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A high-stakes diplomatic effort is underway as a delegation of Russian officials has arrived in the United States for meetings with their American counterparts. This visit, which began on Thursday, marks a significant development in the strained relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly over Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism about the talks, stating, 'We hope that these first tentative steps will, of course, make their contribution to the further revival of our bilateral engagement.' President Vladimir Putin has set the main directives for the trip and will be thoroughly briefed on the meeting.The visit occurs against the backdrop of US-brokered talks to end the war in Ukraine, which are currently in a state of limbo. Despite several rounds of negotiations since US President Joe Biden's administration took office, a deadlock persists, with the Kremlin ruling out compromises to halt its military campaign.Russia, a key ally of Iran, has been accused by Western intelligence officials of supporting the Iranian government as it faces a war launched by the US and Israel. A recent report alleged that Russia was close to completing a shipment of drones to Iran, which Moscow has vehemently denied, calling such claims 'lies being spread by the media.'In a related development, Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, carrying out one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of the war, launching 948 drones in 24 hours. This escalation has prompted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appeal for air defence munitions from allies, warning of a potential deficit in missiles while Washington focuses on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The United Nations has taken a significant step towards acknowledging the atrocities of transatlantic slavery, adopting a resolution that labels it as the 'gravest crime against humanity'. The resolution, proposed by Ghana, was passed with 123 countries in favor, 3 opposed, and 52 abstaining.The resolution is not legally binding but carries substantial political weight. It calls for reparations and urges member states to engage in dialogue on the issue, including issuing formal apologies, returning stolen artifacts, providing financial compensation, and ensuring guarantees of non-repetition.Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, a key architect of the resolution, hailed its adoption as 'a route to healing and reparative justice'. The resolution's passage is seen as a crucial step towards addressing the ongoing impacts of slavery, which saw at least 12.5 million Africans abducted and sold between the 15th and 19th centuries.Despite the progress, there is growing backlash from Western leaders who oppose discussing reparations, arguing that today's states and institutions should not be held responsible for historical wrongs. The EU and the US expressed concerns that the resolution could imply a hierarchy among crimes against humanity.The Netherlands remains the only European country to have issued a formal apology for its role in slavery. The resolution comes after the African Union set out to create a 'unified vision' among its 55 member states about what reparations for slavery may look like.

Castleford Tigers produced a stunning performance to defeat Bradford Bulls in a highly entertaining Super League match. The Tigers' attack clicked into gear, with Jason Qareqare scoring a hat-trick and leading his team's charge to a convincing victory.The match was a West Yorkshire derby that lived up to expectations, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. However, it was Castleford who ultimately dominated the game, scoring 28 unanswered points in a 10-minute period either side of half-time to transform a nervy contest into a decisive win.Ryan Carr's Castleford side had been under pressure after a heavy defeat last week, but they responded with a confident display. Carr praised his team's performance, saying, “How we played tonight is how we want to play our rugby.”In contrast, Bradford Bulls' coach Kurt Haggerty was left to ponder what might have been, saying, “You shouldn’t score 28 points in a game and lose.” The Bulls' defensive frailties were exposed, and they will need to address these issues if they are to exceed expectations in 2026.The win for Castleford was a significant one, as it moved them up the table and gave them a much-needed boost in confidence. For Bradford, the loss was a disappointing one, but they will look to bounce back in their next match.

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the UK's military capabilities, describing its aircraft carriers as 'toys' compared to those of the US. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed that the UK had offered to send two aircraft carriers to support US military actions against Iran, but he had rejected the offer, saying 'Don't bother, we don't need it.'The comments have sparked a fresh row between Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has refused to engage directly with the US president's repeated insults. Starmer has emphasized his focus on addressing the UK's domestic priorities, including the cost of living crisis, and has reiterated his commitment to defending British interests while avoiding escalation.Tensions between the US and UK have been rising over Nato's role in the conflict with Iran. Trump has expressed disappointment with Nato allies, accusing them of not doing enough to support the US. He also criticized Starmer for not providing sufficient support, saying 'He's not exactly Winston Churchill.'In response, Starmer has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to its Nato allies while emphasizing the need to address the threat posed by Russia. During a visit to Finland, Starmer warned of a 'war on two fronts' – Ukraine and Iran – and highlighted the importance of cooperation between Nato allies to counter these threats.The UK has deployed a warship, HMS Dragon, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to an Iranian-made missile launch from Lebanon at a UK RAF base in Cyprus. Officials are also considering deploying a Royal Navy vessel to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.

Alireza Tangsiri, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval commander killed in an Israeli airstrike, was a veteran hardliner with a reputation for fiery rhetoric. He had a deep understanding of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries a fifth of the world’s oil and gas.Tangsiri was a prominent figure in the IRGC, having won his credentials during the Iran-Iraq war and rising through the ranks to become the commander of the IRGC’s maritime force in 2018. He was known for pioneering unconventional weapons that allowed Iran to project power in the Persian Gulf and beyond.The US Treasury sanctioned Tangsiri in 2019 and 2023, citing his role in overseeing the IRGC Navy’s testing of cruise missiles and his involvement with a company that developed armed drones. These weapons could potentially be used to maintain the current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Tangsiri was also a strong supporter of fast boats, which can threaten civilian shipping and evade modern warship defense systems. His recent statements had dared the US to launch a ground assault on Kharg Island, Iran’s principal hub for oil exports, and warned of the impact on oil prices.The Israeli airstrike that killed Tangsiri has been seen as a significant blow to the IRGC. The commander of US Central Command, Adm Brad Cooper, said the killing “makes the region safer.” Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, described the strike as a “message” to the IRGC, vowing to “hunt you down and eliminate you one by one.”

Italian authorities have seized €20m (£17.3m) of assets in Tuscany, including property, vineyards, and olive groves, allegedly bought with money embezzled from the actor Ursula Andress.Andress, 90, had filed a complaint in her native Switzerland alleging a “progressive and significant depletion of her assets” by individuals charged with managing her finances, Italy’s financial crimes police said in a statement on Thursday.Prosecutors in the Swiss canton of Vaud built a picture of a “systematic misappropriation of financial resources” worth about 18m Swiss francs carried out through multiple, opaque transactions, the police said. The money was traced to Italy, where prosecutors in Florence took up the case and police began following the paper trail.They tracked it to San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence, and a real-estate complex consisting of 11 units and 14 plots of land used as vineyards and olive groves, as well as works of art and other assets, the statement said. The judge for preliminary investigations of the court of Florence ordered the seizure of the entire illicit profit, up to the amount of CHF 18,000,000, to be enforced against the identified assets.No suspects were identified in the statement. Andress surged to fame thanks to a scene in the 1962 James Bond movie Dr No, in which she emerged from the sea on to a Caribbean beach in a white bikini, knife at her hip and a seashell in each hand.

Egil Johansen, the landlord of the Kenton pub in Hackney, east London, describes recent incidents involving children as "like the wild west." He has now banned children entirely after a three-year-old fell down a cellar hatch while parents sat elsewhere, a five-year-old crashed into staff carrying drinks, and six parents brought 10 hyperactive children after a birthday party while ignoring their behavior."In every case, the parents blame us when something goes wrong or get really angry when we ask them to control their children," says Johansen, who has run the pub for 17 years. "I'm legally obliged to keep children safe on my premises and if the parents let their children run riot, the only answer is to not allow them in at all."Johansen initially tried banning children only after 5pm, but this interim measure failed to address the underlying issues. Despite online criticism framing him as the "baddie," he expresses sadness about the situation: "I'm a publican; I'm a people-person. It gives me no joy to ban anyone, but it's just not safe: parents don't control their children and our other customers were beginning to go elsewhere. I had no choice."The Kenton's decision reflects a growing trend among UK pubs seeking to differentiate themselves from establishments that "resemble soft play centres without the ball pit." While some welcome this shift, others view it as unwelcoming to families, creating a culture war in the pub industry.Lee Jones, landlord of the Brewers Arms in West Malvern, Worcestershire, reversed a previous child ban: "We're dog-friendly, child-friendly, adult-friendly. We're just friendly – we don't distinguish. Pubs are for the community and I don't see bans in the spirit of what we're here for." Jones reports that when children become rowdy, staff can address the issue with parents, though this is rarely needed.Stephen Boyd, who runs the Alma in south London, took a different approach after attempting to attract young families. He found families with children consumed disproportionate time and resources with special requests for diluted drinks, heated beverages, and customized meals, while adult customers waited longer for their orders."You just need a couple screaming, banging on a table or running up and down, and it dictates the whole atmosphere of the pub," Boyd says. "Parents would take massive umbrage if staff asked them to stop their children doing something." After implementing a child ban, he describes the change as "a fucking revelation" with staff retention improving and takings doubling.Despite the positive results, Boyd faced significant backlash: "I got a lot of online hate. Mainly from people who had never been to the pub but felt I was doing something morally hateful."Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, acknowledges the debate is "very live" but emphasizes: "But you do have to look at the responsibility of the parents in these situations, not just at the pubs. They're the ones responsible for making sure that their children behave."Financial considerations also drive some decisions. Mandy Keefe, landlady of the Wheel Inn in Ashford, banned children partly for behavioral reasons but also financial ones: "If a third of my Sunday customers were children eating from a reduced-rate child's menu and not drinking any alcohol, that wouldn't be financially viable."Across the UK, pubs are making individual decisions based on their specific circumstances, but as Johansen's experience demonstrates, it only takes one serious incident to settle the question for good.

The conflict in Sudan continues to intensify, with two drone strikes resulting in the deaths of at least 28 civilians. The strikes occurred in separate locations, with one hitting a market in Saraf Omra, North Darfur state, killing 22 people, including an infant, and injuring 17 others. Another strike targeted a truck carrying civilians on a highway in North Kordofan, approximately 500 miles east of Darfur, killing six people and wounding 10. The RSF was blamed for the attack, although it is unclear which side launched the drone. Sudan's civil war, which began on April 15, 2023, has led to over 11.6 million people being displaced out of a population of about 51 million. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands to potentially over 400,000 deaths. The situation has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with large areas of the country at risk of famine. The UN has reported a significant increase in civilian deaths from drone strikes this year, particularly in the Kordofan region. Between January 1 and March 15, over 500 people were killed by drones. A recent drone strike on a hospital in East Darfur killed 64 people and wounded 89, according to the World Health Organization.

A humanitarian aid flotilla, dubbed the 'Nuestra America' or 'Our America' convoy, has arrived in Cuba to alleviate the island nation's struggles amid a severe US energy blockade. The first vessel, carrying approximately 30 people, along with essential supplies such as food, medicine, solar panels, and bicycles, docked in Havana, the capital city.The convoy set out from Mexico last week and is part of a broader effort to support Cuba, which has been facing widespread blackouts and an economic crisis due to the US embargo that has been in place for decades. The energy restrictions have significantly impacted Cuba, cutting off vital economic lifelines and contributing to the current crises.US President Donald Trump's administration has been vocal about its desire for regime change in Cuba, using energy restrictions as a tool to further degrade the Cuban economy. The US blockade has resulted in a nearly total ban on petroleum imports over the last three months, exacerbating the island's energy woes.Cuba's Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Argelio Abad Vigo, stated that the island, which produces only about 40 percent of the fuel it needs, has gone for three months without access to vital supplies of diesel, fuel oil, petrol, jet fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas. A February YouGov poll found that 46 percent of people in the US disapprove of the energy blockade, while 28 percent support it.The humanitarian aid effort, though described as 'a drop in an ocean of need,' represents a gesture of solidarity with the Cuban people. The convoy's arrival and the participation of over 650 participants from 33 countries who arrived on the island last weekend, demonstrate international support for Cuba during this challenging time.