Indian, Pakistani forces exchange gunfire in Kashmir
Indian paramilitary soldiers patrol by boat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Friday after 26 people were killed by gunmen who opened fire on a group of tourists in the popular destination of Pahalgam on Tuesday. Photo by Farooq Khan/EPA-EFE
April 26 (UPI) — Gunfire exchanges between Pakistani and Indian military forces continued for a second day on Saturday across the Kashmir border between the two nations.
Indian military officials reported Pakistani forces fired across a cease-fire line at several locations with no provocation and without causing any casualties, The Guardian reported Saturday.
Indian forces returned fire but also did not inflict any casualties, Al Jazeera reported.
The gunfire exchanges occurred after several gunmen killed 26 tourists when they emerged from wooded areas and fired at the tourists in the Baisaran Valley tourist town of Pahalgam, Kashmir, on Tuesday.
The Pakistani-based Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the attack and is a subset of the Laskhar-e-Taiba terror organization.
The attackers allegedly asked those killed if they were Muslim or Hindu and shot those who said they were Hindu, The Guardian reported. All of those killed were male.
Kashmir is a contested area in northwestern India along the border with Pakistan. Both nations claim sovereignty over the region, which has a mostly Muslim population.
Pahalgam is a popular tourist destination and is called the “Switzerland of India” due to its location near the Himalaya Mountains.
Indian officials closed the primary border crossing linking India and Pakistan on Wednesday and suspended a water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, the BBC reported.
Indian officials also expelled Pakistani diplomats and gave Pakistani visa holders 48 hours to leave the country.
India blames Pakistan for the attack and previously accused Pakistani officials of supporting armed groups, including the Resistance Front and its parent organization.
Pakistani officials deny the accusation and have said they are “fully prepared to cooperate with any neutral investigators” regarding the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan responded to its diplomats being expelled from India by expelling Indian diplomats, canceling visas held by Indians and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft.
Pakistani officials also suspended the 1972 Shimla accord that enables dialogue between the leaders of both nations.
A stunning reversal of fortunes in Canada’s historic election
Jessica Murphy
BBC News
Reporting fromVaughan, Ontario
Nadine Yousif
BBC News
Reporting fromCambridge and London, Ontario
Getty ImagesAt a rally in London, Ontario, on Friday, the crowd booed as Mark Carney delivered his core campaign line about the existential threat Canada faces from its neighbour.
“President Trump is trying to break us so that America could own us,” the Liberal leader warned.
“Never,” supporters shouted back. Many waved Canadian flags taped to ice hockey sticks.
Similar levels of passion were also on display at the union hall where Pierre Poilievre greeted enthusiastic supporters in the Toronto area earlier in the week.
The Conservative leader has drawn large crowds to rallies across the country, where “Bring it Home” is a call to arms: both to vote for a change of government and a nod to the wave of Canadian patriotism in the face of US tariff threats.
In the final hours of a 36-day campaign, Donald Trump’s shadow looms over everything. The winner of Monday’s election is likely to be the party able to convince voters they have a plan for how to deal with the US president.
National polls suggest the Liberals have maintained a narrow lead entering last stretch.
Still, Trump is not the only factor at play – he was only mentioned once in Poilievre’s stump speech.
The Conservative leader has focused more on voters disaffected by what he calls a “Lost Liberal decade”, promising change from a government he blames for the housing shortage and a sluggish economy, and for mishandling social issues like crime and the fentanyl crisis.
His pitch resonates with voters like Eric and Carri Gionet, from Barrie, Ontario. They have two daughters in their mid-20s and said they were attending their first ever political rally.
“We’re pretty financially secure – but I worry about them,” said Eric Gionet. While he and his wife could buy their first home while young, he said, “there’s no prospect” their children will be able to do the same.
“I’m excited to be here,” said Carri Gionet. “I’m hopeful.”
Tapping into voter frustration has helped opposition parties sweep governments from power in democracies around the world. Canada seemed almost certain to follow suit.
Last year, the Conservatives held a 20-point lead in national polls over the governing Liberals for months. Poilievre’s future as the country’s next prime minister seemed baked in.
Then a series of shockwaves came in quick succession at the start of 2025, upending the political landscape: Justin Trudeau’s resignation, Carney’s subsequent rise to Liberal leader and prime minister; and the return of Trump to the White House with the threats and tariffs that followed.
By the time the election was called in mid-March, Carney’s Liberals were polling neck-and-neck with the Conservatives, and by early April they had pulled slightly ahead, national surveys suggest.
It has been a stunning reversal of fortunes. Seemingly dead and buried, the Liberals now believe they could win a fourth successive election, and even a majority in Parliament.
Carney is pitching himself as the man most ready to meet this critical moment – a steady central banker who helped shepherd Canada’s economy through the 2008 financial crisis and later, the UK through Brexit.
For Conservative voter Gwendolyn Slover, 69, from Summerside in the province of Prince Edward Island, his appeal is “baffling”.
“Many people think Mark Carney is some kind of Messiah,” she said. “It’s the same party, he’s one person. And he’s not going to change anything.”
For Carney’s supporters, they see a strong resume and a poise that has calmed their anxieties over Trump’s threats of steep tariffs and repeated suggestions the country should become the 51st US state – though the president has been commenting less frequently on Canada during the campaign.
“I’m very impressed by the stability and the serious thought process of Mark Carney,” said Mike Brennan from Kitchener, Ontario, as he stood in line to meet the Liberal leader at a coffee shop in Cambridge, about an hour outside Toronto.
Mr Brennan is a “lifelong Liberal” who did not initially plan to vote for the party in this election because of his dislike for Trudeau.
The departure of former prime minister Trudeau, who had grown increasingly unpopular over his decade in power, released “a massive pressure valve”, said Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, a non-profit public opinion research organisation.
“All of these angry Liberals who are either parking their votes with the [left-wing] NDP or parking their votes with the Conservatives start re-coalescing,” she said.
Then more disaffected Liberals and other progressive voters began to migrate towards Carney’s Liberals, driven by Trump, this election’s “main character”, Ms Kurl said.
“The threats, the annexation talk, all of that has been a huge motivator for left of centre voters.”
It has worked to Carney’s advantage, with Trump’s tariffs threats giving the political neophyte – he is the first prime minister to have never held elected public office – the chance to publicly audition to keep his job during the campaign.
Trump’s late-March announcement of global levies on foreign automobile imports allowed Carney to step away from the trail and take on the prime minister’s mantle, setting up a call with the president and meeting US Cabinet ministers.
He’s never been tested in a gruelling federal election campaign, with its relentless travel, high-pressure demands for retail politics and daily media scrutiny. Yet on the campaign trail, and in the high-stakes debate with party leaders, he is considered to have performed well.
Poilievre, in contrast, is a veteran politician and polished performer. But on the shifting political ground, Conservatives appeared to struggle to find their footing, pivoting their message from Canada being broken to “Canada First”.
Poilievre had to fend off criticism from political rivals that he is “Trump lite”, with his combative style, his vows to end “woke ideology”, and willingness to take on the “global elite”.
“I have a completely different story from Donald Trump,” he has said.
More on the Canadian election:
Canadians have historically voted in either Conservative or Liberal governments, but smaller parties – like the NDP or the Bloc Québécois, a sovereigntist party that only runs candidates in the province of Quebec – have in the past formed Official Opposition.
In this campaign, both are languishing and face the possibility of losing a number of seats in the House of Commons as anxious voters turn towards the two main political parties.
If the Liberals and Conservatives both succeed in getting over 38% of the vote share nationally, as polls suggest is likely, it would be the first time that has happened since 1975.
The message from the NDP – which helped prop up the minority Liberals in the last government – in the final days of campaigning has been to vote strategically.
“You can make the difference between Mark Carney getting a super majority or sending enough New Democrats to Ottawa so we can fight to defend the things you care about,” leader Jagmeet Singh said earlier this week.
The campaign has also highlighted festering divides along regional lines.
With much of the campaign dominated by the US-Canada relationship and the trade war, many issues – climate, immigration, indigenous reconciliation – have been on the backburner.
Even when the campaigns have focused on other policies, the discussion has centred on the country’s economic future.
Both frontrunners agree in broad strokes on the priorities: the need to pivot away from dependence on the US; the development of oil, gas and mining sectors; protection for workers affected by tariffs; and increased defence spending.
But they disagree on who is best to lead Canada forward, especially when so much is at stake.
“It’s time for experience, not experiments,” Carney told his supporters in London.
Poilievre closing message was: “We can choose change on Monday. We can take back control of our lives and build a bright future.”
Additional reporting by Ali Abbas Ahmadi
BBC’s forgotten ‘masterpiece’ series with Hollywood A-lister and Walking Dead star now free to watch
The political thriller was a binge-worthy hit
Viewers are urged to rediscover a neglected BBC series that’s now completely free to stream online.
This six-part, addictive show debuted prior to the era of streaming services, premiering on the BBC back in 2003.
The political thriller begins with the death of an MP’s assistant and the theft of a briefcase, which prompts the bereaved politician to enlist the help of his former campaign strategist and a reporter pal to unravel the murky deaths, reports Surrey Live.
From the get-go, audiences were strapped in for a wild ride as the programme has maintained an impressive 8.3/10 rating on IMDb.
The drama features an impressive lineup including big screen star James McAvoy, David Morrissey from The Walking Dead, Bill Nighy known for Love Actually, Kelly MacDonald of Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire fame, John Simm who starred in Life on Mars and Doctor Who, and Philip Glenister, also of Life on Mars renown.
Additionally, there were cameos from a pre-Game of Thrones Rory McCann (known better as The Hound), Polly Walker from Bridgerton, Benedict Wong of Marvel cinematic fame, and Tom Burke, who would later headline the detective series Strike.
State of Play made such a splash that it sparked a Hollywood adaptation in 2009 featuring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Dame Helen Mirren, and Rachel McAdams, though many argue that the film doesn’t hold a candle to the original series.
On IMDb, fans have lauded the series, with one user commenting: “This BBC political thriller mini-series is far superior to the American remake.
“If you like newsroom dramas, and films involving investigative journalism then you’ll love this.”
One ecstatic reviewer gave a 10/10 score, sharing: “What makes a good political thriller? Some things are obvious. Firstly, strong believable characters. Secondly, a fast-paced, complex, dazzling plot.
“But the plot must resolve into something comprehensible – there may appear to be one hundred mysteries, but beneath the smoke and mirrors, there must be one story.
“Anyone can write an infinite collection of coincidences and conspiracies – but a strong story makes simple sense in the end.”
Another thrilled viewer exclaimed: “What a trip watching this masterpiece.
“It’s a fast moving intelligent thriller that had me glued to the couch… more addictive than Crack!”.
“The acting is convincing, the plot is thick, the script is delicious and the characters are vivid.”
You can now catch State of Play streaming at no cost whatsoever on the spanking new platform U, which also boasts a reboot of Bergerac, Louis Theroux’s L.A. Stories, the stylish Mad Men, crime drama Annika, as well as vintage episodes of EastEnders, The Shield, and Holby City.
This service provides your gateway to UKTV’s no-cost channels like UandDave, UandDrama, UandW, and UandYesterday.
Boot up U online by heading over to u.co.uk, sign up without spending a penny, and you’re set to bask in thousands of hours of gratis telly. While U doesn’t charge a fee, it does feature ads throughout its content.
State of Play is streaming on U now on u.co.uk
Journalism draws post eight as 3-1 favorite for Kentucky Derby
The post position draw for the Kentucky Derby did little to change anyone’s idea that Journalism is the horse to watch Saturday.
Journalism, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby and four in a row, was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after drawing post eight in the 20-horse field. The post positions for the Kentucky Derby, and most other races, are determined by independent draws of a horse’s name and post position.
“I’m very pleased, what’s not to like?” Journalism’s trainer Mike McCarthy said.
There is a lot of speed concentrated on the inside, including both Bob Baffert runners, Citizen Bull (20-1) in one and Rodriguez (12-1) in four.
The Kentucky Derby is predominantly the first time a horse has run as far as 1 ¼ miles, so it’s the tactical aspects that often determine the winner.
Journalism is not a speed horse but more of a stalking horse that doesn’t go to the lead, leaving a lot of run left when he hits the homestretch. For a horse like him, he’s best suited in the top third of the field, especially with 19 other horses.
“We’ll break away from there,” McCarthy told Horseracingnation.com. “[Jockey] Umberto [Rispoli] is very tactical. I’m sure there will be a good pace into the first turn. There always is, so we’ll just play the break.”
The second favorite, at 5-1, is Sovereignty, second in the Florida Derby and winner of the Fountain of Youth, both at Gulfstream.
Sandman, winner of the Arkansas Derby, is the third favorite at 6-1.
The one horse that is still on the outside looking in is Baeza, who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby. The second-place finisher of a major prep normally gets enough points to qualify. But Churchill Downs changed the rules for this year, penalizing races with small fields. So, Baeza was awarded 37.5 points instead of 50 because of only five starters.
If one of the 20 horses is scratched by 9 a.m. Friday, Baeza is in. If not, the colt will either go home or to the Preakness Stakes.
Here are the posts for each horse set to run in the 2025 Kentucky Derby:
- Citizen Bull
- Neoequos
- Final Gambit
- Rodriguez
- American Promise
- Admire Daytona
- Luxor Cafe
- Journalism
- Burnham Square
- Grande
- Flying Mohawk
- East Avenue
- Publisher
- Tiztastic
- Render Judgment
- Coal Battle
- Sandman
- Sovereignty
- Chuck of Gold
- Owen Almighty
Pope Francis’ coffin laid in St Peter’s Square at start of funeral | Religion
The coffin of Pope Francis was laid in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Saturday at the beginning of his funeral. Tens of thousands of people, including dozens of head of states and world leaders, gathered to bid farewell to the pontiff who died on Monday aged 88.
Published On 26 Apr 2025
Strategic Intent, Structural Void: Understanding Donald Trump’s Disruptive Foreign Policy Doctrine
Donald Trump is often portrayed as unpredictable, impulsive, or even chaotic. Yet behind the rhetorical bravado lies a discernible pattern — a foreign policy marked by leverage, disruption, and transactional recalibration, aimed at redefining the very contours of power.
While Trump’s agenda articulates a set of concrete objectives, its execution persistently defies the structure typically associated with strategic conduct. Planning gives way to upheaval, institutional pathways are replaced by symbolic gestures, and performance does not complement strategy; it substitutes it. Stripped of a coherent roadmap, intent devolves into spectacle.
This approach undermines institutional continuity. It does not build alliances through trust but imposes them through pressure. It does not seek coherence, but rather dominance, framed as instinct. In the absence of strategic architecture, performance becomes the means.
The tensions embedded in this logic expose a deeper challenge. What does it mean to pursue strategic goals without the architecture to sustain them? A foreign policy that resists structure cannot rely on intent alone. In a world shaped by volatility and fragmentation, power without process courts profound risk.
Realist Logic without Strategic Design
Beyond the disruptive style often associated with his public persona, Trump’s foreign policy reveals a set of concrete strategic objectives. These include control over critical maritime routes, a recalibration of relations through the rapprochement with Russia, and the containment of China as part of a broader effort to address systemic imbalances in the U.S. economy.
A clear example of this logic can be found in Trump’s approach to NATO. Across both terms, he repeatedly called on European allies to substantially increase their defense spending, while openly questioning the value of the alliance itself. Although critics viewed this stance as harmful to transatlantic solidarity, from a Trumpian perspective it reflected a broader effort to shift the burden of collective defense and reduce U.S. strategic liabilities.
Within this framework, a growing number of analysts have attempted to interpret Trump’s actions beyond their rhetorical surface, identifying recurring patterns rooted in both classical geopolitical logic and contemporary realist thought. The renewed emphasis on spheres of influence, the retreat from multilateral commitments, and the transactional handling of alliances all point to a worldview structured around leverage and asymmetry rather than shared norms or institutional coherence. This interpretation aligns with elements of realism, yet it is filtered through a distinctly personalist and transactional lens that prioritizes immediate gain over consistency and disruption over strategic coherence.
These theoretical interpretations, however, are often accompanied by a sense of analytical discomfort that reveals a deeper structural issue. A true strategy does not merely identify problems and declare objectives; it also designs the means to achieve them, weighs alternatives, assesses risks, and allows for course correction. This is exactly the point where Trump’s foreign policy reveals its most significant limitations, as it struggles to transform intent into structured action.
Trade Policy and Tactical Improvisation
Trump’s approach to trade policy, particularly his use of tariffs, highlights the disjunction between stated objectives and strategic execution. As Treasury Secretary Bessent admitted in a recent interview, “I can’t guarantee you anything. There’s nothing that tells me there should be one [a recession]. So, I believe this is going to work, just like President Reagan believed supply-side economics was going to work.” The statement reflects a mindset willing to redefine policy challenges and engage in high-stakes improvisation, yet operating without the structured evaluation, sequencing, or contingency planning that genuine strategy demands. Tariffs were introduced not as part of a coherent industrial policy but as episodic tools of coercion. Although intended to revive American industry and correct global imbalances, they often produced the opposite effect. The recent coordination between China, Japan, and South Korea in response to U.S. trade pressure illustrates how economic instruments, when deployed without strategic foresight, can backfire geopolitically and ultimately undermine U.S. interests.
Transactional Diplomacy in the Ukraine War
A similar pattern can be observed in Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war. His stated intention to quickly end the conflict aligns with his broader tendency to offer transactional fixes to complex geopolitical crises. While he has expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate directly with Vladimir Putin, his approach lacks a clear framework for aligning U.S. objectives with those of allies, addressing Ukrainian agency, or managing the long-term strategic consequences of any potential agreement. The rhetoric of swift resolution, while resonant with domestic audiences, has so far not been accompanied by a structured diplomatic plan or transparent red lines. In a conflict shaped by incompatible goals, historical mistrust, and complex regional dynamics, the absence of a defined process renders such ambitions largely aspirational and potentially destabilizing. It also risks undermining the very credibility needed to negotiate from a position of strength.
Shock Rhetoric as Method
In the absence of a structured foreign policy framework, Trump’s rhetoric often serves as a substitute for strategy. His use of disruptive, exaggerated, or seemingly outlandish statements—whether about acquiring Greenland, threatening NATO withdrawal, or imposing blanket tariffs—functions less as spontaneous improvisation and more as a deliberate form of performative disruption. This “shock rhetoric” creates moments of coercive ambiguity, reframing power dynamics and applying pressure without committing to a long-term course of action.
Rather than guiding allies and deterring adversaries through sustained engagement or credible signaling, this approach relies on unpredictability as a deliberate tactic rather than an accidental shortcoming. Trump disorients both domestic and international audiences, asserting strength through spectacle rather than policy continuity. The reliance on rhetorical escalation, however, carries significant costs and consequences. It creates dissonance, unpredictability, and often confusion. In that sense, Trump’s foreign policy rhetoric might be less about diplomatic breakdown than about the symbolic construction of a different kind of hegemony, one that speaks in shock, negotiates in strength, and governs by unfiltered assertion. It may temporarily alter perceptions, but it undermines trust, coherence, and the capacity for coalition-building. By substituting performance for strategy, this approach generates significant risks in a world already marked by systemic flux and geopolitical volatility. For America’s allies, particularly in Europe, the question is no longer just whether they can rely on Washington, but whether they can trust that the strategic pillars of the transatlantic relationship will endure amidst a period of heightened unpredictability.
Simple £2 Sainsbury’s item will keep your patio free of moss and algae just in time for summer
A PROFESSIONAL gardener has revealed their cheap tip for removing moss and algae from outdoor patios.
Using just one product that can be bought for £2 from Sainsbury’s, it is a hack that can keep your outdoor areas looking clean and free of dark stains.
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It comes after a homeowner turned to Reddit for advice, asking how they could safely remove algae and dark stains from a large area of their patio.
The post, shared on the GardeningUK subreddit which has 187k members, wrote: “Any idea what products (pref non-toxic for pets but not essential) and method I’d need to use to safely remove the algae & dark stains from brick work and slabs.”
“I tried soap and water but it’s too big an area?”
The user, deweylewis2, also attached images of their patio with undertones of yellow, but almost turning grey.
The post attracted an influx of comments from gardening enthusiasts, with many advising to use a pressure washer.
One comment, however, came from a former gardener’s assistant from Yorkshire who said to use soda crystals.
They wrote: “Sprinkle (sparingly) soda crystals onto stones and brush over.
“Leave for up to 2 days (if Moss present) then scrub off with clean water.”
On top of that, they said: “It’s a green option.”
Another respondent wrote: “Thank you for the tip!”
I transformed my patio with simple hack – now it looks brand new again
Sainsbury’s sell these as Dri Pak Fine Soda Crystals for £2 per kilogram.
The product is described as a “multi purpose cleaner” and “laundry aid”, as it is predominantly used for cleaning washing machines and clothes.
Soda crystals, or sodium carbonate, is therefore a handy cleaning product to have in the home for various purposes.
Reviewers have rated the product 4.2 out of five stars, with one who wrote: “I love this product – I add a few table spoons to my laundry, l use it for cleaning the oven and sticky saucepans and many other chores”.
They are a great way to clean in a way that is non-toxic, sustainable for the environment, and is also cost-friendly.
Huge 90-mile European motorway where the speed limit is now 93mph
The futuristic stretch of road utilises artificial intelligence to dynamically adjust the speed cap in real time and it exceeds anything like what there is in Britain
A groundbreaking change has arrived on one of Spain ’s busiest highways — 90-miles of the AP-7 now features a variable speed limit that can reach up to a blistering 93mph in optimal conditions.
Spearheaded by Spain’s traffic authority, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the move marks a significant departure from the country’s longstanding motorway speed cap of 75mph. Also known as the Autopista del Mediterráneo, the AP-7 is a vital controlled-access highway that runs along the Mediterranean coast, connecting major cities including Figueres, Girona, Sabadell, Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia and Alicante, facilitating both domestic and international travel.
The segment with the variable limit, introduced in April 2025, runs between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell. It is an especially important stretch, which serves as a crucial corridor for commuters, tourists and freight. Unlike traditional fixed speed limits, this new system employs artificial intelligence (AI) to dynamically adjust the speed cap in real time.
READ MORE: Spanish road rule catches out Brit tourists who are fined £418 for getting it wrong
The AI analyzes a range of factors, including weather conditions, traffic flow, congestion, time of day, road surface and visibility, as well as any relevant accidents and roadworks.
When conditions are ideal — clear weather, light traffic and good visibility — the limit can be raised to a maximum of 93mph. On the other hand, when conditions are hazardous — rain, fog, ice, snow, heavy traffic and incidents — AI lowers the limit, sometimes even below the previous standard of 75mph to maintain safety.
The variable speed is communicated to drivers via digital panels along the route, which update in real time as the AI system processes new data. This approach, while common in countries including the UK, is understood to be a first for Spain on such a large scale.
The DGT’s initiative is part of a broader push to modernise the country’s road network, aiming to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability through intelligent transport systems.
This AP-7 pilot is seen as the first step in a wider strategy to bring smart motorway technology to more of Spain’s highways.
If successful, it could set a precedent for other regions and even influence policy discussions in neighbouring countries, where calls for higher motorway speed limits are growing louder.
The 90-mile stretch of the AP-7 between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell is one of Europe’s fastest public roads, at least when conditions allow.
By blending AI and real-time data with modern traffic management, Spain is testing the future of motorway travel — faster, smarter and hopefully safer.
Austrian Darts Open 2025: Schedule and results as Peter Wright and Chris Dobey remain in the hunt
THE Austrian Darts Open is here – and fans are guaranteed to see a new champion crowned in Graz!
Last year, Luke Littler took home the title after beating Joe Cullen 8-4 in a thrilling final.
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The teenage sensation has opted not to defend his title this week amid the world champion’s hectic schedule.
Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price are also not in the 48-player field, with many notable names not competing.
Premier League Darts stars, Stephen Bunting, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall do feature in Austria as they look to take advantage of the weaker field.
When is Austrian Darts Open 2025?
- The Austrian Darts Open will begin on Friday, April 25.
- The tournament will run until Sunday, April 27.
- The Premstattner Halle hosts the event.
How to watch Austrian Darts Open 2025
Austrian Darts Open 2025 schedule and results
Friday, April 25 – First Round (best of 11 legs)
Afternoon Session (12pm BST)
Patrick Geeraets 5-6 Matt Campbell
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Madars Razma 5-6 Ian White
Andrew Gilding 5-6 Chris Landman
Thibault Tricole 6-3 Christian Goedl
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Teemu Harju
Ricardo Pietreczko 6-3 Tom Bissell
Matthew Dennant 6-2 Rowby John Rodriguez
Evening Session (6pm BST)
Lukas Wenig 1-6 Niko Springer
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Gyorgy Jehirszki
Wessel Nijman 6-4 William O’Connor
Raymond van Barneveld 2-6 Karel Sedlacek
Ritchie Edhouse 3-6 Mensur Suljovic
Kevin Doets 6-1 Berry van Peer
Jermaine Wattimena 6-0 Zoran Lerchbacher
Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Nathan Rafferty
Saturday, April 26 – Second Round (best of 11 legs)
Afternoon Session
Ross Smith 6-1 Chris Landman
Ryan Joyce 6-1 Ryan Searle
Danny Noppert 6-5 Niko Springer
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-1 Gian van Veen
Joe Cullen 6-2 Thibault Tricole
Josh Rock 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Mensur Suljovic
Wessel Nijman 6-4 Mike De Decker
Evening Session
Damon Heta 6-5 Karel Sedlacek
Peter Wright 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Jonny Clayton
Kevin Doets 6-2 Nathan Aspinall
Chris Dobey 6-1 Ricardo Pietreczko
Matt Campbell 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Martin Schindler 6-3 Matthew Dennant
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Ian White
Sunday, April 27
Third Round
Afternoon Session (12pm BST)
Jermaine Wattimena v Daryl Gurney
Danny Noppert v Josh Rock
Kevin Doets v Martin Schindler
Chris Dobey v Wessel Nijman
Matt Campbell v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Peter Wright v Ross Smith
Damon Heta v Joe Cullen
Dave Chisnall v Ryan Joyce
Evening Session (6pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
NBA play-offs: Thunder beat Grizzlies as Cavs crush Heat
The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first side to advance from the first round of the NBA play-offs as they completed a 4-0 sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies in their best-of-seven series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred again, scoring a play-off career-high 38 points in a 117-115 victory to help send the Thunder into the Western Conference play-off semi-finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged more than 32 points per game in the regular season, in which the Thunder won 68 games.
Jalen Williams added 23 points as the Thunder led for almost the entire second half, despite Scotty Pippen Jr equalling his career-high score with 30 points for the Grizzlies, who were missing injured star guard Ja Morant.
The top seeds in the West will next face the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Clippers.
Earlier, Eastern Conference top seeds the Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the Miami Heat to take a 3-0 lead in their series.
The Heat’s 124-87 defeat was their worst play-off loss in franchise history.
Jarrett Allen scored 22 points and D’Andre Hunter added 21 as six Cavs players reached double figures.
Game four takes place on Monday.
At least 11 killed in suspected RSF drone attack on Sudan displacement camp | Sudan war News
Local governor says the attack knocked out a nearby power station for the fourth time since the war began two years ago.
A suspected drone attack by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary has killed at least 11 people at a displacement camp in River Nile state, authorities said.
In a statement late on Friday, the local governor said the attack knocked out a nearby power station for the fourth time since the war between the RSF and the Sudanese army began two years ago.
The attack marks a deadly escalation in the ongoing conflict, with a further 23 people injured, a medical official said. Witnesses said at least nine children were among the wounded.
“My son, my cousin, my daughter’s husband and two children, my cousin’s children are dead. The boy is 10 years old and the girl is about two years old,” witness Haleema told Al Jazeera.
Over the past months, the RSF has been accused of attacking power infrastructure in Sudanese army-controlled areas across central and northern Sudan.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, denies carrying out drone attacks.
Friday’s attack hit a makeshift camp roughly 3km (2 miles) from the Atbara power station outside the town of al-Damer.
The camp housed about 180 families who had fled fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and were living in abandoned buildings and tents with minimal humanitarian assistance.
“The first drone attack came and landed right behind us,” said Mawaheb Mohamed, another survivor of the attack.
“Fifteen minutes later, another one came – four in total. He decided to leave because the scene was very difficult, there were corpses, people had been dismembered, and people in the hospital.”
Following the attack, authorities were seen hosing down the smouldering remains of tents and belongings, as residents boarded buses headed to an unknown location.
The escalation came amid a wider collapse of Sudan’s power grid, with drone and missile attacks plunging millions into weeks-long blackouts, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in a country devastated by civil war.
Sudan descended into violence in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF erupted into open conflict.
Al-Burhan has been celebrating recent gains made by the military, including in Khartoum, while ground fighting is currently concentrated in the Darfur region, where the RSF is battling to eliminate remaining army positions, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.
The conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest displacement crises. According to the United Nations, more than 12.4 million people have been uprooted from their homes, including 3.3 million who have fled to neighbouring countries.
Barcelona edge Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey | Football News
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic fashion on Saturday.
Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja, but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.
However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra time and Kounde drilled home to win it for the LaLiga leaders.
Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for appearing to throw an object onto the pitch towards the referee.
Madrid, who started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury, suffered an early setback when left-back Ferland Mendy, playing his first game for six weeks, suffered a thigh injury.
Carlo Ancelotti sent on Fran Garcia in his place, with the job of shackling Barcelona’s dazzling teenage winger Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old Spain star, who dyed his hair blond for the game, burst past him with ease as Barca increasingly threatened Thibaut Courtois’s goal.
The Catalans, who won the first two Clasicos this season in LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.
They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box.
It was a sensational goal, starting with a smart Pau Cubarsi interception in his own half.
Pedri spread the play out to Yamal on the right, who cut inside and held the ball up until the Canary Islander reached the box and had a sight of goal.
Madrid had been focused on defending, but Barcelona’s opener brought them out of their shell – and also brought Mbappe off the bench to warm up.
Jude Bellingham started and finished a superb move but was offside, and Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty as Inigo Martinez hacked him down, but had also strayed off in the build-up.
Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s corner evading several players and bouncing off the far post, with Cubarsi unable to get there as Dani Ceballos held him back.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday’s drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments denouncing attacks on officials by the club’s television channel.
Madrid sent Mbappe on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time and soon they began to work Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with Vinicius and Mbappe coming close.
Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute.
The striker surged forward and was brought down on the edge of the box by Frenkie de Jong. Mbappe took the free-kick himself and fired a low effort in off the post.
Seven minutes later, Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni finding space to head home Arda Guler’s corner past the helpless Szczesny.
Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard got there first and rolled home.
Tensions boil over
Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra time.
Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger appeared to bring down Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure from Raul Asencio.
However, the referee, called to review the incident by VAR, overturned his decision and booked the Brazilian for diving.
In extra time, Barcelona were ascendant and probed for a potential winner.
They eventually found it when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois with a powerful low effort from outside the box, sparking wild celebrations.
Rudiger’s dismissal and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics regarding the refereeing team will ensure the repercussions continue, and the teams meet again in LaLiga in May, in a match that could decide the title race.
Travellers urged to avoid specific clothing when flying with major airlines
A YouTuber known as the Portable Professional has shared her best recommendations – and condemnations – when it comes to dressing for the airport and getting through security with ease
When it comes to airport attire, there is a fine line to walk between comfort and presentability. Some prioritise comfort above all else, strolling up to the boarding gate in pyjamas and even a sleep mask to catch up during a long-haul flight.
On the other hand, some business travellers and frequent fliers are of the mindset that an airplane is just a commuter service. Some even believe that dressing up for the airport is a good way to snag an upgrade. Wherever you land on a scale and no matter what airline you are flying, practicality is key. To address the most common airport attire questions, YouTuber Megan has shared some of her best clothing dos and don’ts.
On her YouTube channel, Portable Professional, Megan shares the best footwear and clothing choices to ensure a smooth trip through security checkpoints and onboard your flight.
READ MORE: Every major UK airline rated for boarding with two ranked as the best
When it comes to footwear, Megan says that lace-ups are highly impractical for the airport. “Even with the new automated screening lanes giving you your own station to unload, you do not want to be bent struggling with laces while your belongings sit exposed” says Megan.
Megan also says anything footwear that requires balancing on one food should also be avoided, given the limited seating at security checkpoints. Open-toed shoes or socks without sandals are also a no-go given the dirtiness of airport floors.
“Your best option is to wear a pair of comfortable non-slip running or walking shoes” says Megan. “Remember to always wear socks and consider loosening the laces before the security checkpoint so you can easily slip them off and back on.”
Another tip from Megan, consider bringing disposable shoe covers to protect your socks from wet and dirty floors, especially during winter months. Compression socks are also a smart choice as they aid with blood circulation which is critical on long-haul flights.
Moving on to trousers, Megan says that trousers requiring a belt are a “big no” as you will invariably need to remove the belt during security. For business travellers, this may not be a feasible option however, in which case storing your belt in your checked bag and putting it on after passing through security may be a helpful alternative.
Megan also says cargo pants should be avoided, as people often forget small items like coins or keys that can trigger security alarms. Instead, if you’re hoping to prioritise comfort, she suggests opting for pants made of stretchy materials, typically straight-legged or with a tapered ankle to avoid safety hazards. She also suggests opting for a darker colour to hide spills that often come from long travel days.
While jumpers and rompers may seem like an easy and practical choice, these can be a hassle in onboard bathrooms. ”No one wants to be sitting half-naked in a bathroom stall because they decided to wear a romper to the airport,” says Megan.
Finally, when it comes to tops, Megan says it’s best to avoid anything with metallic detailing or threads which can potentially trigger security alarms. For this reason, she says that you may also want to avoid wearing bras with underwires, though more advanced body scanners will likely not flag these as an issue.
Whatever you wear at the airport, Megan says it should be something that you are comfortable moving around in. That includes raising your arms above your head for security and storing your overhead bag, or bending down to load items into screening bins or retrieve bags from a luggage belt.
Sunday 27 April Independence Day in Sierra Leone
Since the 15th century, Sierra Leone had been an important staging post for European colonists. The region reputedly got its name from a Portuguese explorer who named the shape of the local hills after a lioness – Sierra Leone.
The British began to take an active role in Sierra Leone as both a trading port to send slaves from and as a place for freed American slaves to live following evacuation in the American War of Independence. The capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.
British colonial control of Sierra Leone began in the early 1800s. After 1807, when the British Parliament passed an act making the slave trade illegal, the new colony was used as a base from which the act could be enforced.
In 1951, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was formed and some local powers were given in 1953. The first parliamentary elections took place in May 1957 with the SLPP winning the most seats under the leadership of Sir Milton Margai.
Did you know?
Despite being only the 117th largest country in the world, Sierra Leone has the largest natural harbour in the African continent and the third largest in the world at Freetown’s Queen Elizabeth II Quay.
In April 1960, a series of conferences were held and as a result, at midnight on 27 April 1961, Sierra Leone was granted its independence from the UK ending almost 150 years of British colonial rule.
In the ceremony at Brookfields Playground in Freetown, the Duke of Kent handed over royal instruments recognising Sierra Leone as an independent nation as the nation’s new flag was unfurled in front of the cheering crowds. Sir Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.
Amanda Knox says Monica Lewinsky is like her ‘big sister’
Amanda Knox has found comfort in “the sisterhood of ill repute.”
Speaking at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center at the University of Southern California to a crowd of over 200 people at the L.A. Times Festival of Books on Saturday, Knox was candid about connecting with other women who she says have been publicly vilified.
Monica Lewinsky was the first of that group that she met, and she said their relationship has been meaningful.
“She showed me that there was a path forward for regaining a sense of authorship over your own life,” Knox said to the event’s moderator, The Times’ Amy Kaufman.
In 2007, while studying abroad in Italy, Knox was wrongfully convicted of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and spent nearly four years in prison before she was eventually exonerated.
Knox described meeting Lewinsky when they were both speaking at the same event years ago. It was the first time Knox was sharing her story in front of a crowd and she asked to meet with Lewinsky, whose writing and public speaking she said she had “devoured” in preparation. “I felt very seen and understood by this person, even before I ever met her,” Knox said.
“She’s very much like a big sister to me at this point, and I’m just so grateful that she’s in my life,” she added.
Knox and Lewinsky are collaborating as producers on the upcoming Hulu series about Knox’s experience being wrongfully accused and convicted, titled “Amanda.” The series was created by K.J. Steinberg and is still in development.
Knox has been vocal about Hollywood’s handling of true crime stories in the past. She said she is grateful to have a say in the latest of a long string of media about her life.
“A source might actually be a huge wealth of creativity, and maybe should have some kind of say in the way their story is told,” she said.
World Snooker Championship 2025: Schedule and results as O’Sullivan and Trump feature but Wilson CRASHES OUT
ALL eyes will be on the Crucible for the next couple of weeks as the very best cueists from around the globe battle it out at the World Snooker Championship – and there is a HUGE £500,000 jackpot.
Last year’s winner, Kyren Wilson, went into Sheffield as top seed after he claimed the crown with an 18-14 win over Jak Jones in the 2024 final.
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But the Kettering legend felt the raft of the Crucible Curse as he went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Chinese star Lei Peifan.
World No1 Judd Trump will be heavily tipped to take the title this year as the Ace aims to add to his 2019 world championship triumph.
Seven-time Crucible winner Ronnie O’Sullivan hasn’t featured since January but is set to make his return to snooker in Sheffield.
John Higgins heads into the World Championship as the man in form after the Scotsman won the Tour Championship earlier this month.
This year’s competition promises to be a thriller, and SunSport brings you all the information so you don’t miss a second from the Crucible.
When is the World Snooker Championship 2025?
- The World Snooker Championship got underway on Saturday, April 19.
- The tournament will conclude on Monday, May 5.
- The Crucible in Sheffield will host.
How to watch the World Snooker Championship 2025
BBC will air the World Snooker Championship across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four.
The BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app/website will provide fans with coverage of every ball potted from the opening round to the final.
TNT Sports and discovery+ will also be airing the World Snooker Championship, but you must have a subscription to watch their service.
World Snooker Championship 2025 schedule
Saturday, April 19 (round one)
10am
- Xiao Guoddong 10-4 Matthew Selt
- Kyren Wilson 9-10 Lei Peifan
2:30pm
- Neil Robertson 8-10 Chris Wakelin
- Mark Williams 10-8 Wu Yize
7pm
- Barry Hawkins 9-10 Hossein Vafaei
Sunday, April 20 (round one)
2:30pm
- Mark Allen 10-6 Fan Zhengyi
Monday, April 21 (round one)
10am
- John Higgins 5-4 Joe O’Connor (first session)
- Jak Jones 4-10 Zhao Xintong
2:30pm
- Ding Junhui 6-3 Zak Surety (first session)
- John Higgins 10-7 Joe O’Connor
7pm
- Si Jiahui 6-3 David Gilbert (first session)
Tuesday, April 22 (round one)
10am
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu (first session)
- Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells (first session)
2:30pm
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Ali Carter (first session)
- Ding Junhui 10-7 Zak Surety (second session)
7pm
- Judd Trump 6-3 Zhou Yuelong (first session)
- Si Jiahui 10-6 David Gilbert (second session)
Wednesday, April 23 (round one)
10am
- Zhang Anda 7-10 Pang Junxu (second session)
- Shaun Murphy 10-4 Daniel Wells (second session)
2:30pm
- Luca Brecel 5-4 Ryan Day (first session)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4 Ali Carter (second session)
7pm
- Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston
- Judd Trump 10-4 Zhou Yuelong (second session)
Thursday, April 24 (round two unless stated)
10am
- Luca Brecel 10-7 Ryan Day (second session)
1pm
- Chris Wakelin 6-2 Mark Allen (first session)
7pm
- John Higgins 8-8 Xiao Guodong (first session)
Friday, April 25
10am
- Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Mark Williams (first session)
- Chris Wakelin 12-4 Mark Allen (second session)
2.30pm
- Lei Peifan 3-5 Zhao Xintong (first session)
7pm
- Hossein Vafaei 9-7 Mark Williams (second session)
- Chris Wakelin 13-6 Mark Allen
Saturday, April 26
10am
- John Higgins 13-12 Xiao Guodong (second session)
- Lei Peifan 6-10 Zhao Xintong (second session)
2:30pm
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu
7pm
- Si Jiahui 5-3 Ben Woollaston
- Luca Brecel 7-1 Ding Junhui
Sunday, April 27
10am
- Shaun Murphy vs Judd Trump
- Lei Peifan 6-10 Zhao Xintong (third session)
2:30pm
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu (second session)
- Luca Brecel 7-1 Ding Junhui (second session)
7pm
- Si Jiahui 5-3 Ben Woollaston (second session)
- Shaun Murphy v Judd Trump
Why the Super Bowl-ready Rams may have won the 2025 NFL draft
The Rams made no splashy selections.
None of the six players general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay chose will be penciled in as opening-game starters.
They spent three days filling out a roster that was already Super Bowl ready.
But the Rams, arguably, won the 2025 NFL draft.
And set themselves up to possibly win next year’s draft as well.
Snead protege James Gladstone, the first-year general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, made headlines on the first night of the draft by trading up to take cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter with the second overall pick.
But when Snead later traded to the Atlanta Falcons what for the Rams was a fairly meaningless No. 26 pick, the Rams stunningly received in return a No. 1 pick in 2026.
That means the Rams, who one day in the not-so-distant future must replace veteran star quarterback Matthew Stafford, will have two first-round picks next year in a draft that could include Texas quarterback Arch Manning and others.
That means Snead — who famously uttered “F them picks” after building a Super Bowl championship team in 2021 — will have plenty of draft capital to wheel and deal with for a prospect or established player.
And few general managers deal like Snead.
Next April marks the 10th anniversary of Snead trading up a record 14 picks to select quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.
That deal required the Rams to give up their first-round pick, two second-round picks and a third-round pick that year and a 2017 first-round and third-round pick.
Two years later, the Rams were in the Super Bowl.
In 2019, Snead packaged two first-round picks in a deal for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Two years later, the Rams won the Super Bowl.
Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson takes part in a drill at the NFL scouting combine in February. Ferguson was the Rams’ top pick of the 2025 NFL draft.
(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)
They did that, of course, after Snead sent Goff — and two first-round draft picks — to the Detroit Lions in a 2021 trade for Stafford.
This season, the Rams are expected to make another deep run in the playoffs. And if Thursday night’s trade helps the Falcons make the playoffs, the Rams’ first-round picks next year could be in the bottom third of the draft.
Regardless, it is valuable draft capital.
And if the Falcons or Rams falter, the Rams could end up with a pick in the top third.
Not that McVay acknowledged his anticipation.
“One year’s like dog years to me in coaching,” he said, chuckling, “That’s a long way away.”
After making that trade on the first night of the draft, the Rams spent Friday and Saturday augmenting a talented roster with their fewest selections since the Goff trade left them with only six in 2016.
Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter breaks away for a touchdown against Alabama State in September 2021.
(Butch Dill / Associated Press)
They took Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round, Michigan outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart in the third, Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter in the fourth, Ohio State defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and Mississippi linebacker Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth and Pitt receiver Konata Mumpfield in the seventh.
The Rams traded up three times.
“We said, ‘instead of waiting,’ and I call it, let the draft happen to you, ‘let’s go attack the draft,’” Snead said. “And when you do that you have to give up some picks. But we thought that was the more appropriate thing to do.”
No, the Rams did not draft a cornerback. But that only makes it more apparent that a potential reunion with Ramsey might be imminent.
Coming on the heels of the Rams’ success in the previous two drafts, this year’s class projects to include multiple contributors for a team that advanced to the NFC divisional round last season before losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.
With Stafford entering his 17th NFL season, and rising stars such as receiver Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Jared Verse and other young players soon becoming eligible for extensions, the Rams are going all in this season.
And they will do the same in 2026, when the NFL season will end with Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams’ savvy but effective 2025 draft sets them up for another possible title.
Student access to visa database restored on Friday
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26 and on Friday restored international students’ access to a database showing their respective student visa records. File Photo by Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security/UPI | License Photo
April 26 (UPI) — International students who recently lost access to a federal database to check the status of their student visas can view their respective records once again.
The Department of Homeland Services recently blocked access to its Student and Exchange Visitor Program website, which caused many student visa-holders to worry about their ability to continue their studies and remain in the United States.
A DHS spokesperson affirmed international students with active student visas can access their records, but not those who have had their visas revoked.
“We have not reversed course on a single visa revocation,” a DHS spokesperson told ABC News. “What we did is restore SEVIS access for people who had not had their visa revoked.”
A federal attorney said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are developing a policy that “will provide a framework for SEVIS record terminations.”
“Until such a policy is issued, the SEVIS records for plaintiff(s) in this case (and other similarly situated plaintiffs) will remain active or shall be reactivated if not currently active, and ICE will not modify the record solely based on the NCIC finding that resulted in the recent SEVISrecord termination,” U.S. Attorney Mark Sauter said in an email read in federalcourt on Friday, Politico reported.
“ICE maintains the authority to terminate a SEVIS record for other reasons, such as if the plaintiff fails to maintain his or her non-immigrant status after the record is reactivated or engages in other unlawful activity that would render him or her removable from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Sauter said.
The reinstatement only applies to international students who have not had their student visas revoked.
The unexpected loss of access to SEVIS records for some 1,500 international students led many to worry they had lost their student visas and would have to leave the country.
Chris Eubank Jr beats Conor Benn on unanimous points decision | Boxing News
Fierce rivals go the distance in middleweight bout as their famous fathers watch on at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Chris Eubank Jr dealt fellow Briton Conor Benn a first career defeat after going the distance to win their middleweight grudge match on a unanimous points decision.
All three judges scored the fight 116-112 after a pulsating 12-round slugfest, with both fighters coming out hard from the start and going toe-to-toe in front of 65,000 spectators at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The fight between the sons of former world champions and archrivals Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, who met twice in the 1990s, was called off in 2022 when Benn tested positive for trace amounts of fertility drug clomifene.
“I knew I was capable of that, and I just needed someone to bring that out of me. I did not expect him to be the guy to do that,” Eubank told DAZN.
“The fact our fathers did it before brings out the soul in you.
“I did not know he [Benn] had what he had in him. I thought I’d break him early. I didn’t train for a fight like that.”
Both fathers were present, 32 years on from their last clash, and embraced in the ring before the opening bell.
The fight itself rolled back the years from the scraps that their fathers produced with sheer aggression and energy dominating.
“It was close,” Benn said after. “I need to watch it back. I thought I won. Maybe I stayed on the ropes for too long. I enjoyed it, and it was a massive homecoming.
“We always knew Chris was a good fighter, and has good fighting talk.”
Benn had made a step up in weight to face someone who had been a fierce rival outside the ring.
“I believe I can go back down a weight and win a title,” Benn said on reflection.
A rematch between the pair is in the contract, and promoter Eddie Hearn was clear that it needs to happen, in his opinion.
“I couldn’t split them. I thought Benn was winning the fight and then lost the last two rounds,” Hearn told DAZN.
“It is what it is, but I didn’t see Eubank winning that by four rounds.
“Benn became the people’s champion. He rose up to fight a middleweight, and he took the kitchen sink. He never stopped trying to win the fight.
“It was one of the most dramatic fights I’ve seen.
“Those two warriors should respect each other after that.”