months

April 23 (Asia Today) — A former Samsung Electronics manager was sentenced to 6 years and 4 months in prison on Thursday in a retrial over charges that he leaked key semiconductor technology to a Chinese competitor.

The Seoul High Court also fined the former manager, identified by his surname Kim, 200 million won ($145,000).

The ruling came after South Korea’s Supreme Court sent the case back for a new trial, saying lower courts had wrongly treated some acts involving trade secret disclosure as part of a single offense rather than separate crimes.

Kim was accused of illegally leaking Samsung Electronics’ 18-nanometer DRAM process technology, classified as a national core technology, to Chinese memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies, also known as CXMT. He was indicted and detained in 2024. He was also accused of leaking technical data belonging to another company.

The appeals court said Kim had illegally acquired Samsung trade secrets and used them in China, calling the offense extremely serious.

The court said violations involving industrial technology, trade secrets and national core technologies waste the massive time and money invested in developing DRAM technology, severely undermine fair business order and could damage national competitiveness.

Two other defendants tried in the same case also received sentences after parts of the earlier acquittals were overturned. A former executive at a partner company was sentenced to three months in prison, while a company employee received a two-month prison term suspended for one year.

In the first trial, Kim was sentenced to seven years in prison after the court found him guilty on most charges related to trade secret leaks. The second trial upheld much of that reasoning but reduced the sentence to six years, citing findings that he had not directly participated in leaking some of Samsung’s core technology.

The Supreme Court later reversed that judgment and ordered a retrial. It said obtaining or disclosing trade secrets among accomplices during the process of leaking technology overseas should be treated as distinct crimes.

The court said South Korea’s unfair competition law defines the acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets to third parties as independent offenses, and separately punishes the knowing use of such secrets.

On Tuesday, another former Samsung employee charged in a related case was sentenced to seven years in prison. Authorities said that case was uncovered during an additional investigation into Kim.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260423010007596

Sources have told BBC Sport that Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, Fulham head coach Marco Silva and former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic are under consideration as possible replacements for Rosenior.

Iraola, 43, announced last week that he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, while Silva’s contract at rivals Fulham is due to expire in July. Terzic, meanwhile, was under consideration by Tottenham to replace Thomas Frank when the Dane was sacked earlier this season.

Calum McFarlane will take over as interim manager until the season of the season.

McFarlane, who was Rosenior’s assistant, was in charge for a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and a defeat at Fulham in January after previous boss Enzo Maresca was sacked.

“As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment,” Chelsea added.

Rosenior won five of his 13 games in the Premier League and led the Blues to four victories in the FA Cup – all against lower-league opposition – to reach the semi-finals.

McFarlane’s first game in charge comes on Sunday when Chelsea face Leeds at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final (15:00 BST).

Chelsea only appointed Liam Rosenior in January, but the FIFA Club World Cup holders have lost their last five games.

FIFA Club World Cup champions Chelsea have sacked their head coach Liam Rosenior following a run of five consecutive defeats.

The 41-year-old had only been appointed as Enzo Maresco’s permanent replacement in January.

Rosenior, who started his managerial career at Derby County and Hull City in England, joined the west London club after two years in the French top flight with Strasbourg, where he won 51 of 63 matches.

Only 11 wins were secured in 23 games in charge of the Blues, however, and the recent run of losses also marked the first time the club had lost that number of games without scoring since 1912.

Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton saw the side slip to seventh in the league, a hammer blow in the chance of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

“Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season,” Chelsea said in a statement.

“This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season.”

Rosenior described the performance of his players in his final game in charge as “indefensible” and “unacceptable”.

Infrastructure damage caused by a fire suspected to have been set by a homeless person at Encino Franklin Fields in January has not been repaired and is still months away from being completed, according to an update from from Councilmember Imelda Padilla.

A tunnel damaged underneath a parking area has created issues with use of the fields and limited parking despite a temporary pedestrian bridge built to let people travel to softball fields used by teams from Harvard-Westlake, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Louisville. The teams have resumed using the fields.

Here’s the statement provided to The Times and attributed to Padilla: “Since the fire our office has continued to lead coordination efforts with the Bureau of Engineering, the Mayor’s Office, and the CAO, to move this project forward as quickly as possible. With the design phase complete, we are now actively working to identify and secure the necessary funding to begin construction.

“Once funding is secured, construction is expected to begin within approximately two months, and we are working to ensure the project is funded and underway within the current fiscal year. We are in ongoing communication with Encino Franklin Fields stakeholders to ensure their needs are reflected throughout this process. Student athletes, families, and community members deserve safe, functional facilities, and we are committed to delivering a coordinated and timely solution.”

Harvard-Westlake athletic director Matt LaCour released a statement as well: “We are grateful to the Council Office, Encino Franklin Fields, and all stakeholders for their continued commitment to supporting our student-athletes and broader community. Their leadership and collaboration are critical in ensuring there is a clear path forward to restore these facilities.

“These fields are more than just a place to play — they are a vital resource for students, families, and community members. We appreciate the shared urgency to restore full access for everyone who depends on them.”

An ITV newsreader has shared a rare insight into why he needed to take some time off.

An ITV News journalist has opened up about taking three months off work after suffering a “breakdown”.

Newsreader Tom Bradby took the break from work back in 2018, and now he is speaking candidly about that time.

He opened up about it to Radio Times as he discussed new ITV thriller Secret Service, which was adapted from his book and stars Gemma Arterton as MI6 officer Kate Henderson.

Tom said he wrote that particular novel faster than any of his other books, saying that when he reflects on the speed it “poured out” of him “it seems obvious that Kate – as a result of all the pressure heaped upon her – is skating on the edge of acute insomnia and some kind of breakdown”.

“And shortly after I finished it, this is exactly what happened to me,” he said. “I took three months off, rebooted and recovered.

“But when I read the book now, I do wonder at the way the character was a direct reflection of my own psychological state of mind.”

Tom has previously been open about his time off, revealing it happened after he developed insomnia, which resulted in what he said was an “addiction” to a sleeping pill.

Secret Service, which also stars Rafe Spall, was adapted from Tom’s best-selling novel and ITV has promised viewers “high-stakes drama” and “political intrigue”.

The five-part series explores the world of espionage against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the UK and Russia.

A synopsis for the show said: “The drama follows senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Gemma). On the surface, her life appears ordinary – a civil servant married to Stuart (Rafe) with two teenage children.

“However, to those who don’t know her well, Kate’s true role is heading the Russia Desk at the Secret Intelligence Service.

“When her undercover operations reveal alarming evidence that a high-ranking UK politician may be a Russian asset, Kate finds herself in a desperate race to uncover their identity.”

It continues: “As a brutal murder thrusts her team into the spotlight, Kate must navigate the dangerous world of espionage while trying to hold her family together and protect her reputation.”

Secret Service will launch on Monday April 27 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday faced federal lawmakers for the first time since September as he sought to defend a more than 12% proposed cut to his department’s budget and dodge arrows from angry Democrats along the way.

In his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, kicking off an expected sprint of seven budget hearings he’ll attend across congressional committees and subcommittees over the next week, Kennedy emphasized the administration’s work to reform dietary guidelines and crack down on waste, fraud and abuse.

Republicans on the committee praised Kennedy as a “breath of fresh air” and asked him to promote his department’s recent actions. Democrats, who have been furious over Kennedy’s sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, largely had a different agenda.

They needled Kennedy on what they viewed as the Trump administration’s hypocrisy on fraud, demanded to know why he was cutting budgets for various programs and slammed his efforts to pull back vaccine recommendations and messaging, which they said have caused unnecessary deaths.

Kennedy fired back, often raising his voice as he accused the Democrats of misrepresenting his work and past statements.

Here are three standout moments from Thursday’s hearing:

A standoff over measles

One heated exchange early in the hearing came between Kennedy and Rep. Linda Sanchez. The California Democrat decried recent measles outbreaks across the U.S. and asked Kennedy to answer for the fact that under his leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pulled back public health messaging supporting vaccination.

“As a mother, this horrifies me,” Sanchez said. “Did President Trump approve your decision to end CDC’s pro-vaccine public messaging campaign?”

Kennedy repeatedly refused to answer, saying first he wanted to respond to the “misstatements that you’ve made” and later praising the Trump administration’s record on preventing measles, although protections against the disease have eroded in some parts of the country as vaccination rates have dropped.

“That’s not answering my question,” Sanchez said as the two talked over each other.

But Sanchez also got Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist before he entered politics, to acknowledge that a 6-year-old who died of measles last year in West Texas could have potentially been saved with vaccination.

“Do you agree with the majority of doctors that the measles vaccine could have saved that child’s life in Texas?” she asked.

“It’s possible, certainly,” Kennedy said.

RFK Jr. denies talking about Black children being ‘re-parented’

A fight erupted between Kennedy and Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, when Kennedy vehemently denied making remarks he’d said in 2024.

The comments dated back to when Kennedy was a presidential candidate. On the “High Level Conversations” podcast last July, he said, “Psychiatric drugs — which every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence, and those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented to live in a community where there’ll be no cellphones, no screens, you’ll actually have to talk to people.”

“Have you ever re-parented, or parented, I should say, a Black child?” Sewell asked, as her staff held up a poster featuring an abbreviated version of the quote.

“I don’t even know what that phrase means,” Kennedy said. “I’m not going to answer something I didn’t say.”

“You’re making stuff up,” he later claimed.

A recording of the podcast shows he made the comments during a conversation about free rehabilitation facilities he was proposing opening at the time in rural areas around the country.

Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said Kennedy before joining the administration was referring to spaces where young people facing alienation, mental health challenges and despair could get re-parented, which she said was a psychotherapy term for “developing the emotional regulation, discipline, boundaries, and self-worth that may not have been established in childhood.”

For Kennedy and his former party, civility is the exception

Kennedy spent most of his life as a Democrat, the scion of one of the nation’s most famous political families. Both Republicans and Democrats during the hearing began their remarks by expressing their admiration of Kennedy’s relatives, among them former President John F. Kennedy.

But again and again throughout Thursday’s hearing, the fraying of bonds between Kennedy and his former party was on full display as spiteful comments were passed back and forth.

The Health secretary grew defensive and visibly agitated. He repeatedly criticized Democratic lawmakers for not giving him a word in edgewise.

“They’ve all shut me up,” Kennedy said at one point. “They give a little speech that they can go and market, you know, for fundraising, and they don’t allow me to answer the question.”

On a few rare occasions, the exchanges were civil. One representative, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, used humor to make that happen.

“I promise to give you easy, comfortable questions if you don’t yell at me and hurt my feelings,” she told Kennedy. He promised he wouldn’t.

Swenson writes for the Associated Press.

AUBREY Plaza’s world was tragically turned upside down last year following the very sudden and sad loss of her husband Jeff Baena.

But 15 months on, the Parks and Recreation actress, 41, has quietly found happiness and laid the foundations of a fruitful new future, as it emerged this week that she’s expecting her first child with Girls star Christopher Abbott.

“It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,” a source close to the couple told People following the baby news, adding that “they feel very blessed”.

The new chapter comes just over a year after her filmmaker husband Jeff Baena was found dead, aged 47, in January 2025.

Aubrey has kept herself mostly out of the spotlight in the aftermath of Jeff’s passing, with it since revealed that she’s been quietly enjoying the company of her supportive new beau Chris.

MOVIE MEETING

Like all good love stories, Aubrey and Chris’s relationship started off as friends.

FIRST BABY

White Lotus star Aubrey Plaza, 41, pregnant a year after husband’s tragic death

TRAGIC LOSS

Aubrey Plaza’s director husband found dead age 47 as family left ‘devastated’

They first met starring in the 2020 psychological flick Black Bear, and even then were singing each other’s praises.

Speaking at the time, Aubrey said that their dynamic felt “volatile and electric in a way that made every take unpredictable.”

While Chris praised Aubrey at the time as “fearless, you never quite know what she’s going to do.”

SPARKS OFF BROADWAY

The two became co-stars while starring together in the Off-Broadway show Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in 2023.

While the two-person play received mixed reviews, with The Guardian saying it was “challenging theatre, just not in the good way”, the pair grew close behind the scenes.

Halfway through the run, Chris injured his knee, and Aubrey is reported to have “coordinated a dance scene where she gave him a lap dance when he was on crutches.” 

Even before the injury, the actress is alleged to have “[rode] him simulating sex while he’s on the floor as one of the sets changed between acts.” 

On the evening that Chris hurt himself, Aubrey reportedly “went into a different mode to take care of him and was very affectionate.”

She even skipped seeing fans to attend to her colleague post-performance, with it noted that she “avoided any stage door due to Chris being her main concern.”

Aubrey was still with Jeff during the Broadway run, with her split from her late husband happening around Septemebr 2024, months prior to his death.

Meanwhile, Chris appeared to stay single and was spotted on celebrity dating app Raya, however, never on any actual dates.

Before finding love with Aubrey, Chris dated The Girlfriend star Olivia Cooke, but the pair split just before the pandemic.

PRESS TOUR PAIRING

While not together, their chemistry was visible during the press tour for the play.

Speaking about their project at the time, Aubrey told The New York Times: “He cares but he also doesn’t care; it’s the best recipe for me for a scene partner.

“It’s fun and it’s also good and it’s also safe. I like to just throw things out the window also and laugh and mess around and not take it so seriously. It’s a hard combo to come by.”

Chris agreed, adding: “We’re both unafraid to be ugly and weird and strange.

“We’re doing this play every night for an audience, but I think you also have to do it for each other,” he said.

“We want to entertain the audience, but I personally want to entertain Aubrey.”

“I guess I like to entertain him as well,” Aubrey added.

SECRET DATES

Last July, the couple were spotted at The Chatham Berry Farm, which is located a couple of hours outside of New York City, in what appeared to be a less-than-platonic encounter.

A source at the farm reported to Duexmoi that Aubrey was “was rubbing his back, and they were sitting very close to each other at a picnic table.” 

From the insider’s POV, the outing appeared “more than friends.”

The insider added that Aubrey appeared to know Chris’ sister who was also invited on the outing. 

Chris’ sister is singer Christina Abbott who posted about the day in June 2025.

The group were said to have had “several rounds of drinks from the cidery and ate dinner.”

Just one month later, Aubrey opened up about her grief during an interview with former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler.

She said: “Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning.

“I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”

Last year, Aubrey received the tragic news that her estranged husband Jeff Baena had been found dead at the home they once shared.

The U.S. Sun previously reported that emergency services were dispatched to the address in Los Feliz.

His body was found at 10.25am by an assistant at the property, which the couple bought together in 2022.

The filmmaker was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigator noted in documents that Aubrey, whose name was blacked out in the final report, said she had spoken to Jeff the night before he died.

In March 2025, it emerged Aubrey had quietly split from Jeff four months before his death, with the pair separating in September 2024.

An LA County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com stated they had parted that month and that she was living in New York when his body was found.

Jeff’s family were left “devastated” and asked for privacy at the time.

The couple tied the knot over four years earlier after dating for a decade.

They kept both the engagement and marriage secret until Aubrey described him as her “darling husband” in a touching Instagram post following the tragedy.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, or visit www.samaritans.org.

Even though a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel has been announced, it’s going to be a long time before prices of oil and gas come back to pre-war levels, experts say.

In response to the US-Israeli attacks, Iran choked off the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas exports pass from the Middle East, mainly to Asia and also to Europe.

It also attacked energy infrastructure in several Gulf countries, leading to soaring prices of not just energy but also of byproducts like helium, used in a range of products like tiles used in homes and semiconductor equipment. Fertilisers that rely on some of these inputs were hit too, impacting sowing seasons.

As a result, consumers the world over, but particularly in developing countries of Asia and Africa, have felt the brunt of those shortages and soaring prices. The question on many minds: Now that there is a ceasefire in place, how quickly will prices normalise?

“Anyone who tells you they know the answer to that question is lying,” said Rockford Weitz, professor of practice in maritime studies at The Fletcher School at Tufts University. “It’s too early to tell when we return to normal.”

There needs to be a predictable and stable flow of cargo through the strait before markets can stabilise, experts say.

“What we’re seeing is the biggest disruption in the history of global oil markets,” said Weitz.

Before this conflict, approximately 120-140 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day. On Wednesday, only five vessels crossed the strait, while seven passed through the waterway on Thursday.

That shows why “to get back to normal is going to be a while”, Weitz told Al Jazeera. “And it’s too complicated to know at this stage when that will happen, as it requires collaboration with the great powers [US, China and Russia], but also regional powers [UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan]. It’s hard to say when it will end, as there are so many parties who can make it not happen.”

There is also some concern that developments, like Iran charging a toll fee to allow ships to pass through and skyrocketing insurance fees, will keep oil prices high.

“There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait,” US President Donald Trump wrote on TruthSocial Thursday.

“They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now.”

But experts agree that those fees, rumoured to be about $2m per vessel, are not enough to move the needle on oil prices.

“What is causing oil prices to rise is not insurance. It’s about getting tankers through. Tolls won’t be the cost driver,” said Weitz.

‘Signs of strain’

Some of that reality was on display with the reopening of the strait, showing “signs of strain just hours after the ceasefire was announced”, said Usha Haley, W Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in international business at Wichita State University.

Compounding that problem was the fact that some countries, including Iraq, had shut down production because of limited storage capacity, further taking oil supplies offline.

“That will take weeks and months to reopen,” Haley added.

“It’s going to be a contested reopening … LNG [liquefied natural gas] will take months to rebalance because of the hits to infrastructure, and can take three to six months to normalise if everything else remains normal. And it’s not.”

Slower growth

On Thursday, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the fund will downgrade its forecast for the world economy next week from the current expectation of 3.3 percent. “Growth will be slower – even if the new peace is durable,’’ Georgieva said.

While the war has hit most economies, “it hasn’t really affected the two primary [US] targets – Russia and China. Russia, in fact, has benefitted enormously, and Chinese ships have been allowed to go through,” said Haley.

The US has hit Russia with multiple sanctions for its war on Ukraine, including capping sales of Russian oil to undercut its income stream. Similarly, the first Trump administration put tariffs on China and curbed US exports of certain high-end technology, measures that were held up under the administration of former US President Joe Biden and further ratcheted up by Trump last year with his tariffs blitz.

But amid the war on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the US temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil, and countries desperate for crude have since paid far higher prices to Moscow than the subsidised energy that President Vladimir Putin’s government was previously offering them.

“We [the US] really need to decide what we want to do long-term, who our targets are. There’s got to be some coherence to what we want to do.”

For now, “an overhang of greater risk premium of supplies out of the Gulf means oil prices will remain higher than what they were before the attack started”, said Rachel Ziemba, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

While it’s possible that some of the blocked oil and oil products could be released soon, providing a short boost of supplies in the coming days and weeks, “that would be a temporary support” and is still conditional on the ceasefire holding and converting to a broader deal, said Ziemba.

For now, she’s keeping an eye on Iraq to see if it strikes a side deal with Iran. Iraq, long a proxy battleground between the US and Iran, can produce at least 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, production that it had shut off because of limited storage capacity, said Ziemba.

Should that come back online, it will help oil flows and, eventually, prices. But the uncertainty of the truce and the history of attacks on Iraq mean that the future of the country’s oil production remains unclear. “In that environment, who wants to invest in scaling up production?” Ziemba wondered.

The industry body, UK Pet Food, estimates that we spend some £380 million a year on bird food. Separate figures suggest that amounts to more than 150,000 tonnes annually – enough to sustain three times the breeding populations of the ten commonest garden species if they relied on it alone all year round.

Wall Street ended the trading week higher, as investors balanced a stronger-than-expected March jobs report with rising geopolitical tensions that pushed oil prices sharply higher. For the week, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite popped 4.4%, while the S&P jumped +3.3%, and the blue-chip Dow added +2.9%.

COMIC Russell Brand’s rape trial has been delayed by four months and is expected to last eight weeks — up from five — due to “numerous” and expanded charges.

The screen star, 50, faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one indecent assault against six women from 1999 to 2009.

Brand — who denies all the charges in full — was facing trial at Southwark crown court on June 12.

But Mr Justice Joel Bennathan KC put it back until October 12.

He noted an eight-week trial in June would run into August — with potential summer holiday and travel interruptions.

Brand, of Hambleden, Bucks, didn’t attend court today.

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STAR IN DOCK

Russell Brand has bible confiscated as he denies fresh offences including rape

BRAND TRIAL

Russell Brand to face court in US over ‘sexual assault’ allegations

Brand had appeared in court last month and denied charges of rape and sexual assault against two women in 2009.

Before the hearing, Brand took out a copy of the bible and began reading it but it was confiscated by the dock officer until the case was done.

The Met Police launched a probe into the TV presenter in September 2023 after The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published an investigation into allegations over his treatment of women.

Following the charge, Brand told his 11.3million X followers that he was “never a rapist”.

He added: “I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had a wife and family… I was a fool, man.

“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord… I have never engaged in non consensual activity, I pray you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

Brand, who was previously married to pop star Katy Perry, shares three children with his wife, Laura Gallacher, 37.

“We are once again the US Embassy in Caracas.”

The US has reopened its embassy in Venezuela, nearly three months after it abducted the former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

INFLUENCER Charlotte Greedy has left fans confused by revealing she and her partner Harriet are trying for another baby, months after they almost split.

The couple already share daughter Phoebe together, while Charlotte is a mum to sons Enzo and Brody from a previous relationship.

Charlotte, known as ‘missgreedyshome’ online, has over half a million Instagram followers, while her wife Harriet boasts over 100K and shares fitness content.

After tying the knot in October 2024, the couple of eight years almost split up last summer – with Charlotte even sharing a split statement before quickly retracting it.

At the time, the influencer said she was “left with no choice” due to “disrespect” in the relationship.

But soon after, Charlotte – who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder – returned to social media to say she regretted posting the “sharp and impulsive” statement.

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Since then, Harriet and Charlotte have shared several posts about their relationship and how they have battled through its ups and downs.

And now seemingly in a much stronger place, the couple are once again expanding the family.

Sitting down for a new video, they told the camera: “We’re going to try for another baby.”

Charlotte- who had a tummy tuck last year – went on the explain that having more children is something the couple have been thinking about for a while.

She said: “We’ve been talking about this for a few months. Harriet has been set on it and I’ve kind of been on the fence, leaning back off the fence, and now I’ve fallen frontwards off the fence.

“We just love being mums, and, I think, the boys are growing up; Enzo is nearly 13, Brody is 10 and Phoebe is now two.

“I can’t stand the thought of not having another one. You guys sent an incredible quote to me the other week saying that you’ll never regret the baby you have but you will regret not having that baby.

“And, it just, kind of cemented it for us, didn’t it?”

Charlotte went on to explain that they were only going to have another child if they could use the same sperm donor they previously used to have Phoebe.

Adding that it was “meant to be”, Charlotte said the couple were successful in reserving the same sperm and are set to undergo IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), as opposed to IVF.

They are set to begin the first round in May, with the couple assuring they are set to take fans with them throughout the journey.

While the comment section of the post was filled with friends and fans congratulating the couple, some were also confused about the massive switch up from their previous split woes.

One Instagram user commented: “I say this with respect, but I can’t help thinking about the posts you shared not long ago about you and Harriet splitting up and going through marriage counselling.

“Bringing a baby into the situation is a huge step, and I just hope it’s coming from a place of real stability rather than trying to fix things. A child deserves a secure and settled environment.”

Giving her side of the story, Charlotte replied to the comment: “We have been together nearly 10 years and had many a blip like others I’m sure, we already have 3 kids who have ‘stability’ but thank you for your message.

“I’m sure it doesn’t come from a bad place, our blip was over a year ago now & we share real life and real life will always have its ups and downs.”

After attending a meeting of the G7 in France, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters that the US is seeking to achieve key war objectives and conclude the war in a matter of weeks rather than months.

The Venezuelan leader, who is accused of plotting to traffic cocaine, denies all charges as part of an imperialist plot.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to return to a New York courtroom as he seeks to have his drug trafficking indictment dismissed.

Thursday marks the first time that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will be in court since a January arraignment at which he protested his abduction by United States military forces and pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, remain jailed at a detention centre in Brooklyn. Neither has requested bail.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein has yet to set a trial date, though that could potentially be announced at the hearing.

Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, was abducted in Caracas by US special forces on January 3.

His lawyer contends that Washington is violating the deposed leader’s constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds from being used to pay his legal costs.

The former president and Flores continue to enjoy some support in Venezuela, with murals and billboards across the capital, Caracas, demanding their return.

However, while Maduro’s ruling party remains in control, he himself has been gradually sidelined within the government led by acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has removed key figures loyal to Maduro, including his longtime defence minister and attorney general. She has also reshaped state institutions, named new ambassadors, and dismantled core elements of the self-declared socialist project that has governed Venezuela for more than 20 years.

Accusations of helping Colombian rebels

US prosecutors have accused Maduro and several alleged associates of “narco-terrorism” and plotting to traffic cocaine into the United States. If convicted, the charges could carry maximum penalties of life in prison under US law.

Congress created the narcoterrorism statute 20 years ago to target drug traffickers who finance activities the US considers “terrorism”.

Since then, 83 people, including Maduro, have been charged with violating it.

According to the Reuters news agency, the 2006 statute at issue has produced four trial convictions. Two were later overturned over issues stemming from witness credibility.

Maduro is also accused of leading a conspiracy in which officials in his government helped move cocaine through Venezuela in collaboration with traffickers, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which Washington labelled a terrorist organisation from 1997 to 2021.

Maduro and his fellow indicted officials have always denied wrongdoing, saying the US charges are part of an imperialist plot to harm Venezuela.

KELLY Osbourne has “split” from her Slipknot star fiance – just seven months after his romantic proposal as she continues to battle her grief.

The daughter of Sharon and late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne got engaged at her dad’s father’s final ever Black Sabbath gig back in July.

Slipknot rocker Sid Wilson, 48, got down on one knee and popped the question backstage in an intimate moment watched by her famous parents.

But it has now been reported that Kelly, who shares three-year-old son Sidney with the musician, has ended her romance.

“Kelly and Sid have decided to call off their engagement,” a source told the Mail.

“Kelly has been struggling following the loss of her father.

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“The grieving process has been incredibly difficult, and she’s been doing everything she can to cope.

“In truth, she and Sid have been facing challenges in their relationship for some time, and things were not as they appeared.

“They tried to make it work, particularly for the sake of their child, but ultimately decided that separating is the best path forward.”

They added that Kelly is remained focused on herself and being the best parent she can be to her young son.

The Sun has reached out to Kelly’s reps for comment.

Just seven months ago, Kelly was left emotional as she agreed to marry Sid following a sweet proposal.

Stood in front of Sharon and Ozzy, they appeared to have an idea of what was to come as the former X Factor judge could be heard saying to everyone in the room: “You’ve got to be quiet!”

Sid then took the hand of Kelly, who was dressed down in some comfy leopard print trousers and a simple black hoodie.

He said to the TV personality: “Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world!”

Ozzy then appeared to give the game away as he jokingly quipped with his signature potty mouth: “F*** off, you are not marrying my daughter!”

The group laughed before Sid continued as he said: “I want to spend the rest of my life with you – and ask in front of all of our family and friends, Kelly, will you marry me?”

Kelly turned her head as she looked on open-mouthed before Sid began to stand up and place the ring onto her finger.

Sharon and Ozzy could be seen beaming as the onlookers clapped and cheered for the happy moment.

Uploading the video to her Instagram page, Kelly added the caption: “Oh and this happened yesterday!”

Sid proposed to Kelly with a bespoke custom-designed ring from Los Angeles based jewellers, Mouawad.

He designed the ring with the team through various one-on-one meetings in order to ensure it was right for Kelly.

Sid chose to curate a dazzling 18K yellow gold ring adorned with both white and yellow diamonds, as well as citrine accents.

The centerpiece is a stunning 2.5 carat round brilliant-cut diamond with the ring being nicknamed the Honeybee – Kelly’s personal nickname.

The engagement came backstage as Ozzy played his final ever show with Black Sabbath at Villa Park.

Kelly and Sid first met in 1999 at Ozzfest, a music festival founded by her parents.

They were friends for over two decades before their relationship turned romantic at the end of 2021.

Earlier this month, Kelly was forced to her to hit back at those who criticised her body during the “hardest time of her life”.

BRADLEY Dack has finally removed his wedding ring three months after splitting up from wife Olivia Attwood.

The couple married in 2023 but split in January this year, with the footballer continuing to wear his ring until this weekend – as Olivia’s romance with Pete Wicks was confirmed.

Gillingham footballer Bradley was seen on Sunday without his wedding band.

Dressed in black, the sportsman appeared downcast as he headed from his car to catch a train.

It came just hours after Olivia’s new romance with Pete Wicks was confirmed, as The Sun shared a snap of them kissing during a night out on Friday.

A source confirmed to us that friendship had turned to romance for the longtime pals, but assured there was no crossover with Olivia and Bradley’s marriage.

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Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks seen for first time since public snog

Nonetheless, Bradley has made his feeling’s on his estranged wife’s new romance clear.

The footballer unfollowed Olivia on Instagram following the news, alongside taking off his ring.

In January, it was revealed that Olivia split from Bradley following a “breach of trust” on his side.

Now, a source has told The Sun on Sunday that this romance has also dashed Bradley’s hopes of a reconciliation with Olivia.

“Bradley is livid, he’s not surprised at all but is completely embarrassed and upset,” they said.

The source continued: “He can’t believe Olivia has moved on so publicly and they’ve not even signed the divorce papers.

“Bradley was hopeful for a reunion with Olivia but after this, he’s just livid and will take her to the cleaners.

“He’s suspected things for the past year but she’s always denied it.”

Before their kiss, and her split from Bradley, Pete and Olivia’s close friendship has raised eyebrows since they were pictured cosying up on a yacht in Ibiza last summer.

But confirming the timelines, a source told us over the weekend that the romance has come around naturally over recent weeks.

“They have been spending a lot of time together and an unexpected romance has blossomed from friendship,” they said.

It’s been an eventful 12 months for Gogglebox’s Siddiqui family – from celebrating a big birthday to suffering a heartbreaking loss

The Siddiqui family are one of Gogglebox’s original stars – but the clan have had an up-and-down past 12 months away from the programme.

The beloved family joined the very first series of the Channel 4 show back in 2013, and consists of Baasit and his two brothers, Umar and Raza, as well as their father Sid. The mum, Nasreen, however, has not appeared on the show.

And it’s fair to say it didn’t take the Siddiqui family – who live in Derby – long to become firm favourites with fans.

However, the past 12 months have no doubt been a tough time for the family: from a sad death to member of the family being hospitalised.

The Siddiqui family suffers tragic death

In September 2025, the Siddiquis shared an emotional post on Instagram, revealing that their beloved cat Poppy had passed away. Alongside an image of a grey cat the caption read: “Sleep Tight Little One. Our little Diva Poppy – nearly 14 years and still didn’t feel long enough.

“A lifetime of memories we will all never forget. We hope you are reunited with your big brother Rufus and are both chasing rainbows together. Pets leave paw prints on our hearts, and memories in our souls. Sleep tight, little one.” The family received messages of sympathy from supporters following the tragic announcement.

Baasit and Mel’s anniversary

The Siddiquis had something to celebrate in October 2025 though, as Baasit and wife Mel hit a major wedding milestone. Posting on the Siddiqui family’s official Instagram account, Baasit wrote: “13 years married today, 16.5 years together – forever to go.

“Happy Anniversary to the absolute best, couldn’t do life without you. Love you xxx #weddinganniversary #anniversary #love.”

Baasit and Mel have been together for several years and are parents to a daughter named Amelia and a son named Theodore.

Raz’s horror fall

More recently, in February 2026, the family revealed that Raza had ended up in hospital and would be absent from the episode at the time. They upload a series of pictures of the TV star in hospital. In some images, he was hooked up to breathing machines.

And to explain his absence from the show, the post read: “For you eagle-eyed Goggleboxers, you may have noticed that Raza (@razathefaint) hasn’t joined us on the sofa so far this season. Sadly he had a bit of a fall, a few weeks back and cracked some ribs.”

The post said they fully expect him to return in a few weeks as he is recovering well. It went on: “He’s absolutely smashing his recovery, staying positive and keeping himself entertained with walks, telly, reading and nephew cuddles with Theodore.

“I know you guys reaching out and sending your well wishes will put a bigger smile on his face than morphine ever could. Can’t wait for all four Siddiquis to be back on team @c4gogglebox with the rest of the fab families.”

Sid’s 81st birthday

The Siddiquis celebrated a special day last month to mark dad Sid’s 81st birthday. They uploaded several family photos from over the years to Instagram, and captioned the post: “Happy Birthday Day aka Sid. Wishing you the most wonderful day! We love you xxx.”

Sid’s daughter-in-law Mel, who is married to Baasit, shared her well-wishes in the comments section, writing: “Happy birthday Sid AKA grandad. Have the best day!”

Supporters were also quick to express their affection, with one follower commenting: “Have a Wonderful Happy Birthday, may your day and year be filled with those you love, things that matter and above all joy.”

Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4

March 18 (UPI) — Postmaster General David Steiner told Congress that the U.S. Postal Service would be out of money in less than a year if changes aren’t made to boost revenue.

During a hearing Tuesday, Steiner and members of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations appeared divided on how best to avoid a full stoppage in mail service in 12 months’ time.

Steiner asked lawmakers to allow him to borrow more money to cover costs as well as to increase the price of a U.S. first class stamp from 78 cents to 95 cents. He said the cost to mail a single letter in the United States is the lowest in the industrialized world.

“Compare it to France at almost $3 and England at $2.50, and the longest distance those letters have to travel is about 600 miles smaller than the state of Texas,” he told lawmakers.

“We deliver from the tip of Puerto Rico to the tip of Alaska for 78 cents. That’s a distance of 5,000 miles.”

He said if the USPS increased first class stamp costs to 95 cents, it “would largely solve our controllable loss” while still remaining the lowest-priced stamp in the industrialized world.

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, told Steiner he’s against increasing the cost of postage to nearly $1.

“It’s going to come down to the three or four of us who are going to have to make some tough decisions that we can look at other people and say, ‘That was a problem. The postmaster general laid it on our doorstep, and we’re not going to kick the can down the road.”

Steiner also asked for greater freedom to borrow more money.

“One easy action, increasing our borrowing authority, buys us time,” he said. “Time that we can use to best determine what the Postal Service should do to best serve the American public.”

Steiner said the USPS has faced a dramatic reduction in the use of mail, from a maximum of about 213 billion pieces of mail per year to about 109 billion pieces of mail.

“For perspective, if all of that lost volume was paid at the current price of a stamp, which is 78 cents, that’s about $81 billion of lost revenue,” he said. “No company could weather that much revenue loss, so it’s not hard to see how we got here.”

In fiscal year 2025, the USPS had a net loss of about $9 billion.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., appeared reluctant to allow Steiner to borrow more money.

“I am very concerned with the caliber of service that we are getting and with the fact that the post office continues to come to us for more money,” she said.

Rep. Kweisi Fume, D-Md., reluctantly sided with the suggestion of raising the USPS’ debit limit.

“It may be hard to sell, but I think most people feel like I do — that rather than do nothing and watch the Titanic sink, that we need to do something.”

ROB Reiner’s friends held back tears at the Oscars as the ceremony honored the late director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, after their tragic deaths.

The couple died in December 2025 after being brutally attacked in their Los Angeles home, and their son, Nick Reiner, is the primary suspect in their murders.

Hollywood was shocked by the loss of Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, and it was expected that there would be a special tribute to them at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday.

Rob and Michele were honored Sunday in a speech by Billy Crystal, one of the stars of When Harry Met Sally.

Rob famously rewrote the ending of When Harry Met Sally after meeting his wife, Michele, while shooting the film.

“I first met Rob Reiner in 1975. When I was cast as his best friend in an episode of All in the Family,” Billy’s began in his tribute.

“Rob said, it was fun playing your best friend, why don’t we keep it going. And it was a thrill to see him evolve from a great comic actor to a master storyteller.

“His first film was This Is Spinal Tap. You could stop right there … The comedy was turned up to an 11.”

Billy went on to discuss Rob’s other iconic films, including Stand By Me.

“Audiences then lined up to see his funny, charming films, so he gave them misery!” Billy continued.

“My friend Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes. Because they were about what makes us laugh and cry and what we aspire to be, far better in his eyes, far kinder, far funnier, far more human.”

“And when Michele Singer entered his life, they were unstoppable. A gifted photographer, she not only produced films with Rob, but it was her energy that had them working tirelessly to fight social injustice in the country that they both loved.

“Rob and Michele Reiner became the driving force in the landmark decision for marriage equality across the United States. And their loss is immeasurable.”

He said Rob told him several times that “it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you.”

“And for us, who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.”

Billy’s speech concluded with several actors joining him on stage, including Kathy Bates, Demi Moore and Mandy Patinkin.

More late stars honored at the Oscars

Diane Keaton was also honored at the Oscars’ In Memoriam tribute.

Rachel McAdams, who starred alongside the late actress in The Family Stone, took the stage to honor Diane.

“For over 50 years, luminous on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say there isn’t an actress of my generation who is not inspired by and enthralled with her absolute singularity,” she said.

“She wore so many hats, literally and figuratively, actress, artist, author, activist, but no hat more important to her than being a mother to her two children.

“She meant so much to so many of us. I remember she used to sing this old Girl Scout song on set, which is just so her: ‘Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I’ll be your friend.’

“And so to our friend, Diane Keaton, celebrating a life in silver and gold, a legend with no end.”

Diane, a four-time Academy Award nominee, died in October 2025 of bacterial pneumonia.

Other stars were honored during the In memoriam segment, including Robert Duvall, known for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Robert Redford, known for All the President’s Men and The Sting and Catherine O’Hara, known for her role in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek.

“She made us laugh until we cried,” Rachel said of Catherine at the Oscars.

The death of Rob Reiner

Corey Feldman, who portrayed Teddy Duchamp in Stand by Me, was reportedly not asked to participate in the tribute to Rob, despite being one of the main characters alongside Jerry and Wil.

A source recently told the Daily Mail that Corey was “devastated” by the apparent snub and “wanted nothing more than to honor Rob.”

In January, Rob was subtly recognized at the Golden Globes by host Nikki Glaser, who ended the show wearing a Spinal Tap cap, a reference to the filmmaker’s 1984 film, This Is Spinal Tap.

The comedian also closed the ceremony, saying, “This one went to 11. Thank you, guys, for an amazing night,” a reference to the movie’s famous moments between Rob and co-star Christopher Guest.

Rob and Michele allegedly had their throats slit while lying in bed, and Nick, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was battling a drug addiction, has been charged with their murders.

The incident occurred hours after the trio attended Conan O’Brien’s holiday party, where Rob and Nick had an explosive fight about Nick’s behavior.

Last month, Conan O’Brien, host of the 98th Academy Awards, broke his silence about the tragedy during a sit-down with The New Yorker.

“I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them, and I was seeing them a lot,” the talk show host said.

“My wife and I were seeing them a lot, and they were so — they were just such lovely people.

Most Awarded Oscar Winners of All Time

Best Director:

John Ford — 4 wins

• The Informer (1935)
• The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
• How Green Was My Valley (1941)
• The Quiet Man (1952)

Frank Capra — 3 wins

• It Happened One Night (1934)
• Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
• You Can’t Take It with You (1938)

William Wyler — 3 wins

• Mrs. Miniver (1942)
• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
• Ben-Hur (1959)

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

Daniel Day‑Lewis — 3 wins (most in history)

• My Left Foot (1989)
• There Will Be Blood (2007)
• Lincoln (2012)

A slew of actors are tied in second place having won 2 Oscars, including: Marlon Brando, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Sean Penn, Anthony Hopkins, and more.

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Katharine Hepburn — 4 wins

• Morning Glory (1933)
• Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
• The Lion in Winter (1968)
• On Golden Pond (1981)

Frances McDormand — 3 wins

• Fargo (1996)
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
• Nomadland (2020)

Meryl Streep — 3 wins (two lead, one supporting)

• Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) — Supporting Actress
• Sophie’s Choice (1982) — Lead Actress
• The Iron Lady (2011) — Lead Actress

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Walter Brennan — 3 wins

• Come and Get It (1936)
• Kentucky (1938)
• The Westerner (1940)

Many actors are tied for the second place honor with 2 nominations, including: Michael Caine, Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Jack Nicholson, Christoph Waltz, and Mahershala Ali.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Dianne Wiest — 2 wins

• Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
• Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

Shelley Winters — 2 wins

• The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
• A Patch of Blue (1965)

Maggie Smith — 2 wins

• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) — Lead Actress
• California Suite (1978) — Supporting Actress

“And to have that experience of saying goodnight to somebody and having them leave and then find out the next day that they’re gone. … I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. I mean, there’s no other word for it. It’s just very — it’s so awful. It’s just so awful.”

Conan also admitted that it was still “hard for me to comprehend” what happened to his friends.

The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that Nick could inherit his family’s $196million fortune even if he’s found guilty of his parents’ deaths.

This would be the case if Nick is found legally insane, which, by California law, would still entitle him to the inheritance.

Nick has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.