Smiths News distributes newspapers and magazines to retailers(Image: Digital Buggu / Pexels)
Smiths News has been warned it could face a financial claim over the underfunded pension scheme of collapsed firm Tuffnells Parcels Express. The UK Pensions Regulator told the Swindon-headquartered business at the end of last week it was considering issuing a so-called financial support direction against the firm, which would give it the power to require financial backing for an underfunded pension scheme, even where there has been no wrongdoing.
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Smiths News, the UK’s largest wholesaler of newspapers and magazines, owned Tuffnells Parcels Express for nearly six years until May 2020, before Tuffnells called in administrators in June 2023, with its pension scheme left with a large deficit.
Smiths News said a number of other parties connected to Tuffnells are also identified in the warning notice as potential targets of the regulator’s powers. The regulator can seek up to £3.5m from the firms to help plug the funding hole in the Tuffnells pension scheme.
Shares in Smiths News fell three per cent in Monday morning trading.
The firm said: “The board is reviewing the warning notice with its advisers and will have an opportunity to make submissions to the Pensions Regulator in response.
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“These will be considered by the Pensions Regulator’s case team and then referred to a determinations panel before any decision is made as to whether a financial support direction should be issued against Smiths News, and if so, in what form or for what value.”
It added: “The board maintains the view that Smiths News acted reasonably throughout its time as parent of Tuffnells and that it was an overall net contributor of funding to Tuffnells during its period of ownership.”
The Investment Doctor is a financial writer, highlighting European small-caps with a 5-7 year investment horizon. He strongly believes a portfolio should consist of a mixture of dividend and growth stocks.
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SAN DIEGO — NASA released an iconic image Saturday showing the four Artemis II astronauts standing proudly beside their Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, in the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha just hours after a flawless Pacific Ocean splashdown that capped humanity’s first crewed lunar voyage in more than half a century.
Artemis II Crew Poses with Orion ‘Integrity’ in Viral Post-Splashdown Photo After Historic Moon Flyby
The photograph, posted by the official NASA Artemis account on X, captured Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen smiling in their launch-and-entry suits alongside the gumdrop-shaped capsule that carried them 252,756 miles from Earth and back.
” The astronauts. Their ride around the Moon,” the agency captioned the image, which quickly amassed more than 11,000 likes and thousands of shares within hours of its release.
The crew splashed down off the coast of California at 8:07 p.m. EDT Friday after a nearly 10-day mission that tested Orion’s life-support systems, re-entry capabilities and deep-space navigation in preparation for future lunar landings.
The astronauts. Their ride around the Moon.
The Artemis II astronauts pose for a group photo after viewing their Orion spacecraft — which they named Integrity — in the well deck of USS John P. Murtha following their splashdown. pic.twitter.com/dLicqJPoox
Navy recovery teams extracted the astronauts one by one onto an inflatable platform before ferrying them by helicopter to the amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha, where the group photo was taken. All four were reported in excellent health following post-flight medical evaluations.
A Mission for the History Books
Artemis II marked the first time humans traveled beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. The crew looped around the Moon on April 6, surpassing the Apollo 13 distance record by traveling 248,655 miles from Earth at one point.
Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen conducted scientific observations, tested spacecraft systems and even named two lunar features during a live broadcast that moved the crew to tears.
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The mission’s success validates NASA’s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket for Artemis III, targeted for a crewed lunar landing as early as 2027 near the Moon’s south pole.
“This is a gift to the world from NASA,” one NASA commentator said during the live splashdown broadcast, echoing the sentiment shared by millions watching worldwide.
Meet the Crew Making History
The diverse Artemis II team represented a deliberate step forward in space exploration demographics. Koch became the first woman to fly to the Moon’s vicinity. Glover is the first Black astronaut to travel that far from Earth. Hansen is the first non-American and first Canadian on a lunar mission. Wiseman, a veteran Navy test pilot and father, commanded the flight.
All four are seasoned spacefarers except Hansen, who made his first trip beyond Earth orbit. Their selection underscored NASA’s commitment to international partnership through the Artemis Accords, which now include more than 40 nations.
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During the mission, the crew shared stunning views of Earth and the Moon, conducted live calls with schoolchildren and performed experiments that will inform long-duration human spaceflight to Mars.
The Road to Splashdown
After launch from Kennedy Space Center on April 1 aboard the SLS rocket, the crew spent nine days, one hour and 31 minutes in space. They performed a lunar flyby that brought them within about 4,000 miles of the Moon’s surface before beginning the long journey home.
Re-entry was textbook. Traveling at Mach 33, the capsule endured peak heating of nearly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit as it plunged through the atmosphere. Communication blackout lasted several tense minutes before Wiseman radioed, “Houston, Integrity. We have you loud and clear.”
Parachutes deployed perfectly, slowing the spacecraft to a gentle 20 mph impact with the Pacific. Recovery forces from NASA, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force secured the capsule within minutes.
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The USS John P. Murtha, positioned 200 miles southwest of San Diego, served as the primary recovery vessel. Once aboard, the astronauts underwent medical checks before boarding aircraft back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Orion capsule itself will be transported to Naval Base San Diego and eventually returned to Kennedy Space Center for analysis.
Public Reaction and Cultural Impact
The group photo has resonated deeply online. Commenters called it “the family photo civilization should keep on the mantelpiece” and praised the crew’s composure after what one described as a “white-knuckle ride” through re-entry.
Social media lit up with tributes to the mission’s inclusivity and its role in inspiring the next generation. “They didn’t just orbit the Moon — they gave an entire generation their Apollo 8 moment,” one viral reply read.
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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed the mission as “a triumph of American engineering and international cooperation.” He noted that Artemis II paves the way for sustainable lunar presence and eventual human missions to Mars.
What Comes Next for Artemis
With Artemis II complete, NASA turns full attention to Artemis III, which will attempt the first crewed landing on the lunar south pole using SpaceX’s Starship lander. That mission could occur as soon as late 2027, pending successful uncrewed tests of the lander and additional SLS flights.
The program also includes plans for a lunar Gateway space station and long-term habitats. International partners, including Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency, continue to play key roles.
For the Artemis II crew, the coming weeks will involve debriefings, medical monitoring and public appearances. Wiseman, Glover, Koch and Hansen are expected to share their experiences at events across the country, much as Apollo astronauts did decades ago.
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The mission’s success comes at a pivotal time for NASA, which faces budget scrutiny and technical challenges but has now demonstrated that Orion can safely carry humans to deep space and back.
As the astronauts reunite with families in Houston, the image of them standing beside Integrity serves as a powerful symbol: humanity has returned to the Moon’s vicinity, and the journey to live and work there — and eventually beyond — has truly begun.
The viral NASA photo posted Saturday reminds the world that exploration is not just about destinations but about the people who dare to go — and the spacecraft that bring them home.
Get ahead of the market by subscribing to Seeking Alpha’s Wall Street Week Ahead, a preview of key events scheduled for the coming week. The newsletter keeps you informed of the biggest stories set to make headlines, including upcoming IPOs, investor days, earnings reports, and conference presentations.
Wall Street’s major averages struggled to stay higher on Friday as the core retail inflation print for March came in slightly cooler than expected, while investors continued to brace for U.S.-Iran war tensions. The March U.S. core Consumer Price Index, which excludes food and energy, came in weaker at +0.2% MoM vs. +0.3% consensus. In addition, the Consumer Sentiment Index came in lower at 47.6 for April vs. the 52.0 consensus, according to preliminary data by the University of Michigan Survey.
As the first-quarter earnings season kicks off next week, with major banks reporting their results, only a few economic data are scheduled. Existing home sales data for March will be released on Monday, with PPI data scheduled for Tuesday. Philadelphia Fed’s manufacturing numbers are due on Thursday along with the jobless claims data.
Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), and Netflix (NFLX) are among the companies reporting their results next week.
Volatility watch: Coherent (COHR) and AMD (AMD) are set up for a volatile week of trading based on options volume. The most overbought stocks per their 14-day relative strength index include Service Mega Fortune (
In an interview with ET Now, market veteran Sunil Singhania explains why the current West Asia conflict is impacting Indian equities more than past geopolitical events, how oil, rupee and global flows are interconnected, and why he believes most risks are already priced in with long-term prospects intact.
Why is this geopolitical episode impacting Indian markets more than past events?
Markets have recovered from past crises and will likely do so again. The key difference this time is not just higher oil prices but also supply disruptions due to issues around the Strait of Hormuz. There’s also constant, uncertain news flow, which keeps sentiment volatile. That said, markets are gradually stabilising and beginning to take this in stride.
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From an investor’s perspective, is this mainly an oil story, a rupee issue, or a broader risk-off trend?
It’s a combination. This comes after 18 months of underperformance by Indian markets versus global peers. Earlier, high valuations, slowing growth, weak earnings, and global shifts toward tech-heavy markets led to FPI outflows. Just as things were improving—growth picking up, earnings recovering, and policy support kicking in—this conflict hit. Oil prices, currency pressure, and risk-off sentiment are all interconnected here.
What could break this cycle of pressure on markets?
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De-escalation of the conflict is key. If tensions ease, crude prices could fall by $20–25, which would significantly improve sentiment. In fact, I believe nearly 90% of the current risks are already priced in, making the risk-reward favourable from here.
With heavy FPI outflows, can domestic investors continue to support markets?
Domestic investors have shown strong resilience and continue to invest with a long-term view. SIP flows and investor confidence remain intact. While FPI selling has been heavy, India’s fundamentals—strong GDP growth, improving earnings outlook, and attractive valuations—should eventually bring foreign investors back.
What is your outlook on India amid all this uncertainty?
Despite current challenges, India remains the fastest-growing large economy with over 6.5% GDP growth. Valuations have corrected, and India’s weight in global portfolios is at a decade low. As growth and earnings recover, both domestic and foreign investors are likely to increase exposure again.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Midcontinent Communications, known as Midco, faced scattered but significant service disruptions Saturday, with numerous customers across South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska reporting internet, TV and phone outages despite the company’s official outage map showing mostly normal operations.
Midco Internet Down for Many Customers Saturday: Widespread Outages Hit Midwest as Users Report Disruptions
As of late Saturday evening on April 11, 2026, third-party monitoring sites showed spikes in user reports, contradicting Midco’s public status page that continued to display “Services Online” for many entered addresses. Downdetector and Outage.Report noted elevated complaints, particularly in Sioux Falls, Fargo, Bismarck and surrounding communities.
Customers took to social media and outage trackers expressing frustration over sudden loss of connectivity during peak evening hours when streaming, remote work and family entertainment demand typically surges. Many described complete blackouts lasting from minutes to several hours, with intermittent service in some areas.
Scope of the Reported Issues
While Midco’s official outages portal did not flag a company-wide event, independent trackers painted a different picture:
Downdetector recorded a noticeable increase in reports for internet connectivity as the primary issue.
Outage.Report indicated isolated but persistent problems, with users in Minnesota and Nebraska among the most affected in recent hours.
Social media platforms showed real-time complaints, including users unable to stream sports, attend virtual events or even make calls via VoIP services.
The discrepancies between official statements and customer experiences are common during rolling or localized outages caused by node-specific failures, fiber cuts, maintenance or weather-related stress on the network.
Possible Causes and Midco’s Response
Midco has not issued a public statement on any widespread outage as of Saturday night. The company typically attributes such disruptions to routine maintenance, construction accidents, severe weather or upstream provider issues. Spring conditions in the Midwest — including wind, rain and construction activity — often contribute to cable and fiber vulnerabilities.
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Customers who contacted support reported long wait times and automated messages directing them to the outages page or basic troubleshooting. Many were advised to restart modems and routers, a standard first step that proved ineffective for those in genuinely affected areas.
Midco’s Fiber Forward initiative, which includes recent multimillion-dollar upgrades, aims to improve long-term reliability. However, during transition periods, hybrid fiber-coaxial segments can experience temporary hiccups.
What Affected Customers Should Do
If your Midco service is down:
Verify the Outage — Visit midco.com/outages and enter your exact address.
Basic Troubleshooting:
Power cycle your modem and router (unplug for 30-60 seconds).
Check all physical connections.
Test with a wired Ethernet connection if possible.
Use the Midco App — For Freestyle Wi-Fi customers, the app often provides more detailed diagnostics.
Contact Support — Call 1-800-888-1300, use live chat on the website, or log into My Account for personalized status.
Alternative Connectivity — Switch to mobile hotspot data temporarily for urgent needs.
Midco crews typically prioritize restoring service quickly once an issue is identified, with most localized outages resolved within a few hours.
Broader Impact on Midwest Users
Midco serves hundreds of thousands of households and businesses across the Upper Midwest, where reliable broadband is critical for agriculture, education, healthcare and remote work. Saturday evening disruptions likely affected family movie nights, online gaming, bill payments and small business operations.
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In a region with limited provider competition in many rural and suburban areas, such outages draw particular ire. Past incidents have prompted customers to explore alternatives like satellite internet or emerging fiber competitors where available.
Staying Informed
Follow Midco’s official X account (@Midcontinent) for updates, which has shifted focus toward customer support.
Monitor Downdetector.com/status/midcontinent for real-time user reports.
Check local news outlets in Sioux Falls, Fargo and Bismarck for any confirmed large-scale events.
Midco continues investing heavily in network modernization. The $9.1 million Bismarck-Mandan fiber upgrade announced earlier this month is part of broader efforts to deliver faster, more resilient service.
For now, affected customers are urged to remain patient as technicians work behind the scenes. Many outages resolve spontaneously as systems self-heal or as crews complete repairs.
If your service remains down after basic troubleshooting and the official page shows no outage, document the issue with screenshots of speed tests or error messages. This information helps support teams isolate problems faster.
Midco has built a reputation for local service in a vast region, but nights like Saturday remind users that even established providers can face unexpected challenges. As the situation develops, check official channels regularly for restoration estimates specific to your area.
CHENNAI, India — Cricket fans across India and around the world are gearing up for a high-stakes Indian Premier League 2026 encounter as Chennai Super Kings host Delhi Capitals in Match 18 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday evening.
Cricket POOL / PAUL CHILDS
The match, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. IST with the toss at 7 p.m. IST, pits five-time champions CSK against a resurgent Delhi Capitals side. With both teams looking to steady their campaigns early in the season, viewers can expect intense T20 action under the Chennai lights.
Where to Watch CSK vs DC Live in India
In India, the CSK vs DC IPL 2026 match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network, including Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil and other regional language channels for comprehensive coverage.
Live streaming will be available exclusively on the JioHotstar app and website (the merged platform of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar). Fans with an active subscription can stream the match in high definition across multiple devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, laptops and tablets.
JioHotstar offers multiple commentary options in English, Hindi and regional languages, along with features like multi-angle views, expert analysis and real-time statistics. A subscription starts from basic plans suitable for IPL viewing, making it accessible for millions of fans.
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International Broadcast and Streaming Options
United States and Canada: Willow TV will broadcast the match live, with streaming available on the Willow TV app, Fubo, Sling TV and other platforms. The game starts at 10 a.m. ET.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports will provide live coverage, starting at 3 p.m. BST.
Other Regions: Availability varies by country. Fans in Australia can tune into Fox Cricket or Kayo Sports, while those in the Middle East and North Africa may access via beIN Sports or regional partners. Check local listings or use a VPN for geo-restricted access where permitted.
Free live streams are not officially available, and fans are advised to avoid unauthorized websites to ensure quality and support the sport.
Match Preview and Key Storylines
The MA Chidambaram Stadium, known for its spin-friendly pitches and passionate crowd, sets the stage for a fascinating contest. CSK, traditionally strong at home, will rely on their experienced core, while Delhi Capitals boast a dynamic squad capable of explosive batting and varied bowling attacks.
Early season form has been mixed for both sides, making this encounter crucial for momentum heading into the league phase. Star players on both teams are expected to deliver fireworks, with the spin battle likely playing a decisive role on the Chepauk surface.
Weather in Chennai is forecast to be warm and humid with a low chance of rain, promising a full 20-over contest. Pitch reports suggest assistance for spinners as the game progresses, favoring teams with strong slow bowling options.
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How to Prepare for the Best Viewing Experience
To enjoy uninterrupted coverage:
Download the JioHotstar app in advance and ensure a stable high-speed internet connection (minimum 5 Mbps recommended for HD).
For TV viewers, tune into Star Sports well before the toss for pre-match analysis featuring former cricketers and experts.
Use official apps for live scores, ball-by-ball commentary and fantasy updates if you’re following multiple screens.
Charge devices and have power banks ready for long viewing sessions, especially for mobile streamers.
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube will buzz with real-time reactions, highlights and fan discussions. Official IPL and team handles provide verified updates throughout the match.
Broader IPL 2026 Context
The 2026 season continues to captivate global audiences with its blend of established stars and emerging talent. Broadcasting rights held by JioStar ensure wide reach, with JioHotstar and Star Sports delivering professional production values that have become the benchmark for T20 cricket coverage.
This match marks another chapter in the historic rivalry between these two franchises. Past encounters at Chepauk have produced memorable moments, from last-ball thrillers to dominant bowling displays.
For fans unable to attend in person, the broadcast experience aims to bring the electric atmosphere of MA Chidambaram Stadium directly to living rooms worldwide through innovative camera angles, player microphones and expert insights.
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Additional Viewing Tips
Fantasy Cricket: Platforms integrated with JioHotstar allow participation in official fantasy contests with cash prizes.
Highlights and Replays: Missed the live action? Full match highlights and key moments will be available shortly after the game on the same platforms.
Accessibility: Audio-described commentary and multiple language options make the broadcast inclusive for diverse audiences.
As anticipation builds for the 7:30 p.m. IST start, cricket enthusiasts are reminded that official channels provide the best quality and support the ecosystem that makes IPL possible. Whether watching from Chennai, Delhi, New York or London, fans can look forward to an evening of high-octane T20 cricket.
Tune in early for the toss and pre-match build-up. With both teams hungry for points, CSK vs DC promises to deliver the drama, skill and entertainment that define the Indian Premier League.
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