April 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israeli and Lebanese diplomats agreed to extend their cease-fire by three weeks in talks held at the White House.
The announcement came after the president hosted the countries’ ambassadors for negotiations along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa.
“The Meeting went very well!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah. The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS.
“I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!”
During an Oval Office press conference on Thursday evening, Trump announced that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would both be visit Washington in the next few weeks, though it was unclear if the trips were to occur at the same time.
“They actually like each other, Lebanon and Israel,” Trump said.
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa thanked Trump and Rubio for arranging the rare meeting between Lebanon and Israel.
“This is 60, 70 years in the making and today is really a historical day,” he said.
“I’m going to keep going, working for a peace that we hope we’ll get it as soon as possible.”
Earlier Thursday, a senior White House official told The New York Times the ambassador-level negotiations originally expected to take place at the State Department. Israeli officials confirmed the meeting with The Times of Israel.
The two countries agreed to a 10-day cease-fire agreement after a first round of talks in Washington, D.C., on April 17, which was the first meeting between Israel and Lebanon in decades. The truce is shaky, though, as Israeli airstrikes have occurred since then, with Hezbollah responding with its own rocket fire.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on the Department of Health and Human Services proposed fiscal year budget for 2027 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
The most unpredictable California governor’s race in recent history took another set of dizzying turns on Monday, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra surging after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out in the face of sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and former state Controller Betty Yee ending her bid.
The race to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom is the first in a quarter of a century with no clear front-runner and a sprawling field of candidates who have been jockeying for the attention of Californians, who are just beginning to pay attention to the campaign two weeks before ballots arrive in their mailboxes.
“I certainly could not have imagined the twists and the disturbing turns that this race has taken,” Yee said as she announced she was dropping out. “But through it all, my values and my vision for California has never wavered.”
A poll released Monday by the state Democratic Party — its first since Swalwell (D-Dublin) dropped out — showed Becerra’s support jumped nine points to 13%, placing him in a tie with Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental warrior. Former Rep. Katie Porter of Orange County saw a slight bump to 10% from 7%, while the remaining Democrats in the contest were mired in the low single digits.
The party began the surveys out of concern that Democrats could be shut out of the governor’s race because of California’s unique primary system, where the top two vote-getters in the June 2 primary move on to the November general election regardless of political party.
“I continue to believe there are too many Democrats in the field,” California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks told reporters Monday. “My call for candidates to honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaigns still stands, especially if you are stalled in the single digits, seeing financial resources dry up and/or are failing to pick up additional support.”
Hicks and other party leaders and allies had unsuccessfully urged low-polling candidates to reconsider their candidacies before the filing deadline in an attempt to cull the field and avoid splintering the Democratic vote. Though most did not name candidates who they thought should think about their viability, Yee was widely believed to be among them.
Yee became emotional as she said on Monday that she decided to withdraw from the race because she wasn’t able to raise the resources necessary to compete in the state. She also said her message of competency and experience wasn’t resonating among voters who were seeking a fiery foil to President Trump, not “Boring Betty,” as she dubbed herself. Yee said she would assess the field before making an announcement on whether she would endorse one of her fellow Democrats.
Becerra was another candidate believed to be a target of party leaders’ efforts to shrink the field. But he held on and apparently benefited from Swalwell’s downfall.
“I’m not the richest candidate, I’m not the slickest candidate, but I am the guy that’s got you,” Becerra said, rallying supporters in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The audience was filled with members of labor groups backing the longtime politician, and Becerra told them he’d serve as a “union man” in the governor’s office.
Pro- and anti-Becerra forces tussled outside the town hall after two people, who declined to identify whom they were working for, passed out fliers highlighting critical media investigations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the migrant crisis when the agency was led by Becerra.
Pro-Becerra attendees grabbed the fliers and told the men to go away, prompting a security guard to intervene.
The question is whether Becerra, who also served as state attorney general, a member of Congress and a state Assembly member, can raise the funds necessary to compete in a state with some of the nation’s most expensive media markets. And he was tied in the state party poll with a billionaire who dumped an additional $12.1 million of his own money into his campaign last week.
Steyer’s total investment in his bid reached $133 million, according to the California secretary of state’s office. He also received the endorsement of Our Revolution, a progressive political organization founded by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“We’ve never endorsed a billionaire — but Tom Steyer is using his position to upset the system,” the group posted on X on Monday. “As Our Revolution executive director Joseph Geevarghese told @theintercept, ‘He’s been a partner in the movement. Most billionaires have used their wealth and privilege to lock in the status quo. Tom is doing the opposite.’”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who is also running for governor, accused Steyer of hypocrisy for the hedge fund he founded profiting from investments in private prisons being used to house ICE detainees, and Steyer calling for the abolishment of ICE.
Steyer got “rich investing off the ICE infrastructure he now wants to abolish,” Mahan posted on Instagram.
Steyer, who sold his stake in the hedge fund in 2012, has said he ordered the company to divest from the private prison company and has repeatedly expressed remorse about his former firm’s ties with the detention company.
Mahan also appeared Monday at a Hollywood production lot to announce his proposal for a special fund to lure sporting events, concerts and other productions to California as part of his plan to help the struggling film and television industry.
An independent effort supporting Mahan has also raised roughly $11 million since Swalwell left the race.
Mehta reported from Los Angeles and Nixon from Sacramento. Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.
Brent crude falls more than 9 percent after Iran said it will reopen the strategic waterway, only to shut it down again over US blockade of its ports.
Published On 18 Apr 202618 Apr 2026
Oil prices have plummeted to their lowest point in weeks after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was open for passage during a ceasefire in Lebanon, and United States President Donald Trump said he expected to reach a deal to end the war soon.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell more than 9 percent to $90.38 a barrel on Friday, taking it below $91 for the first time since March 10.
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The plunge came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait was “completely open” and would remain so for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect on Friday.
Hailing Tehran’s announcement, Trump declared the waterway “ready for business and full passage,” but said the US Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports would remain in “full force” until the sides reached a peace deal.
On Saturday, however, Iran rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the key waterway as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
The announcement came after Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through Hormuz and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again.
Amid the escalation, Pakistani officials say they are trying for more talks between the US and Iran ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline.
Meanwhile, ship tracking data displayed by MarineTraffic earlier on Saturday showed a significant uptick in vessels crossing the strait, which is located between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
“It’s busy out there, the busiest I’ve seen it since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed at the beginning of the war,” Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst at maritime intelligence firm Windward, said in a post on X.
“Last night there were few ships taking the risk but overnight there seems to have been a change.”
While Iran allowed a limited number of vetted ships to transit the waterway since the start of the war, traffic has remained at a trickle compared with pre-conflict levels.
The near-total closure of the strait has triggered one of the worst energy shocks in history, driving up fuel prices and prompting governments to roll out emergency measures.
Oil prices have swung wildly since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, hitting a post-conflict peak of $119 a barrel on March 19.
Airlines could face ‘an existential crisis’ in just a few weeks’ time if the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues, an aviation expert has said, amid warnings that more flights could be cancelled
Airlines could face an ‘existential crisis’ in the next few weeks, experts have warned(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
British tourists could face up to eight weeks of cancelled flights and airport chaos this summer as major airlines grapple with imminent fuel shortages, experts have warned.
One aviation expert said that the period between now and mid-June could prove crucial, as airlines could face an “existential crisis” if the global oil shock has not by subsided by then.
Sally Gethin told the Daily Mail: “The worst case scenario is if this carries on for six to eight weeks and the shortages start really biting. This could pose an existential crisis to airlines – even if they slap on fuel surcharges they still won’t recoup the cost.
“You could be looking at tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands, of flights being cancelled globally. It could affect holiday companies as well, although consumers will be protected if their trips are covered by ATOL.”
The Mirror has approached all of Britain’s largest airlines and airport operators to ask whether they are preparing contingency plans for jet fuel shortages. Simon Calder, a travel journalist, reassured holidaymakers today that Mr Birol’s warning was “a mile off” but accepted prices of foreign holidays are likely to rocket this summer. He told Channel 5’s Matt Allwright Show families should look at holidaying in the UK, such as at Bournemouth, instead.
On Thursday, easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said all the airports it serves are “operating as normal”.
He went on: “We only ever in this industry have three to four weeks visibility (of jet fuel supplies), and that is the same as it was pre-crisis.
“We have visibility to the middle of May, and we have no concerns.
“What we’re seeing is airports and fuel suppliers working well to bring jet fuel to the airports.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC yesterday that Britain has “no issues with supply at the moment” in jet fuel, diesel or petrol as she left a meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.
The IMF this week urged countries to manage energy demand by adopting measures such as subsidising public transport and promoting remote work to combat a surge in energy costs caused by the conflict.
OFFICIALS have warned that there is just weeks of jet fuel supplies left before airlines start running out.
Earlier this week, the head of the International Energy Agency warned that vital supplies remain blocked by conflict in Iran – as a result, many airlines have already started axing routes.
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Certain airlines, like Norse, have started cutting back on flight routesCredit: GC ImagesBritish Airways has axed one route completely from April 24, 2026Credit: Getty
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is holding up major supply chains which has led to a huge hike in fuel costs – and shortages.
ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said the key trade route must open within three weeks or fuel reserves will run drastically low.
In response, a number of major airlines have been cancelling flights in preparation for shortages – with thousands affected.
Here are the major eight airlines that have already cut back on their routes…
With up to 5,000 flights a month – working out to around 4,000 domestic and 800 international routes – this means it affects around 250 flights a month.
United Airlineshas the world’s largest airline fleet with more than 1,075 aircraft.
Chief Executive of Air New Zealand Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline would see roughly a five per cent reduction in its services which would continue until the beginning of May 2026.
This reduction equates to around 1,100 flights which in turn will affect 44,000 passengers out of its 1.9million.
A spokesperson said: “Due to the continued increase in fuel constraint risks, fuel prices, and the resulting impact on our operating costs, we have had to make the difficult decision to suspend our LAX operations this summer, May to October.”
Norse operated a summer route from London Gatwick to LA.
BA said the terminating of the service was due to a shift in demand rather than fuel costs as hasn’t axed any flights because of that so far.
Virgin Airways
Virgin Atlantic announced earlier this month that it would be permanently scrapping its London flight to Riyadh from April 7, 2026.
It said some of the reasons were the “evolving situation in the Middle East” and “operating costs.”
Some airlines have increased prices to offset costs instead…
Rather than axing routes – other airlines have added surcharges or baggage fees…
Air France and KLM have have increased their round-trip fares by €100 (£87) on most of their long-haul flights– with an additional charge of €10 (£8.69) for a round trip in economy.
Virgin Atlantic confirmed it would do the same earlier this week – passengers in economy will pay an extra £50, in premium economy passengers will pay an extra £180 and anyone in business class will see flights cost an extra £360.
JetBlue has increased baggage fees by $4 (£3) for off peak, economy travellers. This will now be $39 (£30) – the cost peak economy travellers will be $49 (£37).
The low-cost Spanish Airline Volotea is adding maximum surcharge of €14 (£12.20) per person to flight bookings.
Starring Hollywood legends Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, The Madison sees the Clyburn family experience a devastating tragedy which leads them to relocate to Montana in an attempt to heal from the events.
Even though it’s just been a matter of weeks since its premiere, Paramount+ has confirmed that The Madison has now been renewed for a third season, much to fans’ delight.
But given the drama’s quick rise to popularity, news of an early series renewal doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.
The Madison received a staggering eight million global views for its premiere episode in its first 10 days on Paramount+.
It’s officially been named as “Sheridan’s most-watched debut ever” with almost one billion minutes viewed during its first full week after release.
There was no doubt that it was going to return for a second series with filming for Seasons 1 and 2 completed back-to-back However, a Season 2 start date hasn’t yet been announced and until this is known, a potential release date pattern cannot be established for the upcoming third series.
When The Madison makes a comeback for Season 2, Matthew Fox won’t be returning as Preston Clyburn’s (played by Kurt Russell) brother Paul. They both died in the plane crash and while they have both featured in the flashbacks, only Russell will be returning for the second outing.
But going forward, this won’t be the case for series three with Russell already confirming his future absence from the show.
He told TV Insider: “This is a contained experience for me in the show, and I’m very happy about that. It’s been an incredible experience.”
Jaume Guardeno sustained serious injuries after collision with a car at the end of a Volta a Catalunya cycling race.
Published On 14 Apr 202614 Apr 2026
Young Spanish rider Jaume Guardeno remains in a critical condition in hospital two weeks after a crash while training.
“Jaume continues his fight in the intensive care unit of Tauli Hospital in Sabadell, where he’s been since March 31, when he suffered an accident while training,” the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team said in a statement on Tuesday.
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The 23-year-old Guardeno sustained serious injuries when he collided with a vehicle, reportedly head injuries, after his bicycle struck a rock, days after he finished 29th in the Volta a Catalunya race.
Guardeno finished 14th in the Spanish Vuelta last year, and Caja Rural-Seguros RGA is due to make its Tour de France debut this year.
“His condition remains critical, although stable within the seriousness of his condition. He is under constant monitoring and is scheduled to undergo further procedures in the coming days to aid his recovery,” the team added.
Cycling is enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to young riders Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard, but dangers remain. Last month, Olympic champion Tom Pidcock pulled out of the Volta a Catalunya after crashing down a ravine, and Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri was hospitalised after crashing during the women’s Milan-San Remo one-day classic.
THE highly anticipated World of PAW Patrol has announced when it will open – and you don’t have to wait long.
The pup-tastic themed-land will open at Chessington World of Adventures with four new rides and a new play attraction on May 3.
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PAW Patrol World will open on May 3, 2026Credit: Chessington World of AdventuresZuma’s Hovercraft Adventure will be the UK’s first ‘Drifter’ rideCredit: Chessington World of Adventures
The new £15million attraction was first announced in April last year and will welcome guests over the early May bank holiday weekend.
It will be be the UK’s first and only PAW Patrol-themed land designed specifically for preschool-age children.
Inside will be new rides and meet and greets with the beloved pups Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Everest and Marshall.
Fans of the show will recognise the new land as it looks like the fictional Adventure Bay.
It’s all centred around Lookout Tower which is also part of ‘Chase’s Mountain Mission’ ride – the attraction’s entry-level rollercoaster for littler kids.
Another of the new rides is Skye’s Helicopter Heroes where riders can climb aboard Skye’s helicopter and take to the skies.
Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure will be the UK’s first ‘Drifter’ ride – visitors can hop onto their own hovercraft.
Kids will feel like they’re skidding across the water from Adventure Bay to Seal Island.
There’s also Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue, guests can climb aboard a firetruck and ‘rock and roll’ through the streets of Adventure Bay.
There will be themed playscapes too including Rubble and Rocky’s Play Zone.
At Rubble and Rocky’s playzone, kids can get their hands dirty at the construction zone.
Then children can head to Rocky’s Recycle Yard to crawl and climb through a maze of repurposed parts.
Another will be The Flounder Boat Play where little explorers can help Captain Turbot on a high-seas adventure.
Children will be available to meet their favourite characters in the parkCredit: Chessington World of Adventures
The themed-land will also have a cafe, a picnic space and a shop where visitors can pick up PAW Patrol merch.
Chessington World of Adventure’s Vice President, Nick Bevan said: “We can’t wait for families from across the world to experience the magic of PAW Patrol here at Chessington World of Adventures.”
Chessington already has hotel rooms based on the TV show – each room sleeps up to two adults and three children.
PAW Patrol hotel stays start from £155 for a family of four, including bed and breakfast.
Hotel stays include early ride access into Chessington, a ‘Pup Pass’ Meet and Greet fast track pass, and a Reserve & Ride one-shot pass.
You can book a day ticket to Chessington from £34 – if booked in advance.
Brits could face flight cancellations and prices rises for the upcoming May half-term school holidaysCredit: ZenpixCancellations have already left thousands without flights in recent weeks, and it could soon get even worseCredit: Getty
Travellers are now being warned that flights could be cancelled and prices could soon rise as fuel reserves are expected to run out due to ongoing closure.
According to ACI Europe (the lobby group for airports in Europe), fuel reserves are expected to run out in less than three weeks unless the Middle East increases supplies.
ACI Europe warns: “If the passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in any significant and stable way within the next three weeks, systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality.”
It added that the shortage of fuel supply is likely to “severely disrupt airport operations and air connectivity”.
Around 140 ships usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz – yet has dropped to just seven ships today.
For Brits, this could mean travel chaos for May half-term getaways including popular destinations such as Spain, Italy and France.
The announcement comes as a number of airports in Italy already warned that they were running out of fuel.
According to local reports earlier this week, Brindisi-Casale Airport confirmed that Jet A1 fuel was not available for a short period of time.
While this didn’t result in any flight cancellations, airlines were warned to fly with enough fuel for the return journey.
This is because any remaining fuel was being reserved for emergency situations including medical flights.
A statement said at the time: “Jet A1 fuel is temporarily unavailable at Brindisi Airport.
“Refueling is permitted only for state, emergency medical services, and medical flights.
“Pilots are advised to refuel at previous stopovers to cover subsequent flights.”
Restrictions were also in place at other airports in Italy including Milan Linate, Venice, Bologna and Venice temporarily.
Despite this, Antonio Maria Vasile, president of Aeroporti di Puglia, commented regarding the news of the alleged fuel shortage.
He said at the time: “Fuel supplies continue regularly, and there is no risk of an imminent shortage.”
The Iran conflict has seen strikes across the Middle East, including Beirut (pictured)Credit: AFP via Getty ImagesFuel prices have surged in recent weeks due to the reduction of shipments via the Strait of HormuzSAS has already cancelled more than 1,000 flightsCredit: Reuters
And it isn’t just Italian airports being hit by the fuel crisis.
The Australian government has warned that the country only has around 30 days of jet fuel left.
The announcements also come as some Asian countries are grounding flights and European airlines are making plans to deal with shortages.
Back in March, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said: “It’s entirely possible that parts of Asia are just going to run out of fuel.”
Lisa Minot, the Sun’s Head of Travel, has weighed in on what this could mean for you holiday
Fears of fuel shortages at European airports could lead to a disastrous start to summer putting holidays and flights at risk in the popular half term week.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary had already started to raise his concerns – saying last week that if the war continues beyond the end of April it could impact between ten and 25per cent of the low cost giant’s fuel supplies.
But the fresh warning from European airports is a step up in the crisis.
Unless ships start to pass through the Strait of Hormuz with increased regularity, we could see fuel shortages at airports across the globe.
We’ve already started to see cancellations, with flights to Guernsey operated by Aurigny and to Newquay by Skybus axed in concerns over fuel shortages.
Further afield, Vietnam and Pakistan have warned of fuel shortages and Air New Zealand has begun cancelling some domestic flights.
The lack of clarity as to when the situation will improve will do nothing to calm fears and it is unsurprising that travel companies and airlines have seen demand dip as worried holidaymakers await better news.
The longer the situation remains uncertain, the more damage is done.
Even Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has also warned of “the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June” unless the war ends quickly.
Fuel prices have soared compared to what they were before the war in the Middle East broke out.
Last week, the cost of filling up an average diesel tank broke through the £100 mark for the first time since December 2022.
And the Iran conflict has taken Dubai off the holiday list, with the UK Foreign Office still warning against non-essential travel.
Hundreds of thousands of travellers were left stranded abroad when the conflict resulted in airspace closures and Dubai Airport closing.
While limited flights have returned, most airlines are still axing flights to Dubai, as well as other destinations in the Middle East.
Walt Disney Co. is planning an extensive round of layoffs in the coming weeks, according to a source familiar with the matter but unauthorized to comment.
The move comes nearly three months after Disney unveiled a more streamlined management structure that sought to centralize its sprawling marketing operations.
Many of the layoffs are expected to come from the recent consolidation of Disney’s marketing department.
After officially taking the reins of the company last month, Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro told employees he wants the Burbank media and entertainment giant — which includes film and TV studios, a tourism division, streaming services and live sports programming — to operate as “one Disney,” saying the global businesses all play a role in deepening consumers’ relationship with Disney and its characters.
Like many studios in Hollywood, Disney has faced decreased theatrical revenues, the continued decline of linear television and the smaller profits it makes from its streaming services. Though the company’s theme parks division has served as its economic engine for years, Disney recently indicated it expects to see “headwinds” in international tourism to its U.S. parks.
News of the planned Disney job cuts add to the ongoing drumbeat Hollywood has endured for the last few years.
Disney recently laid off thousands of workers in the years after former Chief Executive Bob Iger returned to the company. At the time, Iger said Disney had been pumping out too many shows and movies to compete with Netflix and needed to retrench.
A man trapped for nearly two weeks in a flooded gold mine in Sinaloa, Mexico, has been rescued by military divers. Structural failure and flooding caused the mine to collapse, killing two other workers.
A judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin BaldoniCredit: GC ImagesBlake accused Justin of sexual harassment among other allegations during filming It Ends with Us in 2024Credit: AFP via Getty Images
On Thursday, a judge threw out her sexual harassment claims, according to TMZ, which broke the story.
However, Blake’s numerous other allegations, including retaliation, will go to trial next month.
The Gossip Girl alum claimed that Justin attempted to harm her reputation after she asserted he had created a problematic work environment.
Meanwhile, Justin alleged that Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, tried to tarnish his reputation, engaged in extortion, and hijacked creative control of the romance film.
Blake and Justin are set to appear in court on May 18.
The legal dispute has also involved Blake’s BFF, Taylor Swift, and is reported to have caused tension between the two.
In January, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that Taylor’s upcoming wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce could be impacted by Blake’s ongoing court battle with Justin.
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Shocking personal texts between Taylor and Blake discussing Blake’s challenges with Justin were unsealed in the lawsuit.
According to TMZ, the singer could be called as a hostile witness for the defense in court, which is scheduled to take place shortly before her fairytale wedding to Travis.
The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that Travis has urged Taylor to distance herself from the situation and to set firm boundaries.
Blake and Justin’s feud began when they started filming It Ends with Us in May 2023, in which they played love interests.
The movie premiered in August 2024, and Blake made her complaint about Justin’s behavior shortly after.
At the time of publishing, neither Blake nor Justin has commented on the dismissal.
Last week, Blake shared an Instagram post about her “emotional roller coaster” after traveling to Wales to watch Wrexham AFC play.
Her husband, Ryan, has co-owned the team with fellow actor Rob McElhenney since 2021.
Blake posted a slideshow of photos of her smiling at various locations during the trip.
Justin clapped back at Blake and accused her of trying to ruin his reputationCredit: GC ImagesBlake and Justin’s feud began when they started filming the movie in May 2023Credit: GC ImagesThe pair played love interests in the film and Justin served as the directorCredit: AP
“Donald Trump’s actions in Iran will be considered one of the greatest policy blunders in the history of our country, failing to articulate objectives, alienating allies, and ignoring the kitchen table problems Americans are facing,” Schumer wrote on X. “He is completely unfit to be Commander-in-Chief and the whole world knows it.”
1. The Night We Met (Indie Exclusive Edition) by Abby Jimenez (Hachette Book Group: $30) Friendship, missed connections and life-altering split-second decisions converge after one fateful night.
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3. Kin by Tayari Jones (Knopf: $32) The bond between two lifelong friends in the South is tested as they take different paths in life.
4. Heart the Lover by Lily King (Grove Press: $28) A woman reflects on a youthful love triangle and its consequences.
5. Vigil by George Saunders (Random House: $28) A spirit guide must shepherd the soul of a dying, unrepentant oil tycoon into the afterlife as he confronts his legacy of corporate greed all while supernatural visitors demand a reckoning.
6. Brawler by Lauren Groff (Riverhead Books: $29) A collection of short stories tackling the relentless battle between humanity’s dark and light angels.
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8. Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (Ballantine Books: $30) A teenager embarks on a secret relationship with her teacher.
9. Once and Again by Rebecca Serle (Atria Books: $27) A family of women have an astonishing gift: the ability to redo one moment in their lives.
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7. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Knopf: $28) Reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its values.
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2. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $24)
3. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21)
4. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (Simon & Schuster: $20)
5. All About Love by bell hooks (William Morrow Paperbacks: $17)
6. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson (Crown: $22)
7. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Vintage: $21)
8. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $18)
9. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Milkweed Editions: $22)
10. When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter (Penguin Books: $22)
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Tuesday that he expects the United States to end its involvement in the war with Iran within three weeks, declaring there probably will be “no reason” for American forces to stay in the region even as top defense officials maintain Tehran’s military capabilities have not been fully eliminated.
Trump told reporters during an Oval Office event that he is confident the U.S. objectives in the conflict will be largely achieved by then, whether Iran makes a “deal” with the United States or not.
“If they come to the table that will be good, but it doesn’t matter whether they come or not,” Trump said. “We’ve set them back. It will take 15 to 20 years to rebuild what we have done to them.”
Trump added that he believes the threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, will be “all cleared up” by the time the U.S. leaves the region. But if issues remain, he said, that will not be a problem for the United States.
“That’s not for us,” he said. “That will be for whoever is using the strait.”
Trump’s comments came hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that, a month into the war, Iran still has the ability to launch offensive missiles, despite ongoing U.S. and Israeli efforts to weaken Tehran’s military capabilities and weapons programs.
“Yes, they will shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down,” Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing, acknowledging the remaining threat.
The comment, made during the first public briefing on the conflict in nearly two weeks, underscored that despite weeks of intensive U.S. military operations and repeated assertions by Trump that Iran’s military has been “obliterated,” the threats posed by Iranian forces have not been fully eliminated.
Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the briefing that the U.S. military remains focused on “interdicting and destroying” Iran’s weapons warehouses and facilities.
“We’ve continued to do the work against Iran’s missile, drone and naval production facilities,” Caine said.
Although air and naval strikes have been the primary focus so far, U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility of ground operations as thousands of American soldiers and Marines have begun arriving in the Middle East.
Hegseth said it is up to Trump to determine whether ground operations in Iran will become the next phase in the conflict, which the president has said he is open to ending through diplomatic talks.
Trump repeated over the weekend that Iran is “begging to make a deal” to end the war, but on Monday, the president threatened to target Iran’s power-generating plans and oil wells and even desalination plants if a “deal is not shortly reached.”
President Trump speaking Tuesday in the Oval Office.
(Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that the administration will “operate within the confines of the law,” when asked about Trump’s threat to target infrastructure that would potentially harm civilians.
Caine told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. would only “strike lawful targets” when asked about American military considerations for civilian targets.
“We are always thinking about those considerations and developing options to be able to mitigate those risks,” Caine said.
Since the start of the war, Iranian officials have condemned a series of U.S. military attacks that have hit schools, including a Feb. 28 strike at an elementary school that killed at least 175 people, many of them children.
As Trump issues a new wave of threats on key infrastructure, he has at the same time touted ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran and reportedly told aides he’s willing to end the war without resolving Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that has rattled global energy markets.
Americans have also felt the financial pinch because of the war when it comes to energy prices. Gasoline prices in the United States reached an average of $4 a gallon Tuesday, a price that Trump says Americans are willing to pay to endure because “they are also feeling a lot safer.”
“All I have to do is leave Iran, and I will be doing that very soon and, [prices] will come tumbling down,” Trump said.
Hegseth, for example, said those diplomatic talks are “very real,” but stressed that the military pressure will continue alongside those negotiations and that ground operations remain an option.
“Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we can come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are,” Hegseth said. “If we needed to, we could execute those options on behalf of the president of the United States and this department, or maybe we don’t have to use them at all. Maybe negotiations will work.”
He said the goal was to remain “unpredictable.” Caine added that the presence of U.S. ground forces in the region can serve as a “pressure point” as diplomatic efforts continue.
As the hostilities continued in the region on Tuesday, the State Department warned American citizens in Saudi Arabia that U.S. officials were “tracking reports of threats against locations where American citizens gather.
“We advise U.S. citizens that hotels and other gathering points including U.S. businesses and U.S. educational institutions may be potential targets,” officials wrote in a new warning.
And in Rome, Pope Leo XIV told reporters that he hopes Trump is “looking for an offramp” to end the war in Iran and made an appeal to “decrease the amount of violence,” according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Trump administration officials have faced challenges in securing support from some U.S. allies, an issue that Hegseth and the president have publicly pointed out.
On Tuesday, Trump complained that countries have “refused to get involved” in the war and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. allies’ access to oil has been affected by Iran’s chokehold on the key waterway as a result of the joint operation launched by U.S. and Israel. But now, Trump wants those countries to deal with the strait.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” Trump wrote on his social media website.
Trump added that countries will have to “start learning how to fight” for themselves.
“The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump wrote. “Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
In a separate post, Trump singled out France for barring Israeli military planes from flying over its airspace.
“The USA will REMEMBER!!!” Trump posted on his social media website.
At the Pentagon, Hegseth acknowledged that the U.S. military has faced “roadblocks or hesitations” from U.S. allies when asking for assistance or use of their bases — and said the president is simply noting that “we don’t have much of an alliance.”
“A lot has been shown to the world about what our allies would be willing to do for the United States of America when we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world,” Hegseth said.
UK pro-Palestine activist Qesser Zuhrah has been arrested on terrorism charges after being released on bail last month. Video shows masked officers taking her from her home at dawn over what supporters say was an Instagram story.
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