President Joe Biden has urged pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses to uphold the rule of law.
“We are a civil society, and order must prevail,” President Biden said from the White House, in his first direct remarks about a wave of student unrest.
Police have detained more than 2,000 people nationwide in the past fortnight at college rallies and protest camps.
That includes 209 arrests in the past day at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Hundreds of officers in riot gear moved on to UCLA’s main campus before dawn on May 2 and cleared its pro-Palestinian encampment.
They set off flash bangs and flares, loaded demonstrators on to police buses, and tore down the makeshift barriers and tents that had been erected on campus a week ago.
In a statement, UCLA called the encampment “both unlawful and a breach of policy. It led to unsafe conditions on our campus and it damaged our ability to carry out our mission.”
“Demonstrators directly interfered with instruction by blocking students’ pathways to classrooms,” it added, while their clashes with pro-Israeli counter-demonstrators “put too many [students] in harm’s way”.
Image source: UCLA
Addressing the nationwide protests hours later, President Biden said: “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent… But neither are we a lawless country.”
“There’s the right to protest but not the right to cause chaos. People have the right to get an education, the right to get a degree, the right to walk across the campus safely without fear of being attacked.”
The Uncommitted National Movement, a group of Arab-American voters opposed to President Biden’s re-election campaign this year, accused him of “smearing” anti-war protesters.
“It’s clear Biden isn’t listening to young people nationwide, or to the over half a million uncommitted voters asking him to change course. We hope he hears us before it’s too late,” leader Abbas Alawieh said.
The campus protests in support of Gaza have now spread to nearly 140 colleges in at least 45 states, and at least six other countries.
Demonstrators, who have long pushed for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war, are demanding academic institutions financially divest from Israel and companies who stand to make money from the conflict.
But many colleges have called in the police, with violence erupting on some campuses, as well as rising reports of antisemitic harassment against Jewish students.
The tensions at UCLA’s main Westwood campus erupted on April 30 when a masked pro-Israeli group breached the tent camp on Dickson Plaza and attacked campers with bats, tear gas and other items.
Blue Ivy Carter has joined the voice cast of The Lion King prequel Mufasa: The Lion King.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter, 12, voices Kiara, daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala, played by her mother.
Beyoncé is reprising the role from Jon Favreau’s 2019 photorealistic remake of the animated 1994 original.
The new film, directed by Moonlight filmmaker Barry Jenkins, will explore Mufasa’s origin story and his childhood with brother Scar.
Like the 2019 movie, it will also combine live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery.
Barry Jenkins told Good Morning America that Blue Ivy was “professional”, while Beyoncé was a “mum first” on set.
“They just approached it that they both wanted to perform and do the best they could. And yet, they didn’t have to pretend very much because they really are mother and daughter.”
The first teaser trailer for the film also aired on GMA.
A voiceover says Mufasa was born “without a drop of nobility in his blood” but “would change our lives forever”.
Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar, respectively in the new movie.
The 2019 Lion King film, featured the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar.
Donald Glover will reprise his role in Barry Jenkins’s prequel. The cast also includes Mads Mikkelsen and Thandiwe Newton, with Seth Rogan and Billy Eichner also returning.
The movie will feature original songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has also penned songs for films including Mary Poppins Returns and Encanto.
While this is Blue Ivy Carter’s debut film role, she has performed previously as a dancer on her mom’s live tour.
Blue Ivy is the eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The couple also share twins Rumi and Sir, six.
Mufasa: The Lion King is due to be released in December this year.
At least five people, including a four-month-old baby, have been killed after dozens of tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas and Missouri causing serious damage.
Tens of thousands of residents were left without power following separate storms that began on April 26.
Four of the deaths happened in Oklahoma, where a state of emergency has been declared in a dozen counties.
A fifth person died from their injuries in Iowa after a separate storm system hit the Midwest, local media reported.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a preliminary investigation had confirmed some of April 27 tornadoes had gusts of above 136 miles an hour.
The storms – which swept from Texas to Missouri – also saw up to seven inches of rain fall in some places within hours, the AFP news agency reported.
The town of Sulphur, in eastern Oklahoma, was hit particularly hard. Video of the aftermath showed flattened homes and overturned vehicles.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, around 100 injuries were reported.
The towns of Holdenville and Marietta were also badly damaged.
Photo Getty Images
The speaker of the Oklahoma state House of Representatives, Charles McCall, insisted that the affected areas would recover.
“We will rise, we’ll clean up, we’ll rebuild and we’ll move forward,” he told a news conference in Sulphur on April 28.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt also visited the town and said the damage there was the worst he had seen in his six years in office.
“You just can’t believe the destruction,” he said.
“It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed.”
The White House said President Joe Biden had spoken with Governor Stitt and offered the federal government’s full support.
It comes after a separate weather system brought more than 70 tornadoes to the Midwestern states of Nebraska and Iowa on April 26.
Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized just days after his 2020 rape conviction in New York was overturned, his lawyer has said.
Arthur Aidala said the disgraced movie mogul was moved to a Manhattan hospital on April 26. Harvey Weinstein remains in jail after being separately convicted of rape in Los Angeles.
Arthur Aidala said his client was “somewhat of a train wreck health wise”.
“It seems like he needs a lot of help, physically. He’s got a lot of problems,” he told AP.
Later, in a statement to CBS, Arthur Aidala said Harvey Weinstein had been taken to hospital after the New York City Department of Correction determined that he needed “immediate medical attention”.
“A myriad of tests are being performed on Harvey and he is being kept for observation,” he said.
A spokesperson with the corrections department said that Harvey Weinstein remained in custody at Bellevue Hospital.
He was moved on April 26 to the Rikers Island jail complex from the Mohawk Correctional Facility where he had been since 2023.
Image source Wikimedia
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers have previously said the one-time movie producer has had a series of health problems, including diabetes, sleep apnea and issues affecting his heart and eyes. In 2020, he spent five days in hospital for ongoing heart problems and chest pains.
Arthur Aidala said he is scheduled to meet Harvey Weinstein on April 29 before his court appearance on May 1st, the Associated Press reports.
Earlier in the week, the New York Court of Appeals overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on the basis that he did not receive a fair trial, saying that prosecutors in the pivotal #MeToo case called witnesses whose accusations were not part of the charges against him.
The court said that meant Harvey Weinstein was unfairly tried for past behaviour, and ordered a new trial.
At his trial in 2020, Harvey Weinstein was convicted of assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, in 2013. He was jailed for 23 years.
Harvey Weinstein’s defense team said encounters between the movie executive and the accusers had been consensual.
Separately, Harvey Weinstein was sentenced in California last year to 16 years for raping an Italian model and actress in a Beverly Hills hotel in 2013.
Hamas has published a video showing the first proof of life of US and Israeli hostages Keith Siegel and Omri Miran being held in Gaza.
In undated footage filmed under duress, Omri Miran says he has been held for 202 days and Keith Siegel mentions this week’s Passover holiday, indicating the clips were filmed recently.
Both were captured when Hamas launched its deadly attacks on October 7.
Responding to the video, their families said they would keep fighting for the men’s return.
They also urged the Israeli government to secure a new hostage release deal.
The new video comes as Hamas said it was studying Israel’s latest proposal for a truce. Media reports said mediator Egypt had sent a delegation to Israel to give fresh impetus to stalled negotiations.
Such a deal that included an agreement to free the remaining hostages could stop Israel’s planned ground assault in the southern city of Rafah, Israel’s foreign minister said on April 27.
Kieth Siegel, a US citizen, was kidnapped with his wife Aviva, though she was freed in November during a brief truce.
Image source: Hamas
In a video statement Keith Siegel’s wife Aviva said: “Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return.”
Speaking at the weekly demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding action to release the hostages on Saturday evening, Dani Miran, Omri Miran’s father, led chanting by the crowds.
He was visibly emotional as he delivered a powerful speech, describing his excitement seeing the video of his son, knowing that “he was hopefully alive”.
But his speech also had a political element. He talked directly to the government and specifically by name mentioned its far-right members – National Security Minister, Itamar ben Gvir and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, calling on them to secure a hostage deal.
He urged Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to “approve any viable deal”.
What was also notable was that before Omri Miran’s father made his speech, the hostage video was shown in full on big screens around Hostage Square.
This is highly unusual, as such videos are not generally played on TV.
Prosecutors and Donald Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness was called on April 22 in the historic and unprecedented criminal trial of a former president.
“It was election fraud, pure and simple,” a lawyer told the jury during opening statements at the historic trial in New York.
Setting out the case for the defense, Donald Trump’s lawyer said his client had committed no crimes and that it was not illegal to try to influence an election.
“He is cloaked in innocence,” he added.
Donald Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult movie star Stormy Daniels before he won the race for the White House back in 2016.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
At the start of the second week of the criminal trial in Manhattan – the first ever of a former US president – each side set out the case they will present to the jury. The first witness, tabloid publisher David Pecker, also took the stand briefly and will continue his testimony on April 23.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the court that Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and confidant, worked with the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, to “cook the books” at Trump’s direction.
Prosecutors alleged that the scheme to disguise how Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the payment to Stormy Daniels involved falsifying three forms of records – invoices, ledger entries and cheques.
Donald Trump said in his business records that those payments were “for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement” with Michael Cohen, Matthew Colangelo told the jury.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Critically for this case, he said that Donald Trump was motivated to provide the payoff so voters did not learn of the alleged encounter with Stormy Daniels.
Prosecutors said that this cover-up should be considered election interference, which constituted a second crime. That elevated the charge of falsifying business records from a lower-level misdemeanour into a more serious felony.
They claimed the infamous Access Hollywood tape, which surfaced weeks before the 2016 election and showed Donald Trump bragging about being able to have sex with anyone because he is famous, had panicked his campaign.
“The defendant and his campaign staff were deeply concerned that it would irreparably damage his standing with female voters in particular,” Matthew Colangelo told the court.
But when Stormy Daniels came forward a day later alleging an affair with Donald Trump, it compounded the problem created by the tape, Matthew Colangelo alleged.
The trial is expected to last about another six weeks, but legal experts say opening statements are particularly important as an opportunity to shape jurors’ views on the case.
The House of Representatives has finally approved $61 billion in new US military aid for Ukraine to help combat Russia’s invasion.
The much-delayed measure had vocal opponents in Congress and it took a fragile bipartisan deal to get the package through.
Republicans said more than a third would be dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the US support as “vital”.
The aid is likely to include air defense systems, mid to long-range missiles and artillery shells.
It is unclear when it will arrive. The package will now go to the Senate, which is expected to pass it within the next few days before President Joe Biden signs it into law.
Ukraine, which relies on Western weapons, desperately needs the aid as it struggles to contain invading Russian troops, who have been making steady advances in recent weeks.
President Zelensky said the aid should come as quickly as possible. In an evening address on April 21, he said that if Ukraine were given the right weapons it could change the situation on the frontline.
Alongside replenishing weapons and ammunition systems, Ukraine will also receive more than $9 billion of economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans” – ones that do not need to be paid back.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then tens of thousands of people, mainly soldiers, have been killed or injured on both sides, and millions of Ukrainians have had to flee their homes.
Ukrainian soldiers are now running low on munitions and having to ration artillery shells on a front line more than 745 miles long.
Cheers and applause erupted in the House when the measure passed, by 311 votes to 112, with some Representatives waving Ukrainian flags.
Welcoming the result, President Biden praised the bipartisan effort to “answer history’s call” and urging the Senate to approve it quickly “so that I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs”.
The foreign aid package passed on April 20 also includes:
$26.4 billion in military support for Israel, with $9.1 billion of that allocated to humanitarian aid for Gaza.
$8.1 billion in funding for allies in the Asia-Pacific, including Taiwan, to “counter communist China”.
The real estate market in the United States has always been a gauge for economic health, a dreamland for investors, and a symbol of stability and the American Dream. However, the market has experienced unprecedented shifts and challenges, notably with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For potential homebuyers and current homeowners, understanding these market dynamics is not only crucial but can be the key to unlocking the best deals and making sound financial decisions. This comprehensive guide provides an insightful perspective on the current state of real estate in the U.S., offering valuable insights and strategies for individuals looking to make informed decisions in the housing market.
A Quick Overview
In recent years, the U.S. housing market has seen a significant surge in home prices due to a multitude of factors, including low inventory, high demand, and historically low mortgage rates. Home sales have remained robust, indicating a strong interest in homeownership. However, a closer look at the data reveals a series of intriguing contradictions—while some regions are experiencing a seller’s market with inflated values, others are witnessing a more subdued, even advantageous, environment for buyers. This mix of conditions offers a real estate landscape that is both diversified and complex, with opportunities to be found for those with an informed eye.
The COVID-19 Effect
The unprecedented global pandemic reshaped every facet of human life, and the effects on the real estate market have been no less profound. The initial months of the pandemic saw a dramatic slowdown in sales activity, primarily due to economic uncertainty and social distancing measures. However, the essential need for shelter and the rapid adaptation to virtual tools revitalized the market, leading to a strong recovery and reinforcing the importance of a place called home. This seismic shift also catalyzed changes in homebuyer behavior, with a surge of interest in less densely populated areas and a preference for larger, more functional living spaces that accommodate remote work and online learning. Homeowners, too, were not immune, with some experiencing financial strain and seeking the refuge of forbearance programs and others taking advantage of home equity uplifts to upgrade or downsize. This trend was seen vastly in the midwest region of the country. Home moving companies like Garage Pros KC in the area saw a sizeable influx of people moving to the Kansas City area for its low-density population and lower cost of living.
Image source: PxHere
What Lies Ahead?
Currency experts love a good forecast, and the same holds true for the real estate market. While the future is far from certain, early indicators and expert opinions paint a picture of a real estate market that continues to be robust, albeit with pockets of volatility. Mortgage rates, always a significant player in the market dynamics, are expected to creep up, exerting pressure on affordability. However, this is likely to be counteracted to some degree by an increase in housing inventory as homeowners gain confidence in selling. A potential wild card is the role of government initiatives and stimulus, which could either buoy the market or create a false sense of security. In conclusion, the real estate market in the U.S. is likely to continue its unpredictable, yet potentially rewarding, course.
Strategies for Smooth Sailing in Real Estate Transactions
Entering the waters of the current U.S. real estate market as a buyer or seller requires careful navigation and strategic planning. For buyers, the competitive landscape necessitates swift decision-making, often with pre-approval in hand and clear financial parameters. Engaging a knowledgeable real estate agent and being adaptable in your search criteria can greatly enhance your prospects of securing a home. Sellers, on the other hand, must ensure that their property stands out in a crowded market, often by investing in staging, professional photography, and strategic pricing. Additionally, both parties can benefit from a thorough understanding of the local market and the employment of negotiation tactics that cater to these specific conditions.
Securing Your Investment in Real Estate
The phrase “knowledge is power” couldn’t be more relevant than when considering the financial aspect of a real estate investment, particularly in the current climate. For potential buyers, it is vital to assess affordability not only based on current income but with an eye to the future. This means considering potential interest rate rises and the impact on monthly mortgage payments. For current homeowners, gauging the equity in your property and its potential as a financial asset is crucial. Leveraging home equity for renovation or investments should be approached with a clear understanding of the market trajectory and a long-term financial plan. Ultimately, financial stability and preparedness serve as the lynchpins to a successful real estate strategy in any economic climate.
Closing Thoughts: Engaging with the Market
The real estate market is a living, breathing ecosystem of economic, social, and personal forces. For buyers and sellers, homeowners and investors, engaging with this dynamic is both an art and a science. Staying informed, being adaptable, and making strategic decisions based on a blend of experience and available data is the most assured path to success. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or simply considering a change in housing, the call to action is clear—engage with the market consciously, proactively, and with the guiding insight provided here. In doing so, you not only secure your place within the vast tapestry of the U.S. real estate market but also contribute to its enduring strength and resilience.
For those eager to harness the opportunities of a transforming market, the counsel is unanimous—act with intention, understand your financial anchors, and above all, partner with professionals who know the course. The tides may be uncertain, but equipped with knowledge and strategy, the destination of a home sweet home remains well within reach.
France’s first lady Brigitte Macron will be the subject of a biopic series.
Production company Gaumont said the six-part series, entitled Brigitte, a Free Woman, would trace the “storybook journey” of Emmanuel Macron’s wife.
The series will start with the first meeting of the couple, one of the series writers said.
Brigitte Macron first met her now-husband when she was a teacher at his secondary school.
The couple ended up marrying in 2007, when Emmanuel Macron was 29 and Brigitte was 54.
Brigitte Macron kept teaching for a time but quit her job in 2015 when her husband began getting involved in politics. He was elected president in 2017.
Image source Wikimedia
The French press describes the First Lady as one of only a handful of people whose judgement the president always calls on.
The new TV series will be written by French writers Bénédicte Charles and Olivier Pouponneau, Gaumont said.
Asked about the new production of Brigitte Macron’s life, an anonymous source close to the first lady told AFP news agency: “We are not associated with this project which we learnt about today in the press.”
The cast of the series is yet to be announced.
Gaumont is one of France’s leading TV production companies. It is responsible for the hit TV series Lupin.
A first glimpse of the new business venture from Meghan Markle has been teased on social media, with pictures of a jar of strawberry jam.
In a bid to preserve a sense of mystery, the jam from the new American Riviera Orchard brand seemed to be spread among friends and influencers.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam on Instagram.
It was numbered “17 of 50”, suggesting the number of recipients of this first fruit of the new business.
The arrival of the Duchess of Sussex’s new California-based lifestyle brand had been signalled on social media last month and this suggests that it will be selling food products.
There seemed to be have been something of a re-launch for Meghan Markle Prince Harry’s brands and businesses this year, beginning with the overhaul of their regal-looking website under the sussex.com label.
Their latest projects seem to be moving away from a previous focus on their time as working royals, such as their Netflix film Harry and Meghan and the duke’s memoir Spare.
Image source Wikimedia
The hint about the strawberry jam from Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand seems to fit with the couple’s latest Netflix plans.
Meghan Markle is going to launch a Netflix show which will “celebrate the joys of cooking and gardening, entertaining, and friendship”.
Prince Harry will be involved in another Netflix venture showing the inside track on the world of polo. That’s the equestrian sport, not the mints.
Delfina Blaquier, married to Prince Harry’s polo-playing friend Nacho Figueras, also posted a picture of the new jam, with hers labelled “10 of 50”.
The social media trail for American Riviera Orchard evokes a sense of the couple’s home in California – and this soft launch for the jam show pictures of the jars in a sunny basket of lemons.
It’s not known how much items from the new lifestyle brand will cost.
Although there are already plenty of other royals getting into jams. Visitors to the gift shops in royal palaces can get a Buckingham Palace Strawberry Preserve for £3.95 ($4.90) or Windsor Castle Fine Cut Seville Orange Marmalade, also for £3.95.
Court has wrapped up for the first day of Donald Trump’s long-awaited hush-money trial in New York.
It marks the first time that a US president – former or current – has faced a criminal trial.
Dozens of potential jurors have been excused after saying they cannot be impartial.
Jury selection is expected to continue for at least the rest of the week.
Donald Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult movie star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election – which he won.
Stormy Daniels claims she and Donald Trump had an affair in 2006, and she was then paid by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen to stay quiet about it.
Donald Trump is accused of falsifying his business records by saying the reimbursement money he gave Michael Cohen was for legal fees.
He faces 34 counts of fraud, but denies any legal wrongdoing – and also denies having an affair with Daniels.
Image source Wikipedia
The maximum penalty if Donald Trump is found guilty is four years behind bars, but experts say a much less severe penalty would be more likely.
Speaking outside court, Donald Trump said he was upset about possibly missing son’s graduation.
He said some “amazing things happened today”.
The former president then brings up how the judge may not let him go to his son’s high school graduation.
The judge told Trump they would make a call on that closer to the date.
He criticises the judge, and the case. And once again makes the unsubstantiated claim that it is “election interference”.
Donald Trump has repeatedly made these types of allegations regarding his legal troubles.
And with that, he walks away and takes no questions.
There were 96 people in the first panel of prospective jurors brought into the courtroom today.
In a matter of minutes, 63 were dismissed because they said they could not be impartial in Trump’s hush-money case.
Now that court has resumed, those 33 remaining people will be asked more questions and we will likely see more excused before the day is out. Then there are hundreds more still waiting to be called to the court room.
Finding an impartial jury in New York is going to take some time, probably more than a week.
It’s a blue state, meaning voters are largely Democrats.
Donald Trump’s relationship with the city, where he made a name for himself as a real estate tycoon.
Israel’s war cabinet has met to discuss its response to Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack.
Israel did not make public whether a decision had been reached.
Its allies have strongly condemned Iran’s actions, but urged Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to show restraint.
While Iran has signalled it considers the matter closed, the Israeli military’s chief of staff said the attack would not go unanswered.
“Look, as we look forward, we weigh our steps, and this launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, UAVs to the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response,” Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said.
He did not specify a course of action, or give a timescale.
Analysts say Israel might decide to carry out a limited attack, such as a major cyberattack, or a strike on infrastructure with a low risk of casualties, calculated not to provoke a military response by Iran but to send a clear signal – or something far more extensive.
Lt Gen Halevi was speaking from Nevatim air base in southern Israel, which sustained damage in Saturday’s overnight attack but was said by Israel to be “still functioning”.
The Israeli military said more than 300 drones and missiles were launched at Israel. It said almost all were brought down by its forces, with support from the US, UK, France and other countries, before reaching their targets. No deaths were reported and Israel said the damage was limited.
World leaders have urged restraint amid concerns about a major escalation in tensions in the Middle East.
President Joe Biden spoke to PM Netanyahu following the launch of the Iranian attack and reaffirmed “America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel”.
But on April 14 the US told Israel it would not join in any counter-strike on Iran, according to a senior White House official.
“We’re committed to a ceasefire that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict spreading more than it already has,” President Biden said on April 15, referring to the 130 hostages still in Gaza who were abducted from Israel on October 7, and Israel’s subsequent military operation which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Almost all weapons were shot down by Israeli, US and allied forces before they reached their targets.
White House officials said President Joe Biden urged Israel to consider its response “carefully”.
Speaking to reporters on April 14, a senior administration official said that President Biden told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to “think very carefully and strategically” about how his forces replied to the unprecedented action, the first direct attack by Iran on the country.
The official added that the Biden administration believes Israel “got the best of it” in the exchange, which began when senior Iranian military commanders were killed at an Iranian consular building in Syria.
Image source: President Biden/X
About 99% of the missiles, drones and cruise missiles launched during Iran’s retaliatory operation were shot down or intercepted – which US officials point to as a sign of Israeli military superiority over Iran.
A conversation took place between President Biden and PM Netanyahu at a time “of heightened emotion” just after the attack, which included about 100 ballistic missiles simultaneously flying towards Israel.
During the call, the two leaders had a discussion “about how to slow things down and think through things”, with President Biden emphasizing that Israel has “gotten the best of it”.
The official declined to say, however, whether the White House warned against a significant response, saying only that “it is a calculation the Israelis have to make”.
In a string of television appearances on US networks earlier in the day, national security spokesman John Kirby repeatedly said that the US had made it clear to Israel that it seeks to avoid a wider conflict.
The senior administration said that the same message has been sent to Iran through diplomatic channels.
President Joe Biden has praised American forces who he said “helped Israel take down nearly all” drones and missiles launched by Iran on April 13.
In a statement, he said the US had moved aircraft and warships to the region before the unprecedented attack.
“I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms,” the president added.
Israel said Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in its direction, the first time it has attacked Israel directly from its own territory.
It said the “vast majority” were intercepted, but there were a small number of hits including at an IDF base in southern Israel. At least one person, reported to be a young girl, was injured.
Iran earlier warned that Israel would be “punished” for a strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1, which killed seven Iranian officers including a top commander. Israel has not confirmed or denied whether it was responsible.
“I’ve just spoken with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel,” President Biden said shortly after the pair held a call.
“I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks,” he added.
Image source: President Biden/X
Joe Biden also said he plans to convene G7 leaders on April 14 “to co-ordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack”.
He warned Iran against attacking any US assets, adding while Iran has not done so, America “remains vigilant to all threats”.
Joe Biden cut short a planned visit to his home state of Delaware on April 13, travelling back to the White House to be briefed by national security officials hours before the attack.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said President Biden was “in constant communication with Israeli officials, as well as other partners and allies”.
Republicans in the House of Representatives, meanwhile, said they were drafting legislation to provide more aid to Israel and sanction Iran.
Iran’s delegation at the UN said Tehran earlier said “the matter can be deemed concluded” but warned it would strike again if there were reprisals by Israel or the US.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard also said in a statement that “support or participation in attacking Iran’s interests will have a fierce response”.
Other nations, including the UK, France and Canada, have also condemned Iran and expressed support for Israel.
Iran has launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in a retaliatory attack, the Iranian military says.
Sirens and loud explosions are heard as Israel’s air defences intercept objects from the sky. As air raid sirens ring out, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have told Israeli civilians that they may hear blasts.
“The Aerial Defense Array is fully operational and is intercepting threats wherever required, even at this very moment,” it said.
“At this time, numerous planes are in the air, ready to counter any threat. You may hear explosions from interceptions or debris falling.”
Sirens were activated in Jerusalem at around 01:45 local time.
Loud explosions were heard with the air defence systems shooting down objects over the city.
The multiple interceptions lit up the night sky here.
The US has shot down some Iranian drones that were headed towards Israel, military officials say.
Iran had warned that Israel would be “punished” for a strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1.
Seven Revolutionary Guards, including two generals, and six Syrians were killed in the Damascus attack.
Israel has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of strikes in recent years on targets in Syria that it says are linked to Iran but has not claimed the Damascus strike.
President Joe Biden has promised what he called “ironclad” support for Israel, saying the US will “do all we can to protect Israel’s security”.
Iran had avoided direct confrontation with Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict, but the Damascus attack was seen as a serious escalation.
RAF Typhoon jets have been flying over areas of Iraq and Syria tonight and have been authorised to target any Iranian drones and missiles flying within range.
Iran is now citing Article 51 of the UN Charter for its attack.
It says “the matter can be deemed concluded” – suggesting it will not launch further strikes. However, it has warned against any retaliation or any involvement by the United States.
“Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus,” its permanent mission at the United Nations said on Twitter/X.
“The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!”
Article 51 of the UN Charter says that member states have “the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs”.
OJ Simpson, the former NFL star turned actor who was controversially cleared of double murder, has died aged 76.
San Francisco-born Orenthal James Simpson rose to fame in college before playing in the NFL.
In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend in a trial that gripped America.
In 2008, OJ Simpson was sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment on unrelated charges of armed robbery. He was released in 2017.
He died of cancer on April 10 “surrounded by his children and grandchildren”, a family statement read.
In 1994, OJ Simpson was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The pair were found stabbed to death outside Nicole Brown’s home in Los Angeles. OJ Simpson became an immediate person of interest in the case.
On the day he was due to turn himself in, he fled in a white Ford Bronco with a former teammate, and led the police on a slow-speed chase through the Los Angeles area.
That chase engrossed audiences in the US and abroad as it was broadcast live on “rolling” 24-hour news channels still in their relative infancy.
In the ensuing court case, dubbed the “trial of the century” by media, prosecutors argued OJ Simpson had killed Nicole Brown in a jealous fury. Evidence included blood, hair and fibre tests linking OJ Simpson to the murders.
The defense argued OJ Simpson was framed by police who were motivated by racism.
In one of the trial’s most memorable moments, prosecutors asked OJ Simpson to put on a pair of blood-stained gloves allegedly found at the scene of the murder, but Simpson struggled to fit his hands into them. It led to one of Simpson’s lawyers, Johnnie Cochran, telling the jury in his closing arguments: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
The jury ultimately sided with OJ Simpson, who had declared he was “absolutely 100% not guilty”. The acquittal proved hugely controversial.
The families of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman did not give up – they pursued a civil case against OJ Simpson in 1997 and a jury found Simpson liable for the two deaths. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to their families.
In 2006, OJ Simpson sold a book manuscript, titled “If I Did It”, and a prospective TV interview, giving a “hypothetical” account of the murders he had always strenuously denied.
Public objections ended both projects, but Ron Goldman’s family secured the book rights, added material imputing guilt to OJ Simpson and had it published.
OJ Simpson’s final disgrace came in 2008, when he was convicted of armed robbery for breaking into a Las Vegas hotel room with four accomplices, holding two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint and stealing items related to his NFL career.
He was sentenced to 33 years in jail, but was granted parole after serving the minimum of nine years.
Gloria Allred, an attorney who represented Nicole Brown’s family during the murder trial, said that OJ Simpson’s death served as a reminder that the justice system failed abused women and allows “celebrity men to avoid true justice”, according to a statement obtained by CNN.
Caitlyn Jenner, once part of OJ Simpson’s social circle, echoed Goldman, posting two words on Twitter/X: “Good riddance.”
Truong My Lan, a 67-year-old Vietnamese property developer, was sentenced to death on April 11 for looting one of the country’s largest banks over a period of 11 years.
It was the most spectacular trial ever held in Vietnam, befitting one of the greatest bank frauds the world has ever seen.
It’s a rare verdict – Truong My Lan is one of very few women in Vietnam to be sentenced to death for a white collar crime.
Image source: AP
The decision is a reflection of the dizzying scale of the fraud. Truong My Lan was convicted of taking out $44 billion in loans from the Saigon Commercial Bank. The verdict requires her to return $27 billion, a sum prosecutors said may never be recovered. Some believe the death penalty is the court’s way of trying to encourage her to return some of the missing billions.
The habitually secretive communist authorities were uncharacteristically forthright about this case, going into minute detail for the media. They said 2,700 people were summoned to testify, while 10 state prosecutors and around 200 lawyers were involved.
The evidence was in 104 boxes weighing a total of six tonnes. Eighty-five others were tried with Truong My Lan, who denied the charges and can appeal.
All of the defendants were found guilty. Four received life in jail. The rest were given prison terms ranging from 20 years to three years suspended. Truong Truong My Lan’s husband and niece received jail terms of nine and 17 years respectively.
The trial was the most dramatic chapter so far in the “Blazing Furnaces” anti-corruption campaign led by the Communist Party Secretary-General, Nguyen Phu Trong.
A conservative ideologue steeped in Marxist theory, Nguyen Phu Trong believes that popular anger over untamed corruption poses an existential threat to the Communist Party’s monopoly on power. He began the campaign in earnest in 2016 after out-manoeuvring the then pro-business prime minister to retain the top job in the party.
Donald Trump has been criticized by Joe Biden’s campaign team for sharing a video on social media featuring a truck bearing the image of the president with his hands and feet tied together.
The Biden campaign team accused the former president of “regularly inciting political violence” ahead of November’s election.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign said Democrats have been calling for “despicable violence” against Donald Trump.
Donald Trump posted the video on his social media site Truth Social on March 29.
According to the caption, it was filmed in Long Island, New York, on March 28 when the former president attended the wake of a New York City police officer who was killed during a traffic stop.
The video shows two passing trucks on the road, both covered in US flags and flags claiming support for the police.
The second truck was emblazoned with the words “Trump 2024”, and the rear of the vehicle features an image of Joe Biden with his hands and feet tied.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Donald Trump’s promotion of the video drew criticism from Joe Biden campaign’s team.
“Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it’s time people take him seriously – just ask the Capitol police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6,” spokesman Michael Tyler said, referring to the storming of Congress by the former president’s supporters after he falsely claimed the 2020 election had been stolen from him.
But Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, responded: “That picture was on the back of a pickup truck that was travelling down the highway. Democrats and crazed lunatics have not only called for despicable violence against President Trump and his family, they are actually weaponizing the justice system against him.”
The Republican presidential nominee faces four criminal cases, with an election subversion case and New York hush money case the most likely to be heard in court before the election on 5 November.
Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, and claimed he is being politically persecuted.
The row over the tailgate image is the latest in a series of heated exchanges between the two presidential candidates in the run-up to the polls.
In his bid to return to the White House, Donald Trump has ramped up his rhetoric, frequently referring to those convicted for their part in the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as “hostages”.
He also came under criticism for comments in Ohio earlier this month in which he warned of a “bloodbath” if he wasn’t elected. He made the reference after talking about foreign car imports and their economic impact.
The Biden campaign seized on the comments but Donald Trump accused them and the media of taking him out of context.
Ceremonies have been taking place across the world to mark the most important festival in the Christian calendar – Easter.
Jesus was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the Bible says, days after dying on the cross on Good Friday. It is traditional for many to attend services on Saturday evening.
A day after pulling out of a ceremony at short notice, Pope Francis took part in a two-hour vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.
There had been renewed concern about his health when he did not participate in a Good Friday procession.
The Pope read a lengthy homily and carried out a number of baptisms ahead of his Easter message on Sunday morning.
At a time when there’s an increase in the available workload in most of the companies, multiple Teams Building Ideas play a vital role in fostering collaboration, communication, and understanding within a team. By coming up with such ideas, you can develop close relationships, mutual trust, and the ability to work well together.
However, if you don’t know about any such activities, you can go through this blog to get a better understanding of Team Building Ideas. You can also consider registering for a Management Course that can equip you with all the essential traits to become an influential manager who can build an effective team. Read ahead to learn more.
Table of Contents
Why are Team Building exercises important?
Effective Team Building Ideas
Conclusion
Why are Team Building exercises important?
These days, Team Building activities act as a crucial component of work life. Companies must employ such activities because of the following reasons:
Streamline their onboarding system
Improve communication
Increase trust
Boost morale
Encourage creativity
Effective Team Building Ideas
Learning the importance of Team Building activities isn’t enough, individuals must come up with effective Team Building Ideas to foster better work environment. Below are some of those suggestions:
Icebreaker exercises
This essential activity can help individuals to better introduce themselves in team meetings and public gatherings. By playing quick games that promote conversation, and sharing fascinating personal details during this activity, team members can bond with each other and solve conflicts.
Personality evaluations
This team activity is all about knowing each team members’ unique skills, talents, and preferences. By allowing team members to better adjust their communication styles and assessing results together, organisations can foster understanding and communication.
Team retreats
It denotes planning a fun team excursion. During this activity, team members can socialise, unwind, and participate in activities that promote cooperation, and teamwork. Such activities specifically include cooperative problem-solving activities, outdoor pursuits, and team challenges that call for teamwork to succeed.
Cross-departmental projects
These projects allow teams to collaborate closely with peers from various backgrounds and expertise. Essentially, it comprises effective knowledge exchange that helps promote the understanding of each other’s work, issues faced on a daily basis and builds empathy.
Lunch-and-learn scenarios
Regular lunch-time gatherings emphasise letting team members impart their knowledge, skills, and experiences to their peers. These casual get-togethers further foster learning opportunities, allow team members to present their skills, and promote candid communication. All of these activities can inspire fresh concepts and understanding among participants.
Volunteer activities
As the name suggests, this typically includes team members engaging in a volunteer activity as a group. This not only enables team members to positively influence others but further lets them find common interests, and values outside of the workplace. Moreover, team members can also get to know each other outside of their typical work environments.
Team building workshops
Indulging in team building courses led by knowledgeable facilitators can help a team to grow. Such sessions mostly concentrate on developing a deeper comprehension of individual’s talents by including interactive activities, group discussions, and entertaining exercises.
Mentorship programmes
Such activities are all about conducting programmes where more experienced members can guide the less experienced ones. They can also help them build rapport and promote information sharing. Through these programmes, the junior team members can acquire fresh perspectives, and forge closer ties.
Conduct office trivia
The office trivia sessions typically include players answering light-hearted questions. This can specifically make a new joiner feel less alienated in an unfamiliar environment. Offices should usually employ a time limit of 30-45 minutes for such activities.
Honour milestones and achievements
Celebrating individual and group accomplishments as well as significant victories can be advantageous in multiple ways. These steps can further help team managers to cultivate a positive work culture, motivate team members, enhance understanding, and develop a sense of belonging by recognising both individual and team’s overall efforts.
Conclusion
From this blog, we hope it is clear how the numerous Team Building Ideas can encourage improved communication, cooperation, and involvement among team members working in a shared workspace. Thus, organisations willing to reach potential heights must put such ideas into practice and accomplish amazing success.
A theme park based on the famed Japanese animated series Dragon Ball will be built in Saudi Arabia.
The announcement sparked mixed reactions from fans.
The park will feature a 230ft dragon at its center and at least 30 rides, the company behind the project says.
It would be the world’s first such attraction based on the popular media franchise.
The announcement was met with some criticism from fans, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
The park will cover more than half a million square metres, according to Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government’s investment fund.
The plans are part of “a long-term strategic partnership” between the QIC and Toei Animation, the Japanese producer of Dragon Ball.
According to the official Dragon Ball website, the park will include a roller coaster inside the dragon modelled after Shenron, a wish-giving dragon that features in the franchise.
Qiddiya is a major entertainment and tourism project being built near Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.
It is part of the energy-rich nation’s plans to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels.
While some Dragon Ball fans have welcomed the plans for the theme park, others on social media have questioned the decision to locate the attraction in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its human rights record and lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ rights.
The announcement comes just weeks after the death of Dragon Ball’s creator, Akira Toriyama.
Akira Toriyama died on March 1st, aged 68. Only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement on the Dragon Ball website.
The Dragon Ball comic series debuted in 1984. It follows a boy named Son Goku in his quest to collect magical dragon balls that can give him super powers.
The Dragon Ball is one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time.
According to the AFP news agency, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev was named as a citizen of Tajikistan. The nationality of Saidakrami Rachabalizoda was not disclosed.
Two other suspects were brought to the court, but have yet to be charged.
At least 133 people were killed and more than 140 injured when gunmen attacked a packed concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow on March 22, Russia says.
A large fire engulfed the roof of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and dramatic video shows panicked concertgoers taking cover as shots and explosions ring out.
President Vladimir Putin says all four gunmen have been arrested, and that the suspects were trying to flee to Ukraine – Kyiv says allegations of Ukrainian involvement are “absurd”.
Vladimir Putin calls the attack a “barbaric terrorist act” and announces a day of national mourning for March 24.
Image source: Reuters
Muscovites are queuing to give blood for those injured and flower tributes have been placed at the scene of the attack.
The US says it’s credible that the Islamic State group (ISIS) could be behind the attack, after the group said it did it. Russia has not commented.
The Islamic State group has issued a follow-up statement offering more details about last night’s attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, which the group earlier said it was behind.
The new details – published via IS group accounts on messaging app Telegram – say four attackers were involved in the deadly assault, and includes a picture claiming to show the four assailants, all masked. The update comes from the group’s news outlet Amaq, which was also the source of the initial claim.
Neither of the two IS Amaq statements indicated which of IS’s regional branches was responsible for the attack.
In terms of motive, Amaq says “the attack comes in the context of normal ongoing war between the Islamic State and [anti-Islam] countries”.
The IS mouthpiece says the attack was carried out by “fighters” who it says were armed with “machine guns, a gun, knives and incendiary bombs”, and that the attack was preceded by a “concerted” reconnaissance mission.
Russia has not yet commented on the claims but the US has said it’s credible that the Islamic State group could be behind the attack.
Kate Middleton has announced that she is in the early stages of cancer treatment.
In a video statement, The Princess of Wales says it was a “huge shock” after an “incredibly tough couple of months”.
Details of the cancer have not been disclosed, but Kensington Palace says it is confident the princess will make a full recovery.
Here is Catherine’s statement in full:
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.
As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.
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