GEMMA Arterton has revealed she secretly welcomed a second child.

The actress – who is set to headline the new big budget ITV drama Secret Service later this month – has revealed she kept her entire pregnancy a secret last year.

Gemma and husband Rory Keenan welcomed their first son in December 2022 – but now have two children.

As reported by the Mirror, speaking on the Dish podcast with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett, Gemma casually revealed she is now a mother of two.

Asked how she is on the latest podcast, she told the hosts: “I’m happy to be let out for the day. 

“I’ve got two kids now and it’s just hard.”

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Opening up further about her secret pregnancy, the fiercely private Gemma revealed her new baby is “five-and-a-half months”.

That means they were born towards the end of 2025.

She added: “I’m really well. I’ve just had another kid, and so I’m in the thick of that. 

“But it’s all lovely. And I’m getting back into it again. 

“You know, coming back from the brink of exhaustion. But it’s all good.”

It’s not the first time Gemma has kept her family life under wraps.

In November 2022, Gemma revealed she was heavily pregnant at an appearance at a film festival after keeping her first pregnancy secret.

The St Trinians actress is currently promoting her role in upcoming ITV thriller Secret Service.

Just this week the star was seen showing off her incredible post-partum figure in some leather red trousers after a radio interview in the Capital.

European stocks were mostly steady on Wednesday as investors weighed signals from Washington that a diplomatic breakthrough in the Iran war could be imminent.

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The pan-European Stoxx 600 had ticked down 0.1%, Germany’s Dax edged 0.11% higher and the FTSE 100 climbed 0.11%. The CAC 40 in France fell by a slightly greater margin, at 0.65%.

US President Donald Trump said fresh talks between Washington and Tehran “could be happening over the next two days” in Islamabad, signalling a possible diplomatic breakthrough, and added that the war was “very close to over” — despite continued uncertainty over key sticking points in negotiations.

Asian markets were broadly higher.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.5%, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 3.0% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.7%.

The Shanghai Composite added 0.2%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, up less than 0.1%.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 added 1.2% to its gains from the previous day, and the index at the heart of many 401(k) accounts is now just 0.2% below its record set in January.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2%.

On Wednesday, benchmark US crude inched up by 1 cent to $91.29 a barrel.

Brent crude added 48 cents to $95.27, or less than 1%, after falling 4.6% the previous day. While that is still above its roughly $70 level from before the war began in late February, it remains well below the peak of $119.

Lower oil prices help reduce costs for businesses across the economy. However, some analysts noted that the war is still ongoing, warning that the optimism may prove unfounded.

“The counterintuitive decline in crude appears driven by growing hopes that a second round of peace talks between Washington and Tehran could soon materialise, after the first attempt fizzled out,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

“Traders are clearly choosing to price in the possibility of de-escalation rather than the immediate reality of restricted flows,” he added.

Asian nations depend on access to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that is the main route for crude oil produced in the Persian Gulf to reach customers worldwide. Disruptions there have kept oil off the global market, driving up prices.

Global inflation this year is expected to accelerate to 4.4% from 4.1% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund, which had previously forecast a slowdown to 3.8%.

The IMF also downgraded its forecast for global economic growth to 3.1% this year, from 3.3% projected in January.

Overall, the S&P 500 rose 81.14 points to 6,967.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 317.74 points to 48,535.99, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 455.35 points to 23,639.08.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased as falling oil prices reduced inflationary pressure. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Monday.

In currency trading, the US dollar edged up to 159.03 Japanese yen from 158.79 yen. The euro stood at $1.1780, down from $1.1797.

US stocks climbed to the brink of a record high on Tuesday, while oil prices eased as hopes grew that Washington and Tehran may resume talks to end their war.

The S&P 500 rose 1.2%, leaving it just 0.2% below its January peak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2%, tracking broader global market gains.

Investors are betting that renewed diplomacy could prevent a prolonged surge in oil prices and inflation, allowing focus to return to corporate earnings.

Brent crude for June delivery fell 4.6% to $94.79, down from recent highs, though still above pre-war levels.

However, volatility remains high, with markets sensitive to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supply.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES

Tuesday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION
Collins Family 14, Animo Venice 6
Granada Hills 4, Cleveland 0

SOUTHERN SECTION
AAE 10, Lucerne Valley 1
Adelanto 9, Silverado 6
Alemany 10, Chaminade 6
Alhambra 11, San Gabriel 1
Aliso Niguel 4, Capistrano Valley 3
Anaheim 14, Saddleback 1
Animo Leadership 5, Ambassador 3
Anza Hamilton 8, United Christian Academy 7
Artesia 21, Whitney 0
Banning 11, Desert Mirage 5
Beckman 5, Mission Viejo 2
Bethel Christian 18, Grove School 1
Bishop Montgomery 7, St. Monica 0
Bloomington 18, Eisenhower 4
Burbank Burroughs 6, Arcadia 3
Cajon 1, Redlands East Valley 0
Calvary Baptist 11, Cornerstone Christian 1
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 10, Rosemead 9
Cerritos Valley Christian 6, Whittier Christian 4
Chaffey 3, Montclair 2
Chaparral 8, Murrieta Valley 4
Chino 12, Diamond Ranch 0
CIMSA 15, Victor Valley Christian 0
Citrus Valley 8, Redlands 0
Colton 6, Arroyo Valley 1
Corona del Mar 3, Los Alamitos 2
Costa Mesa 4, Ocean View 3
Crossroads 5, Windward 3
Culver City 14, Compton Centennial 2
Cypress 5, El Dorado 0
Don Lugo 15, Ontario 0
Edison 8, Marina 6
Elsinore 15, San Jacinto 2
El Toro 6, San Juan Hills 4
Esperanza 7, Anaheim Canyon 2
Flintridge Prep 14, Rio Hondo Prep 2
Fontana 13, Rim of the World 3
Foothill Tech 2, Grace 1
Garden Grove 1, Placentia Valencia 0
Garden Grove Santiago 10, Western 9
Granite Hills 7, Victor Valley 1
Harvard-Westlake 8, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 0
Hemet 8, Riverside North 2
Heritage Christian 9, Vasquez 6
Huntington Beach 16, Fountain Valley 4
Jurupa Hills 3, Carter 2
La Canada 7, Temple City 0
Laguna Hills 3, Katella 0
La Habra 3, El Modena 2
La Mirada 3, Warren 2
Lawndale 12, Inglewood 2
Leuzinger 9, Hawthorne 0
Loara 6, Century 2
Los Altos 4, San Dimas 0
Los Amigos 19, Rancho Alamitos 2
Los Osos 8, Chino Hills 7
Magnolia 15, Santa Ana Valley 0
Maranatha 8, Village Christian 0
Mary Star of the Sea 16, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 1
Mayfair 12, Lynwood 0
Milken 10, de Toledo 0
Montebello 15, Bell Gardens 1
Muir 12, Hoover 1
Newbury Park 7, Agoura 3
Norwalk 22, Dominguez 3
Orange 16, Bolsa Grande 1
Orange Lutheran 8, JSerra 3
Oxford Academy 11, Glenn 5
Paraclete 11, Bosco Tech 0
Paramount 15, Firebaugh 0
Pasadena 11, Glendale 0
Pasadena Poly 3, Chadwick 2
Rialto 2, Kaiser 1
Rio Mesa 4, Buena 2
Riverside Prep 11, Trinity Classical Academy 4
Salesian 16, Verbum Dei 1
San Marcos 3, Oxnard 2
San Marino 13, South Pasadena 4
Santa Fe 8, Buena Park 2
Santa Monica 6, Beverly Hills 2
Savanna 6, Estancia 1
Schurr 7, Mark Keppel 3
Sierra Canyon 4, St. Francis 1
Silver Valley 9, ACE 8
South Hills 17, Colony 0
Southlands Christian 11, Pomona 5
St. John Bosco 5, Santa Margarita 1
Summit 10, Grand Terrace 0
Tahquitz 8, Moreno Valley 5
Temecula Prep 19, California Military 2
Temecula Valley 5, Great Oak 3
Thacher 11, Cate 7
Thousand Oaks 15, Oaks Christian 10
Torrance 10, Long Beach Wilson 3
Trabuco Hills 3, Dana Hills 2
Tustin 5, Segerstrom 0
Ventura 4, Oxnard Pacifica 3
Villanova Prep 8, Santa Clara 1
Villa Park 2, Santa Ana Foothill 1
Vista Murrieta 14, Murrieta Mesa 6
Westlake 2, Calabasas 0
West Valley 4, Temescal Canyon 2
Westview 4, Fallbrook 2
Yucaipa 3, Beaumont 1
YULA 7, Buckley 0

INTERSECTIONAL
Bishop Union 13, California City 12
Boron 17, Frazier Mountain 7
California Lutheran 18, Sherman Indian 17
Immanuel Christian 22, Trona 7
Kern Valley 6, Rosamond 2
Lone Pine 18, Mojave 1

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION
Animo Robinson 14, LAAAE 2
CNDLC 20, Smidt Tech 18
Triumph Charter 17, Discovery 4

SOUTHERN SECTION
Agoura 5, Newbury Park 4
Aliso Niguel 5, Capistrano Valley 1
Alta Loma 17, Colony 6
Aquinas 4, Ontario Christian 0
Archer 11, Brentwood 1
Artesia 3, Pioneer 2
Big Bear 23, Lucerne Valley 0
Burbank 21, Pasadena 3
Burbank Burroughs 21, Hoover 0
Cajon 15, Redlands 4
California 5, El Rancho 0
Cathedral City 23, Desert Hot Springs 0
Cerritos 21, Glenn 1
Chaffey 24, Montclair 2
Chaminade 12, Harvard-Westlake 2
Chino 14, Diamond Ranch 6
Citrus Hill 17, Bethel Christian 14
Citrus Valley 7, Beaumont 6
Colton 16, Kaiser 6
Corona del Mar 26, Estancia 1
Crean Lutheran 9, Troy 2
Crescenta Valley 18, Glendale 0
CSDR 23, La Sierra Academy 14
Culver City 21, Compton Centennial 0
Don Lugo 12, Ontario 2
Eisenhower 20, San Gorgonio 7
El Dorado 4, Sonora 1
Elsinore 14, Tahquitz 1
Etiwanda 11, Chino Hills 9
Faith Baptist 14, Desert Christian 0
Fillmore 14, Carpinteria 0
Fontana 18, Rim of the World 2
Gahr 6, Mayfair 3
Garden Grove Pacifica 4, Cypress 3
Grand Terrace 5, Jurupa Hills 4
Granite Hills 13, Victor Valley 3
Great Oak 16, Chaparral 5
Hart 14, Canyon Country Canyon 1
Heritage Christian 23, Immaculate Heart 4
Highland 10, Knight 0
HMSA 14, Compton Early College 3
Huntington Beach 5, Edison 0
Indio 21, Yucca Valley 0
Irvine 15, Portola 0
Irvine University 8, Woodbridge 2
JSerra 10, Mater Dei 1
Katella 13, Westminster 2
La Habra 5, Anaheim Canyon 2
Lakewood St. Joseph 13, Bishop Montgomery 1
Lancaster 6, Eastside 5
La Salle 17, St. Anthony 0
Leuzinger 10, Hawthorne 9
Linfield Christian 18, Woodcrest Christian 6
Littlerock 23, Antelope Valley 4
Long Beach Poly 10, Lakewood 6
Long Beach Wilson 18, Long Beach Jordan 0
Los Alamitos 11, Fountain Valley 2
Marina 15, Newport Harbor 0
Mayfield 12, Westridge 1
Monrovia 8, South Pasadena 0
Moorpark 9, Oak Park 3
Muir 5, Arcadia 4
Norwalk 12, Firebaugh 2
Oaks Christian 6, Thousand Oaks 4
Orange Lutheran 13, Santa Margarita 0
Palos Verdes 9, Millikan 2
Paraclete 17, Bishop Amat 2
Paramount 19, Dominguez 0
Quartz Hill 10, Palmdale 0
Ramona Convent 5, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 3
Rancho Cucamonga 2, Los Osos 1
Rialto 15, Arroyo Valley 5
Riverside North 14, Liberty 5
Riverside Notre Dame 21, Bloomington 14
Rosary Academy 11, Northwood 3
San Clemente 6, Mission Viejo 1
San Jacinto Valley Academy 29, Nuview Bridge 6
San Juan Hills 4, Beckman 0
San Marcos 7, Oxnard 6
Santa Ana Foothill 7, Sunny Hills 2
Sante Fe 2, La Serna 1
Santa Paula 16, Hueneme 1
Saugus 10, Castaic 2
Schurr 13, Mark Keppel 0
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 14, Louisville 2
Silverado 9, Adelanto 8
South Hills 18, San Dimas 5
St. Bonaventure 23, Foothill Tech 4
St. Monica 11, Bishop Conaty-Loretto 4
St. Paul 13, Villa Park 2
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 15, St. Bernard 3
Temecula Prep 22, California Military 1
Temescal Canyon 12, West Valley 0
Temple City 18, Blair 0
Trabuco Hills 7, Dana Hills 5
Twentynine Palms 19, Coachella Valley 9
United Christian Academy 12, California Lutheran 0
Ventura 16, Oxnard Pacifica 2
Viewpoint 13, Oakwood 0
Village Christian 2, Maranatha 0
Vista Murrieta 14, Murrieta Valley 13
Warren 5, La Mirada 1
Western Christian 14, Southlands Christian 4
Westlake 16, Calabasas 0
West Ranch 28, Golden Valley 1
West Torrance 10, Torrance 7
Whittier Christian 6, Cerritos Valley Christin 3
Yorba Linda 11, Brea Olinda 9
Yucaipa 7, Redlands East Valley 1

INTERSECTIONAL
Alemany 3, Granada Hills Kennedy 1
Anza Hamilton 10, Sherman Indian 1
Camarillo 11, Birmingham 1
El Segundo 4, San Pedro 3

An EU rule change is expected to affect most short haul flights from the UK

Passengers flying with Ryanair and easyJet could soon enjoy more generous cabin baggage allowances – but travellers have been issued with a warning.

At present, those on basic fares with these carriers are limited to one small personal item, with any additional luggage incurring extra charges. Following amendments to EU regulations, Ryanair has had to increase the allowed dimensions of its personal bags. The new rules allow passengers to bring a small carry-on item measuring up to 40 x 30 x 20cm.

This is a 20% increase from the previous 40 x 20 x 25cm restriction. easyJet’s personal bag dimensions already met these requirements.

And now further EU regulatory changes could allow travellers to bring both a cabin bag measuring up to 100cm and a personal bag without facing extra costs. In February, the European Parliament voted decisively to grant all passengers the right to carry a small case alongside the free under-seat bags currently permitted.

The Parliament’s proposal would entitle passengers to bring on board, at no additional cost, one personal item (such as a handbag, rucksack or laptop) and one small piece of hand luggage with maximum combined dimensions of 100cm (length, width and height) and weighing up to seven kilos.

The proposed changes, which require sign-off from the European Council to become legislation, would affect all passengers flying to or from an EU airport on an EU-based carrier. This directly impacts the vast majority of short-haul flights departing from the UK.

While this might appear to be welcome news, experts have cautioned that requiring free hand luggage on flights will reduce pricing flexibility, push up base fares, and ultimately leave many travellers forking out more for services they may not even need. Zoltán Kész, Government Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, said: “Consumers benefit when airlines can compete on price, service, and flexibility.

“Mandating bundled carry-on luggage is not a pro-consumer reform; it is a market distortion that increases fares for everyone, including travellers who purposefully choose more affordable tickets. Political micromanagement of airline pricing does not improve transparency.

“If policymakers want consumers to make informed choices, the better approach is to require clearer disclosure of baggage fees and fare conditions, not to force a uniform product offering for every passenger.”

easyJet has branded the proposals to enforce free additional baggage a “lunatic idea” and similarly warned that fares are likely to rise. Earlier this year Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s chief executive, said giving all passengers the right to extra free carry-on baggage would be “crazy European legislation” and “terrible for the consumer”.

He added: “We would go back to the days of having to offload cabin bags and put them in the hold – it was one of the number one causes of delayed boarding in the old days.”

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has also taken aim at the policy. He said last year: “The idea that everyone is entitled to two free bags on board is unimplementable [as] they don’t fit in the aircraft. There’s not room on largely full aircraft for one small carry-on bag and one large trolley bag.

“About 50% of the passengers can bring a trolley bag and we do that using the priority boarding service. Any rules that would alter that would be infringing EU rules guaranteeing the freedom of airlines to set pricing and policies, and we don’t believe that will happen.

“I think it’s unlikely to play out but there’s clearly going to be some kind of negotiation between the parliament and the commission on passenger rights.”

Javokhir Sindarov wins the Candidates Tournament with ⁠a round ⁠to spare and will face India’s Gukesh next.

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has clinched victory in the chess Candidates Tournament with ⁠a round ⁠to spare, drawing with Dutchman Anish Giri to set up a World Championship match against India’s Gukesh Dommaraju.

The 20-year-old stormed ⁠through the event in Cyprus on Tuesday, winning six of his 13 games and losing none in a dominant performance never seen at the Candidates.

Sindarov moved to ⁠9.5 points, two clear of second-placed Giri on 7.5, after the Dutchman failed to convert a winning position against China’s Wei Yi in the previous round.

“It was the hardest week in my life. I even slept really bad the last ‌few days. I am very happy to finish this tournament with a win,” Sindarov said after his win.

The tournament had been seen as a possible last opportunity for the old guard to mount another challenge for the world title, but Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura never seriously threatened.

Gukesh won the title in 2024, defeating China’s Ding Liren in the 14th and ⁠final game of their match. Ding had himself become ⁠champion by beating Ian Nepomniachtchi after Magnus Carlsen, the five-times champion who remains world number one, relinquished the crown, citing a lack of motivation.

“I do not want to think a lot ⁠about the upcoming World Championship match right now. I know it will be a very hard match,” Sindarov said.

“Gukesh ⁠has an experience of playing at this level. ⁠But I have a very good team. I have a lot to work on, and I will work a lot for this and take my chances.”

While Sindarov’s breakthrough and the broader rise ‌of a younger generation are likely to prompt new speculation about a Carlsen comeback, the Norwegian has said he has no intention of returning to ‌the ‌classical World Championship cycle.

A precise date and a venue for the World Championship match have yet to be announced.

KATY Perry is at the centre of a police probe after Ruby Rose’s bombshell sexual assault allegations.

Victoria Police confirmed they are looking into the claims made by the Australian actress, who alleges the pop star assaulted her during a night out in Melbourne back in 2010.

A police spokesperson said: “Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) detectives are investigating a historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010.

“Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s CBD.

“As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

The alleged incident is said to have taken place at the Spice Market nightclub in Melbourne’s CBD while the pair were out together.

Katy Perry’s representatives have firmly denied the claims, labelling them “dangerous lies”.

They previously told Variety: “The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies.

“Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”

Ruby Rose, now 40, reportedly filed a formal complaint – triggering the investigation.

But she has since gone quiet on the claims, revealing police have told her to stop speaking publicly.

She wrote: “Last update on this: As of this afternoon, I have finalized all of my reports.

“This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved.

“It’s going to look like I am ignoring everything from supportive messages, to other people’s experiences, but I’m not.

“This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief. I can start the healing process now. And temporary [sic] move forward. I love you all so much.”

The shock claims first exploded online on Sunday when Rose accused Perry, 41, of sexually assaulting her during her twenties.

She said: “I’m now 40. It has taken almost two decades to say this publicly.

“Though I am so grateful to have made it long enough to find my voice, it just shows how much of an impact trauma and sexual assault takes. Thank you for seeing me.”

The Batman star spoke out in response to an article Complex Magazine had written about Katy going to Coachella.

In a series of graphic posts, Rose alleged the singer – who is currently dating ex-Canadian PM Justin Trudeau – assaulted her inside the club.

Writing to her followers on Threads, she said: “Katy Perry sexually assaulted me at Spice Market Nightclub in Melbourne.

“Who gives a s**t what she thinks.”

As fans reacted to Ruby’s shocking claims in the comments, the Orange is the New Black star shared more about the alleged incident.

“She saw me ‘resting’ on my best friend’s lap to avoid her and bent down, pulled her underwear to the side and rubbed her disgusting vagina on my face until my eyes snapped open and I projectile vomited on her,” Ruby added.

The actress also claimed she initially tried to laugh off what allegedly happened.

“After it, I threw up on her. I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it.

“Later she agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret. But I did tell ya’ll she wasn’t a good persona. Instead I got attacked by everyone.

“The psychological manipulation was strong with that one,” Ruby admitted.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
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Jake DeBrusk scored his second goal of the game in overtime and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Kings 4-3 on Tuesday night.

DeBrusk collected a pass from center Elias Pettersson and tapped a shot in to seal the victory 2:58 into the extra period.

Defenseman Elias Pettersson opened the scoring for the Canucks, and DeBrusk and Zeev Buium added goals in the second period. Elias Pettersson had two assists. The Canucks won their third straight game for the first time since Dec. 14-20, when they took four straight road victories.

Kevin Lankinen stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced as Vancouver improved to 9-27-5 on home ice this season.

Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each had a goal and an assist for the Kings. Adrian Kempe scored his 36th of the season and Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves.

DeBrusk scored for a third straight game. His three goals across the stretch came on the power play. The 29-year-old winger has scored 19 of his 23 goals with the man advantage this season.

Anze Kopitar played his final game at Rogers Arena and registered an assist on Kempe’s second-period goal. He has 864 assists, all with L.A. That ranks third among active players with a single franchise, trailing only the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (874) and Sidney Crosby (1,107).

The Kings have secured a playoff berth and remain in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with one game remaining.

The Kings had their five-game winning streak halted, but they did earn a point for the eighth straight game (6-0-2).

American YouTuber Johnny Somali, who sparked outrage in South Korea two years ago after kissing a statue symbolizing Korean victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced by a court Wednesday to six months in prison and remanded in custody.

Somali was indicted by South Korean authorities on multiple charges, including obstruction of business and violations of minor public order laws.

He is accused of uploading a video of himself kissing a “Statue of Peace” that commemorates the former sex slaves in Seoul and performing a lewd dance in front of it in October 2024. He also provoked public outrage by causing disturbances on buses, subways and an amusement park, vandalizing a convenience store in Seoul’s Mapo district and playing obscene videos in public.

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced Somali to six months in prison and 20 days of detention and barred him from employment at institutions related to children and adolescents for five years.

The court then ordered him to be taken into custody immediately.

Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.

Mérida, April 14, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) appointed Larry Devoe as the new Attorney General and Eglée González Lobato as the Ombudswoman during an ordinary session on Thursday, April 9.

The appointments were the result of a parliamentary selection process in the wake of the resignations of Tarek William Saab and Alfredo Ruiz, who previously held the positions, in February. The new officials will assume their roles immediately.

The National Assembly finalized the appointments following the review of a list of 71 candidates for Attorney General and 61 for Ombudsman. According to official reports, the selection focused on technical and academic backgrounds, while multiple deputies spoke of the need to select “consensus” candidates.

Devoe is a lawyer who has held various legal and diplomatic positions within the Venezuelan government, having served as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Council. In recent years, he represented Venezuela before the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS) on human rights matters.

Devoe had taken over the Attorney General post on an interim basis following Saab’s resignation. Saab had served as the country’s top prosecutor since 2017. Following his appointment and swearing-in, Devoe used his official channels to vow that his office would be committed to “defending human rights” and “protecting our people.”

For her part, new Ombudswoman González is also an attorney and a university professor specializing in Administrative Law at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV).

She served as the Director of the UCV’s Democracy and Elections Chair and has worked as an institutional and electoral analyst. The parliamentary nominations committee highlighted González’s academic background and experience in human rights as primary factors for her selection to replace Ruiz.

Devoe and González were ratified on the posts with the approval of 275 of 285 National Assembly deputies, receiving the endorsement of the ruling Socialist Party (PSUV) and allies, as well as part of the opposition.

González, who has been identified as representing a sector of the moderate opposition, was proposed by David Uzcátegui from the Fuerza Vecinal party. Devoe’s candidacy was put forward by the PSUV.

Addressing the chamber, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez emphasized the importance of reaching political agreements and “respecting differences.”

The right-wing Libertad faction opposed the appointments, with legislator Henri Falcón stating that the appointees did not meet “autonomy and democratic plurality” criteria.

“In the past, the institutions have been used as politically partial spaces and ideological trenches,” stressed Falcón, a former presidential candidate.

The renewal of the Attorney General and Ombudsman’s Office coincides with the processing of thousands of amnesty requests currently under review by judicial authorities. According to the National Assembly, the Amnesty Law approved in February has benefited more than 8,000 beneficiaries in less than two months.

“The economy is the most important thing”

Parliamentary leader Jorge Rodríguez stressed the importance of “dialogue” among different political factions and working to “strengthen” state institutions in a recent interview with Spanish daily El País.

“We are rapidly pushing for changes so that people feel the country’s democratic institutions are functioning properly,” he stated.

When asked about the possibility of holding elections, Rodríguez argued that the country’s economy is “the most important thing right now.”

Since January, the Venezuelan legislature has fast-tracked a number of important new laws with support from the acting Delcy Rodríguez administration, including pro-business reforms to the country’s hydrocarbon and mining frameworks.

“The Venezuelan economy needs to gain enough momentum so that the population feels this entire process was worth it,” he added, in reference to the January 3 US bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro which Rodríguez described as a “traumatic event.”

The Venezuelan official went on to argue that “there is much work to be done” ahead of an eventual electoral process, including the selection of an electoral authority that all political organizations can “trust.”

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison quickly proved to be a record-breaker just days after its debut.

The Madison has made itself at home on Paramount+ with the streamer now announcing its fate.

Famed for hits such as Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown and Landman, creator Taylor Sheridan dropped his latest Western drama The Madison last month on Saturday, March 14.

Starring Hollywood legends Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, The Madison sees the Clyburn family experience a devastating tragedy which leads them to relocate to Montana in an attempt to heal from the events.

Even though it’s just been a matter of weeks since its premiere, Paramount+ has confirmed that The Madison has now been renewed for a third season, much to fans’ delight.

But given the drama’s quick rise to popularity, news of an early series renewal doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.

The Madison received a staggering eight million global views for its premiere episode in its first 10 days on Paramount+.

It’s officially been named as “Sheridan’s most-watched debut ever” with almost one billion minutes viewed during its first full week after release.

There was no doubt that it was going to return for a second series with filming for Seasons 1 and 2 completed back-to-back However, a Season 2 start date hasn’t yet been announced and until this is known, a potential release date pattern cannot be established for the upcoming third series.

When The Madison makes a comeback for Season 2, Matthew Fox won’t be returning as Preston Clyburn’s (played by Kurt Russell) brother Paul. They both died in the plane crash and while they have both featured in the flashbacks, only Russell will be returning for the second outing.

But going forward, this won’t be the case for series three with Russell already confirming his future absence from the show.

He told TV Insider: “This is a contained experience for me in the show, and I’m very happy about that. It’s been an incredible experience.”

The Madison is available to watch on Paramount+.

Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac (who recently changed his name from Rob McElhenney) have made their ambitions clear ever since their first interview as owners in 2021.

A member of the media asked the actors what their perfect ending would be? Reynolds responded: “We’d be lying if it wasn’t the Premier League.

So far, so good for the north Wales outfit. They’re one promotion away from the top flight and their latest accounts reveal a record turnover of £33.3m in the process. But was it ever really the aim to make it four promotions in a row?

At the start of their first season back in the second tier of English football since 1982, Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson told the Telegraph, external that his aims for the season were Championship survival, a mid-table finish and to be competitive.

He proposed this to Reynolds and Mac, who immediately responded by asking what it would take to reach the top two.

Williamson went on to say that after discussions between the club’s hierarchy, they landed on: “Let’s be competitive and see where we end up.”

“If we can find ourselves in that position towards the back end of the season, I give us a very good shot of being in the play-offs. And then, ultimately, if we’re in the play-offs, I give us a very good shot of getting promoted just because of who we are and what we are and the DNA, the resilience and what it means to this town and for the squad,” explained Williamson.

The CEO also said that should promotion not be achieved this time, then that was OK too.

Thick grey-green mud squidges through my toes as I step into the icy, irresistible water. I’m on the descent from the Britannia Hut at the foot of the Allalinhorn in the Valais canton of the Swiss Alps, and this turquoise pool of glacial meltwater has been on the horizon tempting me for an hour. I peel off all five layers of clothing and plunge into the murky water. After a night in a shared dorm without showers it’s bliss.

In winter, the jagged ridges of the Valais are the domain of expert skiers and ice climbers, but in summer the lower slopes become accessible to hikers, with the added bonus of the ski lift infrastructure. You can be surrounded by dramatic peaks with the security of well-marked trails ranging from gentle strolls to serious alpine routes. I’m here to hike to mountain huts, test my nerves on via ferrata routes, and fill my city-dweller lungs with clean Alpine air.

I begin my trip in Saas-Fee, a car-free high altitude village in the south-west of Switzerland, where I spend the night at the Walliserhof Grand-Hotel, famous for hosting Wham! when they filmed the Last Christmas music video here. From my balcony with a cold beer, I spend the evening drinking in views of church spires, geranium-covered balconies and the towering wall of mountains beyond.

Between Saas-Fee and the village of Saas-Grund lies a deep gorge – the Sass-Fee Alpine Canyon – which can only be tackled with a guide. A via ferrata system of ladders, metal rungs and cables allows climbers to access high-level routes while clipped into a safety cable. I’m lucky to be assigned Aldo Lomatter as my guide the next morning – he built this canyon route and knows it better than anyone. We criss-cross the gorge on wobbly bridges, climb ladders up and down the rock face, and disappear into gulleys on ziplines.

The intensity of the challenges build as the route progresses: crossing high above the river a vertiginous ladder bridge abruptly stops, and it’s a 40-metre abseil to the riverbed. We finish with a zipline, which ends deep in a dark cave: it’s a leap of faith, but also the only way down – and a thrilling finale. Climbing out of the cave on a shaky ladder, I emerge blinking into the sunlit hamlet of Saas-Grund and take the free minibus back to Saas-Fee for a fondue lunch.

Suitably refuelled, it’s time for my next adventure: a gondola and cable car take me to Morenia, the top gondola station, for the walk to the Britannia Hut at 3,030 metres. Only reachable by foot or helicopter, it’s a gentle two-hour hike over Egginerjoch but, even in mid-summer, much of that is over snow – though thankfully no crampons are needed.

The hut was built in 1912 as a gift from British members of the Swiss Alpine Club to thank the Swiss for their hospitality in the mountains. From the deckchairs outside, the views over the Allalin glacier and the Mattmark area are jaw-dropping.

Accommodation is simple but practical. Hikers share dormitories with wide wooden bunks, ours sleeps eight. There are communal plastic clogs to give tired feet a break from walking boots, otherwise guests pad around in thermals and big jumpers. The tap water isn’t drinkable and there are no showers. Supplies are brought up by helicopter, and water is as expensive as beer. Dinner is one sitting at 7pm, served family style with all guests eating the same meal. It’s hearty mountain food: cream of vegetable soup, saffron risotto, roast beef, vegetables and a fruit pudding. Hiking tales and weather forecasts are swapped jovially in many languages around the table. I sleep soundly, though I’m grateful for my earplugs and eye mask. Many guests here are preparing for long days and distant summits, so breakfast is served at 3am, 5am or 7am, and by the time I turn up for the last sitting the hut has mostly emptied.

I retrace my route to Morenia, stopping to cool off in meltwater on the way, and take the gondola back down to Saas-Fee where a second dip awaits at the WellnessHostel 4000, a youth hostel with its own spa. Below the cafeteria and dormitories, there are a 25-metre swimming pool and elegant wood-panelled, adults-only spa overlooking the gorge I traversed days before. I buy a day pass (CHF34.40) and spend a leisurely few hours in the pool, saunas and steam rooms, gazing out at the trees and river below. After a day in the mountains it’s a wonderful way to stretch tired muscles.

Keen to explore the area further, I take the free PostBus down the mountain to Visp and catch a train to Champéry at the other end of the canton. I spend a night at traditional family-run Hôtel Suisse, and eat at Café du Nord sitting outside under a fairy-light canopy. The next morning I meet Lloyd Wiltshire from Experience Champéry to be fitted with a harness for my next vertiginous challenge, Champéry’s Tière via ferrata, which takes climbers up steep cliffs high above the valley and is reached by a winding uphill walk through woods dripping with lichen. The most challenging point is a tricky climb in the spray of a thundering waterfall, followed by a single wire crossing above the River Tière – not for the faint-hearted.

After lunch I take the Croix de Culet cable car from Champéry to 1,962 metres. Covered in lush grass and alpine flowers, it’s hard to imagine that this is a popular ski area in winter. I walk through farmland, stopping to buy freshly made cheese and cakes from simple cafes and honesty boxes. My summit today is the Col de Cou mountain pass, where I stand with a foot either side of the French-Swiss border looking over the Terres Maudites and the Manche valley in France, and the Dents du Midi and Dents Blanches ridges in Switzerland.

Descending to the tranquil Barme plateau with tired legs, I find rest and refuge at Cantine de Barmaz, a rural restaurant with rooms. On the menu, the house special is choléra, a deliciously hearty leek, potato and cheese pie, ideal post-hike fortification with a glass of cold Swiss wine. I watch as the last light of the day illuminates the jagged spikes of the Dents du Midi in shades of glorious umber and gold. I then cosy into my dormitory bed in the eaves, lulled to sleep by the deep breathing of tired hikers and the rhythmic clang of distant cowbells.

The trip was provided by Saas-Fee Saastal, Région Dents du Midi and Visit Switzerland. For more information on the region see valais.ch. Half-board at Britannia Hut costs CHF98 (£92) a night for non-SAC members (CHF84 for members). Half-board at Auberge de montagne Cantine de Barmaz costs CHF68 a night in a dorm or CHF75 in a private room

The pier has been extensively redeveloped and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s top seaside family attractions, perfect for a day out by the sea

When Brits picture a quintessential pier experience, their minds often drift to the likes of Blackpool or Brighton, while overlooking one of the UK’s finest piers.

Yet nestled in the South West, along the Bristol Channel in North Somerset, lies a coastal gem that delivers a pier experience unlike any other.

Weston-super-Mare pulled out all the stops when it decided to elevate its Grand Pier, preserving its heritage while simultaneously raising the bar on the main seafront stretch.

Today it caters to modern families in exactly the way a holiday spot should, boasting an indoor venue packed with excitement, entertainment and all the British seaside essentials.

Originally opening as the Grand Pier in 1904, it has since achieved listed building status, safeguarding a rich history of seaside tourism in Weston.

However, during this period, the pier has evolved from a simple viewing platform to a comprehensive attraction offering hours of amusement.

Sadly for visitors and residents alike, throughout its existence, the pier has been devastated twice by fires, the first in 1930 and subsequently in 2008. It was the 2008 disaster which granted it a completely fresh start and ushered in the reconstruction of the pier as it stands today.

In 2009, North Somerset Council gave the green light to proposals for a new pier to be constructed, with contractors John Sisk and Son chosen to build a new pavilion.

The revamped Grand Pier threw open its doors for the half-term holiday on 23 October 2010, with an official reopening for the tourist season the following July.

While the pier still offers traditional seaside rock, fish and chips and a host of arcade games — including the much-loved 2p machines — there is a great deal more on offer these days.

Fifteen years on, it continues to delight families seeking a fun-filled day out, with activities spread across two floors and stunning views of the surrounding sea.

Top indoor attractions include a house of horrors, glow-in-the-dark go-karts, mini golf, a free fall ride, a sidewinder ride, dodgems and much more besides.

One visitor shared their experience on TripAdvisor, writing: “We spent pretty much the whole day there and could easily go again the next day as we didn’t do everything (didn’t make it to soft play for the little ones) even though we did do the ghost train twice!

“Absolutely great day out at a beautiful venue. Wristbands are great value for money, and so much is included. 100% recommend – great destination. We will be back!”

On arrival, guests can pay a £2 entry fee per person at the door, or book tickets in advance to save the hassle of carrying loose change.

The pier’s website features a range of deals, including unlimited ride access or combined entry and ride packages for the whole family, making advance booking both straightforward and cost-effective.

As with any pier, visitors should expect to part with some money once they reach the pavilion, with individual attractions and games each carrying their own separate charges.

There’s no need to head off-site for a bite to eat either, as the Grand Pier has your mealtimes well and truly sorted with its range of cafés and dining options.

From classic fish and chips to sugary doughnuts, ice creams and more, the pier has everything you’d need for a perfect summer’s day or seaside trip.

A recent visitor shared: “Can clearly see a lot of thought and investment has gone into the grand pier. The couple of hours we spent there were enjoyable.

“There’s something and everything for all ages. Even if it’s just sitting out on a nice sunny day enjoying a nice drink. £2 entrance fee doesn’t break the bank.”

Weston-super-Mare is also home to a second pier, though there’s little in the way of entertainment on offer, as it remains derelict. Birnbeck Pier stands as a piece of history and a listed building, currently undergoing restoration work with hopes of reopening sometime in 2027.

Having first welcomed visitors in 1867, the once-stunning structure has lain dormant since 1994. Weston hopes to see it restored to its former glory, breathing fresh life into the seaside town as the only pier in the UK connected to an island.

Police in France have arrested students at Sorbonne University, Sciences Po and Paris-Saclay University during a sit-in against a controversial anti-Semitism bill that could outlaw criticism of Israel. Lawmakers are set to vote on the ‘Yadan law’, named after a pro-Israel French MP who sponsored the bill, on April 16.

Roelf Meyer will replace the South African ambassador who was expelled from the US by President Donald Trump in 2025.

South Africa has appointed Roelf Meyer, who helped negotiate the end of white minority rule in his country in the 1990s, as the next ambassador to the United States, according to local media.

Meyer’s appointment is seen as a sign that Pretoria is aiming to improve its relations with Washington following a “turbulent year”, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

South Africa has gone without diplomatic representation in Washington, DC, since March 2025, when US President Donald Trump expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for his criticism of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

Posting on social media at the time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who hates the US and Trump.

Rubio’s post linked to a story by US conservative news site Breitbart that reported on a talk Rasool gave on a webinar organised by a South African think tank. Rasool had spoken in academic terms of the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity and equity programmes, as well as immigration, and mentioned the possibility of a future US where white people would no longer be in the majority.

Trump last year also issued an executive order freezing most foreign assistance to South Africa amid the country’s legal action at the International Court of Justice over Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the passage of a controversial South African law aimed at correcting historic racial disparities in land ownership.

Tensions escalated further when Trump then launched a refugee programme for white South Africans, whom the US president claims face government-led persecution in their home country.

Meyer, 78, is a seasoned negotiator with experience working under pressure. As a member of South Africa’s white Afrikaans minority, he once served as a minister under the apartheid Nationalist Party government.

He rose to prominence in the 1990s, during the final days of apartheid, as the Nationalist Party held talks with the African National Congress (ANC) to end segregation and white minority rule. The talks paved the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

As the chief negotiator, Ralph had become acquainted with South Africa’s current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was then an ANC negotiator.

Meyer himself later joined the ANC in 2006.

He is set to take up the post as US ambassador once all protocols are complete in Washington, DC, according to Ramaphosa’s office.

Taylor Frankie Paul won’t face criminal charges in connection with alleged domestic violence incidents between her and her ex-boyfriend, the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office said Tuesday.

The embattled “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star’s cases were reviewed by multiple attorneys due to their high-profile nature, according to the district attorney’s office.

“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” the statement reads.

According to the news release, Dakota Mortensen, Paul’s ex and the father of her youngest child, reported several domestic violence incidents, “some of which occurred more than three years ago.”

“Any incidents of misdemeanor offenses which are alleged to have occurred more than two years ago are barred by the statute of limitations,” the district attorney’s office wrote, adding that “several incidents that were submitted do not rise to the level of criminal offenses.” The remaining incidents lack sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges, according to the district attorney’s office.

Mortensen filed a report with the West Jordan Police Department in Utah in February alleging an incident of domestic violence that he said occurred in early to mid-2024. Utah’s Draper Police Department was also looking into a separate incident involving the former couple.

Days before the premiere of Season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” in which Paul was set to star, a leaked video of a 2023 domestic dispute between Paul and Mortensen circulated online.

That 2023 incident resulted in Paul being arrested. She eventually pleaded guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, and Paul’s arrest was featured in the first season of “Secret Lives.”

Although the incident had already been addressed publicly and dealt with in court, the leaked video featured previously unseen footage of the dispute. As a result, Paul was hit with a restraining order, she temporarily lost custody of Ever, the 2-year-old son she shares with Mortensen, and ABC pulled “The Bachelorette.” Production on the hit reality series had already wrapped and the premiere was slated for March 22.

Last week, a Utah judge ruled that Paul can have supervised visits with Ever, until another hearing for a protective order later this month.

The exes are also ordered to appear remotely at a court hearing April 30 to review the merits of Mortensen’s protective order against Paul. Paul has also filed her own protective order against Mortensen, which a Utah judge signed off on last week.

Mortensen sought a protective order after two incidents in February that involved “grabbing, scratching, shoving, and striking” that allegedly left Mortensen with marks on his neck, according to police documents. A judge granted the order last month.

Adam Peaty puts on an “astonishing” performance in the men’s 100m breaststroke final, with a time of 58.97 seconds at the Acquatics Great British Swimming Championships.

READ MORE: Peaty wins British 100m title as he looks to LA

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April 14 (UPI) — A budget resolution to fund federal immigration enforcement could hit the Senate floor by next week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday, as Republicans seek to bypass Democratic demands for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

Federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol lapsed on Feb. 14 after Republicans agreed with the Democrats to remove the Department of Homeland Security from a larger spending package and avert a government shutdown.

Neither agency has been funded through regular DHS appropriations since, though they continue operating through other, emergency funding.

Democrats began demanding reforms to the federal immigration enforcement agencies before agreeing to restore funding after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal immigration officers amid President Donald Trump‘s aggressive immigration crackdown.

Amid a stalemate in negotiations, Republicans are considering passing three years of funding for the agencies through a complicated legislative mechanism called a budget reconciliation bill that permits certain spending legislation to pass with a simple majority rather than 60 votes, Thune told reporters Tuesday in the Capitol.

“Republicans are going to stand with our Border Patrol, with our law enforcement agencies and we’re going to ensure that they are funded, not only today but well into the future,” Thune, R-S.D., said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is preparing the resolution to fund the agencies that will be followed by the reconciliation bill “to ensure the job gets done,” he said.

Democrats have blocked funding for ICE and Border Patrol until reforms — including requiring judicial warrants and banning officers from wearing masks — are made, but the reconciliation bill tactic could ensure funding without any votes from Democratic lawmakers.

The same tactic was used last year to pass Trump’s sweeping spending and tax cut bill, which provided $75 billion for ICE.

“All of the things that the Democrats made this about, which was supposed to be about reforms to the way that ICE and Border Patrol operate — they get none of that,” Thune said.

“And now, we’re going to fund those agencies for three years into the future. The only thing the Democrats got out of this was they now own the issue of open borders and defund law enforcement.”

Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, with two independents caucusing with the Democrats, as well as a 218-213 majority in the House.

The Senate has twice passed bipartisan bills to fund DHS aside from ICE and Border Patrol, which the House has balked at. Democrats blame the Trump administration’s influence on the lower chamber.

“Republicans are dragging the Senate through a partisan circus just to avoid basic accountability for ICE and Border Patrol,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at the Capitol during a separate press conference on Tuesday.

He said Democrats will continue to push for immigration enforcement reforms.

“So, the pattern, unfortunately, with this administration is clearer and clearer,” the veteran New York Democrat said. “Chaos abroad — the war; chaos at home with not funding DHS with reforms. A failed war overseas, a manufactured crisis here in Washington — in both cases Republicans aren’t leading, they are following orders.”

A day into the U.S.-imposed military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, several ships have apparently transited the narrow waterway, including at least two that reportedly had previously stopped at Iranian ports. However, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is pushing back against claims that vessels ran the blockade. As we noted yesterday, CENTCOM said the maritime exclusion operation would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.”

Meanwhile, there are indications that the U.S. and Iran may continue seeking a diplomatic offramp to the crisis, which began Feb. 28 when America and Israel began bombarding the Islamic Republic. We will discuss that in greater detail later in this story.

Christianna, a Liberia-flagged cargo ship, “exited the Persian Gulf through the strait on Monday night, after leaving the Iranian port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini,” The New York Times reported, citing the global trade intelligence firm Kpler. It said the ship was not carrying any cargo.

In addition, Elpis, a methanol carrier, “traversed the strait roughly around the time that the U.S. blockade began, according to ship-tracking data,” the newspaper added, “Kpler said that the vessel had been at the Iranian port of Bushehr. The United States had placed sanctions on the ship last year under an earlier name, Chamtang, over its connections to the Iranian oil trade.”

It turns out Raven Johnson’s “revenge tour” wasn’t completely over.

The South Carolina guard was selected as the 10th overall pick by the Indiana Fever at the 2026 WNBA draft Monday, setting her up to be reunited with a former college teammate as well as a notable rival.

Described as “one of the most WNBA-ready players” in the mock draft by The Times, the two-time national champion was famously waved off by then-Iowa phenom Caitlin Clark during their Final Four matchup in the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

During the first quarter, Clark declined to guard Johnson, who had the ball outside of the three-point line, with wave of her arm while turned away from her. Not only did Clark’s team go on to win, the taunt — much like a number of other moments involving the sharpshooting former Hawkeye — went viral.

Johnson has been open about how that moment and the online response took a toll on her mental health.

“I was all over the internet,” Johnson said while discussing some of the adversity she’s faced in her basketball career on a recent episode of the “I Am Next” podcast. “I got bashed, I got bullied, I got called all these things that I wasn’t … like a monkey [and] just things like that. I wanted to quit basketball at that time and I wanted to just go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”

She credited her faith and the support of her teammates and loved ones for being able to turn it around and use the moment to fuel her “revenge tour” the next year. South Carolina beat Clark’s Hawkeyes in the 2024 national championship to cap off an undefeated season.

Caitlin Clark and Raven Johnson at the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

(Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

At least in part because of this history, the online response to Johnson being drafted by the Fever has been divided among the team’s fans as well as the supporters of each of the individual players. But the Fever staff were clearly elated to be able to nab Johnson off the board.

“Let’s go,” Fever coach Stephanie White said in a video call with Johnson posted on social media on Monday. “We are so excited.”

Johnson isn’t the only one who is set to join forces with a rival in the next chapter of their career. Following her trade from the Sparks, Rickea Jackson will be teammates with Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, whose game-winning buzzer beater for the Gamecocks took down the former’s Tennessee team at the 2024 Southeastern Conference tournament.

And that’s not to mention the Washington Mystics following their selection of UCLA center Lauren Betts as the fourth overall pick Monday by later drafting Texas standout Rori Harmon in the third round. Betts’ viral block is what sealed UCLA’s win over Texas at the Final Four en route to the Bruins’ championship win earlier this month. (The Mystics also selected UCLA forward Angela Dugalic in the first round.)

Despite the naysayers, Johnson appears excited to be joining a championship contender with the Fever. During a Monday news conference, Johnson mentioned Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell among the team’s vets she’s looking forward to learning from.

“She has taught me so much through my college experience,” Johnson said of Boston, her former college teammate. “She taught me what pro habits were. She taught me you have to bring those habits every day to practice. … She is a phenomenal person. She instills so much in young people and there’s no way you don’t want to play with somebody like that [and] look up to somebody like that.”