INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WCIA) — The three senior members of the Fighting Illini have left an enduring legacy with the program, each contributing uniquely during their time on the team.
AJ Redd’s journey was particularly notable, transitioning from team manager to a walk-on player, dedicating nearly four seasons to the team in Champaign. In contrast, seniors Ben Humrichous and Kylan Boswell began their collegiate basketball careers elsewhere before making their mark at Illinois.
CHICAGO (WLS) — Downtown Chicago was alive with early morning Easter festivities this Sunday.
As the sun rose, Daley Plaza set the stage for the 19th annual Easter Sunrise Service, a cherished tradition in the city.
The celebrations kicked off on Holy Thursday, marked by the erection of a 15-foot cross at Daley Plaza, symbolizing the start of the Easter observances.
Each year, various community groups come together to sponsor the ‘Cross on the Plaza’ event, which leads up to the Easter Sunday celebrations.
Pastor Juan Carlos Callan from New Life Albany Park was set to deliver the Easter message this year, providing spiritual insight and inspiration to attendees.
It is a non-denominational service. The event brings hundreds of faithful members to pray and reflect on Easter Sunday.
Service began at 6:30 a.m.
SEE ALSO | Pope Leo urges peace in first Easter Mass, skips naming wars in Urbi et Orbi
Chicago’s Historic Fourth Presbyterian Church hosted three worship services on Sunday.
A sunrise service kicked off Easter Sunday at Oak Street Beach led by clergy of Fourth Presbyterian Church.
At 9:30 a.m. a musical and joyful celebration will begin at the sanctuary, located at 126 E. Chestnut Street with processions and congregants filling Michigan Avenue.
Rev. Dr. Camille Cook Howe will mark her first Easter as senior pastor at fourth presbyterian.
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A daring art heist across the ocean has captured worldwide attention and sparked concerns about the vulnerability of art collections in the United States.
Renowned pieces by legendary artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse were stolen from Italy’s Magnani Rocca Foundation during the night of March 22-23. While the theft has made headlines globally, experts suggest that the implications of this crime reach further than the act itself.
Geoff Kelly, a former FBI agent who served on the Art Crime Team, explained to Fox News Digital that these sorts of heists are more prevalent than the public might assume. Contrary to popular belief, they often lack the intricate planning seen in movies.
“Taking the artwork is relatively straightforward,” Kelly noted. “Breaking a door or shattering a window and fleeing with the art isn’t a complicated task.”
Authorities have described the theft as a “crime of opportunity,” with the suspects allegedly making off with over 1,000 historical artifacts. The incident highlights potential security gaps in art institutions worldwide. (Oakland Police Department/TMX)
That reality is fueling concerns about vulnerabilities inside museums, including in the U.S.
Kelly explained that museums face a built-in challenge when it comes to security. Unlike banks or vaults, they are designed to be open, accessible and inviting to the public—an environment that can also be exploited by criminals.
“Museums are always going to be vulnerable,” he said. “They’re not vaults—they’re designed to be open and welcoming.”
The Stewart Gardner Museum was closed due to a robbery in 1990. (Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The U.S. has seen its share of high-profile art thefts, including the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery in Boston, where thieves made off with 13 works valued at roughly $500 million in March 1990, which still remains unsolved decades later, according to Boston.com. Kelly himself worked that case for years, underscoring how even major institutions can be targeted.
While Hollywood often portrays art heists as highly coordinated operations carried out by sophisticated crews, Kelly said many real-world cases are far more straightforward.
“These aren’t elaborate schemes,” he said. “A lot of times it’s smash-and-grab.”
Anthony Amore, director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (left); Richard DesLauriers, special agent in charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI (2nd from left); Jeff Kelly, FBI agent in charge of the art theft investigation; and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz at a news conference in the FBI office on the state of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist investigation, Friday, March 15, 2013. (John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
In some cases, thieves may have insider knowledge, whether from current or former employees or simply by observing security practices. But Kelly said many crimes rely on basic weaknesses that can be addressed with relatively simple fixes.
Kelly added that small changes, like keeping high-value pieces away from exits or using more secure mounting hardware, can make a meaningful difference by slowing down a thief and giving law enforcement more time to respond.
“Even those extra few seconds can matter,” Kelly said.
Karen Haas, acting curator of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, during a news conference outside the museum to show photos of the stolen $300 million in artwork taken in an early morning robbery. (Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Kelly also noted that museums can be especially vulnerable after hours, when buildings are empty and security measures are put to the test. He said even basic, low-cost upgrades to surveillance and physical security can make a significant difference, adding that with today’s technology, it is increasingly difficult for criminals to avoid leaving a trail.
Despite the bold nature of these thefts, Kelly says the biggest challenge for criminals often comes after they leave the museum.
“The most difficult thing of all is monetizing it,” Kelly said.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum conservators restore empty frames in advance of the 35th anniversary of 13 artworks being stolen from the museum in a brazen heist. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe)
Contrary to popular belief, Kelly said that there is little demand for well-known stolen masterpieces. Advances in technology, including the ability to instantly identify artwork through image searches, have made it increasingly difficult to sell stolen pieces, he added.
“There is no real market,” Kelly said. “Over time, it becomes a liability rather than an asset.”
That reality can leave thieves stuck with artwork they cannot easily move, sometimes leading to pieces being abandoned or quietly returned.
Law enforcement, meanwhile, has more tools than ever to track suspects. Surveillance cameras, license plate readers and other technologies make it difficult for criminals to avoid leaving a trail.
“With the amount of surveillance today, it’s very hard not to be captured somewhere,” Kelly said.
Still, he cautioned that these types of crimes continue to happen every year, often targeting museums around the world.
And while the latest heist took place overseas, the warning for American institutions is clear.
The same factors that make museums accessible and appealing to the public can also make them attractive targets for criminals—underscoring the importance of staying vigilant and continuously improving security measures.
Beyond the financial loss, Kelly said the stakes are much higher.
“These works represent our shared cultural heritage,” he said. “When they’re stolen, we all lose.”
SAVANNAH, Ga. () – Wishing you a delightful Easter! May it be an egg-cellent day for everyone!
The morning greets us with clear skies and a pleasant, dry atmosphere—ideal for outdoor activities like egg hunts, church services, or brunch gatherings. While it might be a bit breezy, temperatures are set to soar into the mid-80s by early afternoon ahead of a cold front making its way toward the area. As the day progresses, expect an increase in cloud cover, with scattered showers and occasional thunder rumbling through from mid-afternoon into the evening. For those continuing their Easter festivities outdoors, keeping an umbrella on hand would be wise.
Following the passage of the cold front, cooler air will settle in on Monday. Although there might be a few showers lingering in the morning, the clouds are expected to clear, giving way to some sunshine by the afternoon. Temperatures will be on the cooler side, with highs only reaching the low 70s. On Tuesday, temperatures will slightly improve into the mid-70s before another dry cold front ushers in more cool air on Wednesday. By the middle of the week, expect highs to dip back into the low 70s, maintaining this trend through Thursday.
As we move into Friday, a warming trend commences with temperatures climbing into the upper 70s as high pressure strengthens, eventually reaching the low 80s by Saturday. This week promises a more refreshing and cooler experience compared to the previous week throughout the region.
Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner and billionaire Clark Hunt, has revealed her engagement to her long-time partner, Derek Green.
Hunt, 27, shared the news on Instagram on Saturday evening, along with a series of pictures from the romantic desert proposal, where friends and family watched on.
The engagement took place in an elegant setting, featuring a stage adorned with white curtains and surrounded by towering arrangements of white flowers. A candlelit path added a romantic touch for the couple’s special moment.
Gracie proudly showcased her exquisite engagement ring, which boasts a split shank design encrusted with diamonds. The ring is highlighted by a colored stone, potentially an aquamarine, making a striking statement on her finger.
Announcing the happy news on Instagram, Gracie captioned her post with the heartfelt phrase, “It was always you,” and included a meaningful Bible verse from Romans 8:28 to mark the occasion.
Her announcement prompted an outpouring of joy and congratulations from family members in the comments section. Gracie’s sister, Ava, expressed her delight, writing, “I am overjoyed.”
Gracie Hunt, the daughter of billionaire Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, has announced her engagement to boyfriend Derek Green
Meanwhile, Gracie’s mother, Tavia, wrote: ‘DREAMS DO COME TRUE!! Congratulations you two!! We love you so much!!!’
The engagement was a family affair, with Chiefs CEO and owner Clark spotted alongside his family as they watched the heartwarming moment from afar.
The couple went public with their relationship back in April 2025.
Both Hunt and Green attended Southern Methodist University, with Green later playing football at Long Island University and for several teams across Europe.
Green is the son of former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, who led the team for six seasons, marking a literal merger of two NFL families.
In August last year, Hunt revealed how she had become ‘inseparable’ from new boyfriend during the NFL offseason.
In an interview with People, she explained: ‘Derek and I have known each other our whole lives.
The couple went public with their relationship in April 2025 and have since been ‘inseparable’
Gracie’s dad, Clark, is the owner, chairman, and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, while her grandfather, Lamar Hunt, was the founder of the AFL and MLS. She’s seen with her dad
‘We would actually play together as babies during the Chiefs’ Christmas parties every year, and then we reconnected as adults in 2017 and met on the sidelines pregame. We reconnected in early March and have been inseparable ever since.’
The blonde beauty, who has racked up more than 592,000 followers, often flaunts her lavish lifestyle online, which includes glamorous vacations, sideline seats to many football games, VIP treatment at top sporting events and hangout sessions with Taylor Swift.
Aside from being a popular Instagram sensation, Gracie has also launched an impressive pageant career, and was crowned as Miss Kansas USA in 2021.
Most recently, she has stepped into the world of jewelry, teaming up with high-end brand Monica Rich Kosann to launch a limited-edition arrowhead charm necklace.
The beloved series “Malcolm in the Middle” is making a comeback, but not every familiar face is returning to the screen. Erik Per Sullivan, renowned for his role as Dewey, Malcolm’s younger brother, has chosen to step away from the limelight, even as lucrative offers beckoned.
While Disney+ revives the hit series, Sullivan has opted for a different path. His former co-star, Jane Kaczmarek, revealed that Sullivan turned down a generous offer to reprise his role. Instead, the 34-year-old has channeled his energy into academics, working towards a master’s degree in Victorian literature at none other than Harvard University.
Kaczmarek shared with The Guardian, “He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student. They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said, ‘No thank you.’” Sullivan’s decision underscores his commitment to a quieter life of scholarship, away from the bustling world of television.
The revival will still see the return of key cast members: Frankie Muniz will reprise his role as Malcolm, with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek returning as his parents, Hal and Lois. Chris Masterson and Justin Berfield will also rejoin as Malcolm’s older brothers, Francis and Reese. This time, the storyline shifts to a grown-up Malcolm navigating the challenges of fatherhood with his own daughter.
The four-episode revival reunites Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Bryan Cranston and Kaczmarek as Malcolm’s parents Hal and Lois, along with Chris Masterson and Justin Berfield as Malcolm’s older brothers Francis and Reese, with the story now following a grown-up Malcolm raising a daughter.
Speaking to The Post in November 2025, Muniz revealed Sullivan is “very happy in the life that he’s created outside of the entertainment world.”
“He made the decision that he didn’t want to get back into it — which we completely respect,” he said, adding that no one from the cast wanted to “force” Sullivan “to do something he didn’t want to do.”
“We had his blessing from day one to have the role be in the show and recast it. So I hope people aren’t too upset that he didn’t come back, but it was by his choice.”
Sullivan starred in “Malcolm in the Middle” from 2000 to 2006. He hasn’t acted since 2010, last appearing in the crime thriller “Twelve,” and has largely stayed out of public view since then.
In April 2025, Sullivan was photographed out in public for the first time in 18 years when he was spotted leaving his house in Boston to grab a coffee.
The show later tabbed “Fargo” actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark to portray Dewey in the reboot.
“We started talking about doing the reboot over ten years ago,” Muniz told The Post.
“And then Bryan Cranston really kind of took the lead in pushing it. But early on, we sent out an email, me and Bryan, to everybody kind of saying like, ‘Hey, if this happened, would you guys be interested?’ Just to gauge.”
“And we knew early on that Erik was not going to be apart of it,” Muniz added.
On April 4, 2026, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made headlines after reconnecting with her former Suits co-star, Patrick J. Adams, following a playful oversight.
Adams, who shared the screen with Meghan as her on-screen romantic partner, humorously pointed out that he had been left out of receiving her well-known “As Ever” jam. During an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, Adams, now 44, lightheartedly speculated that the snub might be due to his relatively modest Instagram following.
Duchess Meghan reaches out to Suits co-star
“I didn’t get a jam. I didn’t get anything,” Adams admitted with a chuckle. “I don’t have enough followers, I don’t think,” he added, poking fun at the situation.
Interestingly, podcast host Amanda Hirsch shared that she had indeed received the coveted jam from Meghan but had yet to try it, leaving listeners curious about the Duchess’s culinary creation.
Podcast host Amanda Hirsch revealed that she had received the jam but had yet to open it.
Patrick, 44, said: “You’re treating it like a champagne? It’s gonna go bad. How long do preserves last? It’s going to go bad.”
After finding out about the podcast conversation, Meghan – who was known as Meghan Markle before marrying Britain’s Prince Harry, 41 – commented on Instagram that she was sending jam to Patrick immediately.
She went on to send her well-wishes to his actress wife Troian Bellisario – who attended Meghan and Harry’s wedding with Patrick – their children and his mother.
Meghan wrote: “Jams en route for you @patrickjadams @sleepinthegardn. Hugs to those beautiful babies. Send my love to your mom.”
Adams played Mike Ross in Suits from 2011 to 2018, alongside Meghan as his colleague and love interest Rachel Zane.
They both left Suits after the show’s seventh season.
Patrick and Troian have three daughters Aurora, seven, Elliot, four, and Imogen, two months, together, while Meghan and Harry have Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Meghan invited Patrick and their Suits co-stars Sarah Rafferty (Donna Paulsen), Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt), Gina Torres (Jessica Pearson), Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter), Abigail Spencer (Dana Scott), and Jacinda Barrett (Zoe Lawford) to the royal wedding in 2018.
And, Patrick admitted he had been protective of Meghan amid the huge public interest in her that came with dating Prince Harry.
He said: “What she’s gone through is insane.”
He also referenced his Instagram bio, which reads, “The other guy from that show that you’re watching on that app because that girl married that prince.”
He said: “I’ve got to change that. It’s the sort of thing that wherever Meghan is, if she’s ever read that, she’s going, ‘Patrick, give me a break’.
“I got a lot of eye rolls – that was a constant with Meghan.”
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Pope Leo XIV delivered his inaugural Easter blessing as the head of the Catholic Church on Sunday, emphasizing the need for global peace and cautioning against becoming desensitized to the widespread loss of life caused by ongoing violence worldwide.
Addressing over 50,000 attendees, as estimated by Vatican media, Pope Leo extended the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, overlooking the bustling St. Peter’s Square.
In his address, Pope Leo highlighted the necessity for hope and harmony in a world scarred by conflict and cruelty. He implored people not to grow accustomed to violence or indifferent to the suffering and deaths of countless individuals.
“On this joyous day, let us cast aside any desire for conflict, domination, and power. Instead, let us beseech the Lord to bestow His peace upon a world devastated by war and marked by hatred and indifference, which often leaves us feeling powerless in the face of evil,” the pope declared.
Pope Leo XIV delivered the Urbi et Orbi blessing—Latin for “to the city of Rome and to the world”—from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, following the Easter Mass he led in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Leo reminded the faithful that “the power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent.”
“In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ,” he said. “Let us allow our hearts transformed by his immense love for us. Let those with weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not through a desire to dominate others, but to encounter them.”
Faithful wait for Pope Leo XIV to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing at the end of the Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Leo also invoked what he said were the final words that Pope Francis issued to the world from the same balcony one year ago, during which the late pontiff warned of a “globalization of indifference.”
“What a great thirst for death, for killing we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world,” Leo said, quoting Francis.
Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful before delivering the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of Easter Mass he presided over in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Leo concluded the blessing by wishing everyone a happy Easter in 10 different languages and singing the Regina Ceoli.
Leo earlier held his first Easter Mass as pope, in which he called for the faithful to exercise hope against “the violence of war that kills and destroys,’’ adding that in the face of conflicts spreading around the world, “we need this song of hope today.”
Leo has repeatedly called for a halt in hostilities as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its second month and Russia continues its violent campaign in Ukraine.
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Researchers are raising concerns about a widely used digital tool, warning that it may lead users into harmful cycles of misguided thinking.
A duo of studies conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University have uncovered that AI assistants, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s Gemini, tend to offer excessively agreeable responses, potentially causing more harm than benefit.
The studies found that when users posed questions or recounted scenarios involving incorrect, harmful, deceptive, or unethical beliefs or actions, AI responses were 49 percent more likely to affirm the users’ viewpoints than human responses. This tendency encourages users to hold on to incorrect beliefs.
MIT researchers cautioned that the agreeable nature of AI chatbots could lead users, who depend on these platforms for guidance and opinions, into a phenomenon known as ‘delusional spiraling.’ This condition is characterized by a growing confidence in unfounded beliefs.
In essence, when individuals consulted AI tools like ChatGPT about unconventional ideas, such as unverified or debunked conspiracy theories, the chatbots frequently replied with affirmations such as “You’re totally right!”
They also gave feedback which sounded like ‘evidence’ to support the user’s delusion, with each agreement making the person feel smarter and more certain they were right and everyone else was wrong.
Over time, those mild suspicions turned into rock-solid beliefs, even though the idea is completely wrong.
Researchers at Stanford said that this self-destructive cycle led chatbot users to become less willing to apologize or take responsibility for harmful behavior and feel less motivated to repair or fix their relationships with people they disagreed with.
Studies have found that AI chatbots are giving people answers that agree too often with the user’s questions, even when they are looking to confirm debunked conspiracies (Stock Image)
ChatGPT was found to agree 49 percent more often with users than the average human respondent
Both the MIT and Stanford studies focused on a growing problem with AI chatbots known as sycophancy, the act of flattering someone or their opinions to the point where it is almost considered insincere or done simply to ‘suck up’ to the person.
The MIT researchers wanted to test whether overly agreeable, or ‘yes-man,’ AI chatbots could push people into believing false ideas more and more strongly over time.
Instead of using real people, they built a computer simulation of a perfectly logical person chatting with an AI that always tried to agree with whatever the person said.
They ran 10,000 fake conversations and watched how the person’s confidence changed after each reply from the chatbot.
The results, published on the preprint server Arxiv in February, showed that even a small amount of agreement from AI caused the simulated person to display ‘delusional spiraling’ – becoming extremely confident that a wrong idea was actually true.
‘Even a very slight increase in the rate of catastrophic delusional spiraling can be quite dangerous,’ the MIT team wrote in their report.
They even quoted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company developed ChatGPT, who once said that ‘0.1 percent of a billion users is still a million people.’
Researchers warned that the research showed even completely reasonable and logical people were vulnerable to entering a delusional spiral if AI companies did not tone down the amount of agreeable responses coming from chatbots.
Delusional spiraling caused people to refuse to apologize or fix broken relationships with those they disagreed with after receiving positive feedback from AI (Stock Image)
The Stanford study, which was peer-reviewed and published in the journal Science in March, focused on finding out what real AI chatbots were doing to the public’s mental health when they constantly supplied sycophantic answers.
They tested 11 popular AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Mistral, Qwen and multiple versions of Meta’s Llama.
Researchers used almost 12,000 real-life questions and stories where the person was clearly in the wrong.
Many of the questions posed to AI came from the popular Reddit channel called ‘Am I the A******,’ a forum where people post their controversial actions or opinions to see if the public thinks they were in the wrong or if their behavior was justified.
The Stanford team ran experiments with over 2,400 real people who read or chatted about their own personal conflicts and received either overly agreeable AI replies or normal ones.
The results showed every single AI model agreed with users about 49 percent more often than real humans would, even when the user was describing something harmful or unfair.
After getting these flattering answers, the real people felt more confident they were right, became less willing to apologize and were less motivated to fix their relationships with anyone they disagreed with in the real world.
Tech mogul Elon Musk, the CEO of X and its AI chatbot Grok, commented on the findings, simply calling it a ‘major problem.’
The two studies did not test whether Grok was also too agreeable and triggered delusional spiraling.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States announced on Sunday that it successfully retrieved a service member who had been stranded in enemy territory since Iran shot down a fighter jet. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump increased diplomatic pressure on Tehran by setting a new deadline to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Despite international tensions, Iran remained defiant, launching attacks on fresh economic and infrastructure targets in Gulf Arab nations.
The operation to rescue the airman ensued after the F-15E Strike Eagle crash on Friday triggered a frantic search-and-rescue mission by U.S. forces. Iran had also offered a reward for anyone who captured an “enemy pilot.” President Trump stated that the airman sustained injuries but was in stable condition.
“This courageous Warrior was stuck in the perilous Iranian mountains, pursued relentlessly by adversaries who were closing in by the hour,” Trump shared on social media.
Earlier, another crew member had already been safely recovered.
The fighter jet was the first American aircraft to have crashed in Iranian territory since the U.S. and Israel launched the war, striking Iran on Feb. 28. It has since killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. Both sides have threatened and hit civilian targets, bringing warnings of possible war crimes.
Trump said last week that the U.S. had “decimated” Iran and would finish the war “very fast.” Two days later, Iran shot down two U.S. military planes, showing the ongoing perils of the bombing campaign and the ability of a degraded Iranian military to continue to hit back.
As Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump, in a weekend social media post, threatened to unleash “all Hell” if it isn’t opened by Monday. He has issued such threats before and extended them when mediators have claimed progress toward ending the war on agreeable terms.
The other jet to go down was a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it crashed was immediately known.
On Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing thick black smoke rising into the air, claiming that they had shot down an American transport plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation. However, a regional intelligence official briefed on the mission told The Associated Press that the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction, forcing it to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.
In Kuwait, an Iranian drone attack caused significant damage to two power plants and put a water desalination station out of service, according to the Ministry of Electricity. No injuries were reported from the attack, the ministry said.
In Bahrain, the national oil company said that a drone attack caused a fire at one of its storage facilities, which was extinguished. It said the damage was still being assessed and no injuries had been reported.
In the United Arab Emirates, authorities responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant, a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and Borealis of Austria. They say the fires were caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defense systems, but production at the plant in Ruwais, near the UAE’s western border with Saudi Arabia, has halted.
The strike came a day after Israel struck a petrochemical plant in Iran that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said generated revenue that it had used to fund the war.
Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face devastating consequences, writing Saturday in a social media post: “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”
The waterway is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments, especially oil and gas moving from the Persian Gulf to Europe and Asia. Disruptions there have injected volatility into the market and pushed oil and gas-importing countries to seek alternative sources.
“The doors of hell will be opened to you” if Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi with the country’s joint military command said late Saturday in response to Trump’s renewed threat, state media reported. In turn, the general threatened all infrastructure used by the U.S. military in the region.
But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told the AP that his government’s efforts to broker a ceasefire are “right on track” after Islamabad last week said that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Mediators from Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt were working to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, according to two regional officials.
The proposed compromise includes a cessation of hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement, according to a regional official involved in the efforts and a Gulf diplomat briefed on the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door diplomacy.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, issued a veiled threat late Friday to disrupt traffic through a second strategic waterway in the region, the Bab el-Mandeb.
The strait, 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. More than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships pass through it.
“Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” Qalibaf wrote.
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began.
In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have died there.
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This report has been corrected to show that Borealis is an Austrian company and not Australian.
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Metz reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
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