Less than four weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain, Austin Reaves is closing in on a return with the Lakers in position to clinch a spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
Reaves will officially be a game-time decision before Wednesday’s potentially series-clinching Game 5 against the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. He was questionable for Games 3 and 4, warming up on the court before each game, but was ultimately ruled out.
The Lakers have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series despite playing without Reaves and leading scorer Luka Doncic, who is out because of a Grad 2 left hamstring strain.
“JJ [Redick] specifically was like you have to be comfortable with your body and what you can do to go out there and help us be successful,” Reaves said of his coach in his first comments to reporters since suffering the injury on April 2. “And I want to get back out there as fast as I can. But like I said, I feel good and trending in the right direction and can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and attack another day.”
Reaves said he typically has a very high pain tolerance. Even though he finished the game against Oklahoma City on April 2, he wasn’t surprised the injury that left him grabbing at his left side repeatedly during the game turned out to be significant enough to sideline him for several weeks.
The game was especially painful for the Lakers, who also lost Doncic on the same night. Reaves’ regular-season ending injury news came a day after Doncic’s. The Lakers, then in third place in the Western Conference, came crashing down from a 15-2 record in March. They suddenly looked like sitting ducks in the playoff hunt.
At least only to those outside the locker room.
“Our confidence doesn’t waver as a team,” Reaves said. “Basically the message from that day forward was … that they were going to do everything as a team to give us an opportunity to come back and play. And they’ve done exactly what they said.”
The Lakers finished the regular season with three consecutive wins to hold onto home-court advantage as the fourth seed. They raced out to a 3-0 series lead against the Rockets, who staved off elimination with a blowout win in Game 4.
Doncic is progressing in his return, but still has not started playing one-on-one yet. Last weekend, he improved enough to incorporate movement into his on-court work instead of just standstill shooting.
People planning holidays should check that their destionation has no new alerts or warnings
Some areas have a blanket warning, and others may have specific areas that should stay off-limits(Image: Craig Hastings via Getty)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has significantly expanded its ‘red list’ in recent months due to regional escalations, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is important to be aware of which parts of the world pose a greater risk to tourists than others.
While it is not advisable to ignore the Foreign Office’s advice, doing so is likely to invalidate any insurance that travellers have obtained. In most cases, insurers will not cover people who knowingly go against FCDO advice and take risks. If you absolutely must travel to a high-risk area, you may need to look for specialised travel insurance companies that provide specific cover for such scenarios, according to ABTA.
As of April 28, 2026, the following list summarises the countries for which the Foreign Office has specific safety advice for travelling. In some cases, it issues a blanket alert urging people to reconsider visiting countries that are unsafe across all areas. Some areas have partial warnings in place. If people are visiting the area, check the Foreign Office website for the latest updates and warnings.
Countries where the Foreign Office currently advises against all travel:
Afghanistan
Belarus
Burkina Faso
Central African Republic (CAR)
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Lebanon
Mali
Niger
Palestine (Occupied Palestinian Territories)
Russia
South Sudan
Sudan (most of the country)
Syria
Ukraine (most of the country)
Yemen
Countries where the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel:
Bahrain
Cuba (entire island)
Ecuador (coastal provinces)
Egypt (significant parts: Western Desert, North South Sinai)
India (significant parts: Manipur, Pakistan border)
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information. Check out last week’s map here.
The George H.W. Bush CSG arrived in U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility last week, becoming the third U.S. aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), this is the first time since the 2003 Iraq War that the U.S. has triple-carrier coverage in the region. Outside the Gulf of Oman, the Abraham Lincoln CSG and Tripoli ARG are operating in the Arabian Sea, supporting blockade measures. The Gerald R. Ford CSG remains on station in the northern Red Sea, satellite imagery shows.
Combined, the three flattops represent roughly 14 acres of sovereign U.S. territory that can be positioned anywhere around the world within weeks, and embark 27 squadrons of more than 200 aircraft. The nine guided-missile destroyers are equipped with 846 VLS tubes and loaded with a mix of offensive and defensive missiles. The undersea escorts – at least three, if not more, fast-attack subs – are not highlighted in the graphic below, but provide additional VLS capacity, among many other capabilities.
The Theodore Roosevelt CSG (TRCSG) is working up in U.S. 3rd Fleet AOR, a spokesperson told us. There are several notable aspects of the training, including integration with an Unmanned Surface Vessel Division (USVDIV) operating a medium USV (MDUSV) Seahawk, as well as the potential test of new Raytheon Coyote and Longbow Hellfire missile launchers, which TWZ first reported here. In February, Vice Adm. Brendan McLane told reporters that a medium drone would deploy alongside TRCSG later this year, Breaking Defense reported, and the Seahawk may be set to assume that role. There has been a flurry of naval drone activity off the California coast, including the NOMARS USX-1 Defiant, based on public AIS data from Marine Traffic. Roosevelt is at the leading edge of the Navy’s “tailored force pairing” concept – which could include integrating naval drones into CSG operations – and Seahawk appears to be the MDUSV selected to train and potentially deploy with the group.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) completed sea trials on April 24, the U.S. Navy announced, following a 15-month maintenance availability. “The extensive maintenance period included critical upgrades and repairs to the ship’s combat systems, propulsion plant, and habitability spaces, ensuring IKE’s ability to be fully mission capable and ready to support global maritime operations.” USS Carl Vinson is undergoing scheduled maintenance, according to photos released on April 21, while “remaining a combat-ready force dedicated to protecting and defending the United States.” USS Nimitz is participating in exercise Southern Seas, and was most recently off the coast of Chile. USS George Washington, forward-deployed to Japan and the only U.S. carrier stationed in the Indo-Pacific, is in port.
Seaman Apprentice Nicole SchweigertSeaman Apprentice Nicole SchweigertSeaman Apprentice Nicole SchweigertU.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a full power demonstration during Sea Trial in the Virginia Capes, Apr. 22, 2026. Eisenhower returned to sea and is now in the Basic Phase in the Optimized Fleet Response Plan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicole Schweigert) Seaman Apprentice Nicole Schweigert
Four of America’s 11 carriers are currently in maintenance or have an availability scheduled this year. Three are deployed in the Middle East, one is forward-stationed in the Indo-Pacific, two are training, and one is at homeport. Delivery of the next Ford-class carrier, what will become the USS John F. Kennedy, is expected in 2027, unless there are additional delays or modifications to the program.
Note: Positions are general approximations.Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.
Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io
TUI, Jet2 and easyJet have all confirmed they will not add fuel surcharges to pre-booked or new package holidays and flights this summer
13:13, 26 Apr 2026Updated 13:13, 26 Apr 2026
TUI has confirmed it will not introduce fuel surcharges for passengers(Image: Getty Images)
Airline TUI has this afternoon released a statement for passengers worried about being slapped with surcharges on holidays they’ve already booked. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted oil deliveries, raising the prospect of serious jet fuel shortages.
This has also caused fuel prices to skyrocket, leaving those who’ve already secured their holidays – and those preparing to – anxious they’ll be asked to stump up extra cash to offset the soaring costs facing airlines.
Jet2 and easyJet confirmed over the weekend that they will not be passing on any price increases to passengers via surcharges. Now, this afternoon, airline and tour operator TUI has announced it will not charge passengers additional fees.
Neil Swanson, Managing Director at TUI UKandI, said: “We understand that customers want both confidence and clarity when booking a holiday. Our teams are here to support people who are thinking about booking, and those who have already booked with TUI can be reassured that their holiday price is fixed, with no fuel surcharges added.”
easyJet has issued a fresh statement confirming the airline and tour operator will not add surcharges to any pre-booked flights and package holidays, or future bookings. The company said travellers can book their package holidays with confidence thanks to its Best Price Guarantee and Ultimate Flexibility policy: “easyJet and easyJet holidays has confirmed that it will not introduce surcharges on its flights or package holidays, giving customers complete peace of mind when booking.
“No surcharges will apply to any pre‐booked easyJet holiday packages or to any new bookings for summer 2026.easyJet currently sees no disruption to its jet fuel supply and all flights and package holidays continue to operate normally.” Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet holidays, said: “We know that holidaymakers may have questions about what recent global events might mean for their travel plans this summer so we are giving our customers absolute peace of mind that no surcharges will be added to their flights or package holidays.”
“Our operations remain unaffected, so customers can be confident that not only will their holiday go ahead as planned, but there will be no surprise extra payments, and they can enjoy their brilliant holidays at unbeatable prices.”
Jet2 has confirmed it won’t be slapping surcharges on any pre-booked flights or holidays to cover increased costs, including those related to jet fuel. In an effort to calm growing anxieties, the Department for Transport yesterday issued direct guidance to passengers with bookings through carriers such as Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways. Jet2 has axed surcharge provisions across all its flights and holidays, despite the carrier never having previously imposed them. The policy applies to all flights and holidays booked through any channel, be it online, via the mobile app, contact centre or independent travel agent. It does not cover tourist taxes, which are payable at the resort during the stay and are settled directly with the accommodation provider.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 said: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2. As a result of today’s announcement, customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later and we strongly believe that is the right thing to do by them. Ahead of a busy summer this is yet more evidence of why, on top of our incredible holidays and award-winning customer service, nothing beats a Jet2holiday.”
The DfT said on Friday: “There is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. UK airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The government is working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers.
“If your flight is cancelled, you have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing. Read this factsheet for the full picture on the current situation and what it means for you.”
Meanwhile, IAG – the parent company of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Spain’s Iberia – has referred to “pricing adjustments to reflect these higher fuel costs”. A spokesperson commented: “We are not seeing jet fuel supply interruptions, but fuel prices have risen sharply and, despite our hedging strategy, which gives some shorter-term mitigation, we are not immune to the impact.”
LOGAN, Utah — President Trump’s administration took the unusual step this week of sending a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah who is at the center of a complicated and contentious custody fight involving the child’s gender identity.
The child’s parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, is accused of taking the child to Cuba without the permission of the biological mother. Federal and state authorities sought the return of the child after a family member expressed concern that Inessa-Ethington went to Havana to get the child gender transition surgery.
Inessa-Ethington, who had run a popular Utah political blog in the 2010s, was arrested along with her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, and charged in the U.S. with international parental kidnapping.
The couple traveled with the child to Canada ostensibly for a camping trip in late March with Blue’s 3-year-old child. However, the two adults turned off their phones after telling the older child’s mother they had arrived in Canada. They flew from Vancouver to Mexico and then to Cuba on April 1, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in federal court in Utah.
The charges don’t say if the couple actually planned on getting the child gender-affirming surgery in Cuba or how they would get it because that surgery isn’t legal for children in Cuba.
The FBI said that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 from her checking account before leaving. Agents also found at their home a note with instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C., “to send the therapist the $10,000.00 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.” That note didn’t mention Cuba.
The use of the Department of Justice plane in a parental kidnapping investigation comes after the Trump administration sought to block access to gender-affirming care for minors and pressured healthcare providers over the issue.
The Associated Press left telephone and email messages with the court-appointed attorneys who represented Blue and Rose Inessa-Ethington in Virginia. The defendants will be returned to Utah to face one count each of international parental kidnapping, according to court filings.
Search began after child wasn’t returned as scheduled
The search for the child began on April 3 when they were not returned to the mother in Utah as scheduled, court documents show.
The 10-year-old’s mother, who was divorced from Rose Inessa-Ethington and had shared custody of the child, filed a missing-person report with police in Logan, Utah, a college and dairy farming town about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons said his department’s initial focus was on the custodial interference allegations in the case, and he said investigators did not learn until later about concerns over gender-affirming surgery.
Logan police spokesperson Sgt. Brandon Bevan said those concerns were raised by one family member. He declined to say who.
“They just had the concern about it, no actual physical evidence,” Bevan said.
A Utah state judge ordered the return of the 10-year-old to the child’s mother on April 13. Three days later, a federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for the Inessa-Ethingtons. On the same day, Cuban law enforcement located the group. They were deported to the U.S. aboard the government plane Monday and arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Va.
The 10-year-old was returned to the child’s biological mother, First Assistant U.S. Atty. Melissa Holyoak in Utah indicated in a statement. Representatives of the FBI and U.S. attorneys office in Utah declined to say what happened to the 3-year-old child who had been with the group.
Parents engaged in custody dispute
The custody dispute between the parents does not appear to be a new development. An online fundraiser created five years go by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled “Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child” raised $9,766.
“Last week, Rose’s ex relocated several counties away, negatively impacting Rose’s parent-time with the child,” she wrote on the fundraising page. She said the money would be used to seek a court order that would keep the child “safe and stable throughout this process.”
Anyone who has spent time with Rose knows “how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child,” she wrote.
Family members said the child was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl because of what they believed to be “manipulation” by Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to an April 16 affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield.
Gender-affirming care for minors has been limited
The Trump administration moved in December to cut off gender-affirming care for minors, prompting a third of states to sue.
It was the latest in a series of clashes between an administration that says transgender healthcare can be harmful to children and advocates who say it’s medically necessary.
Gender-affirming surgery is rare among U.S. children, research shows. Guidance from several major medical organizations calls for caution around surgery for minors and says decisions about treatments are case-by-case. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, such as hormones or puberty blockers.
In Cuba, gender-affirming surgeries are banned for minors and performed only for adults through the public health system under strict supervision in designated public hospitals for Cuban citizens. They must be authorized by a medical commission after a comprehensive review of the patient’s file. That process often takes years because it requires a wide range of medical and psychological evaluations.
Brown, Boone and Schoenbaum write for the Associated Press. Brown reported from Billings, Mont., and Boone from Boise, Idaho. AP journalists Eric Tucker in Washington, Cristiana Mesquita in Havana and Devi Shastri in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
‘Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets’
13:55, 22 Apr 2026Updated 14:53, 22 Apr 2026
Passengers have been told ‘it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected’ by the European Union(Image: Getty Images)
The EU has issued a warning that Europe faces a “very serious crisis” as aviation fuel supplies begin to dwindle due to the conflict in Iran, and holidaymakers may need to alter their summer travel plans.
“Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets,” Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, told Sky News. “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”
Jorgensen added: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”
The International Energy Agency has cautioned that significant supply problems could emerge within the next five to six weeks.
Airlines are already implementing measures to curb demand: the Lufthansa Group, among Europe’s largest airline operators, has confirmed the scrapping of 20,000 flights over the coming months. Meanwhile, other carriers are hiking ticket prices on long-distance routes to offset rising fuel costs.
“If we had peace tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz opens, I think we will manage without that happening, but I have to say that even in the best-case scenario, the price crisis will still last for quite some time,” Jorgensen warned.
“Gas infrastructure has been ruined to a degree that will take years to rebuild and this means for months and maybe years yet we will see much higher prices than we had before this crisis started.”
The head of Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority told Sky News that people should consider spending their summer holidays in their home countries.
“In the past petrol prices have reached and exceeded more than $100 without any significant side effects on air travel but this time, the psychological effect is having a destructive effect on passengers,” Pierluigi di Palma warned. “It is best to recommend holidays nearby, rediscovering beautiful places in our country. “For those who still want to risk taking a long trip, it’s a good idea to consider special insurance that can provide reassurance regarding a guaranteed refund in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight.”
The EU has unveiled a raft of measures aimed at curbing the impact of the energy crisis, including proposals to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy sources and incentives for households to install clean energy solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels. The bloc is also pushing member states to slash tax on electricity, in a bid to encourage more motorists to make the switch to electric vehicles.
A group representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has given a stark warning to ministers about holidays this summer. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has told passengers, ‘you can forget your holidays’ according to Good Morning Host Susanna Reid.
The letter, which has gone to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, calls on the government and officials to change the rules to bring down passenger duty, allow more night flights, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights.
Presenter Susanna said: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fairs or cut flights altogether.”
Co host Ed Balls added: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.”
ITV said airlines are urging the government to step in to protect business travel, holiday flights and freight operations from the economic fallout of the war in the Middle East. A confidential briefing document submitted to ministers and the aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, seen by ITV News, warns that if the disruption “continues or worsens,” airlines will be forced to cut flights and push up fares.
The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, warns that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel accounting for around a third of airline operating costs.
Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines are now at the stage where they are monitoring their reserves of jet fuel very carefully, very closely. There’s no indication just yet of any immediate cancelled flights or fuel shortages, but the airlines clearly need a backup plan in the longer term. And they are pushing for that. Now, some of the airlines have already taken steps. Lufthansa, the European airline, has cancelled thousands of its short-haul flights in an effort to conserve jet fuel. EasyJet, Virgin Airlines, as well as others, have expressed a lot of concern about the coming weeks.
“Virgin Atlantic has cancelled one of its long-haul routes. EasyJet has said, really, beyond the next few weeks into mid-May, they’re not entirely clear on what they will do for jet. Let’s just take a look at what the airlines are asking from the government in this letter that you mentioned.”
In terms of the changes the airlines want, he said: “So firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for nighttime flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that, of course, would have a huge impact. on passengers.
“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government, we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures. Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing. But it’s all quite vague really at the moment and very concerning for passenger passengers who have either spent hundreds if not thousands on flights or are looking to plan uh trips throughout the summer.”
In 1500, explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived in South America, claiming what would later be known as Brazil for Portugal.
In 1889, about 20,000 homesteaders massed along the border of the Oklahoma Territory, awaiting the signal to start the Oklahoma land rush.
In 1914, U.S. forces took control of the Mexican port city of Veracruz during the fighting of the Mexican Revolution.
In 1915, during World War I, German forces became the first to use poison gas on the Western Front during the Second Battle of Ypres.
In 1954, the Army-McCarthy hearings began in which Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R-Wis., accused the Army go going soft on communism, while the Army said it was pressured to give a speedy commission to a McCarthy aide.
In 1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke walked and rode on the surface of the moon for 7 hours, 23 minutes. Young, whose career with NASA began in 1962, would spend the next four decades as an astronaut, retiring in 2004 at the age of 74.
In 1997, a 126-day standoff at the Japanese Embassy in Lima ended after Peruvian commandos stormed the building and freed 72 hostages held by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. All 14 rebels were killed.
In 2004, former NFL star Pat Tillman, who turned down a lucrative contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers, was killed in Afghanistan. The U.S. military said later he was a victim of friendly fire.
In 2005, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only man charged in the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.
In 2006, Iraq’s Parliament ratified the selection of Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, ending a four-month political deadlock.
In 2016, world leaders from 175 countries gathered in New York on Earth Day to sign the Paris Agreement, the first international accord that outlines steps to combat climate change and lower carbon levels by 2100.
In 2020, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to temporarily close U.S. borders to migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New England Patriots coach knows that much of the chatter around his team in recent weeks has nothing to do with the reigning AFC champions’ offseason workouts or their plans for the NFL draft later this week.
Instead, it’s been about a “personal and private matter” that Vrabel decided to address at the top of his news conference Tuesday in Foxborough, Mass. Although he didn’t specify, the second-year Patriots coach seemed to be referring to photos recently published by the New York Post’s Page Six of him and Dianna Russini, who was at the time a reporter for the Athletic, interacting at an Arizona resort.
The photos appear to show Russini and Vrabel — both married to other people — holding hands, hugging and sitting in a hot tub and a swimming pool. In the April 7 article that accompanied the photos, Russini and Vrabel gave statements denying that anything inappropriate was happening between them.
In his first public comments since the article was published, Vrabel did not mention Russini or the photos. Instead, Vrabel spoke about how he has handled the situation and what his family, the team and the fan base can expect from him “going forward.”
“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel said. “Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me; that starts with me.
“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of the distraction. These are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team. We’ll keep those private and to ourselves.
“I care deeply about this football team and am excited to coach it. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus. And what I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward.”
A Patriots spokesman said team officials have no plans to address the issue further. The NFL has indicated it is not investigating the matter.
In the Page Six article, Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg expressed full support for Russini and said the photos “are misleading and lack essential context.” Days later, however, the New York Times, owner of the Athletic, reported that the digital sports outlet would conduct an investigation.
On April 14, Russini submitted her letter of resignation to the Athletic, then posted it on X. In it, Russini states she has “no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
“This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” Russini wrote. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks. … Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Here’s TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information.
The Gerald R. Ford CSG transited the Suez Canal southbound on April 16, the Associated Press reported on Friday, once again entering the Red Sea and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). The second CSG in the region, led by USS Abraham Lincoln, is operating in the northern Arabian Sea, enforcing the naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas. The George H.W. Bush CSG is reportedly transiting around the Horn of Africa en route to the Middle East, according to USNI News, but TWZ has been unable to independently confirm via open sources. Following the arrival of USS George H.W. Bush, the U.S. will have three carriers positioned in the Middle East should the ceasefire fail and combat operations resume.
The Tripoli ARG is also supporting blockade measures, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) boarding and seizing Iranian-flagged M/V Touska on April 19 after USS Spruance fired multiple 5-inch rounds, targeting the engine room and disabling the vessel’s propulsion. “American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade. After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room.” The second ARG-MEU tasked to CENTCOM, the Boxer ARG-11th MEU, is currently transiting through U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at an undisclosed location.
At a press conference on Thursday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper provided a detailed briefing on the opening hours of the blockade, which TWZ covered here, and shared unclassified slides of ship positions before and after implementation. Below is an animation visualizing the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade, and confirmed Navy ships operating in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean at the time.
“Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port,” CENTCOM said in the release. “In addition to this blockade, the joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific Area of Responsibility, under the command of Admiral Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Gen. Caine added.
Back stateside, the Theodore Roosevelt CSG departed San Diego on April 15, according to local ship spotters. A U.S. 3rd Fleet spokesperson told TWZ the CSG is underway conducting routine operations and integrated training in the 3rd Fleet AOR and “remains ready to respond to crisis or contingency at any time.” Elements of the group were recently outfitted with a new Raytheon Coyote counter-UAS 8-cell launcher, which could be tested during upcoming training periods.
Note: Positions are general approximations.Non-deployed LHA/LHD amphibious warships are not shown.
Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io
1 of 5 | On April 18, 1775, U.S. patriot Paul Revere began his famous ride through the Massachusetts countryside, crying out “The British are coming!” to rally the minutemen. File Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
April 18 (UPI) — On this date in history:
In 1506, the cornerstone was placed for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
In 1775, U.S. patriot Paul Revere began his famous ride through the Massachusetts countryside, crying out “The British are coming!” to rally the minutemen.
In 1906, an earthquake estimated at magnitude-7.8 struck San Francisco, collapsing buildings and igniting fires that destroyed much of what remained of the city. Researchers and historians concluded that about 3,000 people died in the quake and its aftermath, and roughly 250,000 were left homeless.
In 1923, the original Yankee Stadium opened in New York. The stadium was demolished in 2010 after it was replaced a year prior by the new Yankee Stadium.
File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI
In 1942, Lt. Col. James Doolittle led a squadron of B-25 bombers in a surprise raid against Tokyo in response to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
In 1945, U.S. journalist Ernie Pyle, a popular World War II correspondent, was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire on the island of Ie Shima in the Pacific.
In 1949, the Republic of Ireland formally declared itself independent from Britain.
In 1968, McCulloch Oil Corp. paid $2.24 million to buy London Bridge, which was sinking into the Thames under the weight of 20th century traffic. The oil company rebuilt the bridge bloc by block over Lake Havasu in Arizona.
In 1980, Rhodesia became the independent African nation of Zimbabwe.
In 2014, an avalanche on what is known as a particularly dangerous route to the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas killed 16 Sherpa guides.
In 2018, the first movie theaters in Saudi Arabia opened with a public screening of Black Panther.
In 2024, police arrested more than 100 protesters at Columbia University for refusing to leave a large pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. The incident sparked more protests at the school and other campuses across the country.
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies, following a chaotic, post-midnight scramble in the House to keep the authority from expiring.
The measure cleared the Senate by voice vote, without a formal roll call, as Congress raced to meet a Monday deadline. It now heads to President Trump, who had pushed for a clean 18-month extension, for his signature.
GOP leaders in the House rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday with a series of back-to-back votes that collapsed in dramatic failure, before they quickly pushed ahead the stopgap measure as they race to keep the surveillance program running past Monday’s expiration date.
First they unveiled a new plan that would have extended the program for five years, with revisions. Then they tried to salvage a shorter 18-month renewal that Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed. Some 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in blocking its advance.
Shortly after 2 a.m. they quickly agreed to the 10-day extension, which was agreed to on a voice vote without a formal roll call. It next goes to the Senate, which is gaveling for a rare Friday session, as Congress races to keep the surveillance program running.
“We were very close tonight,” said Johnson after the late-night action.
But Democrats blasted the middle-of-the-night voting as amateur hour. “Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., during a fiery floor debate.
At the center of the standoff that has stretched throughout the week is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.
U.S. officials say the authority is critical to disrupting terrorist plots, cyber intrusions and foreign espionage.
Surveillance program fight is a debate over privacy and security
Its path to passage has teetered all week in a familiar fight, as lawmakers weigh civil liberties concerns against intelligence officials’ warnings about national security risks.
Opponents of the surveillance tool point to past misuses. FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when searching intelligence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a 2024 court order.
Trump and his allies had lobbied aggressively all week for a clean renewal of the program, without changes.
A group of Republicans traveled to the White House on Tuesday, and on Wednesday CIA Director John Ratcliffe spoke directly with GOP lawmakers. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Thursday there had “been negotiations late into the night with the White House and some of our members.”
“I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. “We need to stick together.”
The result of days of negotiations
Thursday’s proceedings came to a standstill as lawmakers retreated behind closed doors and Johnson reached for an agreement to resolve the standoff.
Shortly before midnight GOP leaders announced a new proposal, a five-year extension, with revisions. The changes were designed to win over skeptics of the surveillance program who have demanded greater oversight to protect Americans’ privacy.
Among the changes are new provisions to ensure that only FBI attorneys can authorize queries on U.S. persons, and to require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to review such cases, said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., during the debate.
But the final product, a 14-page amendment, did not go far enough for some holdouts in either party.
With Johnson controlling a slim majority, he has little room for dissent. As the Republicans fell short on both efforts before the short extension, a handful of Democrats stepped in to try to help them advance the longer extensions, but most Democrats were opposed.
“We just defeated Johnson’s efforts to sneak through a 5-year FISA authorization tonight,” said Democratic Rep, Ro Khanna of California. “Now, they will have to fight in daylight.”
Cappelletti and Mascaro write for the Associated Press.
“The Real Housewives of Miami” star Lisa Hochstein has been charged with a felony for allegedly spying on her ex-husband.
Hochstein, 43, and her former partner Jody Glidden, 52, were booked on felony charges of unlawfully intercepting oral statements from the Miami housewife’s ex-husband Leonard “Lenny” Hochstein.
Hochstein turned herself in at Miami-Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Wednesday morning, according to NBC Miami. The embattled star’s bond was initially set for $5,000, but she was released on her own recognizance later the same day. NBC spoke with Hochstein as she left the Miami-Dade jail and asked, “How was it in there?”
Hochstein’s attorney, Jayne Weintraub, walked alongside the reality star and intercepted questions, answering, “Five stars!”
Hochstein repeated, “Yes, five stars.”
Glidden, who also appeared on “Real Housewives,” was arrested April 12. He has since been released. Hochstein and Glidden have pleaded not guilty. Her arraignment is scheduled for April 20.
According to a March 17 arrest warrant obtained by People, Hochstein and Glidden allegedly placed a recording device in Leonard Hochstein’s Mercedes-Benz following an acrimonious split back in March 2023.
The outlet reported that Leonard Hochstein loaned his car to the “Real Housewives” star after she said she wanted to take it for a test drive because she was thinking of getting one for herself. When the car was returned, Leonard Hochstein allegedly found a suspicious device in the driver‘s side floorboard, covered with tape and hidden from view. The South Florida plastic surgeon contacted his lawyer, who then brought in experts who were able to pull recordings from the device.
A total of 98 recordings were recovered, according to the affidavit, and “one of the last recordings from before the vehicle was returned to the victim depicts Lisa Hochstein and Glidden holding a discussion and the distinct sound of a device such as the hidden recorder being wrestled into place.”
Hochstein can allegedly be heard saying “done.” The warrant also states that Glidden ordered two recording devices of the exact same make and model on Amazon three months prior.
The Hochsteins’ divorce played out on Season 5 of the Bravo reality series after Leonard Hochstein admitted he was in a relationship with another woman and planned to divorce Hochstein during a hot-mic moment that shocked audiences and Hochstein alike.
After the divorce was finalized last year, Hochstein told Entertainment Tonight, “I am very happy right now. It took a long time to get here, a lot of ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m finally on the other side, and it feels so good.”
1 of 4 | Remains of a fertilizer plant and other buildings smolder after the plant exploded in West, Texas on April 17, 2013. File Photo by Larry W. Smith/EPA
April 17 (UPI) — On this date in history:
In 1421, the sea broke the dikes at Dort, Holland, drowning an estimated 100,000 people.
In 1521, the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated Martin Luther after he refused to admit to charges of heresy.
In 1790, U.S. statesman, printer, scientist and writer Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia at age 84.
In 1969, a jury found Sirhan B. Sirhan guilty of first-degree murder for the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
File Photo by Ron Bennett/UPI
In 1970, with the world anxiously watching on television, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that sustained a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon, safely returned to Earth.
In 1989, the Polish labor union Solidarity was granted legal status after nearly a decade of struggle and suppression — clearing the way for the downfall of the country’s Communist Party.
In 1993, a federal jury convicted two Los Angeles police officers and acquitted two others of violating the civil rights of Rodney King during his 1991 arrest and beating.
In 2004, the Israeli army confirmed it had killed Abdel Aziz Rantisi, Hamas co-founder and its leader in Gaza, in a missile strike. Two others also died with Rantisi, who had opposed any compromise with Israel.
In 2012, U.S. investor Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest people, said he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In 2018, former first lady Barbara Bush died at the age of 92 after refusing medical treatment for her failing health. Her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, died less than one year later.
In 2024, Russian missile strikes targeting the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv killed more than a dozen people and injured scores more.
Air traffic controller strikes will cause ‘indefinite’ disruption to flights from April 17, affecting some of the most popular European holiday locations
Robert Rowlands Deputy editor, money and lifestyle, content hub and Maria Ortega
04:30, 17 Apr 2026
Multiple airports will be affected by the strike action from Friday, April 17 – pictured is an airport terminal at Lanzarote airport: file image(Image: Geography Photos, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
British holidaymakers are facing the prospect of indefinite disruption starting from tomorrow at major European holiday destinations. A total of 14 airports at popular holiday locations are preparing for strike action from Friday, April 17.
Air traffic controller unions are warning that the strike action is ‘indefinite’. Spanish media reports indicate that the action by USCA kicks off on April 17 at the Canary Island hotspots of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro – with nine further locations also affected.
Other popular holiday destinations set to be hit by airport strikes include the mainland locations of Jerez de la Frontera, La Coruña, Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Vigo and Seville. Castellón, Burgos, Huesca and Ciudad Real are also set for strike action.
Travel website Travel On World is cautioning tourists that the greatest risk is likely to be “delays, late aircraft rotations, missed connections and short-notice timetable changes.”
The site notes that for many travellers, the main concern is not a complete shutdown of operations. Instead, it is planes departing late from earlier locations, inbound flights being held up, departure slots changing around, turnaround times tightening and passengers having to put up with long waits for clear details on what is happening.
Because air traffic control is classed as an essential service, Spanish authorities have the power to impose minimum service levels. This should mean that some flights continue to operate.
Some flights are therefore likely to depart close to schedule. Yet others may face significant delays, and some could be cancelled where airlines determine the knock-on effect has become too serious.
What are my rights over the Spain airport strikes?
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, if your UK flight is delayed, and a post-Brexit regulation known as UK261 applies to it, your airline must care for you while you are delayed. This includes supplying you with food and drink depending on the length of your delay, and accommodation if you are delayed overnight.
You may also be entitled to compensation if the delay results in you reaching your destination airport more than three hours late. If the delay exceeds five hours, you can opt not to travel and receive a refund.
What is the Spain strike action all about?
The airports affected by the industrial action share a common thread – all are operated by SAERCO. Further strikes had previously been anticipated at Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, linked to a separate ongoing dispute involving Groundforce baggage handlers. However, it emerged earlier this week that this action has now been suspended.
Travellers must now contend with this latest wave of industrial unrest. Air traffic control unions say they are taking strike action over staff shortages and shift scheduling disputes – and passengers should be ready for disruption.
USCA spokesman José Luis Feliú told El Espejo Canario that delays are a real possibility. And the sunspots are busy all year long. Aena reports that 5.7million British holidaymakers visited the Canary Islands in 2023 alone.
Even outside of the school holidays, the islands remain a firm favourite with British travellers – and for good reason. According to the Hello Canary Islands website, with 4,800 daylight hours a year, the Canary Islands have the most daylight hours of anywhere in Europe.
What the unions are saying about the Spain airport strikes?
USCA spokesman José Luis Feliú told Spanish media there is currently a “shortage of air traffic controllers,” which he said directly impacts the system’s operation. “It generates greater stress, more fatigue, and makes it impossible to guarantee service continuity,” he warns.
The union spokesman highlights that the surge in air traffic has worsened the situation, compelling professionals to shoulder heavier workloads under increasingly difficult conditions, reports El Espejo Canario. One of the most pressing concerns is shift management, he alleges. “The company unilaterally changes the schedule,” alleges Feliú, leaving workers unable to plan their personal lives, he claims.
He claims that air traffic controllers are forced to “give up leave, vacations, and planned changes,” a situation he regards as unsustainable in the long run. “In the end, you work the same hours, but without any planning,” he claims.
The strike is indefinite, although minimum services will remain in place, it is understood. Spanish website Larazon reports that the union cites “staff cuts of up to 33%” as the reason for this nationwide strike.
The website reports that the action is set to affect football fans using Seville airport. The Copa del Rey final will take place in Seville between Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad on Saturday, April 18.
According to Diario de Jerez, as of midday Thursday, the Jerez airport schedule still showed 18 commercial flights planned for Friday (nine landings and nine takeoffs). Meanwhile, another 18 commercial operations are scheduled for Saturday, two of them with Germany.
Many passengers are facing waits of up to three hours at Spanish airports due to the new controls
Robert Rowlands Deputy editor, money and lifestyle, content hub and Maria Ortega
16:02, 16 Apr 2026
(Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Travellers in Spain are experiencing significant delays at airports. And experts are warning that one particular group is bearing the brunt of new border controls, according to a Spanish travel organisation.
There have been widespread reports of waiting times of up to three hours. New regulations have been introduced, with some passengers in particular facing very long waits.
Spanish media reports indicate waiting times of up to three hours at Palma airport alone, with similar delays reported in France, Greece, Italy and beyond. Travel group Aviba is now calling for urgent measures to prevent chaos this coming summer.
Pedro Fiol, president of the travel association, is demanding immediate action to avert disruption this summer, and has revealed he has been pushing for such measures for months, according to Ultimata Hora. The new system has only just been introduced, having fully launched on April 10, following a trial period that began late last year.
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) initially began operations on 12 October 2025, with a phased rollout across 29 European countries. Now it is fully in place.
The system replaces passport stamping with digitally recorded entries, exits or refusals of entry of non-EU nationals arriving for short stays. Travellers’ facial images, fingerprints and personal data from the travel document will also be recorded.
Mr Fiol said: “The implementation of the new European Border and Security System (EES) is already beginning to be felt at the Balearic airports, especially at Son Sant Joan, the main gateway to Mallorca, where we are still operating with a hybrid model. At certain times, it is causing some slowdowns in the controls, particularly for non-EU passengers.”
He warned that “we are facing a structural change in how borders are managed across Europe: biometric registration is replacing manual passport stamping, and this means more time for the passenger’s first contact with their destination.” In his view, so far “the experience has been inconsistent: some days the operation runs relatively smoothly, while others, according to agencies and tour operators, can take more than two hours from the moment the plane lands until the traveller collects their luggage, and even nearly three hours in some specific cases.”
Ultima Hora reports that the National Police have acknowledged the delays, though they say they have seen no evidence of prolonged hold-ups. Sources close to the security forces have told Spanish media that additional staff have been deployed during peak hours in a bid to ease any difficulties that may occur during periods of heavy passenger congestion at checkpoints.
Travellers passing through airports in countries including France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece are facing waits of several hours at border controls, according to the Airports Council International (ACI). Olivier Jankovec, the director of the ACI European division, told the Financial Times: “This situation, in the coming weeks and certainly over the peak summer months, is going to be simply unmanageable.
“We are seeing those queueing times now, at peak times, when traffic is just starting to build up.” A spokesperson for the European Commission told the Guardian: “What we can see from the first days of full operation is that the system is working very well. In the overwhelming majority of member states there are no issues.”
The commission said that the average registration of a passenger was 70 seconds, although the ACI has claimed that it can take up to five minutes. The spokesperson said there were a “few member states where technical issues have been detected” but that they “are being addressed”.
They said: “It is up to member states to ensure the proper implementation of the EES on the ground.” Luke Fitzpatrick, from independent travel agency Perfect Getaways, told the BBC this week that travellers should plan ahead to make border checks as smooth as possible.
“It’s about being as prepared as you can be,” Fitzpatrick told BBC Radio Merseyside. “There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment as people are getting used to the new system.”
While he said the advice was to arrive at the airport “at least three hours early”, he said it could be more difficult for people booked on a package holiday. “If you’re on a shared transfer back, everyone’s coming together at the same time,” he said.
EES changes and the impact on transfer and pick-ups
Pedro Fiol told Ultima Hora that “this situation is forcing a restructuring of transfer and pick-up operations at destinations to better co-ordinate exact times, avoid additional downtime, and guarantee the smoothest possible service.” Given this situation, he says that “travel agencies are concerned that if resources are not properly allocated at airports with such high tourist pressure as those in the Balearic Islands, significant queues and a negative first experience for visitors are possible.”
What do Brit tourists need to do with EES rules?
The govuk website states that “if you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.
“EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.”
The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
