In a truly remarkable story of hard work, endurance, talent and dedication, the pair are still at the top of the sport three decades later and will go head-to-head in the last 16 on Saturday.
Thirty years on from that first memorable Crucible meeting, O’Sullivan has seven world titles, Higgins has four, both having long cemented their positions as two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
“We deserve a great pat on the back,” added Higgins, who admitted he never thought he would still be playing so well at this age.
Higgins and O’Sullivan are both now 50, while they are joined in the last 16 by the third member of snooker’s fabled ‘Class of 92’, with 51-year-old Mark Williams still in contention for a fourth title.
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O’Sullivan holds the record for being the oldest world champion after his most recent success four years ago, aged 46, but that could be beaten in the next week and a half.
After that first World Championship meeting in 1996, Higgins beat O’Sullivan 17-9 in the 1998 semi-finals on his way to his first title, before the Rocket got his revenge, winning 18-14 in the 2001 final for his first success.
Higgins then gained 13-9 and 13-10 wins in the quarter-finals of 2007 and 2011 respectively, before O’Sullivan won their most recent Crucible tie, 17-11 in the 2022 semi-finals.
They have played six times at the famous Sheffield theatre, with three wins apiece.
John Higgins faces Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible on Saturday
John Higgins has admitted to not sharing a close relationship with the likes of Mark Williams or Ronnie O’Sullivan, despite their numerous encounters over the years. Higgins and O’Sullivan are set to meet at the World Snooker Championship on Saturday.
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Part of the sport’s celebrated Class of ’92 alongside Williams Higgins and O’Sullivan, have been fixtures throughout each other’s 34-year careers. Their forthcoming last-16 clash at the Crucible will mark their 80th encounter, with the competitors having secured a combined 11 world championships and 74 ranking titles.
‘The Rocket’ arranged a showdown with Higgins after beating China’s He Guoqiang 10-2, while ‘The Wizard of Wishaw’ progressed to the second round with a 10-7 triumph over Ali Carter. Williams, meanwhile, has to overcome a 10-6 deficit against Barry Hawkins as their match resumes on Saturday.
Nevertheless, Higgins has acknowledged he would not regard O’Sullivan as a friend. At least not in the traditional sense.
“I get asked about that and it’s the same answer I give, I don’t really know Ronnie at all,” Higgins told the Talking Snooker podcast in 2023. “When you think all these years we’ve been on the tour, we’ve never really been that close, I could count on one hand the amount of meals we’ve had together.
“But I’ve got the utmost respect for him as a snooker player. Incredible player and I think it goes back to what I said about Mark Williams. Going for the same titles, you cannot be all that friendly with each other.
“Respect of course, but being friends, nah. We’re different characters as well, the three of us, totally different characters.
Higgins explained that competing for the same titles had strained his relationship with Class of ’92 icon Williams in the past. However, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan has shared a different reason for wanting to keep his distance from other players on the snooker circuit.
“I think Mark and John are better friends than I am with them,” O’Sullivan said to TNT Sports. “I don’t really get close to anyone on the snooker circuit, because I don’t really hang around tournaments.”
“No one sees me, I’d rather be down the gym or go running, or go to nice restaurants, while a lot of the players hang out with each other.”
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He added: “I don’t want to talk about snooker, I get bored talking about rankings, about what world snooker is doing. I have zero interest in snooker as far as that’s concerned. I choose to separate work from my off time.”
The 26-year-old, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Burnley, starred in a first-half rout as the Europa League semi-finalists established an eight-point gap to 18th-placed Tottenham, who only have five games left to play.
Aided and abetted by a shambolic defensive performance by Regis Le Bris’ men, Forest put the game to bed before the kettle for the half-time tea had even been filled with Trai Hume’s unfortunate own goal sparking a spectacular collapse amid which Chris Wood, Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus all scored inside six minutes before Elliot Anderson added a fifth at the death.
Forest were in fine scoring form (PA)
In the process, they extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games and inflicted the Black Cats’ heaviest defeat since their return to the top flight as they conceded four in successive fixtures, prompting a rare, if mercifully short, chorus of boos at the break.
The visitors made the brighter start and Anderson saw his early strike blocked by Omar Alderete after Noah Sadiki had carelessly passed the ball straight to Omari Hutchinson, but Chris Rigg passed up a glorious opportunity to fire Le Bris’ side ahead when he shot tamely at keeper Matz Sels from Enzo Le Fee’s inviting through ball.
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Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs had to dive to his right to palm away Hutchinson’s well-struck 13th-minute attempt after Alderete had gifted possession to Jesus, but Forest went ahead in slightly fortuitous circumstances with 17 minutes gone.
Hutchinson worked a short corner with Anderson and crossed for Jesus to head the ball against the back of Hume’s head, and Roefs could only look on in horror as it flew past him at his near post.
The visitors who continued to look extended their lead 14 minutes before the break when Roefs’ attempted clearance was half-intercepted by Wood, who was on hand to slide the ball into the unguarded net when Gibbs-White played it back to him.
Forest were 4-0 up inside 40 minutes (PA)
Forest were in dreamland three minutes later when Williams and Anderson worked another short corner for Jesus to head down for Gibbs-White, who thumped a first-time shot past the helpless Roefs.
It was 4-0 with 37 minutes gone when, after Hutchinson’s cross had been cleared and Ola Aina’s initial attempt blocked, Jesus smashed the rebound home to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb.
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Le Bris sent on Reinildo for Rigg at the break and switched to a back three, and they thought they had reduced the deficit when Ballard headed home from close range with 61 minutes gone, only for referee Darren England to be sent to the monitor and ultimately rule out the goal for a foul by Nordi Mukiele on Sels.
It took a sunning one-handed save by Sels three minutes from time to deny Le Fee a consolation goal, and it was Roefs who was picking the ball out of his net once again deep into stoppage time after Anderson arrived perfect on cue to complete the job.
Today, Adam, Alex, James and Felicity look at the latest stories from the UK elections campaign trail.
Why are public services at the top of the campaign agenda?
What will it mean for Westminster if nationalist parties sweep the board?
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And why is Eluned Morgan explaining how to vote for her though the medium of canned cocktails?
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
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New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last weekend directing the FDA and other federal agencies to speed research and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs which remain illegal under federal law.
The FDA said it awarded priority review vouchers to two companies studying psilocybin — the active ingredient in magic mushrooms — for hard-to-treat forms of depression. A third company received a voucher for methylone, a drug related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA did not name the companies in a press release announcing the news.
“We owe it to our nation’s veterans and all Americans who are suffering from these conditions to evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.
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The vouchers don’t guarantee approval, but instead mean that regulators will try to shorten their reviews from a period of months to weeks.
Last July, Kennedy told members of Congress his department aimed to make psychedelics available for hard-to-treat psychiatric conditions within one year. Some of Kennedy’s top allies and staffers are proponents of the drugs.
Calley Means, a former Kennedy campaign staffer now serving as a senior health adviser, has previously written about the “mind-blowing” power of psychedelics and his plans to invest in companies developing the drugs.
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FDA’s special treatment for psychedelics is likely to renew scrutiny of its program for speeding up drug reviews, known as the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program.
Democratic members of Congress have noted that vouchers have gone to companies that are politically favored by the White House, including those that have agreed to cut prices on their medications.
In a separate move, the FDA authorized initial testing of a drug related to ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic made from an African shrub, for people with alcohol use disorder. Ibogaine is known to sometimes cause dangerous heart rhythms but has been embraced by combat veterans as a way to treat trauma and addiction.
The drugmaker, DemeRx, is led by a Florida-based researcher who first began studying ibogaine as a treatment for cocaine addiction in the 1990s, before federal health officials pulled funding for the work.
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“Every grant proposal that I submitted to (the National Institute on Drug Abuse) was rejected,” Deborah Mash, a neurologist and founder of DemeRx, told The Associated Press. “I couldn’t get that funding and that’s why ibogaine didn’t advance in the 1990s.”
Ibogaine is known to cause intense hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, tremors and sometimes dangerous irregular heart rhythms. Mash says DemeRx’s drug is a metabolite of ibogaine, and doesn’t carry the same hallucinogenic effects or risks as the original drug.
Saturday’s White House event on psychedelics suggested Trump’s political allies had a role in pushing the drugs to the top of his agenda.
Joe Rogan, the podcaster who appeared at the Oval Office event, said he texted Trump about the psychedelic ibogaine, which he’s repeatedly discussed on his show. According to Rogan, the president quickly responded: “Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.”
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Rogan’s endorsement of Trump days before the November 2024 election was seen by White House aides as a key factor in his election victory.
On his show earlier this week, Rogan said he learned about ibogaine from his friend Ed Clay, a mixed martial arts trainer and entrepreneur who runs retreats making use of it in Mexico.
Virtually all psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin and MDMA are classified as Schedule I substances, a category for high-risk drugs that have no medically accepted use.
For decades, drugmakers steered clear of the substances due to the difficulties of studying drugs that are illegal under federal law.
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But dozens of small drugmakers, many fueled by Silicon Valley investors, have recently jumped into the race to win FDA approval for various psychedelics. For example, tech billionaire Peter Thiel — who has made political donations to both Trump and Vice President JD Vance — has invested in AtaiBeckley, a company studying MDMA and other psychedelic compounds.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Two-up is a coin toss betting game, with two people betting against each other on whether they will land on heads or tails. Classified as unregulated gambling, the game is illegal in most parts of Australia. But on 25 April people rush to the pub to play, when it’s permitted across the country for a few hours. The BBC’s Harry Sekulich explains why the exception is made, and what people for and against it have to say.
Summer Robert, 28, from Glasgow, claims to have the “biggest boobs in the UK” and says she won’t cover up her cleavage just because it “offends people”. It comes after she faced body shaming and clothing criticism in public
While many may relish the thought of having a large bust, one woman’s breasts are so sizeable that she struggles to fit on an aeroplane. Summer Robert, 28, has previously confessed she’s proud to possess what she claims are the “biggest boobs in the UK”; however, she’s fed up with people telling her to “cover them up.”
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Recently, she’s revealed that people often criticise her simply for having large breasts. As she struggles to find clothing that fits properly, her cleavage can sometimes become visible, but she refuses to conceal it purely because it appears to “offend” people in a way she simply cannot comprehend.
Summer, who boasts over 200,000 followers on Instagram, said: “More often than not they’ll say to my face to cover up, tell me I don’t have the body for the clothes I’m wearing. Some will call me an attention seeker. I get a lot of disgusted looks from women mainly.
“I just wish people could live my life for one day so they would understand. If I could get clothes that fit me, don’t you think I would wear that?
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“I don’t think I should be punished for wanting to wear clothes that suit my age and style just because it shows a bit more cleavage than most. I can’t help it.”
Summer revealed she’s frequently singled out in the street simply for having large breasts. On one occasion she claims she even had a drink thrown over her as her boobs, which now measure a size 30R, caused such a stir.
“At the time, getting a drink thrown over me was super frustrating,” she added. “I definitely have cried over it and gotten angry but, after accepting faith into my life fully now when stuff like this happens, I just think of how sad it must be that women are so insecure over a young girl just trying to live her life.
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“I don’t let it affect me too much anymore and feel empathy for them.” Though it has taken considerable time, Summer has learned to embrace her body, even though she still has to deal with unsolicited comments from strangers.
Despite this, it won’t deter her from being herself and wearing whatever she chooses. Time and experience have bolstered her confidence, and she now refuses to let anyone dictate what she can and cannot do.
Summer explained: “I used to let it affect me a lot more but, since accepting my body and realising that I can monopolise from it, it just makes me laugh. Obviously, if I’m in situations where I feel unsafe it affects me a lot more but the women aspect of it, I just feel sorry for them.
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“They’ll be at home miserable and insecure whilst I’m on a plane flying somewhere hot.” When asked what message she’d like to convey to those who treat her so negatively, she added: “Look in the mirror, see one thing that you are insecure about and think ‘if someone judged me for this one thing that I can’t change, how would I feel?’
“Because that is exactly what you’re doing to me.” What her critics fail to appreciate is that Summer also endures considerable hardship as a result of her breasts.
The former restaurant manager has consistently had large breasts and they are only going to grow bigger. She suffers from a condition called Macromastia, which is the medical term for having abnormally large breasts, and it can lead to various complications like chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, bra strap grooving and difficulty carrying out daily activities.
Nevertheless, in recent years, she turned to producing adult content in an effort to bolster her confidence. She now considers it “amazing” that she manages to earn money as a consequence of something that people so frequently criticise her for.
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Summer said: “I love that people’s bitterness just makes me richer.”
Looking back, clues to this final system had been there all season.
Doku’s one-against-one threat on the left had required teams to double up on him since August. O’Reilly’s runs began to bear fruit as early as September.
Silva’s intelligent pressing and build-up helped mitigate City’s areas of weakness from November onwards.
Haaland and Semenyo moving in-field as Nunes pushed up to provide width, supplied by the two-footed Cherki, gave City solutions teams were unable to prepare for.
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Behind them, Khusanov’s pace provided City with a get-out-of-jail free card when they held their high line.
Their press evolved too. Guardiola tried several versions through the year before settling on one where the wingers pressed centre-backs while blocking passes wide, with Haaland and Cherki blocking the middle of the pitch. Those roles suited the more physical wingers and protected the less defensive Haaland and Cherki.
City were compact and Silva and Rodri swept up any second balls too.
A common myth in football is that “playing like Guardiola” is creating a side that looks like Barcelona did in 2009.
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Guardiola has admitted that he wins because of the players he has which is partly down to City’s ability to spend big.
His ability to continually reinvent his squads in response to the players he has available and the tactical trends of the league, however, remains second to none.
We all know cats represent a major threat to native animals and birds. Australia’s 5.3 million domestic cats kill a total of 546 million animals each year in Australia. What’s less well known is that allowing your domestic cat to roam outside exposes them to considerable danger – and the risk of a short life.
About two-thirds of all Australian cat owners have had a cat die while out roaming. The top risks are road traffic accidents, fighting and falls.
Our recent research review found keeping your cat at home at all times isn’t just good for wildlife – it’s much safer for your cat.
Losing a cat is tragic. But there are other risks too. Many owners rack up large veterinary bills while their cats are left with lifelong health conditions. Our review also found this situation is not unique to Australia, but reflects the global risk faced by free-roaming cats.
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What are the risks?
Cameras mounted on collars provide a cat’s-eye view of the hazards roaming cats face. In one study of 55 free-roaming felines in the United States, 25% risked poisoning by eating or drinking while away from home – any substance could be hazardous. Nearly half (45%) crossed roads, 25% encountered other cats, 20% crawled under houses and 20% explored storm drains.
A research review found that keeping your cat at home is much safer for your cat (Getty)
This isn’t just American feline bravado. When cameras were fitted to 37 cats in New Zealand, 59% drank away from home, 40% ate away from home, 32% crossed roads and 21% risked falling by climbing onto roofs.
Australian cats are no exception. In one study, 428 radio-tracked cats averaged 4.8 road crossings per day.
What are the outcomes?
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If you’re a fan of The Simpsons you might recall the fate of their family cats: Snowball I and Snowball II died on the road, Snowball III drowned, Coltrane (AKA Snowball IV) fell to his death, and Snowball V is still with us. The reality is uncomfortably similar. Our review found that trauma – mainly road traffic accidents, fighting and falls – kills or injures many free-roaming cats globally.
In a recent UK study, road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for cats aged less than one year old all the way to eight-year-old cats.
This aligns with European estimates, which suggest 18–24% of cats are struck by a car during their lifetime, with around 70% of those incidents proving fatal. Victims are often under five years old and predominantly male. Risks are higher for those not desexed, as they tend to roam wider and more frequently.
Love and status offer no protection. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s cat, Paddles, colloquially known as New Zealand’s first cat, died after being hit by a car in 2017.
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In a recent UK study, road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for cats aged less than one year old (AP)
The dangers extend well beyond road accidents. Roaming pet cats face serious infectious diseases, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and frequently engage in fights, often developing abscesses that can kill and require expensive veterinary treatment.
While it’s hard to quantify the instances of deliberate human cruelty to cats, there is global evidence for deliberate poisoning and injury to roaming cats, many of which die before receiving medical intervention.
In one study tracking 55 roaming cats in Western Australia over just eight months, two were poisoned, one lost a front leg in a traffic accident, one fractured two canine teeth in a fall, and two required veterinary treatment for fight-related injuries.
Drawing all these factors together, we estimated outdoor pet cats have lives at least 2–3 years shorter than the population of contained pet cats. Those that survive accidents or disease may have lifelong disabilities.
How can you reduce the risks?
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The simplest way to protect your cats is to contain them on your property, just as Australians do with other domestic animals. Extensive advice is available on how to keep cats happy and healthy while contained.
Importantly, containment doesn’t mean keeping your cat indoors at all times. Backyards can be modified with fence-top rollers to prevent escape. Some owners enclose part of the yard to create a “catio” – an outdoor cat enclosure – allowing their cats to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while remaining secure.
About the authors
Mike Calver is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at Murdoch University. Heather M. Crawford is an assistant researcher at Murdoch University and Trish Fleming is a Professor at Murdoch University.
Many cats can also be trained to walk on a harness or leash, making it possible to take them for supervised outings. A recent report from Norway found providing controlled outdoor access is often important for maintaining cat wellbeing.
Cats need to be entertained when in the house. They enjoy outside views, toys, scratching surfaces, above-ground climbing and sitting spaces, and opportunities for play. They are naturally solitary animals, so places to hide are useful.
If cats can’t go outside to toilet, they will need two indoor litter trays. Because cats are fastidious, trays must be cleaned frequently. In multi-cat households, provide one litter tray per cat, plus an extra. Place the trays in separate, quiet locations, and never beside the food bowl.
Responsible cat ownership
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Australians love their cats. In 2019, roughly a quarter of Australian households owned a cat. By 2025, that figure had risen to a third. Over the same period, households reporting they kept their cats indoors rose from 36% to 48%.
Perhaps we are finally valuing our cats as we do our dogs and listening to Aussie songwriter and singer Eric Bogle’s sage advice: “Oh you who love your pussy be sure to keep him in. Don’t let him argue with a truck, the truck is bound to win. And upon the busy road don’t let him play or frolic. If you do I’m warning you it could be CAT-astrophic.”
Iran executes January protester for being Israeli ‘intelligence agent’
Iran says it has executed an Iranian working as an Israeli intelligence official on Saturday after the man is alleged to have engaged in vandalism and violence during nationwide protests in January earlier this year, according to Tasnim news agency.
Erfan Kiani was accused of being a “hired thug of Mossad” and of engaging in the destruction and arson of public and private property, spreading fear and terror across Isfahan while wielding a machete, according to the agency.
He was executed by hanging on Saturday morning shortly after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court.
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Maira Butt25 April 2026 08:05
Recap:
In case you’re just just joining us, here is a recap of the key developments in the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran.
All eyes are on Pakistan’s capital Islamabad where talks are reportedly set to take place between US and Iranian representatives this weekend. Tehran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has landed in Pakistan, according to reports, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to join. Iran has publicly denied that direct talks are taking place.
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed as the war enters its eighth week. A US blockade nearby also continues with Central Command reporting several interceptions and at least 34 redirections of vessels.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz floated the idea of easing sanctions against Iran in order to speed up a deal, but the suggestion was rejected by his European counterparts as premature
US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has left Kuwait on Saturday after being released from prison. He was acquitted of all charges after being accused of spreading false information.
Maira Butt25 April 2026 07:45
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Latest pictures from Pakistan show preparation for talks
Pakistan is ramping up security in Islamabad as it prepares to host a potential new round of US–Iran talks, with key envoys converging on the capital.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived, while the White House says US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to follow – citing Tehran’s interest in meeting “in person”.
Police officers stand guard near the Serena Hotel, the venue for expected US-Iran talks, in Islamabad’s Red Zone (AFP/Getty)
Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on April 24 and US envoys headed to the Pakistani capital in a bid to kickstart a new round of peace negotiations amid a fragile ceasefire (AFP/Getty)
Posters of ‘Islamabad talks’ in Pakistan’s capital dot roads (AFP/Getty)
A police officer stands guard as the motorcade, believed to be carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrives (Reuters)
Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 07:30
Trump faces diplomatic backlash after sharing ‘hellhole’ remark about India and China
Donald Trump’s amplification of a comment describing India and China as “hellhole” has drawn severe criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups and a rare condemnation from Delhi.
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Mr Trump shared on social media a video clip and transcript linked to conservative commentator Michael Savage, who was discussing efforts to end birthright citizenship in the US. Birthright citizenship is the principle under which a child born in a country automatically receives nationality there, regardless of the parents’ immigration status.
Among the remarks reposted by Mr Trump was the statement: “A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s embassy in India voiced its support for Delhi, posting on X: “Maybe someone should book a one-way cultural detox for Mr. #Trump, it might just reduce the random [nonsense].”
Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 07:00
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Hormuz crisis drives $4m Panama Canal crossings as global shipping reroutes
Some businesses are paying as much as $4m to secure passage through the Panama Canal as the near-total disruption of the Strait of Hormuz forces global shipping to reroute.
Normally, vessels book transit slots through the canal at fixed rates. But those without reservations can bid for priority access – often paying steep premiums to avoid days-long delays off Panama’s coast.
In recent weeks, those auction prices have surged, driven by escalating tensions between Iran and the United States that have effectively choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
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As a result, more ships are diverting to alternative routes, including the Panama Canal, while buyers increasingly source goods from elsewhere to bypass the volatile Middle Eastern corridor.
“With all the bombings, the missiles, the drones, companies are saying it’s safer and less expensive to cross through the Panama Canal,” said Rodrigo Noriega, a Panama City-based lawyer and analyst. “All of this is affecting global supply chains.”
Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 06:45
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US legal adviser says Iran war justified by Tehran’s ‘aggression’ over decades
The State Department’s top lawyer, Reed Rubinstein, argues the campaign is not a new war but a continuation of a long-running conflict with Iran, driven by decades of what Washington calls Iranian aggression – from proxy attacks to missile strikes and nuclear ambitions.
He laid out the case in a statement issued just days before a 1 May deadline under the War Powers Act, which requires the administration to seek congressional approval or halt military operations.
Rubinstein argued that Washington was acting both in its own defence and in “collective self-defence” of Israel, citing what he described as decades of Iranian aggression since the 1979 revolution – including proxy attacks, missile strikes and nuclear ambitions.
He maintained that US actions fall within accepted interpretations of international law on the use of force.
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That position, however, is strongly disputed. Many legal experts say the strikes violate the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force except in cases of self-defence against an imminent threat or with Security Council approval.
Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 06:15
Egypt and Pakistan hold talks over Iran-US ceasefire
Egypt and Pakistan foreign ministers held a phone call to discuss to revive diplomacy between the United States and Iran.
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In a phone call, the two countries’ foreign ministers discussed ways to advance a diplomatic track, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable path to de-escalation.
The outreach comes at a delicate moment, with ceasefire efforts under strain and direct US–Iran engagement still uncertain.
Islamabad and Cairo have increasingly positioned themselves as key intermediaries – relaying messages and coordinating regional efforts to keep talks alive.
Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 06:13
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Watch: Podcaster says Trump’s attack on Iran ‘doesn’t make sense’
Joe Rogan says Trump’s attack on Iran ‘doesn’t make sense’
Rachel Dobkin25 April 2026 06:00
Frustration grows among Pakistanis with capital under lockdown for stalled US-Iran talks: ‘Living in a cage’
Bilal Mazhar Khawaja, 44, runs three restaurants in Islamabad. For the past few days his business has been severely hit, with food supply chains disrupted and movement of staff restricted as the Pakistani capital remains in an indefinite lockdown in anticipation of the stalled US-Iran talks.
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Shweta Sharma25 April 2026 05:49
Ousted Navy secretary refused to leave post until Trump told him directly
Sources close to the publication say that Phelan spent Wednesday night in the White House waiting to see if the president, his once close friend and neighbour, would push back against his dismissal. However, he left empty-handed.
Terry Paton, who lives nearby, told the LDRS: “Whilst I appreciate the need for homes, this whole development is out of character for this suburban area – currently made up of two-storey family homes. The sheer scale and density should be a reason to turn this scheme down, and something more appropriate considered.”
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