What is Trump-backed SAVE America Act and what could it mean for US vote? | US Midterm Elections 2026 News
Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has been unambiguous about his desire for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping voting law that supporters say will boost election security and that detractors say risks disenfranchising millions of voters.
The push has gained new urgency, with the US Senate continuing debate on the law following a two-week recess.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The president has said the bill, which at its core would create higher documentation standards for proving citizenship when registering to vote and casting a ballot, is his top priority ahead of the midterm elections in November, which will determine which party controls the Senate and the US House of Representatives.
The bill has near-total support from Republicans, with Democrats remaining largely unified in opposition. It passed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in February along party lines.
The measure has since remained stalled in Congress, where Republicans control 53 out of 100 seats, short of the 60 votes it will likely need to pass.
That is, unless party leaders move to change the chamber’s longstanding rules, a transformative approach considered a”nuclear” option that will reverberate for years to come.
Here’s what to know.
What would the SAVE America Act do?
The version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act passed by the House in February would require voters to provide proof of citizenship – a birth certificate or passport – when registering to vote. It would also implement stricter voter identification requirements for individuals casting ballots, whether by mail or in person.
Under the US Constitution, states administer elections, and currently have different processes for registering voters and confirming citizenship. Voting by noncitizens is already illegal, and all people registering to vote attest they are US citizens under threat of perjury.
The bill does not provide any funding for the new verification processes, which would be effective immediately upon the bill being signed into law.
The legislation would also require all states to run their voter rolls through a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) “Alien Verification Eligibility” system to identify potential noncitizens already enrolled.
It would include criminal penalties for election officials who register voters without the required documentation.
What has Trump said about the SAVE Act?
The US president has long maintained that elections in the country are marred by widespread fraud, including noncitizen voting, despite there being no evidence to support these claims.
Even the conservative Heritage Foundation, which has influenced many of Trump’s policies, has found only exceedingly rare instances of voter fraud over decades of US elections.
Trump’s focus on election administration dates back to his 2020 loss to former US President Joe Biden, which he continues to maintain was the result of the vote being “stolen”. Again, no evidence has emerged to back those claims.
The president has called the SAVE America Act “one of the most IMPORTANT & CONSEQUENTIAL pieces of legislation in the history of Congress, and America itself”.
In March, he vowed not to sign any other bills into law until the legislation was passed. He has further vowed not to endorse any Republicans who do not support the legislation.
Trump also told members of his party in March that passing the bill would “guarantee” their success not only in the midterm elections but in the years to come.
Several top Republicans have embraced Trump’s messaging, with US House Speaker Mike Johnson saying opponents of the legislation “want illegal aliens to vote in our elections”.
What have critics said about the SAVE Act?
Critics have said the bill would be tantamount to widespread voter disenfranchisement, creating onerous barriers to address what several studies show to be the fleetingly rare problem of noncitizens registering to vote.
Several studies have shown that about 11 percent of eligible voters do not have access to birth certificates, while 52 percent do not have valid passports. All told, a recent study by several election-monitoring groups found that about nine percent of eligible voters in the US do not have easy access to documents proving citizenship, accounting for about 21.3 million people.
Several groups, including the Bipartisan Policy Center, have argued the legislation risks doing more damage than good. Data from a USCIS voter verification system, which some states already use to identify noncitizens in their voter rolls, found that only 0.04 percent of reviewed cases were flagged as potential noncitizens.
But as noted by the Bipartisan Policy Center, evidence indicates that the rate may be considerably lower, pointing to a review by Travis County, Texas that found that a quarter of the voters flagged by USCIS had actually provided proof of citizenship.
In another example, a review of all registered voters in Utah from 2025 to 2026 found only a single instance of a noncitizen registered to vote out of more than two million voters. There were no confirmed instances of a noncitizen actually voting.
Top Democrats have echoed those criticisms, while charging that Trump is seeking to influence the outcome of the midterms as part of what they call a years-long effort to politicise voting administration.
“The only thing Republicans are trying to save with this legislation is their own skin in the next election,” Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, said earlier this week.
Could it affect women and name changes?
A main point of contention for opponents of the legislation is the additional barriers it could create for individuals, primarily women, who changed their last names after marriage or for other reasons.
An estimated 69 million women in the US lack easy access to documentation linking their current legal names to those at birth, according to the League of Women Voters, which has been a leading opponent of the bill.
The requirement for extra documentation for some married women creates inherent inequality in the system, the organisation has argued.
The law would further create extra barriers for individuals who move regularly, including members of the military, and those who have been afflicted by disruptive life changes, including natural disasters, opponents have argued.
How does this relate to the filibuster?
The so-called “filibuster” is a procedural rule in the Senate that can be used to require 60 votes to pass most bills, as opposed to a simple majority of 51 votes in the 100-seat chamber.
Parties in the minority have long used the rule to temper the party in the majority, with Republicans and Democrats rarely holding a filibuster-proof 60 seats.
Being a rule of the Senate’s own making, it could be easily scrapped by the party in power. However, doing so has long been seen as a “nuclear” option. While it would offer short-term benefits to the majority party, it would undermine the same party if it becomes the minority in future elections.
Nevertheless, Trump has heaped pressure on Republican leaders in the Senate to scrap the rule, writing on Truth Social in March, they need to “Kill the Filibuster”.
What happens next?
Debate remains ongoing in the Senate over the legislation, but major shifts in support are seen as extremely unlikely.
Republicans are unlikely to bring the legislation to a vote if they do not have the support for it to pass.
Currently, there is no plan to hold a vote to do away with the filibuster, which would require only a simple majority.
Lawmakers have also not yet pursued other, more incremental procedural manoeuvres to pass the bill without 60 votes.
Trump Downplays Chinese Concerns Over Iran War’s Impact On Its Oil Supplies
Despite Beijing’s rising anger over the war in Iran, a country upon which it relies heavily for oil, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted his relationship with his Chinese counterpart remains strong. However, in a post on his social media network, Trump also dismissed Chinese concerns that its energy situation is becoming more precarious as the result of strangulation of the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
All this comes as Trump has been telling media outlets that he believes the war could soon end. We’ll talk more about that later in this story.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz,” the American leader proclaimed on Truth Social, even as the flow of oil from the Middle East has been drastically reduced by the war. “I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran.”
“President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks,” he added. “We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to – far better than anyone else!!!”
In a pre-taped interview that aired Wednesday morning, Trump told Fox News that the war hasn’t soured his relationship with Xi, who has expressed frustration with American actions in the Middle East.
“I don’t think it does,” Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. “He’s somebody that needs oil. We don’t. He’s somebody I get along with very well. He just wrote me a beautiful letter…He responded to a letter that I wrote because I had heard that China is giving weapons to – I mean, you’re seeing it all over the place – to Iran…I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that.”
Trump was referring to reports that U.S. intelligence determined Beijing was providing military support to Tehran.
Before his Truth Social Post and the Fox interview aired, Financial Times reported that Iran “secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite that gave the Islamic republic a powerful new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war.”
“Leaked Iranian military documents show the satellite, known as TEE-01B, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China,” according to the outlet. “Time-stamped coordinate lists, satellite imagery and orbital analysis show that Iranian military commanders later tasked the satellite to monitor key US military sites. The images were taken in March before and after drone and missile strikes on those locations.”
As we have previously reported, Iranian strikes on U.S. military facilities killed U.S. troops and caused damage to bases and equipment. However, it should be noted that Iran has also beenreceiving Chinese commercial satellite imagery and Russia is likely providing it as well. At the same time, U.S. commercial satellite companies like VANTOR and Planet Labs are now refraining from sharing imageryof the Middle East and elsewhere at the Pentagon’s behest.
Meanwhile, China continues to push back against accusations that it is helping Iran and repeated previous assertions that it will respond should Trump go through with his threat to impose a 50% tariff.
“Media reports accusing China of providing military support to Iran are purely fabricated,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on X. “If the U.S. goes ahead with tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures.”
Lin did not offer details about those countermeasures.
Regardless, Iran’s use of commercial space imagery to strike U.S. and allied targets “will force the Pentagon to adjust, the head of U.S. Space Command said,” according to Defense One.
“We have to recognize that the rest of the world can now see the entire planet transparently and almost 24/7 and so we have to be able to operate in that environment successfully,” Gen. Stephen Whiting, the head of U.S. Space Command told reporters Tuesday during the Space Symposium conference.
UPDATES
UPDATE: 2:24 PM EDT –
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the U.S. requested an extention to the ceasefire.
She also thanked Pakistan for its help in the negotiations.
Trump, as we noted earlier, is saying that he believes the war could soon be concluded.
“I think it’s close to over,” Trump posited. “I mean, I view it as very close to over. You know what? If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly.”
Trump also told Sky News that the end of the war may be nigh.
When asked by Sky whether a deal could happen before King Charles visits the U.S. at the end of the month, Trump said: “It’s possible. Very possible. They’re beaten up pretty bad.”
U.S. and Iranian negotiators made progress in talks on Tuesday, moving closer to a framework agreement to end the war, two U.S. officials said, Axios reported on Wednesday.
“U.S. officials and sources familiar with the mediation cautioned that a deal is not guaranteed, given the substantial differences between the two sides,” the news outlet noted.
“Let’s wait and see if we can get a deal. We are hopeful and accordingly trying to push with both sides,” a Pakistani official told Axios.
In another step toward potential future negotiations, Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran today for talks.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said that during the visit, “the views of both sides are likely to be discussed in detail.”
Baghaei, however, said Iran would not capitulate.
“If a negotiation is based on one side imposing conditions on the other, that is not negotiation; it is dictation and imposition, and you know that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian nation will never accept such imposition,” he stated.
In an X post, CENTCOM on Wednesday said that during “the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces. Additionally, 9 vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area.”
Late Tuesday night, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, took to X to announce that the “blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East.”
“An estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is fueled by international trade by sea,” Cooper noted. “In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”
Senior IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi claimed the Islamic Republic would consider it a prelude to the breach of the ceasefire if “the aggressive and terrorist America” continues the blockade.
Abdollahi “threatened that the powerful Iranian armed forces would not allow any export and import to keep going in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea region, in the face of the US maritime aggression,” the official Iranian IRNA news agency stated on Wednesday.
His comments suggested that the Houthi rebels of Yemen, an Iranian proxy, could resume their attacks on Red Sea shipping, something we previously examined as a possibility.
Meanwhile, the Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I became the first crude carrier to head west through the Strait of Hormuz since the US blockade on Iran’s ports came into force, according to MarineTraffic.
Though another round of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran is being discussed, the Pentagon continues to pour resources into the Middle East, something we have been reporting about for weeks.
“The forces moving into the region include about 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and several warships escorting it, said current and former officials,” according to The Washington Post, citing anonymous officials. “About 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month.”
During the pause in fighting, Iran appears to be using the time to reopen entrances to underground missile cities damaged during the war, according to CNN. The network published footage showing engineering equipment at the Tabriz South missile base and the Khomein missile bases.
The network also noted that, according to U.S. intelligence estimates, about half of the Iranian missile launchers remained intact after a month of fighting, and that many of these launchers could have been buried in underground storage facilities as a result of strikes on the entrances.
A day after negotiations took place in Washington between the U.S., Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah issued a veiled threat to Beirut. Considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel, Hezbollah was not a party to the talks.
“The Lebanese authorities must reconsider their actions and return to the embrace of the people,” said Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah in a statement. “The authorities withdrew the army from the south, leaving it vulnerable to occupation and giving the enemy [Israel] free rein.”
Meanwhile, Israel is continuing to bombard Hezbollah.
“In the past 24 hours, the IDF struck over 200 Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon,” it claimed. “Among the targets struck: terrorists, military structures, approximately 20 launchers, including those recently used to fire towards the State of Israel.”
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Rochelle Humes reveals she made more cash in S Club Juniors than in The Saturdays
SINGER Rochelle Humes made jaws drop as she confessed she made more cash from being in S Club Juniors than she did in The Saturdays alongside stars Frankie Bridge and Una Healy.
The businesswoman launched her career as a singer in 2001 when she joined S Club Juniors after being selected for the band on the reality TV show S Club Search.
The juniors, who released their first single One Step Closer in 2002, accompanied S Club 7 on their huge tour as the supporting act.
After just three years in the girl band, Rochelle joined The Saturdays in 2008 and despite their chart topping success, the star revealed she made more money at the beginning of her career.
Speaking on the Great Company with Jamie Lang podcast, Rochelle said: “When I look back on it I made more money from S Club Juniors than I did in The Saturdays.”
Made In Chelsea star Jamie was so baffled by Rochelle’s revelation that she jokingly asked him to call Frankie Bridge, who was also in both bands, to confirm their experience.
Read More on Rochelle Humes
Explaining why she thought she made more money from S Club Juniors, Rochelle said: “The music industry… the money just went out of it.
“It wasn’t the same space to be in anymore.”
The star added: “At the time your the chosen one, you never want to rock the boat because your like do you know how many girls would be whipping these extensions out ready to put them in their hair.
Rochelle joined S Club Juniors in the early noughties, when she was just 12-years-old, alongside Frankie Bridge, Aaron Renfree, Jay Asforis, Stacey Franks, Calvin Goldspink, Daisy Shelvey and Hannah Richings.
While the girl band was successful, The Saturdays were huge with 11 top 10 singles including All Fired Up and What About Us.
The 37-year-old explained that when she was part of The Saturdays she was paid a “salary” and was expected to live a certain type of lifestyle.
But, most of her money actually came from brand deals and touring rather than the group’s singles.
“When someone says your record deal is X amount of money, that doesn’t mean that’s what we’re making. That means they’ll put this money into the album, pay these producers, the marketing budget,” she said.
Rochelle continued: “The tours and the brand deals was where you would make your money. The records weren’t for us. So we’d be the face of a shampoo and all have our own scent – that’s where we’d make our money.
“But then record labels changed their whole strategy…they would then also take a cut of the brand [deals], and then take a cut of the live performances. You’ve got to remember everything you earn, split that in half, basically with tax and an agent. And then there’s five of you. You’re expected to live a lifestyle that you can’t always prop up.”
During her candid interview with Jamie, Rochelle also revealed her uncle is an England footie legend.
Her uncle is none other than Paul Ince, who had 53 caps for England and played most notably for Premier League teams West Ham and Man United.
Paul was the first black player to ever captain the England team and later the first black British manager to coach in the highest tier of English football.
Prosecutors sought access to Federal Reserve building as Trump threatens to fire Powell
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors made an unannounced visit this week to a construction site at Federal Reserve headquarters that is the focus of an investigation into a $2.5-billion renovation project, according to two people familiar with the visit.
Two prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Atty. Jeanine Pirro’s office were turned away on Tuesday by a building contractor and referred to Fed attorneys, one of the people said. The two people familiar with the visit spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.
The visit underscores that the Trump administration is not backing down from its investigation of the Fed and its chair, Jerome Powell, even though the probe has delayed the confirmation of a new chair nominated by President Trump. The investigation is focused on cost overruns and brief testimony about the project last summer by Powell. Trump confirmed in an interview that aired Wednesday on Fox Business that he wants to continue the probe.
Last month, during a closed-door hearing before a federal judge, a top deputy from Pirro’s office conceded that they hadn’t found any evidence of a crime in their investigation of the headquarters project.
Robert Hur, an attorney for the Federal Reserve board of governors, sent an email to Pirro’s prosecutors about their visit and their request for a “tour” to “check on progress” at the construction site. Hur’s email, which the Associated Press has viewed, noted that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg concluded that their interest in the Federal Reserve’s renovation project was “pretextual.”
“Should you wish to challenge that finding, the courts provide an avenue for you; it is not appropriate for you to try to circumvent it,” Hur wrote.
Republican Tillis is key vote
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is a key member of the Senate Banking Committee, has vowed to vote against Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to replace Powell as Fed chair, until the investigation is dropped. With the committee closely divided on partisan lines, Tillis’ opposition is enough to block Warsh.
The Banking panel said Tuesday that it will hold a hearing on Warsh’s nomination April 21. Powell’s term as Fed chair ends May 15, but Powell said last month he would remain as chair until a replacement is named.
Powell is serving a separate term as a member of the Fed’s governing board that lasts until January 2028. Chairs typically leave their posts as governor when their terms as chair end, but they can remain on the board if they choose.
Last month, Powell said, “I have no intention of leaving the Board until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality.” If he remains in his seat, even after Warsh is confirmed, it would deny Trump the oppotunity to fill a seat on the seven-member board.
Late Tuesday, Tillis posted a link on social media to the Wall Street Journal’s article on the visit below an image of the Three Stooges and wrote, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. at the crime scene.”
Investigation centers on building renovations
The investigation by Pirro’s office centers on an appearance by Powell before the Senate Banking Committee last June, when he was asked about cost overruns on the Fed’s extensive building renovations. The most recent estimates from the Fed suggest the current estimated cost of $2.5 billion is about $600 million higher than a 2022 estimate of $1.9 billion.
“It is probably corrupt, but what it really is, is incompetent,” Trump said on Fox Business. “Don’t you think we have to find out what happened there?”
The president’s support for the investigation threatens a time frame set out by Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican who chairs the Banking Committee. Scott said Tuesday on Fox Business that he believed the investigation would be “wrapped up in the next few weeks,” allowing Warsh to be confirmed soon after.
Threat to fire Powell
News of the unannounced visit by prosecutors comes as Trump has again threatened to fire Powell, if the Federal Reserve chair decides to stay on the central bank’s governing board after his term as chair expires next month.
“Well then I’ll have to fire him, OK?” Trump said when reminded that Powell has said he won’t leave the Fed while the Justice Department investigates a $2.5-billion renovation project at the bank. Powell has also said he will remain as chair of the Fed’s rate-setting committee until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate, following the precedent of previous chairs.
Trump has for months wanted to remove Powell as chair of the Fed, saying he has been too slow in orchestrating interest rate cuts that would give the U.S. economy a quick boost. Powell has said the investigation is a pretext to undermine the Fed’s independence to set rates.
Supreme Court weighing another Trump removal
Trump’s threat to fire Powell comes as the Supreme Court is weighing the president’s effort to remove another central bank governor, Lisa Cook. Lower courts have so far allowed Cook to remain in her job while her legal challenge to the firing continues. The Supreme Court also seemed likely to keep her on the Fed when the court heard arguments in January. A decision could come any time.
The issue in Cook’s case is whether allegations of mortgage fraud, which she has denied, is a sufficient reason to fire her or a mere pretext masking Trump’s desire to exert more control over U.S. interest rate policy.
The Supreme Court has allowed the firings of the heads of other governmental agencies at the president’s discretion, with no claim that they did anything wrong, while also signaling that it is approaching the independence of the nation’s central bank more cautiously, calling the Fed “a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity.”
Kunzelman and Rugaber write for the Associated Press. AP Writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report.
Jamie Murray: British doubles legend retires from tennis
Murray will be remembered for his razor-sharp volleying skills and the preposterous angles he conjured at the net. His returns were often unorthodox and he was fond of a lobbed service return to unsettle opponents.
Alongside his triumphs, Murray has been a staunch defender of doubles players and frequently demanded they be shown more respect.
“Doubles has its place in the game – it’s not the golden ticket that singles is, but it’s undervalued by the tour,” Murray told BBC Sport.
“As these events go longer and longer they need content, and doubles supports that.”
Murray said he was proud to have represented his hometown of Dunblane and the country of Scotland at the highest level.
“There is no history of tennis and no environment of tennis [in Scotland],” Murray told BBC Sport.
“I’d imagine the odds were against us from the start but we were able to make some good things happen.”
His mother Judy thought Jamie had the better hand-eye co-ordination of her sons when young. Jamie and Andy briefly became rivals as tennis players – and also while wrestling.
Judy once recalled: “Andy’s favourite [wrestler] was The Rock and Jamie’s was Stone Cold Steve Austin, and they used to create these bouts that they saw on the television. They used to wrestle each other on the duvet and thump each other with pillows, and create these belts and make up their own rules and scoring systems.”
Jamie is 15 months older than Andy, and as his early dominance on the tennis court started to fade Andy says he quite literally bore the brunt.
“We were coming back from Solihull in the minibus and I’d beaten Jamie in the final, I think, of the under-12s, so basically I was winding him up about that and my hand was on the hand rest,” he said in 2015.
“We were sitting next to each other and he just basically punched me on the hand – I lost my fingernail and I’ve still got the scars to show for it.”
Despite some defeats against Andy, Jamie was still very much on track for a professional singles career until a negative experience at an LTA training school in Cambridge in his very early teens.
He struggled with living away from home and the elite training environment, and even though he has never sought to blame the LTA, his forehand suffered and he has said he was never quite the same player again.
Is Iran beating the US at its own propaganda game? | News
Iran has condemned a ban imposed by YouTube on a pro-Iranian group that releases Lego-style artificial intelligence videos. But as war messaging moves into
Published On 15 Apr 2026
UN experts urge member states to suspend Israel arms transfers | United Nations News
The experts call Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon on April 8 ‘a blatant violation of the UN Charter’.
Published On 15 Apr 2026
A group of United Nations experts has denounced Israel’s attack on Lebanon a day after the United States and Iran agreed a ceasefire as illegal and urged UN member states to halt all arms transfers to Israel.
The 19 experts – including special rapporteurs and independent experts across a range of human rights mandates – issued the condemnation on Wednesday as Israel continued to pound areas of southern Lebanon, killing at least 16 people, including four paramedics, Lebanese state media reported.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Referring to a devastating wave of Israeli attacks across Lebanon on April 8, which Lebanese authorities said killed more than 350 people, including 30 children, the experts said: “This is not self-defence. It is a blatant violation of the UN Charter, a deliberate destruction of prospects for peace, and an affront to multilateralism and the UN-based international order.”
They called for Israel to “cease all military operations in Lebanon” and urged UN member states to halt arms transfers to Israel while “there is credible evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law”, according to the UN Human Rights Council.
Israel escalated its attacks on Lebanon on March 2 after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in response to the US-Israel killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei two days earlier, the first day of their war on Iran.
Israel has carried out a devastating bombardment across Lebanon and a ground invasion in the south, killing more than 2,000 people and forcibly displacing more than 1.2 million.
The UN experts said such forced displacement “of a civilian population constitutes crimes against humanity”. They also condemned Israel’s targeted “destruction of homes”, particularly in predominantly Shia areas of the south, as “a form of collective punishment” that “points to ethnic cleansing”.
Israel’s continuing bombardment of Lebanon has been a point of tension in US-Iran negotiations. Tehran said Lebanon should be covered in the ongoing ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire with Iran and Israel will continue to target Hezbollah “wherever required”.
On Saturday, days before Israel and Lebanon held rare, high-level diplomatic talks in the US, Netanyahu said Israel wanted long-term peace with Lebanon but on the condition that Hezbollah is disarmed.
The Reuters news agency quoted a senior Israeli official as saying Israel’s security cabinet planned to convene on Wednesday evening to discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon. It also quoted several senior Lebanese officials as saying ceasefire efforts were under way.
*NSYNC star admits he was so skint lights went out in his home and he had to move in with parents
AN *NSYNC star has confessed he was so skint that after failing to pay his bills the lights went out in his house on Christmas Eve.
Joey Fatone, who was one of the American group’s original members, recently opened up on how his boyband millions quickly depleted.
The singer shot to fame in 1995 alongside his fellow bandmates, Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez, and Jason Galasso.
During the new docuseries Boy Band Confidential, Joey admitted he was forced to ask people for money after he was given bad advice by his accountant.
At NSYNC’s peak Joey splashed out on a huge 10,000-square-foot house on four acres of land, but not before running it past his financial advisor.
He recalled in the docuseries: “Money was coming in. I asked my accountant, ‘Hey, are we good?’ ‘Yeah, we’re great.’ ‘I’m OK to buy this house, right?’ He goes, ‘Your kids’ kids’ kids will be fine.’
“Now, he was saying that as if money was probably still coming in.”
But, ten years later was when Joey really felt the pain of being cashless.
Joey said: “I go to a new accountant, I say, ‘Hey man, can you look at my finances and what’s going on?’ And he goes, ‘You need to get out of that house or you’re gonna go bankrupt.’ I went, ‘I’m sorry, what?’”
After NSYNC went on a indefinite hiatus, Joey was nearly out of cash and was very close to filing for bankruptcy.
His money woes all came to a head on Christmas Eve when he had family around to celebrate the holidays.
Joey continued: “There was one point during Christmas they shut off the lights to my house because I didn’t pay the bill. I almost was gonna go bankrupt.
“And I have a family. This is when I am married, I have two kids. These are certain things that happen in normal people‘s lives as well, but then you have to figure out, for me, how do I do this without the public even watching of what’s going on?”
Joey lost the power in his home before they had even got to opening their presents.
He said: “It was horrible. I had family over at my house. Good thing I had the water, but the power just went pew.”
“I was asking people for money,” he recalled.
The 49-year-old told how he was forced to “put his tail between his legs” and figure out what to do.
The producer ended up flogging his house and moving his then-wife Kelly, to whom he was married from 2004 to 2019, and their daughters, Briahna and Kloey, in with his parents for a year.
Joey made a life for himself in Las Vegas for a year, working to build back up his slowing career.
The Dancing with the Stars alum explained the situation was a “big eye-opener” and he slammed his former accountant saying, “And the one that I had was not the brightest person to help me out. They were always the ones going, ‘Don’t worry, you’re gonna be fine. You’re making so much money.’”
NSYNC won 15 music awards during their heyday and are best known for their hits Bye Bye Bye, Girlfriend and This I Promise You.
Businessman Checchi Enters Governor’s Race
SACRAMENTO — Mega-millionaire businessman Al Checchi launched the biggest takeover bid of his career Tuesday, declaring his candidacy for governor by promising a less political approach to political office.
Checchi, who built a vast personal fortune plying his financial wizardry in the corporate world, styled himself as a campaign insurgent removed from the ways of Washington and Sacramento.
“My experience outside politics is precisely why I’m running,” the 49-year-old former Northwest Airlines executive told members of a Sacramento civic group, who served as extras for his announcement. “You don’t have to be a politician to succeed in government. And the truth is that for too long, politicians leading our government have failed.”
Touting his “real-world experience,” the Democrat said, “I reject the conventional politics that evades hard choices, that obscures controversial issues and seeks to offend no one except the powerless and marginal.”
He pledged to “tell the people of this state exactly where I stand and, during the months ahead, to set forth real and specific proposals for change.”
To wit, Checchi said that as governor he would cut the state bureaucracy by 10% to raise $5 billion more for education, boost the state cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack to expand health care for the uninsured, and require statewide competency testing of both students and teachers.
Further, Checchi called for expansion of the death penalty to include serial rapists and repeat child molesters, offered a ringing endorsement of affirmative action, endorsed abortion rights and promised to outline a “major” gun control proposal in the months ahead.
“As you can see, my positions aren’t cut to fit any ideological pattern,” Checchi said in his 18-minute address to about 200 members and guests of the Comstock Club, who interrupted his speech with sporadic applause. “The test for me is simple: What will meet the needs of California and move it forward, not what will satisfy the political establishment or big campaign contributors.”
Checchi’s independence comes at no small personal expense. The former airline executive (whose name is pronounced CHECK-ee) has vowed to spend as much as $30 million of his own money to finance his campaign.
His long-expected decision to enter the contest follows a months-long period of study–a sort of California 101 crash course–in which he met with scores of experts, from civic leaders to special pleaders, to learn about everything from agriculture to the impact of welfare reform.
Venturing forth from his gated Spanish-style mansion in Beverly Hills, Checchi visited about 50 cities and met with about 350 individuals as part of his tutorial. A few of the everyday people he met–including a Central Valley farmer and a San Fernando Valley man, Blinky Rodriguez, who lost a son to gang violence–were among those who attended Tuesday’s speech and were cited in Checchi’s remarks.
Such Reagan-like theatrics aside, Checchi’s lack of political sophistication has shown through more than once.
Despite his ambitions, Checchi conceded earlier this year that he failed to vote in four of the last six statewide elections, including the last governor’s race. Tuesday, chastising himself, he said he was simply too busy.
Another time, at a spring gathering of major California water officials, Checchi acknowledged that he didn’t “know anything about water.”
“Before preparing for this meeting, I thought the delta was an airline,” the former Northwest co-chairman joked.
In his speech Tuesday, Checchi predicted that he would probably make more “rookie mistakes” like that between now and the June primary. But all such humility aside, Checchi is no political naif.
Over the years he has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to assorted candidates and political causes, occasionally tip-toeing into the gray area that shrouds the political-finance system.
He also demonstrated his ample skill moving legislative levers when he persuaded–bludgeoned, critics say–lawmakers in Minnesota to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and other concessions to help rescue Northwest from bankruptcy in the early 1990s.
Raised in suburban Washington, the son of a high-level bureaucrat for the Food and Drug Administration, Checchi went to work for the Marriott Corp. straight out of college, putting his Harvard MBA to work in a series of creative and highly lucrative ventures.
In 1982, he joined the Bass Brothers investment firm and played a major role in helping save the then-struggling Disney Corp. Checchi and his family moved to California in 1985.
Four years later, he made his biggest financial play–and a financial killing–with a $3.65-billion takeover of Minneapolis-based Northwest.
After narrowly averting bankruptcy, the company thrived as the airline industry came soaring back from recession. Checchi’s relatively small investment–the Dutch airline giant KLM put up most of the cash for the deal–helped him build a fortune today estimated in excess of $550 million.
Checchi continued to lead Northwest as the airline’s co-chairman until stepping down in April to focus full time on preparing for the governor’s race.
He enters the contest as a mere asterisk in the polls and a phantom to most California voters. A random sampling of audience members before Checchi spoke showed that most people knew he was involved in the airline industry, had a lot of money and was interested in high office.
Beyond that–what airline, what position he held, what office he sought, even which party he belonged to–were a mystery.
“He seems to be successful and seems to have his own stash,” said Maxine Milner-Krugman, who knew that much about Checchi but confessed that she couldn’t properly pronounce his name.
More than a few compared him to Republican Michael Huffington, the former Santa Barbara congressman who narrowly lost the 1994 Senate race to Democrat Dianne Feinstein after spending $29 million of his fortune.
Asked later if he was concerned that voters would perceive him as another wealthy dilettante trying to buy his way into office, Checchi professed not to worry. “Most people don’t object to someone spending their own money,” he told reporters.
With Tuesday’s announcement, Checchi became the second declared Democrat for governor, joining Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, who made clear his intention to run a few months after taking office in 1995. Last week, state Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) launched an exploratory effort to determine whether to mount a full-blown campaign.
Feinstein, the front-runner in the polls, is still trying to make up her mind whether to run and has said a decision may be months away. Coincidentally, one of Checchi’s major co-investors in the 1989 Northwest deal was Feinstein’s husband, financier Richard Blum, who sank $100 million into the deal–five times Checchi’s personal investment.
On the Republican side, state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren is running unopposed for his party’s nomination. Gov. Pete Wilson, who has served two terms, is ineligible for reelection.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Profile: Alfred A. Checchi
Al Checchi seeks to parlay his success in business into a desk in the California governor’s office. Checchi, 49, is no newcomer to politics, having donated almost $325,000 to various political campaigns over the years. But the 1998 race for governor will mark the first bid for elective office for the Democrat.
* Born: 6/6/48, in Boston.
* Residence: Beverly Hills
* Education: Undergraduate degree in economics and American studies from Amherst. MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business.
* Career highlights: He rose through the ranks at the Marriott Corp., directing one of the nation’s largest real estate development businesses, then became a principal with the Texas-based Bass Bros. Enterprises. There, he worked on the firm’s acquisition of a major stake in Disney. In 1989, he and his longtime associate Gary Wilson engineered the purchase of Northwest Airlines. Checchi resigned as co-chairman of the airline last April to pursue his bid for governor. He retains a 10% stake in Northwest.
* Interests: Reading, golf
* Family: Married to attorney Kathryn Checchi, three children.
* Quote: “I reject the conventional politics that evades hard choices, that obscures controversial issues and seeks to offend no one except the powerless and the marginal.”
Prep talk: Oakwood is 14-0 in baseball
When you think of Oakwood School in sports, Mitchell Butler comes to mind. He put the basketball team on the map when getting a scholarship to UCLA and playing in the NBA.
Steve Smith, who coached basketball at Windward and in the WNBA, came on as athletic director and has been trying to raise the level of sports commitment at a school known for its academics and having parents in the entertainment business.
The baseball team is certainly showing passion and commitment this season with a 14-0 record, including wins over North Hollywood and Culver City.
Avery Ware, in his seventh season as coach, said, “It’s a lot of being selfless and versatile.”
Shortstop Jake Waco, who transferred from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame last season, has been effective as a fielder and hitter. He’s the son of David Waco, who was an All-City infielder for Chatsworth during the 1980s. He’s committed to Emory. The top pitcher is Trevor Jones, committed to Washington University.
If you believe Ware, the bus rides home have plenty of players singing, so someone might be capable of singing the national anthem before a game.
“We have a few kids with Hollywood ties,” Ware said.
Jones is a math whiz, also participating in competition with the STEM team. Other players are headed to Duke and Brown for academics.
“We’re making progress as a program,” Ware said. “For a lot of years, you could say baseball was a side note.”
Ware has his own celebrity ties. He and his brother, Anthony, were standouts at Hamilton. His cousins, Matt and Aaron Ware, were football stars at Loyola and Oaks Christian, respectively.
The team made an agreement to create a baseball field at North Hollywood Recreation Center next to the school.
And Ware appreciates Smith’s support.
“He’s able to create an environment of trust.”
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
LIVE: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid – Champions League quarterfinal | Football News
Live MatchLive Match,
Follow the build-up and live text commentary of the game as Madrid look to come back from 2-1 first-leg defeat.
Published On 15 Apr 2026
Why has Italy’s Giorgia Meloni suspended a defence pact with Israel? | US-Israel war on Iran News
Italy’s decision to suspend a defence agreement with Israel has more symbolic value than concrete consequences, but it is an unprecedented move by the Italian government and reflects deep unease over its longtime ally’s actions in the Middle East, analysts say.
On Monday, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy would not renew a memorandum of understanding – signed in 2003 and ratified in 2005 – between the two countries’ ministries of defence. The accord provided a framework for cooperation in “defence industry and procurement policy” and “import, export and transit of defence and military equipment”, among other things.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
The memorandum was set to automatically renew every five years “unless a written notice of intention to denounce is given” by one of the two countries to the other.
That notice arrived on Monday in a letter written by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz.
The Israeli government has downplayed the move. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said it was a deal that “never materialised” and did not have “substantial content”. “Israel’s security will not be harmed,” he wrote on X.
It is true that the Italy-Israel agreement constituted more of a political framework than a series of operational commitments between the two countries. Furthermore, the Italian government’s decision does not cancel it outright, as opposition parties and human rights advocates have long demanded, but merely suspends it.
Still, the move is a sharp reversal for a right-wing government that has been one of Europe’s staunchest allies of Israel.
Along with Germany, Italy has been one of the strongest opponents of calls to suspend a trade agreement between Israel and the European Union. Italy has largely supported Israel’s war on Gaza, which a United Nations inquiry says amounts to genocide, and it has refused to recognise Palestinian statehood.
But relations between Israel and Italy have soured recently.
On Monday, the Italian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Luca Ferrari, was summoned after Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Israel for its “unacceptable attacks against the civilian population” in Lebanon during a visit there. And last week, the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, prompting Tajani to summon the Israeli ambassador.
Israel also launched a massive attack across Lebanon last week, bombing 100 targets in 10 minutes on Wednesday, shortly after a two-week truce between Iran and the US was called. That series of strikes killed hundreds of people in one of the country’s worst mass slaughters since the end of the country’s civil war in 1990. Observers say the attack on Lebanon was an unwelcome disruptor to efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
De-escalating Middle East tensions
The Italian government’s decision to suspend its defence agreement with Israel “must be seen within a broader effort to progressively stabilise the region, including by reducing tensions in Lebanon”, said Michele Valensise, president of the Institute for International Affairs and former secretary-general of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Israel’s military operation there objectively constitutes an irritant, complicating negotiations with the Iranians,” said Valensise. “If the Lebanese front can be part of a deal with Iran, then everyone has an interest in de-escalation there.”
European governments, including Italy, have been watching nervously as the United States-Israeli war on Iran has unfolded. Following initial joint Israel-US strikes on Tehran on February 28, Iranian forces brought shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to a near-total halt, causing the paralysis of the one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports that pass through the narrow waterway in peacetime.
Following a first failed round of high-stakes Iran-US talks in Islamabad last weekend – amid a fragile two-week truce – Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, further aggravating fears of a protracted energy crisis. Italy heavily relies on gas imports.
‘Stop the genocide’
Possibly more importantly, Italy’s government and prime minister are preparing for elections next year.
“There is a general discontent over the war in Iran and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz – a crisis that’s impacting Italian growth and, if it continues, could have a significant impact on citizens, something Meloni worries about in a pre-election year,” said Arturo Varvelli, a political scientist and senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Italian public opinion also has a strong pro-Palestinian component. Last October, more than two million Italians took to the streets as part of a general strike in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israel while trying to bring aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The flotilla had been carrying 40 Italians among its passengers, calling on Israel to “stop the genocide”.
“There’s a concern that this will be a long agony, between an increasingly unmanageable Trump and the economic problems he and Netanyahu have caused with the war in the Middle East,” Varvelli said.
After years of efforts to emerge as US President Donald Trump’s “whisperer” in Europe, Meloni has been pushed by the war in Iran to put some distance between herself and Trump. Rome refused the US president’s request to join a naval coalition to force the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and to allow US bombers to refuel at a military base in southern Italy.
Trump had not commented on those decisions until yesterday, when, in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he took aim at Meloni. The Italian PM had leapt to defend Pope Leo XIV after he became embroiled in a feud with Trump. Pope Leo had condemned the US president’s threat that Iran’s “civilisation will die” if it didn’t re-open the Strait of Hormuz. In response to that, Trump unleashed a storm of criticism at Leo, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy”. He said he does not “want a Pope who criticises the President of the United States”.
Trump also posted a bizarre image of himself as a Christ-like figure healing the sick on social media. He has since claimed it was meant to depict him as a doctor, following widespread criticism.
Of Meloni, who he once affectionately called “a real live wire”, Trump said, “I’m shocked at her” during an interview with Corriere della Sera on Tuesday.
“Do people like her? I can’t believe it,” he said in the interview, adding, “I thought she had courage. I was wrong.”
‘Best’ true crime series starring Amanda Seyfried quietly drops on ITVX
The Dropout tells the story of the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of biotech company Theranos, starring Amanda Seyfried.
The Dropout: Official trailer from Disney+
The true crime series starring Amanda Seyfried is now available to stream on ITVX.
The Dropout chronicles the true story behind the collapse of tech firm Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes.
The tale commences in 2002, when Holmes embarked on a chemical engineering degree at the prestigious Stanford University in California, where she quickly began developing concepts for groundbreaking inventions.
Her initial concept involved creating a patch that would adhere to a person’s skin and continuously monitor the body for infections, automatically dispensing antibiotics when required. While the idea appeared fascinating in principle, it proved physically unachievable.
Professor of Medicine Dr Phyllis Gardner (Laurie Metcalf) advised Holmes of this, but she appeared to dismiss the academic’s knowledge as an underestimation of her capabilities.
Holmes insisted that she could “change the world” with this pioneering technology and garnered international acclaim, reports the Express.
She left Stanford before completing her second year to concentrate on her new venture, Theranos, which centred around an equally ambitious and potentially transformative piece of technology.
Nevertheless, when The Wall Street Journal launched an investigation into the firm, its reporting triggered a cascade of enquiries and increased scrutiny of Theranos, prompting it to become more transparent about its tightly guarded methods.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation, and 40 per cent of staff were made redundant a year later as the company went through restructuring.
Following the charges, the trial was postponed due to Holmes’ pregnancy and the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually commenced in September 2021, with a jury convicting her on four counts of defrauding investors four months later.
No verdict was reached on three additional counts of wire fraud against investors, which the government later dropped, while Holmes was also acquitted on four counts of defrauding patients.
On 18th November 2022, Holmes received a sentence of 11 years and three months in prison, and she began serving her sentence in Texas on 30th May 2023.
The Dropout chronicles the dramatic downfall of the woman Forbes once dubbed the “youngest self-made female billionaire” in the world.
“Wow.. this show is insane. I want to start off by saying that I know movies and shows overdramatise true stories, so I’m speaking solely about the show right now. This goes from you rooting for the main character to you hating her.. like a real life Anakin Skywalker story”, one viewer commented about the series in a review on IMDB.
Another remarked, “The story itself is good. It moved at a quick pace, and everything they got is amazing. The one that played Edmund Ko, Stephen Fry as Ian Gibbons, are standouts for me. Sunny was also great.”
A third wrote: “Highly Watchable With Great Performances”, while another stated: “Wonderful! One of the very best shows you can see. Amanda Seyfried deserves every award to which she is eligible. Her performance as Elizabeth Holmes is off the chart.”
The Dropout is available to stream on ITVX
Wednesday 15 April Public Holiday in Tarija Bolivia
This article explores the historical significance of the April 15th public holiday celebrated in the southern Bolivian city of Tarija. The date honors the 1817 Battle of La Tablada, where local forces achieved a decisive military triumph against Spanish colonial rule. Although the event was mistakenly commemorated in May for a century, modern celebrations now span the entire month of April through a cultural festival known as “Los Abriles de Tarija.” These festivities include a diverse array of activities ranging from theatrical performances and concerts to traditional livestock shows and rodeos. Ultimately, the text highlights how this specific anniversary serves as a cornerstone of regional identity and national pride for the people of Tarija.
Would Mitt Romney’s cap on itemized deductions work?
This post has been updated, as indicated below.
In this week’s presidential debate, Mitt Romney fleshed out an idea he had previously mentioned briefly as a way to pay for his proposed tax cuts – setting a cap on itemized deductions.
“I’m going to bring rates down across the board for everybody, but I’m going to limit deductions and exemptions and credits, particularly for people at the high end,” the Republican presidential nominee said.
“One way of doing that would be to say everybody gets – I’ll pick a number – $25,000 of deductions and credits. And you can decide which ones to use, your home mortgage interest deduction, charity, child tax credit and so forth. You can use those as part of filling that bucket, if you will, of deductions.”
The cap, Romney said Tuesday night, would ensure that the wealthy would not receive an outsized tax break. “I am not going to have people at the high end pay less than they’re paying now” as an overall share of U.S. taxes, he said.
Moreover, he insisted, the cap would allow him to pay for his proposed tax cuts without increasing the size of the deficit.
“Of course they add up,” he responded when Candy Crowley, the debate moderator, asked him about whether his numbers penciled out.
Politically, a cap on deductions provides an attractive solution to raising tax revenue because it avoids having to wage fights over individual deductions.
Unfortunately for Romney, however, the cap does not come close to covering the full cost of the tax plan he has proposed, according to a new analysis by the Tax Policy Center, a specialized Washington think tank. The Romney tax plan would reduce federal revenue by about $5 trillion over 10 years in addition to the cost of the Bush-era tax cuts that he would extend.
“These new estimates suggest that Romney will need to do much more than capping itemized deductions to pay for the roughly $5 trillion in rate cuts and other tax benefits he has proposed,” wrote Roberton Williams, an analyst at the nonpartisan center, which is a joint operation of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.
The Tax Policy Center analysis suggested that Romney’s proposed cap would raise revenue in a “highly progressive” way because upper-income households benefit more from itemized deductions. The center found that the cap would provide considerable revenue to offset the cost of the tax cut, but would still leave a huge gap.
The center’s staff consists of former government tax experts from both Republican and Democratic administrations. Romney and his aides cited the center as an authoritative source during Republican primary debates but since then have objected to the center’s analyses of shortcomings in their tax plan.
According to the center’s analysis, a $25,000 cap would raise about $1.3 trillion over a 10-year period. That would cover roughly a quarter of the 10-year cost of Romney’s tax plan.
If Romney made the cap tighter – allowing just $17,000 in deductions and credits – he could raise $1.7 trillion. A $50,000 cap would bring in about $760 billion. At various times, Romney has cited each of those figures as a proposed cap.
The tighter cap would hit many more taxpayers. If the cap were $50,000, for example, almost all the revenue that it would raise, about 80%, would come from taxpayers with income above $500,000 a year, and less than 4% would come from taxpayers earning less than $100,000, according to the center’s analysis. That’s because very few taxpayers other than the very wealthy have deductions that total more than $50,000.
By contrast, a cap of $17,000 would get about 40% of its revenue from that top group, and about 17% from the taxpayers earning $100,000 or less.
Romney has said that he expects part of his tax cut would be paid for by additional revenue flowing into the treasury as the result of faster economic growth. Economists disagree about whether a tax cut such as the one Romney has proposed – a reduction of current tax rates by one-fifth – would significantly increase economic growth.
In response to the center’s report, the Romney campaign issued a statement that did not dispute the math, but reiterated Romney’s position that “the President and Congress working together can make the tax code simpler, more efficient, and more pro-growth.”
[For the Record, 9:51 a.m. PST Oct. 18: This post has been updated to include the Romney campaign’s response to the Tax Policy Center’s report.]
Follow Politics Now on Twitter and Facebook
Twitter: @DavidLauter
When is LA28’s next Olympics ticket drop, and where are $28 tickets?
You ask. We answer. Or at least we’re going to try.
The Times asked readers for their burning questions regarding the Olympics, and it’s the ticketing process that’s bringing the most heat. Locals in Southern California and Oklahoma City endured the presale headaches and sticker shock before the global audience got their shot at securing tickets this week. But with more than two years remaining until the Games open, expect that there will be more questions.
Here is what Times readers wanted to know:
Why are tickets so expensive?
A price tag of $5,000 to watch the opening ceremony or $2,500 for women’s artistic gymnastics finals shocked hopeful fans on the first day of ticket sales. But it’s not 1984 anymore.
Ticket sales and hospitality are expected to cover about $2.5 billion of the total $7.1 budget. LA28 will have 14 million tickets available across the Olympics and Paralympics, so taken in total, the average ticket for the Games would have to be roughly $179 to reach the budget estimate. Paralympic tickets, which will go on sale in 2027, are expected to be less expensive than Olympic tickets. LA28 said the average Olympic ticket — inclusive of the 24% fee — is less than $200. The math is mathing.
LA28 did not release a complete price list before tickets went on sale, likely fueling some of the sticker shock after fans just heard about the promise of $28 tickets. And a 24% fee raised additional eyebrows.
The fees “align with standard industry practices for ticketing live events in the U.S.,” LA28 said in a statement and cover the costs of secure processing and delivering tickets.
Are there still $28 tickets available?
Yes. LA28 chief executive officer Reynold Hoover said at a recent press event that there are $28 tickets that have not yet been released.
But expect the tickets to go quickly whenever they are available.
There are roughly 1 million $28 tickets total. Divide those tickets to ensure they can be distributed over a number of drops and then divide each drop’s $28 tickets across multiple sports. It’s quickly resembling a small number of needles in a big haystack.
The 1 million $28 tickets are spread across every sport, but not every session. So don’t expect $28 tickets for finals or knock out rounds to the most in-demand sports including women’s artistic gymnastics, basketball, swimming or track and field to be sold at all. Cross your fingers, look for qualifying rounds, especially sports that have a lot of early pool matches such as 3×3 basketball or field hockey, and be open to exploring a new sport you’ve never heard of. Handball is actually a lot of fun to watch.
How many tickets are available in each drop?
This is a question everyone wants to know. And trust me, we’ve asked. LA28 declined in multiple settings to release specific numbers. The lack of information likely contributed to much of the confusion about what to expect when fans logged into the portal for the first time, and it makes it difficult to project what the ticket distribution will look like in future drops.
I had a time slot but didn’t buy my full allotment of tickets. What now?
If you didn’t buy the maximum 12 tickets allowed, you’ll automatically be entered for the next ticket draw later this year. LA28 has not released any additional details about when exactly that next opportunity will be, but it will have the same steps as the first one: a period of open, free registration, a random lottery and assigned time slots during which fans can log in and purchase tickets.
Fans will be automatically rolled over into future lotteries until they’ve reached the maximum 12 general tickets. So you don’t have to do anything extra if you’ve already registered for the first drop. But if you’ve bought your 12 general tickets and not the additional 12 soccer tickets, you won’t be entered into the next draw.
I didn’t register for the presale/first drop. Can I still get a chance to buy tickets?
Don’t panic. You can register next time. The next drop, which will come later this year, will have the same registration period, lottery, time slot pattern, but there will not a presale period. Each lottery is random, so whether you are a first-drop rollover, a new registrant on the first day or someone who signs up on the last day, you all have the same chance to get a time slot.
There will be multiple time slot-based ticket drops before tickets move to a complete first-come, first-served sale.
How can groups get access to the tickets available through the donation program?
Last November, LA28 launched a donation program to help fund tickets for local organizations. The Rams were the first contributors to the program, pledging $5 million to the campaign. But LA28 has not released additional information yet about how the tickets will be handled or distributed in the future.
Will I be able to transfer tickets to friends/family?
Yes. Digital tickets for recent Olympics have been distributed through an app and when they hit your account, you can send them to friends and family using their email addresses/Olympic account information. Just be prepared to download yet another app on your phone.
Why are some events in Oklahoma?
The softball tournament will be in Oklahoma City’s Devon Park, which hosts the Women’s College World Series every year, and canoe slalom will take place at Riversport OKC, the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training center for rowing and canoe/kayak.
These Games were intended to use existing infrastructure instead of building new venues, which greatly cuts down on costs. Hosting the canoe slalom events near L.A. would have required an expensive temporary build. It’s true that Southern California has many great college softball teams with existing facilities, but it would be difficult to prepare to a scale suitable for Olympic athletes, stakeholders, media and fans. I’ve covered many softball games at UCLA. The fan capacity is less than 1,500 and there’s room for about seven people in the press box. Eight if you scrunch. You can’t build temporary stands there; the outfield touches Sunset Boulevard.
In Tokyo, the last time baseball and softball were at the Olympics, the sports shared a venue. But LA28 organizers heard feedback from softball athletes saying that converting a baseball stadium into a softball venue compromised some of the Games experience. Moving the softball and canoe slalom events outside of Southern California is a trade off though. Those athletes will not be able to have some of the same Olympic experiences as others, but organizers were mindful to make the competition schedule to ensure that athletes could still attend either the opening or closing ceremonies despite competing far away.
Every Olympics wrestles with finding the perfect venue, and for the L.A. Games, which have more sports and more athletes than any Olympics in history, that calculus is harder than most. There are no perfect solutions.
The Times will continue answering reader questions leading up to the Olympics. Use the form below to submit your questions and check back later for more responses.
My favourite up-and-coming EU country has £2.60 pints, cheap spas and temperatures up to 30C in summer
MOST Brits will stick to Western Europe for a summer holiday heading to the likes of France or Spain.
But in doing so are missing out on beautiful and not to mention cheaper alternatives in the east, like Lithuania.
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
Lithuania hasn’t typically been a holiday location for Brits, but it’s seeing a rise in tourists.
Last year, Lithuania was Europe‘s fastest-growing destination with international arrivals up 21 per cent – and it’s emerging as a compelling alternative for 2026.
Having visited Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, late last year, I can vouch that it makes for a great city break.
And it will be even more pleasant in spring and summer when temperatures can reach highs of 30C.
While it was a little colder (and even snowed) when I visited in December 2025, I still got a feel for the city where I found bargain drinks and cute markets.
In the heart of the capital city is its beautiful Old Town which has cobbled streets, hidden courtyards and plenty of bars.
If you look up, beautiful churches dominate the skyline – the Old Town has around 40 alone.
Meanwhile, the streets are winding and with shops, cafes and restaurants. I discovered one bar called Vynomanai, which was selling coffee for €2 (£1.74) and beer for €3 (£2.62).
One snack you have to try as it’s a local delicacy called ‘kepta duona’ – and once you have a taste, you won’t be able to stop.
Essentially it’s fried bread in garlic – which is like the UK’s version of pork scratchings. But, if you want something slightly fancier, Vilnius has four Michelin-star restaurants with tasting menus.
In huge contrast is the modern city of Vilnius which is filled with green parks, museums, art galleries and shopping centres.
For something more quirky, head to Lukiskiu Kalejimas prison to take a tour around the cells – unbelievably it was used up until 2019.
After its closure, the site was used for filming prison scenes in Season 4 of Stranger Things.
Now it’s used as a cultural centre and is open to the public for tours.
I’d say, to get a feel of the city, head out into the Old Town early on Sunday morning, you can hear the church bells chime and the streets were practically deserted when I went for a wander.
If you’re booking your next getaway – here are some of our favourite family holidays…
*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.
Selenium Hotel, Antalya, Turkey
This hotel is a top pick for families who want to do a bit of everything. If you love the water, the nearby beach is packed with fun activities like banana boats, jet-skiing, and diving, while the hotel’s pool is perfect for a more relaxing dip. For a change of pace, the hotel can help you organise horse riding or bike rides along the pretty coastal paths, and there’s even a golf course just 20 minutes away for the grown-ups.
Blue Sea Interpalace, Tenerife
With a massive outdoor pool, mini-golf, and a dedicated kids club, there’s plenty here to keep kids of all ages entertained. Each of the 234 rooms comes with the essentials like air-con and a minibar, and the all-inclusive buffet means everyone stays fueled for a day on the beach or battling on the sports courts. When you’re ready to explore, Puerto de la Cruz is right on your doorstep, where you can wander past an 18th-century fort, explore the pretty harbour, or play on the island’s famous volcanic black-sand beaches.
Rodos Star, Rhodes, Greece
Rodos Star is perched on a hilltop with stunning views over the Aegean Sea. It’s a great choice for a relaxed Greek getaway, featuring a main pool for the grown-ups and a dedicated splash pool for the kids. With evening entertainment like Greek dancing and live music three times a week, there’s plenty of fun for everyone. You’re just a five-minute stroll from Afandou, a traditional village packed with shops and authentic tavernas. Plus the generous all-inclusive package will keep everybody fed and happy.
Archipel Monastir, Tunisia
This glamorous Tunisian retreat sits directly on a golden beach, putting the Mediterranean Sea right at your doorstep. Families will love the spacious rooms that sleep up to four, along with a fun-filled sports schedule featuring tennis, volleyball, and archery. While the kids are busy, you can slip away to the hotel’s luxurious spa and traditional hammam for some serious relaxation. When you’re ready to explore, the city of Monastir is packed with local history including ancient fortresses.
For those who like to relax, Lithuania is a great place to do so as it has a high density of spas.
Last year, Lithuania was even crowned the best spot in the world for health and wellness by ITB Health Tourism.
In dedicated wellness towns like Druskininkai, you’ll find lots more, here is home to Dineika Wellness Park.
The small resort has an open-air gym, public sauna by the river, lots of parklands to explore.
Entry to the park is actually free and treatments start from as little €12 (£10.43).
Guests can take mud baths, bubble baths and opt for massages which start from €20 (£17.39).
Lithuania has a relatively short coastline which stretches around 57 miles, but it does have some beaches.
Popular spots with white sands include Neringa, Palanga, and Smiltynė.
Or with the coastline being short, lots opt to swim in its freshwater lakes instead, like Green Lakes and Balžis.
Flights to Vilnius are cheap too, in April you can get one-way flights from London Luton from as little as £16 with Ryanair and be there in under three hours.
For more on holidays, one of Europe’s cheapest city break destinations with £2 beers and massive waterpark has new UK flights.
And this spot in ‘Eastern European Riviera’ with white sand beaches that you can fly to for £13 from the UK.
Foreign Office warns tourist spot on islands loved by Brits can be ‘fatal’
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an update for a sun-soaked holiday hotspot and warned that there have ‘been fatal accidents’ in the area
The Foreign Office has issued a fresh warning for the tropical island(Image: Getty Images)
The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for a hugely popular holiday destination that welcomes thousands of Brits every year.
On Wednesday, 15 April, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for the Maldives. They warned about swimming safety in the Indian Ocean, with the Maldives renowned as a hotspot for snorkelling, swimming and watersports due to its crystal-clear turquoise waters.
While the waters around the Maldives are appealing, the FCDO warned that they “can have strong tidal currents that can drag you away from the shoreline.” They noted that more than eight Brits have drowned in the area since 2021, and urged everyone to be aware of the risks and understand how to minimise them.
READ MORE: Strict new hand luggage rule comes into force today affecting at least 580,000 BritsREAD MORE: Another major airline warns flights could soon be grounded because of fuel crisis
READ MORE: Foreign Office alerts Brits after eight UK deaths at holiday hotspot
In an updated warning, they said: “You should read the security information provided by your tour operator and make yourself aware of local swimming conditions on arrival at the resort. Keep in regular contact with resort staff to see if these conditions change.
“Only swim in well supervised areas, areas designated as safe for tourists, or where lifeguards are available. Pay attention to warning signs or flags and avoid swimming in areas with strong currents, high waves or dangerous underwater conditions. If something does not feel right, get out of the water at the earliest opportunity.”
They further highlighted: “Being aware of the potential dangers will help you to stay safe. Always take local advice before going into the sea.
“There have been fatal accidents involving boat propellers in the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) and nearby whale shark tourism sites. Regulations requiring propeller guards are not yet fully enforced. Take extra care when swimming or snorkelling near boats and follow local safety instructions.
“See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.”
The FCDO doesn’t advise against travel to the Maldives, but it has warned that “escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption”. This has resulted in airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, which could impact “connections to and from the Maldives.”
For anyone planning a trip to the Maldives, the Foreign Office advises the following before travelling:
- “Check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
- Check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator before travelling
- Review your travel insurance policy to confirm what is covered
- Monitor local and international media and sign up for FCDO travel advice email alerts”
In further travel advice for safety in the Maldives, the FCDO highlight that terrorist attacks “cannot be ruled out”. They state: “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”
For more information on travel advice to the Maldives, visit the Foreign Office website.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Leftist gains in race to presidential runoff in Peru; count continues
Roberto Sanchez, presidential candidate for the Juntos por el Peru party, speaks during a press conference in Lima, Peru, on Monday. Sanchez has moved into second place in the voting, which continues and will lead to a runoff June 7. Photo by John Reyes Mejia/EPA
April 15 (UPI) — Leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez has moved into second place in Peru’s presidential vote count, positioning himself for the runoff election as officials continue to tally ballots from the general election.
With about 90% of ballots counted, official results from Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes show Keiko Fujimori leading with 16.9% of the vote, securing her place in the runoff. The race for second place remains extremely close.
After three days of slow vote counting, Sánchez climbed to second place with 12,05% of the vote, edging far-right candidate Rafael López Aliaga, who has 11.94%.
Ballots in Peru are processed in the order they arrive, favoring candidates with stronger support in major cities during the early stages of the count. That has kept the country in suspense, as the remaining rural vote could solidify Sánchez’s lead, La República reported.
Sánchez, a congressman and head of the leftist Juntos por el Perú party, ran as the political heir to former President Pedro Castillo, under whom he served as trade minister. During the campaign, he adopted Castillo’s signature wide-brimmed hat in public appearances.
His platform calls for sweeping state reforms through a constituent assembly, Peru’s entry into the BRICS bloc and greater state control over strategic resources without expropriation, seeking support in the Andean south and rural regions.
If Sánchez advances to the June 7 runoff, the result would echo Peru’s 2021 presidential election, when Castillo, then a little-known union leader, unexpectedly reached the second round against Keiko Fujimori with 18.9% of the vote.
As Sánchez gained ground, López Aliaga called the election a “systematic fraud” and demanded the vote be annulled, alleging manipulation in the electoral authority’s data transmission system and logistical chaos, El Comercio reported.
Election observation missions Tuesday backed the integrity of the process, describing the vote as credible and transparent despite logistical problems that caused delays and forced some polling stations to remain open longer, according to France 24.
Peru’s comptroller general also warned of serious problems in the distribution of tally sheets and election materials during the 2026 vote, which reportedly delayed polling station openings in parts of the country, Latina TV reported.
Election authorities said the prolonged count is largely due to the technical complexity of processing ballots that combined five simultaneous elections: president, national senators, regional senators, lower house lawmakers and Andean Parliament representatives.
Voters were asked to choose among 35 presidential candidates and nearly 10,000 candidates for Congress and the Andean Parliament.
Facing criticism and legal complaints over the delay, the electoral office director, Piero Corvetto, defended the process and urged calm as officials continue counting ballots from Peru’s most remote rural areas.
Army Names Its New MV-75 Tiltrotor Cheyenne II
The Cold War-era Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne might have been plagued with issues, but there’s no doubt it was among the world’s most advanced helicopters of its day. The AH-56 was so fast, and its features so ahead of their time, that the U.S. Army has decided to port over its name for its highly anticipated MV-75 tiltrotor, now officially named the Cheyenne II. The name also continues the Army’s tradition of naming its helicopters after great Native American tribes, and will find its place among icons like the Apache, Chinook, and Lakota.
In 2022, the Army picked a design from Bell, based on that company’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor, as the winner of its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition. In January of this year, the Army confirmed to TWZ that it planned to accelerate its timeline for the MV-75 by multiple years, fielding the first examples in 2027 versus 2031.
The rollout took place today at the Army Aviation Association of America’s Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Speaking to journalists, including TWZ, before that event, Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, the commanding general of the Army Aviation Center and Portfolio Acquisition Executive — Expanded Maneuver Air, announced the MV-75’s rollout as “a pivotal moment for Army Aviation, for our soldiers.”
In keeping with other Army rotorcraft, the MV-75’s name also honors a Native American tribe (more accurately, two tribes), the Cheyenne.
As Maj. Gen. Gill explained: This name reflects more than heritage. It reflects identity. The Cheyenne people inhabited the Great Plains for 400 years, adapting to a harsh and unforgiving environment as highly proficient hunters and gatherers. Their way of life required constant mobility, organized around nomadic buffalo hunting, enabling them to assemble, disassemble, and move quickly to meet the demands of their environment. In many aspects, that same ability to rapidly organize, reposition, and operate with precision is reflected in the MV-75 platform.”
“Life in that environment demanded resilience and strength,” Gill continued. “Tribes navigated rivalries, dirt, conflict, and adapted as Westward expansion reshaped the landscape around them. Today, the Cheyenne are represented by the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Montana, in the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in Oklahoma, whose legacy reflects the proud and enduring warrior tradition, ground and protection, provision and leadership. Those values demand capability, and in today’s fight, that capability comes in the form of speed, range, lethality, and adaptability. That spirit of mobility, resilience, and disciplined strength is what the name Cheyenne II represents.”
As for the other, historical Cheyenne, the AH-56, this was a first-generation attack helicopter drafted during the Vietnam War. Most impressively for the time, the helicopter could hit a 224-mile-per-hour cruise speed and dash at speeds up to 240 miles per hour, driven by a nearly 4,000-horsepower turbine engine and a pusher propeller on the tail boom.
F 03873 US Army Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne multi weapon attack Helicopter
While it boasted incredible performance and was packed full of advanced features, the AH-56 was destined for failure. A combination of technical issues, program management shortfalls, changing procurement priorities, high cost, and a fatal crash in 1969 saw the program terminated. But despite never entering service, the Cheyenne left a profound impact on the concept of close air support and attack helicopter design and today holds a special place in military aviation history.
On the other hand, there are plenty of obvious differences between the AH-56 and the MV-75, not least their missions. They also had different prime contractors, and, the Army must hope, will have very different outcomes.
Maj. Gen. Gill continued: “What the [AH-56] Cheyenne was when it was initially conceived in the 1960s was a transformational leap ahead in technology. It was a rotorcraft when we were still learning how helicopters flew and how we could get the maximum utility, speed, and range out of them. And the Cheyenne, at the time that it was developed, was completely different. It had a pusher prop on it that allowed it to achieve speeds that we hadn’t seen before. You could draw a lot of parallels between going from the current fleet of rotorcraft that we fly, that is really 1960s, 1970s-era technology … to what we’re doing with the tiltrotor technology. Twice as far, twice as fast, vertical takeoff and landing, but flying at airplane speeds. You can certainly draw the metaphor there if you want, between the AH-56 back in the late 1960s and the MV-75 today.”
Continuing on the transformational theme, Brent G. Ingraham, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, provided his assessment of the MV-75, describing it as “a generational capability for the Army,” and one that “truly fundamentally changes how commanders think about distance, time, and maneuver on the battlefield.”
Ingraham continued: “It combines the vertical lift of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane, allowing us to project combat power from safer distances, penetrate deeper into contested environments, and deliver soldiers where they are needed most, faster than we ever have before.”
For the soldier, this means “restoring full-squad insertion at extended range, expanding medevac reach well beyond today’s Golden Hour, enabling large-scale, long-range air assault operations that can reshape the battlefield,” Ingraham added. Just as critically, the Cheyenne II will be able to self-deploy globally, reducing cost, complexity, and response time in a crisis. This is also especially relevant for future operations in the Indo-Pacific region, where operating locations and objectives are likely to be dispersed across large areas with limited options for making intermediate stops.
Ingraham also noted another key aspect of the program, namely the incredibly aggressive schedule to get it into service. Claiming the program as an “acquisition success story,” he described the team moving “with urgency while maintaining discipline.”
The MV-75 is designed around a modular, open-systems approach, with a digital backbone that should make it easier to adapt and upgrade as the program evolves.
“That means we can rapidly integrate new technologies, adapt to emerging threats, and avoid the costly redesigns of the past,” Ingraham said.
Ingraham confirmed that the fielding timeline is being accelerated, which means the first Cheyenne II unit should be equipped in Fiscal Year 2030. Exactly how realistic that ambition is is something that we will discuss in a follow-on story.
As Ingraham said, speed matters, not just in the air, but in acquisition as well.
“We did it through strong partnerships across industry, the requirements community, and our operational units like the 101st [The 101st Airborne Division, the Army’s premier air assault unit, and the first unit set to get MV-75s], ensuring this platform is not just technologically advanced, but operationally relevant from day one. Simply put, the MV-75 Cheyenne II is how we deliver capability at the speed of relevance.”
For a rotary-wing program that puts a lot of emphasis on speed, its new Cheyenne II name is especially appropriate. Let’s just hope its warp-speed development doesn’t end the same way as its partial namesake.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
My stunning home city is the REAL home of Harry Potter
IF HOGWARTS was a real place, it would be rammed with selfie-stick-wielding tourists – but one quiet spot in a Devonshire city is the ultimate hidden gem for Potterheads.
It’s no secret that J.K. Rowling studied at Exeter University, but for years Harry Potter fans have been convinced that part of the city actually inspired a major feature of the movies (though she did debunk this herself).
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
Tucked away at a right angle off the bustling high street, you’ll find Gandy Street – a crooked, cobbled lane that looks remarkably like Diagon Alley.
To find it, you’ll have to venture down an opening between Urban Outfitters and Costa – and many visiting the city actually miss this.
The lane then opens up into a magical world of bunting, twinkling lights and higgidy-piggidy shops.
Read more on travel inspo
While the film‘s Diagon Alley is actually a film set, the resemblance is clear.
According to Warner Brothers Studio Tour, the design of Diagon Alley was inspired by Charles Dickens’ descriptions of London.
However, director Chris Columbus realised that not many places look like 19th century London anymore, so a set for Diagon Alley was built specifically for filming.
Misshapen buildings tower over the lane and there is a flea market vibe similar to that of the bird cages and antique-style signs hanging from Diagon Alley’s shopfronts.
The entire street has dark-stone architecture, just like the gloominess of Diagon Alley.
Though the colourful shopfronts brighten the street in the same way Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes does for Diagon Alley.
While Diagon Alley boasts Flourish and Blotts, Mr Mulpepper’s Apothecary, Gringotts Wizard Bank and OIlivanders wand shop, Gandy Street has its own destinations worth visiting.
You might not be able to gobble a Chocolate Frog, but you can dive into Chococo for a hot chocolate.
At the Makers Market, you will find magical trinkets created by local sellers such as handmade handbags and quirky prints.
For pretty and unique jewellery head to Silver Lion and for gifts drop by Moko.
Even The Vaults nightclub looks a bit like Gringotts Bank, though don’t expect to find a dragon – just good cocktails.
If you are hungry there are a couple of spots on the street to grab a bite to eat including Red Panda, where you can grab a bao bun and salad for under a tenner.
For another interesting spot nearby, venture to Parliament Street which is thought to be the narrowest street in the UK and one of the narrowest in Europe.
It dates back to the 14th century and at its narrowest point measures only 63.5cm.
And your adventure around the city doesn’t have to end there…
Make sure to head to the Cathedral Quarter, where – in my opinion – you’ll find one of the most breathtaking cathedrals in the UK.
The 12th century Gothic cathedral has the “longest unbroken stretch of Gothic vaulting” remaining in the world, according to Visit Exeter, measuring 91metres – about the same as the height of Big Ben.
Our favourite UK hotels
*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.
Margate House, Kent
This stylish boutique hotel is in a seaside townhouse, a short walk from Margate’s coolest bars and restaurants. Decked out with plush velvet sofas, candles flickering and striking independent art, inside feels like a warm welcome home. Rooms are stunning, especially the ones that give you a glimpse of the sea.
The Alan, Manchester
The Alan looks extremely grand, being built into a beautiful Grade II listed building. Spread across six floors, with 137 rooms, each one looks like a fancy design magazine. From the concrete coffee tables to the pink plastered walls, the industrial-inspired designs perfectly replicate the history of the city.
The Queen at Chester Hotel
This historic hotel has welcomed the likes of Charles Dickens and Lillie Langtry through its doors. Rooms have richly-patterned carpets with super soft bed linen and premium toiletries in the bathroom. Go for a superior room for extra goodies including bathrobes and snack boxes.
The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
This Cambridge hotel is in the ideal spot, within walking distance to bars, shops and hotspots like the university colleges and Parker’s Piece. The inside couldn’t be prettier, with huge stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and rooms with enormous clawfoot bath tubs.
One of my favourite things to do here is enjoy the cathedral green and look at the 50-plus statues carved into the Salcombe and volcanic stone the cathedral is built out of.
Make sure to explore the lower part of the high street as well, just a short walk from the cathedral.
Here you’ll find most of the independent businesses in the city including cosy cafes and McCoys Arcade, which is home to a number of shops including a book store and record store.
If you do want to head to some of the bigger brand names, walk to the very top of the high street where you will find the likes of Lush, John Lewis, Next and Waterstones.
The best part to visiting the city? Unlike Harry, you won’t need to tap your wand on the wall to get in… You just need a train ticket to Devon.
If you are wanting to explore more of Devon, here’s the hidden town tourists often skip but locals love, with a coastline of secret coves and historic funicular.
Plus, here’s how to have a cheap Devon holiday this summer.
Where is Coronation Street’s Kirsty actress now 13 years after exit for abusing Tyrone
Kirsty Soames is one of Coronation Street’s most infamous villains before she was sent to prison for her crimes over a decade ago
Where is Coronation Street’s Kirsty actress now 13 years after exit for abusing Tyrone(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Kirsty Soames caused plenty of drama during her stint – but what has the actress been up to since her exit?
Back in 2011, Kirsty (Natalie Gumede) made her debut as the love interest of Tyrone (Alan Halsall). The pair soon hit it off – and even went on to welcome a daughter, Ruby, together in 2012.
However, things took a dramatic turn when Kirsty started to abuse Tyrone, often turning against him in violent rages. The nasty police officer ended up lying and accusing Tyrone of abusing her.
However, during his trial in 2013, Kirsty confessed that she was the abuser and Tyrone was cleared of any wrongdoing while she was convicted and sent to prison. She nominated Tyrone to have custody of Ruby, and he told her he never wanted to see her ever again.
A year later though, she was referenced on the long-running ITV soap when she sent Tyrone abusive texts after leaving prison in 2014. Fast forward to 2021 and Tyrone was informed that Kirsty had died. It was claimed that Kirsty died from an aneurysm, and she was discovered in her flat by a neighbour.
And over on the long-running soap this week, Tyrone’s domestic abuse past was mentioned after it came out that Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) has been abused by husband Theo Silverton (James Cartwright).
Talking about her decision to leave the soap, Kirsty actress Natalie previously said: “It was really tough, but I was ready to leave.
“I think it was a healthy time to go after such an intense storyline, but it’s surprising how a place kind of creeps under your skin, and I don’t think I could have wished to work with a better team so it did surprise me how emotional I was at leaving.””
After her cobbles exit, Natalie was in high demand. She appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, and was partnered with Artem Chigvintsev. The pair lost out to Abbey Clancy & Aljaz Skorjanec and came joint second along with Susanna Reid & Kevin Clifton.
Her other TV credits include 2015’s ITV Jekyll & Hyde, Vera in 2019 and Netflix’s Free Rein from 2017 to 20192. Natalie also appeared in the 2022 Netflix smash Your Christmas or Mine? and it’s sequel in 2023, playing Kaye Taylor.
Speaking at the premiere of the movie, Natalie revealed it was refreshing to play the fun Kaye after always playing a “dark” and “sinister” character.
“Aunty Kaye is one of the my most favourite characters I’ve ever played. I’m always sort of the dark, slightly miserable character, a bit cold a bit sinister,” she said. Natalie added: “And so for the first time I could really just get my teeth into something where I could just be silly and have fun and I absolutely loved it.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX