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Marathon runner says Marie Curie helped mum’s confidence after dad’s death

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Belfast Live

Neil’s father Peter Howarth died at Ulster Hospital on October 10 2024.

When Neil Howarth’s father collapsed during a long dog walk, everything in the family’s life was quickly turned upside down.

Peter Howarth had suffered a stroke but tests revealed he also had stage four cancer and he died six months later, a week after the death of his dog Molly.

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Life had changed very suddenly, especially for Neil’s mother Rosemary Howarth, but he said support from the charity Marie Curie helped her to process her grief and rebuild her confidence.

READ MORE: Belfast City Marathon is supporting cancer charities across Northern Ireland in AprilREAD MORE: ‘I’ve survived two open heart surgeries and a stroke at just 24 years old’

On Sunday April 26, Neil and his wife Sadhbh will run the TCS London Marathon for Marie Curie, the event’s charity of the year, to raise money so others can benefit from that support.

“My mum relied a lot on my dad to make a lot of the life decisions,” Neil, 36, a software sales director from Greenwich, south-east London, told the Press Association.

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“Suddenly her world has changed overnight. So to have people that she can speak to with no judgment, no strong opinions, just to listen and advise, was really, really important for her and made a big difference.”

Peter, an IT helpdesk technician, and Rosemary, a children’s nurse, moved to Portaferry, in County Down, Northern Ireland, from Oxfordshire after they retired.

“They fell in love with Northern Ireland when they saw the coastline, when they got to know the people as well, it made them feel like a real community,” Neil said.

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“His dream was to retire and have a view of the sea. He’d done that two years prior so he was only really just getting into it when he got the news.”

Peter was 63 when he collapsed during a long walk with Molly in April 2024.

The cancer diagnosis was a shock to the whole family, Neil said, especially as Peter was “very fit and healthy, very active, didn’t drink and smoke, none of those typical things”.

“I count myself very lucky that we still had a few months after that, we could spend together and make more memories. I try and look at it at that perspective. Some people aren’t as lucky,” said Neil, who moved to Northern Ireland with Sadhbh that summer to help with Peter’s care.

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He said his father was “fiercely independent and didn’t want to put people out”, but “the situation changed quite quickly”.

“He spent most of the time at home, there were a few hospital visits and then he very quickly went to the hospital.”

Peter died at Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, County Down, on October 10 2024.

“All the staff in there were amazing with him, very caring and kind,” Neil said.

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“They were very, very good to him and to us.”

Life was different for them all but especially for Rosemary after the deaths of both Peter and Molly.

“Her world changed upside down within a week which is even more testament to the support we could get from Marie Curie,” Neil said.

“We gave her some encouragement to use the support line. It’s for everyone, I think that’s what I wanted to get across. She’s not someone who often looks for support and she wasn’t necessarily expecting anything from it but when she’d started that conversation it really helped her to process things.”

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He said his father’s death could have left Rosemary, now 75, “very isolated”, but Marie Curie’s support has helped her to become more independent.

“She’s almost had to reinvent herself at her age,” he said.

“For me it’s also very helpful to know that there’s people there to support her and give her advice as well.”

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He added: “I look at how she was two years ago and where she is now and it’s a complete difference in terms of what she can do, her independence. She’s back driving again, spending time with the local community.

“That’s all a result of the support that was given at the time to help her through the situation. Without that she wouldn’t be where she is now.”

Neil also ran the TCS London Marathon for Marie Curie in 2025 and he was able to tell his father he had a confirmed place before Peter’s death.

“He’d ran the London Marathon 25 years previously so for me that was a real inspiration that I could follow in his footsteps.

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“Although he’d passed before I’d done the London Marathon, I knew he was very proud and there with me as well.”

Neil said running has helped him to process his emotions, adding “it’s also good to be able to give back”.

“From spending time with Marie Curie and doing some of the run clubs I’ve met some of the incredible nurses as well.

“They do some absolutely incredible things day in day out so it’s the least I can do to be honest to raise money.”

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On Sunday, tens of thousands of people will head to TCS London Marathon start lines in Blackheath and Greenwich Park in south-east London, including Neil and Sadhbh, 31, a software sales manager.

“I’m about 800m from the start line so a little bit of a head start over everyone else not having to get up at the crack of dawn,” Neil said.

“Unlike the other 60,000 people I’ve got a bit of a lie in on Sunday morning.”

– To sponsor Neil and Sadhbh: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/sadhbh-carson-howarth

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Deadly domestic violence cases stir calls for more care resources for Black communities

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Deadly domestic violence cases stir calls for more care resources for Black communities

Two headline-grabbing, deadly domestic violence cases, one in Louisiana and the other in Virginia targeting Black mothers, have sparked a national conversation about domestic violence prevention resources and mental health care available to Black communities.

Many advocates in the aftermath of the deadly shootings have said the tragedies pointedly highlight troubling underlying trends where Black women are more likely to experience domestic violence — and they see the killings as an opportunity to confront how disparities in access to care and resources make some women and children more vulnerable to violence in the home.

On Sunday morning, a man police identified as Shamar Elkins fatally shot seven of his children and another child in Shreveport, Louisiana. A relative has said Elkins was in the midst of separating from his wife who was wounded.

And last Thursday, police found the bodies of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, in their suburban Washington, D.C., home. Justin Fairfax shot his estranged wife and then himself, and their two children in the home at the time were unhurt, police said. Like Elkins, Fairfax was in the process of separating from his wife and had faced a judge’s upcoming deadline to move from the house.

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While it’s not clear what prompted the Shreveport killings or the apparent murder-suicide in Annandale, Virginia, experts say that the harrowing details of the killings echo familiar patterns that play out in homes across the country — and underscore the need for solutions that address the root causes of the disparate violence.

A ‘silent epidemic’

Sunday wasn’t the first time that Elkins’ family had suffered from gender-based gun violence: Shaneiqua Elkins and the other woman who was shot, Keosha Pugh, were sisters, and lost their mother to gun violence when they were under age 10, according to their uncle Lionel Pugh.

“It’s sad. It just breaks you down,” Pugh said.

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Shreveport Councilman Grayson Boucher said at a news conference Monday that the Louisiana killings were emblematic of “a true epidemic of domestic violence” across the small southern city of roughly 180,000 people.

Those trends go well beyond Shreveport as experts have pointed out how both race and gender make Black women in particular more vulnerable to domestic violence.

More than four in 10 Black women experience physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetimes — a much higher rate than women who are white, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander — according to a 2014 study by the Centers for Disease Control.

Paméla Tate is the executive director of Black Women Revolt, which runs programs to prevent abuse and offers survivors’ resources. She said a logical skepticism about police and government child services agencies based on a history of institutionalized racism makes Black women reluctant to seek help — and especially vulnerable to domestic violence.

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Additionally, Black women are two times more likely to be murdered by men than their white counterparts, according to a 2025 study published by the Violence Policy Center, based on federal government data from 2023. Those men are more often than not familiar to their victims, according to the study, which found that more than nine in 10 Black female victims knew their killers, with the majority of those killings being carried out with guns.

Ultimately, Tate said, “domestic violence doesn’t see color,” and is primarily driven by the prevalent belief among men — across racial demographics — that women are subjects or property.

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“Domestic violence is about exerting power over someone that you profess to love and controlling their behavior,” Tate said.

Lack of resources for Black men

There has been intense speculation about the role that mental health crises might have played in both shootings.

A relative of Elkins’ wife told The Associated Press that Elkins had voluntarily checked into a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in January for about a week and a half for mental health help.

In Virginia, Justin Fairfax was a rising star in the Democratic Party until two women accused him of sexual assault, casting doubt on his trustworthiness as a political leader. The former lieutenant governor’s “mental and emotional health” suffered before he killed his wife and himself, according to court documents, which say he drank heavily and withdrew from his family after the allegations were made public in 2019.

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Adult and child psychiatrist Christine Crawford hasn’t examined the killings in Shreveport or Annandale, but said financial troubles, marital issues and problems at work — in addition to underlying mental health vulnerabilities — can lead someone to “crack.”

“It makes some think about the amount of pain, distress and hopelessness they found themselves in at that time,” said Crawford, who practices at the Webster Clinic in Boston and is interim chief medical officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

She noted many Black people find themselves priced out of programs and care for mental health for such reasons as private care costs and a lack of insurance.

That level of desperation can make some people feel “completely out of options on how to deal with the pain he was in at that moment,” Crawford said. T

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Some have said that there are social dimensions to these economic trends, too.

“Mental health disparities in the Black community is not accidental,” said University of Michigan Social Work Professor Daphne C. Watkins. “They are the predictable result of structural racism” in schools, employment and other aspects of society.

Watkins, founder of the YBMen Project which provides young Black men with a safe place to discuss their mental health, manhood and social support, said studies show that 10% of Black adults experience moderate to severe depression, while 18% experience anxiety disorders.

But Black men tend to forego mental health treatment due to cultural expectations, in addition to costs, said Watkins. Without an outlet, stressors from family, work and relationships can pile up.

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“For a long time, in the Black community, we didn’t talk about anxiety. Now, you have to talk about it hand in hand along with depression.”

Mental health not an excuse, some say

Others have emphatically said that mental health is not an excuse for domestic violence.

“To say they’re mentally ill, that doesn’t cut it,” Tate said. “There are people who are depressed or people who have schizophrenia and don’t harm the their partners, much less kill them.”

Shaneiqua Elkins and Cerina Fairfax could have been struggling with mental health challenges too, Tate added, and they both “had the same access or ability to go and purchase a gun” but chose not to.

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“The mental illness is not what we’re talking about here,” she said.

____

Associated Press writer Sophie Bates contributed in Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Lechlade shooting: Armed cops storm Cotswolds town as man ‘gunned down in car’

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Daily Mirror

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was reportedly shot in a vehicle in Lechlade, a sleepy town in the Cotswolds

Armed police stormed a town in the Cotswolds following reports that a man had been shot in a car.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said officers were called to Lechlade at 7.10pm on Monday.

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The Cambridgeshire cafe where you can watch the World Cup this summer

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Cambridgeshire Live

Plans have been approved which allow the cafe to stay open until 1am so fans can catch all the games

A cafe in a Cambridgeshire city has been told it can stay open until 1am this summer so fans can catch all the 2026 World Cup games. The Willow Cafe in Central Park, Peterborough submitted plans to Peterborough City Council proposing an outside area to screen World Cup matches this summer.

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The application, which has been approved, requested to extend the use of the gardens beyond the currently permitted 9am to 6pm for the period between June 6 and July 19. Depending on the match, the cafe could stay open until 1am.

The cafe proposed permission for a temporary outside area to screen matches. The area includes a VIP area of eight tables, a further area of tables, a standing area, a stage and a large screen.

No permanent works are proposed but the The Willow Cafe asked the city council for its temporary area and access for food trucks.

According to the application, crowds of up to 1,200 are expected. The application states: “The intention of the event is to raise the profile of Central Park by creating a unique, secure venue for fans and their families to watch the Men’s Football World Cup outside in The Willow Garden using a large outdoor TV screen, with entertainment, food and drink available. This is good for the City of Peterborough.”

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England group stage matches kick off at 9pm on June 17 and June 23 and 10pm on June 27. According to the plans, the venue would need to remain open for at least 30 minutes after the conclusion of the match.

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How to watch Brighton vs Chelsea FC: TV channel and live stream for Premier League today

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How to watch Brighton vs Chelsea FC: TV channel and live stream for Premier League today

Liam Rosenior will hope to arrest Chelsea’s dismal run of form as they visit Brighton tonight.

The Blues come into the match with just one win in their last seven matches, that sole victory coming in the FA Cup against League One relegation fodder Port Vale.

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Sacked civil servant to speak out in Mandelson vetting row

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Sacked civil servant to speak out in Mandelson vetting row

He is likely to set out to the Foreign Affairs Committee the context in which his initial decision was taken – that Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador had already been publicly announced and his interpretation of the law, the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act, 2010, was that he was not authorised to share the conclusions of the UK Security Vetting process.

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Jet2 confirms new 14-day rule is genuine after worried passengers with bookings sent email

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Manchester Evening News

Jet2 holidaymakers have been left concerned after receiving emails from the airline

Jet2 has been in touch with all passengers who have upcoming holidays regarding a significant update. Thousands of customers have received emails informing them that their holiday documentation will now arrive later than originally expected.

This has sparked concern amongst travellers who worry it could be fraudulent – particularly as Jet2 has recently been warning customers about a number of fake social media profiles attempting to mislead passengers.

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One worried traveller posted on X: “@jet2tweets Hi, ive just received this email apparently from Jet2 saying I will now get my holiday documents 14 days before my holiday departure instead of 28, is this true or is it still 28, ive a feeling this was a spam email though.”

Another passenger responded: “I had the same email. Flying on 25 May with jet2,” while a third added: “Ive just had the same email !”

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The email reads: “Just so you know, following a change to when we send out the documents for your holiday, you’ll now receive your documents 14 days before departure, rather than 28 days as stated on your original booking confirmation. You don’t need to contact us or take any action – you’ll receive your documents 14 days before you travel. Have a lovely holiday!”

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Responding on X, Jet2 verified the message was genuine and clarified: “Hi there, thanks for reaching out. Yes we can confirm that you will receive your documents 14 days before departure. Should you require any further assistance, then please feel free to send us a DM. “

The decision to issue holiday documentation closer to departure dates follows mounting concerns linked to the Middle East conflict. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), cautioned last week that flight cancellations could occur “soon” if oil supplies continue to be disrupted by the Iran war.

The head of the global energy watchdog has warned that Europe currently holds just six weeks’ worth of jet fuel stocks due to tensions in the Middle East. He cautioned that flight cancellations could happen “soon” if oil supplies continue to face restrictions from the Iran war. Iran maintains its grip on tankers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz and has targeted several vessels over the weekend, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Holidaymakers with forthcoming bookings have taken to social media to voice their concerns to Jet2. One person wrote: “@jet2tweets Hi there – we are looking to go away for a week to Malaga in June and want to know how concerned we should be about the reporting of lack of airport fuel and what happens to our holiday should something like this happen and impact our holiday. Can you help…?|” One traveller commented: “Are holidays going ahead as usual? We’ve booked an all inclusive 10 day to Crete in June. I’m worried about jet fuel prices.” While another UK holidaymaker asked: “you guys aren’t planning on last minute flight cancellations due to potential jet fuel shortages are you? Family holiday booked in May FYI” Jet2 replied: “Hi all flights are planned to go ahead as normal. If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you. Thanks”

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Javier Gándara, easyJet’s chief executive for Spain and Portugal, was present in Mallorca on Sunday for the reopening of the airline’s Palma base, where he gave an update on the fuel supply situation. He stated: “What the producers and airports are telling us is that there won’t be any supply problems for the next three or four weeks.”

Beyond that, it’s difficult to see. In Spain, we are in a comparatively better situation than neighbouring countries for two reasons. Firstly, because of all the crude oil that is imported and then refined here, only 11% comes from the Middle East, which is the percentage affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; the remaining 89% comes from elsewhere.

He added: “No one will be immune to potential supply problems. Ships that leave and pass through the Strait of Hormuz and come to Europe take an average of 45 days, and they have already been practically out of service for two months. It will take time to recover all of that. It’s difficult to know what will happen, so we’ll react as we go.”

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Wales Air Ambulance faces ‘serious issue’ over rising fuel costs

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Wales Online

The charity says it needs support to continue its life-saving work

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity said it is facing a “serious issue” as aviation fuel costs rise significantly amid the war in the Middle East. The charity is asking for support to help keep its lifesaving helicopters flying.

It comes after air ambulance charities across the UK said that they are facing crippling costs due to the Iran oil crisis. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity said even if the conflict in the Middle East were to end in the coming days the charity would still face additional costs in the region of £50,000 due to sustained increases in aviation fuel prices.

The significant rise in fuel costs has come at the same time as air ambulance helicopter use traditionally rises. Spring and summer bring longer daylight hours and better weather conditions, leading to an increase in flying hours, the charity said.

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Wales Air Ambulance pilot captain James Gardiner said: “Every time we take off we know someone on the ground is relying on us during one of the worst moments of their life. Fuel isn’t just a cost for us – it’s what allows us to take our A&E-standard care to patients, wherever they are in Wales, and then take them to the most appropriate specialist care centre for their needs.

“When fuel prices rise this sharply it has a real impact. The support we receive from the public genuinely helps keep us flying and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who makes this service possible.” Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

Every day the Wales Air Ambulance crews respond to some of the most serious medical emergencies in Wales – reaching people who are critically ill or seriously injured. This often requires long-distance flights, taking medics to the patients and then transporting them to specialist hospitals in Wales and England for the urgent care they need.

The charity is asking supporters to consider donating – however small – to help cover these exceptional fuel costs and ensure crews can continue to respond whenever the call comes. It relies on public donations to raise the £13m required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

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Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique third-sector and public-sector partnership.

As a Wales-wide service its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

A spokesman said: “The war in the Middle East has created an unexpected and, we hope, temporary challenge. Rising fuel costs are a serious issue for air ambulance charities across the UK and reflect global factors beyond our control.

“Global fuel markets do not respond instantly to geopolitical change and we anticipate that any reduction in costs following the end of the war would be gradual and spread over a prolonged period. This means the financial impact on the charity would continue well beyond the immediate end of the conflict.

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“When someone’s life is at risk our crews must be ready to fly no matter the distance or the time of day.

“While we carefully manage these increases we are also asking supporters, if they are able, to help us mitigate this exceptional rise in fuel costs. We know that many people across Wales are facing rising costs in their own lives and we don’t take lightly the decision to ask for help.”

To find out more and to donate visit: https://www.walesairambulance.com/fuel-cost-appeal.

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Your essential guide to running the TCS London Marathon 2026

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Your essential guide to running the TCS London Marathon 2026

It’s almost that time of year again. One of the standout days on the London calendar is fast approaching, and it’s set to be a big one.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump envoys ‘disrespectful’ for visiting Moscow not Kyiv, Zelensky says

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump envoys ‘disrespectful’ for visiting Moscow not Kyiv, Zelensky says

Russia claims its forces took 1,700 square km of Ukraine so far this year

Russian forces took ⁠1,700 square km (656 square ⁠miles) ​of ⁠territory in ⁠Ukraine ​so far ⁠this year ‌and are advancing ‌in all ‌directions, Russia’s ⁠top general, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov ‌said ​on ‌state television ⁠today.

The claims from Russia come after intelligence assessments in March showed that Russian advances have slowed as Ukrainian forces continue to contest the initiative along the war frontline.

Ukrainian commander-in-chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on 30 March that Ukrainian forces are prioritising conducting counterattacks in areas where Russian forces are the weakest in order to retake and maintain the operational and strategic initiative.

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(AFP/Getty)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 06:35

Zelensky says Trump’s envoy visiting Moscow and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the regular visits from US president Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow and not Kyiv were “disrespectful” at a time when peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stagnated.

Former real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have flown to Moscow several times and met Russian president Vladimir Putin as recently in January. In December, they spoke for four hours before the American diplomats toured the Russian capital.

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A smiling Putin told Witkoff he was glad to see him and asked him about his and Kushner’s walk around Moscow, which included a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.

They are yet to travel to Kyiv even once, however, having only hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.

“I consider their arrival is needed by them, not us… It’s disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it’s just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics… If they don’t want to, we can meet in other countries,” Zelensky said.

“We should not make the arrival of Jared and Wikoff some sort of special sensation because, first of all, we are in contact with them,” Zelensky said in his interview to Ukrainian outlet ICTV.

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“They are in contact (with us) over the phone, and it is over the phone that they express their desire to continue communication and negotiations.”

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 06:14

Hungary’s Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible

Hungarian election ​winner Peter Magyar has called on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to reopen the damaged Druzhba pipeline as soon as it is functional, and for Russia ⁠to resume oil shipments through it.

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Hungary’s outgoing government, led by prime minister Viktor Orban, and Slovakia have been in a dispute with Ukraine over the suspension of Russian oil supplies over Ukrainian territory through ⁠the Soviet-era pipeline. Kyiv ​says ⁠the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.

“If on the Ukrainian side the ⁠Druzhba pipeline is ready for oil shipments, then they ​should ⁠kindly reopen it as they ‌had promised,” Magyar told a news conference after the first meeting of his parliamentary group.

“And from Russia, we expect ‌them to start feeding oil (into the pipeline) ‌in line with the contracts, because this will not work without either.”

The pipeline could open today, according to a report by Bloomberg, restoring oil flow between Hungary and Russia.

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Peter Magyar attends a press conference on Monday
Peter Magyar attends a press conference on Monday (AP)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 05:45

Germany and France propose limited ‘associate’ membership of EU for Ukraine

War-hit Ukraine should only be granted limited “symbolic” benefits and some form of “associate” membership of the EU as part of a peace deal to end the war with Russia, according to German and French proposals.

Though Paris and Berlin have drafted their own suggestions for what a fast-tracked integration into the EU might look like for Ukraine, according to the FT, both fall some way short of Ukrainian hopes.

According to Germany’s proposal, Kyiv would be allowed to sit in on ministerial and leaders’ meetings but would not have voting rights and would receive “no automatic application” of the shared EU budget.

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The French proposal, which would described Ukraine as a country with “integrated state status”, would exclude Kyiv from EU farming subsidies.

Both say this status could be granted quickly to Ukraine once the war is over, and that it would be a stepping stone towards full integration into the bloc – a process that would still require Kyiv to navigate extensive bureaucratic hurdles.

A Ukrainian official told the FT that Kyiv was wary of watered-down membership being offered as a poor substitute for true EU member status, but accepted that some elements could be useful.

“We call it ‘shadow membership’,” the official said.

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Germany's chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky and France's president Emmanuel Macron deliver a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris
Germany’s chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and France’s president Emmanuel Macron deliver a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AFP/Getty)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 05:32

Watch: Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze

Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 05:26

Ukraine claims attacks on Russian warships in occupied Crimea

Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence has ⁠struck two “large” Russian landing ships ⁠in ​Russian-occupied Crimea, ⁠it said ⁠yesterday.

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At ​the ⁠time ‌of the strike, which ‌occurred overnight ‌on Sunday, the ⁠ships that are part of the Russian Black Sea ‌Fleet were in ​Sevastopol ‌Bay, ⁠GUR ⁠said.

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 04:45

EU set to unlock €90bn loan for Ukraine with Orban’s exit

The European Union and Hungary are aligned on the need to clear a €90bn loan for Ukraine, Hungarian outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán said.

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The Kremlin-friendly leader was the only impediment to the critical funding being pushed through by the EU, and his successor Peter Magyar has said he seeks smoother ties with Brussels and while looking out for Budapest’s financial interests.

Almost 10 days after losing the elections, Orbán yesterday said Hungary will lift its objections to the loan as it has “received an indication from Ukraine” via Brussels that Kyiv was ready to restore oil deliveries via the damaged Druzhba pipeline that runs from Russia via Ukraine.

Kyiv ​says ⁠the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.

“Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” said Orbán, who earlier claimed the repair of the pipeline as a condition to clear the loan but has repeatedly caused obstruction in the coalition’s relief work for Ukraine.

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The pipeline is set to be opened today, clearing the way for the loan, reported Bloomberg.

Hungary’s Viktor Orban holds an international press conference in Budapest
Hungary’s Viktor Orban holds an international press conference in Budapest (Reuters)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 04:35

Russia flies bombers over Baltic Sea

Russia’s defence ⁠ministry said it flew ⁠Tu-22M3 ⁠long-range ​bombers in ‌a planned flight over ‌neutral ‌waters in the Baltic Sea, the Interfax news agency ‌reported.

Russia carried out a similar exercise earlier this year in January, saying such flights are in compliance with international law.

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Moscow claims that all flights of aircraft of Russia’s Air Forces are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

Its forces conducts regular flights over neutral waters, including the Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Baltic and the Black Seas.

File - A Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber performs during the International Army Games 2016 in Dubrovichi outside Ryazan, Russia
File – A Tupolev Tu-22M3 bomber performs during the International Army Games 2016 in Dubrovichi outside Ryazan, Russia (Reuters)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 04:05

Russia says it detains a German woman with a bomb in her rucksack

Russia’s security service said on Monday it had detained a 57-year-old German woman with a bomb in her rucksack as part of what it framed as a false-flag operation directed by Ukraine.

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Unverified footage showed a woman lying on the tarmac in a car park next to a rucksack, while armed men pointed their weapons at her. Sappers were shown blowing up the rucksack.

The FSB said the woman, who had a bomb with the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT, was targeting a law enforcement facility in the Stavropol region as part of a false flag operation directed by Ukraine.

The FSB said it had also detained a citizen from a country in Central Asia who thought he was acting on behalf of a “terrorist organisation” and had been due to detonate the bomb.

James Reynolds21 April 2026 04:00

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Russian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks

Russian interior ​minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in North Korea for talks on cooperation between the ⁠two allies, the ministry’s spokesperson Irina Volk said early on Tuesday.

“Issues of cooperation between ⁠the two ​countries ⁠in the field of law enforcement will be ⁠considered,” Volk wrote on Telegram. ​Pictures ⁠showed the ‌minister being greeted on arrival in Pyongyang.

Russia and North ‌Korea have forged closer ‌relations since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and in ⁠2024 signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” during a visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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The pact includes a mutual defence provision.

Under ‌the terms of the ​treaty, North Korea ‌sent some ⁠14,000 soldiers to fight alongside ⁠Russian forces in western Russia’s Kursk ‌region ​after a ‌large Ukrainian incursion.

Russian interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev is welcomed as he arrives as part of a delegation in Pyongyang, North Korea
Russian interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev is welcomed as he arrives as part of a delegation in Pyongyang, North Korea (Reuters)

Arpan Rai21 April 2026 03:59

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Will Iran attend peace talks in Pakistan? JD Vance set to lead US delegation as ceasefire deadline to expire on Wednesday

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Will Iran attend peace talks in Pakistan? JD Vance set to lead US delegation as ceasefire deadline to expire on Wednesday

JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan Tuesday to lead the American delegation in the second round of peace talks to end the war in the Middle East, less than 24 hours before a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is set to expire.

The new round of talks in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has been thrown into doubt as Iran has not publicly committed to taking part.

It comes amid an impasse between the U.S. and Iran over marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump has insisted on keeping the blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran has reasserted military control over the crucial waterway.

Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad
Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad (Reuters)

Vice President Vance was expected to leave Washington for Islamabad Tuesday, according to reports, along with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the President’s son-in-law Jared Khushner. All three were present in the previous round of talks.

However, it remains unclear if anyone is flying to Islamabad from the Iranian side.

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On Monday night, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “so far” Tehran had “no plans” to attend the talks.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was concerned about “unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials” amid a “deep historical mistrust” of the U.S.

He said the talks so far have amounted to an effort to seek the country’s surrender. “Iranians do not submit to force,” he said.

Pakistani army soldiers patrol at D Chowk near the President's House, as Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistani army soldiers patrol at D Chowk near the President’s House, as Pakistan prepares to host the U.S. and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan (Reuters)

But there were still hopes of Iranians attending the talks as one senior official told Reuters that Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation. Two Iranian officials also told the New York Times that the delegation could be headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iranian parliament, who led the last round of negotiations. He will leave if Vance does.

There were signs of preparations for the talks in Islamabad, which held the first round of negotiations on 12 April, which failed to win the concessions the U.S. sought from Iran over its nuclear program.

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The city’s Serena hotel, where the previous talks were held, has been shut down for guests who were asked to leave for preparations for high-level meetings, and high security was back in the streets ahead of the arrival of foreign delegations.

Some of the roads were closed by the police with some 20,000 personnel as well as hundreds of elite commandos, including snipers, taking positions across Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi city.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Monday that preparations for talks have been completed. He added “foolproof security arrangements have been made for foreign delegations”.

A cleric stands among the ruins of a Jewish synagogue that was previously damaged during US-Israeli strikes
A cleric stands among the ruins of a Jewish synagogue that was previously damaged during US-Israeli strikes (Getty)

A senior Pakistani government official told Reuters that they were confident it could get Iran to attend the talks.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Ghalibaf said Iran has “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield” as Tehran would not accept negotiations under the shadows of threats.

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“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” he wrote.

The talks – if they take place – will happen as Trump has refused to lift its blockage of Iranian ports till a deal is reached with Tehran.

Trump said the U.S. was winning the conflict “by a lot” and the blockade of the key waterway was “absolutely destroying Iran”.

A Pakistani security source said Pakistani mediator, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had ‌told Trump the blockade which began a week ago was an obstacle to talks.

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U.S. forces have directed 27 vessels from the strait since the blockade began, forcing them to turn around or return to Iranian ports.

The U.S. also intercepted an Iranian-flagged commercial tanker and seized it for the first time since the conflict began, in what Tehran has called an “act of piracy” and a violation of the temporary ceasefire between the two countries.

Trump is eager for a deal that would help avoid another surge in oil prices and plunge in stock markets while Iran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel for global energy supplies, to get an agreement that prevents a resumption of the war, and allows financial relief fromlong-running sanctions and some breathing room for its ⁠nuclear program.

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