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Air Canada Crash at LaGuardia: Flight Attendant’s Miraculous Survival

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Astonishingly, a flight attendant emerged alive after being ejected from an Air Canada aircraft following a collision with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. The incident is being described as a “total miracle.”

The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was en route from Montreal and carried 72 passengers along with four crew members when it struck the fire vehicle upon landing, officials confirmed.

According to authorities, the fire truck was crossing the runway close to midnight, having been cleared to address an issue reported by another aircraft. Air traffic control recordings revealed a controller’s urgent attempts to halt the vehicle just before the crash occurred.

The collision resulted in the cockpit being torn apart, tragically claiming the lives of the pilot and co-pilot, both of whom were Canadian. The incident left dozens injured, with approximately 40 passengers and crew, as well as two individuals in the fire truck, transported to hospitals for treatment.

air canada flight; flight attendant solange tremblay

On Monday, March 23, 2026, officials were seen investigating the crash site where the Air Canada jet came to a stop following its collision with a Port Authority firetruck at LaGuardia Airport. The image shows the aftermath, including flight attendant Solange Tremblay. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig; Facebook/Solange Tremblay)

Flight attendant Solange Tremblay was still strapped into her seat when she was ejected from the aircraft during the collision, according to her family.

Tremblay’s daughter, Sarah Lepine, told Canadian news station TVA Nouvelles what happened to her mother was a “total miracle.”  

She said her mother had multiple fractures on one leg and will need surgery, but was otherwise OK.

“I’m still trying to understand how all this happened,” Lepine said, “but she definitely has a guardian angel watching over her.”

Plane crash at Laguardia airport New York City

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026.  (Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said Tremblay’s survival was remarkable given the extent of the damage, particularly to the front of the aircraft.

A former federal crash investigator, Guzzetti told The Associated Press that Tremblay was likely helped by being in a seat with a four-point restraint used by crew members.

“The flight attendant’s seat is kind of a jump seat that folds down and is bolted to the wall, the same wall that the cockpit utilizes,” said Guzzetti.

Emergency crews responding to a plane collision on the tarmac at LaGuardia airport

Emergency crews work around a ground vehicle following a collision between the vehicle and an Air Canada Express jet at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, on March 23, 2026. (REUTERS/Bing Guan)

“It’s a very robust seat,” he added. “It’s designed to withstand probably more crash loads than passenger seats because you need the flight attendant to help passengers get out of an airplane after a crash.”

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are examining coordination between air traffic control and ground vehicles as a key focus of the probe. Officials said the runway is expected to remain closed for days as crews sift through extensive debris and analyze recovered flight recorders.

Treasurer Denies Fuel Relief Request Amid Widespread Service Station Shortages

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The federal government is fighting to reassure Australians the shortages are mostly driven by spikes in demand, warning against panic buying, but some experts have now raised concerns about what happens if Asian refineries can’t refill their supplies in coming weeks.

The government has taken temporary measures to address the fuel crisis by lowering fuel standards for petrol and diesel and tapping into the national stockpile to release hundreds of millions of litres. However, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has made it clear that suspending the fuel excise is not currently being considered as a strategy to reduce prices.

Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers today said he wasn’t considering suspending the fuel excise to help bring prices down. (Alex Ellinghausen)

“We have been working very hard to provide cost-of-living relief in the most responsible way that we can,” Chalmers stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions.

Meanwhile, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has disclosed a concerning rise in the number of petrol stations facing shortages. Over 550 stations nationwide are now without at least one type of fuel, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The breakdown of these shortages is significant, with New South Wales accounting for 289 stations, Victoria having 162, and Queensland experiencing shortages at 55 to 100 stations. South Australia reports 46 stations affected, while Western Australia and Tasmania have only a few stations each experiencing shortages.

Despite these challenges, just yesterday, NSW Premier Chris Minns had assured the public that fuel rationing was not anticipated, suggesting an optimistic outlook amidst the growing scarcity.

Today he said if it was introduced there needed to be a co-ordinated approach by all states.

NSW Premier Chris Minns
NSW Premier Chris Minns said if fuel rationing was introduced there needed to be a co-ordinated approach by all states. (9News)

“If demand management procedures are required—that might be rationing, working from home, or other programs or remedies that we can introduce into the marketplace—we firmly believe that it should be a nationally consistent approach,” he told state parliament today.

“Whether or not that is organised by the States but the same across jurisdictions, it is hugely important. 

“We share borders with the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria. Many of our residents and their residents can cross borders to purchase fuel.”

Push for free public transport

In the meantime, Australians have been urged to save fuel in other ways, such as driving more conservatively and taking public transport.

There are growing calls across multiple states to make public transport services cheaper or even free to attract more commuters.

In NSW, Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane today added her voice to the transport union’s earlier demands for free travel.

In NSW, Opposition Leader Kellie Sloan today added her voice to the transport union’s earlier demands for free travel. (9News)

“This will help families, it’ll help small businesses, and it will ease pressure at the pump,” she said. 

“We think it’s a no-brainer.”

State Transport Minister John Graham knocked the plan on the head, saying the government was instead looking for “long-term solutions”.

The Greens had already made similar calls for discounts nationally and in Victoria.

There are growing calls across multiple states to make public transport services cheaper or even free to attract more commuters. (9News)

Warning about fuel supply from Asia

Bowen sought to quell fears about fuel shipments not being able to make it to Australia thanks to Iran’s effective closure to most shipping of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the US and Israel’s attacks.

“As the government has made clear on multiple occasions, every ship that has been expected has arrived,” Bowen said.

“We have very transparently said that there have been cancellations in April.”

But Australian Institute of Petroleum chief executive Malcolm Roberts warned if the strait stayed shut for a few weeks Asian refineries would struggle to refill their inventories.

“If this continues, eventually there’ll be a point where those refineries are well and truly short of the crude oil they need,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald, noting those refineries supply about 80 per cent of Australia’s refined fuel.

Demands are growing for cheaper public transport and a national response to the fuel crisis as hundreds of service stations run out of fuel. (9News)

“If refineries haven’t been able to find some replacement supply, they’re going to start cutting back production, which some refineries apparently are already doing, and they’ll also come under pressure to prioritise their domestic market … we all know it’s exceptional circumstances, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Macquarie University senior lecturer Lurion De Mello told the newspaper there were no shipments heading to Australia due for arrival after mid-April, describing it as “concerning” but not cause for “extreme alarm”.

But if they remain lower those prices will still take time to flow through to consumers and there is still no permanent solution to allow free access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil travels.

Truck drivers on the brink

The nation’s truck drivers are warning that unless they pass on the cost of Trump’s war on Iran, their businesses will collapse.

Some transport companies are reporting fuel costs surging more than 80 per cent since last month.

Ray Carlson, who’s driven more than 10 million kilometres in his more than five decades behind the wheel, said the cost to fill his B-double had jumped from $2800 to $5000.

The 2000-kilometre round trip from Brisbane to Mackay, in North Queensland, uses about 1000 litres of diesel. 

Ray Carlson, who’s driven more than 10 million kilometres in his more than five decades behind the wheel, said the cost to fill his B-double had jumped from $2800 to $5000. (9News)

It cost $1629 in February and $2950 today but many truckies are on the hook for their fuel bill under contracts that pre-date the war in the Middle East.

“Right now it is absolute chaos on the ground and I’m hearing from small to medium-sized companies that they are at absolute breaking point,” Leonnie Carter from Carter Heavy Haulage said.

National Road Freighters Association president Glyn Castanelli said it was a “national emergency” and called for quick action.

Farmers warned their rising costs plus transport was a double whammy for shoppers.

“It’s a snowballing effect because it’s costing us more to freight our commodities, but also produce them,” National Farmers’ Federation director Hamish McIntyre said.

Farmers warned their rising costs plus transport was a double whammy for shoppers. (9News)

The Fair Work Commission will tomorrow mediate talks between transport companies and industry to work out how best to handle rising fuel costs. 

But in the end it will be consumers who will be paying for at least as long the war continues.

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Nicky Hilton Opens Up About Significant Life Regret

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Fashion designer Nicky Hilton looks back with regret on her past use of tanning beds.

Fashion designer Nicky Hilton

Fashion designer Nicky Hilton

Now 42, Hilton finds it hard to fathom why she once subjected her skin to ultraviolet (UV) rays just to achieve a sun-kissed look.

In an interview with the latest issue of Britain’s HELLO! magazine, when asked if there’s a period she wishes she could forget, Nicky remarked, “Probably the tanning-bed era. When I look back at some of those photos, I was just… very tanned.”

She added, “Considering how much I prioritize skin care now, it’s shocking to me that I would ever put my skin through that.”

The star’s mom, Kathy Hilton, 67, inspired her to have a career in the fashion and beauty industry.

Nicky shared: “I knew I wanted to do something in fashion. I loved sneaking into my mom’s closet and watching the process of getting ready – picking the outfit, the jewellery, the handbag and accessories.

“I was always a girly girl. I loved dressing up.”

The socialite – who appeared alongside actress Kathy and sister Paris Hilton, 45, in a campaign for Valentino in 2020 – said one of her style icons is 44-year-old Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Nicky explained: “I think she’s so beautiful and always looks so great. I love how she dresses her children [Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis], and I think she’s such a good role model. I’m a big fan.”

The blonde beauty and her 40-year-old husband, financier James Rothschild, got married in 2015 at the Orangery in Kensington Palace Gardens – just a stone’s throw from Princess Catherine and her husband, William, Prince of Wales’ London residence.

Nicky and James – who met at ex-couple model Petra Ecclestone, 37, and 44-year-old businessman James Stunt’s Rome wedding in 2011 – live in London with their children, daughters Lilly-Grace, nine, and Theodora “Teddy”, eight, and three-year-old son, Chasen, and they love life in the British capital.

Nicky said: “It reminds me a lot of New York, but without the frantic pace. I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl, so I’ve always loved it.

“It’s nice for the children because my husband’s English, so we get to see their cousins and their grandmother and enjoy more family time.

“That’s been a lot of fun for them – learning about London, where their father grew up, going to the same parks he went to and seeing his old school. It’s sweet.”

Although Nicky lives in the UK, the star tries to see Kathy, her dad, Rick Hilton, 70, and siblings, Paris, Barron Hilton II, 36, and Conrad Hughes Hilton, 32, when she can.

Speaking about Los Angeles-based Paris, Nicky said: “Now that we’re living on totally different sides of the world, we don’t see each other as much, but when we do get together, we have the best time.”


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McDonald’s Debuts Cutting-Edge AI Robots in Shanghai: Revolutionizing Fast Food Service

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At a bustling McDonald’s in Shanghai, humanoid robots have become the latest attraction, not only serving meals but also captivating patrons with their entertaining antics. Clad in the recognizable uniform of the fast-food giant, these robotic servers offer a glimpse into a future where machines might take on routine tasks in dining establishments.

The innovative machines are provided by Keenon Robotics, a Chinese company known for its advancements in robotic technology. This deployment is part of a trial aimed at exploring how robots can enhance the dining experience by performing standard roles typically handled by human staff.

Online videos capture these futuristic servers in action, interacting with customers from behind the counter while sporting the iconic red and yellow of McDonald’s. Their presence adds a novel twist to the fast-food experience, merging technology with tradition.

One robot, donning a black uniform emblazoned with the word ‘chef,’ warmly greets visitors as they enter, setting the tone for a unique dining experience. Meanwhile, other robotic team members engage patrons by forming the famous ‘M’ logo with their arms and even showing off some dance moves, adding an element of fun to their service.

Others make the famous ‘M’ sign synonymous with the brand and showcase some dancing moves.

Meanwhile children can be seen chasing other robots disguised as cute animals as they deliver food and clean floors around the restaurant.

‘Watch the robot squad suit up and enjoy the McDonald’s party!’ Keenon Robotics wrote online. ‘Our humanoid series are leading the squad and hitting the streets.

‘It’s a showcase of how service automation is becoming a seamless part of global dining, and how technology brings more smiles to every mealtime.’

In the video, one robot can be seen touching its thumb and index finger together to make an ¿okay¿ sign at a customer

In the video, one robot can be seen touching its thumb and index finger together to make an ‘okay’ sign at a customer

In the video, one robot can be seen touching its thumb and index finger together to make an ‘okay’ sign at a customer.

A smaller, cube–shaped ‘cleaning’ bot features a touchscreen and has been designed to look as if it is wearing a tie.

Jon Banner, the executive vice president of McDonald’s, explained the robots were there for a ‘temporary greeting’.

‘Just to be clear – the robots were part of the grand opening of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum restaurant,’ he wrote on social media.

‘The robots were requested by the museum to draw attention. Mission accomplished!’

He added that the robots ‘were not involved in any service or operational functions’.

While the machines were part of a trial – and were only around for about five days – some people believe it won’t be long until they’re rolled out more widely.

‘Shanghai is the test market,’ one person wrote on X. ‘If the unit economics work the rollout does not stay in China.’

The machines, supplied by Chinese firm Keenon Robotics, have been deployed as part of a trial and hint at a future where bots handle routine tasks at fast food restaurants

The machines, supplied by Chinese firm Keenon Robotics, have been deployed as part of a trial and hint at a future where bots handle routine tasks at fast food restaurants

Keenon Robotics Dinerbot

The ‘Dinerbot’ has been designed to deliver food while displaying adverts on its large screen.

It comes with open–access trays to allow diners to easily pick up their food.

It features a six–wheel shock–absorbing chassis to prevent spillage during sudden stops.

The screen can be programmed to display different animal faces including a cat, bunny and deer.

Meanwhile a range of voices can be picked from.

Another said that this is the ‘real future’, adding: ‘Humanoid robots greeting customers and delivery bots bringing your food – automate the kitchen a bit more and boom, McDonald’s stores basically run themselves with zero staff.’

However, others warned the robots would be ‘destroyed’ if rolled out elsewhere.

According to Keenon Robotics, its ‘Dinerbot T10’ boasts 3D vision for ‘safer obstacle avoidance in complex environments’.

It comes with open–access trays to allow diners to easily pick up their food, and features a six–wheel shock–absorbing chassis to prevent spillage during sudden stops.

Its screen can be programmed to display different animal faces, including a cat, bunny and deer, while a range of voices can be picked from.

Meanwhile their ‘Kleenbot C40’ features a triple–brush system for separating dry and wet spillages. It has been designed to ‘easily handle crowds and irregular obstacles’, and can pick up objects including hair, paper scraps, dust, coffee and juice.

While the Keenon website does not list prices, these models retail for around £11,500 to £16,000 online.

Their recently-released ‘XMAN-R1’ humanoid was designed specifically to interact with people – but appears to come with a $100,000 price tag online. 

A small cube-shaped ¿cleaning¿ bot features a touchscreen and has been designed to look as if it is wearing a tie

Children can be seen chasing a 'Dinerbot' disguised as a cute animal as it delivers food around the restaurant

A small cube–shaped ‘cleaning’ bot features a touchscreen and has been designed to look as if it is wearing a tie (left). Meanwhile children can be seen chasing a ‘Dinerbot’ disguised as a cute animal as it delivers food around the restaurant

Their recently-released ¿XMAN-R1¿ humanoid was designed specifically to interact with people ¿ but appears to come with a $100,000 price tag online

Their recently-released ‘XMAN-R1’ humanoid was designed specifically to interact with people – but appears to come with a $100,000 price tag online

Last week, the shocking moment a dancing robot went berserk at a restaurant was caught on camera.

Customers at the Haidilao hotpot restaurant in San Jose, California , were enjoying their meals when a humanoid started showing off some moves.

While performing a dance routine, involving waving its arms and shaking its hips, the robot suddenly slams its hands down on a table.

This sends chopsticks and bright yellow sauce flying into the air, while staff race over to try and turn it off.

But the humanoid continues to dance throughout the altercation – which saw three employees wrestle with the robot and try to drag it away by the scruff of its neck.

Beware: Champaign Co. Sheriff Alerts Residents to New Pretrial Services Impersonation Scam


The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office in Urbana, Illinois, has issued a warning about a scam that specifically targets the families of incarcerated individuals.

According to a recent post on Facebook, the Sheriff’s Office explained that fraudsters are impersonating the Illinois Office of Statewide Pretrial Services. These scammers falsely state that payment is needed for GPS monitoring devices or supervision to facilitate the release of a detained family member.

“This is a complete scam,” officials emphasized. “Pretrial Services will never demand payment for GPS devices or supervision. No legitimate agency will request money over the phone to arrange someone’s release.”

Will DHS Leader Mullin Implement Proposed FEMA Budget Reductions?


This week marks the Trump administration’s latest self-imposed deadline for implementing reforms at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is poised to assume leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there’s a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the potential changes.

Initially, both President Trump and the outgoing Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, suggested the possibility of dismantling FEMA, the agency responsible for disaster response coordination.

However, their focus has since shifted towards reforming the agency. Last year, Trump issued an executive order to establish a “Review Council” for FEMA, spearheaded by Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The council was scheduled to reveal its reform plans for the agency in December, but the meeting was unexpectedly canceled.

Documents from December, recently obtained by The Hill, reveal that proposed reforms at that time involved significantly reducing the agency’s workforce, tightening the criteria for states and local governments to receive disaster aid, and advocating for the privatization of flood insurance.

Trump in January signed an executive order extending the council’s work to this Wednesday. It’s unclear whether any planned FEMA changes will be announced by then.

Earlier this month, Trump announced he would nominate Mullin to replace Noem at the DHS, and the Oklahoma Republican was confirmed by the Senate Monday evening in a 54-45 vote.

A draft final FEMA council report dated December 11 — the day the public meeting was supposed to take place — and reviewed by The Hill indicates that the council planned significant staff cuts as part of the changes.

It said that the agency should “reduce overall staffing by approximately 50%.”

Specifically, it said that most of these cuts could come from FEMA’s “disaster workforce, which includes temporary, on-call and permanent personnel deployed to disaster areas.”

“The aim is to create a more strategic, less personnel-intensive response, reserving federal intervention for the largest and most complex events,” the report stated.

It also called for a “review” related to Senior Executive Service staffers, a group of highly experienced upper-level officials, in order to “realign or reduce them.”

While calling for staff cuts, the report also lamented that “operational challenges such … staffing shortages have hindered FEMA’s effectiveness.”

The council report also calls for adjusting FEMA’s metrics for inflation in such a way that fewer extreme events would be expected to qualify an area for disaster aid.

“If the per capita indicator had been adjusted for inflation … 29% of disasters declared between 2012 and 2025 would not have met the indicator,” it said.

It estimated that the proposed adjustments would have prevented an average of 16 disaster declarations each year and saved $113 million annually.

The report also calls for pushing the National Flood Insurance Program, which insures homes and businesses against flood damage, including in high-risk areas, toward the private market. It calls for “incentivizing the launch of a ‘take-out program’ to transfer policies to the private market.”

It also calls for reducing the federal government’s share of the cost of certain programs, such as cutting its share of temporary housing assistance costs from 100 percent to 75 percent. It also seeks to possibly reduce the federal cost share of public assistance from not less than 75 percent down to between 50 percent and 75 percent. 

The report also proposes calling the agency FEMA 2.0 and recommends it remain part of the DHS.

Some of these anticipated proposals were previously reported by CNN.

FEMA said the council’s recommendations would be made public once they are approved at a public meeting but did not specify when that meeting would take place. 

The agency referred further comment to the White House, which did not respond to The Hill’s requests for comment. 

However, reports have indicated that at least some staff cuts are happening at FEMA, particularly impacting its Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery employees who can help with disaster response.

Asked by Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) during his confirmation hearing if he thought the agency had too many staffers, Mullin did not say. 

“I can’t answer that. When I get there, we’ll be adequately staffed to respond to our nation’s disasters,” Mullin said, adding that federal agencies are “bloated.”

The delay of the report has generated some pushback.

During a recent congressional hearing, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) lamented that “the report has still not come out.”

Moskowitz flashed what he described as a copy of the report and told Noem, “You cut out all the stuff that was put in by governors who had been through disasters, emergency management directors, FEMA experts, national security experts … that’s why the report’s not been released. It’s sitting in the White House trying to figure out … this mess that you created.”

Hegseth Reacts to Trump’s Claim of Suggesting Iran Conflict

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In a rather tense moment, former President Donald Trump seemed to deflect responsibility onto Pete Hegseth for the suggestion of military action against Iran. During a Monday conference in Tennessee, Trump implied that his Secretary of War was the one who proposed the idea of striking Iran.

Mr. Trump recounted calling upon key advisors to address a pressing issue in the Middle East. “I reached out to many of our esteemed officials,” he explained, “and I said, ‘We need to discuss this. We’ve got a significant problem with Iran, a nation that has been a source of terror for 47 years and is nearing nuclear capability.’”

Directing his attention to Hegseth seated nearby, Trump remarked, “Pete, I believe you were the first to voice your opinion. You said, ‘Let’s take action because allowing them to obtain a nuclear weapon is unacceptable.'” This comment left Hegseth with a strained smile as the conversation continued.

The former President then pivoted to ongoing negotiations with Iran, noting optimistically that discussions had just begun the previous night. “I think they’re progressing well. They’ve committed to not pursuing a nuclear weapon, but we’ll have to wait and see. However, I would say there’s a substantial chance for a positive outcome,” Trump concluded.

‘I think they’re very good. They want peace to– they’ve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon, you know etc., etc., but we’ll see. You have to get it done. But I would say there’s a very good chance.’

The US President went on to add that Israel has ‘been a great partner in this fight.’

Mr Trump’s comments come as the war – now in its fourth week – is wreaking havoc across the region and causing economic chaos throughout the globe. 

The showdown between the President and Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has entered a critical stage as experts warn the world economy is under ‘major threat.’

Hegseth forced an awkward smile as the US President continued discussing ongoing talks with Iran

Hegseth forced an awkward smile as the US President continued discussing ongoing talks with Iran

Iran maintains they have control of the strait, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes. The regime has barred access through the narrow waterway to anyone except countries allied with Iran.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol has now warned that the global economy is under ‘major threat’ from the ongoing closure of the strait, and said ‘no country will be immune’ to its effects.

‘This crisis, as things stand, is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,’ he said at the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, comparing the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the effects of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

‘The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,’ Birol said.

‘No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts,’ he added, noting that ‘at least 40 energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries.’

Mr Trump warned Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane ‘without threat’ or he would ‘obliterate’ their power plants.

Iran responded to the threat on Sunday saying if its plants were targeted then energy infrastructure ‘across the entire region’ would be ‘irreversibly destroyed’.

Mr Trump then wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday that the US and Iran had held ‘very good and productive’ conversations about a ‘complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East’. 

As a result, the President said he was postponing for five days a plan to hit Iran’s power plants.

However, the pause only applies to Iran’s energy sites and US strikes on the country continue.

Iran has effectively closed the key strait, which sees around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas pass through, since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on February 28. 

According to a group of Austrian researchers, exports worth up to $1.2trillion (£893.5billion) could be affected if Iran keeps the Strait closed for an extended period.

While short disruptions of around two weeks would have limited consequences, blockages longer than four weeks could trigger ‘cascading issues’.

Worryingly, their findings show that the UK has the biggest exposure to these supply chain shocks of any country in Europe.

Britain imports $12billion (£8.9billion) worth of goods through the Strait of Hormuz each year, with Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane alone totalling $5.9 billion (£4.4billion).

The researchers say that this creates a ‘genuine vulnerability’ that Britain won’t be able to substitute its LNG supply in the short term, driving up prices for consumers.

Co–author Dr Jasper Verschuur, of Delft University of Technology, told the Daily Mail: ‘What is unique about the Strait is that there are no alternatives to reroute goods.’

Meanwhile on Monday, Mr Trump suggested he could jointly run the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranian Ayatollah when it fully reopens to the world.

Asked who would in charge of the key waterway in any deal to end the conflict, Mr Trump said: ‘Maybe me, me and… whoever the next ayatollah (is).’

Despite the economic consequences, Washington insists the war is an overwhelming success.

Speaking last week, Pete Hegseth blasted the media and America’s allies for ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’

The Defense Secretary tore into the press who ‘want President Trump to fail,’ but said that the American people ‘know better.’

He lashed out at ‘ungrateful allies in Europe’, claiming that the entire world ‘should be saying one thing to President Trump: Thank You.’

Meanwhile, members of Mr Trump’s Cabinet including Hegseth have experienced a notable downturn in public esteem in recent weeks. 

A building was reduced to rubble after missile strikes hit Tel Aviv on March 24

A building was reduced to rubble after missile strikes hit Tel Aviv on March 24

Israeli firefighters work to put out a fire following Iranian missile strikes on Israel on March 24

Israeli firefighters work to put out a fire following Iranian missile strikes on Israel on March 24

 

According to a Daily Mail/JL Partners poll the War Secretary, is now the joint most unpopular Cabinet secretary with a net approval rating of minus 10. 

Hegseth’s net approval rating has plummeted ten points since February 28, the day of the first strikes against Iran.

Others who have taken the biggest hits are officials connected to the Iran war.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Tuesday for an immediate end to hostilities in the region.

‘We all feel the knock on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies,’ von der Leyen said alongside prime minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

She added: ‘It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East.’

On Tuesday, Iran launched missile strikes on Tel Aviv just a day after President Donald Trump declared peace talks with the country had been ‘good and constructive’.

Iran sent multiple waves of missiles towards Israel, hours after a source told the state-run Fars News Agency: ‘Tonight, special events are planned for Tel Aviv and some regional allies of the US and Israel that will completely remove the hope of negotiations from the minds of the aggressors.’

The missiles triggered air raid sirens in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv where blasts from interceptions were heard.

In one attack, homes in northern Israel were damaged by falling debris following an interception. Israeli police said six people had been injured.

They said a munition carrying some 100 kilograms of explosives hit the city, causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles.

Iran also hit Eilat in southern Israel, as well as the cities of Dimona and Yeruham. Residents in the Jerusalem area last night reported hearing loud explosions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue strikes in ‘both Lebanon and Iran’.

‘We are smashing the missile programme and the nuclear programme, and we continue to deal severe blows to Hezbollah,’ he said.

‘Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists – and we are still active.’

An Israeli strike on Bshamoun, south of Beirut, killed two people on Tuesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, while strikes on the capital’s southern suburbs continued throughout the night.

Smoke billows following an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv this morning

Smoke billows following an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv this morning

Rubble after an overnight Israeli airstrike that hit Amana fuel station in the town of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr near Tyre in southern Lebanon on March 24

Rubble after an overnight Israeli airstrike that hit Amana fuel station in the town of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr near Tyre in southern Lebanon on March 24

The strikes come as last night Iran said it was planning ‘special events’ for the US and Israel which it says will ‘completely remove the hope of negotiations from the minds of the aggressors’, state media reported.

Information on the talks described by Mr Trump remain in dispute with Iran, which denied discussions had been held.

‘No negotiations have been held with the US,’ Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X, adding that ‘fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets’.

In a message posted on Telegram by Fars News Agency, sources further appeared to reject Donald Trump’s claims of ‘major points of agreement’ between the US and Iran.

The message reads: ‘Informed officials in Iran announced that there were no negotiations and emphasized that until the US completely withdrew, evacuated its bases in the region, paid compensation, and received valid guarantees not to repeat the aggression, neither would the war end nor would the Strait of Hormuz be reopened.

‘According to this report, even after the possible end of the war, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the pre-war situation.’

In an interview with Fars, an unnamed foreign policy analyst added ‘no sane official in Iran would indulge in such foolishness’ in regards to negotiating with the US.

Mr Trump meanwhile said if upcoming talks go well the war could end within a week, before later adding: ‘Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.’

John Lithgow Shines as Roald Dahl in Riveting Show Exploring Controversial Views


The latest Broadway production, “Giant,” delves into the life of renowned children’s author Roald Dahl. Interestingly, the words “friendly” and “peach” are conspicuously absent from the title, hinting at a different perspective on Dahl’s story.


Theater review

GIANT

2 hours and 15 minutes, with one intermission. At the Music Box Theatre.

By the bitter end, it’s clear why. Because this Dahl, viciously played by the superb John Lithgow, is no peach. A peach pit, more like.

Mark Rosenblatt’s meaty debate-drama, which opened Monday night at the Music Box Theatre, shows a much uglier side of the clever mind behind “Matilda,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The BFG [Big Friendly Giant]” and “James and the Giant Peach”: that he was a raging, self-described anti-Semite.

Directed by Nick Hytner, “Giant” fictionalizes, sometimes joltingly, the dangerous moment in the 1980s when the literary titan, whose books are touchstones of childhoods the world over, threw his bigotry out into the open and faced the consequences.

Staunch Dahl bets he’s too gigantic to fail.

His petrified employers and future wife Felicity (Rachael Stirling) aren’t so sure.

The real event that rocked Roald was a controversial 1983 book review he wrote of “God Cried,” a work harshly critical of Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

In his write-up, Dahl called all Jews “a race of people” who’d “switched so rapidly from victims to barbarous murderers.”

He conflated the government of Israel with the global Jewish population and compared the Middle Eastern country to Nazi Germany.

Dahl then deplorably doubled down in a follow-up interview with the New Statesman.

“There’s always a reason why ‘anti-anything’ crops up anywhere,” he said. “Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.”

Audience members new to this shocking information can’t help but think: This is the same guy who dreamt up Matilda Wormwood and the chocolate river?!

In a word: Yes.

Coming in hot, Rosenblatt imagines a contentious emergency visit from a representative of Dahl’s New York publisher, the made-up Jessie Stone (Aya Cash), to his under-construction English country house to address the backlash, which has led several US booksellers to threaten not to carry Dahl’s forthcoming “The Witches.”

She wants an apology, full stop. However, the 66-year-old author is unmovable.

Refereeing the bout is his UK publisher Tom Maschler (Elliot Levey), who considers himself more English than Jewish. He’s chummy with Roald and believes his writer’s contributions to kids’ reading are too important to jeopardize. Many probably would still agree.

Beyond the actor playing the creator of “The BFG,” it’s Levey who’s the MVP. Anybody who’s ever tried to bring down the temperature of a room while ignoring their own boiling fury within will vividly see themselves in Tom.

And Tom has a truly unenviable job as peacemaker here.

“Giant” uses the past to talk about Israel today, and the spats are expectedly heated and palpably uncomfortable. But newsiness wasn’t Rosenblatt’s intent. He finished his final draft two months before the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

Whatever the date, the arguments are all but ripped from the headlines.

“Israel invaded Lebanon in self-defense,” Jessie maintains. “What would your government do if militants constitutionally committed to wiping Britain off the map started firing rockets into Kent from the French coast?”

Says Dahl of Israel’s founding: “They laid claim, they maneuvered and they took… Because you see what you need to see: a sanctuary — not another’s home.”

As the confrontational play rumbles on, Dahl’s commonplace talking points queasily devolve.

He becomes an object lesson in how anti-Israel rhetoric can casually slide into full-throated, unapologetic racism.

And, frankly, “Giant” depicts how easily the public will shrug at that. Dahl’s confidence about his legacy was proven correct, after all. The 1990 “Witches” film, “Matilda the Musical” on Broadway, Steven Spielberg’s “BFG” and Timothée Chalamet and Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka movies all came along after his grotesque comments. 

Most people know nothing about any of this, which is why Rosenblatt’s play from London has been a hot topic.

His first act is tight, focused and exciting. When we return from intermission, though, the bickering continues and the story feels stuck in place. Characters change, I suppose. Felicity, Tom and New Zealand maid Hallie (Stella Everett) go from tolerating him to tolerating him less. A messy afternoon turns messier. Yet “Giant” comes to its inevitable conclusions half an hour or more before the bows.

The appeal, therefore, lies not so much in the end destination as watching an actor of this caliber inhabit a figure so complex and thorny.

How to make an often cruel man who casually spews repugnant remarks watchable? Call Lithgow!

First off, the towering 80-year-old Tony winner bears a striking resemblance to the man, right out the box. But it’s Lithgow’s ability to be quiet and sweet and seconds later booming and scary that makes us squirm in our seats over our own feelings toward the writer. At times, we really do like him.  

The actor’s well-rounded, seismic Roald will be on the defensive, weaponizing his over-6-foot frame, massive intellect and huge temper. All giant, indeed. And right away he’ll snap into a kindhearted old man — the nurturing papa who Dahl readers dream is behind the prose. A camouflage, perhaps.

It’s that softie who calmly asks the play’s most chilling question.

“Can you no longer read my books to dear Archie?,” he says to Jessie of her son. “If it’s in me, then it’s surely in the books too.”

Chicago Police Reveal Capture Details of Suspect in College Student Murder Case

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The arrest report reveals that a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, charged with the murder of a college student in Chicago, made a crucial mistake that led to his identification.

Jose Medina, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, was apprehended on Friday after being accused of murdering 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman. The incident occurred near Tobey Prinz Beach just the day before. According to a police source who spoke to Fox News, the shooting appeared to be an ambush, with the suspect reportedly wearing a face mask or some form of disguise at the time.

According to the arrest report obtained by Fox News Digital, Medina was caught on surveillance video in his apartment building’s lobby without any face covering shortly after the shooting. A building engineer recognized Medina due to his “very distinct limp and gait” and informed the authorities.

Images of Medina were then uploaded to a police database, leading U.S. Customs and Border Protection to confirm his identity. He was subsequently arrested at his residence in the Rogers Park area, as detailed in the report.

Sheridan Gorman in Chicago, Illinois

In a photo, Sheridan Gorman is seen smiling with the Chicago skyline in the backdrop. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)

After the shooting at 1:06 a.m. on Thursday, police said in the arrest report that a male in black clothing, wearing a black mask and walking with a “distinct limp and slow gait” was seen walking from the location of the shooting to Pratt Boulevard at 1:12 a.m. A few minutes later, he was seen walking northbound through the east alley of Sheridan Road before he entered the back of his apartment complex.

Gorman, who attended Yorktown High School in Yorktown Heights, New York, was described in an obituary as someone who “had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and believed in.” While in high school, Gorman participated in field hockey, lacrosse, and bowling “among many other activities.”

“People often say someone ‘lit up a room’ or had ‘inner and outer beauty,’ but in Sheridan’s case, those phrases fall way too short. She radiated something even greater—a rare and unmistakable warmth, a spirit that was vibrant, compassionate, and full of life. She was funny, kind, and deeply loving, with a heart that made space for everyone,” her obituary states. “She loved fiercely—her family, her friends, her community, and her faith. She brought people together, lifted them up, and made the ordinary moments feel extraordinary simply by being in them.”

Jose Medina-Medina

Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, was also arrested for shoplifting and released before the alleged murder, DHS confirmed. (DHS)

“Though her life was far too short, Sheridan’s impact is immeasurable. She will forever be remembered as a bright, beautiful soul whose love continues to shine in all who knew her,” stated the obituary.

Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and was released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The shoreline where Loyola student Sheridan Gorman was allegedly shot by a migrant in Chicago

Flowers left in memory of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL., Monday, March 23, 2026. Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday, allegedly by an illegal immigrant. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)

Following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Medina was released on June 19, 2023, DHS said.

He was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three felony counts of aggravated assault with discharge of firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Chicago Police Department.

The shoreline where Loyola student Sheridan Gorman was allegedly shot by a migrant in Chicago

A general view of Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois, Monday, March 23, 2026. Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer against Medina following the alleged murder.

“We are calling on Governor Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.

Sheridan Gorman in Chicago, Illinois

Sheridan Gorman was killed after being shot in the head while taking a walk with friends at Tobey Prinz Beach, located less than a mile from Loyola’s campus, around 1 a.m. on Thursday, according to reports. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)

In a new statement to Fox News, Gorman’s family said their daughter’s death was a result of systemic failure within the immigration system.

“We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime. When systems fail—whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act—the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent,” the family said. “This case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of both state and federal law. There can be no gaps, no shortcuts, and no second chances that put others at risk. Accountability must be complete.”

The shoreline where Loyola student Sheridan Gorman was allegedly shot by a migrant in Chicago

A general view of Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois, Monday,  March 23, 2026. Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)

Alderwoman Maria Hadden told Fox 32 Chicago that Gorman’s death seemed to be a case of “wrong place at the wrong time.”

“The kids were out doing normal things people do in the neighborhood,” she said. “They may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, running into a person who had a gun.”

New Territory Declares Additional Public Holiday to Commemorate Anzac Day 2026

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Anzac Day is universally observed across Australia on April 25, irrespective of the day of the week it falls on each year.

Previously, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), along with Queensland and the Northern Territory, designated the following Monday as a public holiday only if Anzac Day occurred on a Sunday.

The Catafalque Party dismounts during the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in 2025. (Alex Ellinghausen)

This year, the ACT is set to align with New South Wales (NSW), which recently initiated a two-year trial. This trial includes recognizing Anzac Day with two public holidays when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday—specifically in 2026 and 2027—plus an additional public holiday on the subsequent Monday.

“The ACT holds a unique position within NSW, where numerous families reside on one side of the border and either work or study on the other,” stated ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

“Declaring both Saturday and Monday as public holidays acknowledges the day’s importance and provides clarity for our community,” Barr explained.

“This decision provides clear, straightforward arrangements and removes unnecessary confusion across our borders with NSW.”

Previously in NSW, as is the case in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, if April 25 fell on a weekend day, there was no additional public holiday.

Western Australia also gives an additional public holiday on the Monday if Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Still confused about Anzac Day public holidays?

2026: Saturday April 25 and Monday April 27

2027: Sunday April 25 and Monday April 26

2026: Saturday April 25 and Monday April 27

2027: Monday April 26 (so far, they may fall in line with NSW again next year too)

2026: Saturday April 25 and Monday April 27

2027: Sunday April 25 and Monday April 26

The most up-to-date information can usually be found on the Fair Trading website.

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