo Businesswoman, Established Businesswoman, Early Career Employee, Advanced Career Employee, Creative Professional, and STEM Professional.

Network Ireland will run 17 local branch finals, including events in Cork and West Cork. The winners of these will go forward to represent their branch at a national level.

Entries to this years awards have now closed and judges are beginning the difficult task of shortlising candidates for the annual accolades.

Network Cork will host its annual awards at the Kingsley Hotel on May 16, and has officially announced details of the judging panel for the highly anticipated event.

Helen Murphy of LEO Cork City, who are proud sponsors of the flagship event, returns as a judge for 2026.

She praised the courage of the women who have applied for the awards.

Judging the Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards is an exciting opportunity to understand the courage, tenacity and resilience that it takes for women of all backgrounds to take the brave step to start, operate and grow their own business. It is inspiring to hear their stories and it is certainly a privilege to be asked to be a member of the judging panel."

The other judges are: Marguerite O'Donovan, Branch Manager at AIB Blackpool and Caroline ODriscoll, Partner, Tax & Legal at Deloitte.

Network Cork President Diane Higgins said that the branch is looking forward to the event.

Our annual awards are about shining a light on the achievements within our community and giving members the recognition they truly deserve. The awards are a way for our members to show what they have accomplished, and how far they have come.

Vice President of Network Cork and Awards Coordinator, Dr. Siobhan Lucey added said the entries for this year's awards have come from a diverse range of businesses.

"The submissions showcase a wide array of businesses and industries and highlight the innovation, leadership, and resilience within the Network Cork community. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of our applicants at the awards ceremony in May.

The Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards - in partnership with AIB and sponsored by Local Enterprise Office Cork City - take place on May 16.

Tickets are available to purchase on the Network Ireland website: https://networkireland.ie/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2055328&group=

Tickets are 109 for Network Ireland members and 125 for non-members.

Meanwhile, the Network Ireland West Cork Businesswoman of the Year awards take place on Thursday, May 21 at Dunmore House Hotel in Clonakilty.

Speaking about the awards recently, Anna Groniecka, President of Network Ireland West Cork said the event celebrates the courage, creativity and commitment of women "who are not only shaping business in our region but who are choosing to rise beyond fear, beyond limits and beyond old stories that no longer serve them."

She added: "Under our 2026 theme #RiseBeyond we recognise that every womans journey is unique, and every step forward whether bold or quiet is a triumph. These awards are about amplifying that bravery, building connection and inspiring every woman to rise beyond what she once thought possible.

Early bird tickets are priced at 65 for members and non-members while finalist tickets are priced at 30.

See: https://networkireland.ie/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2056818&group=
Manitoba could be the first province in Canada to establish a social media ban for kids, but the proposal's details aren't very clear yet. The province's premier, Wab Kinew, announced during a fundraiser event on Saturday and on X that Manitoba would put in place a ban for social media and AI chatbots for its youth.

"They're doing these very awful things to kids all in the name of a few likes, all in the name of more engagement, and all in the name of money," Kinew said at the event. "Our kids will never be for sale and their attention and their childhoods should never be profited from."

Kinew didn't elaborate on the ban's crucial details, like the specific age restriction, when it will be introduced nor how it will be enforced. CBC reported that Kinew didn't speak to reporters after his remarks at the fundraiser.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement

Besides Manitoba, the Liberal Party of Canada recently voted in favor of proposals to restrict both social media and AI chatbot use for anyone under 16 during the party's national convention in Montreal. There are several efforts to restrict social media across Canada. One even seeks to limit those under 14 from accessing these platforms, an even younger cutoff than the ban recently enacted in Australia. However, a recent poll from the Molly Rose Foundation has cast some doubt on the effectiveness of such laws, which other countries have also adopted or are currently considering. The poll showed that a majority of teens still have accounts on banned social media platforms, or have found ways around the ban.
During the worst of the war in Sudan's capital Khartoum, each neighbourhood learned a morbid choreography -- the sound of a blast sending everyday people springing into action to save as many lives as possible.

Young men sprinted to the impact site, transporting the dead and wounded on scooters, bicycles and bulldozers. Anyone with even modest training reported to the ER, performing triage in pools of blood. The soup kitchen frantically turned out meals for the wounded. An engineer turned undertaker prepared shrouds.

"Abandoned" by the world, according to the UN's top official in the country, Sudanese people have mobilised in vast volunteer networks to face the horrors of the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In Khartoum, recaptured by the army a year ago, AFP met some of those volunteers. There are thousands like them across Sudan, much of which is inaccessible to journalists.

In accordance with government regulations, AFP journalists were accompanied by an army escort, who stepped out of earshot during most interviews.

- Nasser, the nurse -

Nasser Nasr al-Din is 24 and tall with a sharp haircut and pensive eyes. An economics student turned pharmacist turned nurse, he has been based at Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman for two years.

"Here, everyone does everything," he told AFP in front of the free pharmacy he runs with his comrades -- which they would shut down at the first sign of bombing to report as paramedics and trauma nurses.

He needs barely a nudge to recall his hardest moments, which seem to constantly run through his mind: the mother he spent two hours resuscitating who died in his arms; the 10-year-old who said she had a stomachache while her intestines spilled out; the hospital bombing that killed his friend.

And the February 2025 bombing at the busy Sabreen market, when the RSF killed at least 60 people and injured more than 150, according to the UN.

"The wounded came to us piled onto bulldozers. We couldn't tend to everyone. Anyone that could hold on for a few minutes was kept to the side, until we had a pool of blood so bad you couldn't walk."

He could never bring himself to leave, even to take his delayed exams.

"Every second makes a difference. What if I leave and there's someone I could have saved?"

- Osama, the delivery hero -

Osama Ismail has spent most of the war on the street, braving gunfire and mortar shells to get medicine and food to those in need.

A slight 25-year-old quick on his feet, he eventually stopped fearing the front line.

"We got used to the bullets. Yes there's bombing, a rocket can fall behind you, gunfire ahead, but we have to deliver our stuff. That's the only thing that mattered."

Since December 2023, he has been in charge of distribution for Hoda Makki's community kitchen, one of the last still operating.

On the day of the Sabreen bombing, which he recalls with a thousand-yard stare, Ismail ran back and forth between the hospital and kitchen.

"We had to make emergency meals for the wounded and their families, and get blankets and anything else."

- Hoda, the cook -

Hoda Makki, 60, has had the same routine for three years: wake up at 2:00 am and cook a massive pot of food -- fava beans, lentils or rice and meat if donations were generous.

During the worst of the war when entire neighbourhoods were besieged, community kitchens like Makki's, called "takkaya", were the only thing preventing mass starvation.

"There were stray bullets and rockets everywhere; one hit my house right there," she told AFP, pointing to a missing chunk in the wall.

Asked how she kept going, she shrugged, adjusted her bright floral thobe and said: "People were hungry. They didn't have water. They didn't have anything. What else were we supposed to do?"

Now Khartoum is safer, but donations have dried up, and Makki has had to roll back to two days a week, feeding families unable to find work in a shattered economy.

- Ali, the undertaker -

Ali Gebbai, 38, is a mechanical engineer. But in the past three years, he estimates that he and his team shrouded and buried around 7,000 people.

As the fighting went street by street, they retrieved the dead. They would post a photo to social media in case loved ones saw it, wash the body according to Muslim custom, and bury the fallen.

"Even as rockets fell," he said in the narrow, chilled room that functions as a morgue.

On the day of the Sabreen bombing, they buried 54 bodies. Some "came in parts, just piles of flesh".

Also based at Al-Nao Hospital, Gebbai has a stiff upper lip, yet he raced to show AFP journalists photos on his phone -- the charred body of a newborn girl he buried -- as if desperate for someone else to react.

"We're from this neighbourhood. On the first day of the war, we came to the hospital and got to work," he told AFP.

"We started volunteering with the revolution," he said, proud of his roots in the resistance committees.

The neighbourhood groups organised pro-democracy protests against ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, and then against both the army and RSF -- allies before they fell out in 2023.

"We're the revolutionaries against all this nonsense. We could leave tomorrow, but our country needs us. There's too much to do."

ab-bha/amj/smw/lga
The federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly finalized a rule to modify the community bank leverage ratio consistent with existing statutory authority. This change will provide community banks with greater flexibility to use a simpler measure of capital adequacy and reduce regulatory burden. The final rule takes into account the unique business models and risk profiles of community banks.

The final rule is being adopted without change from the proposal issued in November 2025. The rule will lower the community bank leverage ratio from nine percent to eight percent, which will provide more flexibility for community banks to opt into the framework. The final rule also extends the grace period from two quarters to four quarters for a community bank that temporarily falls out of compliance. The framework continues to simplify regulatory capital requirements for community banks by allowing them to adopt a relatively simple leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy, rather than calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios.

Community banks that opt into the framework will be subject to a capital requirement that continues to promote safety and soundness. Under the framework, banks must maintain a leverage ratio that is significantly higher than the leverage ratio standard otherwise applicable to community banks.

The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.
A 15-day shooting schedule of Mysaa is currently underway in Kerala. Action choreography is led by the legendary Kecha Khamphakdee Master for this schedule. Rashmika Mandanna is appearing in her most eruptive avatar yet. This schedule marks a milestone for the production. The team is filming crucial stunt sequences in God's Own Country.Rashmika is undergoing a psychological and real transformation for her role as a Gond warrior in Mysaa. She trained for eight hours daily in a Bangkok combat camp. Her preparation includes hand-to-hand combat and advanced stunt work. She is moving away from her bubbly image to pick physically demanding roles. Lately, the diversity has been evident. Yesubai in Chhaava and Bhooma in The Girlfriend last year were prime examples. Her film journey post-marriage looks even more promising. She recently tied the knot with Vijay Deverakonda in a dreamy Udaipur ceremony. The couple will soon share the screen in the historical epic Ranabaali. This shift toward intense and performance-oriented cinema shows her growth from the days of Sarileru Neekevvaru and Chalo. She is balancing pan-India projects while exploring new genres.In recent interviews, Rashmika spoke about her evolving career choices. She mentioned that she no longer wants to be typecast in cinema. The actress noted that she now looks for roles with emotional arc and agency. She expressed a desire to explore her vulnerability through more complex stories. Rashmika feels it is important to challenge herself with unexpected characters. She remains focused on choosing meaningful work without falling into a run-of-the-mill trap.This is not to suggest that Rashmika is interested only in big-scale actioners like Mysaa and Ranabaali. Her upcoming Hindi-language film is a rom-com titled Cocktail 2. A few years from now, she will reunite with Ranbir Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga for Animal Park.
Solutionz Group LLC, a technology company focused on travel, events, and digital platforms, today announced the launch of its G2 Growth  Giving framework, a Growth Multiplier model designed to generate incremental revenue, enhance audience engagement, and incorporate measurable social impact across organizations globally.

Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2026) - The G2 framework represents an operational expansion of the company's platform strategy, integrating revenue generation, customer engagement, and charitable contribution into a unified system. The framework is intended to address increasing customer acquisition costs by enabling organizations to optimize value from their current user base without relying on additional customer acquisition, price increases, or expanded staffing.





Solutionz Group LLC Announces Launch of G2 Framework to Expand Revenue and Engagement from Existing Audiences



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/294262_2c3d60d7948c9900_002full.jpg

According to the company, the framework formalizes a structured approach to capturing additional value from existing user interactions by embedding commerce and engagement opportunities directly within partner platforms. This approach is designed to reduce reliance on external conversion paths while increasing on-platform activity and retention.

As part of the launch, Solutionz is deploying the G2 framework across its product suite, including SMARTtools and SMARTsales, which provide transaction-level visibility into revenue performance and associated give-back contributions. These tools are designed to allow organizations to track both financial outcomes and participation metrics tied to charitable components integrated within each transaction.

The company's VISIT US integration tool will continue to support implementation within partner platforms, enabling organizations to deploy the framework without significant development requirements. Solutionz stated that the integration process is intended to minimize operational disruption while enabling immediate participation in the G2 model.

In conjunction with the framework rollout, Solutionz also announced the formation of its G2 Consortia, a network of organizations adopting the model to collaborate on growth and engagement strategies. The consortia is expected to include participants across SaaS, events, travel, and nonprofit sectors, providing a shared environment for implementation and optimization of the framework.

The company stated that the G2 framework builds on its previously defined "Revenue Multiplier" category, extending its application through a more structured and scalable model. The framework aligns monetization strategies with engagement and social impact objectives, providing organizations with an additional mechanism to increase value derived from existing audiences.





Solutionz Group LLC Announces Launch of G2 Framework to Expand Revenue and Engagement from Existing Audiences



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/294262_2c3d60d7948c9900_003full.jpg

Solutionz noted that the launch follows recent recognition of its platform with the "Best New Revenue Multiplier Solution" award, which the company cited as validation of its underlying approach. The introduction of the G2 framework represents the next phase in the company's product and market development.

The G2 Growth Multiplier framework is now available to enterprise partners, digital platforms, event organizers, and nonprofit organizations seeking to expand monetization and engagement strategies within their existing ecosystems. Solutionz indicated that onboarding and implementation are currently underway with select partners.

For additional information, visit www.mysmart.tools.

About Solutionz Group LLC

Solutionz Group LLC is a Tampa, Florida-based technology company specializing in solutions for travel, events, and digital marketing platforms. The company develops tools that enable organizations to monetize existing audiences, increase engagement, and integrate commerce-driven social impact into their operations. Additional information about the company, its platform, and partner ecosystem can be found through its My Smart Tools portal, official Solutionz website, and its digital channels on Youtube, LinkedIn, Facebook , and X, as well as through its Partners Solutionz network. For inquiries, contact the company at info@solutionz.com .

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294262

Source: Plentisoft
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!
On the 56th China-Italy diplomatic anniversary, the exchange of civilizations gains new momentum. Milan Design Week, known as the "Olympics" of the global design community, has always embraced diverse cultural expressions.

On April 20, the China Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Crafts Exhibition opened at the Milan University. Co-curated by Italian curator Davide Rampello and Sun Ruoxi, Director of the Pattern R&D Center of the China National Arts and Crafts Society, the exhibition debuted videos and an art installation themed on Chinese ICH captured from the first-person perspective of AI wearable device Qwen AI Glasses. It became a Design Week highlight, drawing great global attention.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260424313156/en/

Qwen AI Glasses Witness Grand Opening of China Intangible Cultural Heritage Crafts Exhibition at Milan Design Week

For the first time, the exhibition adopts a first-person perspective recording method using AI glasses, capturing the exquisite craftsmanship of ICH artisans at zero distance. By saying "Hello, Qwen," visitors could activate functions such as AI image recognition and video recording. The glasses also support real-time translation in 89 languages and debut AI voice cloning for simultaneous interpretation.

Lead curator Davide Rampello partnered with Qwen AI Glasses to release the world's first documentary shot with AI glasses, Qwen AI Glasses See China. With a 12-MP camera, 3K to 4K image quality, and AI dual anti-shake technology, the documentary replaces traditional camera angles, using an immersive, human-eye perspective to take audiences "inside" the creative process of ICH.

TREEZO Group's installation "Harmony" became a focal point. Using traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon structures as a framework and oracle bone script motifs as veins, it reshapes the form of a sail through modern lighting technology, showcasing the millennium-old wisdom and contemporary confidence of Chinese wood culture.

The concurrent forum featured discussions on dialogue between Chinese and Italian ICH, along with their global innovation and dissemination. Sun Ruoxi reviewed traditional Chinese patterns' significance and value for life, elaborated on modernization, branding, and IP transformation, and globally unveiled the "Traditional Chinese Zodiac Horse Motif" to promote worldwide dissemination.

This event is co-hosted by First Italy and Unicorn Creates Together Brand Organization, with the Pattern R&D Center of the China National Arts and Crafts Society as supporting partners. Qwen AI Glasses is the exclusive AI partner, and TREEZO is a strategic partner. Invited ICH inheritor-led brands YOUJI and Zhu Chan Ji provide friendship support.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260424313156/en/

Contacts:

Qianwen Zhilian Artificial Intelligence

Jie Peng

jesse.pj@alibaba-inc.com
Beijing, China--(Newsfile Corp. - April 26, 2026) - At the prestigious Auto China 2026, as a leading Chinese luxury automotive brand, Hongqi made a dazzling appearance and officially launched its upgraded global strategy and debuted a new overseas SUV lineup.

Mr. Xiao Xiao, General Manager of China FAW Group Import & Export Co., Ltd., stated that Hongqi adheres to the philosophy of "Shaping Mobility for Your World" and focuses on three core pillars:

Developing vehicles tailored for global markets

Delivering end-to-end luxury experience

Building a global co-creation ecosystem

With a more diverse lineup of luxury vehicles and superior luxury experiences, Hongqi will continuously create wonderful mobility, beautiful experiences and a better life for global users.

The all-new overseas SUV lineup unveiled includes: Hongqi Offroad, Hongqi Global SUV, E-HS9 Right-Hand Drive (RHD) version, and EHS5 available in both Left-Hand Drive (LHD) and Right-Hand Drive (RHD). Covering outdoor off-roading, urban commuting and business reception scenarios, the lineup forms a product system featuring synchronized LHD/RHD deployment, parallel development of electrified models, and coordinated intelligent evolution.

Mr. Giles Taylor, Vice President of Global Design and Chief Creative Officer of China FAW, noted that the new models inherit Hongqi's Eastern luxury DNA while integrating local cultural preferences and user needs.

Hongqi Offroad satisfies the off-road aspirations of Middle Eastern elites.

E-HS9 RHD defines the preferred choice for business leaders and connoisseurs in Asia-Pacific and the UK.

EHS5 serves as a versatile urban SUV for young users in RHD markets including the UK, Indonesia, Singapore and Macao.

Hongqi Global SUV presents a unique character of Eastern-Western cultural integration.

At the press conference, Ms. Yang Xiaocui, Deputy General Manager of China FAW Group Import & Export Co., Ltd., launched the Hongqi Bonded Friends - a global user co-creation program. It sincerely invites over 2 million car owners across 34 countries and regions to join the global Hongqi community, deepen cross-border friendships, and embark on and record every wonderful luxury journey together.

Hongqi will take user communities, exclusive services and brand events as bonds to innovate with global customers, and continuously deliver unique value and dedicated companionship.

Starting from Auto China 2026, Hongqi sends a clear signal of sustained global advancement. By 2028, Hongqi plans to expand to more than 110 countries and regions with over 650 dealerships. Committed to "Shaping Mobility for Your World", Hongqi will continue promoting Eastern luxury globally, earning worldwide recognition and leading the future benchmark of global luxury mobility.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/294277

Source: Hmedium
New clips are trending on TikTok and other social media platforms featuring teens sneaking past security and employees who are frantically trying to block and grab them.

These missions are called Scientology runs and they are more than a little problematic.

The teen is often holding a camera while filming, or has a friend recording while following as they jump over barriers and bulldoze workers.

They can involve the teenagers blowing foghorns while going into the buildings wearing face masks which make them resemble burglars. The only surprising thing so far is that nobody has been hurt.

Advertisement Advertisement

This trend hasnt been without consequences. Police are now investigating a group of teenagers who ran through the Church of Scientology in Hollywood, pushing past staffers.

But you are probably wonderingwhy are they even bothering to do this? Outside of pursuing internet clout?

Their motivations are revealing

There is a contradiction about Scientology as an organization. They are quite guardedwhile also actively advertising their religion and recruiting people.

They know they have many critics and opponents interested in harming the organization. Theyre trained at length on how to vet people and deal with problematic characters.

Advertisement Advertisement

If you are an investigator, reporter, or someone even slightly adversarial, theyll often retreat into their buildings and lock the doors while asking you to leave. Which has created a strange allure and mystique, with people wondering what happens deep inside these establishments.

Teenagers use this secretiveness as a reason to break in, to see how much of the interior of these buildings they can catch a glimpse of.

This trend is an extension of Discord Runs, an earlier fad where teenagers joined the Discord channels of controversial figures and attempted to get banned as fast as possibleturning trolling into a competitive sport (of sorts).

The funny thing that I could have told these teens: you can often just ask and be invited into these establishments quite easily.

Advertisement Advertisement

Once you do go into these buildings and are perceived as potential members, the entire energy changes. They give you personality tests, sell you books, and invite you back to more events.

But I suppose the point is that these runs are a contest to gain more clout with followers.

I will note that huge numbers of these videos are being removedfor good reason. They depict active crimes being committed. They violate privacy and safety concerns and represent a tremendous risk to people. TikToks trust and safety team isnt a fan.

That should tell you enough about why its a bad idea.

Why it has appeal with many teenagers

Scientology has given itself plenty of room for critique, and many people certainly feel an animosity towards the organizationand part of it is political.

Advertisement Advertisement

I happen to live 30 minutes from their main headquarters, also called their Flag Land Base, in Clearwater, Florida. Their presence is complicated and controversial. They get tax exemptions on their property and actively recruit members as you walk through their designated areas.

They also buy up huge swathes of property in desirable areas by the beach and it creates this odd ghost-town like effect where you walk and entire blocks feel empty in an otherwise busy area.

This isnt remote, low-priced land. We are talking prime turf in the touristy part of the city, right near the water. (Source: author) ((Via Author))

The religion is fairly young, created by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. Critics and former members often describe the organization as being cult-likeoperating with high levels of internal control, financial exploitation, and harassing its critics. In Germany, Chile, and France, for example, the government formally considers it a cult.

However, in the United States, where religious protections are strong, it is simply labeled a religionwhich is entitled to the same tax exemptions as others.

Advertisement Advertisement

Another point of contention is that the religion makes hundreds of millions of dollars each year. I took this of their headquarters. Its palatial size should speak for itself:

scientology headquarters (Author)

But despite any of these facts or criticisms any of us have of this religionone should never feel compelled to run into their establishment. Its deeply unsettling, a violation of their rights, and a serious threat to your safety as well.

Yes, it seems this trend is mostly teenagers being rebellious and causing trouble for the sake of it. If you are seeing this, Id strongly caution you against chasing clout in this challenge or any other.

Ill ask it more simply, How many internet points are worth ruining your life?
AzerNEWS Staff

The online stage of the sixth "Yukselish" (The Rise) competition has officially begun with a trial exam in general knowledge, AzerNEWS reports.

The main purpose of the trial exam was to familiarize participants in advance with the examination system, question formats, and technical procedures.

The exam was organized into four sections: the "Azerbaijan Block," the "World Block," "Fundamentals of Management," and "Modern Trends." Each block consisted of 25 questions. The exam began at 11:00 a.m. and lasted for 90 minutes. A total of 6,747 participants took part in the trial exam.

Participants who were unable to attend the trial exam were advised that they could review the questions through their personal accounts on the exam platform within 24 hours after the test concluded.

The main exam in general knowledge is scheduled for May 23. Participants who score a minimum of 60 points in the main exam will qualify to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Unlike previous years, this year the online stage of the general knowledge exam includes several innovations. Each block of 25 questions contains 15 multiple-choice and 10 open-ended questions. Of the open-ended questions, six are multiple-choice, and four require filling in blanks. The multiple-choice questions also include audio-format items.

During the exam, questions within each block must be answered sequentially, and participants cannot return to previous questions within a block. Therefore, it is essential for participants to carefully read and answer each question.

On the day of the exam, the "1820" Call Center, social media accounts, and the email address [email protected] operated in enhanced mode to promptly address participants' technical questions. Both domestic and international inquiries were responded to in real time.

The "Yukselish" competition was established by a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev. Winners of the competition receive a one-year personal development plan from mentors, along with a monetary prize of 20,000 Azerbaijani manats for self-development.

The sixth edition of the "Yukselish" competition is being held under a decree issued by President Ilham Aliyev.
SchedPilot is an AI-powered social media scheduling tool designed to assist businesses and professionals in managing their online presence across multiple platforms. By automating content scheduling and providing AI-driven insights, SchedPilot aims to streamline social media management, allowing users to focus on strategic growth and engagement.

Key Features

Multi-Platform Scheduling : SchedPilot supports scheduling posts across various social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky.

: supports scheduling posts across various social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky. AI-Powered Content Assistance : The tool offers AI-generated post suggestions, captions, and hashtag recommendations to enhance content engagement and reach.

: The tool offers AI-generated post suggestions, captions, and hashtag recommendations to enhance content engagement and reach. Post Editor with Media Support : Users can create and edit posts with images and carousels, ensuring content is visually appealing and platform-appropriate.

: Users can create and edit posts with images and carousels, ensuring content is visually appealing and platform-appropriate. Analytics and Reporting : SchedPilot provides account analytics, enabling users to monitor performance metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.

: provides account analytics, enabling users to monitor performance metrics and adjust strategies accordingly. Browser Extensions: The platform offers Chrome and Firefox extensions, facilitating seamless content management and scheduling directly from the browser.

Who is it for?

SchedPilot is tailored for businesses, marketing teams, and professionals seeking an efficient solution to manage their social media presence. Its features are particularly beneficial for those handling multiple accounts across different platforms and aiming to maintain consistent engagement with their audience.

Pricing

Silver Plan : At $9 per month, this plan includes post scheduling, connection of up to 2 accounts, post editor with images, post carousels, account analytics, and AI post suggestions.

: At $9 per month, this plan includes post scheduling, connection of up to 2 accounts, post editor with images, post carousels, account analytics, and AI post suggestions. Gold Plan : Priced at $13 per month, it offers all Silver Plan features plus AI-generated posts, AI hooks, AI comments, Chrome and Firefox extensions, the ability to reply to posts and comments, and 300 GPT-5 credits.

: Priced at $13 per month, it offers all Silver Plan features plus AI-generated posts, AI hooks, AI comments, Chrome and Firefox extensions, the ability to reply to posts and comments, and 300 GPT-5 credits. Platinum Plan: For $31 per month, this plan includes all Gold Plan features along with PRO support and 5,100 GPT-5 credits.

A 7-day free trial is available for all plans, allowing users to explore features before committing.

Final Thoughts

SchedPilot presents a comprehensive suite of tools designed to simplify social media management through automation and AI-driven insights. Its multi-platform support and user-friendly features make it a viable option for businesses and professionals aiming to enhance their online presence efficiently. Prospective users should consider their specific needs and evaluate the platforms offerings to determine its suitability for their social media strategies.

Visit schedpilot.com for more.
Chairman Crawford Statement on FISA 702 Reauthorization

US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

April 24, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (AR-01) released the following statement on the introduction of language to reauthorize the critical national security tool, which allows the United States to gather intelligence on foreign targets outside the United States. The House Rules Committee currently plans to take up the revised FISA 702 reform and reauthorization language on Monday.

"In the current heightened threat environment, with U.S. military operations in Iran, the CCP looking to fill power vacuums around the world, and terrorist proxies plotting attacks on Americans and U.S. interests, Congress cannot take this critical national security tool away from President Trump. The 2024 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA), passed by Congress, was the largest FBI and FISA reform in decades, with 56 reform mandates to address past abuses of the FISA 702 tool and gaps. Today's 702 is a very different one from when Congress voted in 2024.

"With today's legislative proposal, Congress is building on these reforms by making real enhancements to privacy protections for Americans, increasing accountability for abuses, and providing for a first-ever external review for the primary source of past abuses - the FBI.

"It's been made abundantly clear that no option will be 100% perfect in the eyes of everyone, but this bill makes measurable reforms to strengthen accountability and safeguards, while maintaining the criticality of the national security tool. At this point in the debate, many in Congress understand the significant advantage 702 provides U.S. national security, and the fervent need to protect Americans' privacy and civil liberties. We should not sacrifice one for the other, and this revised legislation strikes that balance."

The revised 702 reauthorization legislative proposal:

Clearly prohibits U.S. Government personnel from intentionally targeting a U.S. person for collection under FISA Section 702.

Establishes a new requirement for the FBI to provide all its 702 U.S. person justifications to the ODNI Civil Liberties Protection Officer for review on a rolling basis every month.

Amends current law, expanding criminal penalties for abuses of FISA Section 702 to include FBI personnel knowingly and willfully violating the FISC-approved querying procedures or falsifying or misrepresenting compliance with such querying procedures.

Requires GAO to conduct an audit of targeting procedures and implementation under Section 702 and to report findings to the congressional intelligence and judiciary committees within one year of enactment.

Directs the Attorney General to issue new procedures regarding access of Members of Congress and staff to FISC hearings.

Requires an FBI employee to get approval to conduct a U.S. person query from an FBI attorney, no longer allowing approval to come from just a supervisor.

Read the legislative text here.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Polish national sentenced after photographing sensitive military sites

Published April 24, 2026

By Thomas Brading

AFOSI Public Affairs

LAS VEGAS -- A Polish national was sentenced in Nevada after investigators said he unlawfully photographed and recorded U.S. military installations and equipment, drawing attention to the issue of unauthorized photography at sensitive military sites.

According to the Justice Department, Michal Miroslaw Rokita was sentenced April 20, to time served after pleading guilty to one count of photographing defense installations without authorization and one count of publication of photographs of defense installations without authorization.

"Unauthorized photography of military installations is a serious matter, and we're committed to working with our law enforcement counterparts to protect sensitive sites, equipment and information," said Special Agent Keaton Southwick, Special Agent in Charge of AFOSI Office of Special Projects (PJ) Detachment 1.

The sentencing followed an investigation by AFOSI PJ Det. 1 and the FBI, who collected photographs and recordings made at military sites in Nevada.

"This couldn't have been done without the collaborative efforts we have with both the U.S. Attorney's office and FBI field office in Las Vegas," Southwick said.

According to court documents, Rokita traveled to the United States on a Polish passport with the intent to unlawfully take images and audio recordings of vital U.S. military installations and equipment.

From April 7-14, he photographed installations and equipment at the Nevada Test and Training Range and the Tonopah Test Range without permission. Both locations are designated as vital military installations under 18 U.S.C.  795 and Executive Order No. 10104.

During that same period, Rokita met with a naturalized U.S. citizen and provided photographs and video and audio recordings to that individual to distribute online, officials said.

On April 11, Rokita also met with the individual in Las Vegas to participate in an online livestream to discuss his "recent recon mission," according to court documents. During the livestream, the two showed and described many photographs and video recordings taken from the area.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig. The sentencing was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Southwick and FBI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto.

"Sensitive and restricted military installations are protected for a reason," Southwick said. "When someone unlawfully photographs and distributes images from those locations, we have a responsibility to investigate and neutralize the threats to our nation's capabilities to help safeguard our country."



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Contracts

Contracts for April 23, 2026

NAVY

RTX Corp., East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $369,856,548 modification (P00003) to a fixed-price incentive (firm-target), cost-plus-incentive-fee, advanced acquisition contract (N0001926C0118). This modification adds scope to authorize procurement of Lot 21 F135 Propulsion Systems and to procure advanced long lead time materials, parts, components, and efforts in support of the F135 Propulsion System Lot 20 delivery schedule of 138 propulsion systems for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, F-35 Cooperative Program Partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (17%); Indianapolis, Indiana (10%); Middletown, Connecticut (8%); Kent, Washington (7%); North Berwick, Maine (4%); EL Cajon, California (3%); Cromwell, Connecticut (3%); Whitehall, Michigan (3%); Portland, Orgeron (2%); San Diego, California (2%); South Bend, Indiana (2%); Columbus, Georgia (1%); Hampton, Virginia (1%); Manchester, Connecticut (1%); Cheshire, Connecticut (1%); Elmwood Park, New Jersey (1%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (34%), and is expected to be completed in May 2031. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $51,085,000; fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $56,588,000; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $1,739,139; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,095,553; F-35 cooperative program partner funds in the amount of $80,191,258; and FMS funds in the amount of $157,157,598, will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $196,554,317 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to support engineering, technical, design agent and design transfer activities for nuclear submarine capabilities and their sustainment, in support of foreign military sales requirements. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $930,409,844. Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut (70%); North Kingstown, Rhode Island (7%); Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (5%); Washington, D.C. (1%); Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1%); Newport, Rhode Island (1%); Norfolk, Virginia (1%); and various foreign locations (13%), and is expected to be completed by April 2027. If all options are exercised, work will continue through April 2031. No U.S. funding is included in this contract. Foreign Partner funds in the amount of $28,050,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-26-C-2132).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $177,493,428 modification (P00022) to a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001923C0003). This modification adds scope to provide all touch labor and reach-back engineering required to build and deliver three flight science aircraft, one for each variant (F-35A, F35B and F35-C) to replace the aging original flight science aircraft in support of preventing a capability gap for flight test and allow for future, holistic testing of Block Four capabilities and other future capabilities for the Joint Strike Fighter program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30%); El Segundo, California (25%); Warton, United Kingdom (20%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Nashua, New Hampshire (5%); Grenaa, Denmark (5%); and Baltimore, Maryland (5%), and is expected to be completed in April 2031. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $18,836,324; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,836,324; and F-35 cooperative program partner funds in the amount of $8,390,436 will be obligated at the time of award, $37,672,648 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, was awarded a $49,893,672 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-20-C-560)1 to exercise options for sustainment of the Littoral Combat Ship Component Based Total Ship System-21st Century and associated combat system elements. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey (87%); Camden, New Jersey (5%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (5%); Orlando, Florida (1%); and various other locations (2%), and is expected to be completed by April 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,284,181 (85%); and fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $772,583 (15%), and will be obligated at time of award, of which $772,583 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 22, 2026).

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc., Sacramento, California, is awarded a $10,816,371 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target pre-expended bin replenishment components and post-flight consumable components in support of required flight testing for the Navy. Work will be performed in Point Mugu, California, and is expected to be completed in April 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity (N6893626D0004).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Chelmsford, Massachusetts, is being awarded $9,397,208 for a ceiling-priced undefinitized contract action delivery order (N00383-26-F-F110) under a previously awarded contract (N00383-26-G-0017) for the procurement of 103 pulse generators in support of the common aircraft system. All work will be performed in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and work will be completed by April 2027. Fiscal 2026 working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $7,047,906 will be obligated at time of award and those funds will not expire at the end of the applicable fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1) and one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity.

CORRECTION: The contract announced on April 21, 2026, for Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas (N0001925C0080), for a $70,107,750 modification (P00001), was announced with an incorrect contract number. The correct contract number is N0001926C0115. The contracting activity is Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.

AIR FORCE

Iron Bow Technologies LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $99,967,000 firm-fixed-price contract for software modernization support. This contract provides for a consolidated DAF hardware and software bundles which enable training, management, and tracking of assets. Work will be performed in the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. locations and is expected to be completed by April 23, 2027. This contract was a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $99,967,000 are being obligated at time of award. The 10th Contracting Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA700026C0005).

ARMY

Black & Veatch-Stantec Brip JV, Overland Park, Kansas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery contract for architect-engineer services including preparation of construction solicitations, concept designs, feasibility studies, site investigations, value engineering, engineering support during contracting and construction, cost estimates, quality assurance, and technical studies for new construction and renovation projects. The amount of this action is $85,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2036. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District is the contracting activity (W912EK-26-D-A004).

The Dutra Group, San Rafael, California, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for design-bid-build construction services to reduce flood risk along approximately 2.8 miles of the Sacramento River's Pocket Neighborhood east levee, including earthwork, stone protection, installation of in-stream woody material, erosion control, and an optional item for the removal of six boat docks. The amount of this action is $71,166,600. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Sacramento California with an estimated completion date of July 30, 2027. Fiscal 2026 construction, Corps of Engineers, civil funds in the amount of $71,166,600 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, is the contracting activity (W91238-26-C-A007).

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4468224/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Contracts

Contracts for April 24, 2026

NAVY

Castelion Corp.,* Torrance, California, is awarded a $104,998,566 modification (P00001) to a firm-fixed-price order (N6833526F1022) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N6833526G0006). This modification exercises an option in support of Small Business Innovation Research Phase III effort, topic AF231-D026, entitled "Low Cost Highly Manufacturable Long Range Strike Weapon Production", to provide final early operational capability requirements, provide test and integration configurations of the Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapon, and complete live fire test events in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Work will be performed in Torrance, California and is expected to be completed in January 2028. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $33,983,566; and fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $71,015,000, will be obligated at the time of award, $33,983,566 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was competed. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $29,329,364 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide project management, logistics, sustainment, and systems engineering support. These efforts will support requirements definition, decomposition, and related studies for an F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer to assist with defining requirements and prepare for operating and maintaining the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in October 2027. FMS customer funds in the amount of $29,329,364 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract action was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0001926C0138).

RCT Systems Inc.,* located in Baltimore, Maryland, is awarded a $18,291,139 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-21-C-4109) for research and development activities associated with advancement and improvement in current and future shipboard electric power and energy systems. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland (68%); Fayetteville, Arkansas (19%); Tuscaloosa, Alabama (10%); and Tallahassee, Florida (3%), and is expected to be completed by March 2028. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $7,712,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Vectrus Systems Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, is being awarded $17,289,633 for firm-fixed-price modification P00011 to exercise Option Year Two under a previously awarded contract (N00604-24-C-0006) for the operation and maintenance of Navy communication, electronic and computer systems in support of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific. The exercise of this option will bring the estimated current value of the contract to $49,683,391. The original contract included a 12-month base period, four 12-month options and a six-month extension option in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8. The total value of the contract will be $92,761,973 if all options are exercised. Since the original contract award on April 29, 2024, the contract value has increased by $4,814,177. This increase is due to modifications arising from a newly negotiated collective bargaining agreement amounting to $4,564,212, as well as an increase in the ceiling for cost no-fee reimbursements totaling $249,964 to support ongoing and future maintenance requirements. Work will be performed on Oahu, Hawaii (94%); and in Geraldton, Australia (6%). Work is expected to be completed by April 2027; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by October 2029. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the full amount of $17,289,633 will be obligated at the time of award and these funds will remain available through the duration of the option period, which extends until April 2027, the end of option year two. This requirement was originally solicited on a full and open, unrestricted basis with three offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Metron Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $9,568,357 cost-plus-fixed fee and cost only modification to exercise the option for development of Combat System signal processing, tracking algorithms, tools and display technologies for Undersea Warfare Systems including the Undersea Warfare Decision Support System and Advanced Processing and Capability Builds for Surface Ship and Submarine systems. Work will be performed in Reston, Virginia (95%); and Portland, Oregon (5%), and is expected to be completed by September 2027. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,423,260 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

SteelRock Technologies Ltd., London, United Kingdom, is awarded a $9,515,508 firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement contract (M67854-26-C-0048) for the procurement of NightFighter Mini Systems and spares in support of Program Manager Ground Based Air Defense, Organic-Counter small Unmanned Aerial Systems (O-CsUAS). The O-CsUAS is an Urgent Statement of Need designed for air self-defense against the sUAS threat. Work will be performed in London, United Kingdom (100%). The delivery of supplies will be on or before Aug. 25, 2026. Fiscal 2024 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $9,515,508 will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was awarded under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 2304(a)(2) Unusual and Compelling Urgency for other than full and open competition. Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-26-C-0048).

AIR FORCE

Deloitte & Touche LLP, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded an $82,100,000 firm-fixed-price call order for information technology, financial management, financial improvement, and audit remediation. This contract provides for financial audit remediation services for the Department of the Air Force. Work will be performed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by April 23, 2029. This contract was a competitive acquisition and four offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $30,714,761 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA701426F0108).



Blue Yonder Defense Solutions, Dallas, Texas, has been awarded a $62,216,589 hybrid firm-fixed-price, labor-hour, and cost-reimbursement contract for Foundational Logistics Information Technology Enterprise Systems. This contract provides for a continuation of Foundational Logistics Information Technology Enterprise Systems activities to develop, configure, integrate, deploy, and sustain the system in a government-approved cloud environment. Work will be performed at Dallas, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2031. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $4,803,415; fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $933,887; and fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,265,448 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8770-26-C-B007).



Kearney & Co., Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a $24,459,735 firm-fixed-price task order under GSA OASIS+ for financial management workforce development support services. This contract provides for support for enterprise-level financial management certification, workforce development, and financial management hub platform sustainment in support of the Department of the Air Force. Work will be performed at the National Capital Region and is expected to be completed by March 20, 2031. This contract was a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,821,249 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is the contracting activity (FA701426F0106). (Awarded April 23, 2026).



Infinity Technology Services LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $21,212,096 firm-fixed-price contract for Missile Warning and Tracking Operations Support. This contract provides for Missile Warning and Tracking support for the Space-Based Infrared System and associated units. Work will be performed at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado; and Beale Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed by April 21, 2031. This contract was a competitive acquisition and nine offers were received. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,656,665 are being obligated at time of award. The Space Operations Command's Space Acquisition and Integration Office, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity (FA2518-26F-H002). (Awarded on April 22, 2026).

ARMY

M.C. Fuhrman & Associates LLC, Haddonfield, New Jersey, was awarded a $47,467,558 firm-fixed-price contract for operational, technical, and administrative support services, including engineering and facility studies, process evaluations, software and systems support, facility and laboratory modernization, sustainment, restoration and maintenance, safety, security, environmental and occupational health support, and infrastructure program coordination. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of April 23, 2031. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation, Army funds in the amount of $85,000 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W56KGU-26-C-0006).

Shannon & Wilson Inc., Seattle, Washington (W912DW-26-D-A020); Cornforth Consultants Inc.,* Beaverton, Oregon (W912DW-26-D-A021); Geotechnical Resources Inc.,* Tigard, Oregon (W912DW-26-D-A022); and Central Geotechnical Services LLC,* Tualatin, Oregon (W912DW-26-D-A023), will compete for each order of the $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for geotechnical-related services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 23, 2031. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $13,520,927 modification (P00134) to contract W56HZV-22-C-0012 for Abrams system technical support. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $1,026,849,722. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 27, 2027. Fiscal 2026 procurement of weapons and tracked combat vehicles, Army funds in the amount of $13,520,927 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

UPDATE: American Surgical Instrument Repair LLC,* Punta Gorda, Florida (SPE2DH-26-D-0010, $15,600,000), has been added as an awardee to the multiple award contract for medical equipment and accessories for the Defense Logistics Agency Electronic Catalog, issued against solicitation SPE2DH-21-R-0002 and awarded Feb. 10, 2022. The contracting activity is Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4468331/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuanian 1st Division gets integrated into MNC NE, strengthening Allied capabilities in the Baltic Region

NATO Allied Land Command

Apr 14 2026

SZCZECIN, Poland -- On April 11 in Ukmerge, Lithuania, the Lithuanian Armed Forces' 1st Division received its unit colours and was officially assigned to NATO Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), marking a significant step in strengthening the Allied operational framework and readiness posture in the Baltic region.

This milestone marks the activation of the Division and underscores its growing role within NATO's land forces. Following a year of intensive development, the unit now operates as a cohesive formation ready to contribute to Allied operations. As Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas emphasized, "it sends a clear message: we are ready and capable to defend our country and region together with Allies as part of NATO combined forces."

For MNC NE, this development represents a notable step forward in improving how military activities are coordinated across NATO's north-eastern flank. Major General Brian Nissen, the Corps' Deputy Commander, emphasized:

The Division brings together Lithuania's principal land combat formations, including the Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf", the Infantry Brigade "Zemaitija" and the engineering battalion. By consolidating its role within MNC NE, the Lithuanian Army demonstrates an increased ability to generate, deploy and sustain high-readiness forces in support of NATO. "From this day forward, the insignia of the 1st Division becomes our symbol of quality. Our Allies recognize it, and our adversaries take note," said Brigadier General Aurelijus Alasauskas, the unit commander.

Rooted in Lithuania's military traditions, the Division represents both historical continuity and modern capability, reflecting the country's long-standing commitment to national and collective defence.

Story by Multinational Corps Northeast Public Affairs Office

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Federal Armed Forces to continue their participation in the KFOR peace mission in Kosovo

Germany - Federal Government

Approved by the Cabinet

Germany will continue to participate in the international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo. The Federal Cabinet has decided to extend the mandate. The Bundestag still has to ratify the resolution.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

The participation of German armed forces in the international security presence in Kosovo (Kosovo Force (KFOR)) will be continued. This was decided by the Federal Cabinet on 22 April 2026. Up to 400 German soldiers may continue to be deployed, unchanged. This also ensures that the Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces) can react quickly and flexibly if the security situation deteriorates.

Democratic stabilisation

The KFOR mission is focused on bringing about political stability in the Republic of Kosovo and providing military support for the peace settlement. Stability and peace in Kosovo are not only important for the region itself, but also for Germany, NATO, the EU and Europe as a whole. The long-term goal remains the handover of security responsibility to the Kosovan security institutions.

As part of NATO, German soldiers are helping to secure public order and participating in the democratic stabilisation of the country in various areas, the aim being to establish long-term security and peace in the region.

Why is the deployment being extended?

Although the security situation in Kosovo has stabilised again since 2023, it could deteriorate again at any time. In the course of violent individual actions, Kosovo Police forces have been repeatedly shot at and injured, among other things. At the end of November 2024, there was a bomb attack on critical infrastructure, the Ibar-Lepenc canal, which is central to the water and electricity supply for the entire country.

The Kosovan government continues to take action against parallel structures and organised crime networks in the north of the country. In view of the continuing potential for escalation and conflict in the short term, it is necessary for KFOR troops to remain present in the region. KFOR is a central anchor of stability in the region.

What is Germany's specific contribution?

The German contribution to KFOR continues to include the participation of personnel in the KFOR headquarters in Pristina and in multinational reconnaissance forces. In addition to its participation in KFOR, the Federal Government is also working in the civilian sector to promote stability and peace in the Balkans in the spirit of integrated security. The Federal Government's central concern is the sustainable and legally binding normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The Federal Government is supporting the EU-led normalisation dialogue between the two countries.

The deployment is based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999 and the NATO deployment decision of 30 January 1999. As such, German armed forces are acting within and in accordance with the rules of a system of mutual collective security pursuant to Article 24(2) of the Basic Law.



The mandate authorises Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, for an unlimited period, to make German capabilities available for deployment. The authorisation expires when the United Nations mandate ends or if the NATO deployment decision is not extended.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Nevada Guard maintenance unit deploys to support CENTCOM

By Sgt. Adrianne Lopez April 23, 2026

STEAD, Nev. -- The 150th Maintenance Company has deployed to the Middle East to support operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, marking the unit's first deployment.

The Carson City-based unit serves as the primary maintenance element for the Nevada Army National Guard's 17th Sustainment Brigade and is responsible for maintaining small arms, electronics and wheeled vehicles across the formation.

The unit supports multiple organizations, including the 72nd Military Police Company, 100th Quartermaster Company, 593rd Transportation Company, 1864th Medium Truck Company, 3665th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), and the 240th and 777th engineer units.

In recent years, the company has supported state and federal missions, responding to wildfires and floods across Northern Nevada while maintaining equipment readiness across the brigade. That experience has helped prepare the unit to deploy in support of operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

During the unit's deployment ceremony at the Washoe County Armory, Brig. Gen. Randy Lau, land component commander for the Nevada Army National Guard, spoke about the important role these Soldiers will play in the sustainment mission.

"Your work may not always be seen, but it makes victory possible," Lau said. "Armies do not move, do not fight, and do not win without Soldiers like you. You are essential, and you are ready for this moment."

As the 150th Maintenance Company embarks on its international mission, its dedication and expertise reflect the best of the Nevada Army National Guard. The community, families and fellow service members stand behind the unit, confident in its ability to meet any challenge and looking forward to its safe return home.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






HIMARS unit fires simultaneously across 700 miles, three states

By Maj. Robert Taylor April 23, 2026

BOISE, Idaho -- On April 17, Lt. Col. Edward Guelfi gave the command for his battalion to fire at a simulated target at the Idaho Army National Guard's Camp Orchard. Standing just south of Boise, he watched eight M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems fire two rounds each about 800 meters in front of him.

What he couldn't see were three other HIMARS crews conducting the same firing mission at Yakima Training Center in Yakima, Washington, and another HIMARS crew firing at its own target at Dugway Proving Ground, southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.

All 12 HIMARS fired simultaneously, despite being located nearly 700 miles apart.

"The ability for us to power project with this weapon system provides us the unique ability to place long range fires in the operations environment at any time and any place of our commander's choosing," said Guelfi.

The distance tested the unit's ability to deliver precision strike capabilities in conditions that replicate the Indo-Pacific environment, where units may be distributed across multiple islands.

Guelfi, the battalion commander for the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, was one of 300 Soldiers who trained at Camp Orchard throughout April as part of I Corps' Courage Lethality exercise.

"Courage Lethality is designed to validate how America's First Corps would deploy, integrate and win the first fight alongside our multinational partners," said Guelfi. "Long-range fires are fundamental to any decisive operation. They enable us to shape the battlefield, create windows of advantage and extend the reach of the joint force."

HIMARS uses a three-Soldier crew to fire precision-guided munitions more than 180 miles.

Soldiers spent two weeks in April training at Camp Orchard and Yakima Training Center. On the morning of April 17, a HIMARS and crew traveled from Yakima to Dugway Proving Ground via a C-130 Hercules. The crew and weapon platform returned to Yakima following the successful fires mission.

"Operating in a distributed environment introduces challenges that can't be solved through traditional methods or proximity-based command and control," Guelfi said. "We're learning how to leverage next-generation command and control systems to enable distributed fires without requiring physical co-location. That requires us to operate beyond line-of-sight and integrate new capabilities into our architecture. The gains we're seeing are significant and they're worth the friction required to refine and scale them."

In addition to the battalion's three locations, the 17th Field Artillery Brigade supported the exercise from Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center in Oregon and from its headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

"This exercise is not about simply employing our equipment," Guelfi said. "It's about testing systems, leaders and formations under combat-credible conditions that reflect how we expect to fight."

To simulate combat conditions, the 1-94th Field Artillery Battalion provided opposing forces, and the unit trained alongside an international partner, the Australian Army's 14th Regiment, 10th Brigade, which began fielding HIMARS in 2025.

"By virtue of HIMARS being a new piece of equipment for the Australian Army, the ongoing relationship between the 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment and the 14th Regiment has been exceptionally valuable and has provided us with excellent development opportunities," said Maj. Nathan Imber of the 14th Regiment.

The 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment returned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord April 22.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lebanese Prime Minister Rejects Deal With Israel Unless All Troops Are Pulled - Reports

Sputnik News

20260423

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Lebanese government will not sign any agreement with Israel as part of negotiations unless it includes a "full withdrawal" of the Israeli troops from its territory, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

"We cannot live with a so-called buffer zone ... an Israeli presence where Lebanese displaced people are not allowed to return, where destroyed villages and towns cannot be rebuilt," Salam was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said earlier this week that Lebanon's willingness to negotiate with Israel did not mean that Beirut had caved in and was ready to make concessions, but rather that it was seeking a lasting end to the armed conflict.

On April 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to destroy the Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil, labeling it a bastion of the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon.

The US State Department told RIA Novosti that Lebanon and Israel would hold a second round of talks in Washington at the ambassadorial level. US President Donald Trump announced that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting April 17. Despite this, the Israeli army has been accused of routinely violating the ceasefire by launching air and artillery strikes and drone attacks. Lebanese movement Hezbollah has upheld the deal.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Exercise Obangame Express Returns to Cameroon for 15th Iteration

Obangame Express 2026 (OE 26), sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and conducted by the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, held an opening ceremony for the exercise April 23, 2026 in host nation Cameroon.

By U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs , U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Douala, Cameroon Apr 24, 2026

Obangame Express 2026 (OE 26), sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and conducted by the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet, held an opening ceremony for the exercise April 23, 2026 in host nation Cameroon.

Obangame Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Sixth Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns. This year's exercise is taking place from April 13 to May 1.

"Maritime security is not just a naval concern; it is a vital component of national and regional stability," said Rear Adm. Jason Naidyhorski, U.S. Sixth Fleet Vice Commander. "With 90 percent of all global trade traveling by sea, safeguarding these waters is a shared strategic interest for all of us. When maritime trade sails freely, economic development and prosperity flourish."

The first iteration of Obangame Express took place in Cameroon, and this year the exercise is back for the 15th iteration underscoring the continued commitment of maritime security in West Africa.

During the exercise, U.S. forces will work alongside 30 nations from Europe, Africa and South America to improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security in West Africa, and increase interoperability between the U.S., African, and multinational Allies and partners. Obangame Express 2026 reinforces critical African maritime security institutions, such as the Yaounde Architecture for Maritime Security, to deter illegal activities and protect maritime economies in the Gulf of Guinea.

OE provides an opportunity for participating navies to improve communications, both ship to shore and between maritime operation centers, through realistic training scenarios that build interoperability and enhance the maritime security environment.

"Our partnership to enhance Cameroon's maritime domain awareness capability includes significant programming for equipment, training, and education. But equipment and training alone are not enough. Maritime security requires effective partnerships," said Charge d'Affaires to Cameroon, John G. Robinson. "Obangame Express is fundamentally about strengthening those partnershipspartnerships between our navies and maritime forces, partnerships between regional neighbors, and partnerships that enhance our collective capacity to respond to maritime security challenges."

Participating nations in OE26 include: Angola, Benin, Belgium, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Togo, Tunisia and the United States.

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allies, international partners, and other U.S. government departments and agencies to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Defense Ministries of Azerbaijan and Czech Republic sign bilateral military cooperation plan

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.04.2026 [15:00]

Baku, April 24, AZERTAC

Representatives of the Defense Ministries of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic held bilateral military cooperation talks, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

During the meeting held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defense, the current state and prospects of military cooperation between the two countries were discussed. A detailed exchange of views was also held on issues of mutual interest, and various briefings were delivered.

At the end of the talks, the parties signed a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2026.

Following the exchange of gifts, a group photo was taken.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by 3 weeks says Trump after direct talks at White House

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

24.04.2026 [12:21]

Baku, April 24, AZERTAC

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks following ambassador-level direct talks at the White House.

"The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after hosting ambassadors from both countries in the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump described the meeting as "very successful," adding that Washington would work with Lebanon to help "protect itself" from the Hezbollah group.

"I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun," he added, referring to Benjamin Netanyahu by his nickname.

Trump later told reporters that the leaders will "most likely" visit the White House during the three-week ceasefire period.

"We had a great conversation. And I think it's the beginning of something very important," he said.

Asked if peace between the two countries could happen this year, Trump responded by saying that there is a "great chance."

But he later added that "Israel is going to have to defend itself, if they're shot at, and they will. I would never say that they can't."

The meeting was the second between Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter amid a tenuous ceasefire. The countries, which lack formal diplomatic relations, held their first round of talks in more than 30 years on April 14 at the State Department.

The US-brokered 10-day ceasefire, which went into effect on April 16, had been slated to expire on Sunday.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 24, 2026

Release

U.S. Navy to Commission Submarine Idaho (SSN 799)

The Navy will commission the 26th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, April 25, at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut.

The Honorable James Risch, U.S. Senator from Idaho, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Additional speakers are set to include the Honorable Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator from Connecticut; the Honorable Brad Little, Governor of Idaho; the Honorable Michael Simpson, U.S. Representative from Idaho; the Honorable Joe Courtney, U.S. Representative from Connecticut; the Honorable Hung Cao, acting Secretary of the Navy; Adm. William Houston, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; and Mark Rayha, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB).

The submarine's sponsor, Teresa Stackley, is the daughter of a Navy Sailor and the spouse of the Honorable Sean Stackley, a former Naval officer who served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition from 2008 to 2017. In keeping with Navy tradition, Stackley will give the crew the order to "man our ship and bring her to life." With the hoisting of the colors and commissioning pennant, acting Secretary Cao will formally place the ship in active service.

SSN 799 is the fifth Navy ship to be named for the state of Idaho. The first was a wooden-hulled steam sloop commissioned in 1866. The most recent was a New Mexico-class battleship, BB-42, which was commissioned in 1919. BB-42 participated in major Naval battles in the Pacific campaign from 1942 to 1945 and received seven battle stars for service in World War II.

Idaho is the 26th Virginia-class submarine co-produced by GDEB and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding through a long-standing teaming arrangement. The submarine is the 14th delivered by GDEB and the eighth Block IV-configured Virginia-class submarine. Idaho was christened March 16, 2024, at GDEB's shipyard in Groton.

As it joins the fleet, Idaho brings significant warfighting capability, underscoring the Nation's asymmetrical advantage at sea. Virginia-class fast-attack submarines have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

Each Virginia-class submarine is 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length and has a beam of 34 feet. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing life-cycle costs while increasing underway time.

The commissioning of USS Idaho underscores the Navy's commitment to building America's Fleet of the Future. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally. That mission continues - and intensifies. We operate forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability delivery, and the Fleet of the Future is our answer.

The commissioning ceremony will be streamed live at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37488.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342.

More information on the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine program can be found at: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4470020/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 24, 2026

By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News

Joint Force Enforces Maritime Blockade in Gulf of Oman, Globally

Last week the U.S. military stood up a maritime blockade against ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz that had been doing business with Iran at its ports, or that were headed to Iranian ports.

That blockade is ongoing and continues to become more effective and stronger, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said during a press briefing today at the Pentagon.

"The United States has imposed an ironclad blockade that grows more powerful by the day, from the Gulf of Oman to the open oceans," he said. "Our Navy is enforcing this blockade without hesitation or apology ... every ship that the U.S. believes meets our criteria  either Iranian ships or [ships going] to and from Iranian ports  has been turned around."

The secretary said 34 ships have been turned around without incident, choosing to respect the U.S. blockade rather than tangle with America's Navy.

"Not only is the blockade growing, in fact, a second aircraft carrier will join the blockade in just a few days; but this growing blockade has also gone global," Hegseth said. "Just this week, we seized two Iranian dark fleet ships in the Indo-Pacific region that had left Iranian ports before the blockade went into effect."

Some ships that might have been stopped by the blockade made it to the open oceans before the blockade went into effect, and Hegseth said where possible, those ships too will be stopped.

"We seized their sanctioned ships, and we will seize more," he said. "Our blockade is growing and going global. America's military is unmatched, projecting power, denying passage to adversaries and protecting our interests at the time and place of our choosing."

The secretary also said the president has authorized U.S. Central Command to shoot and kill vessels in the Gulf of Oman that threaten U.S. or commercial ships.

"President [Donald J.] Trump has authorized the United States Navy to destroy any Iranian fast boats that attempt to put mines in the water or disrupt passage through the Strait of Hormuz  to shoot and kill," he said. "Our commanders have clear rules of engagement: if Iran is putting mines in the water or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy. No hesitation; just like the drug boats in the Caribbean."

In just the last week, Centcom and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command have interdicted three vessels. The first was the Touska, an Iranian-flagged container ship, about 965 feet long, which was interdicted by Centcom on April 19.

"The operation began about 4 a.m. Eastern Standard Time when United States Navy destroyer approached her, and the crew and the vessel ignored our warnings," said Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Over a six-hour period, the vessel and her crew repeatedly ignored U.S. warnings, and then the U.S. Navy destroyer executed a series of pre-planned, carefully calibrated escalation options, including firing five warning shots."

Still the Touska continued to ignore, even that escalation, Caine said. After that, Centcom authorized "disabling fire" against the Touska.

"U.S. sailors warned the crew of the Touska to abandon the engine room, and at approximately 9 a.m. Eastern Time, the destroyer disabled the Tusca's engine by firing nine inert rounds from the destroyer's Mark 45 5-inch guns precisely into the engine room and engine space on board the Touska," he said.

Shortly after, he said the Touska reported engine issues and went dead in the water.

"Centcom ordered United States Marines to seize the ship via helicopters," he said. "U.S. Marines maneuvered quickly to the disabled ship, boarded her from fast ropes via helicopter infiltration methods and took custody of the ship. The ship and her crew remain safe in U.S. custody today."

Elsewhere, such as in the Pacific Ocean, he said, the U.S. interdicted two additional ships, ships that departed the Centcom area of operations before the maritime blockade went into place.

One of those ships was the Tifani, a crude oil tanker, which was interdicted April 20-21. The Tifani was carrying approximately 2 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil.

"At approximately 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. military forces and law enforcement forces also went to the ship via rotary wing platforms, fast-roped onto her deck and secured her," Caine said. "After the ship was secured, a U.S. Navy control team embarked aboard the Tifani ... and assumed control of the ship at 4 a.m. Eastern Time on April 21."

Finally, April 22, he said, was the interdiction of the Majestic X in the Indo-Pacom area of responsibility, in the Indian Ocean.

"At approximately 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, U.S. forces began the interdiction, again using rotary wing assets to get to the ship, got on board and secured the bridge," he said.

Now, Caine said, the Tifani, the Majestic X and their crews, remain in U.S. custody. He said the joint force will continue to conduct such operations in the maritime domain against Iranian ships and vessels of the dark fleet.

"The actions by our service members and our law enforcement partners demonstrate the incredible discipline, dedication and professionalism of our joint force; and highlight the global reach of American combat power," Caine said. "The joint force remains focused on ensuring the Iranian regime cannot harm our interests or those of our allies and partners."

Hegseth said the U.S. blockade is growing stronger and that the War Department's will is "unshakable."

"As the president said, we have all the time in the world," he said. "Iran has a historic chance to make a serious deal, and the ball is in their court. Either way, the War Department stands ready for what comes next; locked and loaded. May God continue to bless our warriors each and every day, and on each and every mission."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Government submits to Parliament proposal to facilitate operations of international military headquarters in Finland

Finnish Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence

Publication date 24.4.2026 8.12

Type:Press release

The Finnish Government proposes that an agreement supplementing the Paris Protocol be accepted to facilitate the establishment and operations of international military headquarters in Finland. The government proposal was submitted to Parliament on 23 April 2026.

"This proposal would facilitate the operations of international military headquarters in Finland. First, we achieved our goal of establishing a Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) in Mikkeli and a NATO Deployable CIS Module (DCM) in Riihimaki. Now we want to make sure that these and any other international military headquarters later established in Finland can operate and perform their duties to the fullest. This is a concrete sign that Finland's NATO integration is making good progess, and it also contributes to strengthening the defence of Finland and the High North," Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen said.

The supplementary agreement would strengthen the status of NATO's international military headquarters and facilitate their operations in Finland. It would apply to all NATO military headquarters and any other military organisations operating in Finland. The agreement would be Finland's first NATO-related international agreement prepared under the lead of the Ministry of Defence.

The agreement would not establish any headquarters: the decision to establish a headquarters or change the personnel strength of a headquarters would remain subject to approval by Finland. In addition, Finland would approve any headquarter activities that, for example, require an increase of personnel strength.

The supplementary agreement contains provisions on various matters such as taxation, environmental protection, health and safety, telecommunications, vehicles and education. The basic principle is that NATO military headquarters enjoy the same opportunities and conditions in Finland as the Finnish Defence Forces.

The agreement would ensure that, during their NATO mission, high-ranking personnel, such as generals, serving in NATO would be accorded immunities and privileges comparable to those enjoyed by foreign diplomats.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA holds exercises in waters east of Luzon Island, 'a necessary action in response to the current regional situation'

Global Times

Alarming Japan-Philippines military collusion binds strategic flashpoints, fuels regional risks: experts

By Wang Qi Published: Apr 24, 2026 06:59 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Friday announced it has recently organized Task Force 107 to conduct military training exercises in the waters east of Luzon Island of the Philippines. The exercises focused on live-fire drills, sea-air coordination, rapid maneuvering, and underway replenishment, aiming to test the troops' integrated joint operational capabilities.

The Command stated that this is a necessary action in response to the current regional situation and fully complies with relevant international law and international practice. In accordance with the needs of the security situation, the theater troops will routinely organize relevant military activities to safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.

The PLA's operation came amid the ongoing Balikatan military exercises hosted by the Philippines and US, in which Japan is also becoming a full active participant for the first time. Meanwhile, Japan-Philippines military collusion has been accelerating and upgrading markedly in 2026.

Analysts said that Japan and the Philippines are attempting to link major geopolitical flashpoints across the East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea to forge a cross-regional military coordination framework. Such moves will markedly escalate regional tensions and greatly raise the risks of conflict escalation and spillover, requiring high vigilance from regional countries and the international community.

Alarming participation

The ongoing Balikatan 2026 joint military exercises, held from April 20 to May 8, have become a key window to observe the escalating military collusion between Japan and the Philippines.

According to the Phil Star, Japan is participating in this year's Balikatan, the largest edition in scale since 1990s, as active partners rather than observers.

"The most significant shift in this year's Balikatan is Japan's outsized role," the Phil Star commented, adding that besides deploying 1,400 troops, Japan will also have its forces fire Type 88 surface-to-ship missiles in a live-fire sinking exercise, the first time Japanese forces will have used the weapon system outside their territory.

Before taking part in Balikatan, Japan also sent about 420 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to participate in the US-Philippine combat drill "Salaknib," NHK reported.

NHK said that during the drill, Japan is "playing a major role for the first time" instead of taking part only as an observer like in the past editions. The Japan Times said the drill means that Japan is sending "combat-capable" troops to the Philippines for the first time since the end of World War II  not as occupiers, but as close partners.

In September 2025, Japan and the Philippines put into force a new cooperation pact called the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which facilitates procedures for deploying equipment and personnel between the two countries, NHK reported in a separate article.

In January 2026, Japan and the Philippines signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a bilateral defense agreement allowing allied militaries to exchange logistics, supplies and services for joint exercises or crises, the Inquirer.net reported.

The two sides are also negotiating a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Some analysts note that once the agreement takes effect, Japan and the Philippines will be able to share relevant intelligence in real time, according to media reports.

Japan's participation in the US-Philippines live-action military drills, coupled with the deepening military collusion between Japan and the Philippines recently, is most hazardous in that it militarily ties the situations of the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea together, Ma Bo, an associate professor at the School of International Studies at Nanjing University, told the Global Times.

Similarly, Xiang Haoyu, a distinguished Research Fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, stated that once tensions flare up, Japan can use the Philippines as a springboard to integrate geopolitical flashpoints in the East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea through military linkage, and build a cross-regional containment architecture targeting China.

The attempt would drastically raise the risks of uncontrollable conflicts and regional spillover. Regional countries and the international community should maintain high vigilance against such moves, Xiang said.

Alliance of troublemakers

Also on Friday, the Philippine Presidential Communication Office announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will make a state visit to Japan from May 26 to 29, upon the invitation of the Japanese government.

According to the official release, the two sides are expected to discuss the future trajectory of the Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership as well as international developments, "especially with regard to energy and food security, and maritime security."

Prior to the visit, Japan had already stepped up its military support to the Philippines and was actively intervening in South China Sea matters.

As the exercises were being held, the Japanese government officially revised "the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines on Tuesday to allow overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities, despite waves of large-scale protests, local media reported.

In March this year, Japan handed over five coastal radar systems to the Philippines, which it said would strengthen the country's maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities, according to multiple media reports from the two nations.

Japan and the Philippines have forged a very close quasi-military alliance and despite the absence of a formal alliance treaty their cooperation depth and institutionalization level have come close to the standard of a military alliance, Ma said.

According to the expert, given its inadequate military strength, the Philippines seeks to strengthen its capacity to advance "territorial claims" in the South China Sea and further stir up trouble in regional affairs through a closer strategic bonding with Japan on security and military aspects.

Regarding Tokyo, Xiang said Japan's calculation is to break through its post-war military constraints and expand its geopolitical influence.

"By leveraging the Philippines, it is attempting to realize overseas combat-oriented deployments, boost its military projection capability, and accumulate practical grounds for revising Article 9 of its pacifist constitution," Xiang said, "Taking the South China Sea as a strategic springboard, Japan eyes building the southern barrier of the 'first island chain' targeting China."

According to the expert, what deserves high vigilance is that the Japan-Philippines military collusion may further evolve toward greater alliance-like, combat-oriented, and normalized development.

For example, this could include enhancing joint command and combat capabilities, building a comprehensive intelligence-sharing network covering the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, advancing joint research and development as well as production of military equipment, expanding the scale and scope of live-fire drills, conducting joint patrols in disputed waters of the South China Sea, and ultimately possibly seeking to form a US-Japan-Philippines triangle military alliance.

On the other hand, Ma believes that the framework of Japan-Philippines military cooperation may largely remain confined to the broader US "Indo-Pacific strategic" framework. In a sense, Tokyo and Manila are strengthening their military collusion in the hope of again attracting greater US investment and engagement in "Indo-Pacific" affairs.

Washington hopes to leverage the special geographical positions of Japan and the Philippines, along with their strategic anxiety, to push them to the front line in confronting China. However, the US, which is already entangled in the Middle East, does not wish to be passively drawn into a direct conflict with China, due to Japan and the Philippines' tricks on the Taiwan Straits or the South China Sea, Ma added.

Regarding the ongoing Balikatan exercise, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in a previous press conference on Monday that no military and security cooperation should be conducted at the expense of mutual understanding and trust as well as peace and stability in the region.

"Such cooperation should not target any third party or harm the interests of any third party. For countries that tie their own security to others, it is important to bear in mind that this may very well backfire," Guo said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Switzerland stated on Friday that it "considers the autonomy initiative" put forward by Morocco "as the most serious, credible, and pragmatic basis" for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Friday 24 April 2026

This position was expressed in a Joint Communication adopted by Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor, Vice-President of the Swiss Confederation, and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, who is on a working visit to Bern.

In the same agreed-upon document, Switzerland "welcomes" the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797, stating that "genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution."

Switzerland also recalled its "support for the central role played by the United Nations as well as the efforts deployed by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General."

Switzerland's reiterated support for the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco is part of the growing international consensus generated by the momentum driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in favor of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and in support of the autonomy Initiative.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Cyber Defenders put to the test during Exercise LOCKED SHIELDS 2026

NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)

Apr 24 2026

MONS, Belgium -- The world's largest and most complex international live-fire cyber defence exercise, LOCKED SHIELDS 2026, with over 4,000 cyber defenders from 41 NATO Allies and partner nations wrapped up on Thursday, Apr. 23. 2026, in Tallinn, Estonia.

For three days participants trained against real-time cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and national information technology (IT) systems and included a wide range of specialised systems requiring protection, such as 5G infrastructure, satellite management systems, power grids, and electronic voting systems. LOCKED SHIELDS aimed to strengthen cyber defence capabilities across Allied and Partner Nations, promoting multinational cooperation and accelerating innovation.

"Cyber threats are becoming more frequent and increasingly sophisticated across the globe. We must be able to develop our cyber defence capabilities to stay at least one step ahead of them. LOCKED SHIELDS unites the power of 41 allies and partners to exercise multinational cyber defence in a crisis and wartime scenario, exchanging know-how and enhancing collaboration, which is essential for long-term resilience to cyber threats," stated Tonis Saar, Director of NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

A NATO team of cyber experts joined forces with NATO Allies Norway and Iceland to train from the Norwegian Cyber Command in Lillehammer, Norway. The NATO team combined expertise in cyber threat intelligence and incident response, legal advisory, forensics and malware analysis. The team, led by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) through its NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), brought together technical and non-technical experts from multiple NATO bodies including the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF).

As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and sophistication, exercises like LOCKED SHIELDS, organised by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), play a vital role in ensuring that NATO Allies remain prepared to detect, deter, and defend against attacks in cyberspace. They demonstrate Allies are determined to counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, and invest in training, education and exercises to do so.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






HYDIS Programme Successfully Achieves Mission Definition Review Milestone

OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d'Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation)

Apr 24 2026

Montrouge/France - 24 April 2026 -- The European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System (HYDIS) Programme has successfully achieved its Mission Definition Review (MDR) milestone, marking a significant step forward in the development of a European capability to counter emerging hypersonic and ballistic threats.

The milestone was formally validated on 24 April during a HYDIS Steering Committee meeting held at the premises of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) in Montrouge. The approval concludes nearly two years of intensive technical studies and close cooperation between industry, participating nations and research organisations.

The MDR milestone is supported by the delivery of the Mission Definition Report by MBDA. The report consolidates a coherent, consistent and agreed set of user requirements for an interceptor system, reflecting the operational needs expressed by the four HYDIS Participating Nations: France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

In parallel, a comprehensive threats characterisation catalogue was produced by three leading European Research and Technology Organisations: CIRA (Italy), ONERA (France) and TNO (the Netherlands). The work covered detailed analyses of physical parameters such as size, mass, geometry, materials, range and payload, as well as aerodynamic behaviour and the aerothermal environment.

The catalogue also includes the modelling of manoeuvrable trajectories and infrared and radio-frequency signatures, enhanced by penetration aids, for a range of challenging threats. These include hypersonic glide vehicles, hypersonic cruise missiles and manoeuvring ballistic missiles that the future HYDIS interceptor system is intended to counter.

From 26 March, 2026 onwards, representatives from industry, the Participating Nations and OCCAR worked in close collaboration to review and consolidate the findings of both the Mission Definition Report and the threats characterisation catalogue. This process resulted in a comprehensive set of requirements addressing expected operational performance, platform integrability, life-cycle management and interoperability with key capabilities such as space-based early warning and command-and-control systems.

The review activities also led to the finalisation of realistic and representative operational scenarios. These scenarios will inform the next phase of modelling and simulation activities, which are essential for preparation of the Final Concept Review (FCR) milestone planned for the second half of 2026.

As an Observer nation, the United Kingdom was invited to assess the MDR outcomes and conduct an initial evaluation of the alignment between HYDIS and UK operational requirements, supporting the shared objective of developing advanced defensive capabilities against evolving hypersonic threats.





HYDIS is co-funded by the European Union under the European Defence Fund and by the four Participating States  France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. OCCAR has been entrusted by the European Commission with the indirect management of the programme and acts as Contracting Authority on behalf of the EU and the Member States.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump says ceasefire between Israel, Lebanon to be extended by 3 weeks

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:49, April 24, 2026

WASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, shortly after the two countries held their second ambassador-level talks here Thursday afternoon.

The United States is going to work with the government of Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump said he met with representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office, along with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon.

"The Meeting went very well!" Trump claimed, providing no details.

"I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun," Trump added.

Trump said last week he was expecting to meet Netanyahu and Aoun at the White House "over the next week or two" in hopes that the two sides could broker a peace deal, which will also address Hezbollah.

The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on April 16, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations, and Hezbollah has long been viewed by Israel as a "proxy" of Iran. The negotiating party with Israel is the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah.

The truce has remained fragile as tensions along Lebanon's southern border have continued during the current ceasefire.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PH Navy, JMSDF partnership centers on respect for int'l law

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

April 24, 2026, 3:42 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) have renewed the two nations' commitment to a rules-based international order and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two navies' respect for international law was highlighted when Philippine Fleet head Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe hosted JMSDF Self-Defense Fleet Amphibious and Mine Warfare Force commander, Rear Admiral Ikeuchi Izuru, at Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales on April 22, a PN statement on Friday said.

"Discussions centered on strengthening naval cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and advancing joint maritime security efforts between the PN and the JMSDF," the Navy added.

The visit comes amid Japan's expanded participation in this year's "Balikatan 2026," involving approximately 1,400 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel and the deployment of Type 88 surface-to-ship Missile systems - marking a significant step in Japan's growing operational role in the region.

About 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand will take part in the ongoing "Balikatan" exercises.

"Such engagements also reinforce both nations' shared commitment to a rules-based international order, particularly the principles of freedom of navigation, respect for sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the UNCLOS," the PN said.

Orbe, in the same statement, said the engagement underscores the accelerating defense partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

He also cited the deployments of JMSDF ships, JS Ikazuchi, JS Shimokita, and JS Ise as key contributors to enhancing joint operational readiness and promoting a stable and secure maritime environment. (PNA)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hezbollah MP: Ceasefire meaningless amid ongoing Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 2:16 PM

A senior Hezbollah legislator says no ceasefire agreement can hold as long as the Israeli regime continues its military aggression, assassinations, and the systematic destruction of Lebanese border towns.

Ali Fayaz said on Friday that no ceasefire can take effect while Lebanons sovereignty is violated by persistent shelling and gunfire.

He said the resistance group will not accept a truce that allows for the continued destruction of the Lebanese border towns.

Fayaz made the remarks after US President Donald Trump announced the extension of a formerly agreed ceasefire for three more weeks on April 23.

"The resistance reaffirms its rejection of and confrontation with the US track that seeks to bind Lebanon to a ceasefire without any Israeli commitments, Fayaz added.

He said that unless a ceasefire leads directly to the withdrawal of occupiers, it only affirms the Lebanese peoples final right to resist until the occupation is expelled and full sovereignty is restored.

Fayaz also reiterated that any Israeli military aggression on any Lebanese target gives the resistance the right to respond proportionally.

The MP said that by extending the so-called ceasefire, Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to justify direct negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government.

The United States hosted ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday as Israel pushes its aggressive demands amid continued violation of the ceasefire. Earlier this month, Lebanese and Israeli envoys met for talks in Washington for the first time.

While Lebanon entered the talks seeking an immediate end to the regimes airstrikes against the country, Tel Aviv refuses to discuss a ceasefire, instead demanding the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, called on Friday for Beirut to "withdraw" from direct talks with the Zionist regime.

He said that any so-called truce that gives Israel a special exemption to open fire in Lebanon is a devious deception.

Earlier, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem had urged the Lebanese government to cancel the planned meeting in Washington.

Weeks after the US and Israel launched their military aggression against Iran on February 28, Tehran and Washington agreed to a ceasefire, with the Trump administration formally accepting Tehrans 10-point proposal, which demanded ceasefires on all fronts, including Lebanon.

When the US briefly backtracked under intense Israeli lobbyingresulting in a tragic massacre of over 300 people across LebanonIran maintained a steadfast posture. Although the ceasefire was finally implemented on April 16, it has since been systematically violated by Israel.

In retaliation for Israeli ceasefire violations, attacks on civilians, and the demolition of homes in southern Lebanese villages, Hezbollah said it carried out six military operations on April 23, followed by the downing of an Israeli drone on Friday afternoon.

The resistance forces have also conducted several strategic strikes, ranging from drone and artillery strikes on troop gatherings to the destruction of a military bulldozer and a rocket salvo targeting an illegal settlement in the occupied territories.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






ASEAN, China unlikely to finalize South China Sea Code of Conduct at upcoming summit

Beijing routinely skirts international agreements, so a COC must have enforcement mechanisms, analysts said.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2026.04.24 -- Southeast Asian leaders are unlikely to resolve long-standing disputes in the South China Sea at next month's ASEAN Summit, but they could make "incremental progress" towards a Code of Conduct, or COC, aimed at managing tensions there, analysts told Radio Free Asia.

The annual summit brings together leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to discuss regional security and economic issues. China is participating as a dialogue partner this year, and the forum presents an opportunity to address the South China Sea, a persistent flashpoint where China's sweeping claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian states.

Regional officials have said they are aiming to complete negotiations on the COC by 2026, but key issues, including its geographic scope, legal status and enforcement mechanisms, remain unresolved after more than two decades of talks.

Resolution unlikely

It is improbable that a code resolving all disputes in the South China Sea could be hammered out at the ASEAN leaders' summit this year, Joseph Kristanto, a research analyst at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told RFA. The key issue at the summit will be if meaningful progress on mitigating tensions can be achieved.

"While the COC may help prevent misunderstandings in daily interactions, I'd say it's unlikely to stop grey-zone activities or coercive behavior by claimant states, most notably China, altogether," he said. "Therefore, the COC is best seen as a mechanism for managing friction, rather than transforming the underlying dynamics of the dispute."

Agreements to reduce friction have been tried before. ASEAN and China signed a non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in 2002 and began formal negotiations on a binding code in 2013. Progress since then has been described by some officials as slow.

COC negotiators face a fundamental trade-off between a politically feasible but limited "thin" code based on general principles, and a more robust framework with clearer rules and enforcement mechanisms that would be harder to achieve, Kristanto said.

"The slow pace of the COC process demonstrates the complexity of these issues and exposes the limits of ASEAN's consensus approach," he said.

Other analysts say that China's track record of frequent provocations in the region makes them skeptical that any agreement would make a meaningful difference in practice.

"My pessimism on the COC really comes down to two things: China's track record of undermining or ignoring its existing agreements, and the question of who would actually do the binding in a 'legally binding' COC," Ray Powell, executive director of Stanford University's SeaLight maritime transparency project, told RFA.

Powell noted that the 2002 declaration already committed parties to self-restraint and peaceful dispute resolution, yet tensions have persisted.

"That experience shows the problem is not the absence of written rules but a lack of any authority China is willing to accept above its own political will," he said, adding that a meaningful code would require an enforcement or arbitration mechanism that Beijing has historically rejected.

A weaker version, he warned, could risk undermining existing legal protections for Southeast Asian states under international law.

Legal questions

Others argue that even a limited agreement could still play a role in stabilizing day-to-day interactions, provided it is grounded in established international legal frameworks.

"A substantive and comprehensive COC on the South China Sea would not just be about something that could ease the tensions between the Philippines and China," Josue Raphael J. Cortez of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the Philippines, told RFA.

"Instead, it would be an inclusive document, grounded in UNCLOS and public international law that should pave the way for all state claimants to coexist responsibly and peacefully," he said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Cortez said a meaningful code should go beyond traditional issues such as fisheries and navigation to include broader resource-sharing arrangements, including oil, gas and critical minerals, reflecting the region's evolving economic stakes.

Though a legally binding framework could help reduce tensions, he cautioned that it would need to be backed by continued dialogue and mechanisms to ensure compliance.

"Forging such an agreement can never be enough," he said. "Instead, continuous dialogue ... must still be continued so as to ascertain compliance and whether future revisions can be undertaken for the framework's viability."

The 48th ASEAN Summit is slated to start May 5-9 in Cebu, Philippines.

Edited by Eugene Whong.

Copyright 1998-2026, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2026 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pristina Court Sentences 2 To Life Over Deadly 2023 'Terrorist Attack' In Banjska

By RFE/RL's Kosovo Service April 24, 2026

A court in Pristina sentenced two men to life in prison for a brazen attack by ethnic Serbs on a police unit in northern Kosovo in September 2023 that left one police officer and three of the attackers dead.

Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic were handed life sentences by the Basic Court in Pristina on April 24, while giving another member of the group, Dusan Maksimovic, 30 years in prison for what Judge Ngadhnjim Arrni called a "well-organized plan" that "attempted to detach the northern part of Kosovo's territory and join it to Serbia."

The attack came months after talks backed by Washington and Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia collapsed, and relations between the bitter neighbors and rivals have only deteriorated further.

Belgrade and its ally Russia still refuse to recognize Kosovo's sovereignty since a 2008 declaration of independence that followed a decade of UN administration after a bloody ethnically fueled war.

Kosovo's acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, said the verdict against the three defendants was "proof that the attack on the Kosovo Police, the constitutional order, and the security of our country will not go unpunished."

"However, justice for the terrorist attack in Banjska does not end here. It will be complete only when all those responsible, led by Milan Radoicic, are brought to justice," she said, referring to the leader of the attack, an ethnic Serb from Kosovo who is now in Serbia.

During the attack, around 30 ethnic Serb gunmen ambushed a police patrol in Banjska, a village near the border with Serbia, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, an ethnic Albanian Kosovar police officer.

The attackers then made a stand in an Orthodox monastery and exchanged fire with Kosovar forces. Three gunmen were ultimately killed.

The Serb List, the main Kosovo Serb party backed by Belgrade, condemned the verdict, saying the defendants had been sentenced without "valid evidence," without individual responsibility being established, and without a clear explanation of the actions attributed to them. Radoicic was a former vice president of the Serb List.

The Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo described the verdict as "draconian," and accused the court of acting "under direct political pressure."

Kosovo's Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said the country had dismantled what he called criminal and paramilitary structures in the north, but added that Serbia must still be held accountable for its alleged political, financial, and logistical role in the attack.

He said the verdict does not bring back Bunjaku, but is "a step toward justice" for his family, colleagues, and Kosovo's citizens. Justice for Banjska, he added, would be complete only when all those responsible are brought before court, "starting with Milan Radoicic."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-court-life- sentences-deadly-attack-banjska-serbia/33741781.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Locked Shields 2026 NATO Cyberdefence Exercise

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 79

24.04.2026

Locked Shields 2026 international Exercise was conducted at the Central Library of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, over April 13-24, which is annually organized by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE).

The scenarios developed by CCDCOE simulated large-scale cyber crisis situations, during which the technical, operational and decision-making capabilities of the participants are tested, under conditions of pressure and operational uncertainty.

In this year's edition, the Romanian team participated in a joint format, together with experts from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and strengthened regional cooperation in the field of defence and cybersecurity. Thus, specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, structures of the National Defence System, Public Order and National Security, the National Cyber Security Directorate, academia and the private sector were involved in integrated defence, analysis and incident response activities.

The exercise integrated technical, legal and strategic communication components, aiming to develop a common approach to managing cyber incidents. The scenarios included the protection of critical infrastructures, such as 5G communication networks, energy systems, satellite systems such as military command and control platforms, all simulated under complex operational conditions.

The 16 participating teams acted as a multinational rapid reaction force, tasked with defending a simulated national infrastructure against approximately 8,000 real-time cyberattacks, while managing technical incidents, legal challenges and strategic communication requirements.

The 2026 edition brought together approximately 4,000 participants from over 40 countries, providing an extensive framework for cooperation, exchange of expertise and enhancing international interoperability.

Romania's participation in Locked Shields 2026 reconfirms its commitment to developing national cyber defence capabilities, strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructures, and enhancing cooperation with international partners in the field of cybersecurity. The Romanian team was coordinated by the MoND Cyber Defence Command.



The Press Office

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lethal Kinetic Strike, April 24, 2026

Press Release | April 24, 2026

On April 24, at the direction of the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.

Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pentagon Still Seeks Funds to Restore Missile Stockpile Spent in Iran - Reports

Sputnik News

20260424

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Pentagon is still struggling to secure funding to expedite the replenishment of critical munitions used up during the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, The New York Times reported, citing US officials.

In January, US defense contractor Lockheed Martin signed a framework agreement with the Department of War to quadruple production of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system.

Officials told The New York Times on Thursday that no steps had been taken to start the expanded production, as the Pentagon was still waiting for congressional approval for additional funding. Meanwhile, the US Armed Forces are rapidly depleting existing munition supplies.

The report singled out the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range, (JASSM-ER) high-precision cruise missiles as the fastest-expendable munitions. Officials said that during the operation against Iran, the US military expended 1,100 missiles, each costing $1.1 million, leaving only 1,500 in reserve.

Moreover, the military has also expended over 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, while only 600 missiles, costing $4 million each, were reportedly produced for the entire year 2025.

A new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released on Tuesday stated that the United States risked facing shortages of key missiles in potential future large-scale conflicts due to the depletion of its arsenal during the military operation against Iran.

In early April, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration would reduce its request to Congress for additional funding for the operation against Iran from more than $200 billion to $80-100 billion.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli-Lebanese Talks Went Very Well, Ceasefire Will Be Extended for 3 Weeks - Trump

Sputnik News

20260424

The negotiations between Israel and Lebanon went very well, and the ceasefire in southern Lebanon will be extended for three weeks, US President Donald Trump said.

"The President of the United States, DONALD J. TRUMP, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, met today with High Ranking Representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office. The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah. The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US president added that he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

However, Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said the truce is fragile because Lebanon has no control over Hezbollah.

"Israel has to retaliate. Every time we see a threat, we take action," he told CNN.

Danny Danon

Israel's UN ambassador

On April 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to destroy the Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil, labeling it a bastion of the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon.

The US State Department told RIA Novosti that Lebanon and Israel would hold a second round of talks in Washington at the ambassadorial level. US President Donald Trump announced that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting April 17. Despite this, the Israeli army has been accused of routinely violating the ceasefire by launching air and artillery strikes and drone attacks. Lebanese movement Hezbollah has upheld the deal.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Meeting with European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Sefcovic

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 24, 2026

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic to reaffirm support for rebalancing and revitalizing the U.S.-EU economic relationship to advance economic prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. The Secretary and Commissioner Sefcovic signed the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership on Critical Minerals, an important step in securing our respective supply chains.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Rubio's Call with Italian Foreign Minister Tajani

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 24, 2026

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister exchanged views on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Middle East, including efforts to achieve durable peace between Israel and Lebanon. The two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine. The Secretary emphasized the strength of the U.S.-Italy strategic partnership and the close cooperation between our two countries on security, economic, and technological issues.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Conflict remains a leading cause of hunger: Minister Chapman speech at launch of 2026 Global Report on Food Crises

Speech

Minister for Development Jenny Chapman gave a speech at the high-level ceremony to launch the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises in London

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Published 24 April 2026

Location: London

Delivered on: 24 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you to everybody here for all that you do to put evidence at the heart of how we confront global hunger.

We are here to launch the 10th Global Report on Food Crises.

But we're also here because the problems that the report describes - and we all know this - are getting worse.

More people are facing severe hunger and food insecurity.

To break this cycle, we need to work together and do things differently. And that's why the UK joined the Global Network Against Food Crises.

Your insights, evidence and coordination will shape our response.

From the Middle East, to Sudan, to Ukraine - the world is more fragile than it has been in decades.

And conflict remains a leading cause of hunger and malnutrition.

It disrupts production, trade and livelihoods. Its impacts cascade. And climate change and economic shocks are only adding to this pressure.

As the report makes clear, more than 80 per cent of people suffering severe hunger live in places affected by protracted conflict, fragility and crises.

All of this is testing our capacity to respond, even when needs grow.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is just the latest inflection point. Driving up fuel and fertiliser prices and always - it always happens - hitting the poorest the hardest.

And while the UN is clear that a global food price crisis is not inevitable, the longer pressures persist, the greater the risk of that becomes.

Countries that depend on Gulf fertiliser imports are highly exposed, including in Asia.

Meanwhile, many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa face the highest risk, as rising fuel and transport costs will push prices up even further.

At the World Bank Spring meetings last week, there was a collective drive to ensure finance and support is ready to surge - and that's great.

And we must now follow through. The toolkit is fantastic but only if it's used.

These challenges - many of which are set out in the Report - demand that we do things differently.

Firstly, we must act earlier and invest more in resilience.

I've been in so many rooms like this where everybody has said this and everybody agrees - I've yet to see the big step change that's really going to be needed. That's on us. It's not that somebody else has to do things differently, we all do.

That means strengthening systems to tackle risks before they escalate, protecting livelihoods, and helping communities adapt to climate change so that shocks don't automatically lead to humanitarian emergencies.

The Food Crisis Preparedness Plans are a good example of how we can approach this.

I recently co-chaired, with the Somali Deputy Prime Minister, the first global roundtable to trigger a plan.

It was really good - it showed how a country led early warning approach, which is grounded in evidence, can bring partners together to spot risks earlier and strengthen long-term resilience.

It doesn't answer all of the challenges, or solve all problems, or instantly magic-up resources. But it is a lot better, and things are better coordinated and more lives saved as a result.

Secondly though, we must prioritise and target resources more effectively.

That means using forecasts better, targeting funding where it has the most impact, reducing human suffering now and preventing future need, rather than responding only after the crisis escalates.

I know everyone here agrees with everything I'm saying, but we really need to force that behaviour change amongst ourselves as a consequence.

If we choose to coordinate now and join forces, rather than working in silos at the cost of people's lives and livelihoods, then we will be doing our jobs much more effectively.

We also need stronger engagement from climate funds and international financial institutions to achieve the scale needed in fragile countries, and to drive the shift towards equitable investment partnerships.

This brings me to my next point which is all about join up.

Humanitarian assistance will always be essential to save lives - we know this. But long-term problems need long-term solutions and investments that reduce risk, address root causes, and support recovery.

This was told to me in no uncertain terms - he could not have been more blunt about it - by the Ugandan Finance Minister last week. We were talking about displaced people and food security - all the issues we talk about all the time.

He said the thing is, there's a long-term problem, and we show up with our short-term funding and our project, and then wonder why we're having the same conversations on repeat.

I think we need to listen and internalise that message and do things differently.

We've got to work politically as well, and sometimes that's the most difficult thing to do but it is essential.

We have to deploy expertise across diplomacy, science, peacekeeping, trade - every lever, every relationship that exists.

And that's how we solve the food challenges of today and the future. I think that is something the report is going to be essential in helping us to do.

Finally, we've got to recognise that none of us alone can close the gap between need and resource.

But strong partnerships - across governments, multilateral institutions, civil society, the private sector, and communities themselves - are critical. And local leadership is everything.

Our Global Partnerships Conference next month will put these principles centre stage. We are doing this jointly with BII and CIFF, but most importantly with South Africa, and they are setting the agenda for this conference as much as we are. I think that's the right way to go about these discussions from now on.

For all the reasons I've talked about today, the Global Report on Food Crises really matters.

It shows how we can combine evidence with a collective drive for more effective action to break the food crises cycle.

In a more fragile world, this is even more important. Because food and nutrition underpin development, stability, and critically, it underpins peace as well.

As Minister for Development, I am absolutely committed to working with the Global Network to turn your analysis, which is essential, into real action. Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

24 April 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Briefings

Good afternoon. Sorry for the usual delay. It's Friday.

After the briefing, at 1:15 p.m., there will be a briefing here by Izumi Nakamitsu, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. She will be here to brief you on the eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, otherwise known as the NPT.

At 2 p.m., on Monday, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President of the eleventh NPT Review Conference, will be here to speak to you some more about that topic, and there will be more events about the NPT during the week.

** Lebanon/Israel

Let me start off with Lebanon and some tragic news from our peacekeeping mission. We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of yet another Blue Helmet, who died earlier today. The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of 31-year-old Corporal Rico Pramudia, of Indonesia, as well as to the Government and people of his country.

Corporal Pramudia succumbed to his wounds sustained in an incident that took place on 29 March, when a projectile hit his position at Adchit Al Qusayr, in southern Lebanon. At that time, his position came under fire, amidst hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah.

[On that weekend, another incident], you will recall tragically claimed the life of Indonesian peacekeeper Cadet Fahrizal Rambe. As previously shared, preliminary findings of the investigation indicate that a shell fired from an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank struck a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) position, leading to the death of the [Cadet Fahrizal Rambe].

In order to mitigate risks to UN personnel, UNIFIL has repeatedly provided the Israel Defense Forces with the coordinates of all UN positions and facilities.

The Secretary-General once again calls on all to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, as well as the inviolability of UN property and assets at all times.

As a tragic reminder of the dangers of these hostilities, with Corporal Pramudia's passing, six peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL have now been killed and several others seriously injured amidst the recent hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel. These incidents are unacceptable and they must stop. We have requested that the relevant parties ensure these cases are investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted by national authorities in order to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure accountability. Attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

On the political front, the Secretary-General welcomes the announcement yesterday of a three-week extension to the cessation of hostilities arrangement agreed to by the Lebanese Government and Israel. Mr. [Antonio] Guterres urges all to fully respect the cessation of hostilities and to cease further attacks.

Despite this agreement, our peacekeeping colleagues in the south did report a concerning incident earlier this afternoon. As a UNIFIL patrol was clearing a roadblock near the village of Tiri, in Sector West, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade a few metres from the peacekeepers. Roadblock clearance is essential to ensure the freedom of movement of all UNIFIL patrols. Thankfully, no peacekeepers were injured, and the patrol was able to continue on its work.

** Lebanon/Humanitarian

Moving to the humanitarian front in Lebanon, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) say that while the ceasefire has slowed down displacement, people are still on the move as families trying to return to their communities face damaged homes, disrupted services and continued security risks.

There are nearly 116,000 people that are still registered in collective shelters countrywide. That is down by about 4 per cent just from yesterday. These are the registered numbers. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced outside of these shelters, and they are staying with relatives, host communities and other makeshift arrangements.

In Beirut, displacement has increased as instability persists in parts of southern Lebanon.

Some families are going back briefly to check on their homes, but returns remain limited in the south, Nabatieh, in Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of the Bekaa valley.

Emergency assessments have resumed, both inside and outside collective shelters, after a short pause at the start of the ceasefire, helping us to refine support efforts for both displaced families and those who are trying to stay in their homes.

Since 2 March, our partners have distributed nearly 150,000 blankets and some 117,000 mattresses, as well as more than 91,000 hygiene kits and 46,000 menstrual hygiene kits. More than 6.6 million hot and cold meals have been provided by us and our partners in collective shelters, along with some 94,000 ready-to-eat rations.

Separately, our human rights colleagues published an interesting report today documenting the significant civilian toll of the first weeks of the recent escalation in Lebanon, including deaths, large-scale displacement, and serious damage to homes, health facilities, and other civilian infrastructure. The report raises concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian law by all parties and calls for accountability and the protection of civilians.

It also calls for prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all incidents, with full accountability for those responsible.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs yesterday released a new mapping of access restrictions that Israeli forces have set up across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

It shows that restrictions on movements and access of Palestinians across the West Bank is tightening. On at least three occasions last month, Israeli forces installed obstacles, which can include checkpoints, gates, trenches and earth mounds, across Nablus, Salfit and Tubas governorates in the West Bank. These obstacles disrupt people's access to services, homes and livelihoods and come on top of other restrictions that have been imposed for decades.

The analysis is carried out by a survey done by OCHA and their partners in December of last year, when they documented 925 obstacles that restrict access to livelihoods and services for some 3.4 million Palestinians.

This is 43 per cent above the average over the past two decades, and the highest number on record.

Turning to Gaza, a recent survey covering over 40 UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs (non-governmental organizations) shows a system-wide shortage of engine oil and spare parts, which are, as you can imagine, essential to keep vehicles running and generators running in the Gaza strip. If the shortages persist, essential services such as health, water and sanitation will be at risk of erosion or even potential collapse.

Humanitarian partners warn that approvals and a sustained flow of supplies are critically needed.

Meanwhile, our health partners say that as of last Friday, just about 43 per cent of all health points that were operational before October 2023 were still functioning, most of them only partially. Health partners have provided an average of 276,000 consultations every week in April, up from about 201,000 per week in March.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) completed a 128-bed extension at Al-Shifa Hospital, to help with inpatient capacity.

And last, a note to correct something we said yesterday: humanitarian partners are supporting the daily production of 290  not 230  metric tons of bread.

** UN80/Pact for the Future

Back here this morning, the Secretary-General spoke at an informal dialogue on the UN80 and the Pact for the Future initiatives, and he said that those initiatives are about restoring trust  through concrete action, meaningful reform and results that people can see, feel and believe in.

He said that the Pact for the Future is the world's pledge to tackle such shared challenges together, while the UN80 Initiative is about equipping ourselves with the right tools to do the job. Together, they are designed to renew the vision and machinery of multilateralism so the UN can further deliver with credibility and impact today and for generations to come.

His remarks were shared with you online.

** Deputy Secretary-General

Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, departs this evening for Melbourne, Australia, to participate on behalf of the Secretary-General in the Women Deliver 2026, a global forum that brings together civil society, advocates, and partners to advance gender equality and the rights of women and girls.

During the visit, Ms. Mohammed will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society, youth leaders, women business leaders, philanthropic partners and senior Government officials from Australia and the Pacific. The Deputy Secretary-General's programme is centred on hearing directly from those driving change on the ground, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and advancing collective action in support of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The visit will also offer opportunities for dialogue, public engagement, and partnership-building, reinforcing our priorities and highlighting the essential role of civil society voices in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Amina Mohammed will be back in New York on Tuesday.

** Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

I want to flag an important and depressing report on food insecurity and malnutrition. The Global Report on Food Crises 2026, released today, shows that acute food insecurity and malnutrition levels remain alarmingly high and deeply entrenched. Looking ahead, the report warns that severe levels of acute food insecurity remain critical in multiple contexts this year. Ongoing conflicts, climate change and global economic uncertainty, including risks to food markets, are likely to sustain or worsen conditions in many countries.

In particular, while a full assessment is premature, the report notes that the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, in addition to causing further displacement in a region already hosting millions of forcibly displaced and returnees, exposes countries and territories with food crises to both direct and indirect risks of global agrifood market disruptions.

This is the tenth edition of this report, and it notes that acute hunger has doubled over the past decade, with two famines declared last year for the first time in the report's history. Ten countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, accounted for two thirds of all people facing high levels of acute hunger. In total, 266 million human beings in 47 countries or territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity last year.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

Quick update from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Head of the peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), James Swan, is continuing his mission in the East. He is in Goma today.

Upon arrival, he spoke to the media and said his interactions in North Kivu would be focused on support to ceasefire monitoring, the protection of civilians and the Mission's support to the ongoing peace efforts in the country.

He will meet with our UN colleagues, engage with the AFC/M23 representatives, as well as members of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus. As you will recall, the peacekeeping mission is mandated to support the ceasefire through this verification mechanism.

Through his visit, Mr. Swan said he hoped to build momentum towards de-escalation and to support the implementation of the ceasefire.

** Abyei

And in Abyei, our peacekeepers there are reporting some encouraging news, where a key lifeline has just been restored. The peacekeeping mission (UNISFA) says its military engineers from the Vietnamese contingent have completed the rehabilitation of a critical 37-kilometre road linking Abyei to Agok, reconnecting communities across that region.

The road, rehabilitated in partnership with the local administration, will improve access to markets, healthcare and other essential services. The project directly facilitates the implementation of the peacekeeping mission's mandate on the protection of civilians. Following the opening of the road, peacekeepers delivered hospital beds and other essential supplies to the Abyei Health Department.

With the rainy season approaching, many routes risk becoming impassable, the peacekeepers tell us, they are racing to rehabilitate some 200 kilometres of roads to prevent further isolation of various communities.

** Somalia

Our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) today said that nearly 62,000 people have been displaced by drought across five districts in Somalia, and that is just since the beginning of this year. Data shows that drought now accounts for three out of every four new displacements. This is a 22 per cent increase from last year that underscores the growing severity of climate shocks.

IOM said that the scale and pace of drought-driven displacement and food insecurity are rapidly outstripping available resources. With drought expected to persist, the agency is calling for urgent and sustained support to address the growing needs.

** Peacebuilding Fund

Speaking of money, the Peacebuilding Fund today approved $3 million for an initiative in Liberia that will focus on improving access to justice for women and girls, particularly in the context of transitional justice.

It will be implemented by UN-Women, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and an international NGO, [Kvinna till Kvinna]. It will strengthen the capacity of women's rights organizations to engage in national peacebuilding and justice processes, while enhancing cooperation among civil society, government, and local communities.

This project builds on Liberia's efforts to address the legacy of conflict and to promote inclusive and accountable institutions.

** Haiti

You will recall that yesterday, we announced a $30 million pledge from Qatar to the Gang Suppression Force Trust Fund in Haiti. Yesterday, the Government of the Dominican Republic pledged $10 million to the Trust Fund for 2027, and the Government of Greece pledged 150,000 euros.

As of today, 15 Member States have pledged support to the Trust Fund, bringing the total number of pledges to $213.5 million with actual cash for $174.1 million.

We once again thank all donors for their support to the operationalization of the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti and we continue to encourage all Member States to give and to give generously.

** Expo 2027

Today, the Secretary-General appointed Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the Global Communications Department, as Commissioner-General of the United Nations pavilion at Expo 2027 in Belgrade. He also appointed Matilde Mordt, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Serbia, as Deputy Commissioner-General.

Mr. Nasser and Ms. Mordt will lead the UN presence at next year's Specialized Expo hosted in Belgrade, under the theme "Play for Humanity  Sport and Music for All", with the support of relevant UN entities and the country team in Serbia. Expo 2027 is the first Specialized Expo to be held in the Balkans.

In addition to the United Nations Pavilion, we will contribute to the development of programming and activities that highlight the importance of multilateralism and of countries working together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

** International Days

In case you are bored this week, there are a lot of international days to celebrate.

Today is why we are here. It is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Multilateralism is at the heart of the UN. As the Secretary-General has said, the Charter remains a "moral compass" for peace, human dignity, prosperity and human rights.

On Saturday, call up your favourite delegate, because it is International Delegate's Day. Take a delegate to dinner. Recognizing the diplomats who bring the United Nations to life through negotiation and cooperation.

Also, tomorrow is World Malaria Day  this year's theme is "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must."

Sunday is International Day of Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance, a reminder of the devastating human cost of nuclear disasters and the need for continued vigilance.

Sunday is also World Intellectual Property Day, which highlights the role of IP in driving creativity and innovation in sports.

And we start today an international week, which is the World Immunization Week, which is very serious, highlighting the need for collective action and the importance of vaccines to protect people of all ages. And to remember the brave health workers who put their lives on the line to inoculate children in war time.

And if you have the luxury of being in a developed country and take a vaccine, do it. There you go, enough advocacy. Go ahead, Edie.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you, Steph. Two follow-ups. On the UNIFIL peacekeeper who succumbed to his wounds, did he pass away in Lebanon, or was he back in Indonesia?

Spokesman : No, he was in Beirut. He'd been evacuated to a hospital in Beirut.

Question : Okay, and on Gaza, the shortage of engine oil, is that because of a ban by Israel on importing it?

Spokesman : It's part of the restrictions, and we're not able to bring in as much oil as we can. We are bringing in some fuel. Our colleagues at UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) are responsible for it, and they're doing a good job, but we need more to be brought in.

Okay, I'll go to Abdelhamid, no? I'll go online.

Question : Thank you. Recently, there was a meeting in Cairo among some members of the Board of Peace and Nickolay Mladenov. Mladenov, he emphasized the disarming of Palestinian groups in order to get to phase two. Is that correct? Wouldn't it be first that Israel and the others to respect the details of phase one, including the volume of humanitarian aid, the opening of the crossing points, and ending the killing, because every day there is a killing, including today one Palestinian killed and three were wounded in Gaza. So can we jump to phase two before we respect phase one?

Spokesman : Look, we are not a party to these political negotiations. The role of the UN, in terms of the Trump plan, which was endorsed by the Security Council, focuses on the humanitarian work, which we are doing, which we're always pushing to do more of, right? There continue to be restrictions that need to be lifted, but we want the parties to come to an agreement for the sake of the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the sake of Israelis, as well, to settle the conflict through negotiations and resume a path to a political solution.

Question : My second question, can you share with us any information about the closed meeting yesterday on Western Sahara? Who briefed the Council? Any information?

Spokesman : Staffan de Mistura was there. He briefed the Council, and Alexander Ivanko, the Head of the peacekeeping mission of MINURSO, was there, as well. We'll go online, Zahra?

Question : Thank you, Steph. In light of the statement by Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN regarding the US seizure of vessel Tosca, which was carrying critical medical equipment and dialysis supply, can the seizure of this vessel and the prevention of the delivery of its cargo be considered as a holding lives of Iranian citizens and patients hostage and a violation of international humanitarian law and international maritime law? What is the Secretary General's reaction to this matter?

My second question, what actions will the United Nations [take] to support patients in Iran, given the seizure of the vessel Tosca and the obstruction of the delivery of these medical supplies?

Spokesman : Well, on the first point, the Secretary-General's position is very clear, that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen. Freedom of navigation in these international waters needs to return and to return quickly. One, for the respect of international law, and of course, for the resumption of global trade. I mean, we're seeing the impact of the closure on the people in the region and further afield, as we talk about here almost every day. On the specific cargo, we have no particular information on what was in the ship, but what we have seen  and we're concerned about  is continued seizures of vessels by both the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US in the Strait. And that's why we want to see them reopen.

On your second question, our colleagues at the UN country team in Iran on the humanitarian front are working with the authorities in order to try to mitigate the humanitarian impact of the conflict. Okay, yes?

Question : Steph, sorry. This vessel, Tosca, was carrying critical medical equipment and dialysis supplies.

Spokesman : No, no, Zahra, as I said, I don't have any information on that. Obviously, the continued closure of the Strait is having a humanitarian impact on the Islamic Republic of Iran, on other countries in the Gulf that rely on imports of foodstuff and others that are not going through. And that's why we want to see the Strait reopened. Thank you. Yes, sir?

Question : This may be something to ask Ms. Nakamitsu about, but on NPT Rev Con, will Secretary-General give the opening speech, as is customary at the NPT Rev Con, on Monday?

Spokesman : Yes, the Secretary-General will speak at the NPT. As you know, the issue of nuclear proliferation is one that is high on his agenda. Okay, on that note, happy Friday. You're dismissed, in case... yeah, you had noticed. You have a half hour break.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






As Gaza misery continues, shortages in Iran begin to bite

By Daniel Johnson in Geneva

24 April 2026 - Desperate and dangerous conditions in Gaza continue to hamper recovery efforts for the wartorn enclave's people, the UN health agency said on Friday, while demining experts warned that they've "barely scratched the surface" in assessing the level of contamination of unexploded ordnance.

In Iran, meanwhile, concerns are growing over a looming shortage of essential medical supplies caused by Israeli-US bombing before the extended ceasefire announcement by President Trump on Wednesday.

"The announcement of a ceasefire early this month was a welcome relief. The reality on the ground, however, is very different," said Cristhian Cortez Cardoza, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at UN-partner the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Speaking from Beirut after returning from Tehran, Mr. Cardoza insisted that "a ceasefire does not mean the conflict is over". The consequences of weeks of "intense conflict" will continue to be felt by Iranian society "for months and years to come", he said.

Hundreds of Iranian health facilities have been damaged or destroyed, the IFRC official explained, and there is increasing concern about medical access and potential shortages of key services, such as dialysis machines and prosthetic devices, because of destruction to manufacturing.

Because of the war, the IFRC factory that supplies 60 per cent of the country's dialysis filters only has enough raw materials to continue production for the next three months.

Gaza destruction

The situation remains precarious in Gaza, meanwhile, with more than 1,800 health facilities partially or completely destroyed, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

"It ranges from big hospitals like Al Shifa in Gaza City to smaller primary health care centres, clinics, pharmacies and laboratories," said the agency's new representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Dr Reinhilde Van de Weerdt.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Dr Van de Weerdt reported on her first visit to Gaza as the new WHO representative.

"I just spent my first week in Gaza earlier this month. And really nothing prepares you for the scale of the destruction. You can read the reports, study the numbers, but standing in the street in the middle of endless metres-high piles of rubble is something else entirely."

Tents, rubble and rats

Across Gaza, most Palestinian families remain displaced, the veteran humanitarian noted. "They live in tents amidst the rubble, dependent on humanitarian assistance for the most basic of their needs. And despite the ceasefire, airstrikes, shelling and gunfire continued."

In addition to those dangers, more than 17,000 cases of rodent-linked infections have been reported so far this year among Gaza's displaced and more than 80 per cent of displacement sites report skin infections, such as scabies, lice and bed bugs - "the unfortunate but predictable consequence when people live in a collapsed living environment", the WHO official said.

"For WHO and the health partners, we need to have a better understanding on the diseases that are affecting the people in Gaza. We therefore need laboratory equipment and supplies to enter Gaza. As many of you know, this equipment and supplies do not enter Gaza, which leaves us blind."

To address this growing health threat "things need to change", Dr Van de Weerdt insisted. "Health and healthcare workers need to be protected; essential medicines and supplies must enter Gaza. Bureaucratic processes and access restrictions on these globally recognised essential medicines and supplies must be removed."

'Dynamic threat'

Echoing that message, the head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory underscored the ever-present danger from unexploded ordnance across the shattered enclave.

The lethal threat is now "essentially ingrained or embedded in the debris at this point in time," said Julius Dirk Van Der Walt, Chief of UNMAS, in the OPT.

"We've barely scratched the surface in understanding what is the level of contamination that we will be encountering in Gaza," he continued.

"What we do know is that this will be a dynamic threat...you will have families returning to their homes; a father would maybe walk into the house, find a hand grenade, wanting to move it away from his children."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Two-thirds of global hunger concentrated in 10 conflict-hit countries

By Vibhu Mishra

24 April 2026 - A growing share of global hunger is becoming entrenched in a small group of conflict-hit countries, with two-thirds of people facing acute food insecurity concentrated in just 10 nations, a major international report backed by UN agencies warns.

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, released on Friday by an alliance of UN agencies, the European Union (EU) and partners, finds that 266 million people across 47 countries experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025 - nearly a quarter of the population analysed and almost double the share recorded in 2016.

The report paints a stark picture: hunger is no longer a series of short-term emergencies, but a persistent and increasingly concentrated global challenge.

"Acute food insecurity today is not just widespread - it is also persistent and recurring," said UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu, warning that the crisis has become structural rather than temporary.

Conflict the primary driver

Conflict remains the primary driver, accounting for more than half of all people facing severe hunger.

Ten countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen - accounted for two-thirds of all people facing high levels of acute hunger.

At the most extreme end, famine was confirmed in 2025 in Gaza and parts of Sudan - the first time since the report began that two separate famines have been recorded in a single year.

"This report is a call to action," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the foreword, "to summon the political will to rapidly scale up investment in lifesaving aid, and work to end the conflicts that inflict so much suffering on so many."

The report also highlights a sharp rise in the severity of hunger. More than 39 million people in 32 countries faced emergency levels of food insecurity, while the number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger has increased ninefold since 2016.



GRFC 2026 Number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. GRFC 2026 Number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

Children bearing the brunt

Children are among the most affected. In 2025, 35.5 million children were acutely malnourished, including nearly 10 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition - a life-threatening condition that dramatically increases the risk of death.

"Children with severe wasting are too thin for their height. Their immune systems weakened to the extent that ordinary childhood illnesses can become fatal," UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson Ricardo Pires warned.

In the worst-affected areas - including Gaza, Myanmar, South Sudan and Sudan - overlapping crises of conflict, disease and limited access to services are driving extreme levels of malnutrition and raising the risk of death.

Displacement compounding the crisis

Forced displacement is compounding the crisis.

More than 85 million people were displaced across food-crisis contexts last year, with displaced populations consistently facing higher levels of hunger than host communities.

"Forced displacement and food insecurity are deeply interconnected, forming a vicious cycle," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, warning that humanitarian aid alone is not enough to break the pattern.

Collapse in funding

Despite the scale of the crisis, the report warns that funding is moving in the opposite direction.

Humanitarian and development financing for food and nutrition responses has fallen back to levels last seen nearly a decade ago, limiting the ability of governments and aid organizations to respond effectively.

At the same time, data gaps are growing. The number of countries able to produce reliable food security assessments has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, meaning the true scale of hunger may be even greater than current estimates suggest.

Bleak outlook for 2026

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains bleak. Ongoing conflicts, climate shocks and economic instability are expected to keep food insecurity at critical levels in many countries.

The report also flags new risks linked to global market disruptions, including those stemming from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, which could further increase food prices and strain supply chains.

Aid agencies warn that without a shift in approach, the world risks becoming locked into a cycle of deepening crises, with hunger no longer a temporary emergency but an increasingly persistent feature of global instability.

"We must shift from reacting too late to acting early, and from relying solely on food assistance to protecting local food production - because that is how we reduce needs, save lives and build resilience over time," said FAO Director-General Qu.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






World News in Brief: Airliner safety warning, drought in Somalia, solar boosts farming in Ethiopia

24 April 2026 - The head of the UN's civil aviation agency, ICAO, has called for immediate global action to protect commercial flights from escalating military threats, including missiles, drones, and GPS signal jamming.

Addressing the 2026 World Overflight Risk Conference in Malta earlier this week, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar warned that emerging weaponry is creating an environment where civilian planes are increasingly at risk of being targeted or caught in crossfire.

"We must now reach beyond the boundaries of aviation as we have known it," Mr. Salazar told delegates, noting that while the industry showed "remarkable resilience" during recent Middle East crises, operational flexibility alone cannot solve the underlying security threat.

Three steps for safety

To prevent a catastrophic incident, the Secretary General urged Member States to adopt three priority measures:

Rapid intelligence sharing: Communicating threats to civilian aircraft in real-time.

Communicating threats to civilian aircraft in real-time. Stronger risk assessment: Improving timely decision-making for airspace closures.

Improving timely decision-making for airspace closures. Civil-military coordination: Enhancing communication to prevent the misidentification of civilian targets.

ICAO is currently finalising a Global Crisis Management Framework and updating safety manuals to help airlines navigate increasingly militarised skies.

Mr. Salazar reminded the international community that under the Chicago Convention, the use of weapons against civilian aircraft is strictly prohibited.

Drought drives three out of four new displacements in Somalia

A worsening climate crisis in Somalia has uprooted nearly 62,000 people since the start of the year, with drought now responsible for the vast majority of new displacements.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Friday, drought-related displacement has jumped 22 per cent compared to last year.

Even if the upcoming rainy season is largely beneficial, experts project that another 125,000 people could be forced from their homes by June as water sources dry up and livestock perish.

"When water disappears, crops fail and livelihoods collapse, displacement becomes a last resort," said Manuel Pereira, IOM Chief of Mission for Somalia.

He warned that without swift action, the crisis will continue to uproot communities and deepen a growing hunger crisis.

Urban centres under pressure

As pastoral and farming families lose their cattle and crops, they are heading toward towns and cities in search of food and water.

However, these urban areas are struggling to cope with the influx. Many families are ending up in overcrowded informal settlements with little access to clean water or toilets, increasing the risk of disease.

While IOM is providing emergency shelter and life-saving supplies through its rapid support teams, the agency warns that the scale of the crisis is outstripping available resources.

Beyond immediate aid, IOM is calling for long-term investment in water infrastructure to help Somalis stay on their land and withstand future climate shocks.

Solar irrigation project boosts food security in drought-prone Ethiopia

The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ethiopian Government have inaugurated a solar-powered irrigation scheme in the Somali Region, aimed at helping pastoral communities withstand intensifying climate shocks.

Located in Gode, the project is part of the "IFTIIN" initiative - meaning "light" or "hope" in Somali - and is funded by Germany through the KfW Development Bank.

The scheme draws water from the Shebelle River, allowing for year-round farming in an area traditionally dependent on unreliable rainfall.

"WFP's vision in Ethiopia is to support the Government's shift toward resilient, self-reliant food systems," said Zlatan Milisic, WFP Country Director. He noted that the project allows communities to "absorb climate shocks and reduce long-term reliance on humanitarian assistance."

Investment in local resilience

The initiative supports approximately 85,000 people across the region by integrating water infrastructure with economic support.

Beyond the construction of 17 irrigation schemes and 13 livestock ponds, the project has installed 29 dykes to regenerate vegetation and protect against floods.

To ensure long-term sustainability, farmers are being linked directly to traders and markets, helping to increase family earnings and improve access to basic financial services.

Between 2024 and 2025, the Gode site saw its local farmers earn nearly $290,000 from their harvests, demonstrating the potential of climate-smart solutions to transform food security in lowland areas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the death of a peacekeeper in Lebanon

United Nations Secretary-General

24 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 fourth Indonesian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has died. Corporal Rico Pramudia succumbed to his wounds on 24 April after being critically injured in the incident on 29 March 2026, in which one other peacekeeper was killed when a projectile exploded inside United Nations position 7-1 near Adchit Al Qusayr in southern Lebanon. A UNIFIL preliminary findings of the investigation indicated that a shell fired from an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank struck a UNIFIL position, leading to the deaths of Corporal Rhomadhon and Corporal Pramudia.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Corporal Pramudia, and to the Government and people of the Republic of Indonesia. He wishes a full and fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers.

Six peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL have now been killed and several more have been seriously injured following recent incidents amid the hostilities between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces. 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.

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - regarding the extension of the cessation of hostilities

United Nations Secretary-General

24 April 2026

New York, UN

Statements | Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Delivered by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of 23 April regarding a three-week extension to the cessation of hostilities arrangement to enable dialogue between Lebanon and Israel, as was initially announced on 16 April 2026 and commends the role of the United States in facilitating the extension. He reaffirms the support of the United Nations to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line.

He urges all actors to fully respect the cessation of hostilities, to cease any further attacks, and to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times. He reiterates his call on Hizbullah and other non-State actors to abide by the decisions of the Government of Lebanon to extend its authority throughout its territory and to advance the exclusive control of arms by the State. He also calls on Israel to withdraw completely from north of the Blue Line, in full respect for Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United Nations is committed to supporting all diplomatic efforts in reinforcing the cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

The Secretary-General further hopes that this agreement will contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






African Lion 26: Airmen participate in largest Joint military exercise in Africa

Published April 24, 2026

By 1st Lt. Kaseyann Cornwall

USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force Airmen joined allied and partner nation military forces for exercise African Lion 2026 (AL26), scheduled April 20 to May 8.

AL26 is U.S. Africa Command's largest premier joint annual exercise, bringing together over 30 nations and approximately 4,500 participants for military training operations across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia. The exercise highlights the U.S. Air Force's "Total Force" integration, with approximately 100 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve personnel participating.

Air Force Reserve participating units include the 88th Aerial Port Squadron and the 514th Force Support Squadron. The 88th APS will work alongside the U.S. Marine Corps' 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to complete training objectives and execute real-world exercise support operations.

Air National Guard units from multiple states are also scheduled to participate, including the 123rd Air Control Squadron, 165th Air Support Operations Squadron, and 235th Combat Air Operations Squadron in Morocco, with the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, and 243rd Combat Air Operations Squadron training in Tunisia.

Active-duty participation includes the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, from Ramstein Air Base, which will support integrated operations training and information and data sharing via Link-16 Morocco, and the 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron, which will be in Tunisia for a command post exercise.

"African Lion showcases the dynamic capabilities of our Total Force Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander. "AL26 is a critical opportunity to enhance readiness and our ability to operate seamlessly with our African and international partners in a complex, multi-domain environment."

AL26 is an AFRICOM-led exercise, executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), designed to strengthen interoperability among participants, including NATO allies, and build readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and around the world. The multinational collaboration of AL26 reinforces the coalition network, guaranteeing the U.S. access and influence necessary to counter malign actor advances on partner resources and sovereign interests.

The exercise will test a range of capabilities across the land, air, maritime, space and cyberspace domains. Through this joint training, the U.S. Air Force will strengthen its own readiness while increasing the capability of partner nations to counter regional threats and promote stability. The integration of more than 4,500 participants is a testament to the shared commitment to security and cooperation in the region.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Historic U.S. Naval Visit Reinforces U.S.-Cote d'Ivoire Security Partnership

US Navy

24 April 2026

From By U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), visited Abidjan this week, marking the highest-level U.S. Navy visit to the country and underscoring the growing strength of the U.S.-Cote d'Ivoire defense partnership.

During his visit to Abidjan, Wikoff met with Abroulaye Fofana, the Permanent Secretary of the Interministerial Committee in Charge of State Actions at Sea, to discuss maritime interoperability and cooperation. He then met with General d'Armee Lassina Doumbia, Chief of the Defense Staff, to advance U.S.-Cote d'Ivoire defense cooperation, with a focus on regional stability and shared interests in the Gulf of Guinea.

Wikoff also met with Rear Admiral Amara Kone, Deputy Chief of the Cote d'Ivoire Navy, to discuss maritime operations, exercises, and cooperation.

The leaders focused their discussions on how naval forces can achieve interoperability through combined exercises, operations, and information sharing. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the Yaounde Code of Conduct as a framework for enhancing regional maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Cote d'Ivoire and the United States share direct interests in maritime security," said Wikoff. "By working together, we can help ensure the sea lanes remain open and free for legitimate commerce in the Gulf of Guinea."

Junaid Munir, Charge d'Affaires at U.S. Embassy Abidjan, added, "Our partnership with Cote d'Ivoire is delivering real results - advancing shared security interests while expanding opportunities for American and Ivoirian businesses through increased trade, investment, and shared prosperity."

Wikoff also recognized Cote d'Ivoire's participation in the annual multinational maritime exercise Obangame Express, the largest annual multinational maritime exercise in Africa. Led by NAVAF and hosted by different African nations each year, its goal is to improve regional cooperation, maritime information sharing, and countering illegal activity at sea. It specifically focuses on Gulf of Guinea security through joint training to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, illegal trafficking, and piracy.

For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa has forged strategic relationships to preserve security. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The OIC Strongly Condemns the Attack on the State of Kuwait

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

25-04-2026

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on two northern land border posts of the State of Kuwait by two booby-trapped drones coming from the Republic of Iraq, in violation of the sovereignty and security of the State of Kuwait.

While strongly condemning this attack, the OIC General Secretariat expresses its full solidarity with the State of Kuwait and supports the measures taken by the State of Kuwait to maintain its security and stability.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN mission chief urges conditions for credible ceasefire monitoring in eastern DR Congo

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:47, April 25, 2026

GOMA, DR Congo, April 24 (Xinhua) -- James Swan, head of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as MONUSCO, on Friday called for effective ceasefire monitoring.

Swan, who also serves as special representative of the UN secretary-general for the DRC, made the remarks upon his arrival in Goma, a strategic eastern city currently held by the rebel Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23).

He said Goma, a major regional urban hub, remains central to efforts to de-escalate the conflict, protect civilians, and advance the ongoing peace process.

Speaking at the Goma international airport, which remains closed, severely hampering humanitarian access, Swan said he would engage with the "de facto authorities" while assessing the conditions under which MONUSCO can continue implementing its mandate in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The visit marks Swan's first trip to Goma since taking office on April 7. The North Kivu provincial capital, once home to about two million people, has been under AFC/M23 control since January 2025.

His arrival came a week after talks in Montreux, Switzerland, between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23, where both sides reported progress on the peace process, including humanitarian access, judicial protection, the operationalization of a ceasefire monitoring mechanism, and the release of detainees.

Swan welcomed progress toward the signing of a protocol on humanitarian access and judicial protection, urging both parties to uphold their commitments to swiftly concluding an agreement and ending the suffering of civilians affected by the conflict.

He stressed that effective ceasefire monitoring would require several essential conditions, including a secure operating environment for the monitoring mechanism. These efforts, he said, include an end to the use of offensive drones, as well as the cessation of GPS signal jamming and spoofing.

Before arriving in Goma, Swan also visited Beni and Bunia, two areas affected by persistent insecurity, particularly attacks by the Islamic State-related Allied Democratic Forces.

Despite commitments made under the peace processes, the situation on the ground remains fragile. Fighting between the government military and AFC/M23 rebels continues to be reported along several front lines, particularly in South Kivu Province, with both sides accusing each other of repeated ceasefire violations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Four killed in latest Israeli strikes on south Lebanon despite ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 3:36 PM

At least four Lebanese citizens have been martyred in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, only two days after the Beirut government and the Tel Aviv regime extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House.

According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, two Israeli enemy strikes, on a truck and a motorbike, in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqeef in the Nabatieh district caused the fatalities.

The latest deaths raised the toll from violations since Israel and Lebanon implemented a ten-day cessation of hostilities on April 17 to at least 19.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military warned residents of some southern Lebanese villages not to return, citing ongoing offensives despite extension of the truce.

"It is not permitted to approach the area of the Litani River, the Salhani Valley, and the Saluki," spokesman Avichay Adraee said on the social media platform X, listing more than 50 villages.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck three different areas in southern Lebanon overnight, asserting to have targeted rocket launchers of Hezbollah resistance fighters.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said the town of Houla in the Marjayoun area also came under Israeli artillery fire.

On Friday, Israeli strikes killed six people and wounded two in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese heath officials.

Israeli forces also shelled the towns of Houla and Byout al-Seyyad, and used explosives as well as excavations in multiple areas within the so-called "Yellow Line" buffer zone south of the Litani River to demolish a number of buildings.

US President Donald Trump hosted Israel's ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawad in the Oval Office on Thursday for a second round of US-facilitated talks.

Trump said he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

The US president said he hoped the leaders would meet during the three-week cessation of hostilities. He said there was "a great chance" the two sides would reach a peace agreement this year.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the Israeli regime resumed its attacks on Lebanon amid the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel is occupying a belt of the south that extends 5 to 10 kilometers into Lebanon. The Israeli regime's military reiterated a warning to residents of south Lebanon not to cross into the area.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






No regional, international power can force Hezbollah to disarm: Top official

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 9:15 AM

A high-ranking Hezbollah official says no regional and international power can force the Lebanese resistance movement to lay down arms as it is determined to continue the struggle against the Israeli occupation and aggression.

Hezbollah Political Council Deputy Head Mahmoud Qamati made the remarks on Friday as Israel and the United States have been pushing for Hezbollahs disarmament.

He rejected the pressures, saying the resistance movements weapons are tied to the liberation of the last swath of the occupied Lebanese territories.

Qamati also criticized recent statements by Lebanese authorities regarding direct negotiations with the Israeli regime, stressing such talks would not be in the interest of Lebanon and would not yield any concrete results.

He asserted that the Beirut government does not know how to engage in negotiations with the occupying Israeli regime, arguing that Lebanese officials can utilize Hezbollah as the bargaining power in the course of the talks.

The senior Hezbollah official also warned against attempts to incite unrest inside Lebanon and their adverse repercussions.

Earlier, a senior lawmaker from Hezbollahs political wing in the Lebanese parliament urged the Beirut government to review the notion of direct talks with Israel before it is too late.

The government must abandon the policy of making retreats and concessions, which has sunk Lebanon into a quagmire, saidHassan Fadallah, a member of the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc.

He stated that Israel assassinates ordinary Lebanese nationals, targets their residences, and relies on Washingtons large-scale political support to conceal its crimes.

He said direct talks with Israel poses a grave danger to Lebanon, and grants the regime a political permission to hide its atrocities.

He warned that any insistence on holding such negotiations will cause a rift between the Lebanese government and nation.

Fadallah asked the Lebanese government to shelve the highly controversial idea, adopt the path of national consensus and unity to confront the Israeli regime, and safeguard the blood of martyrs.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamas, resistance groups decry Israeli assaults on Gaza as full-fledged war crimes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 7:00 AM

Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups have categorically denounced the latest wave of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip as a bloody Zionist escalation and full-fledged war crimes.

Hamas, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the aerial raids, which included the targeting of a family home in northern Gaza as well as a police vehicle in Khan Younis and claimed more than ten lives, reflect an unprecedented bloody and fascist approach, which the occupying Tel Aviv regime continues to perpetrate before the whole world, with no regard for its humanitarian fallout.

The escalation by the administration of war criminal [Benjamin] Netanyahu in bombings and killings across Gaza represents a clear failure of the role of mediators, guarantor states and the international community to curb the brutal Israeli killing machine, and an unjustifiable inaction in fulfilling their responsibilities towards halting the ongoing crimes against the Palestinian nation, the Gaza-based group noted.

Hamas demanded that the international community and all concerned states and parties take immediate action to protect Palestinians from daily series of killings at the hands of the occupation army, and to pressure the Israeli regime to implement its commitments under the ceasefire agreement and respect the rules of international humanitarian law.

Other Palestinian resistance factions also slammed the lethal Israeli attacks in a joint statement, saying they are in continuation of the genocidal war against Palestinians, which is supported by the United States and its Western allies.

They highlighted that targeting security checkpoints and police patrols in Khan Younis and the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood constitutes a full-fledged war crime, and explicitly shows a pre-planned approach to step up violence.

The statement noted that the upsurge of Israeli attacks is meant to weaken attempts to solidify the ceasefire, and the international communitys silence and inaction of mediators are indicative of constant failures to resolve the existing crisis.

They urged the mediators and the whole world to take immediate and serious action to stop the daily strikes and incessant acts of aggression against Palestinians.

Israel has committed over 2,400 violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in October, Gazas Government Media Office said. These included targeted strikes, arrests, blockades, and forced starvation of Gazas residents.

More than 20,000 children were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in two years of its genocidal war, according to a Save the Children report in September. The charity said that, on average, at least one child was killed every hour, over 1,000 of them under one year old, with thousands more suffering injuries, trauma, or separation from parents.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October, at least 786 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, according to Gazas health ministry. At least 32 of those deaths were in this month alone.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU Warns Bosnia US Gas Project Could Threaten 1 Billion Euros In Aid

By Predrag Zvijerac and Gjeraqina Tuhina April 25, 2026

The EU has warned Bosnia that designating a private US company as the main investor in a planned gas pipeline, aimed at ending four decades of dependence on Russian gas imports, could undermine the its EU accession and put access to aid from Brussels at risk.

In a letter dated April 13, the EU ambassador to Sarajevo, Luigi Soreca, warned that legislation adopted specifically for the gas pipeline project (lex specialis) could jeopardize Bosnia's access to the European energy market, as well as about 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion) in funding under the EU Growth Planfor the Western Balkans.

The Bosnian Federation, an autonomous region, adopted amendments to the law designating the private, US-based company AAFS Infrastructure and Energy as the investor and developer of the project.

A spokesperson for the EU Delegation told RFE/RL that any energy-sector legislation must remain consistent with Bosnia's accession obligations and should be submitted for review under EU procedures, and that any other interpretation of this letter is wrong and misleading.

The Southern Interconnection is a planned gas pipeline intended to link Bosnia with Croatia's gas network and the liquefied natural gas terminal on the island of Krk.

The terminal is a key EU-backed infrastructure hub aimed at reducing reliance on Russian energy supplies.

Bosnia imports virtually all of its gas from Russia via pipelines running through Serbia and Bulgaria along the TurkStream route.

Annual imports total roughly 225 million cubic meters, according to national statistics, with payments to Gazprom estimated at around 75 million euros ($87.7 million) per year.

The EU has announced plans to end imports of Russian gas by January 2028, increasing pressure on states dependent on Russian supply routes.

Bosnia, although not an EU member, is directly affected because its energy infrastructure is integrated into the EU.

Under the amended legislation, the Southern Interconnection would be implemented through AAFS Infrastructure and Energy d.o.o., a company founded in November 2025, registered in Sarajevo, and wholly owned by the US firm.

According to company and project disclosures, the director of AAFS Infrastructure and Energy is Jesse Binnall, a former member of US President Donald Trump's legal team, while Vice President Joseph Flynn is the brother of former US National-Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Binnall said at a press conference with Bosnian Energy Minister Dzindic on April 2 that the Southern Interconnection was "one of the priority projects for the Trump administration. "

The US Embassy in Sarajevo has publicly supported the project and hosted meetings between Bosnian officials and company representatives.

John Ginkel, the top US diplomat in Bosnia, wrote on X after the first meeting in December that Washington was "ready to act quickly to back the Southern Interconnection" and that the Bosnian legislation "was expected to be adopted by spring 2026 so construction could begin."

He also referenced discussions in November in Athens involving US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who said American efforts were under way to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas.

On February 24, in Washington, Bosnia joined the American initiative to strengthen the region's energy supply.

Bosnia's foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, welcomed US interest in the project, RFE/RL's Balkan Service after the Washington meeting that "it was economically significant for the country."

The EU has raised concerns about governance, market structure, and compliance with internal energy market rules. European legislation argues that the legal framework "must ensure transparency, competition and open access to infrastructure," rather than granting exclusive control to a single operator.

The Energy Community, which extends EU energy market rules to Western Balkan countries, requires liberalized markets, independent system operators, and "nondiscriminatory third-party access to infrastructure."

"To maintain momentum in the EU accession process, it is essential that any legislative developments in the energy sector contribute to fulfilling Bosnia and Herzegovina's obligations," Soreca wrote to Borjana Kristo, chair of the Council of Ministers, and Nermin Niksic, prime minister of Bosnian Federation.

A European Commission spokesman, Guillaume Mercier, told RFE/RL the EU's position is intended to support Bosnia's integration process and ensure compliance with agreed reforms.

"Bosnia has an obligation to submit draft laws to the relevant services of the European Commission, including those in the energy sector," Mercier said.

Bosnia, as a member of the Energy Community, has previously faced sanctions within the framework for failing to meet its obligations, including the suspension of its voting rights.

Neither AAFS nor the Bosnian government has commented on the EU's latest assessment or responded to repeated inquiries from RFE/RL over recent months.

Bosnia was granted EU candidate status in 2022, and accession negotiations were formally opened in March 2024. However, progress remains conditional on judicial, constitutional, and regulatory reforms, including alignment with EU energy and climate policy.

Bosnia operates a single gas entry point and lacks supply diversification. It also relies heavily on coal-fired power plants for roughly 80 percent of electricity generation, many of which are more than four decades old.

The proposed Southern Interconnection would create Bosnia's second gas supply route by linking it to Croatia's network and, through it, to the Krk LNG terminal.

The new law adopted specifically for the project also removed a previous provision assigning state-owned company BH-Gas as project developer.

Government officials have argued that bringing in a foreign investor would accelerate implementation.

Audit reports citing BH-Gas's limited financials have suggested the state-owned company is unable to finance a project estimated at 1 billion euros.

Energy Minister Nermin Dzindic said in March that the US investor would finance the project, select contractors, and had expressed interest in developing gas-fired power plants and obtaining concessions for airports in Sarajevo and Mostar.

Despite its strategic framing, analysts caution that infrastructure alone does not guarantee supply diversification.

"Countries seeking to reduce dependence on Russian gas must also secure reliable supply contracts," Sophie Corbeau of the Center on Global Energy Policy in Paris told RFE/RL.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-bosnia-gas-pipeline-us-investor- aid/33741747.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






SOUTHCOM's JTF Southern Spear continues to choke off illicit financing with string of successful maritime interdictions

News | April 25, 2026

MIAMI, Fla. -- Six months since its inception at the direction of U.S. Southern Command, Joint Task Force Southern Spear has significantly disrupted illicit maritime activity within the Western Hemisphere, dealing a critical blow to narco-terrorist networks and other illicit or sanctioned activities.

A cornerstone of the task force's mission is the execution of complex maritime interdiction operations.

To date, JTF Southern Spear, working with interagency partners, has successfully intercepted and seized six vessels illegally transporting sanctioned oil within the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. These operations cut off a vital revenue stream for transnational criminal organizations, designated terrorist organizations, and malign state actors.

""Joint Task Force Southern Spear continues to conduct decisive operations to detect, disrupt, and dismantle narco-terrorist networks. In support of the President's directives, the U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team, accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps Special Purpose Forces, continue to support maritime interdiction operations to target the dark fleet that is enabling U.S. adversaries across the globe," said Gen. Francis L. Donovan, U.S. SOUTHCOM commander."

While each interdiction is backed by the full force of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the Marines and Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Special Purpose Force, and the Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team are at the tip of the spear for each operation. These specially trained Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen train relentlessly and possess a special set of skills and authorities to safely and efficiently board and clear maritime vessels.

To date, the 22d MEU has supported 5 interdictions of sanctioned vessels Skipper, Centuries, Sophia, Olina, and Veronica. These targeted seizures systematically choke off critical financial nodes for criminal entities and Designated Terrorist Organizations seeking to destabilize the Western Hemisphere and threaten the safety of the U.S. homeland.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Saudi Arabia Condemns Drone Strikes on Kuwait's Northern Border Posts Launched from Iraq

Saudi Press Agency

Saturday 08/11/1447

Riyadh, April 25, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms of the targeting of two sites at the northern land border posts of the brotherly State of Kuwait by drones launched from the Republic of Iraq.

The Kingdom emphasized its categorical rejection of any violation of the sovereignty of states and any attempt to threaten the security and stability of the region. It also reiterated the importance of the Government of the Republic of Iraq dealing responsibly with these threats to the Gulf states.

The Kingdom expressed its solidarity with the government and people of the brotherly State of Kuwait, and reaffirmed its full support for all measures taken by Kuwait to preserve its sovereignty, security, and stability.

-- SPA

13:48 Local Time 10:48 GMT

0013

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Netanyahu Orders Major Strike Against Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon

Sputnik News

20260425

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to launch a major strike against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the prime minister's office said on Saturday.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the IDF to launch a major strike against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon," the office said in a statement.

The development came amid the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which officially took effect on April 16.

Israel, as Hezbollah previously stated, violated the ceasefire more than 200 times, using combat aircraft, drones, and artillery, as well as bombing homes in Lebanese settlements. Hezbollah, for its part, announced on Tuesday its first military operation since the ceasefire began in response to Israeli violations.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






An employee of Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. (1st L) introduces products to visitors during the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 18, 2026. (Xinhua)

GUANGZHOU, April 24 (Xinhua) -- At a newly launched drone exhibition zone at the China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, Chinese manufacturers are no longer talking only about hardware.

They are talking about emergency rescue, public safety, industrial drone payloads and system-level solutions -- a sign of how Chinese exporters are moving from selling individual products to providing more integrated solutions.

The shift is creating fresh room for China-Germany cooperation in intelligent manufacturing, as German buyers look beyond cost advantages to Chinese partners that can offer customized solutions, support product planning and sustain long-term supplier relationships.

The 139th edition of the Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, on April 15. During its first phase, themed "advanced manufacturing," about 167,000 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions attended, up 5.9 percent from the first phase of the previous edition.

Germany, one of China's most important trading partners in Europe, has long maintained a strong presence at the fair. Leading German companies, including Metro and Lidl & Kaufland, sent procurement teams, underscoring steady demand for cooperation with Chinese suppliers.

This year, for the first time, the fair introduced dedicated exhibition zones for consumer and agricultural drones. Featuring 24 companies, the new section has become a window onto the changing nature of China-Germany cooperation in high-end manufacturing.

Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. is attending the fair for the first time. According to Zhang Kai, the company's vice president, Chengzhi focuses on industrial drone payloads, with products used in emergency rescue, public safety and other scenarios across more than 50 countries and regions.

Germany accounts for about 8 percent of the company's overseas business. Zhang said European clients, including those from Germany, have shown strong recognition of Chinese drone technology.

"By focusing on application scenarios, we integrate functions such as lighting and broadcasting into drones to deliver system-level solutions that better meet overseas demand," Zhang said.

Similar demand for customized solutions is also being felt by other drone makers. Zhejiang RongQe Technology Co., Ltd. has also seen growing interest from German companies.

"We have already received inquiries from several German companies," said Liu Junjie, the company's vice president.

Liu added that Chinese drone manufacturers have become highly competitive globally because of their complete supply chains, relatively low costs and reliable quality. When customers need customized solutions for particular industries, he added, Chinese manufacturers become a compelling choice.

The same pattern is also visible in more traditional sectors, including home appliances and consumer goods.

At a supply-demand matchmaking event, a sales representative surnamed Su from KSKIN, a Zhuhai-based manufacturer of home-use beauty and hair care devices, sat down with a procurement team from German retail giant Lidl & Kaufland. Within half an hour, the two sides had moved quickly through product specifications, certification requirements and delivery timelines for beauty devices.

"The client has already asked us to send samples. The cooperation is very likely to move forward," Su said.

For German companies, the Canton Fair remains a place to find suppliers. But it has also increasingly become a venue to explore new technologies, new product categories and partners that can help shape future products.

Severin Elektrogerate GmbH has participated in the Canton Fair for more than 30 years. Can Yildirim, the company's chief technology officer, said Severin had sent core teams from its procurement and product development departments to this year's fair.

The goal, he said, was to strengthen ties with existing Chinese suppliers while exploring new technologies and product categories that could support the company's product planning.

"Through the Canton Fair, we have built long-term partnerships, and we also hope to meet new partners here," Yildirim said.

Business representatives said that amid ongoing adjustments in global industrial chains, China-Germany cooperation is moving beyond conventional trade in goods toward deeper technological collaboration and joint innovation.

As emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy, service robotics, and green and low-carbon products continue to develop, Chinese exhibitors at the Canton Fair are seeking to show that they can offer more than manufacturing capacity. Increasingly, they are presenting technologies, application scenarios and integrated solutions as part of deeper industrial cooperation. 

Products of Zhejiang RongQe Technology Co., Ltd. are on display during the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 16, 2026. (Xinhua)

Guests visit the booth of Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. during the 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 18, 2026. (Xinhua)
Ceasefire in Name Only: IDF Strikes Lebanon After 200+ Violations

Sputnik News

20260425

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck armed rocket launchers belonging to the Hezbollah movement in three areas of southern Lebanon.

"Overnight, the IDF struck Hezbollah rocket launchers that were loaded and ready for launch in the areas of Deir El Zahrani, Reman, and Al-Saamiya in southern Lebanon, north of the Forward Defense Line," the IDF said on Telegram.

These installations posed an immediate threat to the IDF soldiers and the Israeli civilian population, the military added.

The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel officially took effect on April 16. Israel, as Hezbollah previously stated, violated the ceasefire more than 200 times, using combat aircraft, drones, and artillery, as well as bombing homes in Lebanese settlements. Hezbollah, for its part, announced on Tuesday its first military operation since the ceasefire began in response to Israeli violations.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel Blasts Southern Lebanon After Alleged Cease-Fire Violations

00:13 26.4.2026

A series of Israeli strikes has been reported in at least four locations in the south of Lebanon on April 25 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to attack Hezbollah targets following alleged cease-fire breaches.

Iran-allied Hezbollah is a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has blacklisted only its armed wing.

The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported two strikes in succession in a town in Bint Jbeil district, another on a town in Tyre district, and strikes on two towns in Nabatieh district.

The Israeli military said it had "struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure used for military purposes across southern Lebanon" and would "continue to operate decisively against threats."

Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli army vehicle in southern Lebanon in retaliation for an earlier attack.

US President Donald Trump had on April 23 announced that a 10-day cease-fire that had begun in Lebanon on April 17 had been extended for three weeks.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil- blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=451883

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russo-Ukraine War - 25 April 2026 - Day 1522

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, 125 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day.

The Russian opponent made two missile strikes, using 48 missiles, made 44 aviation strikes, dropped 132 controlled air bombs. In addition, Russian forces engaged 5863 kamikaze drones and carried out 2246 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the Russian enemy attacked the positions of the Defense Forces three times, carrying out 66 shellings of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops, two of which were using reactive systems of arson fire, in addition, Russian troops launched five air strikes using 12 controlled bombs.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy four times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Veterinarne, Prylipka and Zybine.

In the Kupians komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Petropavlivka, Radkivka, Kupiansk and Kucherivka. One battle is going on so far.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped seven attempts to advance in the areas of settlements Dibrov, Lyman, New Mir, Stavki and Medium. There is currently one confrontation with the opponent.

In the Slovenian direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian assault actions in the areas of Lake and Yampol.

In the kramators komu direction from the beginning of the day the Russian enemy did not perform active actions.

Defense Forces repelled 11 Russian assaults in the Konstantinivsky direction near Plesh yivka, Konstantinivka, Ivanopil and Illinivka.

Russian forces made 32 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The occupiers tried to advance in the areas of the settlements Novopavlivka, Zatishok, Rodinske, Novooleksandrivka, Pokrovsk, Grishine, Kotline, Bilitske, Udacne, Muravka, Molodetske, Novopidgorodne.

According to preliminary estimates, 49 Russian occupants were eliminated and 32 wounded in this direction; four car units and four special equipment units were destroyed, 11 cannons, nine car units and one special equipment unit were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 230 unmanned aircraft of different types.

In the direction of Oleksandrivsky, the Russian enemy attacked four times in the areas of the settlements of Oleksandrograd, Sichneve and Zlagoda. The Russian occupiers made an aviation strike in the area of the settlement of Rozivka.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, there were 15 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Staroukrainka, Gulyaipole, Zelene, Svyatopetrivka, Gulyapilsk and Charivne, as well as in the direction of settlements of Kopani and Novoselivka. The Russian enemy caused air strikes in the areas of settlements of kopani, wide, girke, samijlivka, charming, gulyajpils ke, novoselivka.

In the Orihiv direction, aviation strikes were hit by the outskirts of settlements Zarichne and Zaporozhets.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian enemy carried out four futile assault actions towards the Antonivsky Bridge and the island of White-breasted.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that over the past day, in response to Ukraine terrorist attacks on civilian facilities on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike with long-range precision ground-, air-, and sea-based weapons, and with attack drones on defence industry, POL and power enterprises as well as on the port infrastructure of Ukraine that supported the AFU.

Goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.

As a result of resolute and decisive actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces took control over Bochkovo (Kharkov region).

Russian troops hit manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and one territorial defence brigade near Ternovaya, Izbitskoye, and Shesterovka (Kharkov region).

In Sumy region, Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades near Miropolye, Komarovka, and Novodmitrovka (Sumy region).

The enemy losses were more than 160 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one electronic warfare station, and three materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the forward edge. Russian troops launched attacks on formations of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, and one unmanned systems regiment of the AFU close to Velikaya Shapkovka, Palamarevka, Shiykovka, Borovaya, Novosergeyevka (Kharkov region), Tatyanovka, Krasny Liman, and Svyatogorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 190 troops, 14 motor vehicles, and one artillery gun. Four ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and one territorial defence brigade near Konstantinovka, Krivaya Luka, Ray-Aleksandrovka, Malinovka, Nikolayevka, Ilyinovka, and Artyoma (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were more than 180 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun. In addition, one ammunition and two material depots were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation. Russian troops hit formations of one mechanised brigade, one airmobile brigade, two unmanned systems brigades of the AFU, and three National Guard brigades near Shevchenko, Svetloye, Novotroitskoye, Rubezhnoye, Sergeyevka, Belitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Veseloye, Novopodgornoye, and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses were more than 310 troops and two electronic warfare stations.

The Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences. Russian troops hit formations of one mechanised brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault brigade, and three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Malomikhaylovka, Dobropasovo (Dnepropetrovsk region), Aleksandrograd (Donetsk People's Republic), Lyubitskoye, Vozdvizhenka, Verkhnyaya Tersa, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 260 troops, three motor vehicles, and one materiel depot.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade and one territorial defence brigade close to Orekhov, Zaporozhets, and Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses were more than 25 troops, five motor vehicles, and three ammunition and materiel depots.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered strikes at temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries in 148 areas.

Air defence units shot down 11 guided aerial bombs and 256 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 137,522 unmanned aerial vehicles, 656 anti-aircraft missile systems, 29,038 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,709 MLRS combat vehicles, 34,598 field artillery guns and mortars, and 60,117 special military vehicles.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Treasury Sanctions Global Illicit Drug Supply Chain Supporting the Sinaloa Cartel

U.S. Department of the Treasury

April 23, 2026

India- and Latin America-Based Entities Provided Precursor Chemicals to Terrorist Cartel

WASHINGTONToday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 23 individuals and entities that comprise a sophisticated synthetic opioid procurement network with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Chemical suppliers and brokers, including those designated today, have reshaped the narcotics landscape by enabling Mexican cartels to synthesize illicit drugs from precursor chemicals primarily imported from Asia. By exploiting international supply chains and clandestine production facilities, these networks manufacture highly potent and dangerous synthetic opioids more efficiently than ever before. These illicit drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, ultimately reach the streets of American cities and kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. Today's designations target every stage of the synthetic opioid supply chain.

"President Trump has been clear that terrorist cartels will not be allowed to wreak havoc on our borders and in our communities," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "Treasury will continue to target every stage of the opioid supply chain to Keep America Safe and prevent more lives lost to fentanyl."



Today's action reflects a unified, whole-of-government effort to ensure operational coordination and maximize impact against transnational criminal networks. A parallel criminal action is the culmination of a coordinated investigation led by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration and its Special Operations Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; various foreign law enforcement counterparts; and Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). OFAC continues to work closely with the HSTF to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs and dismantle the networks, facilitators, and financial infrastructure that enable their production and distribution.

These designations were issued pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the international proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters.

Today's action is also taken in furtherance of E.O. 14367, which designated fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). The lethality of illicit fentanyl, its manufacture and distribution by organized criminal networks, and its role as a source of revenue for violent cartels, makes it an imminent national security threat to the United States. Treasury is committed to using all tools at its disposal to disrupt the manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl.

FROM CHEMICAL LABORATORIES TO ILLICIT MARKETS - FENTANYL AND METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION

Mexican cartels rely on chemical companies throughout the world to supply the precursors and other essential chemicals necessary to produce synthetic opioids. These chemical suppliers are predominantly located in Asia, where they market and sell fentanyl precursors such as 4-Piperidone, N-Boc-4-Piperidone, and other related derivatives online to brokers by the kilogram. Per U.S. Department of Justice estimates, one kilogram of the precursor N-Boc-4-Piperidone yields around 1.83 kilograms of fentanyl, a volume with the potential to yield around 900,000 lethal doses.

The brokers, acting in tandem with Mexican cartels, facilitate the logistics and shipping of these chemicals to Mexico or Guatemala via air or maritime cargo. Often, shipments containing kilograms of deadly fentanyl precursors are mislabeled as "safe chemicals." The brokers then transfer the chemicals to individuals known as "cooks," who control clandestine synthetic drug laboratories controlled by cartels.

One of these cartels is the Sinaloa Cartel, a Foreign Terrorist Organization and one of the largest producers of fentanyl and other illicit drugs bound for the United States. For decades, the Sinaloa Cartel has flooded the United States with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and other illicit drugs. The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world's most powerful drug cartels, operates extensive transnational networks to facilitate the procurement of precursor chemicals from Asia to synthesize into fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in its Mexico-based clandestine labs.

DISRUPTING THE SUPPLY - INDIA-BASED PRECURSOR SOURCES

Today, OFAC designated Satishkumar Hareshbhai Sutaria (Sutaria), an India-based pharmaceutical chemicals supplier trading in fentanyl precursors for use in the production of illicit fentanyl. With salesperson Yuktakumari Ashishkumar Modi (Modi), Sutaria facilitates sales and shipments of these precursors to Mexico and Guatemala, including N-Boc-4-Piperidone, and mislabels them as "safe chemicals." Sutaria and Modi have used SR Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (SRChemicals) and Agrat Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (Agrat Chemicals), both India-based pharmaceutical chemical companies, to conduct these transactions. Sutaria and Modi were arrested in March 2025 by Indian authorities for this activity.

OFAC designated Sutaria, Modi, SR Chemicals, and Agrat Chemicals pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.

CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLEMEN - LATIN AMERICA-BASED BROKERS AND IMPORT/EXPORTERS

Today, OFAC designated Jaime Augusto Barrientos Camaz (Barrientos), a Guatemala-based broker of fentanyl precursors who sources his supply from various companies in India, including Agrat Chemicals and SR Chemicals. Utilizing the Guatemala City-based business J and C Import, Barrientos was the end recipient of N-Boc-4-Piperidone totaling 116 kilograms over a two-month period.

Central Logistica de Servicios (Central) is another Guatemala-based import/export company involved in shipping fentanyl precursors, as well as finished fentanyl.

OFAC designated Barrientos, J and C Import, and Central pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.



Carrillo (left) and Acosta (right) after their March 2026 arrests in Sinaloa, Mexico. Carrillo (left) and Acosta (right) after their March 2026 arrests in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Karina Guadalupe Carrillo Torres (Carrillo) is a Sinaloa, Mexico-based broker of fentanyl precursor chemicals. Carrillo has been linked to multiple seizures of 1-Boc-4-Hydroxypiperidine totaling over 50 kg. Carrillo reportedly has familial connections to the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and is the wife of Sinaloa Cartel member Regulo Acosta Hernandez (Acosta), whom OFAC also designated today.

Acosta is a Sinaloa, Mexico-based fentanyl and cocaine supplier. Acosta has utilized money launderers within the United States to receive drug payments. Together, Carrillo and Acosta own the companies Desarrollos Cartok S.A. de C.V. (Cartok) and Comercializadora Grupo Carhern S.A. de C.V. (Carhern). Both Carrillo and Acosta were arrested in Mexico in March 2026 for drug-related offenses.

OFAC designated Carrillo and Acosta pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. OFAC designated Cartok and Carhern pursuant to E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Carrillo.

Maria Viridiana Rugerio Arriaga (Rugerio) is a broker for chemical precursors located in Mexico. Rugerio purchases chemicals from India and sells them to drug producers to synthesize into fentanyl and methamphetamine. Rugerio has acted as a broker for precursors and other essential chemicals used in the production of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including N-Boc-4-Piperidone. Rugerio owns the Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico-based company Quimica Soluciones y Logistica Internal Bajio, S.A. de C.V. (Quimica).

OFAC designated Rugerio pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. OFAC designated Quimica pursuant to E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Rugerio.

Jose de Jesus Ramirez Torres (Ramirez) is a Jalisco, Mexico-based importer who uses his companies, including Corporativo y Enlace Ram S.A. de C.V. (EnlaceRam), to import methamphetamine precursor chemicals to Mexico. Ramirez Torres' corporate network also includes Mexico-based entities Enlace Forwarding Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Enlace Forwarding) and Cargo Global 3PS, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Cargo Global), and Florida-based entity E-Ram Group LLC (E-Ram).

OFAC designated Ramirez Torres pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. OFAC designated Enlace Ram, Enlace Forwarding, and Cargo Global pursuant to E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ramirez Torres. OFAC identified E-Ram as blocked property, as Ramirez Torres, a person whose property and interest in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14059, has an interest in the property.

Reyma Global Trading S.A. de C.V. (Reyma) is a Mexico City, Mexico-based importer that has imported large quantities of chemicals known to be used in the production of methamphetamine for various organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel. Aduaeasy S. de R.L. de C.V. (Aduaeasy) is a Mexico-based importer of chemicals known to be utilized in methamphetamine production that has received shipments of chemicals from Asia.

OFAC designated Reyma and Aduaeasy pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.

THE LAST LINK - CARTEL-AFFILIATED DRUG TRAFFICKERS

As part of this sprawling illicit opioid network, OFAC also designated two Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated individuals, including Ramiro Baltazar Felix Heras (Felix). Felix is a high-ranking member of the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel who is involved in smuggling fentanyl and methamphetamines into the United States.

Alejandro Reynoso Jimenez (Reynoso) is a chemist and operator of clandestine labs in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico that obtained and utilized precursor chemicals for the production of fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically for the Los Chapitos faction. Utilizing his pharmacy Botanica 2000 in Guadalajara, Reynoso produced fentanyl-laced pills to be shipped to the United States. Reynoso was arrested in Madrid, Spain in November 2025.

OFAC designated Felix and Reynoso pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC designated Botanica 2000 pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Reynoso.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. Individuals located in the U.S. or abroad who provide information about sanctions violations to FinCEN's whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000. FinCEN is currently accepting whistleblower tips here.

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.

For more information on the persons designated today, click here.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Mexico's president reiterates sovereignty stance, rejects foreign interference

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:28, April 25, 2026

MEXICO CITY, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that the country's sovereignty "is not negotiable," rejecting any form of foreign interference, particularly from the United States.

At her daily press conference, Sheinbaum said that cooperation with other countries must strictly comply with Mexico's constitution and national security law.

She said Mexico's relationship with the United States is based on coordination and cooperation, but stressed the need to clarify whether foreign intelligence agents were involved in a recent operation in the northern state of Chihuahua.

She warned that such participation would violate Mexican law.

Two U.S. embassy personnel were killed in a vehicle accident in Chihuahua on Sunday. Local authorities said the victims were instructors participating in routine training exchanges, but The Washington Post reported that they were U.S. Central Intelligence Agency agents involved in an anti-narcotics operation linked to the dismantling of a clandestine drug lab.

Sheinbaum also criticized calls within Mexico for foreign intervention in domestic affairs and said all levels of government and citizens must adhere to national laws.

She added that her administration is sending a letter to state governors to ensure that any cooperation with foreign agencies complies with legal frameworks and is coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and the Security Cabinet.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chinese defense minister holds talks with Russian counterpart

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorCheng Sihao

Time2026-04-24 18:27:53

BEIJING, April 24 -- Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, who is visiting Russia upon invitation, held talks with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov on April 24, 2026.

The two sides held in-depth exchange of views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, the international and regional situation, as well as issues of mutual concern. They agreed that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations have consistently maintained a high level of healthy development. The successful video summit between the two heads of state in February this year charted a new course for cooperation across all fields, including the military sector.

Both sides agreed that the two militaries should adhere to the consensus reached by the heads of state, continuously strengthen strategic communication, further deepen practical cooperation in all fields, jointly uphold universal justice and the international order, and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of bilateral relations.

Prior to the talks, Belousov held a welcoming ceremony for Admiral Dong Jun and accompanied him to inspect the guard of honor.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on April 24, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 24, 2026 19:19

China News Service: Today, China celebrates its 11th Space Day, which also marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of China's cause of space exploration. Living in space race 2.0 period, in which the focus of space competition has evolved from technology into rule-making and alliances, and as a major country in the field of aerospace, how will China foster more inclusive space cooperation? Will China be more open to cooperation with international partners in the aerospace sector?

Guo Jiakun: Exploring the vast universe is humanity's shared aspiration and the dedication of those in China's space sector. After 70 years of continuous efforts and through self-reliance, China's space exploration cause keeps developing and has made landmark achievements as well as historic strides from artificial satellite and manned space engineering to deep-space exploration. China always upholds the principle of equality, mutual benefits, peaceful use and inclusive development in outer space cooperation with other countries. China has signed space cooperation agreements with many African countries, and there are 10 paintings by African youth in Tiangong space station; China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite helps protect South American rainforests; Pakistani astronauts are ready to head to China's space station with Chinese astronauts.

Space is not an arena for major country contest. China will continue to work with various countries for open space cooperation and advance the common endeavor of humanity in exploring outer space.

CGTN: We've noted an alarming surge of neo-militarism in Japan over the recent month: A sitting SDF officer broke into the Chinese embassy in Japan carrying a knife; a Japanese destroyer transited the Taiwan Strait; the SDF for the first time officially participated in the joint military drill between the U.S. and the Philippines; the Japanese cabinet greatly eased controls on weapons export; and Sanae Takaichi sent ritual and cash offerings to the Yasukuni war shrine in two consecutive days. In a recent online survey among respondents worldwide, 82.5 percent said the Japanese right-wing's remilitarization move has basically the same expansionist logic of Japanese militarism before World War II, and it would lead Japan into a really dangerous situation again. Do you have any comment on that?

Guo Jiakun: This once again shows that the rampant and dangerous spread of neo-militarism in Japan is already a reality and poses real threats.

Back in history, Japanese militarists have waged wars of aggression by fabricating "external threats," stoking up nationalist sensation, and kidnapping state power. During the aggression, they committed horrendous crimes and brought profound sufferings to the people in the Asia Pacific. Today, rather than deeply reflecting on their history of aggression, Japanese right-wing forces have pushed for more offensive and expansionist defense policies and attempted to accelerate Japan's remilitarization by rehabilitating its military-industrial complex.

Besides, Japan has been lobbying around, peddling narratives with distorted facts in an attempt to prop up Japan's image as a "peace-loving country", which is already in tatters. However, the world is not easily beguiled. When a country seeks to revise its pacifist Constitution, eases restrictions on export of lethal weapons, deploys offensive missiles, and significantly increases military expenditure, its real intention is to pave the way for military expansion, no matter what it says. Japan has also been interacting frequently with NATO, in an effort to bring the non-regional military organization into the Asia Pacific. Its agenda of provoking confrontation is as clear as day.

The lessons of that dark history not far away must be remembered. Countries in the region including China must stay on high alert and jointly defend the outcomes of the victory of WWII. We must not allow Japanese militarism to be revived. We must not allow the tragedies of history to be repeated. We must not allow anyone or any force to undermine peace and sow disaster in our region.

BBC: How did sensitive medical information from half a million patients who took part in the UK health study end up for sale on the Chinese internet. What is the Chinese government going to do to ensure this doesn't happen again?

Guo Jiakun: The Chinese government protects the rights and interests on personal information and regulates personal information processing activities in accordance with the law.

RT: Finland's Foreign Minister recently suggested that China's close ties with Russia make any future EU-China trade deal unlikely, calling it a disqualifying factor. What is China's response to that assessment? And would China ever consider scaling back its ties with Russia if that became the price for advancing trade talks with the EU?

Guo Jiakun: China-EU economic and trade relations are win-win in nature. It is in the interest of both sides to step up dialogue and consultation and deepen economic and trade cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, which is also the shared expectation of the business community and people of both sides. We hope the Finnish side will view the normal development of ties between China and other countries in a rational and objective light, keep an open mind, and refrain from politicizing trade or abusing the concept of security on trade issues.

Bloomberg: The White House has accused China of industrial-scale stealing of American artificial intelligence intellectual property. Does the Chinese Foreign Ministry have a comment?

Guo Jiakun: Such allegations are groundless and are deliberate attacks on China's development and progress in the AI industry. China firmly rejects it. We urge the U.S. to respect facts, discard bias, stop its containment on China's sci-tech development and choose the course of action conducive to sci-tech exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S.

Bloomberg: It's been reported that two pandas, Pingping and Fushuang will travel from Chengdu to Atlanta in the U.S. Can you confirm that and tell us when they will travel? And what does this mean for U.S.-China relations ahead of the anticipated Xi-Trump meeting?

Guo Jiakun: Giant panda is not only a national treasure of China but also emissaries and bridges for friendship. We believe that the new round of cooperation effort between China and the U.S. on giant panda conservation will contribute to the well-being of giant pandas, the capacity for protecting giant pandas and other endangered species, global biodiversity conservation and the friendship between the people of China and the U.S.

CCTV: President Trump said the Iranian cargo ship intercepted by the U.S. might have carried a "gift" from China. Do you have further response to that? Can you give us any information about what's on the ship?

Guo Jiakun: China rejects any assertion and speculation that lack factual evidence. Normal trade between countries should not be disrupted or harmed.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Beijing Targets 7 European Firms As EU Russia Sanctions Hit Chinese Companies

By Colin Hood April 24, 2026

Beijing has placed seven companies in the European Union on an export control list, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on April 24.

The firms, which operate in the defense, aerospace, and satellite intelligence industries, include the Belgian-based firearms manufacturer FN Herstal.

The announcement comes a day after the EU formally adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia, targeting firms in third countries, including China, over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

These latest punitive measures from Brussels focus on tackling ways Russia seeks to circumvent existing sanctions, including through countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates.

As part of this round of sanctions, the EU has designated 16 entities in China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus that have "provided dual-use goods or weapons systems to the Russian military-industrial complex," according to the European Council.

Dual-use goods refer to items with both civilian and potential military applications.

The EU sanctions package will also place export restrictions on a further 60 entities that "contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia's defense sector," some of which are located in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Beijing's list of restricted entities includes two Belgian, one German, and four Czech companies.

The Commerce Ministry statementsaid that the sanctioned European entities will be barred from importing "dual-use" items from China in order to safeguard the country's "national security" interests, in accordance with its Export Control Law.

Speaking to Reuters on April 24, Czech military hardware supplier Excalibur Army, which appears on the list, stated that it does not "directly source any dual-use technologies from China and did not expect to see a material impact on its business."

According to a ministry spokesperson, the entities were targeted because of their participation "in arms sales to Taiwan" or "collusion" with Taiwanese authorities. Beijing considers the self-governing island to be part of its territory.

Responding to a question on April 23 about reports that Beijing had pressured three African countries to revoke flight permits for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing's position that the island nation was "an unalienable part of China's territory."

Taiwan is democratically governed and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-eu-export- controls-russia-sanctions-taiwan-april-24-2026/33741631.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Chinese, Vietnamese coast guards conduct first joint patrol in Beibu Gulf in 2026: official release

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 25, 2026 12:15 PM

To further deepen maritime cooperation between the Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards and enhance law enforcement collaboration, jointly safeguard safety and stability in Beibu Gulf maritime area and fishery production order, the China Coast Guard 4303 flotilla and the Vietnam Coast Guard 8004 flotilla conducted the first joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf for 2026 from April 22 to 24. This marks the 30th joint patrol conducted by the maritime law enforcement department of China and Vietnam since 2006, according to an official release by the China Coast Guard on Saturday.

The Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard flotillas followed the designated plan and route, conducting patrols from south to north along the maritime boundary line in the Beibu Gulf. They inspected vessels operating in the waters of both countries, conducted education for fishermen, and logged 54 hours of patrol covering 255.5 nautical miles. During the operation, five fishing vessels were monitored, and overall maritime activity remained orderly, read the release.

During the patrol, the two sides also organized law enforcement exchanges, shared enforcement experience, and the operation achieved the expected results.

The China-Vietnam joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf is a concrete measure to deepen maritime law enforcement cooperation between the two countries' coast guards. It further demonstrates the strong resolve of the Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, read the release.

It has become a model case of maritime law enforcement cooperation in the South China Sea and plays a positive role in conserving fishery resources in the Beibu Gulf, maintaining orderly fishing activities, jointly combating maritime crimes, and safeguarding regional security and stability, it said.

The China Coast Guard will take this opportunity to further strengthen communication and exchanges with the Vietnam Coast Guard, deepen practical cooperation, properly handle maritime emergencies, and play an active role in maintaining maritime security and stability and building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Second edition of Polish-Cuban Seminar on Economic Transformation: Poland's experience and Cuba's ongoing reforms

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

24.04.2026

The second edition of the Polish-Cuban Seminar centred on the Polish experience of economic transition and the reforms Cuba is currently introducing. The event, organised by the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and the Polish Embassy in Havana with the support of the Polish foreign ministry, took place in Warsaw on 23-24 April.

The seminar built on the initiative by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosaw Sikorski to provide Polish support for Cuba's economic transition. The event, hosted by the SGH, attracted experts from the SGH and the Center for Social and Economic Research as well as representatives of Cuban organisations that study the country's economy and design its reforms.

Lessons from the Polish transition

Drawing from the Polish experiencea pioneer successful transition from central planning to a market economy after the fall of communismthe participants discussed the challenges of the Polish economic switch and its societal impact.

It was pointed out that Cubans could treat some aspects of the Polish story as an inspiration for the future economic reform of their country.

What do Cubans need?

The Cuban researchers listed the measures necessary to ensure financial and macroeconomic stabilisation back home. They also gave an account of the current state of and the proposed changes to the public and private sectors of the Cuban economy.

The experts emphasised the need to implement a sustainable social policy and protect the population's living standard, while sustaining an acceptable level of healthcare and education services.

It was also highlighted that the challenges to Cuba's economic transformation will include maintaining a reliable energy system and modernising the infrastructure.

The seminar showcased the cooperation of Polish and Cuban researchers specialised in economic reforms. It proved that Poland can foster Cuba's economic transition through supporting the country's most competent economists and sharing its own experience.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (L) holds talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 25, 2026. Pakistani and Iranian officials held a series of meetings on Friday and Saturday following the arrival of the Iranian delegation led by Araghchi, focusing on proposals related to potential talks between Iran and the United States, sources from Pakistan said on Saturday. The sources added that Iran emphasized their terms and proposals during the talks while vowing to remain engaged to set a future course of diplomatic engagement to end the conflict. (Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan via Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi was held here on Saturday, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

The office said Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting.

The prime minister emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peace and stability in the region and beyond, the PM's office said, adding that the meeting lasted around two hours.

Pakistani and Iranian officials held a series of meetings on Friday and Saturday following the arrival of the Iranian delegation led by Araghchi, focusing on proposals related to potential talks between Iran and the United States, sources from Pakistan said on Saturday.

The sources added that Iran emphasized their terms and proposals during the talks while vowing to remain engaged to set a future course of diplomatic engagement to end the conflict.

A high-level meeting was held late Friday night in which the Iranian side shared its position on key demands as well as responses to proposals conveyed by the United States, said the sources.

Pakistani officials, acting as mediators, delivered messages from Washington, after which the Iranian delegation presented its views before concluding the session.

The discussions continued on Saturday, with the Iranian delegation engaging in multiple rounds of meetings with the Pakistani mediators to review responses from both sides and assess possible next steps, added sources.

Sources said the Iranian side appreciated Pakistan's leadership for its "untiring and sincere efforts" aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. 
Firing Contest of Mortarmen under KPA Large Combined Units Held to Mark Significant April 25

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- A firing contest of mortarmen of light infantry units under the large combined units at all levels of the Korean People's Army took place on April 25, the 94th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, oversaw the firing contest.

Among the spectators were No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, Ri Yong Gil, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the KPA, and other commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence and military and political commanding officers of the KPA large combined units.

The firing contest was conducted in the way of judging combat methods of the sub-units that are to rapidly conquer the natural and artificial interception lines, maneuver and deploy and destroy different targets within a set time and then hide and get away from the place according to their tactical missions.

Strikingly demonstrated in the contest were the high militant effectiveness and power in the use of mortars by shock troops of the light infantry units at all levels and their full war posture.

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over the results of the contest.

He extended warm encouragement to the units participating in the mortar firing contest, who significantly commemorated the birthday of the KPRA, an especially significant holiday for our state and revolutionary armed forces, with proud training success for perfecting the combat preparedness, and to the officers and men of the entire army. He highly appreciated that the enthusiasm for effecting a revolution in the training to enhance the combat efficiency is nowadays growing stronger the army units at all levels.

The mortar sub-unit under a combined unit of the 11th Corps of the KPA won the first place in the firing contest.

The 2nd Corps of the KPA came second, the 91st Corps third, the 1st Corps fourth, the 4th Corps fifth and the 5th Corps sixth.

Comrade Kim Jong Un said that the combat drill should be organized and conducted with the main emphasis on bolstering up in every way the combat capability to completely destroy the enemy by thoroughly embodying the WPK's military strategic idea and all the requirements of the Juche-oriented tactics. And he gave detailed instructions on the development of training contests among units at all levels and among core and sub-units of the entire army in a more intensive and competitive way. -0-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Egypt Becomes Security Oasis in Middle East - President

Sputnik News

20260425

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Egypt has managed to become a security oasis in the Middle East despite serious challenges, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday.

"Egypt chose the path of development and construction, despite serious challenges over the past decade. Egypt has managed to overcome crisis after crisis and maintain stability, becoming a security oasis in the Middle East," the president said in a video address marking the 44th anniversary of Sinai Liberation.

The Egyptian leader specifically added that the Suez Canal lost approximately $10 billion due to attacks on vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that began in late 2023.

"The Middle East region is going through complex and fateful times. Egypt believes that the best path for the future of this region lies not in occupation, destruction, and bloodshed, but in cooperation and peace to achieve stability," he said.

Hani Suleiman, secretary of the hotel chamber at the Tourism Chamber Union in South Sinai province, told Sputnik that hotel occupancy in Sharm el-Sheikh currently exceeds 80%.

"There was a slight decline in tourist flow caused by tensions in the region, but it has been overcome," Suleiman said.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties. On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended inconclusively. While no resumption of hostilities was announced, the United States began a blockade of Iranian ports.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that the United States will extend the ceasefire with Iran while continuing the blockade. On Wednesday, he said that peace talks with Iran were "possible" within the next 36 to 72 hours.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press point by President von der Leyen with Middle East partners

European Commission

Statement

Apr 24, 2026

Nicosia

Thank you, dear Nikos, for hosting us here today,

Together with my friend Antonio Costa,

President Aoun,

President al-Sharaa,

We had a very good meeting. We welcome the prolongation of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. And the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Our shared goal is now to negotiate a lasting end to the war. This includes restoring full and permanent freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz without tolls. It is equally clear that any peace agreement will have to address Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme. The events of the last 7 weeks have shown the real danger that a nuclear Iran would pose to the world.

My main messages today to our partners were twofold: First, I wanted to reaffirm our absolute solidarity with our partners in the region. A key lesson of the past weeks is that security is indivisible. You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames. So, we call for the respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. A temporary pause is not enough. We need a permanent path to peace. And on the way, we will continue to support the Lebanese people. 6 EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flights have delivered over 250 tonnes of aid, as part of 100 million euro in humanitarian assistance.

This solidarity among partners is mutual. I want to praise the leadership of Egypt and Jordan. Both are leaving no stone unturned to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts that affect us all. And I want to thank the Gulf States, for their support in bringing EU citizens home safely. Europe will remember this.

My second message is that in times of crises, bonds grow stronger. Because we are not just partners in managing crisis. We are partners for the future. This is why we held recently our first ever summits with Jordan and Egypt and are reinforcing our Strategic and Comprehensive Partnerships. We have big investment packages underpinning them. And I look forward to our first EU-Jordan Investment Conference later this year. Then, when President Costa and I were in Damascus in January, we announced a new Political Partnership with you President al-Sharaa, with Syria. Earlier this week, we have proposed resuming the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement. And in two weeks, we will host the first High Level Political Dialogue between Syria and the EU. Paving the way for a possible future Association Agreement. We will keep supporting the revival of Syria's economy. And the reconciliation of its society.

Turning to the Gulf countries. Last week Secretary-General Budaiwi, of the GCC, and I agreed that our partnership needs to become a broader geopolitical partnership. The EU-GCC Summit later this year gives us the opportunity to do exactly this. We are also ready to team up with the Gulf countries to diversify export infrastructure away from solely the bottleneck of the Hormuz Strait. And now is the time to advance promising connectivity projects like the IMEC - the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Finally, the events of the past month have taught us a hard truth. Our security is not just related; it is intrinsically linked. A threat to a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is a threat to a factory, for example, in Belgium. So today I propose that we move beyond reactive crisis management. First, we could consider expanding the scope of missions like Operation ASPIDES, evolving from mere protection to a sophisticated joint maritime coordination. Second, the threat of mass proliferation of drones and missiles is sadly a shared reality. We should set up a structural cooperation of scaling up defence production. So together, let us build a region where peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of a secure and prosperous future for all our citizens.

Thank you very much.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump says no rush to end Iran war, U.S. citizens to pay more for gasoline

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:15, April 24, 2026

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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






IRGC releases details of vessel seized on suspicion of cooperation with US military

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 11:00 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has released the details of a ship it had recently seized and transferred to Iranian territorial waters after suspecting it of cooperation with the US military.

The Corps included the details of the vessel, identified as Epaminodes, in a statement on Saturday.

It described the vessel as "a container ship that had been en route to Mundra Port in India."

"The vessel is currently sailing under the Liberian flag. Its last recorded position dates back two days, near [Iran's] Larak Island, east of the Strait of Hormuz," it added.

"According to recorded data, the ship made 36 stops at 11 different US ports between October 2024 and January 2026, during which it unloaded approximately 299,000 tons of cargo."

The Corps announced interception of the vessel alongside another ship, named as MSC-Francesca, which it said belongs to the Israeli regime, on Wednesday.

The vessels, it said at the time, were operating without authorization, committing repeated violations, tampering with navigation aid systems, and endangering maritime security in an attempt to exit the strait covertly.

The IRGC added that the vessels have now been transferred to Iranian territorial waters for inspection of their cargo and documents.

The developments come amid an indefinite total closure that Iran has imposed on the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation to the United States' retaining an illegal blockade of Iran's vessels and ports.

US President Donald Trump recently announced continuation of the blockade, despite a ceasefire.

The Islamic Republic has ruled out either reopening the strait or rejoining talks with Washington as long as the blockade stays in place.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






No talks with US during FM's Islamabad visit, observations to be conveyed to Pakistan: FM spox

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 9:49 PM

Iran's foreign ministry has confirmed that no meeting is planned with the United States in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, during an ongoing visit by a delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, through which he announced the arrival of the delegation.

During the visit, he added, "Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan."

"FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American-imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region," the spokesman concluded.

Earlier, Tasnim News Agency refuted an earlier report by CNN alleging that the top diplomat would be holding talks with US officials during the visit, which is to be followed by trips to the Omani capital Muscat and the Russian capital Moscow.

CNN had claimed that Donald Trump intended to send regional envoy Steve Witkoff as well as the US president's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner to Pakistan for "negotiations with Araghchi."

Commenting on the report, Tasnim wrote, "This is despite the fact that, at present, no negotiations with the Americans are on the agenda at all, and Mr. Araghchis trip to Islamabad is not for talks with the United States."

Rather, the foreign minister will discuss with the Pakistani side Irans considerations regarding cessation of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic, the agency added.

It noted how Araghchi, himself, has officially stated that the purpose of these visits was close coordination with partners on "bilateral" issues and consultation on regional developments.

However, "US officials and media outlets have, for more than 10 days, been fabricating narratives about a new round of negotiations, with several false reports being published almost daily regarding the start of talks," Tasnim wrote.

"In one of the most unusual cases, US media and officials claimed for more than three days that JD Vance, Trumps vice president, was on his way, yet he never arrived at the destination!"

Iran and the United States held a first round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month. However, the process stopped short of yielding an agreement amid Washington's maximalist demands and its insistence on its unreasonable positions.

The Islamic Republic has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifted an illegal blockade it has imposed on Iranian vessels and ports. Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it has shut down to all traffic in retaliation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Die of this anger: Qalibaf slams criminal Israeli minister, vows ironclad unity around Leader

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 6:38 PM

Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has fiercely denounced threats from Israel's war minister to assassinate the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, vowing that Iranian forces will fight "trench by trench" to defend their leadership.

Qalibaf dismissed the recent remarks by Israel Katz, who claimed that Tel Aviv is awaiting a US "green light" to launch new aggression on Iran and assassinate Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

Taking to X, Qalibaf slammed Katz as a "criminal minister" whose aggressive rhetoric is fueled by sheer frustration over Iran's internal cohesion.

"The enemy's anger and the drivel of that criminal minister stem from our unity around the axis of leadership and the failure of their plots," Qalibaf wrote. "Be angry and die of this anger."

The Parliament speaker underscored the profound loyalty of Iran's armed forces to the nation's highest authority.

"Our beloved Khamenei is dear to our very souls," Qalibaf wrote, adding that the "heartfelt pact" among Iranian combatants has always been to "fight trench by trench so that the word and will of the Leader advances."

Qalibaf's message comes amid a fragile, Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire that took effect on April 8. The first round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington recently collapsed due to excessive demands put forward by the US.

In response to the diplomatic deadlock, the US President has repeatedly threatened to resume strikes and destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if Tehran rejects his terms. Katz echoed this sentiment, threatening to "return Iran to the age of darkness and stone" by blowing up national economic infrastructure, explicitly confessing to the intent to commit war crimes by targeting civilian sites.

Faced with Tehran's unflinching stance against the ongoing blockade, the United States has attempted to project a false narrative of internal division among Iranian officials regarding the peace talks.

However, Iran's top leadership has presented a strictly united front. On Thursday, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Qalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei issued a collective response denouncing the US President's remarks about a split between "extremists and moderates" as unwarranted provocations.

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei also noted recently that the remarkable unity among Iranians has disrupted the calculations of those seeking to undermine the Islamic Republic.

This ironclad solidarity was forged following the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression that began on February 28, which assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders. In response to that aggression, Iranian armed forces launched 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive American and Israeli targets throughout the region, ultimately forcing the current pause in hostilities.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Beijing rejects Trump claims that seized Iran ship was gift from China

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 11:20 AM

China has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship confiscated by terrorist American forces was a gift from China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks on Friday, three days after Trump claimed the vessel had some things on it, which wasnt very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I dont know.

China opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis, the spokesman said, adding, Normal international trade relations between countries should not be subject to interference and disruption.

On Sunday, the United States attacked Iranian commercial vessel Touska in the waters of the Sea of Oman, deploying its forces onto the ships deck and disabling its navigation systems.

Iran denounced the illegal attack, which involved coercion, intimidation, and reckless endangerment of the lives of the ships crew and their families.

The seizure of the civilian Iranian ship constituted a blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law, amounting to maritime piracy and representing a dangerous escalation that threatens the safety and security of vital shipping routes, highlighted Iranian officials.

The attack took place amid the United States illegal naval blockade of Iran.

On Friday, Tasnim news agency reported that Iran has managed to circumvent the USs naval blockade through the port of Jask.

Situated in the Sea of Oman, the Iranian port allows tankers to be loaded and directly enter the high seas without crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced the naval blockade of Iran after the failure of Pakistan-mediated Tehran-Washington talks during a ceasefire between the two sides.

The temporary truce took effect on April 8, forty days into the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression that triggered 100 waves of Irans successful retaliatory strikes and led the country to maintain tight control over transit via the Strait of Hormuz.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Fingers on trigger, target bank ready: Iran warns US of eye for head reprisal

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 10:51 AM

Iranian officials have said that their fingers remain on the trigger with a designated bank of targets, warning the United States of a devastating "eye for a head" reprisal if it resumes its military aggression.

The warnings follow renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants if Tehran rejects his terms during the current fragile ceasefire.

The commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace and Navy forces issued a joint message late on Thursday, underscoring the nation's readiness and unyielding unity.

"The bank of targets is specified, fingers are on the trigger, and our backing is the unity of the streets and the cohesion of officials," the commanders wrote.

They vowed to make the "criminal aggressor" regret its actions through the iron unity of the state and the people, adding, "One God, one Leader, one nation, and one path; and that is the path of victory for an Iran dearer than life."

Addressing a gathering in Islamshahr near Tehran, vice president and head of the Organization for Optimization and Strategic Management of Energy Esmaeil Saghab Esfahani outlined a severe shift in Tehran's retaliatory doctrine.

Highlighting Iran's high military capabilities, Saghab Esfahani stated, "Our first strategy is 'an eye for an eye', but if the enemy makes a mistake again, our response will be 'an eye for a head'."

He linked this warning to the energy sector, noting that if a single Iranian oil well is struck, an oil phase of the aggressor countries will be targeted. He urged the public not to fear Trump's rhetoric, assuring them that the necessary response will be delivered.

The US-Israeli aggression began on February 28, when unprovoked airstrikes of the invading coalition assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

In response, Iranian armed forces launched 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive American and Israeli targets across the region.

On April 8, forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect but the first round of Tehran-Washington negotiations failed to reach an agreement due to excessive demands put forward by the US.

While Trump has unilaterally extended the truce, declaring his administration will await an Iranian proposal for a second round of talks in Islamabad, Tehran has firmly refused to commit.

Iranian authorities cite Washingtons continued excessive demands and an ongoing US naval blockade as the primary impediments to concluding the war.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian general hails Iran's 'shining example' of defense against US-Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 9:53 AM

The first deputy head of the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation of the Russian Defense Ministry says Iran demonstrated a shining example of defense during the recent illegal US-Israeli war of aggression.

Iranian Armed Forces showed to the world a shining example of their firm resolve to defend their country's interests, Major-General Yevgeny Ilyin said during a ceremony in Moscow on Thursday, marking Irans National Army Day.

Iranian forces, he added, stand ready to deliver a proper and proportionate response to emerging challenges and threats.

The Russian military official said the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, with its steadfastness and courage, has protected the countrys defense and security and turned into a reliable guarantor for the nations independence and stability.

The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

Iranian armed forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

On April 8, forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect but the first round of Tehran-Washington negotiations failed to reach an agreement.

Referring to the strategic partnership pact signed between Iran and Russia, Ilyin said that both states have maintained their cooperation in many fields.

Iran-Russia defense relations are multifaceted, encompassing areas from the deep sea to space, he added.

The military official also reiterated Russias resolve to implement previous agreements with Iran and continue working on plans for bilateral military cooperation.

During the ceremony, Iran's military attache to Russia Sadeq Rezaei Moqaddam said Iranian Armed Forces have always been committed to moral principles and differentiated between military and civilian targets.

On the contrary, he said, the US and the Israeli regime perpetrated horrible war crimes by killing 170 students and teachers at an elementary school in the city of Minab, and targeting the Iranian Dena destroyer which was returning home from a naval drill in India.

The attacks on civilian infrastructure and educational centers represent the enemies strategic failure to deal a blow to the will of the Iranian nation, Rezaei Moqaddam asserted.

The perfect coordination of the Army units and other forces caused the aggressors to step back and thwarted their calculations, he said.

He further stressed that enhanced technical and military cooperation between the Iranian and Russian armed forces not only guarantees the national security of both nations, but is also the main pillar to safeguarding stability in Eurasia and countering unilateralism and organized international crimes.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Visitors watch the demonstration of BYD's autonomous parking system during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27. The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The first trade day of the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition drew crowds on Sunday, as visitors queued to peer into a minus-30-degree cold chamber at BYD's fast-charging booth, where a new energy vehicle charged from 20 to 97 percent in just 12 minutes.

At the Nio stand, meanwhile, an ES9 swayed and tilted in choreographed synchrony with a humanoid robot, its full active suspension system responding in milliseconds to match the machine's movements.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars.

But the real story is not the scale of this show. Instead, it is the nature of competition within the industry.

"Physical AI," which is the ability of vehicles to perceive, reason and act in the real world, has emerged as a distinct theme, moving from technical concept to large-scale deployment.

Cao Xudong, CEO of autonomous driving solutions provider Momenta, told reporters that his company's R7 reinforcement learning world model, now in production vehicles, trains extensively on rare "long-tail scenarios" in virtual environments.

"Our goal is for the model to outperform human drivers in rare extreme scenarios," he said. "That is the true value of physical AI."

Intelligent driving, exhibitors argue, is no longer about mimicking human behavior but about moving from "seeing the world" to "understanding the world," which amounts to systems capable of forming independent judgments in complex situations.

Yet for all the technological showmanship, a quieter message is running through the halls at this show. Lin Jie, senior vice president of Geely Auto Group, put it plainly, explaining that improving handling performance "requires time and systematic capability."

The goal, Lin said, is a car that feels fully responsive to the driver while remaining stable and controllable at the limit. The industry, he suggested, is moving past the era of piling on features and returning to the harder work of refining fundamentals.

Perhaps the most structurally significant development at this year's show is what organizers call "integrated exhibition," in other words, core suppliers sharing the main halls with vehicle manufacturers for the first time, reflecting a shift in the automaker-supplier relationship from straightforward procurement toward deep co-creation partnerships.

"Much of our innovation comes from collaborative problem-solving up and down the supply chain," said William Li, chairman of Chinese automaker Nio.

He described China's intelligent EV industry as one of "mutual empowerment," and said future competition would not be between individual companies but between entire ecosystems.

The partnerships on display have given this argument concrete form. Chery and Bosch announced a joint development program for new-generation 48-volt vehicle architecture, first targeting mass production in China. Chinese automaker Dongfeng and Huawei have co-developed the Yijing X9, which made its world premiere at the show, with native integration across its electrical, chassis and data systems.

Walking the halls, the variety of vehicles on offer is striking, including the likes of sporty saloons, smart off-roaders designed equally for city streets and open country, and capacious MPVs built for family comfort. This breadth reflects a shared strategic direction among many automakers: understand what different users actually want and build competitive advantage via differentiation. 

People visit the booth of AITO during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Visitors learn about the full active suspension system of the NIO ET9 during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booth of Xpeng during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booth of Xiaomi during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Visitors learn about a vehicle at the booth of NIO during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booths of Mercedes-Benz and Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booth of Mercedes-Benz during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booth of autonomous driving solutions provider Momenta during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Visitors learn about a IM Motors' car during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

People visit the booth of Li Auto during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Visitors learn about the full active suspension system of the NIO ET9 during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2026. The 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which kicked off here on Friday, opens for professional visitors from April 26 to 27.

The show in China's capital city has set a new global record for scale, spanning 380,000 square meters across two venues, with 1,451 vehicles on display -- 181 of them premieres and 71 concept cars. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Trump will never defeat Iranian nation: IRGC cmdr. highlights US strategic failure

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 8:05 AM

A senior Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander says US President Donald Trump has suffered a strategic failure, emphasizing that Washington's military apparatus can never defeat the resilient Iranian nation.

IRGCs political deputy Brigadier General Yadollah Javani made the remarks on Thursday night while addressing thousands of people who took to the streets in Arak to voice support for the Islamic Republic against the US-Israeli aggression which began on February 28.

Javani noted that the United States, the Zionist regime, and their allies wrongly believed a direct, full-scale assault would overwhelm Tehran in less than 48 hours.

"Today, Trump wants to force the great Iranian nation to surrender, while God has blocked the path of the infidels' and falsehood's domination over the believers, and Trump does not understand it," Javani said, adding, Trump will never defeat the Iranian nation.

The Iranian armed forces thwarted the aggression by unleashing 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

Javani noted that the world is currently witnessing an unprecedented historical scene where the US, despite its vast military, economic, technological, and media power, has failed to sideline the Islamic Republic.

"This strategic failure marked the first victory of the Islamic Republic of Iran; meaning the enemy failed in achieving its primary goal of defeating the Iranian nation," he stated.

According to the commander, Washington's secondary objective was to trigger an internal collapse and a power vacuum through the assassination of the Leader. This calculated scenario aimed to pave the way for the fragmentation of Iran, but the plot faced complete defeat, failing to weaken national cohesion.

The military standoff paused on April 8, 40 days into the war, when a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect. However, an initial round of Tehran-Washington negotiations failed due to excessive US demands.

While Trump has unilaterally extended the truce and stated his administration will wait for an Iranian proposal for a second round of talks in Islamabad, Tehran has refrained from committing. Iranian authorities cite Washingtons continued excessive demands and an ongoing US naval blockade as the two main impediments to concluding the war.

Against this backdrop, Javani highlighted Iran's emergence as a unified and unyielding state, which he noted signifies the decline of American hegemony and the rise of a new regional order centered on the Islamic Republic.

"Today, Iran, which they accused of seeking a nuclear weapon, has achieved a power greater than a nuclear weapon, and that is absolute control over the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran warns regional Arab states against aiding US-Israeli aggression

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 6:53 AM

Tehran has vehemently dismissed a resolution issued by the Arab League against Irans defensive operations during the recent illegal US-Israeli war of aggression.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei's rejection came two days after an extraordinary ministerial-level meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States, which issued an anti-Iran resolution purportedly condemning Irans reprisal attacks on locations hosting American forces and demanding compensation.

Categorically rejecting the provisions of the statement, Baghaei called on the bloc to adjust its approaches away from the influence of the one-sided and unconstructive positions of certain members.

He underscored the Islamic Republics unwavering commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, particularly the prohibition of the use of force and the respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

Addressing the recent strikes, the spokesman clarified that Irans actions were strictly defensive.

The defensive actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran against US military bases and facilities stationed in certain countries on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf were carried out within the framework of the inherent right to legitimate self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and in response to the military aggression of the US and the Zionist regime against Iran, Baghaei stated.

Pointing to the established rules of international law regarding non-intervention, he warned neighboring countries about allowing their territory to be used for attacks against Iran.

Those regional governments that have in any waywhether by facilitating access, providing bases, or offering logistical or intelligence supportplaced their territory and facilities at the disposal of the military actions of the United States and the Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran, bear international responsibility for the consequences of these actions and must be held to account, he said.

Rejecting the accusations leveled against Tehran in the Arab League statement, Baghaei redirected the focus toward the root causes of regional turmoil.

Chronic instability and insecurity in the West Asia region are the result of the presence and military interventions of extra-regional actors, as well as the continuation of occupation and the colonial plan to annihilate Palestinians, he said, warning that feigning ignorance of this obvious reality will merely cause the continuation and escalation of insecurity.

Despite the diplomatic friction, Baghaei reiterated Tehrans determination to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation among neighboring nations.

He urged regional countries to understand their legal and political responsibilities, avoid adopting tension-inducing positions, and pursue a path of constructive interaction based on mutual respect.

The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Persian Gulf Arab countries allowed the aggressor regimes to use their soil and airspace to launch anti-Iran attacks.

The Iranian armed forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

On April 8, forty days into the war, a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire went into effect but the first round of Tehran-Washington negotiations failed to reach an agreement due to excessive demands put forward by the US.

US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the truce, saying his administration will wait for an Iranian proposal for a second round of talks in Islamabad.

However, Tehran has refrained from committing to a second round of negotiations, with authorities citing Washingtons excessive demands and naval blockade of Iran as two main impediments to concluding the war.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Europe cracks: French president rejects coercive US blockades against Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 2:12 AM

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly rejected Washingtons coercive blockades against the Islamic Republic of Iran, declaring that negotiations must be systematic and rooted in diplomacy, not military pressure or economic strangulation.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday at an informal European Council meeting in Cyprus, Macron stressed the importance of preserving the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon while calling for genuine diplomatic engagement on Tehrans nuclear and missile programs.

Dialogue with Iran must be carried out in a systematic manner, not through targeted blockades or similar measures, the French leader stated.

He confirmed that France and Britain are coordinating militarily and strategically to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that Paris is meeting its responsibilities in this regard.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale and unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.

In response, Iranian Armed Forces carried out a series of retaliatory missile and drone operations against US and Israeli military assets for over 40 days, which resulted in significant damage.

Irans legendary resistance shattered the aggressors plans, compelling them to accept a ceasefire on April 7 that Washington itself extended indefinitely on April 21.

Macrons remarks are proof of the Wests strategic collapse. Having witnessed Irans unbreakable defensive might and the devastating price paid by the Zionist regime and its American masters, even Europe is now scrambling to distance itself from the blockade fiasco that backfired spectacularly.

Frances demand for systematic dialogue echoes exactly what the Islamic Republic has always insisted upon that Iran will never sit at the table under threat, sanctions, or gunboat diplomacy.

Any real agreement must honor Tehrans sovereign rights, including its peaceful nuclear program and legitimate missile deterrent.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






IRGC commander: Unyielding unity of people and officials defying US-Zionist enemy

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2026 12:52 AM

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, Commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), has stated that the unyielding unity displayed by the Iranian nation in the streets and the complete cohesion among state officials represent the decisive support for the Resistance Front and its borderless holy fighters in their sacred war against the American-Zionist enemy.

In a message posted on the X social network, issued simultaneously with unified statements from Irans highest authorities on Thursday, General Qaani said, The support of the Resistance Front and the fighters without borders in the war against the American Zionist enemy is the unity of the streets and the cohesion of the authorities.

The Quds Force commander went on to stress the iron unity binding the nation and the state, stating, Those who say, We are all Iranians and revolutionaries, and with the iron unity of the nation and the state, with complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the criminal aggressor regret it. One God, one leader, one nation, and one path; and that is the path of victory for Iran, dearer than life.

The statement is in aligned with earlier messages from President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, who issued a collective response to US President Donald Trump, denouncing his remarks about divisions between extremists and moderates in Iran as unwarranted provocations.

They emphasized a common theme of national unity and defiance.

Qaanis message underscores a fundamental truth of the Islamic Republics strength which is the synchronized will of the masses and the institutions that form an impenetrable shield for the Axis of Resistance.

This national harmony has turned every Zionist-American plot - from cowardly assassinations and illegal sanctions to media psychological warfare into fuel for greater resilience, self-reliance, and regional momentum.

Earlier, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, lauded the profound impact of the Iranian nations extraordinary unity, saying that it has inflicted a significant fracture on the enemy while urging practical gratitude to forge even stronger national cohesion.

"Due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occurred in the enemy," the Leader stated in a message published on the X network on Thursday, highlighting how this unprecedented solidarity has disrupted the calculations of those seeking to undermine the Islamic Republic.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US To Send Witkoff, Kushner To Pakistan For New Talks, But Iran Participation Uncertain

By Alex Raufoglu April 24, 2026

WASHINGTON -- The United States will send a delegation to Pakistan this weekend for a new round of talks with Iranian officials, the White House said, as Washington tests whether a fragile cease-fire can translate into diplomatic progress.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on April 24 that the delegation would include President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and would depart for Islamabad on April 25.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Islamabad late on April 24, but there was no immediate confirmation from Tehran that he or other officials would meet with the US delegation.

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Iranian officials did not plan to meet with the US team, although it was unclear if the statement represented the view of the government.

"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," spokesman Esmail Baqaei wrote on X.

However, The Washington Post quoted an unnamed US official as saying Witkoff and Kushner had received confirmation from Tehran that Araqchi would meet with them.

US and Iranian teams held peace talks in Islamabad on April 11-12, but they ended without an agreement and a second round that had been expected earlier this week did not materialize.

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation then, was not traveling with Witkoff and Kushner but would be on "standby" and "will be willing to dispatch to Pakistan if we feel it's a necessary use of his time," Leavitt said.

Trump, Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio "will be waiting here in the United States for updates," she said.

Leavitt said Washington had seen "some progress" from the Iranian side in recent days, adding that it was Tehran that requested the new meeting.

"Iranians want to talk," she said. "We're hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and move the ball forward toward a deal," she said.

Trump later told Reuters that the Iranians were "making an offer" aimed at satisfying U.S. demands and "we'll have to see" how it looks.

Trump has said that in any deal to end hte US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28, Iran must give up its enriched uranium and allow free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a cruicial oil and gas transit artery that Tehran has effectovely blocked through most of the conflict.

Asked who the United States was negotiating with, Trump said: "I don't want to say that, but we're dealing with the people that are in charge now," Reuters reported.

Tempered Expectations

Vance remaining in Washington unless negotiations reach a breakthrough stage is a decision analysts said reflects tempered expectations.

Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East analyst at the risk management company RANE, described the move as a sign Washington is "in a reactive diplomatic state."

"They're waiting for the Iranians to make some sort of first move or gesture," Bohl told RFE/RL. "Sending a lower-level delegation suggests they want to test whether momentum is real without overcommitting political capital."

"This is more of a listening session than a negotiation," Jason Brodsky, policy director at the nonprofit United Against Nuclear Iran, told RFE/RL. "If the two parties were close to inking a deal, then senior leadership on both sides would be in the room."

Bohl said the United States is unlikely to soften its core demands, including significant Iranian nuclear concessions and unilateral steps to ease tensions before sanctions relief is considered.

For analysts, the White House's statement that Tehran initiated the expected talks raised questions about whether Iran is seeking a genuine diplomatic off-ramp or simply buying time.

Bohl argued that while Iran faces long-term economic pressure, its short-term strategy favors delay.

"There is urgency economically, but not in the immediate sense," he said. "Iran can afford to drag out talks as long as it avoids renewed military escalation."

Brodsky offered a slightly different view, pointing to the strain of US pressure following weeks of air strikes on Iran, which ended with a cease-fire that took effect on April 8 and that Trump extended before it was due to expire on April 22.

"The noose is tightening with the US naval blockade," he said. "That sharpens the choices facing Iran's leadership."

The US has maintained that its blockade of Iranian ports remains fully in place, with Trump calling it "100 percent effective." Iran says the blockade is a violation of the cease-fire and demanded it be lifted.

Lebanon And Beyond

The diplomatic push comes amid a fragile calm in the region, including a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, home of Iran-backed Hezbollah -- but Lebanon's Health Ministry said six people were killd in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on April 24.

Bohl said that de-escalation on that front is critical to sustaining talks.

"It's one of the few ways the US can build trust," he said, noting deep Iranian skepticism about US intentions given continued American military deployments in the region.

At the same time, divisions remain between Washington and Israel over how to handle Hezbollah -- a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.which Tehran backs.

"The Israelis want to press their advantage," Bohl said. "The US is more willing to preserve the cease-fire to keep diplomacy alive."

Brodsky predicted Hezbollah will remain a destabilizing force regardless of the talks.

"As long as the current regime is in power in Iran, Hezbollah will continue to be a problem," he said.

Araqchi is to travel to Oman and Russia following his visit to Pakistan. Bohl described the regional outreach as a mix of damage control and strategic hedging.

"They're shoring up support," he said. "Oman is about repairing regional relationships, while Russia is critical for economic and military backing if the confrontation drags on."

Brodsky said the visits would likely focus on practical concerns, including the Strait of Hormuz and securing political support from Moscow.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-talks-diplomacy--blockade- nuclear/33741895.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian, Chinese Lifelines Keeping Tehran's Military Reconstruction Alive, Experts Warn

By Alex Raufoglu April 24, 2026

WASHINGTON -- With tensions high and the prospects for a deal to end the US-Israeli war with Iran uncertain, analysts say a "two-way street" of support from Russia and China is a crucial element of Tehran's ability to weather the effects of weeks of air attacks and keep its military machine running after severe losses.

At a forum hosted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on April 23, experts described deepening partnerships that have helped Iran replenish its military, improve targeting, and blunt Western operations during the conflict.

"A decisive factor in the future of this contest will be Iran's ability to resupply and reconstitute its own military capabilities," said Grant Rumley, the institute's senior fellow and director of its program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East.

"Tehran's backers are willing to provide some level of support to keep the regime in power," he added.

Rumley, a former Pentagon official who served in both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration as an adviser for Middle East policy, said the central question now is whether that external support will prove decisive as Iran seeks to rearm and reposition itself in preparation for what's next, whether it's peace or more warfare.

A 'Two-Way Street' With Moscow

While Iranian officials have long emphasized self-reliance, panelists said battlefield evidence points to a far more interconnected war effort, particularly with Russia.

Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at Sciences Po and a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Russia-Iran relationship has evolved far beyond the simple purchase of hardware.

"The relationship is not only based on components.... It's also based on learning and sharing data between each other," said Grajewski, the author of a recent book on Russian-Iranian ties.

She noted that the "signatures" of Russian drone tactics, refined during the war in Ukraine, have surfaced in Iran's recent operations. "You see some of the signatures of Russian swarm elements...and Iran actually incorporating that in this recent war."

Beyond tactics, Grajewski highlighted the critical role of "offshore" intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support -- support from abroad.

She noted that Russia has reportedly provided Iran with satellite imagery and "damage assessments," enabling Tehran to constantly improve its strikes against US and regional targets.

China's 'Low-Cost' Strategic Play

If Moscow provides the tactical blueprint, Beijing appears to be providing the industrial and technological backbone.

Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said Chinese assistance spans so-called dual-use components, such as rocket fuel ingredients, and sophisticated satellite data.

"There are multiple indications that China has been providing Iran with various forms of military support...that support may have had a tangible impact on Iranian military performance," Alhasan said.

He pointed to a Chinese company using AI to analyze satellite imagery of US assets at Prince Sultan Air Base in Riyadh just days before a "devastating" Iranian attack.

For Beijing, the conflict serves a dual purpose. "China does here see a low-cost opportunity to entangle the US militarily on the strategic level in Iran and then, tactically speaking, test some of its capabilities against the United States in a real conflict environment," Alhasan said.

Endurance and Geography

Matthew Tavares, a defense analyst and former Pentagon official with nearly two decades of experience in Russia strategy, said the revitalization of the Russian defense industrial base has directly benefited Iran.

"The Alabuga facility not only is producing equipment based on Iranian designs, but is improving on that equipment," Tavares said of a compound in Russia's Tatarstan region that includes a drone assembly plant, adding that he believes contractual arrangements likely allow for these systems to be sent back to Iran if the regime is attacked.

Tavares warned the conflict has shifted into a "factory versus factory" war and said Iran and its backers are producing inexpensive precision weapons systems that can "wear out" the "expensive, exquisite systems" favored by the United States and its Persian Gulf partners.

Despite the influx of external support, the experts cautioned that Tehran's own strategic posture remains the foundation of its survival.

Alhasan noted that Iran's ability to hold the Strait of Hormuz "hostage" and its high tolerance for "punishment" are indigenous strengths that external powers only augment.

"Iran's biggest assets during this war have been, on the one hand, its endurance...and then, on the other hand, its ability to leverage its systems and geography," Alhasan concluded.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-china-war- cooperation-support/33741900.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Beijing Rejects Claim Seized Ship Contained 'Gift From China'

15:55 24.4.2026

China has refuted a claim by US President Donald Trump that the Iranian ship seized by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz on April 19 was carrying a "gift from China."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing refutes "any accusations and implications that lack a factual basis."

"Normal international trade between countries should not be disrupted or undermined," he added, speaking at a press conference on April 24.

Beijing denies any direct military involvement in the war in Iran.

Trump had made the comment during an interview with American new channel CNBC on April 21 as he hinted that Beijing had attempted to supply Tehran with lethal aid.

The Touska, the Iranian ship that had been travelling through the Strait of Hormuz from China, was seized by the US Navy on April 19. The US Central Command claimed the ship was seized after it refused to follow orders to abort its passage through the strait.

Maritime security sources told Reuters on April 21 that the Iranian-flagged container ship was likely carrying items that the US would consider "dual-use," meaning the items onboard have civilian and possible military applications.

The statement from the Foreign Ministry comes as Beijing placed seven EU-based companies on an export control liston April 24. The new restrictions prohibit operators from exporting dual-use items to these entities from China on "national security" grounds.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil- blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=451757

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting between Special Envoy of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs (April 22)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Date: 2026-04-24

Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Chung Byung-ha had a meeting with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, April 22, to discuss the situation in the Middle East and pending issues in bilateral relations.

Special Envoy Chung relayed regards from Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun and expressed his hope that Korea-Iran relations will continue to develop stably, citing the recent telephone conversations between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries on March 23 and April 9, the 7th and 8th bilateral Director-General-level Policy Consultations held last year, and Korea's recent provision of humanitarian assistance worth $500,000 for Iran through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Special Envoy Chung requested continued attention from the Iranian side to the safety of around 40 Korean nationals remaining in Iran, as well as 26 Korean vessels and their crews.

In particular, Special Envoy Chung emphasized the necessity of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and requested the Iranian side's utmost cooperation for the safe navigation of all vessels, including those of Korea, at an early date.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Special Envoy Chung expressed his hope that negotiations between the United States and Iran would resume, restoring peace and stability in the region as soon as possible.

Minister Araghchi highly appreciated the Korean Foreign Minister's decision to dispatch the Special Envoy under difficult circumstances and the Korean Embassy's uninterrupted fulfillment of its role, expressing his hope for the continued stable development of bilateral relations. He also stated that he would continue to pay close attention to the safety of Korean nationals in Iran.

During his visit to Iran which began on Saturday, April 11, the Special Envoy also met with deputy minister for political affairs, deputy minister for economic diplomacy, and director-general for consular affairs of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During these meetings, the two sides discussed pending issues in bilateral relations as well as the necessity of ensuring the safety of Korean nationals in Iran, and that of all vessels and crews in the Strait of Hormuz.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran Will Bar Anyone From Exporting Oil From Middle East If It Cannot - Vice President

Sputnik News

20260424

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran will not allow anyone to export oil from the Middle East if the country is not able to do it itself, Iranian Vice President for Optimization and Strategic Management of Energy Affairs Esmaeil Saqqab Esfahani said on Friday.

On Wednesday, member of the Iranian parliament's Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Ali Khezrian said that Iran continued to export oil regardless of the US maritime blockade, with volumes increased compared to pre-war levels.

"If we cannot export even one barrel of oil, no barrel of oil in the region will be exported. If even one of our compatriots loses access to electricity due to the enemy's stupidity, then ten people living in the region will be deprived of electricity," Esfahani was quoted by the Iranian government's press office. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, causing damage and civilian casualties. On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended inconclusively. While no resumption of hostilities was announced, the United States began a blockade of Iranian ports.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Would Welcome 'Serious' European Effort on Strait of Hormuz - Hegseth

Sputnik News

20260424

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States would welcome a "serious" European effort regarding the Strait of Hormuz instead of "silly" conferences, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Friday.

Last week, the United Kingdom and France held an international conference on Strait of Hormuz navigation safety.

"We would welcome a serious European effort to do something about this strait and this passage, considering it's their energy capabilities that are most at stake," Hegseth told reporters, calling the conference in Europe last week "silly."

The United States is not counting on Europe, the secretary added.

"But they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do, and might want to start doing less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat. This is much more their fight than ours," Hegseth said.

On April 1, US President Donald Trump said that he was strongly considering withdrawing the US from NATO after his allies refused to join the US-Israeli war on Iran. He said he no longer saw Europe as a reliable defense partner after the Europeans rejected his call to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

Twelve days later, the US Navy began blockading all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for approximately 20% of the world's oil, petroleum products, and LNG supplies. The US maintains that non-Iranian vessels are free to transit the Strait of Hormuz as long as they do not pay Iran a toll. Iranian authorities have not announced the imposition of a toll, but have discussed such plans.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BERLIN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has reached a record high of 28 percent in the country, according to the latest Insa survey released on Saturday.

The survey showed that the AfD's support rose by one percentage point from the previous week, maintaining its position as the strongest political force in the country.

The conservative Union (CDU/CSU) remained unchanged at 24 percent, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which currently governs in a coalition with the Union, stood at 14 percent.

Among other parties, the Greens saw their support drop by one percentage point to 12 percent, while the Left Party (Die Linke) remained at 11 percent. 
Marshall Islands May Run Out of Fuel Within 2 Months Amid Middle East Conflict

Sputnik News

20260424

JAKARTA (Sputnik) - The remote Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands has no guarantee of fuel supplies for the next two months due to the Middle East conflict, Finance Minister David Paul said.

"In order to be realistic, everything is still fluid, and anything can happen. I really cannot predict one way or the other," Paul said in an interview with RNZ Pacific radio.

The minister said the country is now "at the mercy of the market." It relies on diesel generators for about 90% of its electricity needs, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in oil fuel supplies.

Paul said that the last batch of fuel, which will last approximately two months, cost three times more than usual. He added that supplier companies may invoke force majeure due to the Middle East conflict, making it difficult to comply with contract terms.

The government is considering a scenario of a complete halt in supplies, Paul said. It is discussing possible support measures with the United States, including additional funding and assistance with fuel supplies.

The country has declared a 90-day state of economic emergency. This includes fuel savings in the public sector, such as a shorter workday and a provision that requires offices to turn off air conditioners, lighting, and other equipment.

Other Pacific nations have taken similar measures: Tuvalu has declared a state of emergency, while the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia have imposed restrictions on fuel use due to the threat of shortages.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






No Iran-US meeting planned in Islamabad: Iranian official

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

25.04.2026 [09:34]

Baku, April 25, AZERTAC

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Saturday that top diplomat Abbas Araghchi arrived in the Pakistani capital, and no direct engagement with the US is planned, Anadolu Agency reported.

Esmaeil Baqaei said Araghchi would meet senior Pakistani officials.

The discussions come as Pakistan continues mediation efforts aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the US.

Baqaei wrote on US social media company X that the talks would take place "in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices" to help end an "American-imposed war of aggression" and restore stability in the region.

"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," he added.

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan on Saturday to hold talks with Iranian representatives.

"I can confirm special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis, who have been incredible mediators throughout this entire process, with representatives from the Iranian delegation," Leavitt told Fox News.

She said Vice President JD Vance would stay in the US, although he "remains deeply involved in this entire process."

Pakistan is stepping up efforts to revive a second round of talks between Iran and the US. Sources said discussions with Tehran could pave the way for renewed negotiations following the first round of direct talks in Islamabad on April 11-12.

Those talks came after Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which Trump later extended without a specified timeline. The developments come amid tensions since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, with efforts focused on reaching a broader agreement to end hostilities.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. won't renew Iranian, Russian oil waivers: Treasury Secretary

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:44, April 25, 2026

NEW YORK, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that exemptions allowing for the purchase of Russian oil already at sea would not be renewed after the current license expires on May 16.

"I wouldn't imagine that we'd have another extension. I think the Russian oil on the water has been largely sucked up," Bessent said in an interview with the U.S. media.

A renewal of the one-time waiver for Iranian oil at sea is totally off the table, Bessent said. "We have the blockade, and there's no oil coming out," he said.

The United States first issued a 30-day license in March allowing shipments of Russian oil loaded by March 11, aiming to ease global supply shortages stemming from the Middle East conflict. It then extended the license for another 30 days on April 17.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iranian FM to convey Iran's considerations regarding war's end in trip to Pakistan -- media

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:41, April 25, 2026

TEHRAN, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will convey Iran's considerations regarding the end of the war with the United States and Israel in his visit to Pakistan's capital Islamabad, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday.

Heading a diplomatic delegation, Araghchi is scheduled to visit Pakistan, Oman and Russia, the report said, adding the visits are aimed at ensuring close coordination with Iran's partners regarding bilateral issues, and holding consultations on the latest regional developments.

According to Tasnim, in the Omani capital Muscat, the Iranian foreign minister will discuss regional issues as well as the war, and in Russia, he will hold consultations on the latest developments pertaining to bilateral, regional and international developments.

Commenting on his tour in a post on social media platform X on Friday, Araghchi said, "Embarking on a timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow. The purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority."

Tasnim also reported that Iran currently has no plans to negotiate with the United States, and that Araghchi's visit to Islamabad is not for talks with the U.S. side.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.

A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8, which was followed by lengthy talks between the Iranian and U.S. delegations in Islamabad on April 11 and 12. After the peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed, the United States imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, preventing ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway.

The Iranian and U.S. delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan this week, but Iran refrained from attending, citing the U.S. continued naval blockade and "excessive" demands as main reasons.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump's envoy, son-in-law heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran: White House

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:06, April 25, 2026

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi this weekend, the White House said Friday.

"I can confirm special envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks, direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis who have been incredible friends and mediators throughout this entire process with representatives from the Iranian delegation," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News Friday afternoon.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. negotiating team during the first round of talks in Pakistan earlier this month, is not currently planning to attend the upcoming talks, Leavitt said, adding he will be standing by and consulting Trump alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

She reiterated that a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran must include Iran's turning over nuclear material and committing to not building a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad to hold discussions with Pakistani mediators on key preconditions before entering potential negotiations with the United States, a Pakistani official source told Xinhua on Friday.

The discussions are expected to focus on such issues as lifting blockades and releasing Iranian ships and crew seized by the U.S. side, said the source, stressing Tehran is seeking initial confidence-building gestures from the United States before moving toward direct engagement.

"Our neighbors are our priority," Araghchi said Friday on X as he embarks on the trip, which will also take him to Oman and Russia, noting he will "closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments."

Trump insisted earlier this week that any peace deal with Iran would be made on U.S. terms and his timeline, claiming there is "no time frame" for ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and "no time pressure" on the U.S.-Iran ceasefire he extended Tuesday or on stalled talks.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran not to enter talks under pressure, threats, blockade: Pres. Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 10:26 PM

President Masoud Pezeshkian highlights the contradiction between the US's applying pressure tactics against Iran and its self-described will to engage in diplomatic process with the Islamic Republic.

The chief executive made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been engaged in mediation between the two sides.

"The contradiction has increased the level of mistrust [in Washington] among the Iranian people and officials of the Islamic Republic," the president added.

On April 7, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in unprovoked aggression targeting Iran. Talks ensued in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, but stopped short of yielding an agreement amid the United States' maximalist demands and its insistence on its unreasonable positions.

Trump recently said he was unilaterally extending the ceasefire, but ordered continuation of an illegal blockade of Iranian vessels and ports.

After the first round of the talks, American media outlets were rife with reports pointing to the possibility that a second round could go underway in the Pakistani capital. The Islamic Republic has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifted the blockade. Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it has shut down to all traffic in retaliation.

"The continuation of hostile US measures, including a naval blockade, is inconsistent with its stated claims of pursuing a political resolution," Pezeshkian said.

"As long as the United States hostile actions and operational pressures do not cease, rebuilding trust and making progress on the path of dialogue will face serious difficulty," he stated.

The president advised Washington that, in order to create the conditions for resolving standing issues, it first has to remove operational obstacles such as the blockade.

"The Islamic Republic will not enter imposed negotiations under pressure, threats, or blockade."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






April 25: Iran presents 'workable framework' to end war as US sinks deeper into internal turmoil

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 9:28 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

On Day 57 of the imposed war, Iran demonstrated confidence and cohesion as the US strategy showed mutating signs of failure, contradiction, and internal turmoil.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he presented a workable framework to Pakistani mediators for ending the US-Israeli war of aggression during his visit to Islamabad.

Washington abruptly cancelled a high-profile trip of US envoys it had announced only a day earlier, highlighting deep confusion and disagreements inside the Trump administration.

Irans top military command warned that continued American piracy and blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a decisive response.

President Masoud Pezeshkian and judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, in social media posts, invoked historic US defeats, from Tabas in 1980 to the recent failed operation in Isfahan, to insist that Washington cannot impose a naval siege on a nation that has repeatedly turned American aggression into humiliation.

Political cracks in the US camp widened, as the State Department admitted in an official release that it entered the war against Iran on behalf of Israel.

European allies distanced themselves, intelligence reports confirmed US understatements of battlefield losses, and polls showed Trump bleeding support within his own base.

Key developments on day 57 of the war, the eighteenth day of the ceasefire:

FM Araghchi said he presented a workable framework to Pakistani mediators aimed at putting a lasting end to the US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic during his very fruitful visit to Islamabad.

US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit to Pakistan by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, a trip the White House had announced just a day earlier. Tehran, for its part, had never confirmed any intention of holding direct talks with the American side.

Irans central military command warned that the continued naval piracy, blockade, and banditry by American forces in the region will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian armed forces.

Irans High Council for Human Rights condemned the American blockade of Iranian ports and the seizure of an Iranian commercial vessel, the Touska, as crimes surpassing maritime piracy and state terrorism, and amounting to collective punishment against millions of Iranian civilians.

President Pezeshkian warned the worlds arrogant powers to learn from history, as divine intervention delivered yet another crushing defeat to the United States in Isfahan, much like its humiliating failure in Tabas 46 years ago.

Irans judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, warned that Washington cannot impose a naval siege on the Islamic Republic, vowing that the historic defeats of US forces at Tabas and Isfahan will be repeated in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Irans parliament speaker and lead negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned that access to US assets could tighten in the West Asian region if tensions escalate, urging investors to get out while open.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei, said while Iran stands united in the face of its enemies, a deep fracture is widening in the relations between the United States and its traditional European allies.

Iran's ministry of intelligence announced the arrest of a veteran spy working for the Israeli regime, along with 15 members of separatist terrorist groups, following operations in different Iranian provinces.

In a government release, the US Department of State admitted that Washington entered the recent war of aggression against Iran "at the request of" the Israeli regime.

Attacks carried out by Iran on US bases in the West Asia region in response to US-Israeli aggression on the country caused more extensive damage than has been publicly declared by US authorities, a report by NBC News showed.

A surprising 21 percent of Republicans who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election support impeaching him, a recent poll by Strength in Numbers/Verasight revealed.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRSC) announced that 7,125 people were pulled out alive from under the rubble during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against the country.

The United States froze $344m in cryptocurrency assets linked to Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, as Washington seeks to raise pressure on Tehran.

Bessent told The Associated Press that Washington will not renew waivers for Russian oil shipments in transit, and that any extension for Iranian oil is completely out of the question.

Washington imposed fresh sanctions on a major China-based refinery and about 40 shipping firms and tankers.

The US military stated that it now has three aircraft carriers in West Asia for the first time since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The market for liquefied natural gas (LNG), strained by the ongoing war, will remain tight through 2026 and 2027, the International Energy Agency said.

Brent crude futures inched up, closing above $105 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, fell 1.5 percent to $94.40. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 gained 0.8 percent, pushing the US stock index to a new record high.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran will deliver strategic deterrence response if attacked again: IRGC

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 6:56 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that Iran would increase the severity of its retaliation against any new attacks on the country by the United States or the Israeli regime.

The IRGC said in a Saturday statement that a response to a new US-Israeli attack on the country would go beyond the expectations of the enemies and would create a level of strategic deterrence.

Any further aggression from the enemy camp and the ill-wishers of this land will undoubtedly be met with a response beyond the enemies' expectations, at a level of strategic deterrence, said the statement.

The IRGC said that Iran is fully prepared to confront any new aggression scenario, amid reports in Western media that the US would land troops on some Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf to force the country to ease its restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

... the IRGC's preparedness to confront various enemy actions, including ground operations, is such that even prisoner-of-war camps have been prepared to house potential aggressors! said the force.

Iran has restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway responsible for a fifth of global oil demand, since the early days of the US-Israeli aggression on the country that began in late February and halted in a ceasefire on April 8.

Authorities say, however, that coordinated passage through the Strait is allowed for all ships except for those linked to the US and the Israeli regime and associated entities.

The IRGC said Iran would continue to control transit via Hormuz even after the current war of aggression ends permanently.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz is Irans definitive strategy against the global arrogance camp during the Third Imposed War and thereafter to play a role and facilitate the passage of commercial ships and vessels of all countries, with the exception of American, Zionist enemy vessels, and their affiliates, said the statement.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Irans foreign minister leaves Pakistan as Trump cancels visit by US envoys 

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 4:25 PM

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday after holding discussions with senior Pakistani officials on regional security and a ceasefire with the United States, during which he presented Irans demands on ending the eight-week war.

While in Islamabad, the first leg of his three-nation tour, Araghchi met with Pakistans Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, a key figure in the mediation effort, as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The top diplomat thanked Pakistan for its efforts to mediate the April 8 ceasefire between Tehran and Washington and the subsequent talks, and laid out Irans principled positions on the state of the truce and the complete end to the imposed war against Iran.

Pakistans top diplomat, Senator Dar, said that the meeting with Araghchi and the Iranian delegation lasted around two hours, during which Pakistan stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.

Prime Minister Sharif hailed the meeting with Araghchi as the most warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation.

We also discussed matters of mutual interest, including the further strengthening of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, he posted on X.

The Iranian delegation left Islamabad before US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were expected to travel to the Pakistani capital to meet with mediators.

US President Donald Trump, however, later told Fox News that he had canceled the visit.

Tehran had previously said that there was no plan for the Iranian delegation to meet with the American representatives in Islamabad.

Pakistans mediation efforts have stalled over the illegal US naval blockade of Iranian ports and excessive demands put forward by Washington.

Araghchi will now travel to Oman and then Russia to discuss efforts to end the illegal war, which was launched against Iran by Israel and the United States on February 28.

In addition to 100 waves of retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli assets across the region, Iran also put restrictions on transit in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the worlds oil and liquefied gas supplies in peacetime.

US President Donald Trump unilaterally extended the two-week ceasefire this week and hours before it was set to expire. He said there was no rush to reach a deal with Iran, but that he was awaiting a proposal from Tehran.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Irans strikes on US bases more destructive than publicly admitted: Report

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 3:00 PM

Attacks carried out by Iran on US bases in the West Asia region in response to US-Israeli aggression on the country caused more extensive damage than it has been publicly declared by US authorities, a new report shows.

The Saturday report by NBC News said that US military bases and equipment in the region suffered massive damage because of Iranian airstrikes despite having proper air defenses in place.

It said Iran used missiles, drones, and even F-5 fighter jets to target US bases in the region, the report said, despite previous claims by US authorities that the Iranian air force had failed to use fighter jets against American targets.

The report cited accounts from several sources, including three government officials, two congressional aides, and another person familiar with the issue.

The sources said that repairing the damage inflicted by Iranian attacks on US bases in the West Asia region, including those stationed in the Persian Gulf Arab countries, would cost billions of dollars.

The report comes nearly three weeks after Iran stopped its attacks on US bases in the region, after Pakistan mediated a ceasefire to allow a halt to US-Israeli aggression on Iran.

The aggression prompted massive Iranian retaliation against US assets in the regional countries as well as on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories.

Durning the course of the war, which began on February 18, Iranian officials had repeatedly warned US regional allies against allowing their territory be used by the US to launch attacks against the country.

Earlier reports had suggested that the US lost precious, state-of-the-art military equipment as a result of Iranian attacks on its regional bases, including a strike on a billion-dollar radar system at the Al-Udeid military base in Qatar.

More than a dozen US military personnel were also killed in the Iranian attack, according to official accounts by the US government, which many suspect is an undercount and could be much higher.

Iranian attacks also caused the US to lose dozens of fighter jets, military planes, and drones.

Iran has indicated that it is ready to resume its attacks on US military and financial assets in the region if Washington decides to break the ceasefire and launch attacks on Iran.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PYONGYANG, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Saturday visited a combined unit under the mechanized infantry division of the Korean People's Army in the western area, on the occasion of the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday.

On the same day, Kim also oversaw a firing contest of mortarmen from light infantry units under large combined units, KCNA said in another report on Sunday.

The DPRK leader extended his warm encouragement to the country's armed forces, and instructed the military force to stage training contests "in a more intensive and competitive way," the KCNA report said. 
US must learn historic lesson from crushing defeats in Tabas and Isfahan: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 2:27 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned the worlds arrogant powers to learn from history, as divine intervention delivered yet another crushing defeat to the United States in Isfahanmuch like its humiliating failure in Tabas 46 years ago.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian commemorated the anniversary of the United States crushing defeat in the Tabas desert in April 1980, when the so-called Operation Eagle Claw to retrieve American spies held in Iran ended in disaster amid unexpected sandstorms.

This day revealed the triumph of the Divine Will over any other will, the president said.

This year, he added, by the grace of God, another Tabas was recorded in southern Isfahan, proving that the God of Tabass sands remains the Guardian of this nation.

The president further warned the aggressors to learn from history, or they will be forced to witness the repetition of such humiliating defeats.

In his remarks, the Iranian president referred to a US operation in early April 2026, which resulted in a crushing defeat as American commando units were swiftly intercepted and neutralized by an immediate engagement from Iranian forces.

The mission, purportedly intended to rescue the pilot of a downed American fighter jet, ended in disaster as Irans Armed Forces managed to destroy two US C-130 transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters near an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan, where US forces attempted a covert landing.

Reports indicate that at least five US military personnel were killed, while others fled the scene in remaining aircraft, leaving behind sensitive equipment and documentation.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US blockade of Iranian ports collective punishment of civilians: Top rights body

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 2:10 PM

Irans High Council for Human Rights has condemned the United States blockade of Iranian ports and the seizure of an Iranian commercial vessel, the Touska, as crimes surpassing maritime piracy and state terrorism, and amounting to collective punishment against millions of Iranian civilians.

In a statement released on Saturday, the council strongly denounced the USs criminal actions in imposing a port blockade and carrying out an armed attack on the Touska in Omani waters.

It said these acts amount to military aggression and a systematic, organized violation of the Iranian peoples most fundamental human rights.

The statement further noted that the US has made deceitful attempts to conceal its crimes by invoking legal and human rights claims against Iran, but asserted that its own actions breach all human, moral, and human rights principles and values.

According to the Iranian body, the blockade of Iranian ports has restricted citizens access to medicine, food, fuel, and other essential goods.

The attack on the Touska and the taking of its crew hostage is a concrete example of the violation of the right to human security, the right to work, and the right to physical and psychological integrity, the statement said.

Citing international law on armed conflicts, the council pointed out that the US action constitutes a gross violation of a ceasefire agreement reached between Iran and the US on April 8, and is a clear example of an act of aggression under Article 3 of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314.

The statement also the US naval military aggression, carried out without adherence to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautionand arbitrarily targeting civilians and non-military infrastructureamounts to a war crime under Article 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The High Council for Human Rights urgently called on international human rights mechanisms and relevant UN bodies to urge the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to formally declare that the port blockade and commercial vessel seizure constitute collective punishment and a violation of the right to livelihood and development.

It further urged the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to recognize the US action in taking the Iranian ships crew hostage as arbitrary detention and contrary to international standards and to call for their immediate release.

The Iranian body also called on the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session to condemn the blockade and emphasize the need to identify perpetrators and hold them accountable.

Additionally, it urged the international community and member states of the International Maritime Organization to explicitly condemn the action, demand full accountability from the US, and insist on compensation for the material and moral damages inflicted on the sailors and their families.

Silence in the face of such crimes will not only exacerbate impunity for aggressors but will also undermine the fundamental norms of human rights, humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict forever, the statement warned.

It added that full responsibility for any further escalation in the region and continued violations of the Iranian peoples human rights lies directly with the US government.

The statement also reiterated that the US and Israel launched an illegal, unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and striking military installations and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and bridges.

According to the council, Iran has since 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 retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4.

It noted that while ceasefire took effect on April 8, Washington has continued to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, a move Tehran considers illegal under international law and a clear violation of the ceasefire.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Araghchi meets Pakistans premier as he conveys Irans views amid stalled talks with US

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 1:29 PM

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Pakistani capital to discuss regional developments, amid efforts by Islamabad to revive stalled talks between Tehran and Washington to end the war.

Senior Pakistani officials Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Army Commander Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and National Security Advisor General Asim Malik, were also present at the meeting.

Islamabad hosted a first round of talks between Tehran and Washington earlier this month days after it mediated a two-week ceasefire that would create room for diplomacy aimed permanently ending the war.

One of the meeting's focal points was the ongoing war, which the US and Israel launched against Iran on February 28. Araghchi conveyed Tehrans perspectives and concerns to the Pakistani mediators.

Prime Minister Sharif hailed the meeting with Irans foreign minister as the most warm, cordial exchange of views on the current regional situation.

We also discussed matters of mutual interest, including the further strengthening of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, he posted on X.

Additionally, discussions focused on regional efforts to enhance peace and stability within the West Asian region.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi held separate talks with Field Marshal Asim Munir, who said the trust Iran has placed in Pakistan as a neighboring Islamic nation facilitated diplomatic talks aimed at storing peace.

Munir also reiterated Pakistan's readiness to continue its mediation efforts to bring about a resolution to the war, emphasizing a mutual desire for stability that benefits not only Iran and Pakistan but the wider West Asian region.

Following the meeting, Araghchi commended Pakistans mediation efforts.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that officials were actively engaged in discussions concerning regional developments.

Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan's role in facilitating talks between Iran and the US to promote peace, reiterating the country's intent to play a constructive role.

He also emphasized that official statements regarding the Iran-US facilitation process, including those made during the meeting, are solely issued through formal government channels to avoid misinformation and misrepresentation.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, no meeting is scheduled between representatives from Tehran and Washington during Araghchis trip to Islamabad.

Iranian officials have said that the illegal US naval blockade or Iranian ports and other violations of the ceasefire are hindering progress in talks.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran's military warns of decisive response if illegal US naval blockade continues

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 12:55 PM

Irans central military command warns that the continued naval piracy, blockade, and banditry by American forces in the region will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian armed forces.

If the aggressive US military continues its blockade, piracy, and maritime banditry in the region, they can be certain that they will face the reaction of Irans powerful armed forces, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in statement on Saturday.

The headquarters emphasized that Irans military possesses greater strength and readiness than before to defend the countrys sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.

It reminded Washington that parts of the US military had already experienced Irans offensive power and capabilities during the latest US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which began on February 28.

The statement further declared the countrys resolve to monitor enemy movements in the region while maintaining full control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

We are ready and determined to inflict even more severe losses on American-Zionist aggressors in the event of any new violation, the statement added.

Tensions have been running high over a so-called naval blockade the US has enforced on Iranian ports and ships as well as American attempts to conduct mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials have said the blockade is unlawful and a breach of a two-ceasefire ceasefire that took effect on April 8 and was again unilaterally extended by US President Doland Trump hours before it was set to expire on April 22.

Iran says it will not accept diktats or conditions imposed by the United States and will not negotiate under the shadow of threats.

President Masound Pezeshkian said this week that the illegal blockade and breach of commitments by the US are the main obstacles in reviving talks with Washington aimed at ending the war.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel dragged US into war against Iran, State Department confirms

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 11:26 AM

The US Department of State has admitted that Washington entered a war of aggression against Iran on behalf of the Israeli regime.

In a government release written earlier this week, the departments legal adviser, Reed Rubinstein, detailed how the US is engaged in this conflict at the request of its Israeli ally.

The release cited multiple letters issued by the agency to the UN Security Council (UNSC) as evidence of the apparent connection.

The candid admission directly contradicts the White House and US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly insisted that Israel had nothing to do with his decision to spark another unpopular war in West Asia.

Trump has constantly complained online about the circling narrative, claiming on the social media platform Truth Social that Israel never talked me into the war with Iran.

US involvement in the war of aggression against Iran was reportedly arranged following a February 11 meeting between Trump, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and several US and Israeli officials in the White House Situation Room.

It was reportedly Netanyahus direct influence and the ensuing pressure campaign that thrust America into the war.

US military commanders advised Trump that components of Netanyahus plan to attack Iran were farcical, but by that point, Trump had already been inspired to begin the aggression.

It is likely that Netanyahu continues to hold the reins.

Last month, Trump told The Times of Israel that the decision to end the Iran war will be a mutual decision he makes with the Israeli leader, though Israel has not made peace negotiations easy, repeatedly defying fragile ceasefire arrangements by relentlessly bombing its regional neighbors.

The war has significantly increased the cost of living for people around the world and agitated international relations, particularly between the US and its longtime allies in the Western Hemisphere.

It has cost American taxpayers more than $1 billion per day (the current total is estimated at more than $60 billion) and sparked a political rejection of MAGA (Make America Great Again) ideology across the US as the American public becomes more and more disillusioned with its increasingly infirm, unstable, and volatile president.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression against Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

Furthermore, Iran retaliated against the strikes by closing the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in a significant increase in oil prices and its by-products.

On April 8, Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Irans 10-point proposal.

A high-ranking delegation from Iran led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf participated in the negotiations with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.

Despite 21 hours of intensive discussions, the negotiations ended without an agreement, with Iran citing excessive demands from the US side.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lift an illegal blockade it has imposed on Iranian vessels and ports.

Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran arrests veteran Mossad spy, separatist terrorists in nationwide operations

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 9:54 AM

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence has announced the arrest of a veteran spy working for the Israeli regime, along with 15 members of separatist terrorist groups, following operations in different provinces.

According to a statement released on Saturday, in Ilam Province, a veteran Mossad spy was arrested who had been collecting and sending intelligence to the Israeli spy agency and later, on the orders of his handler, began collaborating with monarchist groups.

In Sistan and Baluchestan Province, an operational member of a separatist terrorist group was detained who had received training in a neighboring country before entering Iran to carry out attacks near Zahedan.

In Gilan Province, a three-member terrorist cell was arrested along with a homemade mortar launcher found in their hideout.

In Lorestan Province, a cell consisting of two men and one woman was detained. They had received cryptocurrency payments from their group and built several bombs targeting two county governors' offices.

In West Azerbaijan Province, nine operatives linked to separatist terrorist groups were arrested while planning attacks in line with American-Israeli enemy schemes.

The Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also announced in a statement released on Saturday the identification and destruction of several teams affiliated with anti-revolutionary groups operating in the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah.

The IRGC Intelligence Organization said these teams were supported by the United States and the Israeli regime and had been seeking to prepare the ground for an enemy military attack on Iran from the west.

Authorities arrested eleven individuals, while one suspect was neutralized. Security forces also seized eight RPG launchers and over two thousand rounds of related ammunition.

In a separate intelligence operation, IRGC forces struck a base belonging to a terrorist group in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, discovering ninety bomb detonators, eighteen hand grenades, five mortar shells, 1,253 rounds of various types of ammunition, six rifle grenades, and radio communication devices.

The IRGC Intelligence Organization in Kermanshah province conducted covert operations resulting in the identification and arrest of 155 agents linked to anti-revolutionary groups.

In Kermanshah, 144 individuals were arrested across several teams on charges of illegal arms trafficking, with seventeen weapons and 1,200 rounds of ammunition confiscated.

Furthermore, four spies linked to the Mossad were arrested. Authorities discovered significant quantities of weapons, shotgun pellets, gunpowder, detonators, equipment, and devices used in manufacturing shotgun cartridges.

Finally, seven separatist elements actively involved in manufacturing improvised explosive devices and purchasing illegal weapons targeting government and military facilities were identified and arrested.

The arrests come after the US and Israels latest bout of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic that began in late February.

Authorities emphasized the importance of public vigilance, noting that prompt reporting of suspicious activities to the police emergency center helps prevent any destructive activity and actions aimed at sowing insecurity.

The country's intelligence bodies and law enforcement forces have detained numerous subversive elements amid the aggression, while the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces have confronted the aggressors with waves of decisive and successful retaliatory strikes.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Irans judiciary chief warns US defeats in Isfahan, Tabas will be repeated in Persian Gulf

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 8:06 AM

Irans judiciary chief has warned that Washington lacks the capability to impose a naval siege on the Islamic Republic, vowing that the historic defeats of American forces at Tabas and Isfahan will be repeated in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

In a post on his X account on Saturday, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei wrote that April 25, the anniversary of the humiliating defeat of US military personnel in Tabas, now carries a different meaning for the people of Islamic Iran.

The reference to Tabas pertains to Operation Eagle Claw, the failed US military mission in April 1980 to retrieve American detainees in Tehran, which ended in a desert sandstorm collision that killed eight US troops.

The defeated enemy commandos, in the recent war, were brought down this time in Isfahan and suffered a heavy and instructive defeat at the hands of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ejei stated.

In a stunning display of coordinated defensive warfare, Iranian forces, combining the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), police commando units, Basij resistance fighters, and regular army elements, destroyed two American C-130 transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters in southern Isfahan province during the US-Israeli aggression.

Images of burning wreckage, geolocated and verified by Press TV, circulated across global platforms, drawing immediate and unavoidable comparisons to Operation Eagle Claw.

The Americans should know that they do not have the capability to impose a naval siege on Iran either; Isfahan and Tabas will be repeated once again in the waters of the Persian Gulf, he added.

Tensions have been running high over a so-called naval blockade the US has enforced on Iranian ports.

Iranian officials have said the blockade is unlawful and a breach of the ceasefire.

Iran says it will not accept diktats or conditions imposed by the United States and will not negotiate under the shadow of threats.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran yet to deploy 'significant' portion of its missile capability: Defense Ministry

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 April 2026 2:21 AM

The Defense Ministry says a significant portion of Irans missile capabilities remains unused, while highlighting the domestic production of over 1,000 types of weapons throughout the country.

Spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik made the remarks on Saturday, praising the current high level of the country's defensive and retaliatory readiness, despite its heavy engagement until April 7 against all-out unlawful aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime.

He noted how, throughout the aggression and as part of their retaliatory operations, the country's Armed Forces maintained dominance over the skies of the occupied territories.

The official hailed that the weapons currently being manufactured nationwide enjoyed a thoroughly indigenous production line.

"This capacity is the result of more than 25 years of investment and preparation in the defense industry, to the extent that even if some facilities are damaged, the process of production and support continues across the countrys geographical expanse," he added.

"In this process, around 9,000 companies are cooperating with the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense."

Talaei-Nik said the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which the Islamic Republic has closed to all traffic in retaliation for continuation of an illegal American blockade, "has become a lever of control for realizing the demands of the Iranian nation."

Exercising the closure, the Armed Forces have so far made enemy forces retreat in the Gulf of Oman on repeated occasions by implementing smart and thorough control over the chokehold, he stated.

The spokesman, meanwhile, commended the millions-strong widespread rallies that have been staged nationwide in support of the country's Islamic establishment as a "social miracle."

He noted that more than 30 million people had so far registered with a countrywide campaign voicing readiness to stand strongly in defense of the nation in the face of the adversaries.

This, he said, represents an unprecedented example of mass mobilization in the world that has thwarted the enemies' efforts at dividing the nation's ranks.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran, US Delegations Head To Islamabad As Mixed Signals Cloud Prospects For Talks

By RFE/RL April 25, 2026

Iran's foreign minister has arrived in Islamabad as the United States prepares to dispatch senior envoys to Pakistan for what Washington described as a new round of negotiations to end the Iran war, even as Tehran publicly denied any meeting with American officials was planned.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi landed in the Pakistani capital in the early hours of April 25, framing his visit in a post on X as a "timely tour" to coordinate on "bilateral matters" with Pakistani officials before proceeding to Oman and Russia.

"Our neighbors are our priority," said Araqchi, who is leading the delegation. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led the first round of talks with the US in Pakistan on April 11-12, has not traveled to Islamabad.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was more explicit, posting on X that "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US," and that Tehran's positions would be "conveyed to Pakistan" rather than delivered directly to American negotiators.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB on April 25 said Araqchi will meet with Field Marshal Asim Munir to convey Iran's response to his proposal for a deal with the US. The response, IRIB said without elaborating, "is comprehensive and takes into account all of Tehran's considerations."

Witkoff, Kushner Heading To Pakistan

Washington told a different story. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad on April 25 for what she described as "direct talks, intermediated by the Pakistanis" with the Iranian delegation.

Leavitt said Iran had itself requested the in-person conversation and that the administration had "seen some progress from the Iranian side in the last couple of days." Vice President JD Vance, who led the US team during the first round of Islamabad talks, will not travel this weekend but remains ready to fly to the Pakistani capital, she said.

"Everyone will be on standby to fly to Pakistan if necessary," Leavitt said.

Iran has conditioned its return to the negotiating table on the lifting of a US naval blockade of its ports, a demand Trump has so far rejected. Tehran has also dismissed Trump's unilateral extension of the cease-fire as "meaningless" so long as the blockade remains in effect.

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have sharpened in recent days, with Iran seizing two vessels and firing on a third after the US captured an Iranian-flagged ship.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us- pakistan-peace-talks/33742216.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Behnam Ben Taleblu: Russia-Iran Partnership Is 'Reshaping Modern Warfare'

By Alex Raufoglu April 25, 2026

WASHINGTON-- Iran's war effort extends beyond the Middle East. By supplying Russia with drones and enabling its long-range strikes in Ukraine, Tehran has already become an active participant in a major war on European soil -- a development that analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says represents a critical turning point in both Iran's confrontation with the West and the broader alignment of authoritarian powers.

In testimony before the Helsinki Commission earlier this week, Taleblu warned that this alignment reflects more than tactical coordination. The commission is an independent congressional agency that monitors human rights and security cooperation across Europe and Eurasia. While countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea differ in ideology and political systems, Taleblu argued they are increasingly bound by shared traits -- repression at home and revisionist ambitions abroad.

In an interview with RFE/RL on April 24, Taleblu outlined how the Russia-Iran partnership has evolved from pragmatic cooperation into what he calls a "transformational" relationship -- one that is reshaping modern warfare and linking conflicts from Ukraine's front lines to instability across the Middle East.

RFE/RL: You have described a burgeoning "Axis of Aggressors" comprising Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. How coordinated is this grouping in practice, and should it be understood as a formal alliance or a looser alignment?

Behnam Ben Taleblu: I think we in the West are spoiled by the definition of an alliance, particularly after World War II, when allies look alike and talk alike. But the real definition of an ally, or at least a partner -- particularly in the old world and for many thousands of years -- has really just been two countries or two actors shooting in the same direction for a sustained period of time.

That is a partnership, that is an alliance, and that defines the shared interest of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran to work together more. There are lots of things that divide these countries -- from politics to ideology to different systems -- but what unites them is that they are a constellation of anti-American actors who are authoritarian at home and predatory abroad, and they have revisionist intentions.

Increasingly, what we are seeing in the world is that they are more willing to coordinate these days than ever before. And even when they do not coordinate, they intonate -- they learn from one another, and they draw on capabilities different actors have tested in other theaters.

The willingness of at least some of these actors -- Russia and China, Russia and Iran -- to be more directly involved in each other's conflicts is a very troubling sign for foreign policy ahead, especially for countries that consider themselves pro-stability and pro-status quo.

RFE/RL: Focusing now specifically on the Russia-Iran dynamic -- given the historically complicated and often uneasy relationship between these two countries -- what makes this current phase, which you describe as "transformational," different from earlier periods of cooperation? What has changed?

Taleblu: In my view, in the post-Cold War period, we saw the Islamic republic, after the Iran-Iraq War, turn to Russia to rebuild its conventional military capabilities, as well as to grow its missile and nuclear programs.

But as much as the Islamic republic has looked to evolve from a junior partner to a full partner of Russia and China, they have selectively used the Islamic republic to push back on the Western alliance system.

The turning point came, in my view, sometime after the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal) experience, and much more importantly amid the Syrian civil war and then following that into the Ukraine crisis.

RFE/RL: Speaking of Ukraine, you argue that Iran is effectively participating in the war through its provision of drones and other systems. How significant has that support been on the battlefield?

Taleblu: There is no doubt in my mind that Ukraine is the real turning point. The conscious choice by the Islamic republic to downplay its historical differences with Russia and to emphasize similarities based on shared adversaries is what made this relationship move from transactional to transformational.

That support has enabled Russian long-range strike capabilities -- that is really what Iran has been doing in the Ukrainian theater for some time.

As you know, Russia uses drones in layered attacks to kill not just European civilians but also to strike European critical infrastructure and civilian infrastructure. Drones allow Putin to conserve more expensive and more powerful long-range strike assets like missiles.

It also allows him to maintain cheaper long-range strike options to erode the will of Ukraine -- and the will of the West -- to stay in the fight.

That military relationship, that material support, coupled with sanctions-busting assistance and enabling of the Russian "ghost fleet," marks a major shift, in my view, in Iran-Russia relations.

RFE/RL: Beyond sustaining Russia's war effort, is Iran also influencing how Russia fights?

Taleblu: Certainly, when it comes to drone production, the Iranians have helped with Russia's ability to produce one-way attack drones on Russian territory.

The Russians have copied not just the Shahed-136 but also more advanced variants, marking a shift toward systems with improved navigation, anti-jamming capacity, and even jet propulsion rather than conventional propellers.

This reflects not just assistance, but adaptation -- and that is what makes this relationship more dangerous over time.

RFE/RL: On the other side of the relationship, Russia's support for Iran appears more complex and sometimes less visible. What forms of assistance from Moscow are most concerning right now?

Taleblu: Part of the limitation may be about avoiding Western red lines. A big part is also that Russia is unlikely to transfer systems it urgently needs for its own war in Ukraine.

Another factor is that, given the relatively poor military capacity of the Islamic republic compared to powers like Israel or the United States, Russia may not want its hardware to be destroyed quickly in a conflict.

So there is a cocktail of reasons -- including mistrust -- limiting the level of direct military transfers. But in a world where Russia is providing satellite imagery and assistance with targeting, it is still able to support the Islamic republic.

If we look at the broader picture -- cash, gold, captured Western weapons, cyber support, intelligence assistance, and now targeting -- it becomes a powerful and lethal mix of support.

When you combine that with political backing at the United Nations and other international organizations, it is clear why Iran believes the risk of this partnership is worth the reward.

RFE/RL: You mentioned satellite cooperation and missile development. How close does Russian assistance bring Iran to achieving a true intercontinental ballistic missile capability?

Taleblu: That remains an open question. We do not know the full extent of Russia's involvement in Iran's space program, particularly when it comes to space launch vehicle capabilities.

However, it was significant enough for the US intelligence community to raise concerns in 2023, after just one year of Iranian material support to Russia.

The fact that Russia has helped put multiple Iranian satellites into low Earth orbit also means it is assisting Iran in building a militarily applicable space architecture -- even though Tehran claims these systems are for research or civilian purposes.

RFE/RL: To what extent is Russia learning from Iran -- particularly in areas like sanctions evasion and drone warfare? Is this becoming a two-way exchange that strengthens both sides?

Taleblu: Yes, this is increasingly a two-way exchange.

Iran has long experience with sanctions evasion, including the use of "ghost fleets," and Russia is clearly benefiting from that playbook.

At the same time, cooperation in drone production and battlefield tactics shows how both sides are learning from each other and adapting capabilities tested in different conflicts.

RFE/RL: Looking ahead, there is the looming shadow of Tehran's nuclear program. Your testimony suggested Russia may be shifting from acting as Iran's "lawyer" at the UN to playing a more active role in its nuclear ambitions. Do you think Moscow would tolerate --or even assist -- a nuclear-armed Iran?

Taleblu: The choice for Moscow is not as zero-sum as it appears. Turning its back on the West does not automatically mean Russia will enable the Islamic republic of Iran to become a nuclear power.

For many years, that has been a concern of Russia -- to prevent the Islamic republic from becoming too strong and threatening its own interests, whether in the Caucasus, Central Asia, or the Caspian basin.

But the more tension Moscow has with the West, the more likely it may be to turn its back on global nonproliferation norms -- the norms that are increasingly under strain and increasingly in jeopardy.

RFE/RL: If the bond is tightening, the West must look for the seams. Given this trajectory, you've argued that the US should exploit "fault lines" in the relationship. Where do you see those vulnerabilities, and how could Washington act on them?

Taleblu: Those cracks remain in the mistrust that not just both countries have, but more importantly both polities and populations have of one another.

There is a lot that US-supported international media can do to emphasize that history and highlight those differences in reporting. More importantly, policymakers should put the relationship in a bright light -- exposing cooperation whenever it occurs -- to increase the political cost for both countries.

That may not prevent the relationship, but it can slow-roll it in the end.

RFE/RL: Finally, is this still a marriage of convenience, or are Russia and Iran becoming strategically bound for the long term? What is the single most urgent step Washington should take?

Taleblu: Even marriages of convenience, no matter how long they last, can be important. The question is whether the West can do something to make them less impactful.

For me, the terminology is less important than the practice. An alliance is not just what the West has with itself -- it is two actors willing to shoot in the same direction for a sustained period of time.

Here, it is not just strategy, but values -- these countries are anti-American, authoritarian at home, and predatory abroad. So even if this is temporary, I am worried about the impact that it can have.

In terms of what Washington should do, I would say twofold: continue highlighting the historical mistrust between these countries and consistently expose their cooperation at the highest political levels to raise the costs of that relationship.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/behnam-ben-taleblu- russia-iran-partnership-ukraine-war/33742291.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The total number of people killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since early March has risen to 2,509, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said on Sunday.

The ministry added that at least 7,755 people have been wounded since March 2, as the conflict continues to take a heavy toll on the country despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Sunday that its attacks are a legitimate response to repeated Israeli ceasefire violations, warning that continued strikes or the occupation of Lebanese land would be met with resistance.

"Continued violations of the ceasefire, attacks, destruction of homes, targeting of civilians, or the continued occupation of Lebanese territory will be met with response and resistance," the group said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of undermining the ceasefire, saying Israel had "freedom of action not only to respond to strikes, but to thwart immediate threats, and also to thwart emerging threats," based on "rules that we have agreed with the United States and with Lebanon."

Hezbollah rejected that claim, saying Lebanon is not party to any such arrangement and has neither approved nor endorsed it.

It also said any extension of the truce was meant to secure a genuine ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, but that Israel had instead escalated its military actions.

The developments came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire would be extended by three weeks. 
Trump Cancels Witkoff and Kushner's Trip to Pakistan for Talks With Iran

Sputnik News

20260425

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had canceled the trip of special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran.

"I said, 'nope, you are not making 18-hour flight to go there. We have all the cards,'' Trump was quoted as saying by Fox News.

At the same time, the US remains open to negotiations with Iran, Trump said.

"You are not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing," the president added.

Trump said that the cancellation of the trip by Witkoff and Kushner did not mean a resumption of US attacks, Axios reported.

The US president also said that there is "infighting and confusion" within Iran's leadership, while the trip would have required significant time and effort.

"'Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!" Trump said on Truth Social.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended without result. While no resumption of hostilities was announced, the US began a blockade of Iranian ports. Mediators are attempting to organize a new round of talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Pakistan, which is mediating between Tehran and Washington, on Friday. Witkoff and Kushner were expected to travel there on Saturday. The Iranian delegation, according to some reports, has already left Pakistan.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran Rules Out US Meeting in Islamabad, Rejects Media Reports

Sputnik News

20260425

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Pakistan for talks with senior officials, as part of Islamabad's mediation efforts to end an American-imposed war of aggression and restore peace in the region.

He stressed that no meeting is planned between Iran and the United States, adding that Iran's positions will instead be conveyed to the Pakistani side.

The statement comes after US media reports suggested a possible meeting in Islamabad between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US representatives, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Tehran has dismissed such reports as unfounded, reiterating that no direct talks with Washington are scheduled.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistani PM reaffirms commitment to regional peace in call with Iranian president

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Apr 26, 2026 07:28 AM

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, reaffirming Pakistan's firm commitment to regional peace and security, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

During the conversation, the two leaders exchanged detailed views on the current regional situation and ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability, the statement added.

Sharif said that Pakistan would continue its efforts to promote regional peace and security, according to the statement.

The prime minister appreciated the participation of a high-level Iranian delegation in talks held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, and welcomed Iran's decision to send another delegation led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, which held important meetings in the Pakistani capital earlier in the day.

He also shared an overview of his recent diplomatic outreach to several world leaders, noting that these engagements had helped build a broader consensus in support of sustained dialogue and diplomacy aimed at achieving lasting peace in the conflict-affected region.

For his part, Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for Pakistan's contributions to ongoing peace efforts, the statement added.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trump Cancels Witkoff And Kushner Trip To Pakistan For Peace Talks

By RFE/RL April 25, 2026 10:13 CET Updated April 26, 2026

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump has canceled a planned trip to Pakistan by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for peace talks with Iran.

"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians," Trump said on April 25 after a US official had confirmed to RFE/RL that the trip had been called off.

"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.'"

Trump was quoted afterwards by Axios as saying in a brief interview that canceling the trip did not automatically mean war with Iran would restart.

"No. It doesn't mean that. We haven't thought about it yet," he told Axios.

The comments come after Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi held what he called a "timely tour" to the Pakistani capital on April 25 to coordinate on "bilateral matters" with Pakistani officials before proceeding to Oman and Russia.

Several media outlets have reported that Araqchi and his delegation had left Islamabad.

Later Iranian media reported that the foreign minister would return to Islamabad following his trip to Oman and before heading on to Russia. One report said that part of Araqchi's delegation had returned to Tehran for instructions and then would rejoin the foreign minister in Pakistan.

Iran has conditioned its return to the negotiating table on the lifting of a US naval blockade of its ports, a demand Trump has so far rejected. Tehran has also dismissed Trump's unilateral extension of the cease-fire as "meaningless" so long as the blockade remains in effect.

"Our neighbors are our priority," said Araqchi, who is leading the delegation. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led the first round of talks with the US in Pakistan on April 11-12, has not traveled to Islamabad.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was more explicit, posting on X that "no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US," and that Tehran's positions would be "conveyed to Pakistan" rather than delivered directly to American negotiators.

Araqchi met with Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and separately with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, though no details of the latter meeting have emerged.

In his talks with Munir, Araqchi conveyed Iran's "views and considerations for ending the war" as well as its reservations about US demands, according to Reuters, which cited an unnamed Pakistani source involved in the talks.

Iranian state media said Araqchi and Munir also discussed the latest cease-fire developments and cooperation to "strengthen peace and stability" in the region. Munir expressed gratitude for Iran's trust in Pakistan and pledged to continue mediation efforts "until a result is achieved."

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have sharpened in recent days, with Iran seizing two vessels and firing on a third after the US captured an Iranian-flagged ship.

The Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which serves as Iran's joint military command, warned on April 25 that it would respond if the United States continued its blockade.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-pakistan- peace-talks/33742216.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israel MOD Delivers IAI's BARAK MX to Slovak Armed Forces

Israel Ministry of Defense

23/4/2026

Under the 560 million euro agreement signed in 2024, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), through its Defense Export Directorate (SIBAT), together with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), announced today the delivery of the BARAK MX air-defense system to the Slovak Air Force.

This delivery, which was completed ahead of schedule and includes training and operational readiness, marks a significant enhancement in Slovakia's ability to defend its airspace against the full spectrum of modern aerial threats, from UAVs and fighter aircraft to cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, while further reinforcing NATO's collective security architecture. It reflects growing global demand for advanced, reliable, and rapidly deployable solutions, and includes meaningful collaboration with the Slovak industry, driving local production, technology transfer, and economic growth.

The BARAK MX is a multi-layered air-defense system engineered for land, naval, and mobile deployment. Its three advanced interceptors, with ranges of 35 km, 70 km, and 150 km, feature advanced warheads, enabling precise, simultaneous interception of multiple threats in complex operational environments. At the core of the system is an advanced integration of multi-mission radars (MMRs) that provides detection, classification, and tracking capabilities.

Israel Defense Minister, Israel Katz: "The delivery of this system is a further demonstration of the strength of Israel's defense industry and our ability to provide our allies with advanced solutions to a wide range of threats. The recent war has proven beyond any doubt the effectiveness of Israeli systems on the battlefield - driving a significant surge in global demand for our defense solutions. This system will meaningfully strengthen Slovakia's defense capabilities - and we are already seeing growing interest from additional countries, with further significant agreements expected to be signed in the near future. This agreement is not only a defense achievement - it is also an engine for industrial cooperation, knowledge transfer, and the cultivation of local production capabilities, deepening the bonds between our nations and reinforcing Israel's standing as a key partner on the international stage."

IMOD Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram: "The delivery of the BARAK MX to Slovakia is a testament to the depth of the strategic relationship between our two countries. Israeli defense exports are a central tool for the IDF's force build-up, shaping our foreign policy, and strengthening our economy and industry. The integration of these capabilities in Europe, in full alignment with NATO standards, underscores the operational superiority of Israel's defense industry and will support us in advancing further agreements."

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Robert Kalinak: "The first battery of the BARAK MX system has already been deployed at an undisclosed location. The system is currently being brought into operation, with full operational readiness expected in the coming weeks. This process also includes the ongoing training of Slovak soldiers and the arrival of foreign experts. Additional components of this system are arriving and will continue to arrive throughout the year."

IAI CEO and President, Boaz Levy: "When the Slovak Ministry of Defense decided to choose the BARAK MX integrated air-defense system, it was an expression of confidence in the system's advanced technological superiority. Since the agreement was signed, close cooperation with our Slovak partners has enabled rapid adaptation to operational requirements, resulting in delivery and training completion on schedule. After completing a long series of theoretical and practical training sessions for the soldiers of the Slovak Armed Forces who will operate the system, I am confident that the Slovak Army will soon be deploying the BARAK MX to ensure protection of the country's skies from a variety of threats."

Director of SIBAT, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Yair Kulas: "This delivery underscores the strength of Israel's defense export capabilities and our commitment to supporting allied nations. The cooperation with Slovakia demonstrates how advanced Israeli technologies, combined with close partnership and industrial collaboration, can deliver operational excellence in accelerated timelines while contributing to regional and alliance-wide security. We are confident this cooperation will continue to evolve."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






OSCE Secretary General visits Kazakhstan, reaffirms commitment to effective partnership and regional co-operation

Date: 24 April 2026

Source: OSCE Secretary General

ASTANA, 24 April 2026 -- OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioglu concluded an official visit to Kazakhstan today, reaffirming the Organization's strong commitment to supporting the country's priorities and strengthening regional co-operation across Central Asia.

The Secretary General attended the Regional Ecological Summit convened by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. On the sidelines of the Summit, Secretary General Sinirlioglu hosted the high-level meeting "Regional Cooperation on Climate Resilience in Central Asia" with Central Asian Ministers and Heads of Environmental State Institutions, where he discussed options for strengthening regional co-operation on climate resilience.

During his visit to Astana, the Secretary General met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev as well as Prosecutor General Berik Assylov.

Discussions focused on the OSCE's long-standing partnership with Kazakhstan, its contribution to the Organization, and common approaches to shared environmental issues in the region, as well as joint security challenges facing the OSCE region across the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human rights related pillars of security.

"This visit reflects a partnership that stretches back to 1992, when Kazakhstan joined the OSCE as a participating State. Over more than three decades we have built a partnership that is broad, deep, and grounded in shared priorities," said the Secretary General. "Conversations throughout my visit have underlined the importance of sustained regional co-operation as the only effective response to common challenges, such as the ecological priorities we discussed during the Regional Ecological Summit. The OSCE stands ready to support this work."

The Secretary General also met with civil society representatives and visited the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, where he met with staff and commended the team for their commitment and work in advancing the Organization's co-operation with the host country and contributing effectively to all three pillars of security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Arctic of Strategic Importance for Russia's Economic Development - Putin

Sputnik News

20260423

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Arctic is of strategic importance for Russia's economic development and the protection of its sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"I have repeatedly noted the special strategic importance of this region for our country, for the domestic economy, for building Russia's industrial potential, for ensuring national security, and for protecting our sovereignty," Putin said during a meeting with members of the Russian government.

Putin also emphasized the growing global role of the Arctic, including in terms of sustainable supply chains.

Russia is strengthening its Arctic logistics network and will protect its interests in the region, Putin said, adding that Russia is ready to cooperate in the Arctic with all interested countries.

The northern Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is one of the safest, most reliable and effective routes, Putin said.

"The importance of the northern Trans-Arctic route as the safest, most reliable and efficient one is becoming more and more obvious against the background of disruptions in global transport chains due to numerous conflicts, including, as we are now seeing, in the Middle East," Putin said during a meeting with members of the Russian government.

Other Statements

Putin said, commenting on Internet access restrictions in major cities, that in the event of a terrorist threat public safety is always a priority.

"Of course, if this [Internet restrictions] is related to operational work to prevent terrorist attacks  and we know that unfortunately, we sometimes miss such attacks  and, of course, ensuring the safety of people will always be a priority  our children, loved ones, every Russian citizen," Putin said at a meeting with members of the Russian government.

Work is underway to prevent terrorist attacks and widespread awareness of possible restrictions can harm operational activities, the president added.

"We need to work out a mechanism for the uninterrupted operation of vital support services. Today, as we know, even in mobile phones, emergency calls are available to users in the absence of funds in their accounts. In the case of the mobile Internet, you need to organize work in the same way," Putin said.

Putin added that it is important to inform citizens when imposing restrictions on Internet access.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia Raises Alarm Over NATO Drills Aiming to Strangle Kaliningrad Region

Sputnik News

20260423

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Western countries are rehearsing scenarios for a naval blockade and the seizure of the Kaliningrad region during the Joint Expeditionary Force exercises, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik.

"NATO is purposefully pursuing a path of mounting confrontation in this part of Europe... The activity of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, whose tasks include rapid response in the Far North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea areas, is growing," he emphasized.

In January, former Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Darius Jurgelevicius boasted that the alliance has a ready-made scenario for a blockade of Kaliningrad in the event of a direct clash with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that a potential blockade of the Kaliningrad region would lead to an unprecedented escalation, and that all threats to the region would be eliminated

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU adopts 20th sanctions package against Russia

Government Offices of Sweden

Press release from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 24 April 2026

The EU's 20th package of sanctions includes comprehensive measures that hit the Russian economy, including Russia's energy revenues and the shadow fleet. The package also includes measures against sanctions evasion, crypto services and access to sensitive technology used on the battlefield.

"Now the EU Member States have finally been able to agree on a 20th sanctions package against Russia. In recent months, Sweden has pushed for fresh sanctions to be introduced as soon as possible. Now, work on a 21st sanctions package needs to begin immediately, with even tougher measures against Russian energy exports, such as a ban on providing services to all ships leaving Russian ports with oil, gas or coal," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.

The sanctions package introduces more measures to limit the Russian shadow fleet, including a transaction ban covering more Russian oil ports and refineries in third countries involved in the evasion of EU sanctions. A further 43 ships that are part of the Russian shadow fleet have also been added to the sanctions list. The sanctions package paves the way for the EU to adopt a maritime services ban to replace the oil price cap that was introduced in December 2022.

It also introduces a ban on offering Russian operators terminal services for liquefied natural gas (LNG) from 1 January 2027. Furthermore, the package includes new requirements to ensure that tankers from the EU are not sold on to Russian operators or for use in Russia to transport oil. It imposes a ban on the provision of services to Russian-flagged, Russian-owned or Russian-managed LNG vessels and icebreakers involved in Russian energy exports.

For the first time, the EU's anti-circumvention tool, which prohibits the export of certain goods to third countries, is also being used. New export restrictions are therefore being introduced to limit Russia's access to advanced technology. The sanctions target an additional 60 companies in Russia and third countries based on their support of the Russian military industry.

Furthermore, additional financial institutions have been added to the list of entities subject to a transaction ban, including institutions in third countries. The package also expands measures targeting sanctions evasion via crypto-assets.

In addition, the sanctions package includes measures linked to Belarus' support for Russia's aggression.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






'Museums' To Ukraine Invasion Open In Schools Across Moscow

By Amos Chapple April 24, 2026

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has touted the creation of 175 "museums" to the invasion of Ukraine inside schools in the Russian capital.

Sobyanin said in a social media post on April 23 that the museums will "help young Muscovites better understand the modern history of their homeland and its heroes."

The stated number of 175 Moscow schools and colleges that now have invasion museums represents some 8 percent of all such educational facilities in the Russian capital. As recently as March 2024, RFE/RL's Russian Service identified just two schools in Moscow with museums to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Classroom exhibits glorifying the ongoing invasion and memorializing former students killed in Ukraine began appearing in schools in 2023 after a directive from the Kremlin in February that year. Until recently, however, such displays were largely limited to towns and villages in poorer regions of Russia where aggressive military recruitment has made the war a part of everyday life.

A teacher who spoke to RFE/RL's Russian Service in 2024 said exhibits featuring war memorabilia from Ukraine "are shown to schoolchildren in towns where many people are mobilized or where they're still raking in contract soldiers by luring them with big money."

The educator, who asked not to be named, added that unlike the smaller Russian towns where genuine enthusiasm for the war was more likely to be drummed up, "in the capital and larger cities people are probably more sceptical and rebellious."

The drive to open military museums in Moscow's schools comes as reports emerge from Russia of universities being coopted by the Kremlin for military recruitment.

Students have complained of facing "colossal" pressure from their universities to sign up for the army since around the beginning of 2026. Offers of some $58,000for a one-year contract and free tuition are reportedly being made during meetings with military recruiters that are organized by the universities.

Higher-learning facilities in Russia had long been viewed a safe haven from military recruiters.

Images of the Moscow school museums that were released along with Sobyanin's social media post show displays echoing many of the historical talking points used by the Kremlin to justify its ongoing invasion.

One school museum shows a map of Ukraine divided into various chunks of land, listing the Soviet and Tsarist leaders who "gifted" the territories to Kyiv.

A teacher in St. Petersburg told RFE/RL's Russian Service that the school exhibits are more likely to generate awkwardness than support for the war.

"The problem is that teenagers develop cynicism. They've already realized that their elders routinely lie, yet they have to play this game."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-invasion- moscow-school-war-museums/33741672.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Myanmar's new President U Min Aung Hlaing meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Guangtao)

NAY PYI TAW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's new President U Min Aung Hlaing met Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, here on Saturday.

Noting that Myanmar consistently regards its relationship with China as the most important bilateral tie, U Min Aung Hlaing emphasized that Myanmar stays committed to the one-China principle and highly appreciates and actively supports the China-proposed four global initiatives.

The new Myanmar government expects to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, advance the construction of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and work together to maintain border peace and stability, while continuously deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, the president said.

Myanmar will never allow any activities that harm China's interests within its borders, and will continue to intensify its crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Myanmar, he added.

For his part, Wang stressed that China's policy toward Myanmar remains consistent. China firmly supports Myanmar in following a successful development path that suits its national conditions and is supported by its people; firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; and firmly supports Myanmar in achieving national peace, reconciliation and social harmony, he said.

Wang also noted that building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future perfectly aligns with the development and revitalization needs of both countries and serves the fundamental interests of both peoples, urging both sides to unswervingly follow this path.

China is willing to cooperate with Myanmar to resolutely and thoroughly eradicate online gambling and telecom fraud, he noted. China will also support Myanmar's participation in more dialogue and cooperation mechanisms and the enhancement of its interaction with ASEAN, Wang added. 

Myanmar's new President U Min Aung Hlaing meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, April 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Guangtao)
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's welcoming address to the participants of the 50th session of the Joint Verification Group for the Implementation of the 1996 Shanghai Agreement and the 1997 Moscow Agreement

24 April 2026 19:52

659-24-04-2026

I am pleased to welcome the participants of the 50th anniversary session of the Joint Verification Group for the Implementation of the Agreements on Strengthening Military Confidence in the Border Area (1996) and on the Mutual Reduction of Armed Forces in the Border Area (1997), between the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the People's Republic of China, also known as the Shanghai and Moscow Agreements.

The implementation of these documents has contributed to maintaining peace in the border regions and to strengthening friendship, good-neighbourly relations, and comprehensive cooperation among the participating countries. They have provided a model for the successful resolution of sensitive border and defence issues between neighbouring states, based on the principles of equal security, mutual respect and trust, and the rejection of unilateral military superiority.

The Shanghai and Moscow Agreements laid the foundation for the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Today, the SCO serves as a pillar of the security architecture and practical cooperation in Eurasia, and as a crucial element of the emerging multipolar world order.

I am confident that this meeting of the Group will be held in its traditionally constructive spirit and will be substantive in nature. We highly value your efforts to ensure oversight of weapons levels and military activities in the border area, to expand friendly exchanges between the armed forces and border services of the participating countries, and to strengthen security and stability in our shared region.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Russian and foreign colleagues who are being awarded the Russian Foreign Ministry's For Cooperation badge today.

I wish you success and all the best.

SERGEY LAVROV

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia-China Military Cooperation Becoming Increasingly Important - Russian Defense Minister

Sputnik News

20260423

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Bilateral military cooperation between Russia and China is becoming increasingly important in the context of the constantly changing military and political situation, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Belousov held talks with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, who is in Russia on an official visit, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership and cooperation between Russia and China, as well as the 25th anniversary of our founding treaty on good-neighborliness, friendship, and cooperation. Bilateral military cooperation is becoming increasingly important in the context of the constantly changing military and political situation," Belousov said, as quoted by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Belousov called Russia-China military cooperation one of the key elements of regional and global security.

For his part, Belousov's Chinese counterpart called 2026 an important year for developing Russia-China defense cooperation.

potential blockade of the Kaliningrad region would lead to an unprecedented escalation, and that all threats to the region would be eliminated

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S. House bill sets aside US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

04/24/2026 11:32 AM

Washington, April 23 (CNA) The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has released its fiscal 2027 national security and State Department funding bill, which includes at least US$500 million for Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.

The FMF, a U.S. State Department program, helps allies and partner countries acquire American military equipment, services and training through U.S.-funded assistance.

According to the text of bill, released Wednesday, "not less than US$500 million shall be made available for assistance for Taiwan" provided that the secretaries of state and defense "prioritize the delivery of defense articles and services to Taiwan."

It also specifies that none of the funding "should be used to create, procure, or display any map that inaccurately depicts the territory and social and economic system of Taiwan and the islands or island groups administered by Taiwan authorities."

In a statement, the committee said the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Bill for 2027 provides a total discretionary allocation of US$47.32 billion.

That is US$2.69 billion (6 percent) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level, and reflects priorities of the America First agenda, the statement said.

Even with the funding reductions, the NSRP bill maintains robust funding for allies, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Taiwan, while countering adversaries such as China, Iran, Cuba and drug cartels, including some designated as foreign terrorist organizations, it said.

Under U.S. law, a bill must pass both the House and Senate in identical form before being sent to the president for signature to become law.

(By Elaine Hou and Ko Lin)

Enditem/ls





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lai's canceled Africa trip a 'wake-up call' for world: Experts

ROC Central News Agency

04/24/2026 01:14 PM

Washington, April 23 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te's () aborted trip to Eswatini, allegedly due to pressure from China, should serve as a warning about Beijing's "kindness," two United States-based experts said.

Lai had been scheduled to visit Eswatini from Wednesday to Saturday, but on the eve of his departure the Presidential Office said the trip was "suspended" after the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly withdrew overflight permission.

According to Reuters, however, both the Seychelles and Madagascar later said they had never granted overflight permission for Lai's charter flight, citing their adherence to the "one China" policy.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund, told CNA: "This should be a wakeup call for countries around the world."

"China's friendship and largess comes with strings attached," she said via email.

Taiwan should therefore focus on being a reliable partner wherever possible, Glaser said, while Washington should follow past practice and arrange for Lai to transit through the U.S. when opportunities arise to visit Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

Meanwhile, former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Richard C. Bush said such interference in Taiwan's diplomacy is part of a coercion campaign China has pursued since the ruling Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016.

"Fortunately, a trip by a very senior Taiwan official to the United States does not require overflight permission, with the possible exception of flights from Japan," said Bush, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Center for Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution.

"But Tokyo would not submit to this kind of pressure," he said.

At an impromptu press conference on Tuesday, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an () said the latest trip was suspended due to China's "economic coercion."

The visit to Africa would have been Lai's second overseas trip since he assumed office in May 2024. He previously toured diplomatic allies in the Pacific in late 2024, visiting the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, with transit stops in the U.S. state of Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam.

Pan did not say whether the trip would be rescheduled.

(By Elaine Hou, Chao Yen-hsiang, Teng Pei-ju and Sean Lin)

Enditem/ls





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign minister arrives in Eswatini after Lai cancels trip

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2026 05:07 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () arrived in Eswatini on Saturday morning, days after Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te () was forced to cancel his planned trip to southern Africa due to reported interference from China.

Lai had been scheduled to visit Eswatini from Wednesday to Saturday, but the Presidential Office said on the eve of his departure that the trip was suspended after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permissions, with Seychelles and Madagascar citing adherence to Beijing's "one China" principle.

In a video posted on the Eswatini government's Facebook page earlier Saturday, however, Lin was seen walking on the tarmac after arriving in Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa.

"H.E. Lin Chia-lung is in the country for the Ruby Jubilee of His Majesty's reign and 58th birthday celebration," the caption read, adding that he arrived at King Mswati III International Airport.

"[Lin] was warmly welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo," it said.

Shortly after the video was posted, the Presidential Office said in a statement that Lai had appointed Lin as his envoy to Eswatini.

The appointment "shows we highly value the friendship shared by Taiwan and Eswatini" and embodies Taiwan's continuing effort to deepen cooperation with its allies in the spirit of reciprocity, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo () was cited as saying.

Lai had been scheduled to depart on Wednesday for what would have been his second overseas trip since taking office in May 2024, but the Presidential Office said the visit was suspended after Beijing pressured the three African nations into withdrawing the overflight permissions.

(By Chao Yen-hsiang)

Enditem/cs

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Taiwan rejects claim that Mauritius never approved Lai's flight permit

ROC Central News Agency

04/25/2026 04:17 PM

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) The Presidential Office on Saturday rejected a Mauritian media report saying that the African country had never granted overflight permission for President Lai Ching-te's () now-canceled Eswatini trip, calling the claim "rumor-mongering."

Lai was scheduled to leave on Wednesday for Eswatini, Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa, but the trip was canceled after the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar abruptly rescinded overflight permissions for his chartered plane under "strong pressure" from China, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an () said on Tuesday.



CNA graphic CNA graphic

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu () said at the time that the Taiwanese government had obtained overflight clearance from all relevant countries, but that the three African countries rescinded them without explanation "only in recent days."

Those accounts from Taiwanese officials differed from a Wednesday report by Mauritian media outlet L'Express, which cited an unnamed source as saying no authorization had been granted by Mauritian authorities to the Taiwanese government.

The outlet, one of Mauritius' most prominent newspapers, also quoted an adviser at Mauritius' Prime Minister's Office as saying that, given the special relations Mauritius maintained with China, "nothing would be done that could jeopardize Sino-Mauritian relations."

Asked about the claim at an event in Taipei on Saturday, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo () said the airline operating Lai's charter flight had completed the required overflight permit procedures for Mauritius and other countries in mid-April.

She described claims that the flight had not applied for or received such permissions as "untrue."

"If anyone deliberately uses the name of a third country pressured by Beijing to fabricate stories and distort the facts, that is highly inappropriate and clearly rumor-mongering," she added.

Meanwhile, on another occasion in Taipei the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi () said Taiwan has established a long-term friendship with Eswatini, and that diplomatic ties remain intact.

"The Chinese Communist Party has long leveraged neighboring countries and built influence in Africa, including by buying support. All of this makes our long-term friendship with Eswatini all the more valuable," Chen said.

He noted that Eswatini is Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa and that Taiwan has spared no effort to provide the southern African country with assistance.

"We feel very sorry that President (Lai) could not make the visit this time due to pressure from China," Chen said.

(By Sunny Lai, Chao Yen-hsiang and Wen Kuei-hsiang)

Enditem/cs

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.25

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 24 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 25 (Sat.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150425_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150425_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.26

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 25 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 26 (Sun.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

28 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 18 out of 28 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150426_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150426_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UK-UAE Joint Statement: April 2026

News story

Joint Statement between UK Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Published 25 April 2026

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, received the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, on 18 April 2026 for her first official visit to the UAE.

The two Ministers discussed the deep and historic UK-UAE relationship, founded on a shared commitment to regional stability, prosperity and international cooperation. They built on discussions between the UK Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP and the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on 9 April.

The two Ministers formally agreed to a Framework for enhanced cooperation between their two countries, covering foreign affairs, defence, trade and investment, artificial intelligence, the energy transition, and judicial cooperation and illicit finance. The Framework provides an ambitious basis to deliver a long-term bilateral partnership and strengthened mutual resilience.

The Secretary of State thanked the UAE authorities for their extensive efforts to safeguard British Nationals amid recent regional hostilities. HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for the continued support from the UK in response to Iranian aggression. Both Ministers agreed on the importance of ongoing consular cooperation.

The Ministers condemned in the strongest terms Iran's egregious and unjustifiable attacks, on the UAE and States across the region, including against civilians and civilian infrastructure, in clear breach of their sovereignty and territorial integrity and in flagrant violation of fundamental principles and rules of international law, including the UN Charter.

Recalling UN Security Council resolution 2817 (2026), the two sides condemned Iran's actions and threats aimed at closing, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministers affirmed the importance of freedom of navigation without tolling in the strait, in accordance with international law, reflected in UNCLOS.

The two Ministers further recalled the 19 March 2026 decision of the International Maritime Organization Council condemning Iran's threats and attacks against vessels and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz as representing a grave danger to life and serious risk to the safety of navigation and the marine environment.

The Ministers welcomed the initiative by the UK and France, announced on 17 April, to support freedom of navigation, to stand up for international law, and to protect global economic stability and energy security with the support of an international coalition.

The two Ministers condemned attacks in Sudan against civilians, as well as humanitarian personnel and convoys, by the warring parties. They stressed that the warring parties have a responsibility to bring the conflict to an end and the international community to increase pressure to bring this about, and that the protection of civilians must remain central. They emphasised the urgent need for an immediate and unconditional truce to enable rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access across Sudan and rejected any attempts to politicise humanitarian assistance. The Ministers underscored that Sudan's future must be determined by its civilians through an independent civilian-led process to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people towards a transition to a civilian-led government. They welcomed recent engagements between the Quad, the United Kingdom and the European Union, most recently on the margins of the Berlin Conference, and reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination to advance peace in Sudan.

The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law and the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. They welcomed the most recent UAE facilitation of prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged to 6,305 since the beginning of the war. They also discussed ways of cooperating on supporting Ukraine's recovery.

The Ministers looked forward to continued close cooperation and to growing the UK-UAE relationship over the period ahead.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Minister Anand announces contribution for repairs to Chornobyl confinement structure

Global Affairs Canada

News release

April 24, 2026 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Chornobyl disaster in Ukraine demonstrated to the world that nuclear safety is a shared responsibility. Nearly forty years after the world's worst nuclear disaster, Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine continues to pose serious risks to nuclear safety and security.

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced a contribution of $8 million for critical repair work to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant's New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure, following damage caused by a Russian drone strike on February 14, 2025.

The damage to the NSC structure underscores the grave risks created by Russia's repeated strikes on civilian and nuclear infrastructure. Canada continues to condemn Russia's actions in the strongest possible terms and remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Canada has a long history of supporting Chornobyl-related remediation and international nuclear safety efforts through cooperation with G7 partners and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Canada's contribution will support efforts to stabilize and repair the NSC structure, building on the successful model that made the original enclosure possible.

Canada will continue to work with international partners to uphold nuclear safety and security, protect civilians and the environment, and hold Russia accountable for the consequences of its aggression.

Quick facts

Since the mid1990s Canada has contributed more than $116.8 million for Chornobylrelated remediation and international nuclear safety initiatives. Canadian support has focused on: the NSC structure spent nuclear fuel storage and related decommissioning activities radiation detection, monitoring and nuclear security measures

Most of Canada's assistance, including the contribution announced today, has been delivered through multilateral mechanisms, notably the EBRD, as part of the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.

Between 2006 to 2018, Canada contributed $55 million toward the G7's financing of the EBRD's Chornobyl Shelter Fund, which enabled the construction of the NSC structure, and Nuclear Safety Account, which enabled the remediation of radioactive contamination at the Chornobyl site.

France, as current G7 Chair, has made international fundraising for repairs to the structure a priority for its 2026 presidency, with preliminary damage assessments estimating costs exceeding $900 million. To prevent worsening corrosion and structural risks, international partners are working toward a target completion date of 2030.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Displaced people move north by vehicles from southern Lebanon, in Sidon, Lebanon, on April 26, 2026. The Israeli army on Sunday carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, prompting heavy displacement toward the city of Sidon, the capital of South Governorate, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Sunday carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, prompting heavy displacement toward the city of Sidon, the capital of South Governorate, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, Israeli forces launched airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting several villages in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh Governorate, the NNA said.

Also on Sunday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of seven Lebanese towns to evacuate their homes, Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed TV reported.

The NNA added that villages south of the Litani River witnessed heavy displacement toward Sidon following the attacks and Israeli warnings. Israeli forces also reportedly dropped leaflets over Al-Mansouri containing a list of villages whose residents were asked to evacuate.

Separately, Hezbollah said it launched two attack drones targeting an Israeli evacuation force and a gathering of Israeli soldiers in a southern Lebanese village.

The violence came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire would be extended by three weeks. 
Norway allocates NOK 500 million to strengthen nuclear safety in Ukraine

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 24/04/2026

26 April marks 40 years since the Chornobyl disaster. Norway is increasing its support to Ukraine to prevent nuclear accidents and safeguard electricity production in the country. For 2026, NOK 500 million has been allocated for this purpose.

'Ukraine is facing an extremely serious situation. Russia's targeted attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue and are putting nuclear safety under severe pressure. We are therefore significantly scaling up Norwegian support. A nuclear incident could very quickly have major consequences. By strengthening nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, we are strengthening Europe's security - and therefore also Norway's security,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Efforts to enhance nuclear safety and security in Ukraine are an integral part of the Nansen Programme, the Government's support programme for Ukraine. In 2026, Norway will contribute NOK 4.8 billion to energy security. Of this amount, NOK 500 million will be allocated to strengthening nuclear safety. This represents a significant increase compared with 2025. Through the Nansen Programme, Norway is one of the largest contributors to nuclear safety in Ukraine. The funds are administered by the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA).

'The situation in Ukraine is extremely serious when it comes to nuclear safety and security. Nuclear power plants depend on external electricity supplies to cool the fuel, and loss of external power increases the risk of nuclear incidents. Attacks on transformer substations now constitute the greatest threat to nuclear safety in Ukraine, second only to direct attacks on nuclear power plants,' said Per Strand, Director General of the DSA.

Nuclear power plants are the largest source of electricity generation in Ukraine.

'In addition to reducing the risk of nuclear accidents, Norwegian support helps ensure that nuclear power plants can continue to produce critically needed electricity for the Ukrainian population.

Furthermore, the support enables nuclear power plants to resume electricity production more quickly and safely following emergency shutdowns and reduced capacity caused by instability in the power grid.'

Norway continues to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its vital efforts in strengthening nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. The Agency provides essential information and assessments, and the inspectors and the Ukrainian personnel are operating under extremely challenging conditions.

Ukraine has four nuclear power plants: Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and South Ukraine. All are producing electricity, with the exception of Zaporizhzhia, which has been occupied by Russian forces since March 2022. Russian attacks on the energy supply mean that Ukrainian nuclear power plants are becoming increasingly important to the country's electricity production. Before the war, nuclear power accounted for 55 % of total electricity generation in Ukraine; today, the share is significantly higher.

Norway's cooperation with Ukraine on nuclear safety began after the Chornobyl disaster in 1986 and was significantly expanded following Russia's annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine in 2014. Efforts were further stepped up when Russia launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The work is closely coordinated with Nordic and other international partners.

For many years, using funds from the Government's Action Plan for Nuclear Safety and security and the Nansen Programme, Norway has supported projects to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents at Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Norway has, among other things, helped to strengthen safetycritical infrastructure, supplied technical equipment, improved maintenance, supported Ukrainian authorities in emergency preparedness, regulatory development and administration, and contributed to international coordination.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Minister highlights EU unity and long-term support for Ukraine at the Kyiv Security Forum

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 24.04.2026

Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, emphasised the European Union's unity and determination to continue its long-term support for Ukraine, as well as the need to invest in defence. The Minister highlighted strategically significant decisions adopted by the EU this week - a EUR 90 billion loan program for Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The Minister also emphasised Ukraine's progress towards EU membership and the need to continue reforms.

On 24 April 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, participated remotely in a discussion at the Kyiv Security Forum, where international policy and security experts analysed the development of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and its impact on European and global security. The discussion focused in particular on ensuring long-term support for Ukraine, strengthening public resilience, and maintaining political will in the context of a prolonged war.

The Minister emphasised that Ukraine's ability to continue the fight depends directly on predictable and long-term military, economic, and humanitarian support. Latvia continues to contribute significantly, allocating at least 0.25% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to military aid for Ukraine, as well as supporting reconstruction and international initiatives.

At the same time, the European Union reached agreement this week on two strategically important decisions: approving a EUR 90 billion loan program for Ukraine and adopting the 20th package of sanctions against Russia.

"The decisions adopted this week regarding financial support for Ukraine and the strengthening of sanctions against Russia clearly demonstrate that Europe is prepared to continue supporting Ukraine in the long term and to increase pressure on the aggressor state," Foreign Minister Baiba Braze emphasised.

The loan is intended to meet Ukraine's urgent budgetary and defence needs, while the sanctions package significantly expands restrictions on Russia's financial, energy, and trade sectors, thereby intensifying pressure on the aggressor state's war economy.

Latvia emphasises that, alongside international support, Ukraine's consistent efforts towards European Union membership are of crucial importance. It is essential to continue implementing reforms, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and strengthening institutional capacity, including through the implementation of the 10-point reform plan. This will align the country's regulations with EU standards and allow accession negotiations to advance, gradually strengthening Ukraine's integration into the EU.

Regarding the security situation in the region, the Minister pointed out that Russia is concentrating its resources on the war in Ukraine and lacks the capacity to launch military operations against NATO countries; however, an intensification of Russia's hybrid activities against European countries is still to be expected, including disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, sabotage attempts, and others. Hybrid warfare spans across the whole of Europe, and Russia will continue attempts to influence both democratic processes and critical infrastructure.

In addition, interconnections between global conflicts were analysed. Russia's war in Ukraine is closely linked to developments in other regions, including the Middle East, and is influenced by the involvement of third countries. These factors reinforce the need to strengthen NATO's collective defence capabilities and to adapt to the evolving security environment.

Joining Baiba Braze in the panel discussion were Admiral Rob Bauer, former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee; Taavi Roivas, former Prime Minister of Estonia; Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, former Chief of the UK Defence Staff; and Irene Fellin, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






At a discussion in Rome on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Latvia emphasises the need to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Published: 24.04.2026

On 23 April 2026 in Rome, the Embassy of Latvia in Italy hosted a discussion titled "Russia's Aggression Against Ukraine as a Long-Term Challenge for the UN Security Council and the European Union - Impact and Solutions," featuring the Ambassador-at-Large for Ukraine and Baltic Sea Region Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Juris Poikans, as the main speaker.

Linking an analytical assessment of the region's history with Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, Juris Poikans emphasised the Latvian Government's unwavering support for Ukraine, while stressing the need to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, which is one of Latvia's priorities on the UN Security Council's agenda. He emphasised the need to maintain a focus on providing support based on Ukraine's needs: financial support, strengthening the resilience of the energy sector, as well as enhancing security and defence capabilities. Regarding future security guarantees for Ukraine, Juris Poikans noted that Ukraine's membership of the European Union, as well as of NATO in the long term, plays a crucial role.

Together with university professors Federica Mucci and Ambassador Patrizio Fondi , as well as students, broader EU policy issues were also discussed, including the European Neighborhood Policy and enlargement policy, as well as security challenges in the Baltic Sea region and cooperation within the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) framework.

The Embassy of Latvia in Italy organised the discussion in co-operation with the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Secretary General of the Diplomacy Festival, Giorgio Bartolomucci.

The event was organised as part of the diplomatic programme to support the implementation of Latvia's priorities during its membership in the UN Security Council and to promote Latvia's recognition. On 3 June 2025, Latvia was elected to the UN Security Council for the term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. Serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council will be one of the key instruments for securing Latvia's foreign policy interests. The primary objective of Latvia's participation in the UN Security Council is to safeguard and strengthen an international environment that supports the security of Latvia while using and enhancing the opportunities provided by multilateral diplomacy.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Zelenskyy In Saudi Arabia For Defense Talks As Russia Continues To Pound Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 24, 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia for security talks, marking his second visit to the region since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, now under cease-fire, as Russia continued to pound Ukraine with deadly strikes.

"Today, we are advancing our agreements with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security, energy, and infrastructure. It is important that the strengthening is mutual," Zelenskyy wrote on Xon April 24.

The Ukrainian president's visit comes almost a month after Kyiv and Riyadh signed a defense cooperation agreement, as waves of relentless retaliatory strikes from Iran targeted civilian and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.

Having previously secured a number of bilateral agreements with European countries -- such as joint drone construction with Germany -- since the first Shahed drones struck the Gulf, Kyiv has sought to bring its battle-proven technologies and military expertise to the region.

Shahed drone technology, which originated in Iran, has long become central to Russia's domestic drone production, as Tehran supplied Moscow with military equipment and know-how during the first years of its full-scale war against Ukraine.

Russia has since often launched around 100 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine at a time. In response, Kyiv has developed cost-effective interceptor drones, saying the technology allows it to cut off about 90 percent of incoming drones.

Both Tehran and Moscow have been publicly skeptical about how useful Kyiv's support to the Gulf countries would be, with Iranian envoy to Ukraine calling it "nothing more than a joke and a showy gesture."

Separately, US President Donald Trump said Zelenskyy was the last person he would ask for help in Washington's military efforts in Iran, despite reports that the United States had held talks with Ukraine on the matter.

Days prior to Zelenskyy's latest visit to the Saudi Arabia, Reuters cited five sources familiar with the matter, saying the United States had introduced Ukrainian drones at its key air base in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, on its own front lines, Ukraine has continued to suffer deadly Russian air attacks, which have occurred almost every day over the past week.

According to regional Governor Serhiy Lysak, a married couple, both 75 years old, were killed in the attack on the Ukraine's major southern port city of Odesa on April 24, adding 17 other people were injured.

A local Odesa resident told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that she was covered in blood after an explosion blew out a window and its frame in her apartment.

"The explosion blew a window and a frame right onto me.... Everything was falling. I was frightened," she said at the scene of the aftermath.

Separately, Moscow and Kyiv reported that 193 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war were swapped on April 24. Zelenskyy said those who returned to Ukraine included soldiers, border guards, and police who had been injured or faced criminal charges in Russia.

In his comment to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, the country's ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said those returned home had been held in Russia's Chechnya region.

Lubinets added that most of them had not been confirmed as prisoners by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and that one of them had been considered missing.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war- saudi-arabia-iran-drone-attacks-odesa/33741811.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






193 Russian servicemen returned from territory controlled by Kiev regime

24 April 2026 08:55

On 24 April, 193 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. 193 AFU POWs were returned as a result of the exchange.

At present, the Russian servicemen are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance.

All released servicemen will be taken to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry.

During the return of Russian servicemen from captivity, humanitarian mediation efforts were carried out by the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

Department of Information and Media Affairs of Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






HRH the Crown Prince Meets President of Ukraine

Saudi Press Agency

Friday 07/11/1447

Jeddah, April 24, 2026, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met today in Jeddah with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.

During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries, areas of cooperation, and opportunities to further develop them. They also discussed regional and international developments, foremost among them the situation in the Middle East and the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban; Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov; Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha; and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lieutenant General Andrii Hnatov.

-- SPA

19:33 Local Time 16:33 GMT

0038

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian High-Precision Weapons Score Direct Hits on Ukraine's Hardware and Key Defense Facilities

Sputnik News

20260424

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces destroyed two HIMARS launchers of the Ukrainian armed forces and carried out six group strikes with high-precision long-range weapons and drone strikes on the military infrastructure of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"From April 18 to April 24 strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces' battlegroups destroyed two launchers of US-made HIMARS, multiple launch rocket systems, five combat vehicles, as well as three transport-loading vehicles... In response to Ukraine's terrorist attacks on civilian facilities on Russian territory, the Russian Forces delivered six group strikes with long-range precision weapons launched from air, sea, and ground platforms, as well as with strike unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry saifd in a statement.

Ukraine lost over 2,295 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup over the past week. Additionally, the Sever battlegroup neutralized over 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over the past day, over 1,605 Ukraine's soldiers were eliminated by the Vostok battlegroup

over the past week. Additionally, the neutralized over 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated over the past day, over 1,605 Ukraine's soldiers were eliminated by the Over 1,410 Ukrainian servicemen were neutralized by the Zapad battlegroup, over 1,290 by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 325 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






FSB Foils Assassination Plot on Roskomnadzor, Ukraine-Recruited Individuals Detained

Sputnik News

20260424

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday that it had prevented a terrorist attack against the leadership of the Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor on April 18.

The management and employees of Roskomnadzor and their family members are receiving threats of physical violence, attacks are being carried out, and terrorist attacks are being prepared, the FSB said in a statement.

"On April 18, 2026, a terrorist act against the heads of Roskomnadzor, which was planned by detonating a car using an explosive device, was prevented," the statement read.

The perpetrators are young Russians, including minors, coordinated from abroad, the statement read, adding that those who were preparing the attack were recruited by the special services of Ukraine through the Telegram messenger.

An explosive device weighing one kilogram, a grenade, pistols and symbols of Ukrainian militants were seized from those who were preparing the terrorist attack against Roskomnadzor, the statement said, adding that the leader of the group, who was a Muscovite, put up armed resistance and was neutralized.

"Criminal cases have been initiated against these individuals under articles on the illegal trafficking of weapons and explosive devices, and the issue of bringing them to criminal responsibility for preparing for a terrorist act is being resolved," the FSB added.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Still Working on Solving Conflict in Ukraine - Trump

Sputnik News

20260424

The United States is still working on solving the conflict in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump said.

"We are working on trying to get that one [conflict] solved," Trump told reporters.

President Trump added that he was unaware whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to the G20 Summit in Miami or not, saying that he finds his possible participation "very helpful."

"If he came, it would probably be very helpful," Trump told reporters. "I do not know of the invitation," he added.

On March 15, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that trilateral working group meetings on security issues involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine had been put on hold. He said Moscow hoped it was a temporary setback.

Since the beginning of the year, delegations from Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of talks with the participation of the US. The most recent one took place in Geneva from February 17-18.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster: UK statement to the OSCE

Speech

Deputy Ambassador James Ford marked the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, honouring those affected and stressing the enduring human and environmental consequences, while warning that Russia's war against Ukraine has revived acute nuclear safety risks across the OSCE region.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Ford

Published 24 April 2026

Location: Vienna

Delivered on: 23 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Thank you, Mr Chair.

As the Ukrainian Ambassador has noted, this Sunday marks the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, one of the most devastating nuclear disasters in history. And it is right that we pause to remember those who lost their lives, to honour the courage of the first responders and health workers, and to reflect on the profound and lasting human and environmental consequences of the disaster.

Forty years on, Chornobyl remains a powerful symbol of loss. Entire communities were displaced and lives were permanently altered. The health, social and environmental effects extended far beyond the immediate vicinity of the site and continue to affect people across borders and generations. These human realities must remain at the heart of our commemoration.

Chornobyl was also a turning point for the international community. It exposed the catastrophic consequences of secrecy, weak governance and the failure to uphold safety norms. In response, States strengthened nuclear safety standards, reinforced emergency preparedness, and deepened international cooperation. Above all, Chornobyl made clear that nuclear safety is indivisible. An accident in one place can have consequences far beyond national borders.

That lesson is as relevant today as it was in 1986. As we mark this anniversary, we cannot ignore that nuclear safety risks in the OSCE area have once again become acute owing to Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Power disruptions, security challenges and physical damage across Ukraine's nuclear facilities serve as stark reminders of how fragile even well-established safety arrangements can be when basic norms are ignored.

The conditions required for nuclear safety, stability, transparency, professional operation and respect for international frameworks cannot be taken for granted. When safety norms and international law are disregarded, the risks of miscalculation and escalation grow, with potentially severe and lasting consequences.

Mr Chair, the OSCE's concept of security recognises that military, environmental and human security are deeply interconnected. Nuclear safety sits squarely within this framework. It depends on strong institutions, transparency, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty and international obligations.

The fortieth anniversary of Chornobyl is therefore more than a moment of remembrance. It is a call for vigilance, responsibility and resolve. By honouring those affected by Chornobyl, we reaffirm our shared duty to uphold the principles that protect us all - now and in the future.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






TEHRAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit Pakistan again after concluding his trip to Oman and before traveling to Russia, the official news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry's schedule.

The report said that part of the delegation accompanying Araghchi during his initial visit to Islamabad has returned to Tehran for consultations and instructions on issues related to efforts to end the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The delegation is scheduled to rejoin the foreign minister in Islamabad on Sunday night.

According to IRNA, during his previous visit to Islamabad, Araghchi met Pakistani officials and conveyed Iran's positions on the parameters of any agreement aimed at ending the conflict and restoring peace.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi described his visit to Pakistan as "very fruitful," saying Iran greatly values Pakistan's "good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region."

He added that during the visit, he had shared Iran's position on a "workable framework" to permanently end the conflict, while noting, "Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy."

Araghchi arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on Saturday night. Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the visit to Muscat aims to hold talks with senior Omani officials on bilateral relations and regional developments.

On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.

A ceasefire was reached between the parties on April 8, followed by talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to produce an agreement.

Delegations from Iran and the United States were reportedly expected to hold another round of talks in Pakistan this week. Iran earlier said it would not attend any talks while the U.S. naval blockade is still in place. 
Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in Riyadh with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

24 April 2026 18:46

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "As part of President Zelenskyy's visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I was pleased to hold bilateral talks with my Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on how we put our leaders' agreements into action.

I informed His Highness about the battlefield situation. Ukraine has passed the most difficult winter in its history. We also spoke about peace efforts.

I updated my counterpart on our European affairs, the successful unblocking of the 90 billion and the 20th EU sanctions package.

We discussed the strategic tracks of our partnership, ranging from food security to Ukraine's role as a strong and reliable security partner in the Middle East and beyond.

We are ready to swiftly advance our partnership that strengthens both our nations".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The President of Ukraine Met with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to Discuss Agreements in Security, Infrastructure, and Energy

President of Ukraine

24 April 2026 - 18:04

In Jeddah, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

The leaders discussed the implementation of a strategic security agreement across three areas.

"The first is the export of our Ukrainian security expertise and capabilities in air defense. The second is energy cooperation, which makes Ukraine more resilient in this difficult time. The third is the area of food security. We are working together to strengthen our peoples and our partners," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

The President stressed that Ukraine is ready to share its experience and expertise for mutually beneficial cooperation with Saudi Arabia in protecting lives.

Particular attention was given to energy resilience, especially in the context of the fuel market crisis caused by the situation surrounding Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The discussion also covered prospects for Saudi Arabia's participation in infrastructure projects, Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, as well as partnership in the financial sector and other state projects.

The leaders set tasks for their teams and expect them to be implemented promptly and in full.

"Now, when international relations are significantly destabilized, it is precisely this kind of bilateral engagement that restores confidence. We also exchanged assessments of the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf. We hope for greater security, and we are helping to bring it closer," the President of Ukraine emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud about the ongoing negotiation process aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine and thanked Saudi Arabia for all its efforts.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






President of Ukraine: We can establish very deep cooperation in the field of security

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

25.04.2026 [14:44]

Baku, April 25, AZERTAC

"Regarding the defense industry, security is a field where we can establish very deep cooperation. We must work very hard to achieve this goal," said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press statement with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Touching upon the war with Russia, the Ukrainian President emphasized: "We have held talks in trilateral and other formats. Some of them took place in Turkiye, and later we met with our American partners in Geneva. If the Russian side also chooses this diplomacy, we would also like to conduct our negotiations in Azerbaijan."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanks President Ilham Aliyev for assistance provided to his country

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

25.04.2026 [14:04]

Baku, April 25, AZERTAC

"Regarding supplies in the energy sector, we have received 11 aid packages during such a very difficult period. We express our gratitude to Azerbaijan for this assistance," said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press statement with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Expressing his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the help provided to Ukrainian children as well, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "You are helping our children. Our children, our sons and daughters, come from frontline regions. They have faced hardships and suffered from the war. More than five hundred Ukrainian children are here, and we are grateful to you for this support," the President of Ukraine emphasized.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






President Ilham Aliyev: Our cooperation with Ukraine has a very strong political foundation

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

25.04.2026 [13:32]

Baku, April 25, AZERTAC

"I remember my visit to Kyiv in January 2022. The exchange of views we had with you (Volodymyr Zelenskyy - ed.) and our subsequent contacts have consistently raised Ukraine-Azerbaijan relations to a high level. Our cooperation has a very strong political foundation," President Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The head of state noted: "Azerbaijan and Ukraine mutually support, and will continue to support, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries in all international organizations."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by the High Representative and the Commission ahead of the 40 years since the Chornobyl disaster

European External Action Service (EEAS)

25.04.2026

EEAS Press Team

Forty years ago, the disaster at the Chornobyl Power Plant marked one of the gravest nuclear disasters in human history. Its true toll, long obscured by Soviet secrecy, has only become clearer over time. To this day, its legacy remains a stark reminder that ensuring nuclear safety depends on transparency, robust safeguards and international cooperation.

Yet today, Moscow's relentless strikes on Chornobyl's 'New Safe Confinement', the structure built to contain the remains of reactor 4, undermine decades of international efforts and investment amounting to 2.1 billion, to mitigate the consequences of the disaster.

At the same time, Russia's illegal seizure and continued occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, significantly increase the risk to human life and environmental protection. Equally, Moscow's systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure threaten the stable power supply required for the safe operation of nuclear facilities.

On this gruesome anniversary, we call on Russia to immediately cease all attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine and to comply with the Seven Indispensable Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security during an armed conflict. Russia will be held accountable for putting public safety in danger, must compensate for the damage caused, and return full control of the Zaporizhzhia plant to Ukraine.

The European Union has long supported nuclear safety, nuclear security and radiation protection in Ukraine. Not least with over 1 billion in financing. The EU has also been the largest donor to the international funds managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to make the Chornobyl site environmentally safe.

Today, we also reaffirm our own commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety, nuclear security and safeguards worldwide. We call on the international community to sustain and reinforce its support for Ukraine, including efforts to repair the New Safe Confinement, and to collectively reflect on how to protect nuclear facilities better, especially in time of war. The G7 initiative to discuss repairs to the Chornobyl site at the upcoming meeting in May is an important step.

Background

The European Union has long been supporting nuclear safety, nuclear security and radiation protection in Ukraine having financed more than 1 billion worth of activities.

The EU has also been the largest donor to the international funds managed by the EBRD to make the Chornobyl site environmentally safe. The EU alone contributed more than 423 million towards the construction of the New Safe Confinement in Chornobyl and just last year, through its Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation provided an additional 37 million for nuclear safety in Ukraine, part of which will support urgent repairs to the New Safe Confinement. Final repairs to the damage caused by the Russian drone strike will require at least 500 million in additional funding. The EU will continue supporting Ukraine and assisting in ensuring nuclear safety, security and radiation protection.

The Commission's role is to ensure that Member States using nuclear energy employ the highest standards of nuclear safety, radiation protection, security, and non-proliferation. The EU has established a strong regulatory framework for nuclear safety, radiation protection and radioactive waste management, including the amended Nuclear Safety Directive 2014/87/Euratom , Basic safety Standard Directive 2013/59 Euratom , and the Radioactive Waste Directive 2011/70/Euratom .

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in Baku with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov

Ukraine Government

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, posted 25 April 2026 17:44

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "As part of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit, I held a meaningful bilateral meeting with my Azerbaijani colleague Jeyhun Bayramov.

We noted the importance of today's fruitful talks between our leaders and coordinated next steps to put the outcomes of their agreements into action.

I informed Minister Bayramov about the dynamic on the battlefield following the harshest winter in our history: Ukraine is holding the line and making the aggressor pay an ever heavier price. I also updated my colleague on the most recent positive developments on our EU track and Ukraine's path to joining the European Union.

We discussed the priority areas of cooperation, which included energy, humanitarian assistance, the economy, political dialogue, and Ukrainian children's recovery.

I am grateful to Azerbaijan for its support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, humanitarian aid, and willingness to strengthen our ties.

Today, we also expanded our legal treaty base by signing six new agreements. One of them, signed by foreign ministers, was the Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan on Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters. It will streamline judicial cooperation, facilitate business ties, and strengthen our strategic partnership".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press Release

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 80

25.04.2026

On Saturday morning, April 25th, the Russian forces resumed the drone attacks against the civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania, in Tulcea County.

The Ministry of National Defence (MoND) radars detected drones operating close to Romania's airspace. Two British Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft conducting Enhanced Air Policing mission scrambled at 02:00 from the 86th Air Base in Fetesti.

The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to establish population alert measures in the localities of Grindu and Isaccea, Tulcea County. A RO-ALERT message was issued at 02:14.

The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft established radar contact with a target located 1.5 km from Reni port city, above the Ukrainian territory. The pilots were authorized to engage the drones.

Ground-based MoND radars tracked a group of targets up to the area of Reni port city, Ukraine, where multiple explosions were reported.

At 02:31, the residents of the city of Galati reported, via the 112 emergency service, the fall of an object in the Bariera Traian area.

Specialized teams of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and other structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are conducting investigations on site.

No casualties have been reported.

Preliminary assessments indicate that an outbuilding within a household and an electricity pole were affected, with no significant damage.

Drone fragments have been identified in several locations in the area, which has been secured by the Romanian Police and the Ministry of National Defence military personnel.

The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasizes that they pose a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area.

Such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation's disregard for international law and endanger not only the Romanian citizens' safety but also NATO's collective security.

Romania remains firmly committed to fulfilling its obligations as a member state of the Alliance and will continue to work closely with its partners and allies to monitor and defend its national airspace.





The Press Office

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press Release

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 82

25.04.2026

A team made up of specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Romanian Intelligence Service are working on site to recover the fallen drone debris, on the morning of April 25th, in a populated area of the municipality of Galati.

Initial investigations have revealed a possible explosive charge on board. In accordance with procedures in force, the area is being temporarily evacuated for the citizens' safety.

Teams of specialists will take over and transport the drone fragments to a safe area, where they will be destroyed under controlled conditions, according to the legal procedures. The entire process is conducted in compliance with the safety regulations.

Citizens are requested to respect the recommendations of the authorities and monitor the official information transmitted through institutional channels.

The Ministry of National Defence strongly condemns the Russian Federation's irresponsible actions and emphasizes that they pose a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area.

Such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation's disregard for international law and endanger not only the Romanian citizens' safety but also NATO's collective security.

***

As previously stated,t the Russian forces resumed the drone attacks against the civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, near the river border with Romania, in Tulcea County.

The Ministry of National Defence (MoND) radars detected drones operating close to Romania's airspace. Two British Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft conducting Enhanced Air Policing missions scrambled at 02:00 from the 86th Air Base in Fetesti.

The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to establish population alert measures in the localities of Grindu and Isaccea, Tulcea County. A RO-ALERT message was issued at 02:14.

At 02:31, residents of Galati City reported, via the 112 emergency service, the fall of an object in the Bariera Traian area.

The Press Office

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Armed Forces Liberate Bochkovo Village in Kharkov Region

Sputnik News

20260425

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have liberated the village of Bochkovo in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"As a result of the active and decisive actions of the units of the Sever battlegroup, control has been established over the village of Bochkovo in the Kharkov region," the statement read.

Bochkovo, located on the right bank of the Volchya River, had served as a Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold from which attacks on Russian units were being prepared, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The liberation of Bochkovo demonstrates that Russian forces continue to succeed across the entire Special Operation zone. By capturing the settlement, Russian troops are steadily improving their tactical positions and disrupting Ukrainian defense lines in the Kharkov region.

Russian forces are now advancing on multiple fronts, systematically gaining ground and inflicting significant losses on enemy units.

Other Developments

Ukraine lost over 310 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup , over 160 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Russia's Sever battlegroup , up to 260 by the Vostok battlegroup

, over 160 Ukrainian soldiers were eliminated by Russia's , up to 260 by the Up to 190 Ukraine's servicemen were neutralized by the Zapad battlegroup, up to 180 by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 25 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






This photo taken on April 11, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Serena Hotel for the talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Saturday that he just canceled the trip of U.S. representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranian side.

"Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their 'leadership.' Nobody knows who is in charge, including them," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The U.S. president also claimed that "we have all the cards, they have none," adding that "if they want to talk, all they have to do is call."

Earlier Saturday, Trump told Fox News that he had canceled his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff's planned trip to Pakistan.

In the interview, Trump claimed that it's not worth the U.S. delegation making the 18-hour flight to Pakistan when the U.S. holds all the cards in the conflict with Iran.

"We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing,'" Trump said.

Witkoff and Kushner were supposed to travel to Pakistan this weekend for the second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has concluded talks with Pakistan's leadership and left Islamabad, a Pakistani source told Xinhua on Saturday.

"Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value," Araghchi said in a post on social media platform X. "Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran."

"Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy," the foreign minister added.

Islamabad's district administration on Saturday allowed all types of public and goods transport to enter the federal capital after easing heightened security measures imposed earlier this week amid expectations of a second round of Iran-U.S. peace talks. 
Andrii Sybiha held a meeting in Baku with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 April 2026 16:45

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "As part of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit, I held a meaningful bilateral meeting with my Azerbaijani colleague Jeyhun Bayramov.

We noted the importance of today's fruitful talks between our leaders and coordinated next steps to put the outcomes of their agreements into action.

I informed Minister Bayramov about the dynamic on the battlefield following the harshest winter in our history: Ukraine is holding the line and making the aggressor pay an ever heavier price. I also updated my colleague on the most recent positive developments on our EU track and Ukraine's path to joining the European Union.

We discussed the priority areas of cooperation, which included energy, humanitarian assistance, the economy, political dialogue, and Ukrainian children's recovery.

I am grateful to Azerbaijan for its support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, humanitarian aid, and willingness to strengthen our ties.

Today, we also expanded our legal treaty base by signing six new agreements. One of them, signed by foreign ministers, was the Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Azerbaijan on Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters. It will streamline judicial cooperation, facilitate business ties, and strengthen our strategic partnership".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Yevhen Perebyinis held a meeting with Minister of Defence of the Republic of Estonia Hanno Pevkur

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 April 2026 17:19

On April 24, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis held a meeting with Minister of Defence of the Republic of Estonia Hanno Pevkur.

Yevhen Perebyinis expressed deep gratitude to Estonia for its consistent and comprehensive support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. He particularly noted Estonia's leadership, as it ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of assistance to Ukraine relative to its GDP.

The Deputy Minister thanked the Estonian side for its active participation in key international initiatives, in particular PURL, the Drone Coalition, and the IT Coalition, as well as for its significant contribution to the training of Ukrainian military personnel and programs for their rehabilitation and medical treatment.

The interlocutors paid special attention to discussing the current security situation in Ukraine and the region. The parties also exchanged assessments of existing and potential threats to European security posed by the Russian Federation.

During the meeting, the interlocutors welcomed the adoption by the EU Council of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to the Government of Estonia for its consistent support of the European Union's sanctions policy, as well as for the decision to ban entry into the country for Russian military personnel.

The Minister of Defence of Estonia reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine and readiness to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of security and defence.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine and Estonia align priorities for a mutually beneficial defence partnership

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

25 April, 2026, 11:25 AM EEST

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, met in Kyiv with the Minister of Defence of Estonia, Hanno Pevkur. The parties agreed on key priorities for mutually beneficial cooperation, including joint weapons production and the development of defence capabilities.

Systematic support from Estonia

During the meeting, Mykhailo Fedorov expressed gratitude to Estonia for its sustained support, particularly for its decision to allocate at least 0.25% of GDP to support Ukraine. In 2026, this is estimated at around 110 million.

Estonia's assistance will primarily focus on procuring drones and counter-UAS capabilities, as well as supporting the defence industries of Estonia and Ukraine.

Particular note was made of the contribution to the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) mechanism, as well as an additional $13 million in funding.

Estonia's leadership in the IT Coalition

Mykhailo Fedorov also underscored the effectiveness of Estonia's co-leadership of the IT Coalition, which it leads jointly with Luxembourg. Estonia's contribution to the Coalition this year stands at 5.7 million, while in total, approximately 1.4 billion has been mobilised under the mechanism to support the development of communications systems and other technological solutions that ensure Ukraine's advantage on the battlefield.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine noted that Estonia's support consistently corresponds to the evolving needs of the frontline. The parties agreed on the next steps to continue directing assistance towards priority areas.

Joint projects and production

The key focus is the development of joint defence projects.

The Ministers of Defence signed a Letter of Intent to enhance cooperation in weapons production. Output under this cooperation will primarily be directed towards strengthening the Defence Forces of Ukraine. The document also opens up opportunities for technology exchange and the development of production capacities.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Statement by the President of Ukraine During a Joint Press Conference with the President of Azerbaijan

President of Ukraine

25 April 2026 - 15:25

Thank you very much, dear Mr. President.

I would like to thank you and thank our delegations for this visit.

Indeed, over recent years, we have held several meetings on different international platforms. We have always supported each other. I thank Azerbaijan for its support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Without a doubt, Ukraine has always supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

During this war, this is my first visit to Azerbaijan - together with our delegation - and I thank you for this visit. Today, we have signed six documents. Our teams will certainly share the details later. They cover various areas. Security is the top priority today - the defense-industrial complex. Ukraine has demonstrated resilience during this war against the aggressor and is now sharing its experience. Today, I spoke with our experts who are currently in Azerbaijan. They are certainly supporting our colleagues. Of course, we will develop our cooperation and co-production. These are very important areas that will definitely increase both the security of our countries and our peoples, as well as trade, which we truly want to expand between our countries.

Second issue. Today, I thanked the President for the fact that, during this difficult winter, our partners stood with us - the Ukrainian people were not alone. Of course, there was our air defense, our heroic military personnel, our power engineers - but also our partner relations. And the energy packages provided throughout the entire period of hardships of this difficult war: 11 energy packages through which Azerbaijan supported Ukraine. We are grateful for this and deeply appreciate it. And we are discussing the continuation of relevant initiatives.

I would like to particularly thank Mr. President for helping our children from border regions who suffered greatly because of the war. Thank you for this support. You hosted more than 500 Ukrainian children. Thank you for this humanitarian assistance.

We also discussed energy and our cooperation. This is a global challenge today - not only for Ukraine or Europe, but for the entire world, due to the war in Iran. Therefore, stable partners are needed here. I thank you for this.

Of course, we are also very pleased that Azerbaijani students often choose Ukraine. We will continue the relevant programs.

And it is very important that we have discussed peace efforts as well. It is very important for Ukraine that Russia finds the strength to end this unjust war. Of course, we highly value the role of our partners in mediating this process. We shared with the President of Azerbaijan that we are ready for trilateral negotiations. We had such talks in Turkiye. We had such talks with our American partners in Switzerland. Of course, we are ready for the negotiations in Azerbaijan in the near future, if Russia is ready for diplomacy.

Dear Mr. President, I believe that the defense-industrial complex, security, and this deep cooperation - to which, in my view, we have taken a very serious step today by signing the relevant documents - are not only about weapons. Today, this is a global matter - one of stability for nations, peace of mind for people, ensuring that their countries are strong enough to defend themselves against any challenges. This is also a very important signal. In my view, before even theoretically considering aggression, any country must know that the countries it seeks to spark hostilities against are ready for any challenge. We wish the people of Azerbaijan strength and peace, and this is very important for us. We understand that not everything is simple. We understand that we are currently in the midst of the hottest, largest war in the past 80 years. Even now - I will be honest with you, Mr. President - I have just received a report from my colleagues that Russia is striking us with various aerial weapons. Of course, they caused destruction, and, of course, they are targeting civilian sites, infrastructure, energy facilities, and railways. Taking this moment - I know there are already, unfortunately, victims and a large number of wounded people - I extend my condolences to all our Ukrainian families.

Thank you, dear Mr. President. Thank you for this visit, for our conversation, and most importantly, for our agreements.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






In Gabala, the President of Ukraine and the President of Azerbaijan Held Substantive Talks during Which Six Bilateral Documents Were Signed

President of Ukraine

25 April 2026 - 15:03

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Gabala, both in a one-on-one and in an expanded format, during which they discussed cooperation in the fields of security, energy, and humanitarian support. This is the Head of State's first visit to Azerbaijan and the seventh meeting between the leaders in more than four years.

"I thank Azerbaijan for its support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Without a doubt, Ukraine has always supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

During the meeting, six bilateral documents were signed across various areas, including defense cooperation. According to the President of Ukraine, the current priority area of cooperation is security and joint production. Ilham Aliyev noted the potential for military-technical cooperation between the two states.

"Last year, two important events took place. Consultations of foreign ministers were held in Baku. There was also a meeting of the intergovernmental commission. And today, during our conversation, we agreed to hold another meeting in Ukraine. We exchanged views and, in short, today, we have quite serious cooperation. And today it was reaffirmed," added the President of Azerbaijan.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also thanked Azerbaijan for 11 packages of energy assistance. The leaders discussed the continuation of relevant cooperation, as well as efforts to increase trade between the countries.

"There are very good prospects now. We have joint projects, we have joint initiatives, investments... Of course, we discussed trade. It needs to grow. More than 500 million US dollars - and I think it will continue to grow, because we have all the opportunities," Ilham Aliyev assured.

The President separately noted the assistance provided in the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children. Azerbaijan has already hosted more than 500 children from frontline regions. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also noted that Azerbaijani students choose Ukraine for their studies. The leaders agreed to continue relevant cooperation in education.

Particular attention was paid to efforts to achieve a dignified peace. The President of Ukraine informed about the security situation and constant Russian attacks, including today's strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities.

"We highly value the role of our partners in mediating this process. We shared with the President of Azerbaijan that we are ready for trilateral negotiations. We had such talks in Turkiye. We had such talks with our American partners in Switzerland. Of course, we are ready for the negotiations in Azerbaijan in the near future, if Russia is ready for diplomacy," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deadly Russian Strikes Pound Ukraine's Dnipro For More Than 12 Hours

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 25, 2026 11:10 CET Updated April 26, 2026

DNIPRO, Ukraine -- Deadly Russian air strikes pounded Ukraine's eastern city of Dnipro for more than 12 hours overnight on April 25, marking the fourth consecutive day of attacks on the country's key volunteer hub.

Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said at least eight people were killed and nearly five dozen were wounded in the strikes, as local emergency services searched for people under the rubble of a residential building damaged in the attack.

Hanzha added that five children were among the injured and later reported that 12 hours after the start of the attack late on April 24, a new drone strike hit another residential building in the city.

"Russia's tactics remain unchanged -- attack drones, cruise missiles, and a significant number of ballistic missiles," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, as the country's military forces reported that more than 600 drones and 47 missiles were launched on Ukraine overnight.

"Most targets are civilian infrastructure in cities," he said, adding that the strikes also caused casualties in the Chernihiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv regions.

Dnipro has long been one of Ukraine's biggest volunteer and refugee hubs, hosting thousands of internally displaced people from the war-torn Donetsk and Luhansk regions since the beginning of Russian military aggression in 2014.

It has also long been one of the most frequent targets of Russian strikes, as more than four years of full-scale war have brought Russian military forces closer to its regional borders.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service at the scene of the aftermath on April 25, Dnipro resident Olha said the latest explosions in the city overnight were "very loud," adding that she could feel the missiles flying over her house.

Olha said she has been internally displaced twice since 2022, leaving her hometown of Vuhledar -- left largely in ruins and now occupied by Russian forces -- for Zaporizhzhya and then for Dnipro.

"We were fleeing all of this at home. We came to a safer place, as we were told. We were in Zaporizhzhya, and we felt all of this there. We then came to Dnipro, and it is all the same."

Elsewhere, local officials reported Russian overnight strikes damaged critical infrastructure in the Kyiv region and a Panama-flagged ship in Ukraine's major southern port city of Odesa.

On the other side of the border, in Russia's fourth-largest city, Yekaterinburg -- around 1,700 kilometers from the front line -- Governor Denis Pasler reported that a Ukrainian drone hit an apartment building, mostly causing minor injuries.

While there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian military forces, over the past weeks Kyiv has stepped up its attacks deep inside Russia, targeting its oil infrastructure from the Gulf of Finland to the Caspian Sea.

RFE/RL cannot independently verify Pasler's report of a drone attack in Yekaterinburg, but if confirmed, it would be the first time the city has been targeted since Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy continued his international visits, traveling from Saudi Arabia to Azerbaijan, where he met President Ilham Aliyev.

A readout of Zelenskyy's visit said that he also met with a group of Ukrainian military experts who had been deployed to Azerbaijan to share air defense expertise.

"We have unique security expertise that can benefit other nations," Zelenskyy's post on X said. "We are already working along three directions: the Middle East and the Gulf region, the European Union, and substantive work with Azerbaijan."

Having previously secured a number of bilateral agreements with European countries, Kyiv has sought to bring its battle-proven technologies and military expertise to countries targeted by Iranian strikes since the beginning of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Separately, during joint comments to the press with Aliyev, Zelenskyy suggested that Azerbaijan could host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine if Moscow is ready to resume the stalled talks.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war- drone-attack-dnipro/33742242.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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Israeli troops gather at a staging area in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to forcefully strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, according to a statement issued by his office on Saturday evening.

The Israeli military said in a statement on Saturday afternoon that it had killed more than 15 Hezbollah militants over the weekend.

In another statement, the IDF said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure used for military purposes across southern Lebanon earlier Saturday, and will continue to operate decisively against threats in accordance with directives from the political echelon.

According to the local news website Lebanon Debate, one person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Hadatha in southern Lebanon on Saturday night.

Earlier in the day, Israeli aircraft struck Hadatha twice within less than 10 minutes.

Israeli warplanes also carried out airstrikes on the village of Zebqine, the town of Bazourieh, the town of Al Sultaniyah, and the Dabsha area near a waste treatment facility in Khirbet Selm, Lebanese media reported.

Also in the day, the Israeli army carried out a controlled explosion in the town of Khiam, while reportedly dismantling solar panels and damaging municipal vehicles in the border town of Debel.

On Saturday evening, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News quoted Israeli security officials as saying that they fear the ceasefire with Lebanon could collapse.

The sources added that Israel demands that the United States put pressure on the Lebanese army to act against Hezbollah in areas north of the Israeli-controlled "security strip" in southern Lebanon, which stretches, according to Israeli statements, from the western coast to the Mount Hermon area and the Syrian border in the east.

The violence came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the current 10-day ceasefire would be extended by three weeks. 

Israeli troops gather at a staging area in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Israeli troops gather at a staging area in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Smoke rises from a site in southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike as seen from northern Israel, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

An Israeli military convoy maneuvers in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

Smoke rises from a site in southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike as seen from northern Israel, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
Featured

Gunshots at White House Dinner as Suspect Arrested; Trump Evacuated Unhurt

Graphic.com.gh International News Apr - 26 - 2026 , 09:27 2 minutes read

Panic broke out in Washington on Saturday night after a suspected gunman opened fire near the venue hosting the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, forcing the evacuation of Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials.

The suspect was later arrested by security officers after gunshots were reported around the main screening area of the event, which was being held at the Washington Hilton.

Initial reports of the shooting were not immediately made public, but eyewitness accounts later confirmed that between five and eight shots were heard, sending guests scrambling for cover under tables as security agents rushed in.

The United States Secret Service quickly secured the scene, with heavily armed personnel taking control of the venue while hundreds of attendees were evacuated.

President Trump, who was whisked to safety along with the First Lady, Vice President and Cabinet members, later confirmed that all key officials were unharmed.

Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely, Trump said in a statement.

He added that the suspect had been apprehended and initially suggested the programme should continue, but said he would defer to security agencies.

Authorities later decided to call off the event, with plans to reschedule it within 30 days.

At a subsequent press briefing, Trump disclosed that the suspect was armed with multiple weapons. He also revealed that one officer was hit during the incident but was protected by a bulletproof vest.

According to the president, he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for something less serious, but the First Lady quickly realised the danger.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear.

Security footage released after the incident showed a man breaching the security checkpoint before armed officers moved in and subdued him.

The incident triggered a massive security response, with members of the National Guard deployed inside and around the venue, while access to the area was tightly restricted.

The shooting adds to a growing list of security threats involving Trump, who has previously survived multiple assassination attempts during his political career.
What to know about Cole Allen, alleged WH correspondents dinner shooter

Previous article: What to know about Cole Allen, alleged WH correspondents dinner shooter

Featured

World reacts to shooting at White House correspondents dinner

bbc.com International News Apr - 26 - 2026 , 10:01 5 minutes read

The United States is taking stock of a shooting at the White House correspondents dinner in Washington, DC, where President Donald Trump was rushed from the scene.

A gunman charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom for the annual media gala on Saturday night, before being taken down by US Secret Service agents as shots were fired.

CBS News reported the alleged attacker told authorities he was targeting officials in the Trump administration.

Heres how leaders in the US and around the world are responding to the news:

United States:

Figures across the political aisle condemned the attack at the event, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and many other senior government officials, along with hundreds of journalists and celebrities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended the event with his wife Kelly, said both were praying for our country tonight.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said: The violence and chaos in America must end.

Washington, DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser, said she is so very thankful to members of law enforcement who did their jobs  and made sure all guests were safe. She said there was no immediate reason to believe anyone apart from the gunman was involved in the attack.

Weijia Jiang, the senior White House correspondent at CBS News and president of the White House Correspondents Association, who was sitting next to Trump as the incident unfolded, emphasised the public service role of journalism, saying when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it.

On a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are, she said. Thank God everybody is safe, and thank you for coming together tonight. Well do this again.

United Kingdom:

Britains Ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, said some British embassy officials were at the event and expressed appreciation for the swift and professional response of the US Secret Service.

Australia

Prime Minister Antony Albanese applauded the US Secret Service and other law enforcement for their swift action.

I am pleased to hear the President and the First Lady, along with all attendees at the White House Correspondents Dinner, are safe, he said.

Canada:

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe.

Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event, said Carney.

European Union:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed relief for the safety of attendees and thanked police and responders for their swift action. Violence has no place in politics, ever, she said.

The EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas issued a similar statement of condemnation, saying political violence has no place in a democracy.

An event meant to honour a free press should never become a scene of fear, Kallas said, while wishing the injured officer a quick recovery.

Spain:

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who Trump has often clashed with, said we condemn the attack that took place against President Donald Trump.

Violence is never the way. Humanity will only advance through democracy, coexistence, and peace, he said.

Mexico:

President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed relief that Trump and his wife were safe. We send them our respect, she wrote on X. Violence must never be the way.

Israel:

Officials quickly conveyed solidarity with leaders in the US and condemned the attack.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said: Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States and Trump. He said he condemns in the strongest possible terms the shooting incident. Zero tolerance for political violence, Saar added.

President Isaac Herzog also expressed relief that the US law enforcement officer shot during the attack is safe and on the path of recovery.

From the Holy Land, we pray for the safety and security of the United States of America and its leaders after this heinous attack, Herzog said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife were shocked by the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and relieved that they are safe and strong.

Pakistan:

Pakistani leaders, who have emerged as key mediators between the US and Iran during the war, issued strong statements of condemnation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply shocked by the disturbing shooting incident and relieved that attendees are safe. He said his thoughts and prayers are with Trump, and I wish him continued safety and well-being.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed relief that Trump, his wife Melania and the vice president are safe.

We strongly condemn all forms of violence, which is enemy of diplomacy and intolerable in any civilised society. Our best wishes go out to [the president] and the American people, said Dar.

Lebanon:

The Lebanese presidency issued a statement, saying President Joseph Aoun had sent a telegram to Trump expressing solidarity following the regrettable events that target security and stability.

The message expressed strong condemnation of acts of violence in all their forms and wished security and safety for the US.

India:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed relief that Trump, his wife and the vice president are safe. I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned, said Modi.

Venezuela:

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power after the US kidnapped and imprisoned Nicolas Maduro in January, said we strongly condemn the attempted attack against President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump.

We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondents Dinner, she said. Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace.
Next article: GRIDCo CEO asked to step aside after Akosombo fire disrupts power supply

Featured

AMA court convicts three for open defecation and illegal dumping in Accra

GraphicOnline Apr - 26 - 2026 , 18:30 2 minutes read

Three individuals have been convicted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court for offences including open defecation and illegal waste disposal, as authorities intensify efforts to enforce environmental regulations in the capital.

The convictions form part of a renewed sanitation crackdown across Accra, where officials say persistent insanitary practices continue to pose serious public health risks despite ongoing awareness campaigns.

Jonathan Doku and Alhassan Seidu were each fined 60 penalty units after being found guilty of open defecation, with a default custodial sentence of two months. In a separate case, Joshua Adjei was fined 50 penalty units for dumping refuse at an unauthorised location.

The AMA said the prosecutions were driven by its determination to curb behaviours that undermine efforts to maintain a clean and healthy urban environment. According to the Assembly, open defecation remains a major concern due to its link to the spread of disease, environmental pollution and the degradation of public spaces.

Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, said the Assembly would sustain its enforcement campaign, warning that offenders would continue to face prosecution as a deterrent.

He noted that Environmental Health Officers, under the leadership of Florence Kuukyi, had been tasked to intensify monitoring and enforcement across the metropolis, targeting individuals and groups who flout sanitation by-laws.

The Assembly has also urged residents to make use of approved toilet facilities and dispose of waste only at designated collection points, stressing that improving sanitation requires collective responsibility.

Authorities say the ongoing exercise forms part of broader measures to restore environmental discipline in the city and safeguard public health, amid growing concerns about sanitation standards in densely populated areas.
Featured

Cabinet approves e visa policy ahead of May 25 rollout

Mohammed Ali Apr - 26 - 2026 , 09:10 2 minutes read

Cabinet has approved a new electronic visa policy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced, less than a month before the system is expected to take effect.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Mr Ablakwa said, Cabinet has approved our new e visa policy. The e visa regime covers those travelling to Ghana for business and tourism.

President John Dramani Mahama first announced the policy on April 2, 2026, during a state visit by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He said African travellers would be able to apply for e visas online at no cost from May 25, 2026, in line with Africa Day.

Mr Ablakwa said the approval forms part of the governments economic and diplomatic direction.

When others make you feel unwelcome, Ghana says this is your home to invest and to enjoy the beauty of nature, he wrote. He added that the government was building on Ghanas reputation as a peaceful and welcoming destination, while using technology to make travel faster and more convenient, backed by strict security checks.

Referring to President Mahamas statement at his inauguration that Ghana is open for business again, Mr Ablakwa said the policy reflects that position. Resetting Ghana must reflect in every facet, he wrote.

The e visa platform will be linked to Ghanas Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, along with international crime databases, to allow background checks before travellers arrive.

Mr Ablakwa has explained that removing visa fees for African travellers does not remove the application and screening process.

Africans will still have to go through a visa application process like everyone else, theirs would simply be gratis, he said.

Under the current arrangement, an African Union national who obtains a visa on arrival pays 150 dollars for a stay of up to 30 days. From May 25, 2026, that fee will no longer apply to African passport holders, although they will still need to complete the application process.

With the policy, Ghana will join Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda and Seychelles in offering visa free or fee free access to African nationals.
Featured

Chief of Staffs apology to Pentecost Chairman accepted as Apostle Nyamekye calls for calm

GraphicOnline Apr - 26 - 2026 , 12:39 2 minutes read

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has apologised to the Church of Pentecost following controversial remarks by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr Mavis Awusi, about the churchs Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.

The apology was delivered during a thanksgiving service at the Pentecost International Worship Centre Trasacco on Sunday, April 26, where Mr Debrah described the remarks as a slip and appealed for forgiveness on behalf of the government.

Forgive us, it was just a slip, it wasnt intentionally done to malign our church. I believe sincerely that you will forgive us and forgive us and accept us as your children, he said.

The controversy arose after Apostle Nyamekye raised concerns about the environmental impact of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, including the pollution of water bodies. His comments prompted a response from Dr Awusi during a media interview, which drew public criticism.

Addressing the issue, Apostle Nyamekye said he held no resentment and would not pursue the matter further.

As for this lady, she has made me more popular. People like that I dont think about because she has made my church and myself more popular, he said.

He added that he had chosen to move on despite the incident.

If I held anything against her, like standing here to speak for 45 minutes, I would have said something about her. I think we all have our opinions on issues, so lets forget about this issue, he stated.

Mr Debrah noted that several government officials are members of the Church and stressed that the comments were not intended to undermine its leadership.

The incident has drawn attention to ongoing concerns over illegal mining and its environmental effects, particularly on rivers and streams used by communities.

Dr Awusi has also issued an apology following the backlash.
Chief of Staffs apology to Pentecost Chairman accepted as Apostle Nyamekye calls for calm

Next article: Chief of Staffs apology to Pentecost Chairman accepted as Apostle Nyamekye calls for calm

See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Monday, April 27, 2026

Previous article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Monday, April 27, 2026

Featured

Critical legal documents lost as fire guts Sunyani Circuit and District courts

Biiya Mukusah Ali Apr - 26 - 2026 , 13:40 2 minutes read

A midnight fire has destroyed the Sunyani Circuit Court and District Court B complex, wiping out critical legal records and property.

The blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Sunday, reduced the facility to ashes, leaving courtrooms filled with debris and charred remains.

The Bono Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Grade I (ACFOI) Cecil Addo, told journalists that the extent of destruction was total, with the cause of the fire yet to be established.

The roof of the building partially caved in, while the walls were blackened by thick smoke, indicating the intensity of the inferno.

Vital documents and equipment destroyed

Inside the complex, essential court materials, including case files, record books, computers and other office equipment were completely destroyed. Wooden benches and furnishings were also reduced to ashes, with remnants found scattered across the premises.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service battled the fire for about eight hours before bringing it under control.

Police officers, firefighters and court staff were later seen salvaging what remained of the burnt items.

When journalists visited the scene on Sunday morning, fire officers were still working to contain residual flames.

The incident has caused anxiety among litigants, particularly those with cases nearing judgment, as many rushed to the scene seeking clarity on the fate of their cases.

Eyewitness account of outbreak

A security officer on duty, Salam Baba Mamudu, said the fire started around 1:00 a.m. while he was inside the building.

He recounted hearing unusual sounds from the ceiling moments before parts of it began to collapse.

Smoke quickly filled the building, making it hard for him to see.

I couldnt find my way out, he said, explaining that some nearby residents helped him to escape.

Water shortage hampers firefighting efforts

ACFOI Addo said efforts to contain the fire were severely hampered by water shortages.

He explained that fire tenders ran out of water, and attempts to access hydrants in Sunyani proved unsuccessful as they were not functioning.

Firefighters also turned to Ghana Water Limited for supply but were unable to secure water.

Eventually, water had to be procured from a private source at Bakoniaba to continue the operation.

"Because of the delay, the fire started again at some point before they finally brought it under control," he said.
Featured

GRIDCo CEO asked to step aside after Akosombo fire disrupts power supply

GraphicOnline Apr - 26 - 2026 , 18:19 2 minutes read

The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has directed the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, to step aside pending investigations into a fire outbreak at the Akosombo Power Control Centre that has disrupted electricity supply across the country.

The directive follows a major fire incident at the facility, which forms a critical part of Ghanas power transmission system. The blaze triggered emergency shutdowns and forced engineers to isolate sections of the national grid, resulting in widespread outages and intermittent supply in several regions.

Officials say the fire, which occurred earlier in the week, damaged key control systems and is estimated to have knocked out between 720 and 1,000 megawatts of transmission capacity linked to the Akosombo installation. The disruption has heightened public concern, with households and businesses grappling with prolonged power cuts.

The Ministers decision to ask the GRIDCo boss to step aside is intended to ensure an independent and transparent investigation into the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the infrastructure.

As part of broader measures to stabilise the power sector, there has also been a leadership shake-up within the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Ashanti Region. The changes, announced by government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, follow persistent complaints of erratic power supply in the region.

The recent outages have coincided with ongoing upgrade works aimed at improving the stability and capacity of the national grid, although authorities acknowledge that the fire has compounded existing challenges in the sector.

The Ministry has indicated that full restoration of operations at the Akosombo facility could take several days, as engineers work to repair damaged systems and restore normal transmission levels.

Mr Jinapor is expected to provide further updates during a scheduled press briefing at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, where he will outline steps being taken to address the disruptions and strengthen the resilience of the national grid.

Government has assured the public of its commitment to restoring stable electricity supply and addressing the underlying issues affecting power distribution across the country.
See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Monday, April 27, 2026

Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Monday, April 27, 2026

Featured

Missing Indian national found dead in car boot at Sabin Akrofuom; one arrested

Mohammed Ali Apr - 26 - 2026 , 18:05 2 minutes read

Police in the Ashanti Region have arrested one person in connection with the killing of an Indian national, Devendra Singh, whose body was found in the boot of his car at Sabin Akrofuom on the outskirts of Kumasi.

Mr Singh had earlier been reported missing, prompting a police search. At about 2.00 p.m. on April 25, 2026, officers received information that his vehicle had been located near Royal Lemosey Hospital on the outskirts of Sabin Akrofuom.

A team moved to the scene and found the car parked by the roadside. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of Mr Singhs body in the boot, with multiple stab wounds.

The Ashanti Regional Crime Scene Management Team processed the scene, after which the body was conveyed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy. The vehicle has been impounded to aid investigations.

The suspect is in custody and assisting with investigations.

Following the incident, the Inspector General of Police has deployed a special team of intelligence officers and homicide investigators to support the Ashanti Regional Police Command and help track down all persons linked to the crime.

The Police assure the public that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice and urge anyone with relevant information to assist the investigation, a statement from the command said.

The statement was dated April, 26,2026 and signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

Investigations are ongoing.
Featured

World-Meets-in-Ghana gala spotlights Asantehenes legacy and honours top figures

GraphicOnline Apr - 26 - 2026 , 10:04 2 minutes read

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has honoured a distinguished group of political leaders, traditional rulers and business figures at the World-Meets-in-Ghana Executive Gala, held at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The high-level event brought together key national and international personalities in recognition of contributions to peacebuilding, governance and economic development, while also celebrating the Asantehenes enduring influence as a unifying figure in Ghana and beyond.

Among those honoured were President John Dramani Mahama, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. The Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, was also recognised at the ceremony.

Other honourees included Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, prominent business leader Samuel Esson Jonah, Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, alongside other leading figures from the corporate sector.

The gala, organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President in partnership with E ON 3 Group, formed part of activities marking the 27th anniversary of the Asantehenes enstoolment. It was held under the theme Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development Through Royal Vision.

Speakers at the event paid tribute to the Asantehenes longstanding role in conflict resolution and national cohesion, citing his involvement in major mediation efforts across Adonten, Tafo, Tepa, Dagbon, Sampa and Bawku. His leadership, they noted, continues to reinforce his reputation as a symbol of peace, justice and wisdom.

The ceremony, held at the Jubilee Hall of the Manhyia Palace, attracted members of the diplomatic community, policymakers, traditional authorities and business leaders, underscoring the global relevance of the Asantehenes influence.

As Special Guest of Honour, Ms Botchwey joined other dignitaries in highlighting the importance of leadership grounded in dialogue and inclusivity, noting that such values remain essential for sustainable development.

Over the years, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has earned widespread recognition for his role in promoting unity and stability, both within Ghana and across the African continent. The gala reaffirmed his standing as a global advocate for peace while also celebrating individuals whose work aligns with his vision for a prosperous and cohesive society.
Some 11,769 residents on Saipan are still without power, while Tinian remains 100% offline more than a week after a direct hit from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, based on the latest Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Information Center report Sunday night.

Two thirds of those on Saipan are also without water, and Tinian is 98% operational, but both islands are under a boil water notice.

Power

CNMI JIC reported a total of 662 downed power poles as Department of Energy drone assessments and hazardous material cleanup are underway on Saipan.

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. plants 1 and 2 assessments and debris clearing are ongoing, with a 60% completion of side wall repairs.

Plant 3 was energized Saturday evening, and received a temporary fuel tank permit.

Plant 4 side wall repairs have begun with a three- to four-week time for a temporary repair.

On Tinian, feeder assessments are 80% complete. To date, 111 poles and 38 transformers are down and all feeders remain offline, leaving 1,059 customers in the dark.

Line crews from Rota are expected to arrive on Tinian by Monday to assist with restoration.

Water

Saipan water production sits at 5.7 million gallons per day, a 54% capacity, while 41% of wells and facilities are online though none are on the CUC power grid.

A saltwater treatment system was installed at Sugar Dock and seven well weather heads are repaired as of Saturday evening.

The Sadog Tasi Wastewater Treatment Plant is in operation, with a Federal Emergency Management Agency generator, while the Agingan plant is currently monitored and fueled by FEMA.

Roof damage to the Tinian water tank was observed, while engineering cost estimates are pending.

Tinian Maui 2 well is currently running on a backup power generator.

Communications

Provider statistics revealed that at least more than half of all communications network coverage has been restored across the CNMI.

On Saipan, the active communications sectors are as follows: Grandvrio, China Town, Dandan, Mt. Tapochao, Kagman, Kensington Hotel, Sasha Building (Quarter Master), DSebastian Building (Tanapag), MH2 Building (Puerto Rico), Lower Base (CUC Plant), Paradiso Resort, Crowne Plaza, Torres Building (Sugar King), Herman's Bakery, CNMI Homeland Security, Finasisu, Kiyu-Ville, Koblerville Village, Nauru Building, Afetna Supermarket, Thunder Chicken, RJ Plaza, Airport, Gualo Rai BECQ, and San Vicente.

Fuel availability

On Saipan, the Shell gas stations in Highway Express, Dandan, and Susupe are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the San Roque station is reserved for first responders.

Mobil in Chalan Kiya, Chalan Piao, Garapan, Middle Road, Koblerville, Sadog Tasi, and Susupe are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Tinian, Tinian Fuel Services is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shelters

The current shelter population sits at 565 across Saipan and Tinian, an increase of two since Saturday.

Schools

All public schools in the CNMI Public School System are closed as site assessments are ongoing. Once assessments are completed, the next phase will be emergency repairs and debris removal.

Some CNMI public schools and centers remain activated as designated community shelters.

There is no tentative reopening date.

Northern Marianas College is ending its Spring term early in response to ongoing recovery efforts from Sinlaku.

NMC has activated a dedicated student hotline at (670) 285-2059/7651 available from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The NMTech campus will be open for limited operation for cleaning purposes only.

Selected staff will report to work on Monday to assist with cleanup efforts, while all staff will report to work on Wednesday for a full campus clean up.

Spring classes will be suspended until the latter part of June 2026.

Ports

The Saipan International Airport is operating on generator power with limited running water, but runways are clear and operational.

United Airlines flights have resumed their daily Guam service, arriving on Saipan at 8:50 a.m., and leaving at 9:55 a.m.

Micronesia Air Carrier Service and Star Marianas Air flights continue operating daytime commuter and cargo flights, while additional airline partners are pending confirmation.

Saipan International Airport is limited to daytime operations due to damaged navigational aids.

The Francisco Manglona Borja/Tinian International Airport is open with restrictions.

Only humanitarian flights are allowed and limited to daytime operations.

All ports across the CNMI are open under Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey.

Ports can now accept commercial traffic and cargo transfer operations are permitted; however operations are limited to daylight operations only.

All mariners are advised to use caution when entering or departing waterways. Navigation safety advisories are in effect.
ISLAMABAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Hopes for reviving Iran-U.S. peace efforts through Pakistan dimmed again on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump canceled the planned Islamabad visit of his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrapped up talks with Pakistan's leadership and left for Oman.

Earlier, the White House had announced that the two key negotiators would travel to Pakistan, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing Pakistan as an "incredible" mediator throughout the process.

However, late Saturday, Trump called off the visit, saying, "We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing."

The cancellation came after Tehran had already made clear that no direct talks with U.S. officials would take place in Islamabad unless its conditions were addressed first.

An Iranian delegation led by Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late Friday night for consultations on regional developments and possible diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began on Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied reports of any planned meeting with U.S. officials in Pakistan, while Iranian media said Araghchi would only consult with the Pakistani side and use Islamabad as a channel to convey Iran's considerations regarding ending the conflict.

Pakistani and Iranian officials held multiple rounds of meetings on Friday and Saturday and focused on proposals related to potential future negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Pakistani sources told Xinhua.

Araghchi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday in Islamabad. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also attended the nearly two-hour meeting, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

Sharif emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peace and stability in the region and beyond, the PM's Office said.

Earlier, Araghchi also held talks with Munir and conveyed Iran's views regarding the end of the military conflict, the ceasefire with the United States and Israel, and broader regional stability, according to Iranian media reports.

Pakistani officials, acting as mediators, conveyed messages from Washington during the discussions, after which the Iranian delegation presented its responses and key demands, sources said.

A late-night meeting between the two sides upon Araghchi's arrival focused on Tehran's preconditions before any direct engagement with Washington, including lifting the U.S. naval blockade and releasing Iranian ships and crew seized by the U.S. side.

The Iranian side said it would remain engaged to help shape a future diplomatic path and appreciated Pakistan's "untiring and sincere efforts" to promote peace and stability, the sources added.

At the same time, Tehran hardened its public messaging over the blockade.

Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned on Saturday that it would react if the United States continued what it called "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the region, referring to the U.S. naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and recent actions against Iran-bound vessels.

The command said Iran's armed forces were prepared to inflict "more severe damage" if the United States and Israel repeated what it called aggression, while maintaining control over the strategic waterway.

The renewed tensions came after a ceasefire was reached on April 8 following 40 days of fighting, and after the first round of Iran-U.S. talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 failed to produce an agreement.

Iran had earlier declined to attend the expected second round of talks in Pakistan, citing the continued U.S. blockade and what it described as excessive American demands.

Although Pakistani mediation remains active and sources said Araghchi could return to Islamabad if ongoing contacts make progress, Saturday's developments suggested that the path toward renewed negotiations remains uncertain, with both sides still far apart on the core conditions for resuming talks. 
Independent auditors found widespread issues in the way the government of Guam handled federal funds in fiscal year 2024, from missing documentation to weak oversight controls, resulting in about $22.6 million in total questioned costs on five major federal programs.

These were some of the highlights of GovGuams fiscal 2024 financial audit and compliance report, released by the Office of Public Accountability on Sunday.

While fiscal 2024 shows financial progress, GovGuams long-term sustainability depends on improved accountability, transparency, and compliance, based on the report.

And despite receiving an unmodified or clean audit opinion, GovGuams fiscal 2024 financial audit was a record late audit.

It was supposed to be done 10 months ago or by June 30, 2025.

OPA said this delay was in part due to the late issuance of fiscal 2024 financial audit reports for the Guam Department of Education in January, and lack of qualified accountants in GovGuam and external auditors Ernst & Young LLP.

Since fiscal 2021, which is under the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration, GovGuam compliance audits have been late from their statutory deadline.

Late audits mean lawmakers dont have a clear reference for funds available for appropriation.

Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz, during a recent podcast hosted by Jeffs Pirates Cove, days before the release of the audit report, encouraged the public to read especially the compliance report.

To see whether or not the agency has been complying...and youd be surprised how derelict the departments are in complying with the regulations, Cruz said.

GovGuam received some $604.6 million in federal grant awards in 2024, with the largest amount coming from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than a third of total grant awards that year.

Unbalanced budget

OPA also noted unbalanced budget for fiscal 2024, a practice that continued in fiscal 2025.

Thats because the Legislature passed additional appropriations without adjusting the fiscal years adopted revenues.

OPA said this practice, along with the authorization of prior year budgetary lapses without stating the specified amount, will result in instability in government finances due to the risk of arbitrarily appropriating already appropriated fund balances.

In fiscal 2024, for example, Guam senators adopted a General Fund revenue level of $909.3 million and made their initial appropriations based on that revenue adoption.

But they also passed 12 more appropriations totaling $82 million without adjusting the 2024 adopted revenues, leading to an unbalanced budget for the year, OPA said.

Those included funding for energy credits, payment for merit bonuses, charter schools, paying for taxpayers waived credit card fees, and retirees cost of living allowance payments, among others.

OPA said despite GovGuam reporting continued financial improvement in fiscal 2024, ongoing audit delays and compliance challenges underscore the need for strengthened financial management and oversight.

DOA: $11.8M questioned costs

According to OPA, auditors found $11.8 million in questioned costs and 31 total instances, 12 of which were repeated findings.

One of the largest amounts of questioned costs was $5.62 million of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Auditors found no supporting documents like a purchase order, contract, or invoices to determine whether expenditures on items were allowable under the underlying grant.

According to audit documents, a total $5.6 million were labeled as miscellaneous expenses.

Additionally, auditors found $16,236 worth of deficiencies when it came to regular and overtime payroll.

The Department of Administration did not enforce monitoring controls over compliance with applicable activities allowed or unallowed and allowable costs/cost principles requirements, specifically, retaining sufficient documentation to support transactions and ensuring expenditures are necessary and reasonable for the performance of the federal award, the auditors wrote.

DOA disagrees with this finding.

DPHSS: $10.8M questioned costs

Auditors questioned a total $10.8 million in expenses by the Department of Public Health and Social Services and 10 total instances. Two of those instances did not have a determinate dollar amount.

Upwards of $6.2 million was questioned relating to the Child Care Development Fund.

Auditors found deficiencies in 91% of benefits paid to childcare providers during fiscal 2024. These childcare providers lacked required documentation like inspection reports from the Division of Environmental Health, or valid facility licenses.

The deficient benefits total to about $3.73 million in questioned costs.

Additionally, $1.83 million was questioned since DPHSS failed to meet minimum spending requirements for activities designed to improve the quality of childcare services for infants and toddlers.

An additional $3.6 million was questioned related to the Childrens Health Insurance Program regarding provider and beneficiary eligibility.

More than half, about 56%, of participant benefits, were questioned by auditors for reasons such as missing documentation for citizenship requirements, income eligibility, or mayors verification were not on file.

Total questioned costs for participant eligibility sit at $1.97 million.

DPHSS did not enforce monitoring controls over compliance with applicable eligibility requirements, specifically, retaining sufficient documentation to support eligibility determination, auditors wrote.

Likewise, auditors noted that all 24 providers tested for eligibility in CHIP had some kind of deficiency.

Many providers did not have ownership disclosure statements or business licenses on file.

Furthermore, DPHSS did not establish categorical risk levels for providers and provider categories who posed an increased financial risk of fraud, waste, or abuse to the Medicaid program.

Surplus

The Department of Administration on Sunday night issued a statement, pointing to the audit confirming a surplus for the General Fund of $98.4 million.

Of that, $64.7 million has been reported by GDOE, based on expected federal grant receipts, DOA said.

It also said $14.9 million of the surplus is attributable to amounts set aside for the Rainy Day Fund.

However, the Legislature appropriated up to $25 million, mostly from the Rainy Day Fund, to be used to respond to Super Typhoon Sinlakus impacts. Sinlaku lingered in the Marianas for days, though its closest approach to Guam was on April 14.

DOA, in its statement, added that the accumulated surplus is $293.6 million. Of this amount, $40.5 million is unassigned, meaning this is available to meet expenditure requirements not incurred as of the end of the fiscal year.

Others

Federal grant revenues declined in fiscal 2024 as pandemic-era funding programs wound down.

OPA also noted that a pending legal dispute regarding the use of more than $100 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds introduces uncertainty. The outcome may significantly impact future funding availability.

GovGuam also said it is currently unable to estimate the full financial impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which may affect future financial statements.
A 45-year-old woman is accused of drug possession after an officer found her holding an "ice pipe" outside the Dededo mayor's office, according to a magistrate's complaint filed in Superior Court.

Michelle D.R. Del Rosario, also known as Michelle Del Rosario Del Rosario, was charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as a third-degree felony, with notice of commission of a felony while on felony release.

Around 8 p.m. on April 23, an officer on routine patrol in Dededo made a check at the Dededo mayor's office and saw a pair of feet protruding from behind the wall of the entranceway.

The officer got down to check and found a woman who identified herself as Del Rosario. The officer saw Del Rosario holding what appeared to be a glass pipe and she confirmed it was an "ice pipe," the complaint stated.

Del Rosario handed over the pipe to the officer and the officer saw a residue of a crystalline substance, which he suspected to be methamphetamine, documents stated.

When Del Rosario stood up, the officer saw two small, resealable baggies on the floor where she was sitting.

The baggies contained a residue of a crystalline substance, which the officer suspected was methamphetamine.

A field test was conducted using samples from the baggies and yielded a presumptive positive for methamphetamine, the complaint stated.

Del Rosario was on felony release in a 2024 case, with a bench warrant issued on April 10, the complaint stated.

She was committed on $3,000 cash bail, according to Office of the Attorney General documents.
As the curator for the Guam Museum, I work on my tasks. I help take care of the cultural, educational and historical collection for the Guam Museum.

I also help oversee the Guam Cultural Repository where today, thousands of boxes of archeological collections and ancestral remains are cared for.

I help with exhibits at the Guam Museum, sometimes curating and sometimes just supporting in other ways.

In fact, we have one opening, which is being curated by the Guam Commission on Decolonization, focusing on the history of the movement for decolonization and the many groups that have made it possible. It opened in the museums rotating gallery on April 17.

I also give tours for families, for schools, for dignitaries, and to those who visit the museum. I visit dozens of schools to give presentations on Guam history and CHamoru culture each year. I organize events and outreach for the museum such as HITA Talks and other ceremonies. Gof bokka i belao-hu!

But one of the most meaningful tasks that I undertake in my role as curator for the Guam Museum is to work on repatriation or the seeking out, negotiating and then facilitating the return of artifacts and ancestral remains that are in the possession of museums or institutions elsewhere.

This type of work can be very difficult for a variety of reasons, some of which deal with Guams political status, the status of CHamorus as an indigenous people, and also just lack of sufficient resources.

It can also be difficult since the discussions around returning artifacts or ancestral remains can be painfully imbalanced.

What can be for us a precious treasure taken long ago, that we are seeking to bring home, can be nothing more than a catalog entry in a database, that people in a museum on the other side of the world could care less about.

For some indigenous people, the stakes in terms of repatriation might be quite high, as the museum may value highly the belongings theyve taken.

They might be on display prominently. They might be considered rare or valuable, unique and special. This can lead to repatriation discussions dragging on for years or simply going nowhere.

CHamoru collections are rarely like this. While many museums around the world might have a handful, a few dozen or even a few hundreds items from Guam and the Marianas, it is rare that they are ever displayed prominently or considered to be prized. Usually, they are stored away in collection rooms and never even exhibited or studied.

One of my priorities as curator has been to work with others on Guam and with CHamorus working in museums and galleries across the U.S. to try to bring more of these artifacts back to the island.

Since last year, myself and Nicole Delisle Duenas, the Archeological Collections lab manager at the Guam Cultural Repository, have been working with Jesi Lujan Bennett, PhD, and the team at the Museum of Us in Balboa Park, San Diego on the repatriation of the CHamoru and Micronesian artifacts that they have in their collection. Sometimes repatriation work can be difficult, but working with Jesi and her team was an enriching and uplifting process.

I am excited to report that last month, during Mes CHamoru, we were able to bring back the first wave of more than 200 items to Guam. This first wave includes acho atupat, higam (adze), prewar pitchers, coal irons, pandanus woven baskets and other crafts and more. The items were donated to the Museum of Us by U.S. military servicemen who had been stationed on Guam and the Marianas, before or after World War II.

The items were either gathered during boonie stomps, acquired as souvenirs or in the case of some of the prewar items, purchased and used in the 1920s and 1930s while these families were living on Guam.

Two of the most impressive pieces that have been returned are a handmade machete and fosinos.

The machete was forged during the 1920s and the fosinos was made soon after World War II. Neither unfortunately have any indication of who might have made them. As the grandson and the great-grandson of CHamoru blacksmiths and someone who has made machetes and fosinos myself, seeing these tools and touching them, and then helping to bring them back to our island, brought tears to my eyes.

Prior to bringing this first wave of artifacts from the Museum of Us home, Jesi Bennett organized a viewing for CHamorus in San Diego to see them and learn more of the history involved with the items.

Dozens of CHamorus came, including representatives from diasporic groups like the Sons and Daughter of Guam Club, The House of Chamorros and Chamorro Hands in Education Links Unity, CHELU.

Now that these artifacts are home, we will be preparing them for a community presentation and display. Since May is Museum Month, we are planning something for next month. Follow the Guam Museum on social media for updates about when youll get a chance to see them.
The long-awaited government of Guam fiscal year 2024 financial audit and compliance report contains disturbingly familiar findings, from missing documentation to weak oversight controls, and $22.6 million in questioned costs involving federal money that no one has adequately explained.

Let that number sit for a moment. That is $22.6 million in federal funds that auditors could not verify was spent properly.

On an island where families are stretching every dollar to cover fuel, food, and electricity, that figure is not an accounting footnote.

And the executive branch is not the only one that must answer for this. The audit also found that the Guam Legislature caused unbalanced budgets for both fiscal years 2024 and 2025, appropriating more than projected revenues could support.

Senators are elected to be stewards of the public purse, not to write checks the government cannot cash. When the Legislature approves spending that exceeds revenue, it sets the entire government on a path toward deficits, deferred obligations, and deeper debt.

Lawmakers owe the people of Guam an explanation.

Worse still, this financial report arrived late, again. By law, GovGuams annual government-wide financial audit is due by June 30 of the following fiscal year.

The fiscal 2024 audit was delayed by months, following a pattern that stretches back years.

At some point, chronic tardiness stops being an inconvenience and becomes a deliberate avoidance of accountability. No one in GovGuam has been held fully accountable.

The Office of Public Accountability has been sounding this alarm for years, and OPA deserves recognition for refusing to let the message fade.

Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz and his team have repeatedly hammered home a simple truth that timely financial reporting is not optional. Timely financial reporting is the foundation of public trust.

When audits are delayed, problems fester. When problems fester, money disappears. The findings in this report demand immediate action.

Whos going to account for every dollar of the $22.6 million in questioned costs? The agencies responsible must produce documentation or explain where the money went. No more shrugs.

The Legislature should hold public hearings and demand answers under oath.

Fix the internal controls. Missing documentation and weak oversight are symptoms of a system that has not been held to professional standards.

Every department head must be required to certify that their financial records are complete and current.

Meet the legal deadline for financial reporting. No more excuses about staffing shortages or auditor transitions. Make the Guam Department of Education accountable for holding the entire GovGuams financial reporting hostage.

Hire qualified staff. Train existing personnel. Invest in modern financial systems. The federal government requires timely audits as a condition of funding, and Guam cannot afford to jeopardize those dollars.

The Legislature must strengthen OPAs authority and resources. OPA has done its job. The question is whether the rest of the government will do theirs.

Financial accountability is not bureaucratic busywork. It is how the people of Guam know their tax dollars are being spent honestly and effectively.

Every delayed report, every missing receipt, every unresolved questioned cost erodes the publics trust in its own government.

The people of Guam deserve better. No more excuses.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows Egyptian adventurer and world traveler Ahmed Haggagovic (R) taking a selfie with a worker at an export-trade clothing company in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xiaojing)

NANCHANG, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian adventurer and world traveler Ahmed Haggagovic has visited 191 countries. One country in particular stands out: China.

"I can leave my bag at the train station, even though there are half a million people there. I think it's unlikely that someone will take it," he said. "China is a safe place for children, families, and females to walk on the street at night."

Known as "the king of travel," the 41-year-old world adventurer began his global travels in 2007. With 5.25 million fans on Facebook and 1.32 million followers on Instagram, the stakes are high to portray the world fairly and accurately.

"Seeing is believing. People like my videos because I film reality. They use my eyes and videos as if they themselves are traveling the world," he said.

"This is my 15th time visiting China, and each time I come, new things are happening. Over the past ten years, China has tremendously changed," Haggagovic said. With each visit, he pops into different cities to experience various regional cultures.

Walking through a clothing factory in Nanchang, an export-trade clothing company in east China's Jiangxi Province, Haggagovic carefully selects colors while touching the fabric with his hand. "I want to customize a batch of T-shirts for my social media and fans."

In 2010, Haggagovic traveled by train from Russia to China for the first time. "On the train, I saw Chinese people for the first time. They didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Chinese, but we shared some food."

"When I arrived in China, I realized China was completely different from what I had imagined," he said.

Haggagovic noted developments across China, citing astonishing changes in the country's infrastructure, technology, and urban landscapes.

"Recently, I posted the videos of drone delivery, high-speed trains, robots and self-driving cars in China. More and more people on social media tell me they want to visit China," said Haggagovic.

"As a traveler, I want to keep promoting China to the world." 

This screenshot from a video clip shows Egyptian adventurer and world traveler Ahmed Haggagovic receiving an interview with Xinhua in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xiaojing)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows Egyptian adventurer and world traveler Ahmed Haggagovic (R) visiting an export-trade clothing company in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xiaojing)

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows Egyptian adventurer and world traveler Ahmed Haggagovic (R) customizing T-shirts for his social media and fans at an export-trade clothing company in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xiaojing)
Samsung's security patch released in early April is apparently causing users more problems than just with Microsoft apps. In forums, owners of the Galaxy S24 and S25 series are primarily complaining about devices overheating and significantly reduced battery life. Some users believe they have found the cause.

Continue after ad

Battery Drainer

I charged it fully 35 minutes ago, its at 65% now. I've turned off everything. Turned on battery saver. Restarted. Ran a virus scan. Ran diagnostics. Nothing seems to cool it off, writes a frustrated user of a Galaxy S24 in the Samsung community forum. Numerous users confirm his experience (via Android Authority).

S25 users report the same in both the Samsung community and on Reddit: My battery has been trash for a whole 2-3 weeks as a s25 ultra user, complains a Redditor in a thread on the Android subreddit. An owner of a Galaxy S24 states that his battery lasts less than three hours and takes five hours to charge to 100%. However, an owner of a Galaxy S25 reports that his phone is dead after just two hours.

A moderator of the Samsung community advises users to charge the device in Safe Mode. However, according to numerous user reports, this does not change anything.

Knox Matrix possible culprit

Continue after ad

Some users seem to have identified the culprit and are sharing screenshots of their devices' battery consumption. The Samsung security feature for the connected device ecosystem Knox Matrix stands out clearly. Several screenshots show that Knox Matrix consumes an unusually high proportion of the battery power. The app appears to be constantly running in the background and overloading the CPU.

There seems to be no interim solution. The app can be closed and the device reset to factory settings. According to one user, they have done both and still have the same problem.

Samsung does not seem to have confirmed the error yet, and it does not occur for all users; a Galaxy S24 from our editorial office runs completely unobtrusively after installing the security patches from early April. However, Samsung will likely have no choice but to release another update as soon as possible to fix the known problems.

(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.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo joined other EU leaders in China amid shifting global trade flows and rising geopolitical strain. Finnish officials frame the visits as part of ongoing engagement rather than a policy break, with emphasis on dialogue at both political and commercial levels.

Recent visits by European leaders to Beijing have placed Finlands relationship with China back into focus, as political and business figures call for closer coordination in trade, climate policy, and technology.

In a recent interview with CGTN, Timo Vuori, director of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, said the meetings reflect wider changes in global affairs. There are plenty of things which are changing the world as society and also the state relationship are changing, he said. Theres some challenges which we are facing on the political side, but also the economic side.

Vuori said engagement with China remains necessary for Finlands leadership. He noted that decision makers are ready to discuss with the Chinese government both economic issues and also the political issues. He added that questions over opportunities and tensions in economic ties remain central for both countries.

Ville Skinnari, chair of the Parliamentary China Friendship Group, rejected any split between economic and political engagement. We shouldnt distinguish economic security, foreign policy, or any elements of politics or collaboration, he said. He described the visits as a sign that leaders aim to maintain and deepen ties. Its a clear sign that these heads of state, they will now deepen and improve and strengthen their ties with China.

He pointed to earlier high level visits, including his own trip to Beijing and Shanghai with Finlands president. Its always important to have bilateral ties, and especially at the very top level, he said.

Attention now turns to Chinas 15th Five-Year Plan, which begins in 2026 and sets long term goals for economic and social policy. Finnish officials see the plan as a chance to align priorities and expand cooperation in key sectors.

Skinnari said Europe often reacts to events rather than planning ahead. Here in Europe, in the Western world, we tend to be more and more short term. We tend to be more and more reactive instead of being proactive, he said. He contrasted this with Chinas planning approach. The long termism is the key. So everything is envisaged and looked at in a long term year.

He stressed the need for joint work in areas such as climate policy and technology. For instance, the climate change, the green technology scaling, I think China is now paving in a way, and if Europe gets along, we can do so much together for the world, he said. He called for stronger cooperation built on trust. The world is really lacking the true, real trust, and therefore, we are not able to co-create, co-develop, things as we used to.

Skinnari also highlighted the position of smaller states. Smaller, middle sized countries like Finland, its obvious that we have to partner. We have to create partnerships, he said. He raised the question of how ties with China should develop at regional and local levels, as well as through direct contact between citizens.

He said Finlands education system and technical knowledge remain valued in China. I look forward to work, whether its 50 year or five year program, again, with China, and further with China, he said.

Vuori pointed to industry cooperation in climate and technology. He said Finland and China share an interest in improving energy use and industrial systems. What kind of technologies we are using, how to make our society and industry more energy efficient, he said. He added that automation and digitalisation offer further scope for joint work.

He noted that China holds a leading position in several technologies. China is technological leader in many of the critical technologies, and therefore, we are also looking for what to learn from the China, he said. At the same time, he said Finnish firms bring expertise in clean technology and circular economy systems.

Finnish companies are also very relevant global actors in cleantech and circular economy and energy issues, Vuori said. He said this balance creates scope for mutual gain. Our companies can find some positive cooperation opportunities in the future.

Parliamentary links form another part of the relationship. Skinnari said dialogue between lawmakers helps build understanding and maintain contact beyond executive meetings. Parliamentary collaboration is so important, he said. He praised the role of parliamentary speakers but said more work remains. We could do even more, because its so important that parliaments interact.

He called for more visits and exchanges between Finland, China, and Europe, describing them as key to stable relations.

Business networks also play a role alongside political dialogue. Vuori said companies often lead cooperation in practice. Theres plenty of room for that kind of business driven platforms and networks, he said. He described forums where firms meet without political oversight to discuss specific sectors.

The companies know what is best for the market and also what is best for the business as such, he said.

HT
KABUL, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has signed three cooperation agreements with domestic and international donors to support returnee and internally displaced families, the ministry said on Sunday.

The deals, valued at about 2.9 million U.S. dollars, are expected to benefit 5,952 households and 82,616 displaced and returnee individuals through vocational training, small business support and urgent food distribution, said the ministry.

The ministry signed a separate cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Refugee Council to support thousands of returnee families two weeks ago.

Nearly 3 million Afghans reportedly have returned from abroad, particularly neighboring Pakistan and Iran, over the past year. The Afghan government has been distributing humanitarian aid and allocating land to help reintegrate the returnees. 
This photo taken on April 25, 2026 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Donald Trump being evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has been evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night. Trump confirmed that the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is in custody in his Truth Social post. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has been evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night.

Attendees were seen on the live broadcast ducking around their tables and taking cover. Multiple news outlets reported that gunshots were heard in the White House ballroom.

Organizers announced that the program will resume momentarily, but did not offer more details.

This would mark Trump's first time attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner. 

This photo taken on April 25, 2026 shows a screen displaying a scene of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has been evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night.

Trump confirmed that the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is in custody in his Truth Social post. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

This photo taken on April 25, 2026 shows a screen displaying a scene of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has been evacuated from the White House Correspondents' Dinner after what appears to be a security incident at the event, according to a live broadcast on Saturday night.

Trump confirmed that the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner is in custody in his Truth Social post. (Xinhua/Li Rui)