“The much-touted Easter truce confirmed by the Kremlin has now expired unsuccessfully as Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war. While the Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday, Ukraine said it has recorded a total of 7,696 Russian violations over the course of the truce in an update just few hours shy of the midnight deadline.” (04/13/26)
“A second flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza was due to set sail on Sunday from the Spanish port of Barcelona to try to break the Israeli blockade. About 30 boats planned to leave the Mediterranean port city laden with medical aid and other supplies on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and more vessels are expected to join along the route towards Palestine. [Israeli pirates] halted the roughly 40 boats assembled by the same organisation in October last year as they attempted to reach blockaded Gaza, [abducting] Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants.” (04/12/26)
“Police in Ireland on Saturday used pepper spray and made arrests in a bid to clear protesters blockading the country’s only oil refinery. Authorities moved in to disperse the protesters to restore supplies after five days of nationwide demonstrations over soaring fuel prices. Law enforcers, supported by armed forces personnel, moved in to reopen the Whitegate refinery in County Cork and escort fuel trucks on Saturday. … After Ireland’s Defence Forces joined the police in clearing the protests, Irish police chief Justin Kelly said on Saturday that the fuel protesters’ actions were ‘endangering the state.'” (04/12/26)
“Donald Trump has launched an unusual and scathing attack on Pope Leo over his opposition to US immigration policy and the war in Iran. The US president accused the pontiff of being ‘WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy’ in a Truth Social post, later telling reporters he was ‘not a big fan.'” (04/13/26)
“A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily allowed the construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom to move forward while the administration challenges a lower court order that said the project exceeds the president’s authority. The 2-1 decision by a three-judge panel for the U.S. circuit court in Washington, D.C., means construction can continue through April 17 while the court considers the issue in more detail. A lower court judge had previously ordered the construction to cease on April 14. Trump’s lawyers have argued that the ballroom and other temporary measures are needed for ‘the safety and security’ of the president, his family and others, according to the decision.” (04/11/26)
“Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) plans to force a vote to expel Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) next week over sexual assault and misconduct allegations, Axios has learned. Swalwell denies the allegations. Democrats are set to respond by moving in turn to expel Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who’s being investigated by House Ethics over sexual misconduct allegations, two Democratic leadership aides told Axios. Swalwell has faced calls from Democratic Party leaders and House colleagues to drop his bid for California governor, though few have called for his outright resignation or expulsion from Congress. … Gonzales, who has dropped his bid for reelection, admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, calling it a ‘lapse in judgment.'” (04/11/26)
“A man accused of orchestrating an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Minnesota skipped a scheduled court appearance this week, prompting a warrant for his arrest, authorities said. Abdirashid Ismail Said, 50, failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in Hennepin County, forfeiting his bond, according FOX 9, citing the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that his office is working with federal authorities to locate Said.” (04/11/26)
“A shooting broke out inside a New Jersey Chick-fil-A Saturday night, leaving multiple injured after a group of men stormed in, went behind the food counter, and opened fire, according to reports. The horror unfolded just before 9 p.m. at the fast food chain’s Route 22 location in Union, which has since been locked down with some workers reportedly still inside as Union County police probe the scene, WABC and CBS New York reported. A man who said his girlfriend works at the restaurant told CBS a group of masked men charged inside and fired multiple shots after forcing their way behind the counter. One employee’s family member said an altercation erupted that left multiple workers injured in the gunfire. ‘I heard the shots,’ a Lyft driver told WABC.” (04/11/26)
“Tesla owners in the Netherlands can now use their cars’ self-driving feature — with some conditions — making it the first European country to approve the feature. The country’s RDW agency for roadworthiness certifications said Friday that Tesla’s driver assistance system can now be used in the Netherlands ‘with possible future expansion to all member states of the European Union.’ The agency said drivers would need to be in the vehicle and keep a watchful eye on it. The move aligns the Netherlands with what is allowed in the United States, where Tesla owners can already use the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) function in the cars.” (04/11/26)
“China said Sunday it would resume some ties it had suspended with Taiwan such as direct flights to cities across China and imports of Taiwanese aquaculture products as the island’s opposition party leader concludes her visit. The Taiwan Work Office under China’s Communist Party issued a statement saying it would explore setting up a longstanding communication mechanism between the Communist Party and Taiwan’s Kuomingtang Party, and facilitate the import of Taiwan’s aquaculture products, after it banned them in recent years. Cheng Li-wun, the head of the Kuomingtang, and China’s President Xi Jinping held a high-profile meeting Friday during which both called for peace without offering specifics. Taiwan is self-ruled but China claims the island as part of its territory. Relations between China and Taiwan have been tense since 2016 when the Taiwanese public elected Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party as president.” (04/11/26)
