Trump says he thinks Iran wants direct talks with US
US president says Iran initially wanted talks through intermediaries, but he thinks Tehran has changed its position.
What is live shopping and will it take off?
Big in Asia, live shopping involves brands putting on live shows to sell direct to shoppers.
Cross-Channel train services to be cheaper to run as operator cuts charges
LSPH chief executive announces ‘groundbreaking proposal’ intended to grow international rail travel from the UK
Cross-Channel train services serving new destinations will be cheaper to run under a scheme to grow international rail travel from the UK.
London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH), which owns and operates the railway and stations from the capital to the Channel tunnel, said it would slash charges for operators planning new routes.
Continue reading...Tasmania’s Dark Mofo is back with a bang – and a car crash: festival announces 2025 program
After a year off, the often controversial art festival returns, having signed a new three-year funding deal with the state government
A two-hour performance work involving an artist and a stunt driver culminating in a head-on car crash, a man being crushed by sand in a giant hourglass, and an open invitation to scream, are among some of the artworks heading to Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival, which is back this winter after taking a fallow year.
The annual art festival, created by David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) and well known for its often controversial, confronting and humorous spirit, was called off last year so organisers could take stock of “changing conditions and rising costs” to ensure its future. Many festivals around Australia have been cancelled in the last two years, including Dark Mofo’s summer equivalent, Mona Foma, which finished in 2024 after 16 years.
Continue reading...Rubio in hot seat as he faces European leaders at NATO headquarters – ABC News
- Rubio in hot seat as he faces European leaders at NATO headquarters ABC News
- Rubio Visits NATO Amid European Alarm Over Trump’s Agenda The New York Times
- Poilievre says Canada, not U.S., will set its own defence budget as Trump pushes for 5% NATO spending target The Globe and Mail
- Europe and Canada say they’ll spend more on defense, but are cool on US demands AP News
- Travel to Brussels, April 2-4, 2025 U.S. Department of State (.gov)
Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 US soldiers who died during training exercise – ABC News
- Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 US soldiers who died during training exercise ABC News
- Fourth U.S. Soldier Is Found Dead in Lithuania The New York Times
- PRESS RELEASE – Fourth U.S. Soldier found deceased europeafrica.army.mil
- Army identifies final soldier found deceased in Lithuania peat bog Military Times
- Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 U.S. soldiers who died during training exercise NBC News
Russia escapes Trump Tariffs, as envoy pushes deals with Washington – NPR
- Russia escapes Trump Tariffs, as envoy pushes deals with Washington NPR
- Russia’s Escape From Trump’s Tariffs Raises Questions The New York Times
- Russia not on Trump's tariff list BBC
- Trump's tariffs list is missing one big country: Russia Axios
- Ukraine war latest: Putin avoids Trump tariff as Kyiv soldiers hold out in monastery The Independent
Trump’s tariffs threaten US weapons production – Politico
- Trump’s tariffs threaten US weapons production Politico
- Ukraine's navy responds to reports US was 'angry' at sinking of Russia's Moskva Black Sea flagship The Kyiv Independent
- Analysis: Trump’s Tariffs Could Hit Gun Industry Hard [Member Exclusive] The Reload
- Tariffs stir uncertainty over future of Gun Prices and Second Amendment Access WRGB
- UK aerospace and defense group warns of 'scarcity mindset and price hikes' in wake of Trump tariffs Breaking Defense
Two Top Organizers of Canada’s Freedom Convoy Found Guilty of Mischief – The New York Times
- Two Top Organizers of Canada’s Freedom Convoy Found Guilty of Mischief The New York Times
- Chris Barber, Tamara Lich not guilty on most charges for roles in 2022 convoy protests CBC
- Canada trucker protest organizers found guilty of mischief NPR
- ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers Lich, Barber to hear verdict in mischief trial Toronto Star
- ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers Lich, Barber found guilty of mischief CTV News
What Is ‘Qatargate,’ the Latest Furor Embroiling Israel? – The New York Times
- What Is ‘Qatargate,’ the Latest Furor Embroiling Israel? The New York Times
- Netanyahu is rocked by a new scandal linking his close advisers to Qatar AP News
- Freed Jerusalem Post editor decries arrest, says he got ‘no benefits’ from Qatar trip The Times of Israel
- Qatar's Ties to Netanyahu's Office Are Just One Strand of Its Global Power Web Haaretz
- Israel PM attacks Qatar probe as 'witch hunt' after aides arrested BBC
Severe storms and tornadoes hit US south and midwest, killing at least seven
White House approves Tennessee’s state of emergency request as further fatalities expected to be confirmed
Violent storms and tornadoes have torn across the US south and midwest, killing at least seven people and downing power lines and trees, smashing homes and upturning cars across multiple states.
The outbreak of storms and tornadoes has resulted in at least seven deaths in Tennessee and Missouri, with further fatalities expected to be confirmed. One of the victims has been named: a 68-year-old man named Garry Moore who was a fire chief in Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. At least a dozen injuries have also been reported from the storms.
Continue reading...At least 16 killed as two refugee boats sink off Turkiye and Greece
Greek and Turkish coastguards still searching for two missing people from the two unrelated accidents.
‘Grateful and honoured’: Tom Cruise pays tribute to Val Kilmer
At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Cruise led the crowd in a moment of silence to honour Kilmer.
Blanket ban on teen smartphone use ‘potentially detrimental’, says academic
Dr Amy Orben says there are no ‘one-size-fits-all answers’ given importance of access to online information
A leading academic tasked by the UK government with reviewing the effects of smartphones on teenagers has suggested blanket bans are “unrealistic and potentially detrimental”.
Amy Orben, from the University of Cambridge, will lead the work on children and smartphone use that has been commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) along with a team of other academics from a number of UK universities.
Continue reading...Trump: Tariff rollout ‘going very well’ amid market selloff
“The country is going to boom.” President Trump says he thinks the rollout of his global tariffs is “going very well.”
Girl, 13, dies in house fire near Liverpool but seven others escape
A man, a woman and five children got out unharmed from blaze that took hold of terraced house in Prescot overnight
A 13-year-old girl has died in a house fire near Liverpool.
The blaze was found in the first-floor rear bedroom of a mid-terraced house in Kingsway, Prescot late on Wednesday evening, Merseyside police said.
Continue reading...Hegseth expected to skip key meeting with allies on Ukraine support – CNN
- Hegseth expected to skip key meeting with allies on Ukraine support CNN
- US Defense Boss Hegseth to Boycott Ukraine Military Support Summit for First Time Ever Kyiv Post
- Defence ministers of coalition of the willing to meet at NATO headquarters Українська правда
- In first, Hegseth to skip multinational meeting on Ukraine support Defense News
- "For consultations": Rutte explained the role of NATO at the "coalition of the willing" meeting Оперативні новини України та Світу
Trump tariffs put unprecedented pressure on business plans, livelihoods
The only option for many businesses and workers is to wait and see what level of harm Trump’s tariffs will inflict.
Bonobos’ calls may be the closest thing to animal language we’ve seen – Ars Technica
- Bonobos’ calls may be the closest thing to animal language we’ve seen Ars Technica
- In the Calls of Bonobos, Scientists Hear Hints of Language The New York Times
- ‘Uniquely human’ language capacity found in bonobos Science | AAAS
- Hoots and grunts from bonobos show signs of complex communication, researchers say NBC News
- Bonobos’ Complex Calls Share an Extraordinary Trait with Human Language Scientific American
Influencers ‘new’ threat to uncontacted tribes, warns group after US tourist arrest
North Sentinel is home to a tribe that does not have contact with the outside world.