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Donald Trump's presidency has had an unexpected consequence: he has done more to accelerate the energy transition than anyone else alive. Despite fossil fuel companies bankrolling his campaign to hinder the transition, his volatile nature and policies have led to a surge in demand for renewable energy technologies.The recent attack on Iran has caused oil prices to soar, and executives from companies like Chevron have cashed in on record-breaking share sales. However, this has also led to a global surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and heat pumps. Inquiries about buying EVs have risen by 23% in the UK, 50% in Germany, and 160% in France.The logic of switching to renewables appears ineluctable. Governments and voters are seeking to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, and advances in battery technology are making renewable energy more viable. Solid-state batteries and quantum batteries could soon transform the energy storage landscape.Countries that fail to adapt to this new reality will be left behind, facing high bills and insecurity. The UK should invest in grid batteries, heat pumps, and induction hobs, rather than trying to extract the last dregs of fossil fuel from the North Sea. Half-measures offer nothing but delay and wasted costs.The consequences of Trump's actions are far-reaching, and his support for autocrats like Viktor Orbán has contributed to the fall of their regimes. The anti-green campaigning in the UK may have been financed by Russian oil, but greens who were once dismissed as idealistic now look like hard-headed pragmatists and true patriots.

Juba, South Sudan – Growing up, Khloe Nyanda was taught to stay small and avoid taking up space. Defying that lesson, the 21‑year‑old law student at the University of Juba pursued modeling after being inspired by South Sudanese supermodel Adut Akech, whose refugee‑to‑runway story she describes as a "crown".Nyanda’s ambition mirrors that of a new generation of South Sudanese talent, with 95% of models from the country naming Akech as their spark. She began modeling in 2023, but her family remained skeptical, fearing the clash between academic responsibilities and a fashion career.Her personal journey has been marked by familial estrangement after she rejected an arranged marriage and a modelling coach’s advances, leading to loss of support from her stepbrother and other relatives.Beyond social pressures, Nyanda faces systemic obstacles. Since 2023 she has endured multiple visa rejections despite contracts with agencies in London, Paris, and Italy. An attempt to attend Milan Fashion Week was denied by the Italian embassy in Nairobi over bank‑statement issues, while two separate applications to the French embassy in Kampala were also turned down. The absence of South Sudanese embassies in France and Italy forces hopeful models to obtain travel documents from neighboring countries, inflating costs and delays.Another emerging model, 20‑year‑old Alek Mayen Garang, balances her senior‑year studies with runway aspirations. Born in Greater Jonglei and raised in Renk, she spent part of her childhood in Kampala before returning to South Sudan amid the 2016 conflict. Garang draws inspiration from Anok Yai, the American‑South Sudanese model named Model of the Year at the 2025 British Fashion Awards.Unlike Nyanda, Garang found an ally in her elder sister, who accompanied her to her first runway show and helped negotiate parental approval. Her early challenges were technical—learning to walk in heels, maintaining strict diet and skincare regimens—and the lingering fear of rejection at auditions.Both women are part of a broader South Sudanese surge in global fashion. Nine of the world’s top 50 models on models.com hail from South Sudan, underscoring the country’s deep talent pool. Former models have transitioned to design and entrepreneurship, founding South Sudan Fashion Week and creating bespoke wedding gowns.Industry veterans now coach new talent, urging them to prioritize education alongside modeling. Yet a new anxiety looms: the potential rise of AI‑generated Black models, which could further destabilize already precarious careers.Within South Sudan, the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage has been criticized for its limited engagement with the modeling sector. Advocates argue that official endorsement could shift parental attitudes and legitimize modeling as a respectable profession.Garang recently won the “creativity” award at the national Miss Junub beauty pageant, expanding her vision from personal success to mentoring emerging designers and models. Nyanda, meanwhile, envisions a future beyond the runway: she plans to invest her earnings in establishing a credible mother agency, as well as a school and hospital for orphans, aiming to reinvest in her homeland.“South Sudan is not a place I am running from; it is the place I am running for,” Nyanda declares, embodying a resolve to reshape societal expectations and create pathways for the next generation of South Sudanese talent.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its global growth forecast for 2026 from 3.3% to 3.1%, citing the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz on the world economy. In a worst-case scenario of a prolonged war, global growth could fall to 2.5% in 2026, with low-income and developing economies hit the hardest by soaring commodity and energy prices. However, some industries are benefiting from the uncertainty: Wall Street Investment Banks Wall Street investment banks are thriving due to increased trading activity, with Morgan Stanley reporting a profit of $5.57bn, up 29% year on year, and Goldman Sachs reporting a profit of $5.63bn, up 19% year on year. Aerospace and Defence The aerospace and defence industries are booming due to increased global defence spending, with the MSCI World Aerospace and Defence Index reporting net returns of 32% year on year. Artificial Intelligence The AI industry is expected to grow from $189bn in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company posting a net income of $18.1bn for the first three months of 2026, up 58% year on year. Renewable Energy The renewable energy sector is also benefiting from the war, with 150 countries having active policies to advance renewable and nuclear deployment, and the S&P; Global Clean Energy Transition Index up 70.92% year on year.

Every year on April 17, Palestinians commemorate Prisoner’s Day to bring attention to the thousands of men, women, and children held in Israeli prisons. This year’s observance is particularly significant due to Israel’s recently enacted death penalty law, which exclusively targets Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks.Rights groups have strongly criticized the law, labeling it a violation of international law and inherently discriminatory. The United Nations human rights chief has even suggested it could constitute a possible “war crime”.According to the prisoners’ rights group Addameer, nearly 10,000 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli prisons, both within Israel and in occupied territories. These individuals are viewed by Palestinians as political prisoners who must be freed.The historical context of Prisoner’s Day dates back to April 17, 1971, when Mahmoud Bakr Hejazi was released in the first prisoner exchange between Israel and Palestine. In 1974, the Palestinian National Council officially designated April 17 as Prisoner’s Day, which has since served as a day of national and international solidarity with the Palestinian struggle against Israel’s continued occupation.Administrative Detention and Its ImplicationsAs of early April, 9,600 Palestinians were in Israeli custody. Of these detainees:3,532 are administrative detainees – held without charge or trial.342 are children.84 are women.119 are serving life sentences.Administrative detention is a longstanding Israeli policy allowing authorities to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for six-month periods that can be renewed indefinitely. Critics argue that this system is widely abused and denies due process, with over one-third of detainees being held under administrative detention.The Plight of Palestinian ChildrenIsrael is the only country that tries children in military courts, often denying them basic rights. 342 children were being held in Israeli prisons this month, with over 12,000 Palestinian children detained by Israeli forces since the outbreak of the second Intifada in 2000. These children are often subjected to physical and psychological torture, interrogated without parental or legal presence, and exploited for information or used as leverage against their families.The New Death Penalty LawThe new law allows military courts to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in acts of “terror.” This law, approved on March 30 and set to take effect by the end of April, applies to Palestinians from the West Bank tried in Israeli military courts. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the bill as a “war crime against the Palestinian people”, citing violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention.The rights group B’Tselem noted that the conviction rate for Palestinians tried in military courts is about 96 percent, often based on ‘confessions’ obtained through pressure and torture.A Legacy of DetentionSince 1967, Israeli forces have detained an estimated one million Palestinians, or about 20 percent of the Palestinian population. This systemic practice has fragmented communities, perpetuated cycles of trauma, and generated widespread resentment. For many families, arrests have become an inevitability, with freedom remaining uncertain for those currently behind bars, just as it has for generations before them.

Al Jazeera published a detailed analysis on April 17, 2026 titled “The three clocks of the Iran war.” Authored by Jasim Al‑Azzawi, the piece explores three interlocking timelines that together define the dynamics of the Iran conflict. The first "clock" looks at the historical backdrop, tracing the roots of regional tensions and past confrontations that continue to influence current strategies. The second clock focuses on the present operational tempo, assessing ongoing military maneuvers, diplomatic engagements, and the immediate humanitarian impact on the ground. The third clock projects the future trajectory of the war, considering scenarios ranging from escalation to negotiated settlement, and the potential ripple effects across the broader Middle East. By framing the conflict through these three temporal lenses, the analysis aims to provide readers with a nuanced understanding of how past grievances, current actions, and future possibilities intertwine, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.

France and the United Kingdom are convening dozens of countries to advance plans for a multinational maritime force to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that has been closed since Iran imposed a blockade on February 28.The meeting, taking place at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, is being chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with around 30 to 40 countries participating in person or by video conference.The talks will focus on the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, a defensive mission aimed at restoring free passage through the waterway once a lasting ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran is in place.European leaders have warned that the ongoing closure threatens consumers with higher inflation, food shortages, and flight cancellations as jet fuel supplies dwindle. Over 20,000 seafarers are trapped on board hundreds of vessels caught in the blockade.“The unconditional and immediate reopening of the strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again,” Starmer said, accusing Iran of “holding the world’s economy to ransom”.The initiative mirrors Europe’s earlier efforts to assemble a security force for Ukraine and carries similar conditions: deployment only when the conflict ends and security conditions allow.A French presidential official stated that allies would need “an Iranian commitment not to fire on passing ships and a US commitment not to block any ships leaving or entering the Strait of Hormuz” before any mission could proceed.Washington’s absence from the discussions is deliberate, with Macron emphasizing that the mission to provide security for shipping through the strait would be “strictly defensive” and limited to non-belligerent countries.

Stuart Heritage revisits Hacks as its final season rolls out on Sky Atlantic, Now, HBO Max and Stan, asking whether the series can recapture the brilliance that earned it an Emmy for Best Comedy in 2024.When the show first burst onto the scene, it was hailed as the pinnacle of comedy, outshining drama‑heavy series like The Bear. Its early acclaim rested on the razor‑sharp chemistry between Jean Smart (Deborah Vance) and Hannah Einbinder (Ava), a dynamic that felt both vicious and hilarious.That reputation has been challenged by newer satire such as The Studio, which swept the 2025 Emmys with bigger stars and slicker production. In contrast, Hacks managed only supporting trophies for Smart and Einbinder, prompting the question: can the show rally in its swan song?The latest run marks a noticeable upgrade from the muddled third and fourth seasons, where Vance’s late‑night talk‑show stint exposed the series’ structural cracks. This season, Vance is slapped with a Conan O’Brien‑style gag order that bans her from public jokes, giving her a fresh, if absurd, source of conflict.Early episodes burst with energy as Vance concocts wild schemes—pursuing an EGOT, penning a memoir, even eyeing a Madison Square Garden gig. The momentum feels promising, yet the show’s signature venomous satire is muted.Where Hacks once thrived on Vance’s bitter, anti‑heroic edge and her hostile banter with Einbinder’s Ava, the current tone has softened into a more amicable camaraderie. This shift defangs the series, making it feel less like the cutting industry critique it once was.The finale lands as a bewildering, almost ChatGPT‑generated one‑act play, delivering an unearned climax that feels more like a stunt to secure another Emmy for Smart than a satisfying narrative closure.Despite uneven seasons, the core performances remain the show’s strongest asset. Smart and Einbinder continue to deliver compelling, powerhouse portrayals that will likely be the lasting memory of Hacks for its fans.In the end, the final season offers moments of fun but ultimately signals the end of the series’ once‑sharp satire, leaving viewers to mourn the loss of its original bite.

Chris Evans’ attempt to resurrect the 1990s chatshow juggernaut TFI Friday began quietly on Virgin Radio’s YouTube channel earlier this year. The lo‑fi series, titled TFI: Unplugged, featured a handful of high‑profile guests – Danny Dyer, Chris Hemsworth, Bono and Noah Wyle – and quickly attracted enough viewers for Channel 4 to commission six late‑night episodes. While the media spotlight has been on Claudia Winkleman’s foray into celebrity interviewing, Evans’ revival arrives with far less fanfare and pressure. The new format is deliberately stripped back: a cramped studio, casually dressed staff, and a budget that Evans himself jokes is “only 1% of the original”. Channel 4 commissioning editor Cimran Shah pitched the show as “personality‑led, stripped‑back chat”, positioning it as a precursor to today’s visual podcasts. In practice, the production feels more like a video‑recorded audio interview than a full‑blown TV spectacle. The episode lineup mixes legacy and fresh talent. Vintage performances from Sleeper, The Cure and Garbage provide a nostalgic soundtrack, while contemporary guests such as Jack Savoretti – who Evans repeatedly hails for a recent chart‑topping album – and Indian star Shreya Ghoshal, who covers Coldplay’s “Fix You”, aim to broaden appeal. A promised appearance by Gemma Arterton and Peter Capaldi never materialised; instead, singer‑songwriter Sam Ryder appeared despite having lost his voice. One of the few moments that truly harkens back to the original is a splice of Evans’ 1999 interview with David Bowie, in which the legendary musician bizarrely claims to have contracted gastroenteritis from eating monkey meat. The clip underscores Evans’ desire to remind viewers of the show’s storied past, even if the anecdote feels more odd than iconic. Critics note that the new Unplugged version lacks the “laddish, often cruel humour” that defined the 1990s TFI Friday, including infamous segments like the “Fat Lookalikes”. The original’s chaotic energy and Britpop‑fuelled vibe have been replaced by a more restrained, if still frenetic, studio atmosphere. In terms of relevance, the series appears out of step with current trends. Unlike interview podcasts that create an intimate, off‑camera feel, Evans’ format retains the sweaty, over‑the‑top live‑TV aesthetic without delivering the depth or novelty that modern audiences expect. Overall, TFI Friday Unplugged may not reshape the UK chatshow landscape or outshine Winkleman’s high‑profile debut, but it does carve out a modest niche for nostalgia‑driven viewers. Its inexpensive production model proves sustainable, even if the show remains a modest footnote in the broader revival of British talk‑show culture.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, a statement that raised hopes for de‑escalation in the Middle‑East conflict and sent global oil prices tumbling. President Donald Trump took to social media to celebrate the news, proclaiming it a "great and brilliant day for the world" and asserting that Iran had pledged never to shut the strategic waterway again. Trump also claimed that Tehran had agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely and would forfeit any frozen U.S. funds, suggesting that a deal‑making session could occur over the upcoming weekend. In contrast, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) offered only qualified support for Araghchi’s declaration, indicating that commercial traffic would be permitted only along a prescribed route and under IRGC naval permission. The United States, however, signalled that its naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in force until all transactions are completed, warning that few vessels are likely to risk passage under the current uncertainty. Oil markets reacted swiftly: Brent crude slipped below $90 per barrel, easing inflationary pressures that had surged after the strait’s earlier closure. Simultaneously, a ten‑day truce in Lebanon entered its second day, temporarily halting Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah‑aligned forces and offering a brief respite to civilians after weeks of intense fighting. Despite the truce, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed a civilian, and Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the Israeli Defence Forces were not withdrawing and could resume operations. In Paris, representatives from roughly 40 nations gathered at a conference co‑chaired by France and the United Kingdom to discuss a coordinated plan for safeguarding the strait, which historically carries about one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Araghchi’s statement but urged a "full, unconditional reopening" by all parties, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for any reopening plan to be "lasting and workable". The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general, Arsenio Domínguez, said the agency is reviewing the announcement to ensure it complies with the principle of free navigation for all merchant vessels. Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, acting as a key mediator, arrived in Tehran to advance negotiations for a more durable peace, underscoring Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in the region. Overall, while the Hormuz opening has eased immediate market pressures, the broader geopolitical landscape remains volatile, with the U.S.–Iran cease‑fire set to expire soon and regional actors still poised for further confrontation.