Huge new ‘world-class’ attraction set to open in the UK with indoor playgrounds, futuristic museums and food markets
A HUGE new “world class new visit destination” is set to open in the UK.
Xanadoo is a new indoor attraction concept that has been designed by some of the people behind the Eden Project.
They claim it will be “unlike any other museum” with massive playgrounds, art areas and food halls, as well as being educational.
When guests arrive, the will be a market hall with food and drink stalls.
The first area is the “Road to Happiness” with a series of art installations along the way.
Then there is “The Gallery of Marvellous Situations” which they say will take people “back in time” using immersive experiences.
The Playground in the third area, with images showing slides, a huge helter skelter, climbing structures, mazes, and even a life-size snakes and ladders.
Then in the fourth area is “Tomorrow’s World” with futuristic designs showing the world in hundreds of years time.
“Call to Action” is the final area, which has a life-size “game” with levers and dials that show the impact on the current world.
The entire attraction ‘will bring “science and art” together, and be for all ages.
The cost of the project hasn’t been revealed, but it is thought that £840million will be brought to the local economy, they predict.
They hope it will encourage year-round visitors, including families and school trips as well as locals.
Where it will be built is also yet to be revealed, although they are looking at locations across South Wales.
Gaynor Coley, co-founder of the Eden Project, told local media: “We believe Xanadoo can do the same for South Wales as the Eden Project did for Cornwall.
“An economic impact assessment has just been carried out and it has bought £6 billion to Cornwall and the West Country which is more than the whole of European funding and we’d like to do the same for South Wales.
“It will bring sustainable tourism, support hospitality and creativity, storytelling, digital and health and wellbeing.”
Eden Project opened in Cornwall back in 2020, and remains the only one of its kind.
However, a second site – Eden Project Morecambe – is set to open next year.
Other planned Eden Projects include Scotland as well as Costa Rica, China and Australia.
And another huge indoor attraction set to open in the UK is Therme Manchester, a massive water resort with pools, slides and spas.
North Korea opens museum commemorating troops killed fighting for Russia | Russia-Ukraine war News
Published On 27 Apr 2026
North Korea has opened a memorial museum in Pyongyang for its soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, in the clearest sign yet of how central the conflict has become to the growing alliance.
The inaugural ceremony at the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations was held on Sunday. It also marked the first anniversary of what the two countries describe as the end of an operation to “liberate” Russia’s Kursk border region from a Ukrainian incursion, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday.
KCNA said North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un attended the event along with senior Russian officials, including State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.
South Korea’s intelligence agency has estimated that North Korea deployed about 15,000 soldiers to fight for Russia in the Kursk region, and that about 2,000 of them were killed. Moscow and Pyongyang have not disclosed any figures.
During the ceremony, Kim sprinkled earth over the remains of one soldier and laid flowers for others whose bodies had been placed in a mortuary, according to KCNA. Kim and the Russian officials then signed a guestbook at the newly opened museum.
In his speech, Kim said the fallen North Korean troops would remain “a symbol of the Korean people’s heroism” and would support “a victorious march by the Korean and Russian people”.
He accused the United States and its allies of pursuing a “hegemonic plot and military adventurism” on the Russia-Ukraine front, praising Russian and North Korean forces for thwarting those efforts.
Meeting Belousov separately, Kim pledged full support for Russia’s policy of defending its sovereignty and security interests, KCNA said.
Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Belousov as saying that Moscow is ready to sign a military cooperation plan with Pyongyang covering 2027-31.
In a letter read by Volodin, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the new museum would be “a clear symbol of the friendship and solidarity” between the two countries and pledged to further strengthen their “comprehensive strategic partnership”.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kim has tilted his foreign policy decisively towards Moscow, supplying troops and conventional weapons in exchange, analysts say, for economic support and possibly sensitive technologies.
Officials in South Korea, the US and allied countries fear Russia could transfer advanced know-how to Pyongyang that would boost its nuclear and missile programmes.
Military experts say North Korean troops initially suffered heavy losses in Kursk due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain, making them vulnerable to Ukrainian drone and artillery fire.
But Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have assessed that the North Koreans later gained crucial battlefield experience and became central to Russia’s efforts to overwhelm Ukrainian forces by deploying large numbers of soldiers in the region.
Where is Million Dollar Secret filmed?
Need to know
The Netflix series refers to the location as The Stag and you could book a stay there yourself
Everything you need to know about stunning filming location of Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret
- The second season of Netflix’s competition series Million Dollar Secret is now streaming. A new line-up of 12 contestants find themselves battling for a huge cash prize.
- To do this they must identify who among them secretly holds a million-pound prize. Meanwhile they want to be in possession of the box with the money at the end of the game to take it home.
- Hosted by Liverpool born comedian and actor Peter Serafinowicz, the show has previously been compared to shows like The Traitors and Hotel Fortune. While the group try identity the secret millionaire they also take part in daily challenges and are able to earn clues to the millionaire’s identity.
- The series is filmed in luxurious surroundings. It is a venue that you can actually stay at if you’re lucky enough. It takes place at the spectacular Château Okanagan in Kelowna, Canada. The private estate sprawls across 44 acres on the shores of Okanagan Lake.
- Production company 4filming says the venue is “known for its French-inspired elegance” and “sits on the shores of Okanagan Lake, offering breathtaking views and an exclusive atmosphere.” The château can house up to 16 guests with luxury amenities including a wine cellar, ballroom, and private beach house. Extras are available at an additional cost including wellness treatments, wine tasting and even helicopter transfers from the airport. Its website indicates a minimum three-night stay.
- The property is split in two depending on the size of groups reserving a stay. There is either the Grand Residence or the Estate Villa for smaller groups. Usually it operates on a single-reservation basis, meaning guests have exclusive use of the venue.
- It comes fully staffed with a chef, concierge and valet services. Originally built by the German Holzhey Family in the late 1950s, the former family home now operates as a private villa and wellness spa.
- The booking website indicates various prices depending on the date and number of guests booked. It ranges from approximately $2,000 (1,475) a night for one room, or from $40,000 (£29,500) for the entire Grand Residence.
READ THE FULL STORY: Inside The Stag from Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret – the stunning waterfront villa you can actually stay in
Marco Reus scores twice to lead Galaxy past Real Salt Lake
Marco Reus scored two goals, the second one on a penalty kick in the 85th minute, to rally the Galaxy to a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
Reus scored from 21 yards out off a free kick to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. The kick was awarded after Gabriel Pec was fouled by Real Salt Lake midfielder Stijn Spierings.
Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski was charged with an own goal in the final minute of stoppage time, tying it 1-1 at halftime. The ball deflected off the post and into the net when he dove to make a save on Zavier Gozo’s shot.
Reus scored the winner on a PK after a foul on Sam Junqua for shoving Elijah Wynder in the back on a corner kick. It was the fourth goal this season for Reus and his 10th in 37 career appearances.
Marcinkowski saved nine shots for the Galaxy (3-4-3).
Rafael Cabral totaled four saves for Real Salt Lake (5-3-1).
Real Salt Lake went 5-0-1 in a six-match stretch before losing 2-0 to visiting Inter Miami on Wednesday. The club falls to 1-2-1 on the road.
The Galaxy were coming off a 1-1-1 road trip and improve to 2-2-1 at home.
Australian police believe missing 5-year-old girl was abducting

April 27 (UPI) — A 5-year-old girl who went missing from a central Australian Indigenous community over the weekend was abducted, authorities said Monday, as they search for a 47-year-old man who they believe may be connected.
Sharon Granites was reported missing from her residence in Old Timers, an Aboriginal town camp in Alice Springs, located in Australia’s Northern Territory, at about 1:35 a.m. local time Sunday, according to a statement from the Northern Territory Police Force.
She was last seen at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday wearing a dark blue short-sleeve T-shirt with white stripes around the neck and sleeve hemlines and a pair of black boxer-style underwear.
Northern Territory Police Acting Commander Mark Grieve told reporters at a press conference that they believe Sharon was abducted and that officers are seeking to speak with Jefferson Lewis, “who may be able to provide us with some information in regards to that.”
Grieve said Lewis had been in and around Sharon’s residence on Saturday, is one of the few people who were in Old Timers who have not made themselves known to police and is believed to have gone missing at around the same time as the little girl.
Grieve stopped short of accusing Lewis of being involved in Sharon’s disappearance, saying police wanted to speak with him because he and Sharon appeared to have disappeared around the same time.
“Considering himself and Sharon went missing at around about the same time, it certainly brings about those suspicious circumstances and we’d like to speak to him about that,” he said.
Lewis was recently released from prison and has a criminal history that includes physical assault and domestic violence, Grieve said, adding that no offenses were related to child endangerment.
Drones, dogs, horses, ATVs, motorcycles and ground patrols were among the assets police deployed in the search for Sharon, he said, stating they are calling on members of the public with information on either Sharon or Lewis’ location to contact authorities immediately.
“Obviously, it’s a terrible situation to have such a young child go missing,” he said. “We’re just over 24 hours now, so it would certainly be my worst nightmare as a parent.”
Budget airline warns of more flight cancellations this summer
AN AIRLINE that recently axed flights has warned Brits to expect more cancellations in the future.
Earlier this month, Norse Atlantic axed all its flights from London Gatwick to Los Angeles in America due to rising fuel prices.

And now the airline has warned of even more cancellations.
Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, said to BBC Newsnight: “From our side we will continue flying from London Gatwick and from Athens and Rome this summer, we don’t have any plans to cancel more flights.
“When it comes to our competitors, I can’t really say, I assume you will see more cancellations coming, we often see it coming in short haul flights in Europe.
“The long haul flights are still there.”
Read more on travel inspo
He also said that travellers “will see that things will be changed” including some companies’ “existence”.
The CEO then added that he was confident jet fuel prices would fall in six to nine months time.
Even though the airline hasn’t announced more cancellations yet, the London Gatwick to Los Angeles route was only introudced by the airline in 2023.
And at that time, it operated seven flights per week from London Gatwick to Los Angeles.
The route was due to re-start next month, but instead will be cancelled for the entire season until October.
As a result, Norse will only have four long-haul routes this summer, including London Gatwick to New York and London Gatwick to Orlando.
A number of other airlines have also made the decision to cancel some flights or increase prices.
For example, earlier this month KLM said it was axing 160 flights across Europe over the next month due to the fuel crisis.
Despite the airline not yet having a shortage of fuel, the cancellations will impact flights travelling to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
Lufthansa also announced that its subsidiary airline CityLine is stopping all operations due to both the Iran War and recent strike action.
The airline would fly to Frankfurt and Munich from the UK.
As for long haul flights, Virgin Atlantic had raised the price of flights.
Those now travelling in economy have to pay an extra £50, those in premium economy have to pay an extra £180 and those in business class will need to pay an additional £360.
In other flight news, a closed UK airport has revealed the latest details about being able to reopen as part of huge £193million project.
Plus, a UK travel company has gone bust with all holidays cancelled – but Brits won’t get any refunds.

What we know about the incident
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed from a ballroom after gunfire was heard.
Source link
Sydney Sweeney almost falls out of blue corset dress as she joins Diplo at Stagecoach festival
SYDNEY Sweeney left very little to the imagination as she almost fell out of a blue corset dress at Stagecoach.
Stunning Sydney, 28, made a surprising appearance on stage at Diplo’s Honkytonk during the 2026 Stagecoach Festival.
The Euphoria star looked sensational as she handed out knickers while on stage.
Sydney’s baby blue corset dress looked as though it was held up by luck alone as she appeared on stage.
Fans were so shocked by Sydney’s appearance at the festival, with many overjoyed to see her on stage.
After handing out panties from her SYRN lingerie line, she and Diplo took part in a fun karaoke session
A video of Sweeney and Diplo was posted via the underwear brand’s Instagram stories on Saturday evening, with the caption: “@diplo Thanks for stopping by!!!”.
Fans rushed to the comments of the main post shared on SYRN’s Instagram reels, which showcased all of the famous guests who stopped by.
One fan said: “This whole look, I am in love.”
While another added: “The people’s princess.”
And a third wrote: “She’s too hot, it’s almost uncomfortable.”
Meanwhile, since the footage of Sydney made its way onto X, one person on the platform penned: “Love it. Love how she doesn’t give 2 sh*t’s about her haters and living her absolute best life with no apologies needed!!!”
“I love her so much,” said a second.
“She owns the damn place. She can do whatever the F she wants,” wrote a third.
“She looks stunning and she also looks happy and free. Haters gonna hate,” chimed a fourth.
While a fifth said: “Sydney is an ALL AMERICAN BADDIE!!”
“I love sydneys outfit,” swooned a sixth.
And a seventh gushed: “Sydney Sweeney is literally perfect.”
This comes as Sydney continues to enrage fans with her portrayal of Cassie in Euphoria.
Sydney plays the role of Cassie Howard in one of TV’s steamiest shows, with fans left angered by the level of raciness in its third season.
Cassie’s controversial new career choice as an OnlyFans model with a montage of raunchy photoshoots.
In one compromising position, Cassie licks a melting ice cream cone as it drips down her entire naked body – including on her bare chest.
Another shot showed Cassie, butt naked in nothing but a backwards baseball hat on her head and her hand covering her modesty.
These have not been the only controversial scenes in Euphoria season three thus far.
Sydney is dressed as a baby with a pacifier in her mouth in episode one.
Posing in a suggestive way with her legs open, fans were left fuming over the NSFW display.
EU leaders back US president after attack
Good morning from Brussels.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Events in Washington DC this weekend caught Brussels off guard as officials were enjoying the start of spring.
A 31-year-old man named as Cole Tomas Allen has been arrested after opening fire Saturday evening outside the reception hall of the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA gala), which Donald Trump was attending for the first time. The White House says it was a targeted attempt at the life of Trump and his officials.
Fortunately, no one was killed.
In Europe, EU leaders quickly voiced support for the US President, who had skipped the event for years before agreeing this time to attend, despite strained relations between the White House and the press corps under his second term.
“I just spoke to @POTUS Donald Trump to express my solidarity with him and @FLOTUS after the attempted attack,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. She added that “political violence has no place in our democracies”.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the incident “unacceptable”, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “We decide by majorities, not by the gun.”
Transatlantic tensions briefly faded, even as Reuters reported the US could seek to suspend Spain from NATO over its refusal to back the US and Israel’s war in Iran.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez played down the threat and joined EU leaders in condemning the attack. “Violence is never the answer,” Sánchez wrote on X. “Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence and peace.”
On Sunday, Trump rejected any link between the armed intrusion at the WHCA dinner and the Middle East war. He said the incident would not “deter” him from “winning the war”.
Earlier in the weekend, Trump cancelled a trip to Pakistan planned for envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, writing on social media: “Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work!” He added, referring to Iran: “There is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership’.”
On his side, after going to Oman and Pakistan over the weekend, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi landed in Russia to meet Vladimir Putin.
According to the Iranian news agency Fars, Tehran has sent, via Pakistan, written messages to Washington regarding its “red lines” in the negotiations.
After talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Araghchi wrote on Telegram that he had briefed his French counterpart on ceasefire developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts “to end the imposed war”. He stressed “the importance of European countries playing a constructive role in this process”.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the situation remains fragile. Over the weekend, Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
The Shia Islamist political party and military organisation released several statements on Sunday saying its fighters targeted Israeli troops and positions in response to Israeli ceasefire violations and attacks on Lebanese villages.
On Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a group of ministers and senior security officials to discuss both Iran and the situation in Lebanon, according to local media. One option under consideration is escalating strikes against Hezbollah, including targeting areas beyond southern Lebanon.
At least 2,509 people have been killed and 7,755 injured in Lebanon since the start of Israeli strikes in early March, the country’s health ministry said.
Lebanon’s Minister for Displaced Persons, and Technology and AI, Dr. Kamal Shehadi told Euronews’ Europe Today that “the truce is not holding” but there are “clear signs that both sides are making an effort” to avoid escalation beyond the current level of violence.
Shehadi said the government’s most important leverage to help disarm Hezbollah is having the vast majority of the Lebanese people backing them and calling for Hezbollah to surrender its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
“The international community is supportive of Lebanon’s intention to control all the weapons on Lebanese territory. Now, that’s not enough, clearly, and so what we need to do is continue to put pressure on Hezbollah to get Hezbollah to accept and to relinquish its weapons, because the weapons today are only going to bring more retaliation from Israel,” Shehadi said. Watch the full interview here.
Meanwhile, Brussels is preparing for the visit of Péter Magyar, whose opposition party won Hungary’s 12 April election.
“I will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for informal talks with the President of the European Commission on unlocking EU funds,” he wrote on X. “We have no time to waste.”
A honeymoon now begins between Budapest and Brussels after 16 years of tension under outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who announced on Saturday he won’t take up his seat in parliament after his Fidesz party suffered a heavy loss in the 12 April vote.
Meanwhile, incoming Prime Minister Magyar said on Saturday he had information that wealthy figures linked to Orbán’s outgoing government were moving assets abroad and called on authorities to detain fleeing oligarch families.
“I am aware that Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV), based on reports from banks, has suspended several high-value transfers linked to Antal Rogán’s circle on suspicion of money laundering. I call on the leadership of NAV to immediately freeze these stolen funds,” Magyar wrote on X, referring to the outgoing top minister under Orbán’s administration.
On 40th Chernobyl disaster anniversary, Zelenskyy accuses Russia of committing ‘nuclear terrorism’
As Ukrainians marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of “nuclear terrorism”, alleging it repeatedly sends attack drones over the site.
On social media, Zelenskyy warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has once again pushed the world to “the brink of a man-made disaster”.
He also said drones now regularly fly over Chernobyl. “The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks.”
Russian strikes on Ukraine continued through the anniversary, with Moscow launching 144 drones in a barrage during the night between Saturday and Sunday.
Read the full story by Lucy Davalou.
Germany suspects Russia of Signal phishing attacks targeting politicians
The German government believes Russia is behind a new phishing campaign targeting lawmakers and senior officials via the Signal messaging app.
The incident is the latest in Moscow’s hybrid war targeting Europe.
Victims are said to receive messages posing as Signal support, prompting them to enter a PIN, click a link or scan a QR code. If successful, the scam gives hackers access to messages, group chats, and any photos or files shared by the user.
Media reports say at least 300 accounts belonging to political figures were compromised. Civil servants, diplomats, military personnel and journalists were also targeted.
Vice-President Andrea Lindholz (CSU) has ruled out banning Signal, saying MPs should be free to decide how they communicate.
You can read the story of Sonja Issel & Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom here.
More from our newsroom
Zelenskyy says he is ready to meet Putin in Azerbaijan. On a visit to Azerbaijan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin there, as US-led diplomatic talks have stalled in recent weeks. Read **Sasha Vakulina’**s story here.
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe becomes first person to run marathon in less than two hours. In London, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe made history by becoming the first athlete ever to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon. Jesús Maturana has the full story.
Today we are also keeping an eye on
– European Parliament plenary session kicks off in Strasbourg. A debate on the “Importance of consent-based rape legislation in the EU” is scheduled later today.
Sophia Wilson scores late to lift Portland over Angel City
Sophia Wilson scored in stoppage time for her first goal of the season and the Portland Thorns defeated Angel City 2-1 on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half at BMO Stadium, Pietra Tordin’s header opened up the scoring for the Thorns (4-1-1) in the 76th minute. In her professional soccer debut, rookie defender Carolyn Calzada provided the assist.
Wilson doubled the lead in stoppage time with a left-footed blast into the side netting. It was her first goal of the season after taking all of last year off for the birth of her daughter. Her last goal for the Thorns came on Nov. 1, 2024.
Second-half substitute, forward Prisca Chilufya trimmed the lead in half in the final minute of stoppage time for Angel City.
Japan International Jun Endo made her return from injury as a substitute in the 62nd minute for Angel City (3-2-0).
‘I have to protect them’: The man guarding Mauritania’s rare Islamic books | Arts and Culture
Chinguetti, Mauritania – Bookkeeper Muhammad Gholam el-Habot gently pulled a pair of white gloves onto his slender hands and set about his routine in his high-ceilinged, cool library lined with steel bookshelves.
He opened a thick manuscript printed in Arabic. After leafing through its brown and frail pages, looking for damage, el-Habot closed the book with a satisfied thud, rubbed his fingers over the wrinkled leather cover, and carefully placed it in a white cardboard box.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“These books are very important to my family and me,” the librarian said, as the midday sunlight spilled in through open wooden doors. He spoke in Hassaniya Arabic, the dialect spoken in Mauritania, his voice low, his sentences halting and poetic. Fat flies buzzed around his long oval face as he worked.
“My relationship with them is like that of a father and his son,” he continued. “We must protect them until God takes the land and all the people who are on the land.”
The el-Habot family library is only one of a handful of its kind still operating in Chinguetti, a medieval fortress town or ksar in Mauritania’s northern Adrar region. Once a centre of commerce and Islamic learning between the 13th and 17th centuries, it is now largely abandoned as, over the decades, locals have sought opportunities in bigger cities.

Chinguetti is also at the mercy of a changing climate.
Mauritania, in northwest Africa, is 90 percent Sahara desert and has faced desertification for centuries. Now, human-induced climate change is an accelerant. Sand and flash storms occur more frequently, while extreme hot or cold seasons last longer than usual.
Those pressures are a “big deal” for precious books, said Andrew Bishop, a researcher at the University of Wyoming studying climate impacts on Saharan cultures.
“Extreme heat and less predictable rainfall patterns means that texts are increasingly damaged by water or heat, making many manuscripts beyond repair. More than that, the mud libraries themselves are not built for sudden rain and longer summer of over 40 degrees (Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit),” he told Al Jazeera.
Many of Chinguetti’s 4,500 residents now live in cement buildings outside the original confines of the abandoned ksar, built out of dry stone and red mudbrick. There are fears that the entire area, which is about 500 square kilometres (200 square miles) – about the size of Prague – is at risk of being buried by surrounding sand dunes in the long run, although there is not a clear timeline yet.

Islam’s ‘seventh holiest city’
El-Habot did not always want to be a bookkeeper.
But when his father grew sick in 2002, he took over the approximately 1,400 manuscripts out of obligation. It was an honour in his culture to be selected, he said.
It would be out of the question now, the 50-year-old librarian said. He imagines that his two sons would reject the duty, as many of their peers have left to explore economic opportunities in the capital city, Nouakchott, or elsewhere.
“This is something that we have to do; it is a family obligation,” el-Habot said, with a bewildered expression. “This is not even a question to be asked.”
The family manuscripts are sacred because they are rare. The bookkeeper’s ancestor, Sidi Mohamed Ould Habot, was one of about two dozen Chinguetti scholars who travelled around the Muslim world between the 18th and 19th centuries, from Egypt to Andalusia, in search of knowledge.
Between them, the scholars amassed a vast fortune of about 6,000 scripts. They covered almost every topic: Islamic jurisprudence, the hadith or teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, mathematics, medicine, and poetry. Some of the works came from the scholars themselves, including the older el-Habot, who wrote about the science of poems.
The books were stored in about 30 libraries in Chinguetti, open to people from all over the world.
At the time, the town was famous because of its location at the crossroads of trans-Saharan trade routes linking the Sahel and the Maghreb. Camel caravans guided by nomadic Berber traders transporting goods – mostly salt and gold – between northern Africa and the southern empires used the city as a way station, transforming it into a commercial hub.
Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca on foot or camel would gather in Chinguetti and prepare themselves spiritually and mentally for their long, difficult journey before heading on to Cairo. Islamic and scientific texts were exchanged, bought and sold in the town.
In West African lore, Chinguetti was referred to as Islam’s seventh holiest city. Others nicknamed it the “Sorbonne of the Sahara”, according to UNESCO.

Generation after generation managed the libraries. Over time, as the caravan trade declined due to new European sea routes, the old town emptied and several libraries closed.
“Chinguetti was the mother of all people,” el-Habot said, referring to the town’s old status as the main capital of the region. Indeed, the area now known as Mauritania was called “Bilad Shinqit” or Land of Chinguetti. In the local Soninke language, it translates to “spring of horses”.
“People had to go because they wanted to feed themselves, get education for their kids, and get better opportunities for themselves too,” el-Habot said, adding that there were no universities close by, and only a handful of primary and middle schools.
Some within his family have moved on, as well, the bookkeeper said. Those, like him, who stayed back, wanted to respect their ancestor’s three wishes.
“His wishes were that the library stay in Chinguetti, that it should be open to all seekers of knowledge, and that a male descendant of his who is religious and morally upright be the bookkeeper,” el-Habot explained. Not following those instructions, he said, could invite God’s anger.
Chinguetti’s decline is largely due to the lack of support for its traditional lifestyle, Bishop said. Annual rainfall in Mauritania has decreased by 35 percent since 1970, making it harder for herders to graze or for date palms to produce fruit.
In 1996, UNESCO granted Chinguetti and three other Mauritanian ksour World Heritage Status, cementing their rich legacy. The few people still living in the old town are allowed to renovate but only minimally, to keep its original stone architecture and the typical Moorish structuring where houses are lined up along narrow alleys that lead to a mosque with a square minaret.
Just outside Chinguetti are the excavated ruins of Abweir, a town of 25,000 believed to have been founded in 777 AD, and believed to be the “original” Chinguetti. Its residents moved from the settlement, locals believe, in 1264 – likely after a conflict. Over time, the area was completely swallowed by sand.

Saving the manuscripts
El-Habot’s job, while enjoyable much of the time, is also taxing, he admitted.
Preserving old books by reprinting or digitising the most worn-out manuscripts before they become unreadable is a costly process. He often needs chemicals to keep away book-eating insects and has to fund more suitable storage.
Then, there is the weather, which is out of his control. Mauritania swelters in the dry season between April and December, and is bitingly cold in the winter months that follow. Old pages are sensitive to both extremes and can become brittle, el-Habot said. Sometimes, when it is really hot, he places buckets of water around the library hall to spur humidity.
Flash floods, meanwhile, threaten water damage.

Visitors to the library usually pay a small fee, but tourist numbers dropped drastically across Mauritania in the mid-2000s, when armed groups attacked foreigners. The COVID-19 pandemic also reduced the flow of travellers.
Mauritania has since clamped down on violence. Tourists are slowly coming back, el-Habot said, and some of the locals who left have also returned.
In 2024, a $100,000 UNESCO restoration project provided air-conditioning units, computers and printers, as well as shelving units and storage boxes to 13 family libraries to stimulate the sector. But most libraries remain closed, their texts scattered among members. The lack of capacity of young people who are not as interested in preserving Chinguetti’s culture will continue to pose a challenge, Bishop said.

Back in the library, el-Habot continued working, his thin frame bent over his manuscripts. He opened one book and pointed excitedly at its pages: They depicted the moon in its luteal phases, and an eclipse. A third page showed the holy cities of Mecca and Madina.
“I have to protect this heritage,” el-Habot said in his low voice. “As mine, and also for all of humanity.”
Tourists in Tenerife look up from sunbeds and can’t believe what they see
Tourists in Tenerife were recently taken aback when they looked up from their sunbeds to be met with an unexpected sight. Many couldn’t believe their eyes due to what they saw
Tourists in Tenerife recently witnessed an unexpected sight after looking up from their sunbeds, and it comes after people have encountered unlikely experiences at the destination. Many tourists jet off to the Canary Islands hotspot in hope of catching a tan and having a much-needed rest but some admitted they were faced with a rather different holiday lately.
It was brought to people’s attention by a man known as Sam T, who claimed the weather in Tenerife is very “deceiving”. After he posted footage from his sunbed, looking up at the sky, it got many people talking about how their holidays have been impacted by the same surprising factor.
This isn’t the first time the topic has been brought to people’s attention either. Just weeks ago, holidaymakers made another similar complaint.
Lying on his sunbed, Sam was hoping to get some sun on his skin, but it looks as though mother nature had other ideas. As he filmed up towards the sky, you could see the blue sky was gradually clouding over and turning grey.
It also sounds like there may have been a bit of thunder and lightning too. The footage quickly got people talking, as they were keen to share what their own experiences at the destination have been like.
One said: “I just don’t get the hype with the Canaries. Beaches ain’t pretty and there’s always so much cloud.”
Another wrote: “Been here since the 19th and it’s been so inconsistent. It’s cloudy then a bit of sun. Rubbish really.”
A third replied: “The weather sucks. No sunshine, clouds always around the mountains. Five more days then I go home.
“Never ever coming back. I’ll try to leave earlier. Biggest disappointment of this year.”
Even though Sam admitted it’s been hot during his stay, he noted it’s been “overcast a lot of the time”. He also admitted he’s visited a few times in the past, but this was the first time he’s experienced so much cloud.
Someone else wrote: “I was here 15th to 22nd and had lush weather!” Another responded: “Still absolutely boiling though.”
One more also noted: “Been here since 18th April. It’s been mid 20s every day – been scorching.”
What people need to know
Generally, Tenerife is not considered a cloudy island overall, but it has distinct microclimates. The north is greener and often cloudier, while the south is consistently sunny and warm.
Clouds commonly form over the central mountains, and occasionally spill over to coastal areas, particularly from September to May. However, it’s also been noted the weather in parts of the Canary Islands has been worse than usual this year.
During early 2026, Tenerife experienced significant, unseasonably bad weather, which has been described as some of the worst in over a decade. March was particularly impacted by Storm Therese, which brought heavy rain, high winds, flash flooding and rare snowfall at high altitudes.
It also led to travel disruption and flight cancellations. This is why people have been talking so much about the weather there recently.
The Chinese sports brand taking on Nike and Adidas
Now one of the biggest sportswear firms, Anta’s rise follows a playbook adopted by many Chinese giants.
Source link
‘Best’ crime show on TV leaves fans gripped with ‘high octane’ episode airing tonight
Another episode of the popular show is set to air tonight (April 27)
The BBC’s “best” programme that grips viewers will return to television screens, and it’s coming sooner than you think.
Scam Interceptors is a crime documentary series that first aired on BBC One in 2022, spanning across five series. Hosted by Rav Wilding, each instalment follows experts as they monitor and often intervene in real life fraud to prevent victims losing money.
Viewers will also be able to get their Scam Interceptors fix tonight (April 27) as a chilling episode will be airing at 8.30pm on BBC One. Despite being a repeat episode, the instalment, titled ‘I’ve been scammed 11 times’ will feature a “high octane chase” as well as calls against scammers that are “plaguing lives”.
An official synopsis reads: “Rav Wilding and Nick Stapleton are back, working with ethical hacker Jim Browning to call out the scammers plaguing our lives and prevent people from losing their money.
“In this episode, the team are in a high-octane chase to intercept scammers claiming to be from Sky broadband. They have full access to a woman’s mobile and are only seconds away from transferring her cash. But the scammers are on to us and want answers.”
With a focus on preventing members of the public from falling victim to scams and losing money, the series also aims to expose, intercept and stop scams in real time.
Over the years, the series has become a huge success with viewers as one IMDb user described it as being “Superb, Gripping Public Service Television.” Another said: “You cant beat this show”, adding: “The best show on tv hands down. Suspense and action.”
Over on Instagram, one viewer said: “I think this program is fab but it scares the bejesus out of me to watch it!” Another wrote: “Oh wow. Just got this on my IG page. I didn’t know there was a show doing this. I definitely am going to watch full episodes.”
A third commented: “Absolutely gripping television at its best. The very best by the BBC”, as a fourth added: “This was a great programme!”
Viewers on X also praised the programme as one person wrote: “This show stresses me out #scaminterceptors.” Another said: “Another heart-stopping episode. #ScamInterceptors.”
Every episode of the hit BBC documentary series is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Scam Interceptors will air tonight at 8.30pm on BBC One. All episodes are also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
European markets set to open higher despite US-Iran negotiations stalling
Published on
Germany’s Dax, France’s CAC 40, Italy’s FTSE MIB and the UK’s FTSE 100 are expected to open in the green, according to IG data, despite peace talks between the US and Iran coming to a halt.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The White House called off plans to send envoys to Pakistan for more negotiations and US President Donald Trump cited a lack of progress over the weekend.
“If they want, we can talk but we’re not sending people,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday. He said earlier on social media: “All they have to do is call!!!”
In addition to monitoring progress in the Middle East, investors will also be keeping across central bank decisions this week, including from the ECB and Federal Reserve.
Asia-Pacific markets mixed
Meanwhile, markets were mixed overnight in the Asia-Pacific region. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index hit a fresh record, surging 1.4% to 60,564.18. The Kospi in South Korea jumped 2.1% to 6,617.94. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged 0.1% lower to 25,951.86 and the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.2% at 4,089.04. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3% to 8,759.40.
Taiwan’s Taiex rallied 2.6%, helped by a revival of buying of tech shares driven by the boom in artificial intelligence.
Oil prices rise again
In other dealings early Monday, the price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in July, rose $1.44 to $100.57, while US benchmark crude oil added $1.28 to $95.65.
The dollar fell to 159.34 Japanese yen from 159.59. The euro climbed to $1.1723 from $1.1701.
Billionaire-tax backers say they have enough signatures — times two — to qualify for ballot
Supporters of a billionaire tax said Sunday that they had gathered nearly twice as many signatures as necessary to qualify the controversial proposal for the November ballot.
Opponents of the proposal argue that it already has driven wealthy Californians — crucial to funding the state’s volatile budget — to other parts of the nation. Advocates, however, say the proposed tax is critical to compensate for federal healthcare funding cuts that will harm the state’s most vulnerable residents.
“Most Californians and most billionaires recognize how reasonable and necessary this proposal is — both to keep emergency rooms open and to save California businesses from closing,” said Suzanne Jimenez, the chief of staff of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the chief proponent of the effort. “A very small group of the most controversial billionaires on the planet tried to stop” this effort, she added, but when “our growing coalition files these signatures, David will have won the first round against Goliath.”
The union, which represents more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients and consumers, launched the effort to counter massive healthcare funding cuts that President Trump signed last year. The California Budget & Policy Center estimated that as many as 3.4 million Californians could lose Medi-Cal coverage, rural hospitals could shutter, and other healthcare services would be slashed unless new funding was found.
The proposal would impose a one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers and trusts with assets valued at more than $1 billion, with some exclusions, such as property. The levy could be paid over five years. Ninety percent of the revenue would fund healthcare programs, and the remaining funds would be spent on food assistance and education programs. The proposal would cost the state’s richest residents about $100 billion if a majority of voters support it.
Supporters need to submit the signatures of nearly 875,000 registered voters to county elections officials by June 24. They say they have gathered nearly 1.6 million signatures.
Opponents of the measure, which has divided liberals — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) supports it while Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes it — said the proposal would destroy California’s economy and budget, while doing nothing to address the state’s underlying financial issues.
“This wealth tax would have a devastating impact on our economy, state budget, and the cost of living for all Californians,” said Rob Lapsley, president of the bipartisan California Business Roundtable. “The measure doesn’t do anything to reduce the state’s $35-billion-plus budget deficit and does nothing to address the decade of overspending that led to the structural deficit. In fact, because the state relies so heavily on high-income-earner tax revenue, this measure could lead to reduced budget revenue in the long term as highly mobile wealthy individuals leave the state to avoid this new tax.”
He also argued that the proposal could result in higher taxes for all Californians.
“This is an everyone tax that is called a billionaire tax,” Lapsley said, “and we will ensure Californians understand the truth on the devastating consequences this initiative will have.”
Even the Rockets thought Deandre Ayton’s ejection was ‘soft’
HOUSTON — Deandre Ayton has a simple explanation for his first career ejection.
“We’re both sweaty guys,” the Lakers center said after his accidental elbow to the back of Alperen Sengun‘s head resulted in his ejection from Sunday’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers center was assessed a flagrant foul 2 with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter of the 115-96 Game 4 loss. It “looked crazy on camera,” Ayton acknowledged, but it was not malicious.
Ayton said he was bracing for contact against the 6-foot-11, 243-pound Sengun and Ayton’s arm simply slipped off Sengun’s shoulder and hit his head. It didn’t affect Sengun at all: he finished with 19 points and six rebounds on six-of-12 shooting as the Rockets forced a Game 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PDT at Crypto.com Arena.
“I’m not no guy who is a dirty player or plays like that,” Ayton said. “If anything, me trying to play dirty, I’ll damn near hurt myself. I just hope he’s all right and they don’t think it was intentional.”
Sengun and Rockets coach Ime Udoka both said the flagrant 2 call — which characterizes an act as “unnecessary and excessive” — was “soft.” Sengun said he didn’t expect Ayton to be ejected for the play. When crew chief James Williams declared that Ayton would be sent off, the Lakers center simply dropped his head and walked to the locker room. Injured Rockets star Kevin Durant, who missed the game with a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle, waved goodbye from the Rockets bench.
“We’re proud of the way he handled it, and I think that just speaks volume about who he is and his progression,” Lakers guard Marcus Smart said. “He’s learning, he’s continuing — it probably would have been justifiable if he went off, right? But to keep his composure and stay positive, I think that’s only going to help him and this team.”
Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt (2) and Deandre Ayton (5) go up for a rebound against Houston forward Tari Eason during the first half Sunday.
(Karen Warren / Associated Press)
It was the first time Ayton was ejected in his eight-year NBA career. The center, to the chagrin of many in the NBA, has long been known more for his finesse touch shots than physical play. Lakers coach JJ Redick called Ayton, “a sweet, just, like, kind soul.”
Lakers coaches and teammates have tried to encourage him to increase his intensity and aggressiveness. General manager Rob Pelinka even made a custom shirt with half of Ayton’s face next to the face of a lion.
Ayton answered the call Sunday with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was one of the Lakers’ only forms of consistent offense in the blowout loss. Outside of Ayton and Rui Hachimura, who shot six for 10 with 13 points, the Lakers were shooting 31.3% from the field in the first three quarters. They trailed by as many as 26 points as Smart and LeBron James, veterans who led the team to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, looked worn down with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) still sidelined.
“It’s been tough for DA,” said Smart, who had nine points, five assists and four turnovers. “We’ve been hard on him. He’s been hard on himself. You guys have been hard on him. … He’s been taking it, embracing it and trying to get better and better. Today he showed that. He came out, we relied on him a little bit more. He made plays for us.”
Ayton soon had company in the Lakers locker room after teammate Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday were both ejected after receiving two technical fouls with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. They got tangled up under the basket and exchanged words briefly.
Thiero, who entered the game midway through the fourth quarter when the Lakers cleared their bench, made a memorable playoff debut by scoring his first postseason basket with an emphatic alley-oop dunk over Dorian Finney-Smith. But the premature ending to his first postseason appearance was “uncalled for,” James said.
“It made no sense,” said James, who had 10 points and nine assists but eight turnovers. “… I don’t think that was warranted. Give him two technicals? The kid just got in the game.”
At the end of the physical game, players from both teams jawed back and forth at midcourt after the final buzzer. Much of the Lakers bench and some coaches approached to help diffuse the situation. Redick said he was simply poking his head into the situation the way people might turn their heads to gawk at commotion in a bar. When he determined nothing was happening, he left.
“Hilarious,” Smart said with a smirk of the postgame skirmish. “Very hilarious.”
North Korea inaugurates memorial for troops killed in Ukraine

North Korea held an inauguration ceremony for a memorial in Pyongyang to honor North Korean troops killed in Ukraine, state media reported Monday. In this photo, white balloons are released as a tribute to the fallen soldiers. Photo by KCNA/EPA
SEOUL, April 27 (UPI) — North Korea held an inauguration ceremony for a memorial museum honoring troops dispatched to fight for Russia in Ukraine, state media reported Monday, with leader Kim Jong Un pledging continued support for Moscow in its “sacred war.”
The ceremony took place Sunday at the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
The event marked the first anniversary of what Pyongyang called the “liberation of Kursk,” referring to Russia’s battlefield gains in the war. North Korea declared Russia’s recapture of the region on April 26 last year.
North Korea has deepened military ties with Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pyongyang has shipped thousands of containers of munitions and deployed about 15,000 troops to assist Russian forces in the Kursk region, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has said, estimating that roughly 2,000 of those troops had been killed.
In a speech at the ceremony, Kim highlighted the “strategic significance” of the operations in Kursk and described the North Korean soldiers’ actions as “without parallel in history.”
“No matter how the rules of war change or when and where a crisis arises, we must always be strengthened as a sincere, dedicated and powerful bulwark that deals with it with united strength,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
Several Russian officials attended the inauguration, including State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
Volodin read a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing gratitude for North Korean troops and praising the “militant friendship” between the two countries.
“The Korean soldiers, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Russian comrades-in-arms, displayed their extraordinary bravery and genuine devotion and glorified themselves with immortal honor,” the letter said.
After the speeches, officials cut a ribbon to formally open the complex, while white balloons were released into the sky in tribute to the fallen.
In a burial rite for repatriated remains, Kim covered a coffin with dirt as guards of honor fired a rifle salute and participants observed a moment of silence, KCNA said.
Kim also held separate meetings with Belousov and Volodin ahead of the inauguration, KCNA reported.
In talks with Kim, Belousov said the two sides had agreed to expand military cooperation on a “sustainable long-term basis,” with plans to sign a cooperation roadmap covering 2027 to 2031, according to a statement posted on the Russian Defense Ministry’s Telegram channel.
Kim reaffirmed that North Korea would “fully support” Russia’s war in Ukraine, KCNA said, describing it as a “sacred war” to defend sovereignty.
In exchange for its military assistance, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving much-needed financial support and advanced military technology. A March report by South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy estimated that North Korea may have earned up to $14.4 billion from its involvement in the war through arms sales, labor exports and related assistance.
Man arrested over attacks on Jewish community in London
The arrest is part of an ongoing counter terrorism investigation into a series of attacks on premises linked to the Jewish community in north west London, an attack on a Persian-language media organisation and the discovery of jars of a non-hazardous substance in Kensington Gardens.
Gemma Collins takes fresh swing at David Haye and Jimmy Bullard over I’m A Celeb fight
Gemma Collins has doubled down on her opinion that David Haye and Jimmy Bullard’s behaviour was ‘disgusting’ in the live I’m A Celebrity final, which crowned Adam Thomas as Jungle Legend
The I’m A Celebrity fallout continues and Gemma Collins isn’t prepared to let it lie. The former Towie favourite is very much Team Adam in the feud between Adam Thomas, David Haye and Jimmy Bullard.
And she has once again hit out at the former sports stars, doubling down that their behaviour in the live final was “disgusting”. The GC reposted claims the duo had been kicked out of the live show and again took aim at the pair.
Referencing the alleged kicking out Gemma wrote: “Good job!” She went on: “Behaviour [sic] was disgusting for rest of cast the right move was made as we all felt so uncomfortable.”
READ MORE: Ex I’m A Celebrity star Anne Hegerty has damning two words for David HayeREAD MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s Anne Hegerty shares telling message to Jimmy Bullard amid brutal fall out
The words echoed Gemma’s statement a day earlier as she once again raged at the pair’s antics. While Jimmy called Adam’s behaviour “intimidating” after the former Fulham player’s decision to quit the show almost cost Adam his place, David has been labelled a “bully”.
David admitted in his exit chat he may have taken the “banter” too far, but Adam says he actions left him “broken”. And Gemma firmly stuck up for her soap star pal.
And after the live show, she shared a clip of her and step-son Tristan cuddling in. She said: “Good morning Tristan, we loved the I’m A Celebrity final last night but we were very upset wasn’t we? Tell everyone why we were upset.”
Tristan then said: “Because someone was bullying Adam.” Gemma went on: “And it was hard to see wasn’t it?. And did it ruin our night? Upset us very much? And what has it taught us in life?
Tristan continued: “Never bully.” As she spoke to her fans, Gemma added: “Adam, it was really difficult to sit there and watch you go through that last night. It was disgusting. And what a shame because we all…I mean the jealousy is real.”
During the live show, Gemma stormed off stage as the heated arguments took place. Ant McPartlin, who initially had tried chatting to the trio about the events, even appeared agitated with how things were playing out.
Body language expert, Judi James, told the Mirror: “You could see the rigid, unhappy and blank poker faces of Gemma [Collins], Scarlett [Moffatt] and Ashley [Roberts] as the lead men continued to steal the spotlight by continuing their arguments during the live final. Gemma, Scarlett and Ashley looked drained and resigned here while the battle for screen time raged about them.”
She added: “When Gemma walked, Ant reached peak anger signals. Dec stopped mirroring him here and it was Ant taking total control as authoritative leader.
“His angry stare suggested this was not an act for the camera, and he stabbed both hands onto his own chest in a gesture that signalled he was in charge before engaging in a pointed finger ‘duel’ with Jimmy. There was one final, stabbing point gesture from Ant that should have warned Jimmy that he needed to stop.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Ryan Poehling’s overtime goal gives Ducks a commanding 3-1 series lead over Oilers
Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into overtime, and the Ducks pushed Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to the brink of first-round elimination with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night.
Jeffrey Viel tied it with 6:29 left in regulation for the Ducks, who rallied from an early two-goal deficit and another third-period hole before taking a 3-1 series lead with their third consecutive victory over the back-to-back Western Conference champion Oilers.
The Ducks won when Poehling’s sharp-angled shot trickled under Edmonton goalie Tristan Jarry, who had played well in his first playoff start for his new team. An extensive video review revealed no reason to overturn the judgment on the ice that the puck had barely crossed the goal line underneath Jarry’s skate.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Edmonton.
The Ducks celebrate their Game 4 victory.
(Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund scored power-play goals in the second period for the Ducks, whose first playoff series in eight years has been an exciting demonstration of their revamped roster’s skill. Lukas Dostal stopped 24 shots for the Ducks, which have scored 20 goals in four games against the Oilers.
Evan Bouchard scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Jarry made 34 saves for the Oilers. Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored first-period goals.
Edmonton nearly won it late in regulation, but Dostal made a spectacular, sprawling pad save to deny McDavid on a late breakaway. The Oilers’ superstar center has a goal and two assists in the series.
U.S. kills three in latest suspected drug boat attack in Pacific

April 27 (UPI) — The U.S. military has killed another three men in its latest attack targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific, U.S. Southern Command announced late Sunday.
It was the 54th strike in the Trump administration’s violent anti-drug smuggling campaign that has killed at least 185 people since early September, according to UPI’s tally of publicly released data. At least 57 boats have been destroyed in the attacks in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
SOUTHCOM has announced each strike on social media, accompanied by a short black-and-white aerial video of the attack, showing the boat erupting in flames.
As with the previous strikes, SOUTHCOM said in a statement that the boat it attacked Sunday “was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
The Trump administration claims the vessels are operated by 10 drug cartels and gangs that President Donald Trump has designated as terrorist organizations since returning to office, but has yet to provide evidence.
Trump argues the use of deadly force is warranted as the United States is in “armed conflict” with those organizations, but his administration has come under mounting accusations of conducting extrajudicial killings.
The strikes have been repeatedly condemned and their legality questioned by Democrats and human rights organizations, who accuse the Trump administration of violating international and maritime law by using the military to conduct law enforcement drug operations.
Ben Saul, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, chastised the Trump administration last month for “responding with lawless violence that flagrantly violates human rights, in its phony war on so-called narco-terrorism.”
The attacks are not permissible law enforcement action in self-defense, authorized under the law of the sea, in national self-defense or under international humanitarian law, he said.
On Thursday, 125 humanitarian, human rights, peacebuilding and other related organizations from around the world called on all states to “immediately cease or refrain from supporting U.S. extrajudicial killings.”
The letter warned that states could be held legally responsible for aiding or assisting the United States by sharing intelligence as well as providing access to military bases and logistical support with the U.S. military.
The groups argue that the consequences of these killings are being felt throughout the hemisphere.
“Families awaiting the return of their loved ones may never know what happened to them and have no access to recourse,” the organizations said in their open letter.
“Coastal communities have witnessed human remains washing up on shore and fear for their lives when they trade and fish, sowing psychological trauma and undermining livelihoods.”























