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The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, which includes the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. This development comes after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and a threatened US military response.US President Donald Trump had issued an ultimatum for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction, but less than two hours before the self-imposed 8pm Eastern time deadline, he announced the ceasefire agreement. The agreement is conditional on Iran's complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.The ceasefire process was clouded in uncertainty after Iran released two different versions of the 10-point plan intended to be the basis for negotiations. Oil prices dived, stocks surged, and the dollar was knocked back on Wednesday as a two-week Middle East ceasefire sparked a relief rally, fueled by hopes that oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz could resume.Despite the provisional ceasefire, attacks continued across the region in the hours after Trump's announcement. The sudden about-face will allow Trump to step back as the US war in Iran has dragged on for five weeks with little sign that Tehran is ready to surrender or release its hold on the strait, a conduit for a fifth of the global energy supply.The agreement was welcomed by various countries, including Germany, Japan, and South Korea, who expressed hopes for a lasting ceasefire and peaceful resolution. However, some countries, such as Iraq and Australia, called for caution and noted that significant work remains to be done to secure a lasting ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has suspended a planned bombing of Iran for two weeks following mediation by Pakistan. The decision was announced on Tuesday evening, hours before the planned attack.Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to reveal that, based on conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, he had agreed to hold off the attack on the condition that Iran re-open the Strait of Hormuz.“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote.The announcement came just under one and a half hours before Trump’s 8pm (00:00 GMT) deadline for the attack. Earlier in the day, Trump had posted a menacing message on social media, stating, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”Trump claimed victory against Iran, stating that Tehran had delivered a feasible ceasefire proposal. He described it as a “double sided CEASEFIRE” and mentioned that the US had “already met and exceeded all Military objectives.”Despite the temporary halt, it remains unclear to what extent Trump will pursue his military offensive, which had previously included threats to target power plants, bridges, and other civilian infrastructure.

Lin Yu-ting, the 30‑year‑old Taiwanese Olympic champion, secured a bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Elite Championships in Mongolia, marking her return to competition after a gender‑eligibility controversy that clouded her 2024 Paris Olympic triumph.Competing in the 60kg division for the first time, Lin was defeated in the semifinals by North Korea’s Won Un Gyong, resulting in a third‑place finish.Her coach, Tseng Tzu‑chiang, told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that the shift to a higher weight class presented “new opponents’ skills, strategies and styles,” and that the tournament served as a valuable learning opportunity.Lin had opted out of last year’s World Championships after World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for female athletes, a policy introduced following the high‑profile gender disputes involving Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif after their gold medals in Paris.Following an appeal by Taiwan’s boxing federation, World Boxing cleared Lin to compete in the female category last month, enabling her participation in the Asian championships.Looking ahead, Tseng indicated that Lin aims to compete at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan later this year, noting that while her physical condition was not yet optimal, the experience provides “room for improvement and a clear path forward.”In parallel, the International Olympic Committee has introduced a new eligibility policy that excludes transgender female athletes from women’s events, aligning with a U.S. executive order. The IOC stated that eligibility will be determined by a mandatory gene test, limiting participation to “biological females.”

A union representing roughly 2,000 food‑service employees at Los Angeles Stadium has formally appealed to FIFA to ensure that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stays away from World Cup activities in the city. Unite Here Local 11, which covers cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, warned that a strike could become imminent if its concerns are ignored. The union highlighted that its members are still without a labor contract as the tournament approaches, and outlined three core demands for FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: A public pledge that ICE and Border Patrol will have no role in any World Cup‑related operations. Guarantees protecting union jobs, working conditions, and a ban on the use of artificial intelligence or automation that could displace workers. Support for a workforce‑housing fund, stricter short‑term‑rental rules, and tax measures aimed at financing affordable housing and protecting immigrant families. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons has indicated that the agency would play a “key part” in the event, a prospect the union says threatens the safety of both workers and visitors in Los Angeles. “FIFA and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers, and stand attendants who make this event possible,” said Kurt Petersen, co‑president of Local 11 in a statement. Local 11 also noted that it has repeatedly sought meetings with FIFA since the city was awarded hosting duties, but its requests have been ignored. The venue, known globally as SoFi Stadium, has been temporarily rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup due to sponsor conflicts. The stadium is slated to host eight matches, with the opening game – the United States versus Paraguay – scheduled for June 12. The union’s broader housing demands reflect rising living‑cost pressures in Inglewood and the surrounding Los Angeles area, underscoring the intersection of labor rights, immigration policy, and urban affordability ahead of the global tournament.

The Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has announced that it will release Shelly Kittleson, a journalist from the United States. Kittleson was abducted in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 31, prompting calls for her release from press freedom groups.The group said on Tuesday that Kittleson would be freed on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately. An anonymous Iraqi official confirmed her release to The Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon.Kittleson, a 49-year-old freelance reporter, had been kept in detention in Baghdad. Her release comes at a moment of heightened tension in Iraq, where Iran-backed groups have carried out attacks on US forces amid the US-Israel war on Iran.The decision to release Kittleson was reportedly made in response to 'the national stances of the outgoing prime minister' of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official with the group, warned that the 'exceptional gesture' would not be repeated again.The Associated Press reported that Kittleson was released in exchange for several imprisoned Kataib Hezbollah members, citing anonymous members of the militia. During her detention, publications Kittleson had worked for, including Al-Monitor, praised her for her commitment to covering conflicts in the Middle East.

According to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 180 people are feared dead or missing after a series of shipwrecks in the Mediterranean over the past ten days, pushing the year‑to‑date death toll to almost 1,000 since January 2026. The agency disclosed that approximately 765 deaths have occurred in the Central Mediterranean alone, surpassing the same period last year by over 460 fatalities. Across the entire Mediterranean, IOM recorded at least 990 deaths, describing it as "one of the deadliest starts to a year since 2014," when systematic data collection began. Since March 28, five separate shipwrecks have claimed the lives of or left missing at least 181 individuals. The most recent tragedy on Sunday involved a vessel that departed from Tajoura, Libya, with roughly 120 migrants aboard; rough weather caused the boat to capsize, leaving more than 80 people missing. Rescue efforts saved 32 survivors, who were later transferred to Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard, and two bodies were recovered. Libya continues to serve as a primary transit hub for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, a situation exacerbated by the country's ongoing instability since the 2011 uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi. Lampedusa, the tiny Italian island that functions as Europe’s main entry point from North Africa, has witnessed a grim pattern of loss. An earlier shipwreck on April 1 off Lampedusa resulted in at least 19 confirmed deaths and the rescue of 58 people, many of whom remain in critical condition. Survivors reported that the vessel had left the Libyan port of Zuara between March 28 and 29. IOM chief Amy Pope emphasized that these incidents highlight a persistent humanitarian emergency: "These tragedies show, once again, that far too many people are still risking their lives on dangerous routes," she said. Pope called for immediate action, stating that saving lives must be the priority and urging the international community to strengthen coordinated efforts against traffickers, expand safe and regular migration pathways, and prevent future deaths. The surge in fatalities underscores the urgent need for policy reforms and increased rescue capacity in the Mediterranean, as the region grapples with a mounting humanitarian crisis that threatens both lives and regional stability.

England fast bowler Josh Tongue has candidly shared his journey, from making his Test debut in 2023 to overcoming injuries and achieving milestones.Tongue, 28, has been refreshingly honest about his career, including his 18 wickets in three Ashes Tests and his five-wicket haul against Australia at the MCG.He opens up about his struggles with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that led him to consider early retirement. However, Botox injections helped him recover, and he made his Test debut for England.Tongue's laid-back and reflective personality has earned him praise from coaches Brendon McCullum and Peter Moores. His dream is to become England's opening bowler and take on top-order players like Steve Smith, whom he has successfully bowled out multiple times.Despite facing challenges, Tongue remains focused on playing cricket for England and making fans happy. A pivotal summer lies ahead, and wickets will be the currency that keeps Tongue's name on people's lips.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad street corner last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, and before her release, she had been held in Baghdad.The powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement earlier in the day it had decided to free Kittleson, who was abducted on March 31. The group said its decision came “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister”, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without giving more details. It added: “This initiative will not be repeated in the future.”The statement also included a condition – that Kittleson must “leave the country immediately” upon her release. Kittleson, 49, a freelance journalist, had lived abroad for years before the kidnapping, using Rome as her base for a time and building a respected journalism career across the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria.Kataib Hezbollah has previously been accused of kidnapping foreigners, including Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton graduate student with Israeli and Russian citizenship, who disappeared in Baghdad in 2023 and was freed in September 2025. The group never officially claimed responsibility for kidnapping her.Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also launched regular attacks on US facilities in the country since the beginning of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Judith Rapoport, a leading child psychiatrist, passed away at 92, leaving a legacy defined by her groundbreaking work on obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD). Her 1989 book, The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing, translated into more than twenty languages, presented complex research in a clear, jargon‑free style that resonated with a broad audience. OCD is characterized by compulsive rituals—re‑tying shoelaces, repeatedly checking switches, or incessant hand‑washing—that can dominate a person’s daily life. Before Rapoport’s book, many sufferers concealed their symptoms out of shame, unaware that they were not alone. Rapoport’s research demonstrated that OCD has a neurological foundation and may affect up to 2% of the population, challenging prevailing beliefs that it stemmed from overly strict parenting. She proved that the disorder can be hereditary and responsive to medication. In a pivotal 1989 double‑blind trial, she showed that the antidepressant clomipramine significantly reduced OCD symptoms, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve its use for the condition—a landmark moment in psychiatric treatment. Patients and colleagues credit her work with reducing stigma. "Reading Rapoport’s book washed away my shame," recalled Charles Gentz, who lives with OCD, while Professor Gabrielle Shapiro of the Icahn School of Medicine noted that the book “reduced the stigma for these people.” Rapoport herself reflected, “If my work alleviated just part of their pain, then it was not wasted time.” Born in New York City to a schoolteacher mother and a businessman father, she grew up with a literary lineage—her grandfather translated Ibsen into Yiddish. She excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude from Swarthmore College in 1955** and earning her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1959, where she met her husband, Stanley Rapoport. After early positions at Mount Sinai and the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, she and her husband secured fellowships in Sweden, conducting research at Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute on women seeking abortions abroad. Returning to the United States, Rapoport joined the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in 1976. There she led the institute’s child psychiatry branch from 1984, steering American psychiatry away from Freudian models toward a **biology‑focused** approach. Beyond OCD, she made significant contributions to the understanding of attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and childhood schizophrenia. Her 1978 study revealed that amphetamine improved concentration in both hyperactive and control children, contradicting the notion that stimulants only calm hyperactivity. Using MRI, she showed that childhood schizophrenia is progressive, involving loss of brain matter—a finding that shifted the focus from parenting to neurobiology. Rapoport’s expertise reached mainstream audiences through appearances on shows hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, further amplifying her message. By the time she retired in 2017, she had authored over 300 scientific papers, several books, and earned prestigious honors, including fellowship in the Institute of Medicine (1991) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2000). Colleague Gabrielle Shapiro described her as “a pioneer who turned child psychiatry into a modern, evidence‑based discipline.” Outside the laboratory, she enjoyed music, theatre, hiking, and gardening. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and four grandsons.