Category: World

As people increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for advice, some U.S. lawyers are telling their clients not to treat AI chatbots like trusted confidants when their freedom or legal liability is on the line.
These warnings became more urgent after a federal judge in New York ruled, this year that the former CEO of a bankrupt financial ​services company could not shield his AI chats from prosecutors pursuing securities fraud charges against him.

In the wake of the ruling, attorneys have been advising that conversations with chatbots like Anthropic’s Claude and ‌OpenAI’s ChatGPT could be demanded by prosecutors in criminal cases or by litigation adversaries in civil cases.
“We are telling our clients: You should proceed with caution here,” said Alexandria Gutiérrez Swette, a lawyer at New York-based law firm Kobre & Kim.
People’s discussions with their lawyers are almost always deemed confidential under U.S. law. But AI chatbots are not lawyers, and attorneys are instructing clients to take steps that could keep their communications with AI tools more private.

In emails to clients and advisories posted on their websites, more than a dozen major U.S. law ​firms have outlined advice for people and companies to decrease the chances of AI chats winding up in court.
Similar warnings are also appearing in hiring agreements by some firms with their clients. For instance, New ​York-based firm Sher Tremonte stated in a recent client contract that sharing a lawyer’s advice or communications with a chatbot could erase the legal protection known as attorney-client privilege ⁠that usually shields communications between lawyers and their clients.

A JUDICIAL RULING

The case that helped set off the alarm bells involved Bradley Heppner, the former chair of bankrupt financial services company GWG Holdings and founder of alternative asset firm ​Beneficent (BENF.O). Heppner was charged by federal prosecutors last November with securities and wire fraud, and pleaded not guilty.

Heppner had used Anthropic’s chatbot Claude to prepare reports about his case to share with his attorneys, who later argued that his AI exchanges ​should be withheld because they contained details from the lawyers related to his defense.
Prosecutors argued that they had a right to demand material that Heppner created with Claude because his defense lawyers were not directly involved, and because attorney-client privilege does not apply to chatbots.
Voluntarily revealing information from a lawyer to any third party can jeopardize the customary legal protections for those attorney communications.
Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff ruled, in February that Heppner must hand over 31 documents generated by Anthropic’s chatbot Claude related to the case.
No attorney-client relationship exists “or ​could exist, between an AI user and a platform such as Claude,” Rakoff wrote.

Lawyers for Heppner did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
Courts already are grappling ​with the growing use of artificial intelligence by lawyers and people representing themselves in legal cases, which among other things has led to legal filings containing made-up cases invented by AI.
Rakoff’s decision was an important early test in the AI chatbot era for ‌bedrock legal protections ⁠governing attorney-client communications and materials prepared for litigation.
On the same day as Rakoff’s ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti in Michigan said a woman representing herself in a lawsuit she brought against her former company did not have to hand over her chats with OpenAI’s ChatGPT about the employment claims made in the case.
Patti treated the woman’s AI chats as part of her own personal “work-product” for the case, rather than as conversations with a person who her employer could seek to use for its defense.

ChatGPT and other generative AI programs “are tools, not persons,” Patti wrote in his order.

The privacy and usage terms for both OpenAI and Anthropic state that the companies can share data involving their users with third parties. Both ​also state that they require users to consult a qualified ​professional before relying on their chatbots for legal ⁠advice.
Rakoff at a February hearing in Heppner’s case noted that Claude “expressly provided that users have no expectation of privacy in their inputs.”
Representatives for OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/ai-ruling-prompts-warnings-us-lawyers-your-chats-could-be-used-against-you-2026-04-15/

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell from his separate seat on the U.S. central bank’s Board ​of Governors if Powell does not vacate that post as well when his term as Fed chief ends on May 15, intensifying a complicated standoff that has upended ‌the Fed’s usually smooth transition of power.
Trump administration threats against Powell, including an ongoing criminal investigation, could delay Senate confirmation of Kevin Warsh as Trump’s nominee to succeed Powell as Fed chief, but the president in a Fox Business interview doubled down on the probe as a way to prove Powell’s “incompetence” and said if he doesn’t leave altogether, “then I’ll have to fire him.”

“You want Jay Powell out of the way?” the president was asked by Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo.
“If ​he’s not leaving on time – I’ve held back firing him, I’ve wanted to fire him, but I hate to be controversial, you know. I want to be uncontroversial, but he will ​be fired,” Trump responded. He gave no indication that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro would back down from investigating a Fed ⁠building project the administration has criticized for cost overruns.
Trump’s language underscored the stakes, and the potential complications the administration faces if Powell doesn’t leave the seven-member Fed board.

With greater control of seats on ​the board, Warsh would have a freer hand in setting monetary policy and making other changes at the central bank that the administration might seek. Trump has appointed only three of the current members, and one ​of them, Fed Governor Stephen Miran, is in a seat whose term has already expired and, as it stands, would have to be vacated for Warsh to join.

PROBE COMPLICATES WARSH CONFIRMATION PROCESS

Three of the Fed’s seven current governors were appointed by former President Joe Biden; Powell was promoted to the top central bank job by Trump, but has proved himself independent of the president’s pressure and threats; and even Trump appointees like Fed Governor Christopher Waller are ​considered unlikely to support radical change or even abide by Trump’s advice on interest rates.

As a consequence, administration efforts to clear room on the board, such as through a move to fire Fed Governor Lisa ​Cook, a case that is pending in the U.S. Supreme Court, have become all the more urgent in the discussion of the Fed’s standing as an independent central bank able to set interest rates free of political ‌influence.

The status ⁠of the Pirro investigation, involving whether Powell made misstatements to Congress about the project at the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., is unclear. Pirro was rebuffed by a federal judge who said grand jury subpoenas were not warranted, but has not yet followed through on a promised appeal. Investigators from her office made an unannounced visit to the building site on Tuesday, where they were told to ask for an appointment.
Both Trump and Pirro have said the building investigation needs to be pursued regardless of how it affects Warsh’s confirmation process. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican member of the Senate Banking Committee, has said he regards ​the probe as a frivolous assault on the ​Fed’s independence and will block Warsh’s confirmation until ⁠it is dismissed.
Warsh, who Trump has said he trusts to deliver interest rate cuts that Powell and other Fed officials feel would be unwise, given that inflation is running above the central bank’s 2% target, has a hearing before the committee on April 21.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Wednesday ​that he felt Warsh would be confirmed “on time.”
” I am confident that the process that we have laid out in terms of Kevin Warsh ​becoming the next Fed chair. ⁠He’s going to have the hearing on the 21st of this month. He’s a great candidate. We know that the Republicans on the Senate Finance or Senate Banking Committee are aligned in that, and I am very optimistic,” Bessent said.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-feds-powell-if-he-doesnt-leave-ill-have-fire-him-2026-04-15/

Pope Leo on Wednesday urged Cameroon’s government to root out corruption and resist “the whims of the rich and powerful”, in a forceful speech given in the ​presence of President Paul Biya, who has led the country since 1982.
Leo, who was criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump for a second time during his 10-day ‌tour of four African countries, also called for an end to Cameroon’s simmering Anglophone conflict, which has killed thousands.

“It is time to examine our conscience and take a bold leap forward,” the first U.S. pope told Biya, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and other leaders shortly after arriving in Cameroon from Algeria.
“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption – which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility – must be broken,” ​Leo said in an unusually direct speech for a papal trip overseas.
“Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit.”

TRUMP CRITICISM

Biya listened to the pope’s speech ​without visible reaction. His government denies accusations of corruption and human rights abuses and says the stability he brings allows Cameroon to avoid the ⁠kind of conflict seen elsewhere in the region, including in war-hit Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.

Leo, who will mark one year as pope in May, kept a relatively ​low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but in recent weeks has become outspoken on a range of issues, notably the Iran war.
That has made him a target this week ​for criticism from Trump, who reiterated his comments in a social media post on Tuesday, despite a widespread backlash from U.S. Christians across the political spectrum.
Leo told Reuters on Monday he would keep criticising the war, regardless of Trump’s comments.
Speaking on his flight to Cameroon, Leo did not speak about Trump directly. He urged respect for all the peoples of the world and said his tour has shown the importance of pursuing dialogue between ​different communities.

SEPARATISTS VOW SAFE TRAVEL FOR VISITORS

Cameroon is a former German colony that was partitioned by Britain and France after World War One. Over the last decade, thousands have died in ​violence between government forces and separatist groups in its two English-speaking regions.

A separatist alliance has said it will observe a three-day “safe travel passage” to allow civilians and visitors to move freely during the pope’s visit.
Leo, who ‌also referred ⁠on Wednesday to conflicts with Nigeria-based militant groups such as Boko Haram in Cameroon’s north, lamented how fighting was depriving young people of education and hope for the future.

Meta will work with chip designer Broadcom to produce several generations of custom artificial intelligence processors under an expanded deal as the social media giant races to build out the computing capacity needed to power AI features across its apps.

Tuesday’s announcement extends the tie-up until 2029 and includes an initial commitment of over one gigawatt of computing capacity, enough to power roughly 750,000 U.S. homes on average.

As part of the deal, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan would leave Meta’s board and move to an advisory role on its custom chip strategy, the companies said in a joint statement.

As AI drives a surge in computing demand, big technology companies such as Meta, Google and Amazon are designing their own chips to reduce reliance on Nvidia’s costly processors.

That custom chip boom has made Broadcom one of the biggest winners of generative AI. The company works with clients to develop custom processors and supplies infrastructure software.

Its shares were up 3.5 per cent in extended trading, while those of Meta were little changed.

The tie-up helps “build out the massive computing foundation we need to deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

The company, which last month unveiled a roadmap of four new chips, said the initial capacity commitment with Broadcom was “the first phase of a sustained, multi-gigawatt rollout.”

Broadcom’s Ethernet networking technology will also be used to connect Meta’s rapidly growing clusters of AI computers.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/meta-extends-custom-chips-deal-broadcom-power-ai-ambitions-6056821

The woman was helping her son launder drug revenues while he was in prison in Cambodia. The court’s one-year prison term took into consideration her age and clean record prior to the laundering.

A South Korean court has sentenced a 90-year-old woman to one year in jail for helping her jailed son launder drug proceeds, the Korea Herald reported.

The son is a trafficking ringleader currently in Cambodian jail.

The Incheon District Court ordered the defendant to forfeit the 386 million won (roughly $260,000, €220,000) she had laundered on behalf of her son.

What do we know about the woman’s money laundering activities?

The court said the defendant knowingly received and transferred funds linked to narcotic crimes. Prosecutors say she received the 386 million won from unidentified individuals on nine occasions between April 2020 and February 2022, before transferring the funds to bank accounts designated to her son.

The 60-something year-old son was arrested in Cambodia in July 2020 on charges including methamphetamine possession, the Korea Herald reported. He remains imprisoned there, and investigators believe his drug trafficking operations continued during his incarceration.

“The defendant accepted illegal proceeds while being aware of circumstances indicating their connection to drug-related offenses,” the judge said of the mother, noting the severe social harm caused by narcotics crimes and the need for strict punishment.

The court found evidence contradicting the woman’s claim that she was unaware of the nature of her crime when committing it, noting she had visited Cambodia five times in 2019 and was informed by phone of her son’s detention there.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/south-korea-sentences-90yearold-woman-for-money-laundering/a-76773971

ERIC Swalwell’s political collapse came in a matter of days, with the California Democrat forced to quit his run for governor before announcing he would resign from Congress.

The once high-profile lawmaker saw his career unravel after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault allegations that he denies.

Swalwell went from gubernatorial contender to outgoing congressman almost overnight.

The downward spiral began on Friday when a former staffer claimed Swalwell had sexually assaulted her twice, including once when she was still working for him, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Other women came forward that same day and accused the candidate of making unwanted sexual advances toward them when they were low level staffers.

Hours after the bombshell reports were published, Swalwell flatly denied the accusations and said the incidents alleged “never happened,” calling the claims “absolutely false.”

He posted his denial video from the $26 million Beverly Hills home of billionaire donor Stephen Cloobeck – who is engaged to a Penthouse Pet cover star accused of stealing from sugar daddies.

But, despite Swalwell’s defense, support began to drain from colleagues and former staffers and political allies who distances themselves.

Cloobeck told Fox affiliate KTTV he later threw Swalwell out of the house after deciding the congressman had “broke his trust.”

“You busted the trust. I’m disappointed and disgusted — get out of here,” Cloobeck said.

More than 55 former staffers signed a letter urging him to resign, while senior aides publicly backed the women who had come forward.

On Sunday, Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor, saying, “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.

“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made, but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

By Monday, the seven-term congressman said he would leave the House as bipartisan calls for expulsion intensified.

“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” Swalwell said.

“But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

At the same time, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether he engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee he supervised.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also confirmed it is investigating allegations tied to a 2024 encounter in New York.

Meanwhile, two women who accused him of sexual assault told
CBS News they felt “vindicated” by his decision to abandon the governor’s race and resign from Congress, but said the fight was far from over.

“He was pushed into a corner, essentially, because they were planning to expel him … so I think he did that to save face a little,” said Ally Sammarco, whose accusations were first detailed in a CNN report.

“But I also felt very vindicated that he realized it was over for him.”

Annika Albrecht told CBS News she first met him on a college class trip and said what began as a supposed mentorship turned sexually inappropriate.

She said Swalwell began speaking to her under the guise of professional mentorship and told her he could help her land her dream role as a chief of staff.

She said Swalwell added her on Snapchat, and later, Snapchat messages turned flirty and then crossed into what she described as sexually inappropriate.

Albrecht said Swalwell eventually invited her to meet him at a hotel.

“I keep thinking about how lucky I am that didn’t go to that hotel,” Albrecht said.

“It was very clear what the connotation was.”

Albrecht also said hearing other women’s accounts made the scandal even more chilling.

“It was terrifying to get on the phone with those women and hear their stories about how they were drinking with him and suddenly woke up in bed next to him with no recollection of how they got there,” she said.

Another accuser, Ally Sammarco, said she first connected with Swalwell in 2021 when she was 24 and working an entry level role on a political campaign for former Virginia Governor McAuliffe.

She reached out on Twitter to discuss their similar upbringing, and he quickly responded and moved their conversation to texts.

Eventually, Swalwell asked to communicate on Snapchat where messages and pictures are seen for a few seconds before they delete for good.

Their conversations were professional at first, but slowly became more explicit as time went on, Sammarco claimed.

“He was sending me photos of his face […] he was drinking in a lot of them,” she said.

“He would ask me if I was drinking too or tell me I should have a drink with him,” she said.

One day, Sammarco said Swalwell abruptly sent her a picture of his penis.

“I was shocked,” she said.

Swalwell “never should have run for governor to begin with knowing the kind of history and receipts that are out there,” Sammarco said.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16221116/eric-swalwell-political-collapse-resign-congress-accusers-break-silence/

JUSTIN Bieber’s private Coachella after-party had a guest list so exclusive that promoters and influencers who were initially invited wound up being turned away, The U.S. Sun can reveal.

The pop star was supported by the Kardashian-Jenner clan, along with actor Jacob Elordi, who was seen with them in the crowd – and later cozying up with Kendall at the after-party.

Following Bieber’s headlining set on Saturday night in Indio, California, the star hosted a blowout bash with wife Hailey and A-list friends.

Kendall, 30, and Jacob, 28, were reportedly “all over each other” at the after-party.

A source told The U.S. Sun that the party was ultra-exclusive and hosted by Bieber’s new fashion brand, Skylrk, which also had a pop-up at the festival.

“Many people were turned down who had previously been invited,” they claimed.

“Promoters also had a lot of girls on their guest lists and I heard Hailey was turning them away.”

Influencer Zach Clayton echoed this by sharing a video on his TikTok showing a guy complaining, “They cut all my guest list off.”

He explained he invited 20 girls and they were all denied, joking that Hailey is a “boss,” and she was likely the reason they were not given access to the private event.

An insider also told The U.S. Sun that the party was off-grounds, as it’s well known Bieber purchased a $16.6 million estate in the ultra-exclusive Madison Club in nearby La Quinta.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Biebers’ reps for comment.

Kylie and other Kardashian family members also own property in the guard-gated community.

A source told The U.S. Sun that Kendall and Jacob are not serious but were seen getting close in the early hours.

“Kendall is 100 percent Jacob’s type. I heard they’re having fun and he hung out with her Sunday, too,” they said.

Australian Jacob has been single since splitting from influencer Olivia Jade Giannulli in October 2025.

The pair had an on-and-off relationship from December 2021 through late 2025.

They last stepped out together at a Frankenstein screening in New York on January 14, but are said to be over.

“Him and Olivia are so done,” the insider added.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Kendall and Jacob’s reps for comment.

Kendall was seen at the festival dressed casually in a pair of white denim shorts, a white tank top, an Adidas hat, and shades.

Jacob wore Bieber’s merchandise, including a black Swag cap, and was seen sneaking through the crowd as he enjoyed the set with the Kardashian-Jenners.

Meanwhile, Kendall has been single since her brief romance with rapper and actor Bad Bunny.

Following their December 2023 breakup, they were spotted together again in May 2024.

Kendall was also seen at the Super Bowl in February, awkwardly dancing to his halftime performance, while the rapper had reconnected with his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Berlingeri.

Kendall’s new romance with a movie star has tongues wagging, as her sister, Kylie Jenner, is dating Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet, who was also seen at the festival.

Both actors were highlighted as key figures of this year’s awards season, often appearing together at events.

Kim Kardashian was also seen at Coachella, hiding in the crowd with new love Lewis Hamilton as they tried to go incognito.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/16223505/justin-bieber-coachella-party-details-hailey-kendall-jenner/

NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after published photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and obtained by The Associated Press.

“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements to the Post after publication of the photos downplaying what the photos depict.

Russini said they “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”

Vrabel told the newspaper: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

Vrabel didn’t attend New England’s pre-draft news conference on Monday.

The New York Times reported Saturday that the digital outlet was investigating Russini’s conduct.

That decision came after Ginsberg previously told the Post that the photos “lacked essential context” and lauded her work with The Athletic.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/russini-vrabel-0e0006364d9d31f8e0fec65ecfb937c0

The former chief of staff to Eric Swalwell responded to the rape allegations against his former boss with a brutal rebuke about how no one is working for the congressman anymore.

Benjamin Burnett replied to a request for comment from the Hill about the swarm of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct allegations against the embattled former congressman.

“As of 2 PM (ET) today neither Cassie [Baloue] nor I work for or report to the former Congressman,” the post on X read.

“We will not be commenting on his behalf, relaying your request to him, or contact/coordinating with him in anyway.”

The message added, “He rightfully has no one working for him anymore.”

The comment came just hours after another alleged victim came forward with accusations on Tuesday of horrific claims that the married congressman drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018.

Lonna Drewes, 50, said she thought she was friends with the congressman but claimed he spiked her drink before choking and sexually assaulting her in West Hollywood.

The model sobbed as she claimed he was masquerading as helping her fashion software company take off, but ended up destroying her life and left her “crying all the time.”

She said she met Swalwell when she was working as a model in Beverly Hills and owned a fashion software company.

“After meeting, he offered me connections to further my software company, and I also had an interest in local politics.”

“He invited me to two public events. I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine.”

“We were supposed to go to a political event, and he said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room,” Drewes went on.

“When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn’t move my arms over my body. He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died.”

Drewes added, “I did not consent to any sexual activity, although I did not undergo a rape kit at the time, I disclosed the assault to the people closest to me.”

She later arrived at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday to hand over what Drewes said are damning texts, photographs and journal entries accusing Swalwell of rape.

The latest accusations came after numerous women last week leveled heinous claims against Swalwell, including one also alleging he raped her, which has set fire to his political career. He’s since pulled out of the California governor’s race and vowed to resign from congress.

Source : https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/us-news/eric-swalwells-chief-of-staff-gives-stinging-nine-word-message-amid-rape-scandal/

Lady Gaga managed to recapture the magic of Rivington St. in the 2000s after her Madison Square Garden show on Monday night.

After her final performance for her “Mayhem” tour, the “Abracadabra” singer and her fiance Michael Polansky head downtown to Maison Nur for a celebration with family and friends.

One person described it as Gaga’s “return to the Lower East Side.”

She famously honed her performance skills in the Manhattan neighborhood 20 some years ago, singing at now defunct dive bar St. Jerome’s with acts like Lady Starlight, jazz man Brian Newman and Breedlove, who were both on hand this week to fete her accomplishments.

Only this time, she had Polansky, who is also her artistic collaborator, by her side.

“Their vibe is just really good. His influence on everything is really affable. He’s not just some man hanging out or walking behind her. He’s her partner in the truest sense,” a source said of the couple.

The duo looked over their guests, including Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dylan Mulvaney, from the club’s upper level balcony and appeared to be equal hosts. He held court with guests at his table, while she entertained her closest childhood friends and her mom, Cynthia Germanotta at another table.

Gaga’s pals gushed over how proud they are of her, with one saying, “this show was literally the most fun I’ve seen her have on stage.”

Source : https://pagesix.com/2026/04/14/society/lady-gaga-celebrates-end-of-tour-partying-with-her-fiance-michael-polansky-on-the-les/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a German broadcaster that US peace negotiators “have no time for Ukraine” because of the war in Iran, and bemoaned disruptions of deliveries of US arms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a German broadcaster that US peace negotiators “have no time for Ukraine” because of the war in Iran, and bemoaned disruptions of deliveries of US arms.

Zelensky told public broadcaster ZDF that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have helped broker talks with Moscow on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine, were “constantly in talks with Iran” at the moment.

Describing the pair as “pragmatic”, Zelensky said they were trying to “get more attention from Putin in order to end the war”.

But “if the United States does not put pressure on Putin (…) and only engages in a gentle dialogue with the Russians, then they will no longer be afraid”, he said.

US-led talks to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II have stalled since the Iran war erupted in late March, and Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have not met since February in Geneva.

Zelensky said that the issue of deliveries of US arms to Ukraine has become “a big problem”.

“If the war goes on, there will be less arms for Ukraine. It’s critical, especially in materials for air defences,” he said.

Zelensky later told a press conference during a visit to Norway that this was especially a problem for PAC-3 interceptor missiles, as well as the PAC-2 missile.

He said these were primarily bought through the PURL programme, which was launched last year and allows Ukraine to receive US equipment financed by European countries.

“At the very beginning of… (the) war in the Middle East we understood that we can have challenges,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky said deliveries came “slowly”, noting it was a “very difficult position for us.”

Zelensky made the comment alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, with the two leaders announcing they had signed “a joint declaration on enhanced defence and security cooperation.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/volodymyr-zelensky-says-us-doesnt-have-time-for-ukraine-because-of-iran-war-11358281

Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiations ​prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.
Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one ‌senior Iranian source said no date had been set.

Trump was quoted by the New York Post as saying: “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there.”
Later on Tuesday at an event in Georgia, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Trump wanted to make a “grand bargain” with Iran but there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.
“You are not going to solve that problem overnight,” Vance said.
While the U.S. blockade drew angry rhetoric from Iran, signs that ​diplomatic engagement might continue helped to calm oil markets, pushing benchmark prices below $100 per barrel.

Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global waterway for oil and gas transport, since the war began ​on February 28. Roughly 5,000 people have died in the hostilities.
Talks in Islamabad last weekend did not yield an agreement, raising doubts over the survival of a two-week ceasefire ⁠that still has a week to run.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a key sticking point. The U.S. had proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran, while Tehran had suggested a halt of three to five years, ​according to people familiar with the proposals. The U.S. has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran.
One source involved in the negotiations in Pakistan said backchannel talks since the weekend had produced progress in ​closing that gap, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be put forward at a new round of talks.

It was unclear what kind of nuclear deal could be quickly agreed by the U.S. and Iran, given the complexity of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that Trump withdrew from in 2018, and the likely need for monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iran also wants international sanctions removed, which the U.S. could not pledge by itself.

IMF CUTS GROWTH OUTLOOK

U.S. Central ​Command said no ships made it past its blockade of Iranian ports in the first 24 hours it was in place, while six merchant vessels turned back.
Centcom said more than a dozen U.S. warships were involved in the ​blockade, which only applies to ships going to or from Iran.
However, shipping data showed the blockade had made little difference to Strait of Hormuz traffic on Tuesday, with at least eight ships crossing the waterway.

The war has clouded the outlook for global energy ‌security and the ⁠supply of goods that rely on petroleum.
The International Monetary Fund cut its growth outlook and said the global economy would teeter on the brink of recession if the conflict worsens and oil stays above $100 into 2027. The International Energy Agency meanwhile lowered its forecasts for global oil supply and demand growth.
The United States’ NATO allies including Britain and France said they would not be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade, although they have offered to help safeguard the strait when an agreement is in place.
China, the main buyer of Iranian oil, said the U.S. blockade was “dangerous and irresponsible” and would only aggravate tensions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized China for hoarding oil during the war.
Analysts say oil ​prices are likely to remain elevated for weeks after ​the strait is fully reopened, due to backlogs, ⁠damaged infrastructure and elevated uncertainty.

ISRAEL-LEBANON TALKS CONCLUDE

Further complicating prospects for peace, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Israel and the U.S. say that campaign is not covered by the ceasefire, while Iran has insisted it is.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted a meeting between envoys for Israel and ​Lebanon, which the State Department described as the first major high-level engagement between the two countries since 1993.
Lebanon sought a ceasefire to end Israeli strikes that have ​killed more than 2,000 people and ⁠forced 1.2 million from their homes, while Israel was pressing for Beirut to disarm Hezbollah.
The U.S. State Department said afterward that the two sides agreed to continue their talks.
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said he was hopeful the Lebanese government wanted to reduce Hezbollah’s influence, while Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S. said in a statement that the meeting was “constructive,” and the date and location of the next meeting would be announced in due course.
Lebanon’s government sought the negotiations despite objections from ⁠Hezbollah.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-begins-iran-port-blockade-oil-prices-ease-hopes-dialogue-2026-04-14/

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday her government had suspended a ‌defence cooperation deal with Israel, reflecting frayed ties between previously close allies as the conflicts in the Middle East continue.
Meloni’s right-wing government has been one of Israel’s closest friends in Europe, but in recent weeks it has criticised its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed ​hundreds and injured thousands.

Israel also fired warning shots last week at Italian troops serving in Lebanon under ​a U.N. mandate, causing damage to a vehicle.
“When there are things we don’t agree ⁠with, we act accordingly,” Meloni told reporters on the sidelines of a wine fair in Verona, northern Italy.
“In ​light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with ​Israel,” she added.
Meloni’s announcement marked another diplomatic realignment for her right-wing government, coming a day after she criticised another close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump, for his attacks on Pope Leo.

A source close to the matter, who requested anonymity, said Meloni took the decision on ​Monday with her foreign and defence ministers, Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto, as well as Deputy Prime Minister ​Matteo Salvini.
Israel’s foreign ministry played down the consequences.
“We have no security agreement with Italy. We have a memorandum of understanding from ‌many years ⁠ago that has never contained any substantive content. This will not affect Israel’s security,” it said in a statement.

MELONI CHANGES TACK

Meloni has been in power since 2022 and will face a general election by late 2027.
“It’s a repositioning,” Lorenzo Castellani, political historian at Rome’s Luiss University, told Reuters.
“She’s afraid that a sizeable portion of the electorate, ​even among the centre-right, will ​become highly critical of ⁠Trump and Netanyahu and of the effects of this war on Iran on the economy,” he added.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/italy-suspends-defence-cooperation-deal-with-israel-2026-04-14/

Pope Leo warned of the risk of democracies sliding into “majoritarian tyranny” on Tuesday, in a ​letter issued by the Vatican two days after U.S. ‌President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff on social media.
The first U.S. pope, writing to participants of a Vatican meeting about the use of power in democratic ​societies, said democracies remained healthy only when they were ​rooted in moral values.

“Lacking this foundation, (democracy) risks becoming either ⁠a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of ​economic and technological elites,” said Leo in the letter.
The text, released ​as the pope was undertaking an ambitious, 10-day tour of four African countries, did not directly address the U.S. or name any specific democracies.
Trump sharply ​criticized Leo as “terrible” on Sunday night, after the pope had emerged ​in recent weeks as a growing critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Leo told Reuters ‌on ⁠Monday that he planned to keep criticizing the war, despite Trump’s comments.
In Tuesday’s letter, the pope said the Catholic Church taught that power could not be seen as an end in ​itself “but as a ​means ordered toward ⁠the common good”.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-issues-warning-democracy-after-trump-criticism-2026-04-14/

Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun’s warning coincided with the start of the US naval blockade on Monday.

A senior Chinese official has warned the United States against imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and cautioned it not to interfere in China’s bilateral relations with Iran. Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun’s warning coincided with the start of the US naval blockade at 7:30 pm IST on Monday.

“We have trade and energy agreements with Iran; we expect others not to interfere in our affairs,” Jun said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for China.

The waterway is extremely crucial for Beijing as it supplies nearly 40 per cent of its oil and at least 30 per cent of its LNG needs. Hence, China has been pushing for a ceasefire to secure the critical waterway in the Gulf.

According to some experts, Trump’s naval blockade could be aimed at the Chinese yuan used by some vessels to transit the critical Gulf chokepoint – seen as a challenge to the decades-old petrodollar system and a means to sidestep US sanctions.

CHINA BACKS CEASEFIRE

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated its support for a ceasefire, arguing that the waterway’s “safety, stability and unimpeded passage” serves the common interests of the international community.

“The root cause of disruptions to navigation through the strait lies in the conflict involving Iran, and the way to resolve this issue is to achieve a ceasefire and end hostilities as soon as possible,” SCMP quoted spokesperson Guo Jiakun as saying.

He also added that China is ready to play a positive and constructive role in ending the conflict in the Middle East – a region where China is competing with the US for influence.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES BLOCKADE

After high-stakes talks with Iran collapsed on April 11 without a breakthrough, US President Donald Trump announced that the American Navy would blockade maritime access to Iranian ports through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz,

The US Central Command (Centcom) said the blockade would target all vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports. In a statement, Centcom added that the move would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” using Iranian ports and coastal areas.

The US military said that the blockade would not impede neutral transit passage through the strait to or from non-Iranian destinations.

However, neutral vessels may still be subject to the right of visit and search to determine the presence of contraband cargo, while vessels entering or departing the blockaded area without authorisation would be subject to interception, diversion, and capture.

TRUMP VS CHINA OVER IRAN

China and the US have not been on the same page over the ongoing conflict. Following the start of hostilities on February 28, Beijing condemned the Israeli-US attack on Iran.

“The blatant killing of a sovereign leader and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable,” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying on February 28.

The US has warned of “complications” if Beijing gets involved with Iran in a way that is counter to US interests.

Trump has also threatened Beijing with 50 per cent tariffs if it supplies weapons to Tehran. An intelligence assessment claimed that Beijing could be preparing shipments of air defence systems to Iran.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/china-warning-shot-us-over-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-dont-interfere-2895652-2026-04-13

 

A new report on the stabbing that left little three girls dead in UK’s Southport concluded that the killer’s parents and state authorities failed to act on his violent behavior.

The results of an inquiry into the killing of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in 2024 was released on Monday, concluding that the massacre could have been prevented.

The attack took place in Southport, in northwestern England, when Axel Rudakubana broke into the morning dance class and killed three girls aged 9, 7, and 6 years old. He also wounded eight other children and two adults.

The tragic incident led to a week of anti-immigraton riots in more than a dozen English and Northern Irish towns and cities, after false reports that the attacker was a Muslim asylum-seeker. In actuality, Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to a Christian family from Rwanda.

History ‘would have taken a different course’

The 763-page report affirmed that Rudakubana’s parents and state agencies were aware of his fixation on violence and the inquiry cataloged the many times parents or authorities could have intervened.

Retired judge Adrian Fulford, who led the nine-week inquiry, said that both family and authorities could have prevented Rudakubana from carrying out the attack. Fulford described the killings as unprecedented in the UK for their “extreme and very particular depravity.”

“History simply would have taken a different course,” Fulford said as he published the report.

Last year, Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the attack.

Parents failed to communicate threat

The new report faulted Rudakabana’s parents for not reporting his behavior and other issues to authorities.

It noted that they permitted the delivery of knives and weapons to the home and failed to report critical information in the days leading up to the attack.

A lack of oversight of the teenager’s online activity would have “provided the clearest indications of his violent preoccupations,” the report read.

Fulford also accused the parents of having “created significant obstructions” for various government agencies to engage with the teenager, and failed to stand up to his behavior and set boundaries.

“If AR’s parents had done what they morally ought to have done, AR would not have been at liberty to conduct the attack and it would not therefore have occurred,” Fulford added.

Rudakubana had multiple encounters with police

The report also took aim at state authorities who failed to manage the risk the teenager represented, despite being on their radar.

In 2019, He was convicted at age 13 of assaulting another child at school with a hockey stick and placed under supervision of a local service for youth offenders.

Rudakabana was referred to the government’s anti-extremism program three times between 2019 and 2021 for expressing interest in school shootings and terrorist attacks.

But authorities closed the case each time.

Local police had also been called to his home five times over unspecified concerns about his behavior.

Although he was provided with mental health and educational support, he reportedly stopped engaging with social workers and was expelled after bringing a knife to school.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/uk-finds-attack-on-taylor-swift-themed-class-preventable/a-76767586

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, has been charged with corruption after a two-year criminal investigation, according to a court ruling.

Gómez is accused of using her relationship to advance her private career through a position at Madrid’s Complutense University. She is also accused of using public resources to advance private interests.

She was charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds, the ruling said. It is now up to the courts to decide whether she will stand trial.

Gómez denies the charges, while Sánchez has dismissed the allegations as an attempt by the right-wing to undermine his coalition.

The investigation was opened by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado in April 2024 to determine whether Gómez had exploited her position as the prime minister’s wife for private gain.

She is accused of using her position to secure a post at the prestigious university where she directed a master’s degree course in business studies. The judge points to Gómez’s lack of relevant qualifications as evidence.

The complaint against Gómez was raised by anti-corruption campaigners Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), led by a man linked to the far-right called Miguel Bernad. The group has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past.

When the investigation started, Sánchez suspended public duties for five days to “stop and reflect” on whether to remain in the job due to “the mud” that he said the right and far-right were trying to drag politics into.

He complained of a “strategy of harassment” over months aimed at weakening him politically and personally targeting his wife.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8ejg3wk81no

Lady Fatou, known as the “grand dame” of the Berlin Zoo, was certified last year by Guiness as the oldest living gorilla in the world.

At 69 years old, Lady Fatou on Monday became not only the Berlin Zoo’s longest-residing tenant but also maintained her title as the oldest gorilla in the world.

Born somewhere in West Africa in 1957, she arrived in Europe at the port of Marseilles in 1959 amongst the luggage of a French sailor. According to the Berlin Zoo, the sailor found himself unable to pay his bill at a tavern and gave Fatou to the landlady as payment. From there, she soon ended up in the German capital.

Fatou is a western lowland gorilla. In the wild they usually don’t live past their 40s, and even in captivity 50 is considered advanced old age.

In 1974 she gave birth to Dufte, the first gorilla born at the Berlin Zoo. Although her daughter passed away in 2001, Fatou’s granddaugther M’penzi still keeps her company in Berlin. She has at least three great-great-great grandchildren as of 2026.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/worlds-oldest-gorilla-celebrates-69th-birthday-at-berlin-zoo/a-76760115

AN investigation has been launched after a pilot flew dangerously low over his home town while making his final ever journey.

The veteran pilot sought to celebrate his retirement by guiding a Boeing 757 just metres above homes in Keflavik, Iceland.

The actions of this audacious aviator have since been branded as reckless by fellow pilots.

A chief pilot with Icelandair, Linda Gunnarsdóttir, said: “This is not standard practice; this is a very serious matter that we will review internally.”

The pilot in question is Captain Ólafur Bragason.

After more than forty years in the industry, the 65-year-old was reportedly embarking on his final journey.

He was piloting a commercial flight from Frankfurt to the frozen Icelandic town.

At one point, the aircraft flew over the volcanic archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar.

Just off the southern coast of Iceland, Bragason regularly frequented its challenging terrain as a kid.

As the aircraft approached the urban area, residents reportedly became alarmed, fearing the plane was about to crash.

The pilot reportedly requested permission from Avians, which provides air navigation services, to change his flight path.

“During descent, the aircraft leaves controlled airspace, usually around 3000ft, and is then in uncontrolled airspace, which means that the pilot-in-command makes his own decisions about the flight,” the organisation said.

Thankfully, nobody was injured and Bragason eventually touched down at Keflavik International Airport.

Unsurprisingly, Icelandair bosses were not impressed by the pilot’s sheer stupidity.

They claim Bragason performed the daring stunt without the knowledge or consent of the airline.

“In aviation, everything is tightly governed by procedures and checklists in normal passenger operations, and this does not fall within that framework”, Gunnarsdóttir said.

She added that while celebratory flyovers do happen from “time to time, it is by no means standard practise and not something we would have authorised”.

“We apologise to the residents of Vestmannaeyjar if they have been disturbed,” Gunnarsdóttir said.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16218969/pilot-flies-jet-low-over-hometown/

KOURTNEY Kardashian’s Poosh party took a dusty turn at Coachella.

A sandstorm at the reality star’s wellness event sent tables flying and influencers running for cover.

Camp Poosh, Kourtney’s annual Coachella retreat, is billed as an adult summer camp for influencers.

Influencers snacked on free food and picked up souvenirs provided by brands at the festival preparty on Saturday.

A video shared by influencer Jack Jerry from the event shows the desert oasis destroyed by a sandstorm.

The high winds in Palm Springs sent plumes of dust billowing through the air at the Poosh campgrounds.

The video shows sand blowing over a pond, rustling palm trees, and blotting out the blue sky.

Displays cases also tipped over as influencers were seen leaving the event.

Jack even captured the moment a table fell over on one attendee.

“Camp Poosh destroyed by a sandstorm,” Jack captioned the video.

Sandstorms aren’t uncommon during Coachella, which is held in the California desert.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/16216847/kourtney-kardashian-camp-poosh-party-coachella-destroyed-sandstorm/

 

Eric Swalwell dramatically announced he was resigning from Congress on Monday just hours before a bombshell press conference from one of his alleged victims.

The married former California governor hopeful again defiantly shot down the sexual assault and rape claims against him — but said he felt it was right to step aside amid the chaos.

Congress erupted at the update, with Florida Rep Anna Paulina Luna claiming “more disgusting stuff coming” that she argued could send him to jail.

Swalwell’s statement, which extinguishes the final flame in his rollercoaster political career, came just hours after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into the allegations against him, which will now be scrapped when he officially resigns.

The fallout has also embroiled Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, who is under fire over sexual advances towards an aide who later committed suicide, as he suddenly said he will retire from Congress.

Swalwell said Monday: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.

“I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.

“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong.

“But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

He did not specify when he would officially step down, but said he will work with his team to handover responsibilities over the next two weeks.

Swalwell has been accused by four women of lewd sexual acts such as sending nudes, harassing and turning up outside one woman’s home.

One of the alleged victims claimed he raped her in a hotel in New York City in 2024, sparking an investigation from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

On Tuesday morning a woman who claims she is a victim of his will hold a blockbuster press conference in Beverly Hills to outline her allegations against the congressman.

The media event featuring the new accuser will take place at 9;30am PT, according to the women’s high-profile lawyer Lisa Bloom.

Bloom is an attorney who has built a career around defending women’s rights and victims of sexual assault.

She has represented the likes of actress Janice Dickinson who claimed Bill Cosby raped her in 1982, as well as a handful of Jeffrey Epstein victims.

She also comes from legal pedigree. Her mother is famed attorney Gloria Allred who has defended various individuals claiming to be sexual assault victims of Sean Diddy Combs.

Fudali is a partner and managing attorney at the Bloom firm, who has represented 11 Epstein accusers.

Both Bloom and Fudali are known for having dramatic press conferences with victims and leveraging the media for exposure.

Florida Rep. Luna was quick to leap on Swalwell’s resignation message, suggesting more accusations will soon emerge and even claiming they could put him behind bars.

She said: “Don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion because there absolutely were. He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail.”

The Republican firebrand did not stop there, adding: “I am being told there will be more disgusting stuff coming out.”

Earlier Monday the House Ethics Committee launched a probe into the accusations of sexual misconduct leveled at Swalwell.

The panel said: “The Committee … has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.”

But when he officially announces he will resign, this will be dropped because the committee only has jurisdiction over current members.

Swalwell will first have to submit a letter to the House speaker or clerk announcing he is no longer a congressman, which could come as early as Tuesday when the House reconvenes.

A Congressional Research Service report says: “Regardless of the potential offense, a Member’s departure from the House ends a case, as the committee does not have jurisdiction over former Members.”

Swalwell’s reputation has fallen off a cliff since the four women came forward last Friday with the heinous claims, forcing the 45-year-old father of three to suspend his run for governor on Sunday.

Source : https://nypost.com/2026/04/13/us-news/eric-swalwell-resigns-from-congress-after-sexual-misconduct-accusations/

Kanye West’s protracted and vicious racism appears not to have damaged the value of his early artworks.

In 2021, we reported that Washington D.C. based entrepreneur and art collector, Vinoda Basnayake, purchased West’s teenage drawings for an undisclosed amount after seeing them on PBS “Antiques Roadshow.”

The pieces were appraised on the show for around $16,000 to $23,000.

But Basnayake now claims that they’re actually worth $3.1 million after he had them appraised by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice late 2025.

The collection features five paintings and drawings — including a “circa 1995” drawing of West’s late mother, Donda West, valued at $335,000 — that West made when he was an art student at Polaris School in his hometown of Chicago, Il.

Basnayake didn’t reveal how much he paid for Ye’s work at the time due to an NDA.

But interest from social media and online publications like rap news site Bars encouraged him to make it public.

Basnayake claimed to Page Six that his appraiser said the TV valuation “materially missed the bigger picture because they approached the work as typical celebrity art, which on its own doesn’t usually command major value.”

Source : https://pagesix.com/2026/04/13/society/art-collector-claims-kanye-wests-teenage-paintings-are-worth-millions/

 

North Korea conducted another test-fire of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles on Sunday as part of operational efficiency trials of its destroyer Choe Hyon, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

North Korea conducted another test-fire of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles on Sunday as part of operational efficiency trials of its destroyer Choe Hyon, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

Leader Kim Jong Un observed the test alongside senior defence officials and naval commanders, the report said.

Two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles were fired to check the warship’s integrated weapons command system, train crews in missile-launch procedures and verify the accuracy and anti-jamming performance of upgraded navigation systems, KCNA said.

The cruise missiles flew for about 7,869 to 7,920 seconds and the anti-warship missiles for about 1,960 to 1,973 seconds over waters off the country’s western coast, striking their targets with what the report described as ultra-precision accuracy.

KCNA said Kim was briefed the same day on weapons system plans for two additional destroyers under construction.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/north-korea-tests-cruise-anti-ship-missiles-from-naval-destroyer-11353510

 

The U.S. military began a blockade of Iran’s ports on Monday, President Donald Trump said, and Tehran threatened to ​retaliate against its Gulf neighbors’ ports after weekend talks in Islamabad on ending the war broke down.
A U.S. official said there was continued engagement with Iran, and forward motion on ‌trying to get to an agreement. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said efforts were still under way to resolve the conflict.

But oil prices climbed back to $100 per barrel, with no sign of a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ease the biggest ever disruption in supplies and broader concerns over the durability of a two-week ceasefire agreement reached last week.
Trump said Iran had been in touch on Monday and wanted to make a deal but that he would not sanction any ​agreement allowing Tehran to have a nuclear weapon.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world.”
Since the United States ​and Israel began the war on February 28, Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels except its own, saying passage would be permitted ⁠only under Iranian control and subject to a fee.

Trump has said Washington would block Iranian vessels and any ships that paid such tolls and that any Iranian “fast-attack” ships that went near the blockade would be eliminated.
Brigadier ​General Reza Talaei-Nik, a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Defense, warned that foreign military efforts to police the strait would escalate the crisis and instability in global energy security.
NATO allies including Britain and France said they would not ​be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade, stressing instead the need to reopen the waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passes.
The talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan, the first direct meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, ended on Sunday without an agreement.

Despite that, Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, told Fox News on Monday the U.S. “made a lot of progress” by ​communicating to Tehran where the U.S. “could make some accommodation” and where it would remain inflexible.
He said Trump was adamant that any enriched nuclear material must be removed from Iran and a mechanism must be established to ​verify that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.
Tehran “moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn’t move far enough,” Vance said, without disclosing details.

CEASEFIRE UNDER STRAIN

The ceasefire that ‌halted six ⁠weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes looked in jeopardy, with only a week left to run.
The U.S. military’s Central Command said the blockade would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
“The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations,” Central Command said in a note to seafarers seen by Reuters on Monday.
An Iranian military spokesperson called any U.S. restrictions on international shipping “piracy,” warning that if Iranian ports were threatened, no port in the Gulf or Gulf of Oman would be secure. Any military vessels approaching the strait would violate the ceasefire, ​Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
Trump said Iran’s navy had been “completely ​obliterated” during the war, adding that only a ⁠small number of “fast-attack ships” remained.
“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal,” Trump said on social media.
He was apparently referring to the U.S. ​strikes carried out against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. The strikes, which began in September, killed more than 160 people. The U.S. military ​has not provided evidence that ⁠the vessels were ferrying drugs.

LEBANON FACES ATTACKS

Trump has also lashed out at U.S.-born Pope Leo, who has spoken out against the war, denouncing him as “terrible” in a rare direct attack by a U.S. president on a pontiff.
With the war unpopular at home and rising energy prices causing political blowback, Trump paused the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign last week after threatening to destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation” unless it reopened the strait.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-blockade-iran-after-talks-fail-yield-a-deal-2026-04-13/

Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that ​he plans to continue speaking out against war after U.S. ‌President Donald Trump’sdirect attack on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church.
In comments aboard the papal flight to Algiers, where the first U.S. pope is starting a 10-day ​tour to four African countries, the pontiff also said the Christian ​message was being “abused”.

“I don’t want to get into a ⁠debate with him,” Leo told Reuters as he greeted journalists on ​the plane. “I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant ​to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”

“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral ​relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems,” ​he said, speaking in English.
“Too many people are suffering in the world today,” said ‌Leo. “Too ⁠many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say: ‘There’s a better way’.”

“The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I ​do not look ​at my role ⁠as being political, a politician,” he said.
Leo, originally from Chicago, has emerged as an outspoken critic of ​the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in recent weeks and ​decried the “madness ⁠of war” in a peace appeal on Saturday.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-says-he-will-continue-speak-out-against-war-after-trump-attack-2026-04-13/

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him, before deleting ​the post on Monday.
The post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, which Trump later said was meant to portray him as a doctor, came amid his escalating feud with Pope Leo, who has criticized ‌the war that started with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as inhumane. Shortly before publishing the image, the president posted a lengthy screed against Pope Leo, calling him “WEAK on crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.”

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, said in response to Trump’s attacks that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out. In a forceful speech on Monday in Algiers, he denounced “neocolonial” world powers who are violating international law, without specifically referring to the United States.
Sunday’s post, depicting Trump in a white robe with an apparently healing hand on ​a supine man’s head, could create a rift between Trump and the religious right, whose support was critical to his victory in the 2024 election.
In the painting-like image, Trump holds a glowing orb in one hand and ​uses his other hand to touch a seemingly sick man on the forehead. The Statue of Liberty, fireworks, a fighter jet and eagles could be seen in the background.

Trump ⁠denied on Monday that the image was intended to show him as a Jesus-like figure.
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better,” he told reporters at the White House, soon after ​the post was deleted.
Brendan McMahon, an art history professor at the University of Michigan, found that explanation “highly suspicious” given that the image depicts another figure in scrubs, and because Trump is depicted bathed in a bright light used to signify the divine ​in countless works of religious art through various centuries. Light also emanates from Trump’s hands in the image.
“It’s borrowing from this long tradition of Christian imagery with Christ as healer,” McMahon said. “Style-wise, it seems like it’s gesturing towards social realism of the interwar period in the States, like WPA murals, imagery about enfranchising working-class Americans.”

Brilyn Hollyhand, who served as the co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council, had a sharper critique, writing on X: “This is gross blasphemy. Faith is not a prop. You don’t need to portray yourself as a savior ​when your record should speak for itself.”
Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and outspoken critic of transgender athletes in women’s sports who has appeared with Trump at rallies, wrote on X she could not understand why Trump posted the image.
“Does ​he actually think this?” she wrote. “Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”
Christian voters, including Catholics, have formed a critical part of Trump’s political base. Trump, who does not attend church regularly, ‌won large majorities ⁠of Christian voters in the 2024 election, including Catholics, who had previously been closer to a split.

After Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, some evangelical supporters said it was evidence he had been blessed by God.

TRUMP FEUD COULD TEST CATHOLIC VOTER LOYALTY

David Gibson, the director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, a Catholic school, said it was difficult to understand Trump’s motive in attacking Leo and for posting the image, but that it was also hard to say whether American Catholics would turn against him.
“Will this move cross a red line for them? Will they finally punish Trump and the GOP at the ballot box?” he said. “This is a watershed moment – will Catholics in America choose the pope ​or the president?”
Bishop Robert Barron, who serves on a Trump-created ​religious liberty commission, said on X that the president ⁠owed Leo an apology for his “inappropriate” statements on social media. But he also praised Trump in the same post for his outreach to Catholics.
Trump told reporters on Monday he had “nothing to apologize for” to the pope.
In recent weeks, Leo has become one of the most prominent critics of the war in Iran, even making an unusual direct appeal to Trump and urging ​him to find an “off-ramp.”

TRUMP-VATICAN TENSIONS DEEPEN OVER IRAN

Leo has also said that Jesus cannot be used to justify war and that God rejects the prayers of those who ​start conflicts. Those remarks were widely ⁠seen as a rebuke to Trump officials like U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has cited scripture to justify the use of “overwhelming violence” against enemies and likened the rescue of a U.S. airman inside Iran to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Trump also feuded at times with Leo’s predecessor, Francis, who publicly opposed Trump’s deportation campaign as un-Christian. Last year, after Francis’ death, Trump posted an image showing himself as pope, prompting outrage from many Catholics.
But Trump’s attacks on Leo have gone well beyond his swipes at Francis.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/trump-posts-ai-image-himself-jesus-like-figure-drawing-outrage-2026-04-13/

Over 1,000 filmmakers, actors and industry professionals signed an open letter opposing Warner Bros Discovery’s ​proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, warning it ‌would reduce competition and deepen consolidation in the U.S. media sector.

• Actors including Jane Fonda, Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo were among the ​signatories to the letter, which said the merger would ​result in fewer opportunities for creators, pressure on ⁠jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs and less ​choice for audiences.
• Paramount (PSKY.O), and Warner Bros (WBD.O), did not immediately respond ​to requests for comment.
• The letter, released on Monday, stated that prior waves of consolidation have already put the industry under pressure, reducing the ​number of films produced and released and narrowing the ​range of stories that receive financing and distribution.
• The proposed Paramount-Warner Bros combination would bring together ‌two ⁠of Hollywood’s largest studios and content libraries while uniting streaming platforms Paramount+ and HBO Max.
• The companies are planning to fold their streaming services into a single platform.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/hollywood-stars-sign-open-letter-opposing-paramount-warner-bros-deal-2026-04-13/

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the price of oil and gasoline may remain high through November’s midterm elections, ​a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from his decision to attack Iran six weeks ago.
“It could be, or the same, or maybe a little ‌bit higher, but it should be around the same,” Trump, who is in Miami for the weekend, told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” when asked whether the cost of oil and gas would be lower by the fall.

The average price for regular gas at U.S. service stations has exceeded $4 per gallon for most of April, according to data from GasBuddy. Average U.S. gas prices in February hovered just ​below $3 per gallon, and over the past year never exceeded $3.25 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
Trump’s comments on Sunday came after weeks of asserting that the spike ​in prices is a short-term phenomenon, though his top advisers are cognizant of the war’s economic impacts, officials have said.
Earlier on Sunday, Trump ⁠announced on social media that the U.S. Navy would blockade the Strait of Hormuz and intercept any ship that paid a crossing fee to Iran, after marathon talks between the ​U.S. and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend did not yield a peace deal.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he wrote on ​Truth Social media platform.
Several hours after Trump’s post, U.S. Central Command said the blockade would be limited to ships going to and from Iranian ports. Ships entering and exiting non-Iranian ports will not be stopped by U.S. forces, CENTCOM said.
A U.S. blockade may add more uncertainty to the eventual resolution of the conflict, which is currently subject to a tenuous two-week ceasefire. The new tactic is in response ​to Iran’s own closure of the strait’s critical shipping lanes, which has caused global oil prices to skyrocket about 50%.
Later on Sunday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led ​Iran’s delegation in the talks, posted on social media that a blockade would lead to higher U.S. gas prices. “Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote on X, alongside a map showing gas prices ‌in Washington. “With ⁠the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”

UNPOPULAR WAR HITS TRUMP’S APPROVAL

The war began on February 28, when the U.S. launched a joint bombing campaign with Israel against Iran. The scope quickly expanded as Iran and its allies attacked nearby countries, while Israel targeted Hezbollah with massive strikes in Lebanon.
The war has buffeted global financial markets and caused thousands of civilian deaths, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.
Trump’s political standing at home has suffered, with polls showing the war is unpopular among most Americans, who are frustrated by rising gasoline prices.
The president’s approval rating ​has hit the lowest levels of his ​second term in office, raising concern among ⁠Republicans that his party is poised to lose control of Congress in the midterm elections. A Democratic majority in either chamber could launch investigations into the Trump administration, while blocking much of his legislative agenda.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the ​Senate Intelligence Committee, questioned the strategy behind Trump’s planned blockade.
“I don’t understand how blockading the strait is going to somehow push ​the Iranians into opening ⁠it,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-says-us-start-blockading-strait-hormuz-2026-04-12/

Jennifer Lopez definitely had her fans getting loud at Coachella 2026.

The singer, 56, did a surprise performance Saturday during David Guetta’s set to perform her new song, “Save Me Tonight,” which Guetta produced.

Lopez hit the stage in style, wearing a plunging silver high-cut bodysuit that showed off her fit physique.

Adding to the drama of the look, she wore a feathery green jacket over it that she later shucked off, and rocked over-the-knee boots.

The brunette bombshell sang into a bedazzled mic as the crowd cheered loudly.

The surprise performance was Lopez’s first time performing at the annual music festival in Indio, California.

Lopez has been busy performing nonstop thanks to her Las Vegas residency.

Last month, she poked fun at her divorce from Ben Affleck when she called up a fan at her show to the stage and he revealed his name was Ben.

Lopez hilariously reacted with an “ugh!” and made a sour face before laughing and ushering the fan behind the curtain.

TMZ reported Friday that Affleck, 53, gifted Lopez his entire share of their $60 million mansion in Beverly Hills, California, that they bought when they were married.

The former couple reportedly modified their property settlement agreement, which shows a “transfer of property among spouses,” and sourced told the outlet that Affleck gave Lopez his entire stake of the property at no cost.

Affleck and Lopez bought the massive mansion for $60.85 million back in June 2023.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2026/04/12/celebrity-news/jennifer-lopez-makes-surprise-coachella-debut-at-56-in-plunging-bodysuit/

A Southwest Airlines crew touchingly honored a 2-year-old “hero” passenger with a heartwarming pre-flight announcement during his final journey home from New York after grueling cancer treatments.

The boy, only identified by the name Cruz, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma last year, and he and his parents had been traveling on the airline back and forth from their home in San Diego, Calif., to New York for treatment for him, according to NBC News.

On Cruz’s final flight home after he was declared cancer-free in March, the attendants on the plane took a moment to address “a very special passenger on board.”

“We have a young hero named Cruz, who is 2 years old. He has been battling a very rare form of cancer. He is now officially cancer-free!” one of the flight attendants announced over the speakers, according to a video shared by Southwest.

Cruz looked between his parents as he slowly realized the praise was for him.

“We are so honored to be able to fly you home. We’re so very proud of you. You’re very strong and brave,” the attendant told the child.

Cruz’s parents told NBC News that “the emotions kind of all hit” when the cabin erupted in applause.

“[Cruz] felt recognized. He was excited,” his father said.

His mother added, “He even said, ‘I’m strong. They’re talking about me — I’m strong.’ ”

The crew also separately asked passengers to write “words of encouragement” for Cruz.

Dozens of travelers, all total strangers to Cruz, scrawled their congratulations on napkins, which were collected and gifted to the toddler.

Source : https://nypost.com/2026/04/12/us-news/southwest-crew-surprises-2-year-old-cancer-patient-with-tribute/

One person has died in Saturday’s “war zone” mass shooting at a Chick-fil-A in Union Township, NJ, according to authorities.

Officials said six other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack — which has the grim distinction of being the 100th mass shooting in the US so far this year.

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office said the shooting “does not appear to be a random act of violence.’’ But it did not offer a motive for the violence.

No arrests have yet been made, and authorities are still hunting down the perpetrator or perpetrators, officials said.

The bloody incident unfolded just before 9 p.m. at the fast-food chain’s Route 22 location, which was locked down Sunday as investigators continued to comb the scene for evidence.

A man who said his girlfriend works at the location told CBS that a group of masked men barged into the restaurant and fired multiple shots after forcing their way behind the counter.

One worker’s father described the scene as a “war zone.”

Dramatic video from the shooting showed a masked gunman sprinting away from the eatery through the parking lot, with the dashcam also picking up several terrified customers fleeing for their lives.

Detectives were spotted entering and leaving the Chick-fil-A location Sunday afternoon, but none of them were willing to speak.

Several men in hazmat suits were carrying cardboard boxes with big orange “biohazard” stickers on them.

A Lyft driver named Martin said he heard at least seven shots as he drove by while finishing a trip.

“I finished my trip over there, in the return zone. I heard the shots. When I finished the trip, I go to Chick-fil-A to buy two burgers — I see the police, I heard the shots very close,” he told ABC7.

On Sunday, Ben Wegner, who was working at Botera Cannabis across the street from the shooting, told CBS News, “Last night, around 8:20 p.m., 8:25 p.m., there was a lot of commotion on 22, a lot of people running in all sorts of different directions.

“When I came in this morning to review some of the footage, it was craziness,” he said.

The bloodshed marked the country’s 100th mass shooting — or violent event where four or more people are wounded or killed — since the beginning of the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The most recent past three years in which data was available — 2023, 2022 and 2021 — all reached the horrific milestone by March.

Source : https://nypost.com/2026/04/12/us-news/1-dead-in-nj-chick-fil-a-mass-shooting-after-masked-gunmen-storm-restaurant/

JUSTIN Bieber took to the stage for his first-ever Coachella headline set – but fans were left divided after he sang along to songs on his laptop.

The celeb-studded desert party kicked off on April 10 and the Go Baby hitmaker was the star of the show on Day Two – yet fans were quick to note his quirky approach.

Justin, 32, followed on from Sabrina Carpenter’s glitzy glam Friday night set with a more low-key offering, appearing on stage at 11:25pm in a peach hoodie, black shorts and boots.

Yet he came armed with his laptop and appeared to be performing his set while searching his tracks on his laptop, letting YouTube choose the algorithm.

He kicked off his set with 2025 track All I Can Take before following it up with Speed Demon and First Place.

He gave a sweet nod to wife Hailey – who made the most of her husband’s “Bieberchella” take-over by hosting her brand Rhode’s first ever desert pop up – with a rendition of track Go Baby.

The tune celebrates the model, businesswoman and mum’s iconic status and references her Rhode brand with the lyrics “lip gloss on it”.

His recent tunes Walking Away and Petting Zoo also took precedence over some of his classic tracks including sorry.

Though the 26-track set, on a stage filled with smoke and a sloping grey stage, did see a spot for 2010 crowd-pleaser Baby and 2021 tune Stay, with The Kid LAROI making a surprise appearance for their duet.

Not to mention a slot for the bubblegum pop tune, Beauty And A Beat.

Referring to his back catalogue he told fans: “Man, tonight is such a special night but I feel like we gotta take you guys on a bit of a journey”.

He proved true to his word when he duetted with a younger version of himself – played out on a huge screen – for track With You.

He also delighted with covers of Neyo’s So Sick and Chris Brown tune With You – the latter of which saw Justin rocket to fame when his initial cover was discovered.

During the set, he praised the “beautiful faces” in the audience and told them “I love you guys so much”.

He also acknowledged the live YouTube audience, urging them to get involved and pick out the songs.

Yet when he tapped away on the laptop, he also experienced a few buffering issues.

After he included some of his best-known tunes into the mix, fans were quick to take to X to show their support.

One wrote on the social media site: “I feel like Justin Bieber is healing his inner child with this Coachella performance right now and it’s genuinely beautiful to see.

“Seeing him look at his younger self with nothing but love?? Like I’ve never seen him this relaxed and happy performing”.

A second posted: “This Justin Bieber set is goated wow”.

A third then wrote: “JUSTIN BIEBER REALLY PLAYED BEAUTY AND A BEAT IRL @ COACHELLA. (I MIGHT’VE CRIED)”

One then surmised: “Justin Bieber is paying himself a tremendous tribute at #Coachella”.

Yet others were left divided, and one put: “‘Justin Bieber headlined Coachella just to not play any of his classics lmao”.

Another mused: “Justin Bieber got paid 10 million just to walk around this damn stage??”

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/16212279/justin-bieber-coachella-2026-comeback-hailey-hiatus/

THE father of a 16-year-old girl who was viciously stabbed over 50 times by two classmates whom she considered her best friends has blasted his daughter’s killers’ cushy lives behind bars.

For Dave Neese, the joyous memories of raising his daughter Skylar Neese remain ingrained in his mind nearly 14 years after his only child was lured out of her home and left for dead in a wooded area.

The horrific 2012 murder of Skylar rocked her small town of Star City, West Virginia, after her close friends Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf were charged and convicted of her gruesome killing.

Eddy is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years, while Shoaf was sentenced to 30 years with a chance of parole after 10 years.

But 12 years into her sentence, Shoaf will have another chance at parole in June after being denied freedom twice by a parole board.

Neese, 63, has accepted the fact that one of his daughter’s killers will eventually be released from prison, but railed against justice system.

“Those two little witches that did this – I like to say they’re getting what they’re supposed to get, but they’re not,” Neese told The U.S. Sun.

“One of them will be released in two years. Is that justified? To take a human life and do 15 years in jail?

“Rachel will be released in 2028 because her sentence is over. She got 30 years.

“They said that it will be a 30-year sentence and I said, oh that’s good, I’ll be dead and gone by then.

“And later on, they tell me it’s a day for a day – get a day of good time for each day you spent, so that’s only 15 years and that is preposterous. It’s stupid.

“I don’t understand where the justice system is going. It’s going straight to hell is where it’s going.”

West Virginia Department of Corrections offers good time credit to inmates with a well-behaved track record, or who enroll in programs like substance abuse treatment, educational programs, anger management, and life skills.

Inmates could have their sentences reduced by one day for every one day served with good behavior.

An exasperated Neese voiced his frustration that Shoaf and Eddy are being housed in the same prison that has been commonly referred to as “Camp Cupcake.”

“When I think of prison I think of hard time,” Neese said about Shoaf and Eddy’s imprisonment at Lakin Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison where celebrities like Martha Stewart were once held.

Neese said he’s seen photos of Shoaf and Eddy from behind bars that appear to show them dolled up with their hair and makeup done.

“They show me pictures now of Rachel and Shelia in their orange jumpsuits, or brown, and they got their hair done and makeup on, like what the hell is this prison,” the irate father said.

Inmates have access to secured handheld tablets where they can access educational materials, music, games, email, and video visits, according to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security.

The tablets are an incentive for prisoners who display good behavior.

“It’s not supposed to be a walk in the park. They call it camp cupcake for a reason,” Neese added.

“Martha Stewart was there, and they’ve never heard of a place that’s horrible. I just don’t think the punishment fit the crime.

“They get fan mail in jail; you gotta remember there’s people just like them.

“They get fan mail. People send them money, people send them games to play on their X-Boxes and whatever else they have in their cell.

“Is that prison? That’s not prison. That’s a day camp. The only thing they can’t do is go home.”

Neese acknowledged that not a day goes by that he does not think about Skylar and the joy it was raising her throughout her 16 years of life.

“Skylar was truly a joy to raise. She was a good kid. She had a heart of gold,” Neese told The U.S. Sun.

“She never did really anything bad. She did normal stuff, sneaking out of her window and stuff like that, but that stuff eventually cost her her life.

“And no fault of hers, the fault of sickos.”

Skylar, who was a sophomore at University High School in Morgantown at the time of her death, was last seen climbing out of her bedroom window just after midnight on July 6, 2012, and jumping into a vehicle that was being driven by Eddy and Shoaf, both 16.

The teenagers were inseparable; Eddy had known Skylar since childhood, and Shoaf joined their tight-knit circle during their freshman year of high school.

However, what Skylar did not know was that for months Eddy and Shoaf had been planning to kill her and arranged to carry out the sinister act that evening.

Eddy and Shoaf drove Skylar to a wooded area near the Pennsylvania border over an hour away from Star City, where together they stabbed her over 50 times in the neck and back with kitchen knives.

Star City police and the FBI launched a large-scale search for Skylar after her father reported her missing, but months went by without any significant leads.

After several months, the investigation took a major turning point after police obtained Eddy and Shoaf’s phone records, showing major inconsistencies in their talks with investigators about what routes they took on the night Skylar disappeared.

Data showed the two girls’ phones had been in Blacksville, West Virginia, around 4:00am on the night Skylar was last seen, when the two said they were home asleep.

Police then obtained security footage in the area where they spotted a car matching Shelia’s vehicle description at a Sheetz gas station around midnight, heading in the direction of Blacksville.

But while the FBI continued to gather evidence, Shoaf eventually cracked and confessed to authorities how she and Eddy repeatedly stabbed Skylar dozens of times, killing her, and led investigators to her remains.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16190120/skylar-neese-hulu-rachel-shoaf-shelia-eddy/

BBC film critics Caryn James and Nicholas Barber pick their cinema highlights of the year so far – from a touching sci-fi blockbuster to a wilfully provocative comedy-drama starring Zendaya.

1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

In 2002, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland helped to revive the zombie-apocalypse sub-genre with 28 Days Later. In 2025, they did it again with 28 Years Later. Amazingly, this sequel to the latter is even better. Scripted by Garland, with Nia DaCosta taking over as director, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple delivers all of the gore and terror you want from a zombie film, but it’s wonderfully idiosyncratic, too. It constructs its own elaborate folk-horror mythos; features the unlikely buddy-comedy pairing of a kindly mad scientist (Ralph Fiennes) and a hulking cannibal (Chi Lewis-Parry); and it’s uncompromisingly British in its references, from its cheeky use of Duran Duran and Iron Maiden songs to its unforgettable villain (Jack O’Connell), a cult leader inspired by notorious television presenter and sex offender Jimmy Savile. An eccentric masterpiece. (NB)

2. My Father’s Shadow

Set in Nigeria in 1993, Akinola Davies’s film about a father and his two small sons is eloquent, warm and fiercely honest as it moves gracefully from the personal to the political. Sope Dirisu gives a quiet, strong, immensely moving performance as the father, who spends most of his time away working to support the family. With pitch-perfect intimacy, the story follows him through a single day as he takes his sons along to Lagos, where they go to his workplace and he tries to get the money he’s owed. Their day gradually reveals the tumultuous backdrop of the presidential election, the results of which are nullified by a military dictatorship. The director and his brother, Wale Davies, wrote the film loosely based on their childhood memories, but its achievement goes beyond that. Winner of the Bafta for outstanding British debut, it stunningly captures the bold colours of Lagos. Its sophisticated narrative gives us the children’s perspective. But it also lets us see the father’s concern and the danger all around, with militia on the streets, which we understand far better than the boys do. There is not a false step, right through to the film’s heartbreaking coda. (CJ)

3. Hoppers

Pixar returns to form with a focused, fizzily energetic cartoon based on a conceit as old as big-screen animation itself: talking animals. The heroine of Hoppers, Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), is an admirably tough and determined schoolgirl who has her mind “hopped” into a robotic beaver, a procedure which somehow allows her to understand animals’ conversations (just go with it). She uses this fantastic ability to rally her furry friends against a corrupt mayor (Jon Hamm), but what happens when they go too far? Parents beware: Daniel Chong’s film has nightmarish elements towards the end, but overall it’s a sharply plotted, gloriously silly adventure that everyone can enjoy. It also has the kind of frank environmental message which live-action blockbusters tend to avoid. (NB)

4. Wuthering Heights

Emerald Fennell’s fearless reinvention of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel is not for Brontë purists, but it is an exhilarating take on the book and a striking example of Fennell’s typical artistry and daring. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are fiery as Cathy and Heathcliff, the classic lovers made for each other but separated by class. Their connection is at once frankly sexual, romantic and caustic in the cruelty they often display toward each other. With that cruelty, Fennell restores the vehemence often overlooked in Brontë adaptations. Departing from prettified period pieces, the film’s visual style is an enticing kaleidoscope of colour and fashion. Fennell drops in some comic moments, and at times dares to be over the top (Heathcliff on horseback, Elordi’s bad wig flying in the wind) but its excesses are a small price to pay for such ambition. However much Fennell toys with the details – and why not? the book still exists – she captures the essential enduring passion of Wuthering Heights and its class-bound time. (CJ)

5. Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary is an unusual science-fiction blockbuster in that it’s mostly about people using their brains to solve problems. Yes, one of those people is an alien made out of rocks, and, yes, there’s an action-packed space-walking set piece, but the film’s main concerns, for over two-and-a-half hours, are knowledge, discussion and painstaking research. Does that approach sound a bit dry and academic? If so, rest assured that Project Hail Mary is touching and inspiring – and surprisingly fun. Adapted from a novel by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian, it’s directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who take a complicated, potentially bleak narrative and make it as fast-paced and cheerful as their animated hit The Lego Movie. Meanwhile, Ryan Gosling brings all of his goofball charm to the role of an amnesiac biologist who is trying to save the world. (NB)

6. Two Prosecutors

This bracing drama from the acclaimed Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa is set in 1937, during the height of Stalin’s purges of his political enemies, and it wilfully echoes the creeping authoritarianism of today. The hero is Kornyev, an idealistic young Soviet lawyer, who receives a clandestine message written in blood from a political prisoner: the old man wants to reveal the torture he and so many others have been subjected to. The film unfolds with eerie calm and the feel of a low-boil thriller as Kornyev visits the prisoner and tries to circumvent the corrupt prison administrators and his own bosses to expose the injustice, naively believing that is still possible. Loznitsa, whose career includes documentaries and features, brings a master’s eye to this visceral, harrowing story. As Kornyev spends time in the prison warden’s austere waiting room, the scene conveys the claustrophobia and fear of the period. That is just the start of a tense, increasingly Kafkaesque journey that captures the inescapable, everyday grip of a dictatorship. (CJ)

7. Dead Man’s Wire

Gus Van Sant’s blackly comic thriller tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of Tony Kiritsis, an Indianapolis man who kidnaps the mortgage broker he blames for his financial woes. Kiritsis then becomes a minor celebrity by phoning a local radio station to update listeners on his state of mind. The media circus and the 1970s setting are reminiscent of Sidney Lumet’s 1975 classic, Dog Day Afternoon, which could be why that film’s star, Al Pacino, has a small role. But Dead Man’s Wire is carried by Bill Skarsgård, who is terrific as the shotgun-wielding kidnapper. He adds farcical humour and pathos to a nerve-racking situation, but it’s left to the viewer to decide who to sympathise with – Kiritsis or his traumatised hostage (Dacre Montgomery). (NB)

Source : https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260409-the-best-films-of-2026

An airstrike on a market in Yobe, in northeastern Nigeria, has left scores of people dead and wounded, though details remain unclear. The military said it conducted a “precision” strike on a known terrorist enclave.

Over 100 people were killed in an airstrike on a Jilli village market in northeast Nigeria, Amnesty International said on Sunday, citing survivors of the bombing.

“Witnesses said three military jets fired on the market yesterday. Emergency section of Geidam General Hospital had so far received 35 people with severe injuries,” the international human rights watchdog said in an online post.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, told the AP news agency.

“We spoke with the person in charge of casualties, and we spoke with the victims,” he said. “We have their pictures and they include children,” he said.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-many-dead-after-military-bombs-village-market/a-76756309

While acknowledging that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan had gone “well” and “most points were agreed to,” Trump said Tehran had refused to concede on the issue of its nuclear programme

US President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran’s “unyielding” refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions during peace talks in Islamabad.

While acknowledging that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan had gone “well” and “most points were agreed to,” Trump said Tehran had refused to concede on the issue of its nuclear programme.

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” he said.

US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan without a deal after weekend talks with a team led by Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Tehran’s delegation also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” Vance told reporters.

In two lengthy posts on Truth Social, Trump slammed Iran for promising to open the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes, and “knowingly” failing to deliver.

“They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their Navy, and most of their ‘mine droppers,’ have been completely blown up. They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance?” Trump said.

Iran had blocked the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel launched a bombing campaign against the Islamic nation. On Saturday, the US military announced that two US warships had transited the strait at the start of a mine clearance operation.

Iran denied the claim, saying it prevented the US warships from crossing the strait.

The USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, both Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, entered the strait on April 11 as part of what the US Central Command (CENTCOM) described as a mission to set conditions for clearing sea mines laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-war-latest-news-in-big-escalation-us-says-will-block-strait-of-hormuz-after-iran-talks-fail-11347213?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardizing ​a fragile two-week ceasefire.
The U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces would begin implementing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.

It ‌would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” a CENTCOM statement on X said.
U.S. forces would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, and additional information would be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade, it said.
Trump said in a post on social media the U.S. would take action against ​every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran, and begin destroying mines that he said the Iranians had dropped in the Strait, a choke point for about 20% of ​global energy supplies that Iran has blocked.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump wrote, adding: “Any Iranian who fires at ⁠us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded to Trump by warning that military vessels approaching the Strait will be considered a ceasefire breach and dealt with harshly and decisively, underlining the ​risk of a dangerous escalation.
Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led his country’s delegation to the talks along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, said Trump’s new threats would have no effect on Iran.
“If you fight, we will ​fight, and if you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic,” he said in comments carried by state media.
The weekend talks in Islamabad, which followed the announcement of a ceasefire on Tuesday, were the first direct U.S.-Iranian meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

IRAN BEMOANS ‘MAXIMALISM, SHIFTING GOALPOSTS, AND BLOCKADE’
Araqchi said Iran had engaged in good faith but had “encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” when just inches away from an “Islamabad MoU.”
“Zero lessons earned,” he added. “Good will begets good ​will. Enmity begets enmity.”
Speaking after the talks, Vice President JD Vance, who headed the U.S. delegation, said: “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more ​than it’s bad news for the United States of America.”

Six weeks of fighting has killed thousands, roiled the global economy and sent oil prices soaring as Iran prevented traffic through the Strait. Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel early on Monday.
Trump said on ‌Sunday the price ⁠of oil and gasoline may remain high through November’s midterm elections, a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from the war.
A few hours after Trump’s comments, Qalibaf took to social media to post a map of Washington-area gasoline prices and the comment: “Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”
The dollar jumped against other major currencies on Sunday, as investors sought the relative safety of the currency after the talks failed to yield a deal, plunging markets into a seventh week of uncertainty.
MORE NEGOTIATIONS?
In an interview with Fox News after his post about the Strait, Trump nevertheless said he believed Iran would continue to negotiate and called the discussions “very friendly.”
“I do ​believe they’re going to come to the table on ​this, because nobody can be so stupid as ⁠to say, ‘We want nuclear weapons,’ and they have no cards,” Trump told Fox News from his golf course near Miami, Florida.
Trump also said NATO allies he has criticized for failing to back the war he launched along with Israel on February 28 wanted to help with the operation in the Strait.
There was no immediate comment from Washington’s ​allies.
A U.S. official said Iran had rejected Washington’s call for an end to all uranium enrichment, the dismantling of all major enrichment facilities and the transfer ​of highly enriched uranium.
The two sides ⁠also failed to reach agreement on the U.S. demand that Iran cease funding for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis as well as fully open the Strait, the official added.
Qalibaf blamed the U.S. for not winning Tehran’s trust, despite his team offering “forward-looking initiatives.” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who discussed the talks in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Tehran wanted “a balanced and fair agreement.”

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-iran-talks-pause-now-disagreements-remain-2026-04-11/

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed beside fellow A-listers during a Friday night Netflix event.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed attending Netflix’s BEEF Season 2 Montecito Tastemaker at a private residence in Montecito, California.

Throughout the evening, the couple posed alongside Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and his wife, Nicole Avant.

In another photo, Markle posed with Sarandos before closely hugging his wife for another pic.

The royals also rubbed shoulders with Katy Perry and her boyfriend, former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, at the party. Others at the fête included Oscar Isaac, Charles Melton and Nick Kroll.

The couple’s outing came the same day Page Six confirmed Harry had been sued by his former charity, Sentebale, for libel and slander following an internal dispute with the charity’s chairwoman.

Mark Dyer, who served as a trustee of Sentebale before Harry and Dr. Sophie Chandauka’s falling out, was also sued.

The board of trustees and the executive director of Sentebale confirmed the charity had “commenced legal proceedings” against Harry and Dyer over a “coordinated adverse media campaign” that began in March 2025.

They alleged in a statement that the pair “caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the charity, its leadership, and its strategic partners” which “resulted in significant viral impact and triggered an onslaught of cyber-bullying directed at the charity and its leadership.”

However, a spokesperson for both the Duke of Sussex and Dyer told Page Six that the pair “categorically reject” Sentebale’s “offensive and damaging claims.”

“It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communities the charity was created to serve,” the spokesperson noted.

Harry co-founded Sentebale — which focuses on ​helping young HIV and AIDS victims in Lesotho ​and Botswana — in his mom Princess Diana’s honor in 2006.

However, in March 2025, he resigned after butting heads with Chandauka. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, co-founder of Sentebale, and the board of trustees followed suit shortly after.

“With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees,” Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement at the time.

“It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair,” they added.

Chandauka then reported Harry and the trustees to the regulatory Charity Commission for England and Wales over shocking allegations of bullying and harassment.

Source: https://pagesix.com/2026/04/11/royal-family/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-step-out-for-star-studded-event-as-he-faces-shocking-lawsuit/

Netanyahu says Lebanon had approached Israel regarding a potential peace deal and he had given his approval on two conditions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (Apr 11) that the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran had succeeded in “crushing” Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Netanyahu’s comments came as Iranian and US officials held two rounds of face-to-face talks in Pakistan in a bid to end the Middle East war, with a third round expected later on Sunday, Iranian state TV reported.

“We have succeeded in crushing the nuclear programme, and crushing the missile programme,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement, adding that the war against Tehran had also weakened Iran’s leadership and its regional allies.

“We have reached a situation in which Iran no longer has a single functioning enrichment facility.”

Netanyahu said the US and Israel had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb by launching a war in June 2025, followed by the current campaign that began on Feb 28.

He said the latest war was launched after intelligence indicated that the now deceased Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei had sought to expand the country’s nuclear and missile programmes even after the June 2025 war.

“He sought to bury both missile production and nuclear production deep, deep beneath a mountain, in a way that even B-2 aircraft could not reach. Once again, we could not stand by. We acted,” Netanyahu said.

“Most of its missile production capacity has disappeared. They still have missiles, they still have stockpiles, but it is shrinking.”

He said there were “enormous achievements” in the war effort.

“They are reflected in this weakened regime, which is now even seeking a ceasefire,” he said.

Netanyahu added that, for decades, Iran’s leadership and its allies had threatened Israel.

“They wanted to strangle us, and (now) we are strangling them. They threatened us with annihilation, and now they are fighting for survival.”

On Lebanon, Netanyahu said the country had approached Israel regarding a potential peace deal.

“In the past month, it has reached out several times to begin direct peace talks,” Netanyahu said.

“I have given my approval, but on two conditions: we want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.”

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/israel-pm-netanyahu-says-war-succeeded-in-crushing-iran-nuclear-missile-programmes-6051291

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Saturday (Apr 11) that it spotted 16 Chinese warplanes operating near the island the previous day, around the same time China’s president was meeting the Taiwanese opposition leader.

Late on Friday morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) in Beijing, where Xi said he “absolutely would not tolerate” independence for Taiwan, which China views as its own territory.

Cheng has portrayed her visit as a reconciliation mission to lessen tensions, and told Xi she looked forward to the KMT and Communist Party advancing the “institutionalisation” of peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan’s defence ministry, in its daily report on Chinese military activity in the previous 24 hours, said that 16 Chinese warplanes flew near the island from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Friday. Xi and Cheng met at 11am.

Shen Yu-chung, a deputy minister at Taiwan’s China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council, told reporters in Taipei on Saturday that using military coercion against Taiwan as a means of applying pressure for political negotiations has always been China’s “go-to tactic”.

“So on one hand we see them sending out messages of peace, while on the other hand they continue to use military force to pressure Taiwan without letup,” he added.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment.

In Beijing, KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung said that the key to promoting peace lies in offering Taiwan’s people a choice between peace and reconciliation, or war.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-chinese-warplanes-xi-jinping-kuomintang-6050446

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday (Apr 11) accused Israel of failing to “reflect” on allegations of rights abuses by its forces, after Israel decried him for amplifying social media “disinformation”.

The Seoul leader irked Israel’s foreign ministry this week with his comments on a social media video with a caption purporting it showed Israeli soldiers torturing and pushing a “Palestinian kid” off a roof.

“I need to look into whether this is true, and if so, what measures have been taken,” Lee said Friday on X.

AFP was not able to immediately identify the provenance of the video, which has been widely shared on social media.

However, it appeared to show the different angle of an incident captured by AFPTV in the West Bank two years ago, when reporters saw an Israeli soldier use his foot to push the body of an apparently dead adult man off a roof.

In 2024, the White House called the footage “deeply disturbing” and said it had demanded an explanation from Israel amid its intensifying raids on the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967.

Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the incident was already “investigated and addressed”.

“President Lee Jae Myung, for some strange reason, chose to dig up a story from 2024 and to cite a fake account that falsely presented it as a current event,” said a ministry social media statement.

“This account is notorious for spreading anti-Israeli disinformation and falsehoods about Israel,” it added.

South Korea’s foreign ministry attempted to defuse the escalating social media confrontation.

In a statement, it said Lee’s post – which drew parallels between alleged Israeli abuses and historical atrocities against Jews and Koreans – was a call to “universal human rights rather than an opinion on any specific issue”.

But on Saturday, Lee issued another pointed social media missive, commenting on a news article detailing Israel’s backlash against his remarks.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/south-korea-lee-jae-myung-clash-israel-human-rights-disinformation-6050526

At least 11 people are known to have died after gunmen targeted civilians at a picnic spot in western Afghanistan.

Provincial officials originally said four people had been killed in the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday, but later said that seven more people who were critically injured had also died.

No group has claimed responsibility so far.

“Unidentified armed men” riding motorcycles opened fire near the village of Deh Mehri, an interior ministry spokesperson said. The recreational area is usually crowded on Fridays.

A Herat doctor told the BBC that the victims – who were Shia Muslims – had gone to a local shrine for a picnic. Shia Muslims are a minority group in Afghanistan and have been targeted in the past.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the provincial head of information and culture for the Taliban government in Herat, said the incident happened at about 15:00 local time (11:30 BST).

“In a terrorist incident, armed men opened fire on residents who had gone to Deh Mehri village in Enjil district for recreation,” he told the BBC.

Muttaqi said four bodies, as well as 15 wounded people – including two women – were taken to the Herat regional hospital.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr51z5p17myo

Hundreds of Islamist militants went on trial with prosecutors securing 386 convictions. Nigeria is in the midst of an insurgency involving extremist militant groups, including Boko Haram.

A court in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Friday convicted nearly 400 terrorism suspects in a mass trial that took place over four days.

Many of those convicted received prison terms of up to 20 years after appearing before a panel of 10 judges.

The prosecutions, which got underway on Tuesday, are part of a series ‌of trials ⁠involving ⁠Boko Haram and so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) suspects.

Out of 508 cases, 386 convictions secured
“We brought 508 ​cases to court and out of this number, we were able to secure 386 convictions, eight discharges, two acquittals and 112 cases to the next session or phase,” Nigeria’s ​Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi.

“We have been able to bring justice to them, or bring them to justice. So this is the clear signal that we are sending,” Fagbemi said.

Many suspects pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the Nigerian government.

Court officials said that International observers, ⁠including representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Amnesty ⁠International, the Nigerian Bar ​Association, monitored the court proceedings to ensure the legal process was fair.

Nigeria’s complex security situation
A 16-year insurgency has ravaged northern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands, displacing two million, and causing major damage to the local economy.

Islamist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been active for nearly two decades.

Their campaign to establish a caliphate in the country has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the country’s northeast.

There are also disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities.

These disputes frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern part of the country.

Criminal gangs who kidnap for ransom are also active.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-terror-trial-nearly-400-terror-suspects-convicted/a-76748309

Russia has continued to pound Ukraine in the hours leading up to a 36-hour pause in its war of aggression. Three Ukrainians were killed overnight and dozens were injured in drone attacks on Odesa, Poltava and Sumy.

Moscow and Kyiv continued to engage in hostilities ahead of a planned Easter ceasefire set to take hold on Saturday afternoon.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has dragged on into its fifth year, while US efforts to halt the conflict have withered significantly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that Kyiv would pause its defense if Russia stops attacking over the Orthodox Christian holiday.

Moscow, which launched the war on February 24, 2022, has announced that it has ordered a temporary 36-hour break in its assaults between Saturday at 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) and midnight Sunday, as a “humanitarian gesture.”

Strikes continue ahead of planned Easter truce
Despite the pending break in the action, attacks continued overnight and into Saturday.

Authorities in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, for instance, reported that two people had been killed and several more injured when Russian drones struck residential buildings and a kindergarten in the Black Sea port.

In the central Ukrainian city of Poltava, a “hostile drone attack” killed one person and injured another in a strike that hit a shop and cafe.

Another attack in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy targeted several residential areas, injuring 14 people including a 14-year-old and an 87-year-old.

A resident looks out through his shattered windows following a Russian drone attack in the city of Sumy

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that it had shot down 99 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Drone debris reportedly fell on ⁠an oil ​depot ​in the ​Russian ‌town of Krymsk, causing ‌a fire, local ‌authorities ​said on Saturday, but no information about further damage has been given.

Russia’s ‘humanitarian gesture’ echoes last year’s flawed pause
This weekend’s temporary pause in fighting comes as supposed US efforts to end Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine seem to have evaporated, with the US-Israeli war on Iran now occupying Washington’s attention.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a similar ceasefire over the Orthodox holiday, though both sides reported numerous violations.

Once again, both Moscow and Kyiv have vowed to respond to any aggression during this year’s 36-hour intermission.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-attacks-continue-as-orthodox-easter-ceasefire-nears/a-76746629

Iran’s response came after JD Vance cited shortcomings in the talks in Islamabad and said Tehran had chosen not to accept US terms.

Iran on Sunday said that “unreasonable demands” by the United States were behind the deadlock in the talks in Pakistan to end the war in the Middle East.

“The Iranian delegation negotiated continuously and intensively for 21 hours in order to protect the national interests of the Iranian people; despite various initiatives from the Iranian delegation, the unreasonable demands of the American side prevented the progress of the negotiations. Thus the negotiations ended,” Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Telegram.

The statement came shortly after US Vice President JD Vance, who was leading the American delegation, said they were leaving Islamabad with their “final and best offer”.

“We’ll see if the Iranians accept it,” he told reporters after multiple rounds of negotiations.

“Bad News For Iran”

JD Vance said Iran had chosen not to accept American terms, including to not build nuclear weapons.

“The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“That is the core goal of the president of the United States. And that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations,” he said.

“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said.

He said that the US has made its “red lines very clear”.

Vance also said he spoke with US President Donald Trump “half a dozen times” during the talks, which were the first direct US-Iranian meeting in more than a decade and the highest-level discussions since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner led the US team, while the Iranian delegation was headed by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-says-talks-with-us-failed-due-to-their-unreasonable-demands-after-jd-vances-best-final-offer-remark-on-islamabad-war-talks-11345311?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

France begins switching government workstations from Windows to Linux to enhance digital sovereignty.

In a move aimed at enhancing the country’s digital sovereignty, France has announced its decision to move government workstations away from Windows to the open-source operating system (OS), Linux. Formalised during an interministerial seminar on Wednesday (Apr 8), this move follows a directive from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to reduce ‘extra-European’ digital dependencies and enhance national sovereignty.

The switchover will begin with computers at the French government’s Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (DINUM), according to a report in TechCrunch. Joining the DINUM in this mission for digital sovereignty are France’s Directorate General for Enterprises (DGE), the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI), and the State Procurement Directorate (DAE).

“Regarding the evolution of the workstation, DINUM announces its exit from Windows in favor of workstations running on the Linux operating system,” read the official statement.

“The DINUM will coordinate an interministerial plan to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers. Each ministry (including operators) will be required to formalise its own plan by the fall, focusing on the following areas: workstations, collaborative tools, antivirus software, artificial intelligence, databases, virtualisation, and network equipment.”

French minister for civil service and state reform David Amiel said the initiative was aimed at regaining “control of our digital destiny” by relying less on US tech companies. He said the French government can no longer accept not having control over its data and digital infrastructure.

The decision comes in the backdrop of the French government announcing in January that it would stop using Zoom and Microsoft Teams for video conferencing in favour of French-made Visio, a tool based on the open source end-to-end encrypted video meeting tool Jitsi.

What Is Linux?
Created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, Linux is an open-source OS based on Unix that runs on computers, servers, mobile phones and a wide range of other devices. While Windows has come under intense scrutiny in recent years for its massive bloatware and inefficiency, Linux remains the preferred choice for developers, with the OS powering the majority of the internet.

Linux is free to download and use, with various customised distributions that are tailored and designed for specific use cases or operations.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/french-government-ditching-windows-for-linux-to-reduce-digital-dependency-on-us-tech-11343219?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Two US warships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such transit since the war with Iran began, as President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States had started “clearing out” the strategic waterway.

Two US Navy warships transited the Strait of Hormuz to begin clearing Iranian-laid mines, US Central Command said Saturday — a claim Tehran denied as the Revolutionary Guards threatened to deal “severely” with military vessels crossing the strategic waterway.

The announcement of the first such transit since the US-Israeli war with Iran began came shortly after President Donald Trump said Washington had started “clearing out” the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes.

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.

The USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy are the guided-missile destroyers involved in the operation, but CENTCOM said that “additional US forces including underwater drones” could join the effort in coming days.

Iran “strongly rejected” Washington’s claims that US vessels entered the strait, military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari told state TV.

“The initiative for the passage of any vessel lies with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he was quoted as saying.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB later quoted the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy Command as saying: “Any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will be dealt with severely.”

It added that passage of the strait would only be “granted to civilian vessels under specific conditions.”

Earlier Saturday, Trump said in a social media post that the United States was “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz.”

He called it “a favor” to countries such as China, Japan and France that “don’t have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.”

Trump insisted that Iran is “LOSING BIG!” in the conflict, while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the strategic strait still pose a threat.

“The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may ‘bunk’ into one of their sea mines,” Trump wrote.

The key shipping lane off the coast of Iran has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the shaky ceasefire put in place earlier this week.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/2-us-warships-cross-strait-of-hormuz-in-first-such-transit-since-iran-war-began-11343972?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Hungarians vote on Sunday in an election that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s 16-year hold ​on power, rattle Russia and send shockwaves through right-wing circles across the West, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House.
Orban, a eurosceptic nationalist, has ‌carved out a model of an “illiberal democracy” seen as a blueprint by Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and its admirers in Europe.

But many Hungarians have grown increasingly weary of Orban, 62, after three years of economic stagnation and soaring living costs as well as reports of oligarchs close to the government amassing more wealth.
Opinion polls over the last two weeks have shown Orban’s Fidesz party trailing Peter Magyar’s ​upstart centre-right opposition Tisza party by 7-9 percentage points, with Tisza at around 38-41%.
Voting in the election for the 199-seat parliament starts at 6 a.m. ​local time (0400 GMT) and is due to close at 7 p.m.
The vote is being closely watched in Brussels, with many EU peers criticising ⁠Orban, a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a close Trump ally, over what they say is an erosion of Hungary’s democratic rule, media freedom and minority ​rights.

For Hungary’s eastern neighbour Ukraine, an Orban defeat could mean the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) European Union loan vital for Kyiv’s war effort. It would also deprive Russia of ​its closest ally in the EU.
Orban has cast the election as a choice between “war and peace”. During campaigning, the government blanketed the country with signs warning that Tisza leader Magyar would drag Hungary into Russia’s war with Ukraine, something he strongly denies.
“I am looking forward to Sunday’s election with the best hope,” Orban told supporters in his birthplace Szekesfehervar.
“If we know ourselves well, if we know our ​country well and if we know our own people well, then I must say Hungarians will vote for safety on Sunday,” he added.
PUBLIC DISCONTENT
Orban has won public endorsements ​from the Trump administration – culminating in a visit to Budapest by Vice President JD Vance last week – as well as from the Kremlin and far-right leaders in Europe.

To address a popularity rating of just 8% among under-30s, Orban has scrapped income tax for the youngest workers ​and launched a subsidised mortgage scheme to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder amid the EU’s steepest rise in ​house prices under his ⁠rule.
But Magyar’s offer of change appears to resonate more.
In a final push in the eastern town of Miskolc on Friday, Magyar said: “This will be a referendum… about our country’s place and our country’s future.”
Analysts caution that the outcome of the vote remains uncertain, citing the number of undecided voters, a redrawing of the electoral map in favour of Fidesz and a ⁠high proportion of ​ethnic Hungarians in neighbouring countries, who mostly support the ruling party.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungarians-vote-landmark-election-closely-watched-by-eu-russia-us-2026-04-11/

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced Sunday that Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement after intense talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced Sunday that Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement after intense talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Vance said the Iranian side “chose not to accept” the conditions tabled by the U.S.

The ceasefire talks, mediated by Pakistan, were aimed at ending the six-week war in West Asia and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

While addressing the media, Vance began his remarks by thanking the Pakistan government for hosting the negotiations.

“…Whatever shortcomings in the negotiation, it wasn’t because of the Pakistanis who did an amazing job and really tried to help us and Iranians bridge the gap and get to a deal. We have been at it now for 21 hours and we have had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news.”

JD Vance said the Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement.

“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. I think that is bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the USA. So, we go back to the US having not come to an agreement…they have chosen not to accept our terms.”

On Tehran’s Nuclear Programme

JD Vance reiterated the U.S.’ stance, saying Iran needs to display an “affirmative commitment” that they would not seek nuclear weapons.

“…The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they (Iran) will not seek a nuclear weapon and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon, that is the core goal of President of the U.S.”.

“That is what we have tried to achieve through these negotiations. Their nuclear program such as it is, the enrichment facilities that they had before have been destroyed. But the simple question is – do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now or not just two years from now but for the long term? We haven’t seen that now, we hope that we will”, added the vice president.

‘We Came Here In Good Faith’

JD Vance stressed the U.S. delegation was “quite flexible”, in terms of negotiating with the Iranian side.

However, the two sides couldn’t arrive at a solution acceptable to them, he said, adding that the American team had come to negotiate in “good faith”.

“…We just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms. I think we were quite flexible, we were quite accommodating. The President told us – you need to come here in good faith and make your best efforts to get a deal. We did that. Unfortunately, we were not able to make any headway”, Vance said.

‘Our Final And Best Offer’

Addressing the media briefing, VP JD Vance said what was offered to the Iranians was the U.S.’ “final and best offer”.

He added that the U.S. team was consistently in touch with President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“We were talking to the President consistently…We also talked to Admiral Cooper (Commander of U.S. Central, Admiral Brad Cooper), to Pete, to Marco, to the entire National Security team…We were consistently in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith and we leave here with a very simple proposal – a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We will see if the Iranians accept it”, he said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/world/gave-iran-final-and-best-offer-returning-without-a-deal-vances-full-statement-on-failed-talks-ws-l-10028480.html

The White House considered but decided against a national televised address by President Donald Trump on Tuesday about his ceasefire deal with Iran, with some aides ​and advisers privately voicing concern about potentially overselling the still-nascent agreement, three U.S. officials told Reuters.
The decision suggests a balancing act by the Trump administration, which sought ‌to project early confidence in the deal to pause fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz even as aides recognized its fragility. Discussions about Trump giving a national address have not been previously reported.

Ahead of talks slated to begin on Saturday in Islamabad, analysts say it is far from clear if the ceasefire will translate into a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
The sources said Trump was talked out of making the speech. But the White House, in ​a statement, denied the discussions rose to Trump’s level, saying, “This is fake news. This was never even discussed with the president.”
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ​internal White House deliberations.
Trump ended up announcing the ceasefire in a social media post just hours before a Tuesday evening deadline, after which he ⁠had threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilization.

The reversal was one of the most sudden wartime U-turns by an American president.
ADVISERS FLAGGED LACK OF CLARITY: SOURCES
One of the sources said Trump was “adamant” about ​delivering the address. The officials said it had been under consideration, but the White House did not move forward with it because details of the ceasefire were still shaky.
Trump’s senior advisers were working ​through what was in the deal and did not think they had enough clarity for the president to address the nation, the sources said.
The previous week, on April 1, Trump delivered a 19-minute prime-time address to Americans, staunchly defending his handling of the war and outlining plans for aggressive strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks. Another address would have allowed him to explain the change in course.
One senior White House official ​acknowledged internal discussions about Trump addressing the nation on Tuesday night.

“There was chatter about it, but obviously it didn’t come to fruition, and we didn’t alert the networks or anything; it didn’t ​get that far,” the official told Reuters, without confirming Trump was talked out of giving an address.
The ceasefire has halted U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. But it has not ended the blockade of the Strait ‌of Hormuz, ⁠which has caused the biggest-ever disruption to global energy supplies, or calmed a parallel war waged by Israel against Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The strait remained shut on Friday and Israel traded fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, two disputes which the U.S. and Iran each described respectively as violations of their ceasefire deal on the eve of their first peace talks of the war.
Trump has vented his frustration, posting that Iran was dishonoring the deal and saying earlier on Friday: “The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”

Still, the U.S. and Iran are sending high-level negotiators to Islamabad for talks ​beginning on Saturday. The U.S. delegation will be ​led by Vice President JD Vance, who ⁠said on Friday the U.S. was willing to negotiate in good faith.
“If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance said.
NO TRUST
Analysts caution there is little trust between the two sides, and Trump’s warning on Tuesday that “a ​whole civilization will die tonight” if his demands were not met could have done more harm.
Trump, in his first term, pulled out of ​a 2018 nuclear deal his ⁠predecessor negotiated with Iran, and then in 2025 bombed Iran’s nuclear sites during negotiations. Trump launched the war against Iran on February 28, even as mediator Oman was citing hopes for a negotiated solution.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/white-house-opted-against-televised-address-about-iran-ceasefire-us-officials-2026-04-10/

Wang, on a two-day trip to North Korea, said the countries’ relations were entering a “new phase” following a summit last year between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un voiced support for China’s push to build a “multipolar world” and called for deeper ties between the traditional allies during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media said on Saturday (Apr 11).

During the meeting on Friday, Kim said his government will fully support Chinese efforts to achieve territorial integrity based on its “one-China principle”, a reference to Beijing’s official position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim also outlined North Korea’s position on unspecified regional and international issues of “mutual concern” and said sustained development of ties between the two countries has become more crucial in the current geopolitical environment, KCNA said.

Wang, on a two-day trip to North Korea, said the countries’ relations were entering a “new phase” following a summit last year between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“In the face of a turbulent and complex international situation, China and North Korea should further strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs,” Wang told Kim, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

“Without water, there would be no wine,” Virginia de Valle says as she takes me around her family’s 16-hectare (40-acre) vineyard in Mendoza, nestled below the peaks of the Andes mountain range.

Winemakers in Argentina’s wine capital rely on fresh water from the Andes mountains to irrigate their crops. But after Argentine MPs this week passed government reforms to loosen the protection of glaciers, De Valle fears her vineyard’s water supply is under threat.

“The Andes mountains, with their winter snow and glaciers, feed the rivers and streams that flow into the valley to irrigate our crops,” she explains. “This is also the water we consume in our homes. That is why people say ‘Mendoza is the daughter of water’.”

While snow in the Andes mountains is the primary source of water for Mendocinos, in years with especially low rain and snowfall, water from melted glaciers (permanent bodies of dense ice) helps to minimise the impact of droughts – increasingly common in Mendoza – and keep vineyards like De Valle’s fruitful.

“Every drop of water counts,” she says.

It’s not just the semi-arid province of Mendoza that relies on glaciers for water security. There are 16,968 glaciers in Argentina, providing water to 36 river basins across 12 provinces, home to seven million people.

How has the glacier law changed?
Argentina was the first country in the world to have a law that specifically protected its glaciers. Passed in 2010, the law deemed them to be vital water reserves, and so prohibited any damaging commercial activity.

It also protected what’s known as the periglacial environment, which includes things like permafrost – water trapped in frozen soil. Glaciers are recorded on a national inventory by the Argentine Institute of Snow Research, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (Ianigla).

It will now be the responsibility of the provincial governments to decide whether or not the glaciers in their region are of strategic importance – that is, whether they provide water for human consumption, agriculture, biodiversity, as a source of scientific information, or as a tourist attraction.

If provinces deem that they’re not “strategic” water reserves, they can take them off Ianigla’s national inventory, meaning they will no longer have those environmental protections.

Those in favour of the changes say the 2010 law acted as an unnecessary barrier to extraction projects, and that the development of copper and lithium projects will boost regional economies and the country’s energy transition.

But those against say large-scale mining could alter the flow of rivers coming from the Andes mountains and threaten water security for millions.

‘Hands off the glaciers’

From the vineyards of Mendoza, to the hiking town of El Chaltén in Patagonia, opposition to the modifications is clear, with the campaign slogan: “Los glaciares no se tocan” – hands off the glaciers – sprayed across the country’s walls and pavements.

More than 100,000 people signed up to participate in a public hearing on the changes at Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies in March, though only a fraction of that – less than 400 – were able to speak over the two-day hearing.

“It made clear that it’s not just environmental organisations who were asking for this law not to be amended; it was the people, the public, who were asking for water to continue to be protected,” says Agostina Rossi Serra, a biologist working with environmental group Greenpeace.

An economic opportunity?
President Javier Milei sees the Andes mountains as the key to unlock billions in investment from mining companies, and the governments of mineral-rich provinces say that the previous law stopped them “promoting a sustainable economic development”.

“Argentina doesn’t export even a single gram of copper, while Chile, which shares the same mountain range with us, exports $20bn [£15bn] a year,” Milei – keen to take a metaphorical chainsaw to government regulation – told a business forum in November.

De Valle counters that “Milei doesn’t care about natural resources or how it’s going to end”.

Bosses from mining firms Glencore, Lundin and BHP Group have all visited Milei in the last year and, along with others, are keen to invest around $40bn in Argentina’s untapped copper industry, according to a Bloomberg report.

Some of the regional governments that were keen to see the law amended, including those of Mendoza and San Juan, are from arid and semi-arid areas where water is already a scarce resource, Serra says.

“They are provinces that believe mining development is far more important than ecosystems and the communities themselves,” she tells the BBC.

‘False arguments’
Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, says the reform means only glaciers and periglacial environments proven to have a water-related significance will be protected, paving the way for development projects on the rest.

But glaciologist Lucas Ruiz says the amendment is based on “false arguments”.

“The most false part of it all is the claim that there are glaciers that do not contribute to rivers. If it’s a glacier, it has ice and contributes water. It’s very basic,” he says.

Ruiz says the reforms to the law are unclear, and so are the consequences.

“We are left not knowing what criteria will be used, not knowing which technical bodies will be involved, and clearly, any glacier and any periglacial environment could be at risk,” he says.

‘A stark paradox’
But Ruiz, who works as an independent researcher at Ianigla, says there’s a “stark paradox” in the scientific community’s response to the reforms.

“We know that at the rate at which glaciers are melting, it is highly likely that by the end of the century Europe will be almost entirely glacier-free, as will the tropical Andes in Peru and large areas of the Southern Andes,” he explains.

“And the only way to prevent that is for us to reduce our carbon footprint. And if we do not make the energy transition, which cannot be achieved without more copper and lithium, it will not be possible.

“It is a stark paradox, hard to accept, but it is the reality. Because the message from science is that energy transition is necessary,” Ruiz says.

Any mining must be responsible, he adds, where the impact on glaciers and the periglacial environment is thoroughly assessed.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj947487wzyo

As Melania Trump walked up to the White House podium on Thursday, standing where US President Donald Trump had just over a week ago made his address to the nation on Iran, there was absolutely no indication that this would be a jaw-dropping appearance.

There was curiosity, yes, but no one guessed it would be must-see viewing. Not even those most plugged into the administration had any forewarning of the topic, according to officials.

Flanked by US flags, her first sentence jolted those listening. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”

With those words, the Epstein crisis that had plagued the president was once again front and centre thanks to his wife.

Immediately, US cable channels broke away from their coverage on Iran, given the gravity of what was unfolding.

The first lady has always maintained a relatively low profile, strategically selecting her few public events. She hardly shares the same flair for the dramatic – or the desire to shock and awe the press – as her husband.

Reading from a prepared statement, she said she never had a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell, was not introduced to her husband by Epstein, and was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. She ended by calling for public congressional hearings for Epstein survivors to testify to uncover the truth.

If she had stayed to answer any questions, surely the first one would have been: why did she feel the need now, seemingly out of the blue, to distance herself from the convicted sex offender and go on the record for the first time?

Rumours swirled that perhaps she was trying to get ahead of something new, given the general claims she referenced have circulated for years and she’s usually relied on her lawyers to respond.

Ben Affleck has reportedly gifted his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez his entire share of their $60 million mansion for free.

The former couple modified their property settlement agreement, which shows a “transfer of property among spouses,” per TMZ.

The document doesn’t specify the exact nature of the transfer, but on Friday, sources close to the situation told the outlet that Affleck gave Lopez his entire stake of the property at no cost.

Reps for Affleck and Lopez were not immediately available to Page Six for comment.

Affleck and Lopez bought the massive mansion in Beverly Hills, California, for $60.85 million back in June 2023 while they were still married.

The 38,000-square-foot home — which includes a whopping 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms and a full basketball court — was supposed to serve as the perfect love nest.

At the time, TMZ reported that the actor and the pop star — who tied the knot in July 2022 — paid in cash for the pad.

But the following June, they put their marital home on the market amid rumors they were heading for a divorce.

Despite reports that the duo were only selling the mansion because Lopez thought the property is “too big for her” and that Affleck “never liked the house,” the singer filed for divorce two months later.

That same summer, Affleck purchased a $20.5 million mansion in the Pacific Palisades to be closer to his kids — Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13 — whom he shares with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Affleck and Lopez finalized their divorce in January 2025 and the future of the home was unclear as it was still sitting on the market.

Lopez bought a $18 million home in Los Angeles the following March for her and her 18-year-old twins, Max and Emme, whom she shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

But last summer, Affleck and Lopez took the mansion off the market in a surprising “business decision.”

“While they’ve been hoping to sell the property, they’ve also been hesitant to take a big loss,” an insider told People at the time.

“They lowered the price to get more interest and when this didn’t happen, they were advised to take it off the market,” the source continued. “It was a business decision that they made together.”

Source: https://pagesix.com/2026/04/10/celebrity-news/ben-affleck-gifts-jennifer-lopez-his-portion-of-their-60-million-mansion-for-free-report/

Lawyers for the ex-NYPD cop who fatally tossed a picnic cooler at a drug suspect are mounting a longshot bid to free him as he appeals his manslaughter conviction — and languishes in isolation behind bars.

Former police Sgt. and married dad of three Erik Duran, 38, is currently in protective custody away from other inmates on Rikers Island after he was sentenced Thursday to up to nine years in prison for the 2023 death of Eric Duprey, law-enforcement sources told The Post on Friday.

Duran has access to a television, a small outdoor yard and shower — but little else, including contact with other inmates for his own safety, according to sources.

Food is being brought to him at the dangerous jail. He is expected to be transferred at some point to a state prison, where he will serve his term of three to nine years — a sentence that experts and cops have ripped as “extreme and damaging” to law enforcement.

But Duran’s legal team is trying to convince an appellate court to release the convicted cop from custody as the former officer fights to have his conviction overturned in the controversial case.

“We’re going to be arguing that when all facts are heard, you will see that the judge’s decision was an error and against the weight of the evidence,” one of his lawyers, Arthur Aidala, told The Post of the motion filed Friday.

Duran — who grew up in a violent Bronx neighborhood before becoming a “model’’ cop — threw the cooler at Duprey as the suspect fled on a scooter during an undercover drug sting, causing him to fall and fatally hit his head.

The former cop was slapped with the stiff prison sentence by Bronx Judge Guy Mitchell after he was found guilty of manslaughter at a bench trial in February.

Duran was hauled away immediately after Thursday’s hearing, sparking his lawyers’ desperate attempt to convince a higher court to allow him to be with his wife and kids as they work to get the Appellate Division First Department to review his case.

Barry Kamins, another lawyer for Duran, said the appeals court can choose to free the ex-cop on bail pending the appeal if it’s believed he has a legitimate gripe with Judge Mitchell’s decision.

But former Manhattan prosecutor-turned-defense lawyer Mark Bederow said the chances Duran is let out during the appeal process are “probably not good.”

Source: https://nypost.com/2026/04/10/us-news/nyc-cooler-cop-erik-duran-mounts-bid-for-freedom-pending-appeal/

With baby Arthur too young for the measles vaccine and a sibling due in June, the Otwells grew nervous when the threat of the highly contagious virus started factoring into their grocery run.

“We go to the Costco that was kind of a hotbed,” said John Otwell, who knew about the state health department’s warnings of public exposures at the store. “A lot of people just don’t get it; they think it’s just a cold. It’s not.”

By Arthur’s 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation’s worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year’s in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccine — for measles, mumps and rubella — earlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. Their new baby won’t be able to get the shot until at least 6 months — a prospect that worries parents of infants wherever measles spreads.

Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die.

Babies depend entirely on herd immunity — at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. In Spartanburg County, the outbreak’s epicenter, less than 90% of students have gotten required vaccines.

“Babies become sitting ducks,” said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a Columbia pediatrician. “The burden is on all of us to protect all of us.”

But increasingly, some policymakers and officials push a view of vaccination as an issue of individual freedom and parents’ rights, rather than one of public health to safeguard the population as a whole.

At the federal level, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine crusader, has sought to remake vaccine policy and oversaw billions in public health cuts. And though a temporary ruling from a federal judge has slowed his momentum, a raft of bills has been introduced in states, including South Carolina, that threaten to further reduce vaccination rates.

South Carolina’s measles outbreak, totaling about 1,000 cases, has slowed. But measles is spreading in many states, with 17 outbreaks this year and 48 last year, and the U.S. on the verge of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles.

Doctors work to protect the youngest against measles
Dr. Jessica Early never thought she’d have to deal with measles, but the pediatrician feared for her patients and her own baby when it popped up in her Greer community. She and other doctors began offering an approved infant MMR dose as early as 6 months old. Her practice also started giving the second MMR dose — usually for ages 4 to 6 years old — early.

To the chagrin of many doctors, no one knows how many South Carolina infants have gotten measles or been hospitalized by it.

State officials will disclose only that 253 of the 997 cases were among children 4 and younger; they say they won’t break cases down further for confidentiality reasons. It’s not uncommon to group statistics this way.

Officials also don’t know exactly how many infants were hospitalized with the virus because, as in some other states, hospitals aren’t required to report measles-related admissions.

A resurfaced video shows Brazilian surfer Tayane Dalazen being bitten by a nurse shark while diving in Fernando de Noronha. She suffered minor injuries but recovered fully. Known to be docile, nurse sharks rarely attack humans, and Dalazen called it an isolated incident, later returning to dive again without fear.

 

Fernando de Noronha: A viral video showing Brazilian surfer and lawyer Tayane Cachoeira Dalazen being bitten by a nurse shark during a dive has resurfaced online, offering a clearer view of the rare incident that took place earlier this year.

The incident occurred in January off the coast of Fernando de Noronha, a popular diving destination known for its marine biodiversity. The newly released footage captures Dalazen diving headfirst into clear blue waters before a nurse shark approaches and briefly bites her leg.

Dalazen Suffers Minor Injuries

Dalazen, 36, sustained minor injuries, including visible bite marks on her thigh, but did not suffer any life-threatening harm. The original video that went viral shortly after the incident was unclear, but the latest footage provides a sharper, front-facing perspective of the encounter, reigniting discussions around human interactions with marine life.

Unlike most communities, the Bajau do not live within fixed national boundaries.

A viral video has brought attention back to the Bajau people — often described as the world’s last true sea nomads — whose lives unfold almost entirely on the ocean, between parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

The video shared on X shows a glimpse of the Bajau people. The caption reads, “No Country, No Borders — Just Ocean: The Incredible Bajau Tribe. This is the only “country” with no land borders. The Bajau people live their entire lives at sea, between Indonesia and Malaysia. Many are born on boats, grow up on water, and never truly belong to any nation – making them the last true sea nomads of the world. Diving is survival for them. From a young age, they dive 30+ meters without equipment, with bodies adapted to pressure and eyes that see clearly underwater.”

See more

No Country, No Borders — Just Ocean: The Incredible Bajau Tribe…

This is the only “country” with no land borders.🌊

The Bajau people live their entire lives at sea, between Indonesia and Malaysia. Many are born on boats, grow up on water, and never truly belong to any nation -… pic.twitter.com/P6c3ucZJjc

— NancyH (@NancyH_60) April 7, 2026

Unlike most communities, the Bajau do not live within fixed national boundaries. Many are born on boats, grow up at sea and spend most of their lives moving across coastal waters, without a strong attachment to any one country. For generations, the ocean has not just been their livelihood, but their home.

 

In a personal blog, Sam Altman shared that a person allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at his house at 3:45 am.

The home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, where he stays with his family, was hit by a Molotov cocktail. Police have reportedly arrested a 20-year-old in connection with the attack on the AI boss’ luxury San Francisco residence. Following the incident, he reflected on the moment on his personal blog and shared a rare picture of his family.

“I wrote this early this morning and I wasn’t sure if I would actually publish it, but here it is,” Altman tweeted while posting his blog on X.

“Here is a photo of my family. I love them more than anything,” he wrote. It was accompanied by a photo of his husband, Oliver Mulherin, and their child.

“Images have power, I hope. Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me,” Altman continued,” adding, “The first person did it last night, at 3:45 am in the morning. Thankfully it bounced off the house and no one got hurt.”

Altman suggested that the alleged attack may have been tied to his role in the AI industry and the broader tensions surrounding the technology.

“Words have power too. There was an incendiary article about me a few days ago. Someone said to me yesterday they thought it was coming at a time of great anxiety about AI and that it made things more dangerous for me. I brushed it aside,” he shared.

He further added, “Now I am awake in the middle of the night and pissed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives.”

The suspect is identified as 20-year-old Alejandro Daniel Moreno-Gama, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He allegedly fled the scene before throwing the fire bomb at Sam Altman’s house.

The San Francisco Police Department shared that about an hour after the incident, the authorities were called to OpenAI’s headquarters on 3rd Street, where a man allegedly threatened to set fire to the building.

The police recognised the person as the same suspect in the Sam Altman’s house incident and took him into custody.

What else did he write?
In the rest of the blog, Altman addressed his beliefs, the rivalry between AI companies and the future.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/sam-altman-breaks-silence-shares-rare-family-photo-after-molotov-cocktail-thrown-at-his-home-at-3-45-am-101775870809717.html

When asked what a successful deal with Iran would look like, Donald Trump said, “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 percent of it.”

Iran and the United States head into high-stakes talks in Islamabad on Saturday with both sides openly wary of each other. While Tehran has reiterated that it approaches negotiations with “goodwill but no trust,” Washington has also signalled caution.

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Friday night reiterated Tehran’s deep distrust of the United States. According to the Tasnim News Agency, he said, “Our experience of negotiations with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of promise. They attacked us twice in the middle of the negotiations. We have goodwill but no trust.” Track US-Iran war live updates.

Ghalibaf made the remarks upon arriving in Islamabad, where he is leading a high-level delegation for expected discussions involving the American side. His comments came in response to recent statements by US Vice President JD Vance.

Vance heads to Pakistan
Earlier in the day, Vance said that “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” but warned that “if they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” AFP quoted him as saying.

Vance is travelling to Islamabad along with US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Sharif says ‘make or break’ moment
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the upcoming negotiations as a difficult but decisive phase.

“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” he said. “This is that stage which, in English, is called the equivalent of ‘make or break,’” AFP reported.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign office, Ghalibaf’s delegation was received upon arrival by deputy PM Ishaq Dar, chief of defence forces and army chief field marshal Asim Munir, national assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi.

See more

Arrival of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Islamabad Talks pic.twitter.com/aJYU9cx5t2

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 10, 2026

As reported by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian delegation includes representatives from security, political, military, economic and legal fields.

The team includes foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, secretary of Iran’s defence council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, along with several members of parliament.

What are key Iranian demands
Tehran has continued to stress preconditions laid out earlier by Ghalibaf, warning that failure to meet them could derail the process, as reported by Press TV.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf said two key steps agreed between the parties remain unfulfilled. According to him, both the Lebanon ceasefire and the release of frozen Iranian assets are essential conditions before any formal dialogue begins in Islamabad.

He said: “Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,”

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Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.

These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 10, 2026

However, Israel has maintained that the two-week ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon.

This comes as Israeli strikes following earlier hostilities linked to Hezbollah have left heavy casualties in the region. Lebanese authorities say more than 1,950 people have been killed in recent weeks, including over 350 on a single day during renewed strikes.

What’s on US’ list of demands
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes—is expected to be a key issue in the Islamabad peace talks.

US President Donald Trump said the vital shipping route would be opened “fairly soon.” While talking to reporters, he added, “We’re going to open up the Gulf with or without them… or the strait as they call it,” he said. “I think it’s going to go pretty quickly, and if it doesn’t, we’ll be able to finish it off. We will have that open fairly soon.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/goodwill-but-no-trust-wary-iran-and-us-head-to-islamabad-talks-what-each-side-wants-101775873180584.html

 

 

Iran has insisted that any ceasefire deal must include Lebanon, but the US and Israel maintain that Lebanon was never part of the initial agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”. The move comes as a fragile two-week truce between the US, Israel, and Iran hangs by a thread following the intensification of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” his office wrote in a statement.

“Negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates today’s call by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarize Beirut,” the statement added.

However, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that there will be no ceasefire with Hezbollah ahead of talks with Lebanon.

The US State Department said that Israel and Lebanon will initiate talks in Washington next week. The two countries have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948.

Lebanon Advocating For Ceasefire Since Last 24 Hours

Meanwhile, Lebanon has spent the last 24 hours advocating for a temporary ceasefire to allow for broader talks with Israel, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters.

The official said it would be a “separate track but the same model” as a fragile truce brokered by Pakistan between the US and Iran.

Netanyahu’s statement comes after Israel launched the largest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, leaving more than 200 people dead.

While Iran has insisted that any ceasefire deal must include Lebanon, both the US and Israel maintain that Lebanon was never part of the initial agreement.

Trump Asked Netanyahu To Dial Down Lebanon Strikes

US President Donald Trump had asked Netanyahu in a phone call yesterday to scale back the Lebanon strikes to safeguard the success of Iran talks, NBC News reported.

According to the report, a senior US administration official said that the phone call happened after Netanyahu vowed to continue attacking Lebanon on Wednesday.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/cleared-direct-talks-with-lebanon-as-soon-as-possible-netanyahu-11335337?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire with Ukraine for the duration of the Orthodox Easter holidays, the Kremlin said Thursday, after Kyiv also proposed a pause in hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire with Ukraine for the duration of the Orthodox Easter holidays, the Kremlin said Thursday, after Kyiv also proposed a pause in hostilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week that he had passed a holiday truce proposal via the US, as talks to end the four-year conflict were derailed by the Middle East war.

“A ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on 11 April until the end of the day on 12 April 2026” by Putin, “in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

The General Staff “have been instructed to cease combat operations in all directions for this period,” the Kremlin said, adding that troops were ready to “counter any possible provocations by the enemy”.

“We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation.”

Several rounds of US-led talks have failed to bring the warring sides closer to an agreement, further stalling as Washington’s attention shifted to Iran.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/vladimir-putin-announces-orthodox-easter-ceasefire-with-ukraine-11336149?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The response came after a report by The Wall Street Journal claimed that an Iranian delegation had entered Islamabad to begin talks with US officials.

Iran has denied reports that a negotiating team has reached Islamabad for talks with the United States, calling the claims “false.

According to Iran’s state-affiliated Fars News Agency, Tehran said it has no plans to engage in negotiations with Washington in Pakistan at this stage.

“Until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon, Iran has no plan to participate in peace negotiations in Islamabad with the American side,” Fars News quoted.

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UPDATE 🔴

Islamic regime Fars News: “Until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon, Iran has no plan to participate in peace negotiations in Islamabad with the American side.

The Wall Street Journal claimed a few minutes ago in a news report that an Iranian delegation has entered… https://t.co/y4MiiaEdAn

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 9, 2026

The response came after a report by The Wall Street Journal claimed that an Iranian delegation had entered Islamabad to begin talks with US officials.

Rejecting the report, Fars News said, “The Wall Street Journal claimed a few minutes ago in a news report that an Iranian delegation has entered Islamabad to start negotiations with Washington, which is false.”

On the other hand, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said that “negotiations are suspended” and that reports of an Iranian negotiating team arriving in Islamabad are false.

The new agency mentioned: “As long as the US doesn’t fulfill commitment to the ceasefire in Lebanon and the Zionist regime continues its attacks, negotiations are suspended.”

Tasnim news agency further mentioned that neither Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi nor Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has left the Islamic Republic for talks.

Sources, however, told News18 that a team from Iran has reached Islamabad for negotiations.

Talks Scheduled In Pakistan

A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran showed signs of strain on Friday, ahead of planned talks in Pakistan, as Washington accused Tehran of failing to honour commitments on the Strait of Hormuz while Israel carried out fresh strikes in Lebanon.

There were no indications that Iran had eased its near-total blockade of the strait, which has significantly disrupted global energy supplies. Tehran has cited ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, including some of the heaviest strikes of the conflict earlier this week, as a key obstacle.

US President Donald Trump said in a social media post late Thursday that Iran was doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil shipments through the strait, adding, “That is not the agreement we have!”

In a separate post, he said oil flows would resume soon, without specifying any potential US action.

Data showed that in the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, announced by Trump on Tuesday, only one oil tanker and five dry bulk carriers passed through the strait. The route typically handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, with around 140 vessels transiting daily before the conflict.

Fresh Attacks

Israel’s military said early Friday it had struck 10 launchers in Lebanon that fired rockets towards northern Israel a day earlier. It also said Hezbollah launched a missile towards Israel, triggering air raid sirens.

The missile was intercepted, according to The Times of Israel. Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli military infrastructure in the northern city of Haifa.

While the US and Israel have maintained that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan — which has acted as a mediator — have said Lebanon is part of the agreement.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/iran-denies-reports-of-negotiating-team-reaching-islamabad-calls-claims-false-ws-l-10025061.html

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded to Pakistani Minister’s remarks and said that the latter’s “call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous.”

Ahead of scheduled US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Israel on Friday (local time) hit out at Pakistani Defence Minister Khwaja Asif after the latter accused Jerusalem of committing genocide in Lebanon.

In a post on X, the Defence Minister of the country which is mediating the US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, dubbed Israel “evil and a curse for humanity, “cancerous” and “to get rid of European jews.”

Asif claimed that as “peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated.”

“I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell,” he added.

Israel Reacts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded to Pakistani Minister’s remarks and said that the latter’s “call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous.”

“This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace,” it said.

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The Prime Minister’s Office:

Pakistan Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2026

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also criticised Asif’s remarks, calling them openly antisemitic and inappropriate for a country that says it wants to mediate peace.

He also agreed with the Prime Minister’s Office, saying that describing Israel as “cancerous” is essentially the same as calling for its destruction.

Sa’ar added that Israel will continue to defend itself against groups that threaten to destroy it.

Meanwhile, the stage is set as Pakistan prepares to host delegations from the United States and Iran for negotiations over the ongoing war in West Asia. As per the talks schedule, arrivals of delegations are set to begin late Friday night and continue into Saturday.

The White House has said that US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation to Islamabad “this weekend” for the talks. Along with Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner will be part of the delegation. Senior officials from the White House and the Pentagon will also be part of the negotiation team.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/israel-denounces-mediator-pakistan-over-khwaja-asifs-remarks-on-lebanon-ws-l-10024979.html

 

A serious message got lost in translation as social media (and Elon Musk) zoomed in on one unfamiliar term

A statement made by a Canadian Member of Parliament has led to strong reactions online after she used a long and unfamiliar acronym while speaking about a serious issue. The clip quickly spread across social media, with many people expressing confusion, while others stepped in to explain what the term actually means.

Leah Gazan is at the centre of the discussion after a clip from her speech was shared online. In the video, she speaks about budget cuts affecting Indigenous organisations and raises concern over violence faced by certain communities.

During her speech, she says, “deal with the ongoing genocide of MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+. This is abhorrent.”

The clip was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a user named Samantha Smith, who wrote, ““MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+” The Canadian government just dropped this absolute monstrosity (and no, it isn’t satire).”

Within hours, the video gathered millions of views and sparked a wave of reactions. Many people focused on the long acronym, saying they found it difficult to understand.

Elon Musk also reacted to the clip. He wrote, “Canada is cooked.”

Every month, Rebecca Michalski takes a deep breath before opening her electric bill. She lives on a fixed income, and heating her small house this winter has been staggering: Her February charge was $940.08 — more than her check.

It makes no sense. She turns the lights off during the day and only burns one lamp with an energy-efficient bulb in the living room at night, but she keeps falling further behind on payments. In desperation, she took out a loan after getting a cut-off notice during an extended arctic blast that kept the state’s heaters cranking when temperatures regularly dipped below zero.

“Every time you see that power bill, you’re just sick,” Michalski said, rifling through a stack of statements totaling thousands of dollars. “I already know before I open it. I just dread seeing how much.”

She’s taken to social media, demanding answers alongside thousands of other West Virginians, including those who have been posting screenshots of their monthly charges. They are angry and perplexed over soaring utility costs that are sometimes surpassing rents and mortgages in one of the most energy-rich, yet poorest, corners of America, where families have been forced to choose between paying for food or heat.

President Donald Trump, as part of his campaign pitch to “make America affordable again,” promised to cut Americans’ electricity bills by half during his first year to 18 months in the White House.

“And if it doesn’t work out, you’ll say, ‘Oh well, I voted for him, I still got them down a lot,’” he said. “You will never have had energy so low as you will under a certain gentleman known as Donald J. Trump.”

It hasn’t worked out.

Instead, electricity increased 4.8% in February nationwide and piped natural gas prices rose 10.9%, both compared with a year earlier, according to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index. That surpassed inflation even before the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel sent energy costs ballooning.

It’s becoming an increasingly aggravating issue for some voters. Rising electricity bills emerged as a campaign issue in recent elections, including during gubernatorial races won by Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia. Cost concerns are expected to surface during midterms this fall, and an analysis by the nonprofit PowerLines found residents are not likely to get a break any time soon because new gas and electricity rate hike requests could affect more than 80 million Americans. An AP-NORC poll conducted in March also found 35% of U.S. adults were “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford electricity in the next few months.

“It’s breaking me. And there’s nothing that can be done for it, unless the president does something,” Michalski said about her skyrocketing power bills, adding she no longer supports Trump. “And I don’t see him doing it. He’s had plenty of time.”

Increased demand, extreme weather and events, upgrading and maintaining aging infrastructure and rising natural gas prices are pushing electricity bills higher. Rising energy costs — including gas pump sticker shock now topping an average $4 per gallon nationally — could further be exacerbated by the war in Iran along with the Trump administration’s push to export higher volumes of liquefied natural gas — which, in turn, depletes domestic supply. Ratepayers are also wary as more power-gobbling data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing are being built or warmly embraced by politicians in places like West Virginia — where residents deep in Trump country have gone from having the cheapest electricity rate nationwide in 2005, to experiencing one of the fastest increases in the country, far outpacing the national average, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

All in a place where people are living atop vast deposits of coal, oil and gas.

King Coal

Coal remains king here, but it wears a pricey crown. The state is an outlier nationwide because of its stubborn resistance to adopting cleaner, cheaper sources of energy, such as nuclear power, natural gas — even though it’s one of the nation’s top producers — and renewables like wind and solar. Instead, West Virginia clings to aging coal-fired electric plants more than anywhere else in the country — about 87% of all production. Its supermajority Republican-led government — there are only 11 Democrats in the House and Senate — has doubled down on this reliance, blaming past Democratic administrations for a war on coal fueled by increased federal regulations and restrictions, while Trump poses for photo ops with coal miners at the White House and regularly touts “beautiful, clean coal.”

“Lowering electricity prices is a top priority for President Trump,” said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers, blaming former President Joe Biden for the problem. “He is aggressively unleashing reliable energy sources like coal and natural gas.”

Trump has forced unprofitable coal-powered plants to remain open, rolled back pollution standards for them and provided hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to improve them. He’s also streamlined permitting and regulations to push for mining expansion when coal mines have been shutting down in the state, including several operations this year that eliminated more than 700 jobs.

“If you’re not 100% in on coal, then you’re a traitor. … It’s like a measure of patriotism,” said Jamie Van Nostrand, policy director at the nonprofit Future of Heat Initiative and a former West Virginia University professor who wrote a book about the state’s reliance on coal energy. “I think if you went to the average West Virginian and said, ‘Yeah, we understand you want to support the coal industry, but do you want to support it to the extent that you’re OK paying twice as much as you should be for electricity?’”

The state’s average household electricity rate per kilowatt-hour has surged 73%, natural gas has increased 51% per 1,000 cubic feet and water has risen 45% per 1,000 gallons from 2015 to 2025, according to West Virginia’s Public Service Commission, a three-member panel. It includes a former power company lobbyist and the former head of the state coal association — appointed by the governor and charged with approving rate hikes.

Even though monthly bills remain higher in other states, salaries in West Virginia have simply not kept pace — it’s the only place in the country where the median inflation-adjusted household income was lower in 2023 than it was in 1970, according to the Urban Institute. That means residents are seeing larger chunks of their paychecks going to utilities compared to people in other places.

Michalski, who’s disabled and uses a walker to get around, said she tries not to run anything in her house that can suck electricity, including her air conditioning in summer. But she simply can’t turn off the heater. During the past year, her statements totaled over $5,000. She asked family for help paying the bill this winter, but said she’s now out of options.

She knows what’s next.

“They come and cut off your power. Then you’re sitting in the dark. And I see that happening,” she said. “And I think for a lot of other people, it’s gonna happen too.”

“It only makes the rich richer”

Isolated by its beautiful, rugged mountains, West Virginia sits entirely within Appalachia and has long been listed at the bottom of a laundry list of failings, including poor health and a lack of education. Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state’s resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward. Its people are known for being fiercely independent and proud despite their hardships, including a lack of clean drinking water that has persisted for decades in some areas, forcing residents in the southern coal fields to ferry jugs to and from roadside springs or abandoned mines while spending up to $250 a month for bottled water to cook with and drink. They also pay for public water piped into their homes that often runs black, yellow and brown.

Some, including those living in scenic areas where tourism is a major revenue driver, are protesting Big Tech companies rushing to build enormous data centers, fearing they could lead to the next cycle of outsiders taking advantage of the state’s resources. They have been loud over a lack of public input and transparency around plans to build the complexes, questioning noise pollution, huge water consumption and the effect on ratepayers’ electricity prices.

“We just roll back regulations and we keep being promised that deregulating and privatizing our systems is gonna fix everything, and it never does,” said Caitlin Ware, a pastor who advocates for clean water in southern West Virginia — her thoughts briefly interrupted as the electricity abruptly went off in her Sandyville United Methodist Church. “It only makes the rich richer, and it only puts us in a worse situation.”

In February, Gov. Patrick Morrisey proudly announced plans to build a data center on nearly 550 acres in Berkeley County.

“This $4 billion investment is a historic win that proves West Virginia can compete at the highest level for the global tech economy,” he said in a statement. It did not explain where the water or electricity would come from to run the 600 megawatt, 1.9 million square foot facility.

Morrisey’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Skyrocketing electricity costs and the growth of data centers, which can use enough power to run 100,000 homes, faced voter backlash in Georgia last fall where Democrats ousted two Republicans on the state’s utility regulatory commission for the first time in nearly two decades. Trump recently tried to ease Americans’ concerns by announcing a “ratepayer protection” pledge at the White House with Big Tech companies promising to bear the cost and produce their own energy, though it’s not clear how that would be enforced.

The reasons behind nationwide utility price hikes are complex and vary among regions. They include adding new transmission, distribution lines and power poles; increased brutal high and low temperatures; extreme weather events such as hurricanes and wildfires; and volatility in fuel costs such as surging gas prices during the war in Ukraine.

These all play a huge role in rising bills that have left some 80 million Americans struggling to pay their monthly gas and electric bills, said Charles Hua, founder of consumer advocacy organization PowerLines that found investor-owned gas and electric utility companies asked for nearly $31 billion in increases last year nationwide, double the amount requested a year earlier. He said utility costs have become the new affordability issue akin to soaring egg prices that previously enraged consumers, making it a possible player in this fall’s elections to control Congress.

“Electric bills have gone up 40% over the last five years,” he said. “This is likely to continue to rise. This is definitely something that the Trump administration and President Trump are very concerned about.”

In West Virginia, all 55 counties voted for Trump in 2024. But it was a Democratic stronghold for decades prior to the switch when coal mines were the lifeblood, and unions were virtually unbreakable. The state has struggled immensely under both parties: It has experienced a major brain drain, a devastating opioid epidemic, a growing elderly population and its coveted coal industry jobs have dried up with nothing to replace them. That leaves people who work minimum wage jobs, those on fixed incomes and even college-educated middle-class families with two paychecks being pushed to the breaking point with affordability issues, including rising car insurance, grocery bills, health care and housing.

Ashley Nicole Dixon of Danese works as a manager at a Dollar General store and has a teenage daughter at home and another in college. She flipped through bills on her phone totaling more than $5,000 charged last year for electricity in her house that’s just over 1,000 square feet, even though her air conditioner didn’t work last summer. She voted for Trump, but said she’s done with him because he and other Republican politicians in West Virginia’s Capitol aren’t looking out for her interests.

“I love West Virginia because it’s beautiful. But anymore, it’s just a sham from the local government all the way up to Charleston,” she said, adding she believes the state’s Public Service Commission should be elected, and Trump should send her a check since he promised to cut electricity bills in half.

“I have no choice. It has to be paid,” she said. “And that’s what makes me sick because now I’m going to have to go … take more money out of my savings account just to keep the lights on.”

“Why is this so high?”

The coldest winter months were the hardest. Some people confined themselves to one room with small space heaters or used generators when they got behind on their electricity bills and were disconnected. Others were forced to choose between food, medicine and warmth, with some turning their thermostats down to 60 degrees and bundling up or coming out of retirement to take part-time jobs.

For some, the spiral began in November when their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits were put on hold due to the federal government shutdown. United Way’s Central West Virginia helpline saw more than a 1,300% increase during that time, and calls for help paying utilities were second only to housing last year.

More than one in three West Virginia households is considered energy burdened, spending more than 6% of their income on electricity and other fuel costs. Of those, about 20% are low-income residents who shoulder some of the highest energy costs in the state.

Last year, Trump fired the staff of a federal program that assists millions of low-income Americans with heating bills in the winter and proposed eliminating all of its funding in his budget — a move repeated this year. Congress allocated money for it, but billions of dollars were delayed due to the shutdown. However, many West Virginians falling behind on bills are not eligible to apply because they make just a little too much money.

Jennifer Brown of Kingwood lands in that category. She’s employed at West Virginia’s federally funded Head Start program for low-income children and her husband is a postal worker. They have four kids and during the winter months, their combined utilities can climb to $1,000 a month, eclipsing their $798 mortgage. They were on a payment plan for their gas this winter after receiving a shut-off notice, and she said they were still paying off a water bill from their previous home.

“Every month we get our utility bills, I’m so angry. I’m like, ‘Why is this so high?’” she said, adding it’s not unusual to pay $200 to $300 for electricity and the same for water, sewage and garbage combined every month. “And we can’t figure it out. Nothing seems to be wrong … and we’re not wasteful.”

Bills introduced that would have temporarily frozen electricity rates in West Virginia or helped those who are most vulnerable went nowhere this year in the state legislature even though increased energy costs are often passed on to ratepayers. The Public Service Commission has approved a flurry of rate hikes in recent years as private utilities grapple with maintaining profits while improving infrastructure in a mountainous, sparsely populated state.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/electricity-utility-bills-west-virginia-trump-coal-38ad648f99a42eb2c73d7affaddadbcb

Afrika Bambaataa, one of the founding figures of hip-hop culture, has died at the age of 68, the Hip Hop Alliance has confirmed.

In a statement, the organisation said Bambaataa helped shape a “global movement rooted in peace, unity, love, and having fun”, paying tribute to his role in the emergence of hip-hop as both a musical genre and a cultural force.

Born Lance Taylor in the Bronx, Bambaataa grew up during the era of the black liberation movement. In 1973, he co-founded the Universal Zulu Nation, an international hip‑hop awareness group.

In his later years, Bambaataa’s reputation was overshadowed by allegations of child sexual abuse and trafficking, which he denied.

TMZ, which was first to report his death, said the artist died in Pennsylvania due to complications from cancer on Thursday.

Bambaataa was born to Jamaican and Barbadian immigrant parents.

As a teen, he became a member of the Black Spades gang, parlaying his leadership abilities to form the Universal Zulu Nation, that sought to channel youth culture away from violence and towards creativity.

His 1982 hit Planet Rock, won him global recognition and is credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1980s.

His vision for hip-hop transformed the Bronx borough into “the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world”, said Reverend Dr Kurtis Blow Walker, the executive director of Hip Hop Alliance.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, he continued to collaborate widely, working with musicians including James Brown and John Lydon, and contributing to politically conscious projects such as the anti-apartheid song Sun City in 1985.

Bambaataa led Universal Zulu Nation until 2016, stepping down after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced from the 1980s and 1990s.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2evppm30p7o

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Syria was not only a diplomatic gesture but motivated by strategic considerations regarding Russia, once a strong supporter of the Middle Eastern state.

During his tour of the Middle East early this month, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Syria, a country that until recently was a close ally of Russia. The Ukrainian president’s visit to the Syrian capital Damascus and his talks with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa mark the resumption and strengthening of Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts in the region.

“We agreed to work together to provide more security and opportunities for development for our societies,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “We discussed the situation in the region and prospects for improving it. We also discussed the circumstances of Russia’s war against Ukraine — I am grateful for the support. There is strong interest in exchanging military and security experience.”

Zelenskyy also pointed out that they had discussed Ukraine’s role as a food supplier, and strengthening food security across the entire region.

“We clearly understand the energy and infrastructure challenges that Syria is currently facing,” he added.

Resumption of diplomatic relations between Syria and Ukraine

“For decades, Syria was a strongly pro-Russian country, with corresponding propaganda and a Moscow-centric worldview among the elites and the general population. And now [there is] such a geopolitical break,” Serhiy Danylov from the Kyiv-based Association of Middle East Studies (AMES) told DW.

The Ukrainian and Syrian presidents met for the first time in September 2025 at the UN General Assembly in New York, when their respective foreign ministers signed a declaration on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Syria and Ukraine. These had been severed in June 2022 after the previous Syrian regime of Bashar Assad recognized the sovereignty and independence of the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russian separatists established so-called “people’s republics.”

During Zelenskyy’s visit to Syria, an agreement was also reached to open diplomatic missions in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and in Damascus in the near future.

Dmytro Levus, who heads the Ukrainian Meridian Social Research Center, told DW that Zelenskyy’s visit to Syria was a sign of the extent to which Russia’s ambitions had collapsed. He said that for a long time the Middle Eastern state was regarded as an unshakeable bastion of Russian influence, but now the situation has completely changed.

“Ukraine has entered a geopolitical arena that Russia has always considered its own, with a monopolistic influence. This is clearly a blow to the Kremlin,” Levus told DW.

Ukraine asks Middle East to stop buying stolen grain from Russia

For Danylov, food security could serve as the basis for a fresh start in Syrian-Ukrainian relations. “Under Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syria consumed Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia from the occupied regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea. That is how the Russians legalized the grain,” he explained.

He said that the situation was now changing and that Ukraine had demanded that countries in the Middle East stop purchasing stolen food so that it could supply them legally. Egypt has already agreed, he said, and Syria was the next step.

Food was not only a commercial instrument but a political one, he explained: “Food markets are part of government lobbying. There are examples of such lobbying in favor of Ukrainian interests at state level.”

Danylov went on to speculate that Ukrainian food supplies could help allay fears of another “Arab Spring” breaking out, since rising food prices had been one of the factors that had led to mass protests and uprisings across the Middle East in 2011.

“In Syria, Jordan and especially in Egypt, inflation and rising fuel prices are currently driving up the cost of living,” he said, adding that the poorer Arab states in particular were “very concerned about social stability” and determined to avoid social unrest.

Ukrainian military technology to support Syria

Mykhailo Honchar, from the Strategy XXI Center for Global Studies, told DW that military technology was also an important area of cooperation between Ukraine and Syria. He said that Ukraine had gained some unique experiences of combat and made a variety of technological advances since 2022, which included long-range drones and interceptor drones, which Syria was also interested in.

“This is a sensitive issue for Israel, however, as it is generally very distrustful of the current Syrian government,” Honchar pointed out, adding that this was not a reason for Ukraine to not sell them to Syria. “We must act in our national interests, and there is hope of further cooperation.”

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-and-syria-tighten-relations/a-76727981

The death of activist Vigario Luis Balanta, found with signs of extreme violence, has triggered protests and accusations against Guinea-Bissau’s military rulers, raising concerns over repression and media freedom.

At the end of March, residents discovered a lifeless body in a remote, swampy area about 30 kilometers (19 miles) outside Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

It was “covered in blood,” “wounded all over with a bladed weapon” and there were “two bullet holes in the head,” a witness told the AFP news agency.

The victim was Vigario Luis Balanta, a 35-year-old teacher and a prominent critic of Guinea-Bissau’s military leadership that had seized power in a coup four months earlier, ousting outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

Balanta was a leading figure in the civil society movement Po di Terra (Dust of the Earth) who, according to Radio France Internationale (RFI), had previously been reported missing before being released.

In late March, he was kidnapped in the Pilun district of Bissau. Two days later, his body was discovered. The United Nations called it a “brutal killing.”

In Balanta’s last public interview with DW in January, he remained defiant.

“We will keep going,” he said. “We have to act strategically and mobilize the people.”

He described Po di Terra as a movement rooted in love for the country and a determination to defend it.

“Despite the fear in the population, support is strong,” Balanta told DW.

Accusations against military-linked forces

Civil society groups, including Po di Terra and the Bissau-Guinean League of Human Rights, have accused the transitional military regime — or forces aligned with it — of orchestrating Balanta’s killing.

Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office (OHCHR), said in a statement that Balanta’s death “comes amid a progressive reduction of civic and democratic space, which has accelerated in Guinea-Bissau since the November 2025 coup.”

“Members of the opposition and human rights defenders have been arbitrarily detained, assaulted, harassed and intimidated, demonstrations dispersed and radio stations suspended,” Magango added.

Activist Sumaila Jalo described the killing as a warning to all who oppose the regime.

“We are afraid, but we will not be silent. The fight for justice continues,” he told DW.

The military government condemned the killing, calling it a crime “under particularly violent circumstances” and pledging to investigate thoroughly, holding both the perpetrators and their potential backers accountable. The pledge has been met with skepticism from critics.

Funeral protest highlights growing public anger

Balanta’s funeral in early April became a protest against the military rulers. Hundreds gathered at Antula Cemetery in Bissau, chanting: “We are all Vigario,” “We want justice,” and “Down with the dictatorship.”

The Guinean diaspora also organized solidarity demonstrations, including in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, calling for accountability.

Political tensions have risen after the government ordered private radio stations in Bissau to close, citing unpaid licensing fees of 5 million CFA francs (around $9,000). While broadcasts resumed after talks with Prime Minister Braima Camar, negotiations continue, leaving the state of press freedom uncertain.

At the same time, residents report severe fuel shortages, with long lines outside gas stations. The government denies there is a shortage.

The prime minister has publicly warned against “misinformation,” and observers say some citizens reporting shortages have faced intimidation. Tensions in Bissau remain high.

The military under General Horta N’Tam, has announced plans to hold presidential and legislative elections in December and return to civilian rule.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/guinea-bissau-on-edge-after-activists-killing/a-76704388

The Indian government has proposed changes to extend its regulatory framework to a wider range of online news voices, including influencers and podcasters on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and X.

Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) suggested amendments to India’s IT rules – which govern digital media content – to include “users who are not publishers” who share content related to “news and current affairs” within a “code of ethics” it currently applies to registered news publishers.

Experts say this will potentially give the government more power over news-related posts shared by ordinary users, including independent journalists and podcasters.

The government has proposed requiring social media platforms to follow orders and guidelines if they want to keep “safe harbour” protection – legal immunity from liability for content posted by users.

The proposed amendments have alarmed digital rights activists and independent news creators, who say they could enforce near-total compliance with state-led censorship on social media platforms. They also warn the rules could be misused to target critics and clamp down on dissent.

The government says the amendments will strengthen existing IT rules and curb fake news, hate speech and deepfakes, and has invited public feedback by 14 April.

But critics remain sceptical of the government’s stated intentions.

Akash Banerjee, who runs the YouTube channel The Deshbhakt with more than six million subscribers, says the rules could create a climate of fear, pushing many creators toward self-censorship.

“Interestingly, despite the many laws regulating online content, hate speech and fake news haven’t reduced in the country. Meanwhile, posts that are critical of the government – even if they’re satirical – are increasingly being blocked or removed,” Banerjee says. The authorities reject the charge.

But last month, X blocked about a dozen accounts, many known for satirical posts about the government, acting on orders issued under Section 69A of India’s IT Act.

Kumar Nayan, whose X account @Nehr_who? has about 242,000 followers, told the BBC he received neither prior notice nor an explanation for the block.

Nayan said his account was restored this week by a court order, but 10 posts remain blocked in India pending review by a government-appointed panel. The BBC has seen the posts, all of which either mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi or criticise his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

“No reasonable person will say that these posts threaten the nation’s security or disturb communal harmony. They are just funny posts, so why does the government want them taken down? Nayan asks.

He added that by challenging the order in court, his identity is now public, raising concerns about his safety.

“I have lost the anonymity offered by social media, which is a double-edged sword but also shields whistleblowers and critics from threats and harassment,” he says.

Nayan has moved home since his identity became public.

The BBC has shared a list of questions with MeitY.

Meanwhile, a recent US government report noted that since 2021, US social media firms had been subjected to an “increasing number of takedown requests for content and user accounts related to issues that appear politically motivated”.

Nikhil Pahwa, a digital rights activist, says the proposed amendments to the IT rules only strengthen the government’s existing “infrastructure for mass censorship”.

In an article co-authored with Apar Gupta, founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation, in the Times of India newspaper, Pahwa traces how successive amendments to the IT rules – introduced in 2021 – have expanded the government’s control over online content and diminished users’ rights.

A 2021 amendment brought digital news outlets under government oversight, while a 2025 change strengthened the federal home ministry’s Sahyog portal – a centralised platform that allows a number of agencies to issue takedown notices to social media companies with limited transparency and fewer safeguards, say the authors.

This portal functions as a parallel mechanism for removing content, distinct from the blocking powers granted to the federal government under Section 69A of the IT Act.

The IT rules were amended yet again in early 2026, where the window for social media firms to comply with government blocking orders was reduced from 36 to three hours, severely reducing the scope for legal review.

“Keen to preserve market access in India, platforms comply. Citizens whose speech is restricted receive no notice, no hearings, no reasons, and neither government nor platforms can be held to account by a legal system being outpaced by regulatory agility,” Pahwa writes.

MeitY Secretary S Krishnan has defended the IT rules and the recently proposed changes saying that guidelines issued by his ministry are in keeping with the law and the Constitution.

He told the BBC that there “needed to be a common policy or common framework” to govern news and current affairs’ content as such content is no longer shared only by news publishers but also ordinary citizens.

Sandeep Singh, whose X account @ActivistSandeep (with 100,000+ followers) was among those blocked in March, says he began posting critical views after feeling mainstream media was “biased” in favour of the BJP.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9mx2j3xlxo

Japan is dependent on the Middle East for some 95 per cent of its oil.

Japan plans to release 20 days’ worth of oil reserves from May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a cabinet meeting on Friday (Apr 10), to ensure stable domestic supply while searching for non-Middle East barrels as conflict in the region disrupts global supply.

The United States and Iran have agreed on a two-week ceasefire to the war that began in late February, but there is no sign of Iran lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the worst-ever disruption to global energy supplies.

Japan is dependent on the Middle East for some 95 per cent of its oil.

It began releasing reserves on Mar 16 unilaterally and in coordination with other nations under a plan to make available enough oil to last 50 days. The 20 days’ worth is additional.

As of Apr 6, Japan had enough oil for 230 days in its reserves, including 143 days in its public stockpile.

The new release would come from the public stockpile, Takaichi said. By May, Japan should be able to secure more than half of its oil imports via routes that do not include the Strait of Hormuz, she added, without naming the sources.

Japan is bringing substitute oil supply from the US, its closest ally, and those levels will be four times higher in May than a year earlier, a document released by the industry ministry showed on Friday.

Last May, Japan was importing around 189,000 barrels of oil per day from the US, or some 8 per cent of its total crude oil purchases that month, according to customs data, and US officials have called on Japan to buy more.

Japan has also contacted suppliers in countries across the world, including Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Nigeria and Angola, the industry ministry has said.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/japan-release-20-days-oil-reserves-extra-may-takaichi-iran-middle-east-6048161

JUSTIN Bieber’s highly anticipated appearance at Coachella is causing chaos this year, as festival-goers complain of price gouging and last-minute Airbnb cancellations.

Justin, who has barely performed in four years, will headline the major music festival this weekend and the following in Indio, California.

Residents near the festival grounds, at Empire Polo Club, have gotten creative in attempts to cash in, with one trying to rent out a laundry room to sleep in for $1,300.

An insider told The U.S. Sun, “Coachella is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and everyone wants to see Bieber; it seems to have more buzz than when Beyonce headlined.

“He has not toured in many years, and now the whole world is watching. Both weekends sold out in record time.”

Tickets for the festival, two hours outside of Los Angeles, sold out in 45 minutes, surpassing the previous record of one hour, set in 2022.

The source, who has had VIP access to the festival for years, claimed prices for artist guest passes, available through industry insiders attached to stars, have also sky-rocketed.

“Some buyers have been told they are being given refunds for ones they bought months ago, and that there is now a new price because of the demand this year,” he said.

“The price of artist guest passes has also gone up a lot for weekend two; it’s just crazy.”

He went on, “Most of the Coachella parties used to be open bar, but I’ve been told this year that a lot of them are charging.

“The price of accommodation also seems to have soared, and I know many are dealing with cancellations and scrambling to get something booked.

“I saw someone was renting out a laundry room, while others are trying to earn money from people camping in their backyards.”

The U.S. Sun verified a listing, which has now been removed, from one Airbnb host trying to rent out their laundry room for around $1,380 for three days.

Influencer Emma Fuller shared screenshots of the original post, saying, “My friend just got tickets to Coachella, and she’s looking for a place to stay, and she’s literally been showing me the craziest Airbnbs.

“Somebody put ‘laundry room for you to crash in’. There was another one of someone who put like a tent over their truck, listing it as an Airbnb for like a $1,000, and the laundry room is like $1,300.

“And this is why I’m just, I’m good, I’m perfectly fine with skipping out on all of that because what the f***.”

The same Airbnb host, living in Thermal, California, also added a listing, “Crash in my living room during Coachella,” which no longer has availability but still appears on the site.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to the host for comment and understands Airbnb removed the laundry room post.

Influencer Jourdan David, who goes by @jourdanunbothered, also exposed price gouging on Instagram, saying friends had their Airbnbs canceled last-minute – only for owners to re-list for higher prices.

He shared screenshots with The U.S. Sun of booking details from pals he has been helping, including a spot booked three months in advance for $7,500 for four nights.

“The owner canceled just last week, which is two weeks before the festival, by saying he sold the house,” he said.

“Then he re-listed it for two and a half times the price the next day.”

He shared further screenshots of other examples and appealed to Airbnb to take action.

Jourdan told The U.S. Sun, “The festival has been on an upward trajectory for years, and factors driving increased interest, whether it’s the lineup or broader cultural buzz, are known well in advance.

“Pricing should reflect that upfront, not shift in a way that penalizes people who planned early.

“Many attendees organize these trips months ahead of time, budgeting carefully and coordinating with groups.

“When a host cancels last minute, it creates a ripple effect – financially and logistically – that can be very difficult to recover from, especially given the limited availability of accommodations during that time.”

He added, “Coachella itself has done a strong job of keeping ticket pricing relatively accessible while continuing to deliver a high-quality experience.

“The issue is increasingly with the surrounding ecosystem – short-term rentals and transportation – which can make attending far less attainable.”

A spokesperson for Airbnb claimed they ban hosts for canceling and re-listing at higher prices.

They said, “Festival-goers trust Airbnb for their Coachella stays because we offer options that fit all budgets and are reliable, with protections against rare issues like cancellations.

“We are not seeing any notable uptick in cancellations over Coachella weekends and we’ve reached out to a small number of guests who raised concerns on social media to provide support.

“We know host cancellations can disrupt plans, which is why we have deterrents–including cancellation fees, calendar blocks to prevent rebooking, and a ban on re-listing for a higher price—as well as 24/7 guest support.”

They added, “We require that all listings and hosts meet our high standards, and we support affordability with pricing tools for hosts as well as price filters and upfront total price transparency for guests, so travelers can easily find options that fit their budget and book with confidence.”

Posts on Reddit from other festival-goers show alleged cancellations this week.

One wrote, “Host just canceled on us with no reason … he only said he can no longer accommodate us.

“[What] hurts the most is that we had found a really good deal at 500$ for the entire weekend for 3 people… now I’m going to be out a couple of grand to find another spot last minute.”

There was no proof that the resident had reposted at a higher price.

A second Redditor shared a price hike two weeks ago, claiming, “We had booked an Airbnb in late January for wk1 of Coachella and the host had cancelled the booking when we originally had reserved it and messaged us that the listing had already been booked and accommodated us to another with the same price.

“Now comes today, and the host is saying the reservation we have already is not available and is telling us he knows another host, but we would have to pay extra. Does anyone know what we can do can do?”

Meanwhile, influencer Coco Mocoe took to Threads to complain that her Coachella ticket had been canceled three days before the event on StubHub.

“They are telling me there are no tickets available for replacement but have the same type of GA ticket listed for $900+ more dollars than I bought them for,” she wrote.

She later revealed on Instagram that she was scrambling to get new tickets, and told The U.S. Sun she felt “dejected.”

“I understand, though, that this Coachella was insanely popular because of Justin Bieber,” she added.

After being alerted of the situation, StubHub told The U.S. Sun, “StubHub’s FanProtect Guarantee ensures that every order is protected. In the rare instance something goes wrong, we make it right.

“In this case, we were able to resolve the customer’s issue and ensure they can enjoy the event as planned.”

Coco added, “I’ve been to Coachella five times in the past and I’ve truly never seen so much pandemonium trying to get tickets and lodging.

“I am assuming it’s because Justin Bieber doesn’t perform live often so this will feel like a unique, legacy performance.”

Bieber fever has been spreading amid the star’s major live comeback, as the festival marks his first full concert in about four years after health issues and time away from touring.

He’s expected to perform music from his new albums, Swag and Swag II, alongside older hits.

In 2022, he revealed he’d been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare condition caused by a virus that attacks nerves in the ear and face, leaving him with partial facial paralysis.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/16188706/coachella-ticket-airbnb-prices-surge-justin-bieber/

THE world’s longest outdoor escalator is now open and it covers an insane distance and takes more than 20 minutes to ride to the top.

The 3,000ft “Goddess” escalator soars up the top of a “cyberpunk city” – and tourists can’t get enough.

Riders of the brand new structure in Wushan, Chongqing, China, will navigate 21 individual escalators, eight elevators, four moving walkways and several pedestrian bridges.

It carries pedestrians up 800 feet in elevation—around the height of an 80-story skyscraper.

The metropolis is known for its unusual futuristic architecture so this wacky escalator fits right in to the surroundings.

The city has buildings, streets and public spaces vertically arranged around countless staircases, sometimes creating a disorienting landscape.

Project design lead Huang Wei told The Financial Times it’s the first of its kind.

“As far as I know, there are no similar projects nationwide, either exceeding or equal to ours, either under construction or already started,” he said.

The area is famous for its extreme verticality making it notoriously difficult to move around.

Schindler China – the installation company – already installed 1,400 escalators across the metro area to ease movement up and down the city.

Conveniently for commuters, the escalator hangs above streets that take about an hour to drive during rush hour.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/16202212/world-longest-outdoor-escalator-unveiled/

Welcome to New York, it’s a big wedding for you.

A source tells Page Six that the save-the-dates for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding have gone out.

And the big day is set for the Big Apple on July 3!

The news comes as a surprise, as there have been several reports that the pop superstar and the Kansas City Chiefs champ were eyeing Rhode Island — where Swift owns a large estate next door to a hotel — for the nuptials.

However, a source told Page Six back in November that the pair was thinking about scrapping that idea and going “all out” at a totally different venue that can accommodate more attendees.”

The couple would be joining a long lists of celebs who have tied the knot here.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z said “I do” in their Tribeca apartment in 2008.

Others include Hailey and Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas.

July Fourth is famously Swift’s favorite holiday. This year is also the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Swift has close ties to the city that never sleeps.

She moved into two adjacent penthouses in Tribeca in 2014, converting them into one large duplex. From there she has expanded further, buying the townhouse next door and a 3,500-square-foot loft in the same building.

In 2014, she wrote the song “Welcome to New York” as an ode to the city.

“Like any great love, it keeps you guessing / Like any real love, it’s ever-changing / Like any true love, it drives you crazy / But you know you wouldn’t change anything, anything, anything,” she sings.

Swift even served as New York City’s Global Welcome Ambassador for 2014–2015, with the song used to promote NYC tourism.

She rented a spot on Cornelia Street in 2016 while the Franklin Street place was being renovated. A song of the same name appeared on her 2019 album “Lover.”

Source : https://pagesix.com/2026/04/09/entertainment/taylor-swift-and-travis-kelces-wedding-date-and-location-revealed-as-save-the-dates-go-out/?_gl=1*1lwdsad*_ga*MTg2NjYyMzM1MC4xNzczODEwMTg2*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3NzU3ODk3MzMkbzU1JGcxJHQxNzc1Nzg5NzU4JGozNSRsMCRoMA

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran showed further strain on Friday, a day before they are ​to negotiate in Pakistan, as Washington accused Tehran of breaching promises on the Strait of Hormuz and Israel struck Lebanon with attacks that Iran has ‌claimed violate the truce.
There was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the strait, which has caused the worst-ever disruption to global energy supplies. Tehran cited Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which included the heaviest strikes of the war on Wednesday, as a key sticking point.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post late Thursday that Iran was doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil to go through ​the strait. “That is not the agreement we have!”
In a separate post, he said oil would start flowing again, without saying what actions the U.S. might take.
In the ​first 24 hours of the ceasefire, which Trump announced on Tuesday, just a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers sailed ⁠through the strait, which typically carries a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows and 140 ships a day before the war.

FRESH ATTACKS

Israel’s military said early on ​Friday it had struck 10 launchers in Lebanon that fired rockets toward northern Israel on Thursday evening, and that Iran-allied armed group Hezbollah launched a missile at Israel, triggering air sirens.

The ​missile was intercepted, according to the Times of Israel. Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli military infrastructure in the northern city of Haifa.
The U.S. and Israel have said the latest ceasefire does not include Lebanon, which Israel invaded last month – in parallel with the war on Iran – to root out Hezbollah.
But Iran and Pakistan, which acted as mediator, say Lebanon was explicitly part of the deal. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer ​Qalibaf, expected to head the Iranian delegation opposite U.S. Vice President JD Vance, said on social media that Lebanon and the rest of Iran’s “axis” of regional allies were inseparable parts ​of any ceasefire.
In a defiant statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran would exact retribution for the war.

“We will certainly not leave unpunished the criminal aggressors who attacked our ‌country. We ⁠will undoubtedly demand compensation for every single damage inflicted,” he said in the statement.
The agreement for a two-week truce, mediated by Pakistan, came just hours before a deadline that Trump said would trigger U.S. attacks on Iran’s power plants and bridges and the destruction of “a whole civilization.”

U.S.-IRAN TALKS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY

In Pakistan, authorities were preparing for the first round of U.S.-Iran talks on Saturday aimed at settling the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
Iran released on Wednesday a 10-point proposal for a settlement to the war ​that included maintaining control of the Strait ​of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran’s right to ⁠nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions and ending the war, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

While he said Israel would continue attacks on Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government rebuffed an offer for direct talks with Lebanon last month, said on Thursday he had given instructions ​to start peace talks as soon as possible, which would include disarming Hezbollah.
“The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful ​relations between Israel and ⁠Lebanon,” he said.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-iran-ceasefire-deal-shows-strain-ahead-talks-with-oil-flows-squeezed-2026-04-10/

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told European governments that U.S. President Donald Trump wants concrete commitments within days to help ​secure the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Thursday, as the alliance faces U.S. threats to leave.
Rutte, known in Europe as a “Trump whisperer”, is working ‌to defuse a crisis after Trump said he was considering withdrawing from the 32-member transatlantic alliance, arguing that European allies have relied on U.S. security guarantees while providing inadequate support for the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.

Three diplomats told Reuters that Rutte, who met with the U.S. president at the White House on Wednesday, conveyed Trump’s demands to European countries.
European leaders are now under pressure to show they are quickly making tangible plans ​to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital oil transit point that Iran has effectively blocked during the conflict.
Speaking in Washington a day after meeting Trump, ​Rutte said that some alliance members were initially “a bit slow” to provide assistance to the U.S. in Iran and “a bit surprised” but that now ⁠there is a “massive amount” of support including basing and logistics.

“Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard and are responding to President Trump’s requests,” ​Rutte said in a speech hosted by the Ronald Reagan Institute.
Multiple European allies have said they’re willing to help in the Strait of Hormuz but only once there is a durable ​cessation of hostilities and an agreement with Iran that their ships will not be attacked.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on Thursday: “The secretary general is in contact with allies about his discussions in Washington” and “it’s clear that the United States expects concrete commitments and action to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”.
The tensions over the Iran war follow a series of challenges for the alliance, including Trump’s stepped-up threats in ​January to take Greenland from Denmark.

On Thursday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called on NATO allies to stand together to defend international law as he pushed back against Trump’s latest comments about ​the Arctic island.
In his speech, Rutte said the alliance is undergoing a shift but growing stronger.
“Allies recognise, and I recognise, we are in a period of profound change in the transatlantic alliance. Europe is assuming ‌a greater ⁠and fairer share of the task of providing for its conventional defence,” Rutte said.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ IN FOCUS

Although Trump said on Tuesday the attacks on Iran would be paused under a two-week ceasefire, the fallout from the conflict has continued to strain ties within NATO.
“We note the frustration in Washington, but they did not consult allies either before or after starting this war,” said one of the diplomats.
“NATO as such would not play a role in the war against Iran, but allies want to be helpful in seeking longer-term solutions for Hormuz. With negotiations ongoing with Iran, this ​could be helpful,” the diplomat said.
Trump posted on ​Truth Social after meeting Rutte on Wednesday ⁠in capitalized letters that “NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again.”
A senior European official said, “The NATO community is more worried right now than confident,” and “the meeting did not take the worry away”.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/natos-rutte-told-allies-trump-wants-hormuz-commitments-within-days-diplomats-say-2026-04-09/

Pakistan is under huge pressure to pull off what some diplomats regard as mission impossible: broker a peace deal between Iran and the United States to stabilize the world economy while safeguarding delegates already arguing over a fragile ​truce.
Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged in weeks of diplomacy to halt a war that could deepen instability along Pakistan’s western border ‌with Iran and Afghanistan, with which it has recently exchanged fire.

Authorities effectively locked down parts of the capital Islamabad on Thursday as Iranian officials flew in, with the U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, arriving on Friday.
Once they have brought Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table on Saturday, the Pakistani officials will try to steer the talks toward a lasting agreement, analysts say.
“Pakistan does not want anarchy in Iran as an outcome of continued warfare, which would greatly exacerbate ​the pre-existing acute security situation on its western flank,” said Kamran Bokhari, senior resident fellow with the Middle East Policy Council.

Pakistan’s role marks a stunning reversal in fortunes, with the country ​relegated to the diplomatic margins until only a year ago. Success in Saturday’s dialogue would go a long way toward maintaining its newfound prominence, while failure ⁠could erode the veneer of success.
“Pakistan has publicly invested political capital in mediation; if talks collapse, it risks being seen as overpromising and underdelivering,” said Muhammad Faisal, a security analyst at the University ​of Technology Sydney.

EXTRA PRECAUTIONS

Authorities in Islamabad have fortified the streets around the luxury Serena Hotel, where two sources said the talks are set to take place. The hotel has been cleared of guests and placed ​under government control, while roads leading to the area have been sealed. Checkpoints, barricades and patrols have been stepped up across the city and extra security forces deployed.

The scale of the precautions points to how exposed Pakistan feels, not only to militant violence at home but also to the risk that any disruption could derail a delicate diplomatic opening. Security officials said the measures went beyond routine arrangements for a high-profile visit, with airspace surveillance enhanced and emergency services ​placed on standby.
While attacks in Pakistan’s major urban centers have become increasingly rare, militancy has risen along its border regions with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.
A suicide attack in Islamabad ​in February magnified concerns and was among the reasons Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghanistan days later, leading to weeks of fighting with its once-close ally.
“Given those risks, the lack of preparation time, and the high-profile nature of these ‌talks, this is ⁠a very challenging visit from a security perspective and speaks to the importance this administration places on the negotiations,” said Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center.

The challenge for Pakistan is not just to protect the venue, but to prevent the diplomacy from being overtaken by forces outside the room, security analyst Zahid Hussain said.
“There are indications that Israel has accepted the ceasefire rather conditionally,” he said, adding that any renewed escalation could quickly narrow the space for meaningful negotiations.

ACTIVE ROLE IN NEGOTIATIONS

Hours before the two-week ceasefire was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, mediation efforts to ​end the conflict appeared to have fallen apart.
But ​a last-ditch effort by Pakistan’s military and civilian ⁠leadership brought Iran back to the negotiating table.
Bokhari said Pakistan’s role had evolved from relaying messages into playing an active part in the negotiating process.
“Islamabad has the ability to shape perceptions on both sides,” he said.
“The Trump White House chose Munir, Shehbaz et al. because the Americans knew that the Pakistanis ​could not just talk to them but actually influence the thinking of the Iranians. As the process unfolds, the Pakistanis also gain greater trust ​of the Americans, which creates ⁠an opportunity for Islamabad to shape U.S. thinking as well.”
On Saturday, Islamabad will likely raise the grievances of Gulf nations allied with the U.S. that were hit by Iranian strikes during the conflict, analysts said.

Source :https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-high-stakes-iran-peace-bid-is-fraught-with-risk-2026-04-09/

Attacks on Saudi energy facilities have cut the kingdom’s oil production capacity by around 600,000 barrels per ​day and throughput on its East-West Pipeline by about 700,000 bpd, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Thursday, citing an official source ‌at the Ministry of Energy.
The ministry source did not specify who launched the attacks, but Saudi Arabia has intercepted many Iranian missiles and drones in recent weeks. The latest attacks, including previous strikes on some facilities, also disrupted operations at key oil, gas, refining, petrochemical and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province and Yanbu Industrial City, SPA said.

Saudi Arabia had not previously provided details about ​the impact to oilfield production, refineries and pipeline flow from attacks occurring during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began in late February.
Benchmark Brent ​crude futures rose in post-settlement trade on Thursday after settling up $1.17 or 1.2%, at $95.92 a barrel.
“The East-West pipe is diverting so ⁠much of the Saudi crude not able to leave via the Strait of Hormuz,” said Kpler analyst Matt Smith. “Any pullback on volume is going to add to ​the tight situation. It is not great news for markets.”
The two-week ceasefire announced this week appeared tenuous at best, with Israel continuing its attacks on Lebanon and ​Iran showing few signs that it was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for nearly a fifth of global energy supplies.

With the strait blocked, the East-West Pipeline has been Saudi Arabia’s only crude export route. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Iran attacked the pipeline just hours after the ceasefire was agreed upon.

SAUDI NATIONAL KILLED IN ATTACKS

One Saudi national from industrial ​security staff of the Saudi energy company was killed and seven other Saudi employees were wounded in the attacks, SPA said.
Saudi Arabia has come under attack from hundreds of ​Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the war, most of which were intercepted, authorities have said.
Tehran has launched strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states that host U.S. ‌military installations.
One ⁠pumping station on the East-West Pipeline was hit, reducing throughput by about 700,000 bpd, the ministry source said. The source described the pipeline as currently a main route for supplying global markets.

The Manifa oilfield was also hit, reducing production capacity by around 300,000 bpd, while a previous attack on the Khurais facility cut a further 300,000 bpd, bringing the total reduction in Saudi production capacity to about 600,000 bpd, the source added.
It was unclear how long the Manifa and Khurais production could be ​offline, Smith said.

DAMAGE TO MAJOR REFINERIES

The attacks ​also hit major refining facilities, including ⁠SATORP in Jubail, the Ras Tanura refinery, the SAMREF refinery in Yanbu and the Riyadh refinery, directly affecting exports of refined products to global markets, SPA said. Processing facilities in Ju’aymah were also hit by fires, affecting exports of liquefied petroleum ​gas and natural gas liquids.

French oil major TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), holds an interest in SATORP, and U.S. major Exxon Mobil has a ​stake in SAMREF. TotalEnergies ⁠did not immediately respond to request for comment and Exxon referred to the operator for comment.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/operational-activities-halted-several-energy-facilities-saudi-arabia-state-news-2026-04-09/

A lobbying firm led by one of Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting buddies helped a Chinese company make its case to a U.S. national security watchdog, public filings show.
The case involved a U.S. startup that was seeking to have the Chinese firm removed as one of its investors. The watchdog rejected the U.S. firm’s request for a national security review of the Chinese firm’s investment, according to a document seen by Reuters, handing a rare win to a Chinese company in ​Washington. The decision has not previously been reported.

The lobbying firm, Checkmate, helped a lawyer for China’s Grand Pharmaceutical Group (0512.HK), clinch a meeting with the head of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) in early January, according to two people familiar with the matter. During the meeting, ‌the lawyer argued that the case was a commercial disagreement with no national security implications, one of the people said.
At the end of January, the watchdog rejected the filing by Minnesota-based startup FastWave for reasons unrelated to national security, effectively siding with the Chinese firm, according to a document seen by Reuters.

FastWave, which had been granted calls with CFIUS staffers rather than senior officials that month, has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy, the company told CFIUS.
Reuters could not determine if the meeting Checkmate set up played a role in the CFIUS decision. There was no indication that Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump’s eldest son, was involved. A representative for Don Jr. did not respond to requests for comment.
Such lobbying, by foreign or domestic companies is “very typical,” according to Tim LaPira, a professor of political science at James Madison ​University. “If you want to speak to the party in power, you are going to need to hire somebody that has those partisan connections,” he added.
Six China experts and three Democratic lawmakers who were informed of the situation by Reuters said the case raised concerns that Chinese companies could gain influence over the Trump administration by ​hiring lobbyists close to his orbit.

Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, said that if a Chinese company can lobby the U.S. government into siding with it against an American firm on a national security matter, “that is the ⁠height of the swamp.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said it was “troubling that Chinese companies are hiring Trump-connected lobbyists to influence independent decisions about American national security,” calling for answers on who made the decisions and what CFIUS’s risk assessments of the deal found.
The White House rejected the criticism.
“Nothing has changed with CFIUS’s diligence, investigation, or enforcement operations, which continue to ​robustly and vigilantly safeguard America’s national security interests,” said Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, adding that any implication that the Trump administration would weaken CFIUS at the behest of special interests was “categorically false.”

Chris LaCivita Jr., a spokesperson for Checkmate, said Grand Pharma was “an investor in American companies that Checkmate briefly helped navigate a regulatory issue,” adding that the firm “does ​not pose a national security threat.”

COMMERCIAL DISPUTE OR NATIONAL SECURITY RISK

Checkmate is led by Ches McDowell, who appears in social media posts hunting with Don Jr. and co-owns a property with him. Checkmate’s LaCivita said McDowell, though listed on Grand Pharma’s lobbying disclosure, did not personally work on the matter. Reuters found no evidence to the contrary.
Grand Pharma hired Checkmate in December, and paid the firm $30,000 for two weeks of work on CFIUS matters that month, filings show.
The CFIUS rejection came weeks after the early January meeting that Checkmate secured for Jeff Bialos, Grand Pharma’s lawyer, with Chris Pilkerton, newly confirmed by the Senate at the time to lead CFIUS, according to the two sources.
FastWave’s counsel sought a call with Pilkerton on two occasions in January, but it was only able to arrange calls with CFIUS staffers, according ​to documents seen by Reuters.
Bialos, a former senior Pentagon official now a partner at the Eversheds Sutherland law firm, and Checkmate’s LaCivita acknowledged Checkmate arranged a meeting with senior Treasury officials, but declined to say with whom. In an interview with Reuters, Bialos said he could have arranged the meeting himself. Treasury did not respond to questions about Pilkerton.
Bialos described ​the process as “a lengthy fact-based investigation” whose outcome was not “politically driven.” He said the case amounted to “a private commercial dispute… being squeezed into the CFIUS box.”
FastWave CEO Scott Nelson told Reuters “the opaque and highly irregular procedural decisions” from CFIUS made it difficult for his company to protect its critical technology from a Chinese investor.
To lobby CFIUS on its behalf, FastWave hired Corcoran Partners, whose managing ‌partner, Matthew Blair, is ⁠the brother of White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, filings show. Corcoran did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for Treasury, which leads CFIUS, said CFIUS could not comment on individual cases. The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

LASER SHIPMENTS REGULATED

In 2021, Grand Pharma invested $12 million in FastWave, which later started manufacturing a special catheter to treat calcium build-up in arteries using a laser.
U.S. shipments of that laser to China are regulated because they could also be used to enhance the Chinese military’s warfare capabilities, according to U.S. rules.
FastWave, which initially welcomed Grand Pharma’s investment, asked CFIUS in 2025 to review it. Fastwave hoped the committee would force Grand Pharma to divest its 40% stake or make it a passive investor, fearing that the Chinese firm could be seeking to steal its intellectual property and was blocking its attempts to raise money, according to the documents seen by Reuters.
In its 2021 agreement, Grand Pharma gained veto rights over future capital raises, a common investor request to avoid diluting its position.
FastWave became concerned about potential theft of its intellectual property after ​it saw a press release on Grand Pharma’s website disclosing a new partnership with ​Jiangsu Zhenyi Medical Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese rival to FastWave, FastWave said.
Jiangsu Zhenyi ⁠Medical Technology could not be reached for comment. Bialos said Grand Pharma was merely distributing the device for it and that the relationship did not violate Grand Pharma’s commitments to FastWave. Reuters could not independently establish whether the relationship violated FastWave and Grand Pharma’s agreements.
CFIUS in January rejected FastWave’s filing in the case, stating that FastWave’s responses included “material misstatements,” according to a letter CFIUS sent to FastWave and seen by Reuters. For example, one of the alleged misstatements concerned the extent to which Grand Pharma engaged in negotiations with FastWave ​over its efforts to raise capital.
In its letter, CFIUS accused FastWave of contradicting itself by telling the committee in July 2025 that Grand Pharma had not provided “substantive feedback” on a financing round, while in August saying that Grand Pharma had in fact ​engaged in “substantive discussion.” FastWave, in its response to CFIUS ⁠in February 2026, countered that Grand Pharma’s feedback — edits on a termsheet — was not substantive and came only after FastWave’s July statement to CFIUS.
In its rejection, CFIUS did not address any potential national security risks posed by the deal.
In a statement to Reuters, Treasury emphasized that CFIUS may reject any filing for “material misstatements.”
FastWave could technically file a fresh petition to CFIUS but the company’s “significant financial distress” means such a filing would not be feasible, FastWave said in a response to CFIUS in February.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-firm-hired-lobbyists-with-ties-don-jr-then-scored-win-washington-2026-04-09/

Tesla (TSLA.O), is developing an all-new smaller, cheaper electric SUV, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The automaker has contacted suppliers in recent weeks to discuss details of the plan for the compact SUV – which would be a new vehicle and not a variant of Tesla’s current Model 3 or ​Y, the people said. The conversations involved the manufacturing process and specifications for various components, they said.

Three of the people said the compact SUV would be produced in China, and one said Tesla also aims to expand ‌production to the United States and Europe. The car would be 4.28 meters in length, or about 14 feet, two of the sources said. That’s significantly shorter than Tesla’s top-selling Model Y SUV, which is about 15.7 feet long.
The effort follows a decision by Chief Executive Elon Musk to scrap a highly anticipated low-cost EV project in 2024 and pivot the company to focus on robotaxis and humanoid robots. A key question is whether this latest effort to develop a smaller SUV signals a strategy shift back to mass-market human-driven EVs or whether the new model would align more with Tesla’s vision for fully autonomous vehicles.

Such ​a model could potentially serve both purposes, according to one of the people familiar with the new-vehicle project and a Tesla employee with knowledge of its current product philosophy. The Tesla employee declined to confirm or deny details of any specific ​vehicle but said, in general, the automaker now aims to build models that would be driverless but offer a human-driven option.
While aiming for full autonomy across its lineup, the person said, Tesla realizes ⁠many global markets won’t see meaningful adoption – nor regulatory acceptance – of driverless vehicles for years. Preserving the option to build a particular model with or without driving controls could enable more sales and help ensure Tesla can keep its car factories running near capacity, the ​person said.
As Tesla chases a driverless future, some analysts predict a third-straight year of declining sales for the traditional EVs that provide the vast majority of its revenue. So far, Tesla operates a small number of robotaxis only in Austin, Texas, many with human safety monitors ​in the passenger seat.

Tesla didn’t respond to requests for comment about plans for a new vehicle.
The four people familiar with the project said it remained in an early development stage. Reuters couldn’t determine whether Tesla has given the green light for the car’s production.
The automaker has a history of starting development on products that end up long delayed or canceled. Tesla showed off concept vehicles for a Roadster supercar and a Semi freight truck in 2017, for instance, but still hasn’t produced the sports car or mass-produced the Semi.
Two of the sources said Tesla aims to offer the new vehicle at a substantially lower ​price than its entry-level Model 3 sedan, which starts at $34,000 in China and about $37,000 in the United States. They said Tesla planned to save costs in part by using a smaller battery, which would mean a shorter driving range compared with 306 to 327 miles ​for the Model Y.

One of the people added that the automaker would also offer a single electric motor instead of two, a performance option on current Tesla models. Tesla also wants to make the car much lighter, this person said, at about 1.5 metric tons compared with about two ‌tons for the ⁠Model Y.
Three of the people said the new model would be produced at Tesla’s Shanghai factory. While the timing remained unclear, the car’s production is unlikely to begin this year, the people said.

TESLA’S START-AND-STOP HISTORY ON AFFORDABLE EVs

For years after Tesla started in 2008 producing luxury electric cars, Musk said the company’s real mission was to produce affordable, mass-market electric-vehicles that would be critical to fighting the climate crisis. But start-and-stop efforts to deliver on that goal have so far fallen short.
Beginning in 2020, Musk said Tesla aimed to sell 20 million vehicles annually by the end of the decade, nearly double that of Toyota (7203.T), the current global sales leader. A project Musk touted to produce a $25,000 EV, often called the “Model 2” by Tesla fans and investors, was expected to drive explosive vehicle-sales growth.
Then in 2024, Reuters reported that Tesla ​had abandoned plans for the Model 2, although it still planned ​a driverless robotaxi on the same platform. Tesla’s biggest EV ⁠rivals in China had already started producing much cheaper EVs. Later that year, Musk said it would be “pointless” and “silly” for Tesla to make a $25,000 EV for human drivers because the company would soon offer driverless vehicles.
A former Tesla manager said an all-new cheaper traditional car would represent a significant departure from the company’s philosophy through mid-2025. Until then, the manager said, Tesla had dropped the effort to mass-produce an entry-level ​car in favor of robotaxis as the key to lowering costs per mile for riders and the car owners charging them for trips.
After scrapping the Model 2, Musk and other Tesla executives ​described different plans for new, “more affordable” EVs ⁠in vague terms. When the vehicles arrived last fall, however, they were stripped-down versions of the current Model 3 and Y offered in new “standard” trim levels at only a modest discount.
U.S. prices of $36,990 for the Model 3 Standard and $39,990 for the Model Y struck some investors as too high to attract a new class of buyers and haven’t yet made a significant difference in Tesla’s overall sales.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-is-developing-new-smaller-cheaper-ev-sources-say-2026-04-09/

First lady Melania Trump denied on Thursday that she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and said she was not one of his victims, thrusting the Epstein matter back into the spotlight ​after her husband had sought to put it behind him.
She denied online speculation that the disgraced financier and sex offender had introduced her to Donald Trump, saying she had met ‌her husband at a New York City party in 1998, two years before crossing paths with Epstein at another event she attended with Trump.

She also urged Congress to hold public hearings for Epstein victims to tell their stories under oath, raising the prospect of further public attention on an issue the president wants to go away.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania Trump said, reading a statement and declining to take questions from reporters.
“I am not ​Epstein’s victim,” she said, responding to what she said were false smears against her.
Her extraordinary address, delivered under the presidential seal in the White House foyer, renews scrutiny of the Epstein case that ​has roiled Donald Trump’s presidency as even some supporters say his administration mishandled disclosures from government files.

Last week, the president fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had drawn the ⁠ire of Trump loyalists over the Justice Department’s slow release of millions of Epstein‑related files.
Trump, a onetime friend of Epstein who said he cut ties with the financier in the early 2000s, is among many ​famous people – celebrities, politicians and intellectuals – named in the government files.
Melania Trump did not say why she chose to speak out on Thursday, resurrecting an issue that had largely slipped from the headlines amid the U.S.-Israeli ​war against Iran.
But Marc Beckman, her senior adviser, told Reuters in a statement: “First Lady Melania Trump spoke out now because enough is enough. The lies must stop.”
A spokesperson for the first lady said Trump’s aides were made aware of her plans for Thursday’s statement.

“THIS TOOK GUTS”

While first ladies have occasionally addressed the nation on political issues, Melania Trump’s statement was exceptional.
“A first lady in contemporary times has not publicly addressed controversy in this way, and certainly never from the state floor of ​the White House, so this took guts,” said Michael LaRosa, former press secretary to first lady Jill Biden.
“Melania is very intentional and deliberative on the frequency of her appearances, and I think this event is going ​to speak so loudly that I don’t think she will need to address this again,” LaRosa added in an interview.

The first lady said she had never had a relationship with Epstein or his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom ‌she said she ⁠had only a casual correspondence.
Melania Trump said she first “crossed paths” with Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with Donald Trump, five years before their marriage.
“At the time, I had never met Epstein and had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings,” she said.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to two Florida felonies, including procurement of a minor for prostitution, was facing federal charges of sex-trafficking minors in 2019, when he died in jail in what was ruled a suicide.
“I have never been friends with Epstein,” Melania Trump said. “Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is ​common in New York City and Palm Beach.”
The first ​lady sidestepped a question this year about the ⁠victims of Maxwell at an event with former captives of Hamas in Gaza.
The president has sought for months to move past discussions about Epstein.
“I think it’s really time for the country to get on to something else, really, now that nothing came out about me,” Trump said in February.

RELEASE OF THE FILES

The Trump administration, ​under pressure from the president’s political base, ordered the U.S. Justice Department to release files tied to criminal probes of Epstein in compliance with a ​transparency law passed by Congress.
The ⁠files include a 2002 email from Melania Trump to Maxwell about a New York Magazine piece on Epstein.
“Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture,” the email reads. “Give me a call when you are back in NY.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/melania-trump-says-she-never-had-relationship-with-epstein-2026-04-09/

Thailand’s dependence on gas is coming under renewed scrutiny as rising costs and global disruptions expose economic and environmental risks embedded in its power system.

The tiny fishing hamlet on a stretch of land that juts into the Gulf of Thailand looks just like countless others that dot the country’s coastline.

It has the brightly coloured boats, the packs of street dogs and the delicate waves lapping onto the sands.

But this one, in Rayong province south-east of Bangkok, has a unique perspective. It stares straight into the heart of Thailand’s largest industrial gas complex.

Map Ta Phut, one of Southeast Asia’s biggest petrochemical hubs, dominates a vast coastal area here.

Within the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a special economic zone, it handles a significant share of Thailand’s energy imports, gas processing and petrochemical production.

It depends heavily on pipeline natural gas and imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), much of which is tied to global supply routes, including shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, now disrupted by the Iran conflict.

Map Ta Phut has permanently altered the coastal views here, and its waters and air. It has also irrevocably shaped the country’s power system, now at the frontline of a global energy shock.

Thailand is one of the most gas-dependent power systems in Asia. Gas generates roughly 55 to 60 per cent of the country’s electricity and is also widely used as a petrochemical feedstock.

Thailand’s reliance on gas is being tested on two fronts at once. As geopolitical tensions disrupt global supply and push up prices, the cost of keeping the country powered is rising sharply.

Gas is no longer the cheap “bridge fuel” it once was. LNG prices have roughly doubled during the latest Middle East tensions.

At the same time, recent expert analysis suggests that the very system driving those costs is also contributing significantly to air pollution, especially in the densely populated areas where most gas infrastructure is located – around Bangkok and the EEC.

Together, they expose a deeper problem: a fuel that is neither as cheap nor as clean as once believed, experts told CNA.

The Middle Eastern crisis has revealed short-term price shocks and long-term risks embedded in its decades of energy planning that increasingly pivoted towards gas, said Tara Buakamsri, an independent energy policy advocate.

“It has become a perfect storm for the energy system here in Thailand,” he said.

One immediate outcome for households will be increased electricity prices. Last week, the Energy Regulatory Commission approved a new average electricity tariff of 3.95 baht per kilowatt-hour for the May-August billing cycle, up from the current 3.88 baht.

Up to the start of April from the onset of the Iran conflict, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) had absorbed close to 36 billion baht (US$1.1 billion) on behalf of the public.

Even though only about 6 to 7 per cent of Thailand’s gas supply is coming through the Strait of Hormuz, the government is scrambling to secure fuel with its predominant LNG source market Qatar currently impacted, said Raksit Pattanapitoon, a senior analyst for Rystad Energy.

Nearly two-thirds of Thailand’s gas comes from its domestic supply, with about 9 per cent pipelined from Myanmar. The rest is LNG from multiple sources including Qatar, Australia, the United States and Malaysia.

“It’s not too bad at the moment, but we’re still using a lot of gas, and a lot of it is coming from LNG,” he said.

Thai officials and executives from state-owned PTT, the country’s largest energy company, held talks in March with a US LNG producer, Cheniere Energy, to increase long-term supply and accelerate deliveries, with the aim of mitigating disruptions due to the ongoing war.

“Thailand will be able to navigate this crisis together,” Energy Minister Atthapol Rerkpiboon said at the time.

Meanwhile, the EGAT set up a “war room” to monitor the Iran conflict’s impact on energy supply, while the government’s other measures included reviewing oil exports and increasing national oil reserves.

FROM ABUNDANCE TO DEPENDENCE

In the 1980s, Thailand was riding on a wave of offshore gas discovery.

After energy shocks during the previous decade, its unearthed domestic resources allowed the country to build its own energy base and reduce reliance on imported oil.

As it pushed away from coal, natural gas became the backbone of its power system. Gas infrastructure was rolled out at scale, embedding the resource at the centre of both electricity generation and industrial growth.

Yet even as domestic gas supply declined in more recent years, the country has doubled down, building out pipelines, power plants and LNG terminals, and signing long-term contracts to secure supply.

Though renewable energy sources like solar and wind gained global traction, the government showed few signs of pivoting significantly away from what had proven to be a cheap and reliable energy source, Raksit said.

The cost of this dependence is becoming increasingly visible, according to Daniel Nesan, a Southeast Asia analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

During the current crisis, Thailand has become more exposed not only to global price swings, but also to the economic burden of maintaining vast gas infrastructure even when it is underused, he said.

“Now they’re a bit stuck. They have all these gas plants, but they don’t have the gas to run them.”

Yet because of its vast investments, Thailand is somewhat locked into its gas pathway, experts said, even if it is looking expensive and unreliable.

Gas looks set to remain the primary source of energy going forward. But the country does have options, should it choose to take them, Raksit said.

“The most logical next step for Thailand is to ramp up renewable capacity addition as fast as it can,” he said, even though some existing infrastructure might suffer from lower utilisation.

“And yes, everyone will still need to be paying for that. But there is no argument for us to build any more gas capacity than what is already done.”

Thailand’s long-awaited new power development plan remains delayed, with final approval tied up in political transition following the national election in February and ongoing revisions.

It is expected to shape the country’s energy mix for the next few decades.

Thailand’s draft power plan aims to more than double renewable energy from around 20 per cent of electricity generation today to 51 per cent by 2037.

Manun said an expectation from environmental groups is a shift to 70 per cent renewables, in order for the country to make good on pledges to decarbonise its economy and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

But long-term contracts with gas operators mean she sees “very little grid capacity left” to support more solar energy, despite Thailand’s potential.

Thailand’s power-sector emissions have nearly doubled since 2000 as gas generation met rising demand, according to Ember, a global energy think tank.

Tara said he does not expect major changes to the way Thailand’s economy will be powered in the years to come.

“Gas has become the king of energy in Thailand. I think it will stay. The energy shock might not shift the throne,” he said.

While Raksit anticipates more renewables will enter the mix, he agreed that Thailand can afford to push harder in the green energy space.

“My argument would be, we can actually afford to be even more ambitious, given the situation in the Middle East. It’s a good opportunity to make the argument that relying on other countries in this fragmented world is leaving you vulnerable in terms of energy security and resiliency,” he said.

“(But Thailand is) pushing the narrative around gas being a destination fuel, meaning that it will play an entrenched role in the energy mix in the future.”

EGAT has maintained that natural gas and LNG are “essential” for the energy transition to provide stability and grid balance alongside renewables.

Across Southeast Asia, Thailand is not the only country facing challenges around its gas reliance. Malaysia is also gas-heavy but has vast domestic resources, as does Indonesia, the region’s largest gas supplier.

Singapore is the region’s second-largest gas importer, with about 45 per cent of its LNG from Qatar. The Philippines has been rapidly adopting LNG, constructing four new terminals to import gas as its own domestic fields deplete.

For energy affordability, and even security, the long-term solutions for these economies will be more renewables, Raksit said, even though different countries would naturally move at different paces with unique considerations about their energy mix.

“Maxing out your pace of renewable deployment domestically is the very obvious low-hanging fruit,” he said.

And beyond cost, there are growing concerns about the environmental impact of gas close to Thailand’s urban population.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-lng-gas-energy-prices-air-pollution-6043386

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Singapore further welcomes the commitment under the ceasefire to restoring shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Singapore said on Wednesday (Apr 8) that it welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, and urged both countries to adhere to the temporary truce.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday, shortly before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The truce will see the suspension of US attacks on Iran for two weeks, and Tehran will in turn temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil thoroughfare, according to Washington.

“We are encouraged that the parties involved have taken this important step towards de-escalation and commend the efforts of the mediators, in particular Pakistan,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson in a statement.

“We urge all parties to adhere to the ceasefire, halt all attacks on non-belligerent states, and engage in negotiations in good faith that will bring about a lasting resolution to this conflict.”

The ministry added that Singapore further welcomes the commitment under the ceasefire to restoring shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law, restore safe and unimpeded transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and ensure the safety of seafarers and ships,” said the spokesperson.

Iran effectively shut the strait after US and Israeli strikes on Tehran on Feb 28 sparked the conflict.

The closure sparked higher fuel and electricity prices as about 20 per cent of global oil and nearly a fifth of the world’s gas supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asia, which is the primary destination for energy supplies shipped through the waterway, was hit hard by the closure, and some countries have implemented export restrictions on fuel or fuel rationing measures.

Singapore has not had to take more drastic measures than those seen in neighbouring countries, as it does not see a need to do so for now, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam on Tuesday.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/iran-war-welcomes-temporary-ceasefire-mfa-6044346

THE MET Gala is fast approaching, and some of the biggest names in fashion, music and film will be gracing the red carpet in their finest designer looks.

The May 4 event will be hosted this year by co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.

This year’s Met Gala will be held on May 4 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, with the theme Costume Art and official dress code Fashion Is Art.

Insiders speculate that Beyoncé’s presence could be a big factor in convincing other stars to step out on the iconic Met steps this year.

“The so-called ‘Beyoncé effect’ is expected to be enough of a pull to draw a number of A-list attendees such as Rihanna, Jay-Z and Adele,” celebrity PR powerhouse, Kayley Cornelius, told The U.S. Sun.

“Beyoncé stepping back in as co-chair for the Met Gala for the first time in a decade is set to completely shift the energy of the night.

“When someone of her status is involved, it instantly raises the bar and turns the event into a must-attend moment.”

Beyoncé hasn’t attended the event since 2016, when she wore an iconic peach latex dress for the theme Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology.

Kayley speculated that Beyoncé’s presence could influence big stars, including Adele, who has never made a Met appearance.

Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber, both Met mainstays, are expected to make appearances, Page Six reported.

Though it’s unknown if the rest of Kim’s family or Hailey’s husband Justin will be hitting the carpet.

Other stars on the carpet could include include Oscar-winner Jessie Buckley, Zendaya, and Lady Gaga.

The ultra-exclusive guest list could also include a reality TV addition: Maura Higgins, who was known for her fashion during her time on season 4 of The Traitors.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/16196377/met-gala-2026-guest-list-kim-kardashian-beyonce/

 

Rue getting ruthless?

The dynamic between Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney was apparently far from euphoric at the “Euphoria” Season 3 premiere in Los Angeles Tuesday night.

The co-stars avoided each other at the star-studded event — which allegedly came as no surprise to some of their colleagues.

“‘Euphoria’ bosses are all too aware the pair do not get along. There were tensions way back … Their paths barely crossed during the making of Season 3,” an insider alleged to the Sun. “During the press tour, any interactions between the pair are being kept to a minimum to avoid any awkward encounters on camera. There is a complete ban on ­journalists asking about tensions between Zendaya and Sydney.”

A main reason for their alleged feud involves none other than Zendaya’s fiancé, actor Tom Holland.

“It was an open secret that Sydney had the hots for Tom and was flirty with him when he would come to set,” the source claimed. “That did not go down well with Zendaya. They have not really hung out socially since then.”

Zendaya and her “Spider-Man: Homecoming” co-star Holland, both 29, have reportedly tied the knot, but have yet to confirm the news.

Once friendly, Zendaya and Sweeney’s alleged tension appears to have built up over the years. Last month, fans noticed how Sweeney was noticeably missing from a “Euphoria” group photo promoting the new season.

“There will be a sigh of relief when ‘Euphoria’ is over and they can go their separate ways,” the source said of the actresses. “But they both have decades left in Hollywood and this rivalry will inevitably run and run.”

According to the Sun, their political differences have also caused a wedge, as Sweeney is a registered Republican.

“It’s not like they have had a big bust-up, but Zendaya has quietly distanced herself from Syd. Their politics are wildly different,” the insider told the Sun. “It’s a bit of a headache because Zendaya doesn’t want to be associated with a Trump supporter.”

In 2020, Zendaya posted on Instagram, “Vote this MF out,” about President Trump, according to the Sun. Two years later, Sweeney, 28, shared photos from her mom’s 60th hoedown-themed birthday party where guests were decked out in MAGA-style hats.

In July, the “Christy” actress even got a shout-out from Trump after her American Eagle denim partnership caused a stir. Titled “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,” the campaign sparked a debate about Western beauty standards and “woke culture.”

“Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. “The jeans are ‘flying off the shelves.’ Go get ’em Sydney!”

Despite the fallout, Sweeney was all smiles while hitting the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Tuesday night. She snapped pics with fellow cast members including Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie and Hunter Schafer as they made their way down the interview line.

Zendaya, meanwhile, arrived fashionably late, narrowly avoiding a run-in with Sweeney. Their co-star and a former flame of Zendaya’s, Jacob Elordi, was also late to the carpet, skipping interviews and only posing for photos.

Zendaya also skipped the cast’s official after-party at Chateau Marmont later in the night.

The distance was a striking contrast to when Zendaya and Sweeney posed together at the Season 1 and Season 2 premieres of the HBO series. And Sweeney praised Zendaya’s leadership during an interview with “Access Hollywood” in 2022.

“I’m really lucky because last season I didn’t get to work with her as much,” Sweeney said of the “Euphoria” lead. “It’s been amazing to be able to watch her and to see how much of a boss [she is].”

While Holland stayed home Tuesday night, Sweeney was joined at the premiere by boyfriend Scooter Braun. She and fiancé Jonathan Davino broke up after nearly seven years in March 2025.

Despite Sweeney and Zendaya keeping their distance from each other, an insider close to the situation shut down the report, telling us any rumors of a feud are not accurate.

“They’re both in high demand and working continuously,” the source told Page Six.

Another insider told us that, like Elordi, Zendaya actually missed run-ins with the cast due to her aforementioned late arrival. She arrived much later than Sweeney, Demie, Apatow and Schafer.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2026/04/08/entertainment/zendaya-sydney-sweeney-narrowly-avoid-each-other-on-euphoria-season-3-red-carpet-amid-feud-rumors/