Author: ifonge

In notable comments online, the United Arab Emirates’ industry minister blasted the status quo around the strait. “This moment requires clarity,” wrote Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the state-controlled oil giant ADNOC. “Let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled.”Vance, in his remarks in Hungary, vowed the war would resume unless Tehran followed through on its promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where around 110 ships traveled daily before the war broke out. “The president is not going to abide by our terms if the…

Pam Bondi is backing out of a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee, which has been seeking to grill the now-former attorney general about the Justice Department’s mishandling of the Epstein files.  The Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), said in a statement  that “the Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General.”  The committee further indicated that it would “contact Pam Bondi’s personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”…

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas both “expressed concern over serious violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon” in a phone conversation on Thursday, according to a readout from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.The two officials emphasized the need for the “full implementation of the temporary ceasefire in the Middle East,” the readout said.In a post to her own X channel, Kallas said that Hezbollah “dragged Lebanon into the war, but Israel’s right to defend itself does not justify inflicting such massive destruction.””Israeli actions are putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain. The Iran truce…

The internet’s most unsettling nightmare is about to step fully into the spotlight. A brand-new trailer for Backrooms, A24’s upcoming horror film based on the viral creepypasta phenomenon, is set to drop tomorrow and fans are already bracing for what could be one of the most disturbing films of the year. From YouTube Horror to the Big Screen Backrooms isn’t just another horror movie. It’s the evolution of a digital legend. The film is directed by Kane Parsons, the creator behind the massively popular Backrooms found-footage series that exploded on YouTube. What started as a low-budget analog horror concept quickly…

This ARCUS update just arrived. ARCUS had a great run and definitely helped push forward my research program. (See, e.g., my previous post.) Maybe ARCUS’ demise was a planned sunsetting, or maybe not. The update is silent on the that. In the current environment, one has to wonder what went on behind the scenes. In any event: RIP ARCUS.Dear ARCUS Community,It is with a mix of gratitude and sadness for our community that we share an important update about ARCUS’s future. After more than three decades of connecting, supporting, and facilitating collaboration within the U.S. Arctic research community, ARCUS will…

Barely a week ago, a charmed Lakers season screamed three words.Deep playoff run.Today, a jinxed Lakers season soberly whispers three very different words.Shut it down.With less than a month of games remaining, the Lakers season is done, finished, kaput.Twisted and torn by the sudden same-day injuries to their two best players, the Lakers are broken beyond repair.They can’t win without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and neither is coming back at full strength in time to save them.They were wholly embarrassed in their first two shorthanded games and will wind up falling to a fourth or fifth seed with a…

Just minutes before a self-imposed deadline — an unprecedented threat to wipe out “a whole civilisation” — was set to expire, US President Donald Trump announced early Wednesday a two-week ceasefire halting the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has engulfed the Middle East. The development, anxiously awaited by much of the world, followed a long night of back-channel diplomacy spearheaded by Pakistan. Now, with a fragile ceasefire barely holding and tensions still flaring, Islamabad is set to host talks between the warring parties this Saturday. In an earlier post on Truth Social, Trump said the US had received a 10-point…

In the high-octane world of the Indian Premier League, where every run and wicket is scrutinized under a microscopic lens, Sanju Samson has reminded the cricketing world that impact isn’t always measured on a scoreboard. While the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star is currently navigating a challenging transition in his professional career, a recent roadside encounter in Kerala has highlighted the humility and generosity that have long defined his character off the pitch.Sanju Samson surprises supporter with ₹40K smartphoneDuring a journey from Kozhikode to Coimbatore, Samson made a brief stop near Punchappadam School on the Mundur–Thootha road in Palakkad. What…

After shocking the world by announcing he’s starting college at the University of San Diego, boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Álvarez is back in the gym and preparing for his boxing comeback.Canelo Alvarez returns to training and sparring”First day of classes yesterday and today my first sparring session since September,” Canelo wrote alongside a video he posted on social media. In the clip, the Mexican boxing star is seen working the heavy bag with gloves on, fully focused ahead of his next fight.Canelo’s last appearance in the ring came on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, where he suffered…

Henry Winter sits down with Ian Cathro to discuss learning the ropes at Newcastle and Spurs, and leading Estoril up the Portuese top flight… One of the most atmospheric walks to a ground in English football starts at Newcastle Central Station. The walk winds through alleyways, past pubs and restaurants, past offices and the old city wall, before emerging at St James’ Park. It feels as much a pilgrimage as a pathway. It is a journey never forgotten by the former Newcastle United assistant coach, Ian Cathro, even a decade on. The Scotsman, 40 later this year, is now the…