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Want to Recover Like an Olympian? Allyson Felix Says ‘Fill Your Cup First’
Track and field star Allyson Felix shares rest and recovery tips and explains why motherhood inspired her to advocate for paid leave.

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Allyson Felix, mom of two and the most decorated track and field athlete in U.S. history, understands the importance of rest and recovery. Photography courtesy of Allyson Felix

When it comes to national policies around paid sick or family leave, the United States falls short compared to other developed countries.

Around 28 million Americans lack access to paid sick time, which disproportionately affects low-income workers and their families, particularly caregivers.

A recent survey from Theraflu and Wakefield Research of more than 1,000 employed U.S. adults who care for someone in their household found that 80% of respondents couldn’t afford to take a sick day.

More than half of respondents said they worked while sick because they needed the income, while 28% said that taking a sick day could put their job at risk.

Working parents are often obligated to continue their responsibilities even when they’re sick. Mothers are more likely than fathers to bear the brunt of this responsibility, even in the most egalitarian households.

That’s why track and field icon Allyson Felix is on a mission to help make paid sick time a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

The five-time U.S. Olympian partnered with Theraflu to raise awareness for The Right to Rest & Recover Fund, which has offered microgrants to families that help offset lost income from unpaid sick days. The Fund has distributed more than $1 million in microgrants since 2021.

As a mom of two, Felix knows firsthand how physically and emotionally taxing it can be to care for young children when you’re unwell. As a former elite sprinter specializing in the 200m, 400m, and relay events, Felix understands the importance of rest and recovery for both the body and the mind.

Now retired, the most decorated American track and field athlete in history — with 11 Olympic medals across five Games and a three-time world champion — has her heart set on a new goal: Paid sick leave for all.

“I don’t think it’s a conversation that we’re having enough of,” Felix told Healthline. “I love that Theraflu is doing something about it for people who are experiencing this hardship.”
Regardless of your parenting or caregiving status or even your fitness level, everyone benefits from rest and recovery — and from sick days when you need them.

Clarinda Hougen, MD, primary care sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, CA, said that from an exercise science standpoint, rest and recovery are fundamental.

“When we exercise, we place stress on our muscles, tendons, and other tissues,” she told Healthline.

“Healing the microtears that occur in muscle tissues during exercise results in muscle hypertrophy and can only occur during periods of rest. In other words, strength gains and improved endurance occur during recovery rather than during the exercise itself.”

Hougen shared a few tips to prioritize rest and recovery:
Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

Build 1–2 rest days into your weekly exercise regimen.

Practice “active recovery” (i.e., light walking, cycling, yoga, or other low intensity activities immediately after a high intensity workout).

Eat a nutritious diet including protein and carbohydrates.
“Athletes who participate in a variety of different activities that involve different types of movement are less likely to experience injury,” she said.

I just try to do the best that I can each day

Quality sleep and self-care promote recovery

“Rest and recovery should absolutely be considered a core pillar of every individual’s wellness regimen,” Hougen said.

“If rest periods are inadequate over many weeks, the body is not able to fully repair and heal damaged tissues, and overtraining syndrome may develop,” she said. “When this occurs, athletes may feel decreased enjoyment in their sport and increased perceived exertion during activity.”

From a physical standpoint, recovery practices might include intentional rest, sleep, and other forms of lighter exercise.

Felix echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that it’s important to recognize when you need rest and recovery and to carve out time and space for it.

“I just try to do the best that I can each day by being intentional and planning out how I’m going to take care of my body,” Felix said.
With her Olympic career in the rearview, Felix still maintains an active lifestyle. She hits the track for speed workouts and recovers with other forms of exercise like Pilates or spending time outdoors with her family.

She stays busy pursuing her latest ambitions, including the Theraflu initiative, a shoe company, and an athletic talent agency.

But her greatest achievement, she says, is motherhood. Here’s how she finds balance with it all.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Why is rest and recovery essential?

Felix: I think we live in a time where this kind of mentality of ‘no days off’ and ‘just pushing through’ is almost glorified. What I found is that it’s just not sustainable, and our rest and recovery are so important.

I learned that so much as an athlete, but now I see it in every aspect of life and just how valuable it is for everyone.

You have to fill your cup first. You have to be able to do the things that support longevity and let you do all the things you want to do. And to me, in this phase of life, I understand that more you know now than ever.

Why is rest and recovery for caregivers so important?

Felix: I think I just understand it; I’m living it. And I also understand the double burden of being a caregiver: when you’re sick, your responsibilities don’t stop. People depend on you, the little ones depend on you, and you have to show up for them.

When one of my kids is sick, I’m navigating that double burden if I’m not feeling well. I think that if you’re not in this situation, you probably don’t really understand it.

I think it used to be a lot easier when it was my sole job to take care of my body and be an Olympic athlete.

How do you prioritize rest and recovery now?

Felix: I try to prioritize taking care of my body, from the things I’m eating, the nutrition I’m getting, the sleep I’m getting — and sometimes it’s really challenging, because I have little kids.

For me, it’s about asking for help when I need it. There are days when I feel like I’m not going to make it, and I tell my husband I’m going to get a 30-minute nap to take care of myself.

Then there’s prioritizing my mental health, whether that’s scheduling time on my calendar to do something that brings me joy or to rest. You have to make space for it, because there are a million things that will always come up. I try to be intentional about how I take care of myself.

Honestly, I think it used to be a lot easier when it was my sole job to take care of my body and be an Olympic athlete. I had a nap built into my day, and everything revolved around training.

I think now, it’s more the reality of how I can prioritize taking care of myself and my family, work, and all of the things.

What forms of exercise do you enjoy now?

Felix: Moving my body just makes me feel like me.

A lot of times, it’ll look like early mornings or late nights on the treadmill or doing something at home. I also enjoy playing tennis. I still enjoy doing track workouts. I enjoy doing Pilates, so I try to switch things up and have a nice variety to make sure I keep moving.

Focusing on family has also been a really great exercise for the family. We love to take walks at the end of our days. Now my daughter can ride her bike, and we have one of those little tow things for my son, so we’ll go on the bike path. Staying active as a family is really key as well.

What keeps you inspired and motivated?

Felix: Motherhood is my greatest role. It brings me the most joy of all the things I get to do. The work I do, I’m passionate about it. When I get to advocate for mothers and parents and do work that I’m passionate about and believe will have an impact, just having a sense of purpose is very fulfilling.

And my businesses, I’m growing them — my shoe company, Saysh, my agency, Always Alpha — and knowing that they are in the world, I want them to have the most impact.

As an Olympian, it’s very clear-cut; success is very easy to determine. Now it’s just shifting that mindset to say that success, to me, looks like impact: How can I put that out into the world?

I still love to push myself athletically and set ambitious goals — there aren’t as many eyeballs on me when I’m doing those things.

What brings you joy and gives hope for the future?

Felix: Whenever I’m able to be still and disconnect from everything that’s going on around me, I think about the time when I’m here with my family at home.

Whether we’re going on a walk or I’m just watching my kids’ faces, there’s so much joy in just the very simple things.

I think about how I’m raising them, and I want them to be great people in the world, good people with good values. When I look at them, I get reminded that there’s still a lot of good here, and that we’ve got to keep fostering it.

I remind myself of that often; just taking a moment to notice the little things, the simple things that can bring you a lot of joy that I think we often just overlook, because we’re not looking up.
April 26, 2026
Is the Bitcoin Bear Period Over? Expert Analyst Examines Technical Data and Provides the Answer!

Crypto analyst Caleb Franzen shared a comprehensive assessment of Bitcoin’s recent price movements. According to Franzen, while the current bullish attempt differs in some aspects from the failed breakout attempts in January 2026, it is still too early to say that a new bull market has begun.

Franzen noted that the first notable difference in the technical structure is the quality of the breakout. Recalling that the bullish attempt seen in January 2026 quickly failed, the analyst stated that in the current situation, Bitcoin has turned resistance into support and formed a higher peak compared to mid-April. He argued that this development is a “constructive” signal.

Franzen also noted the importance of the time factor, stating that the previous recovery after the November 2025 low lasted 54 days, while the current rally has been ongoing for 78 days. Although this extended duration is considered a positive development, it is not sufficient on its own to confirm a trend reversal.

The analyst particularly highlighted the exponential moving averages (EMAs). Franzen noted that the 21-day EMA crossing above the 55-day EMA was an unprecedented development, and stated that these bands (21-55-100 EMA) should now be monitored as critical support levels. He added that maintaining these levels during a potential pullback would be crucial for a bullish scenario.

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On the other hand, it was noted that some key indicators still maintain a weak outlook. Franzen stated that the 100 and 200-day EMA bands could still be a strong resistance zone, and emphasized that the weekly EMA structure also points to a downtrend. The fact that short-term averages remain below long-term averages indicates that the market is still in a bearish state.

Franzen also noted that Bitcoin’s annual return is currently around -18%, indicating a continuation of the downward trend. According to the analyst, remaining below the 2-day 200-day moving average cloud, one of the most critical indicators, shows that the bear market is not yet over. He recalled that historically, a break above this level has confirmed the start of a new bull trend.

In conclusion, while Franzen acknowledged that recent price movements contain positive signals, he stated that the overall outlook still suggests caution.

However, he believes the current rise is most likely a “relief rally” and that the bear market continues until proven otherwise.

*This is not investment advice.

April 26, 2026
Chile’s ‘Red Hangar’ Sweeps 41st Guadalajara Film Festival

Chilean Juan Pablo Sallato’s black & white fiction feature debut “Red Hangar,” which chronicles long-suppressed details behind the military coup that ousted Chile’s President Salvador Allende, swept the Ibero-American strand of the 41^st Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG), taking home every single category.

In the Best Performance category, “Red Hangar” lead Nicolás Zárate shared the prize with María Magdalena Sanizo in “The Condor Daughter.”

“Looking to the past is essential to building a better future—especially in times when fascism is resurging,” Zárate remarked at the closing ceremony held on Saturday, April 25.

The Red Hangar

The Red Hangar Courtesy of Villano Prods.

The Premio Mezcal section, which recognizes Mexican films, was dominated by “Querida Fátima,” which snagged the best film, director and audience awards. The documentary delves into the unresolved and persistent cases of feminicide in Mexico, underscored by the mother of 12- year-old victim Fatima, Lorena Gutiérrez, who went to President Claudia Sheinbaum to plead her case. “Justice is built through listening,” she said. “For so long, no one listened to us—until now.”

Elena Vilardell, technical and executive secretary of Ibermedia, received an industry tribute in recognition of her tireless efforts to foster collaboration across Ibero-American countries.

“All the good things that have happened in my program over more than 28 years have happened in Guadalajara… The program was born here,” Vilardell declared.

Meanwhile, FICG Board President Guillermo Arturo Gómez presented “Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky with an International Tribute. Aronofsky professed his deep affection for Mexico, calling it his favorite destination. Reflecting on the craft, he said: “Storytelling is humanity’s original technology. It’s what makes us human – and what makes us better. Being here is a reminder of how vital it is to keep creating.”

The evening was capped by the screening of Chilean Maite Alberdi’s Mexico-set “A Child of My Own,” her docu-fiction hybrid which follows Alejandra, a Mexican woman who feigns pregnancy for months, triggering a complex psychological and social crisis that escalates into a media scandal.

“When I first heard this story, I could hardly believe it,” Alberdi said. “Reality can be more astonishing than fiction,” said Alberdi.

The 41st Guadalajara Film Festival took place April 17-25.

FICG Industry Spreads the Largesse

Industry centerpiece Guadalajara Construye, for pics in post, saw Argentine-Spain co-production “Poor Daniel” snag five awards, which all but guarantees its completion. The directorial debut feature of Argentine actor and playwright Santiago Gobernori who adapted his own stage play, it follows a couple whose life together is disrupted when the woman’s brother is released from a psychiatric clinic.

The 22^nd Co-Production Meeting, which showcased projects in development from Latin America and Spain, doled out a number of generous awards in kind, with genre drama “The Whisperer” “(La Susurradora”) by Ale García and Carla Sierra, winning two of the biggest awards. “The Other Side” from Colombia’s Rhayuela Films, which staged the world premiere of the late Jaime Osorio’s “The Awakening” at the fest, also won two key prizes in kind.

Both proects are horror-themed, underscoring the heightened interest in genre films in Mexico and Latin America at large. Colombian-French co-production “Name and Surname” from Franco Lolli’s Evidencia Films, a producer on Cannes-selected “La Perra,” took home the biggest award from BDC Prods, valued at $350,000, that covers the project’s pre-production, production and post.

Iberfest Launches

Aiming to streamline and facilitate cooperation among themselves, 11 Iberoamerican film festivals that include Guadalajara, Chile’s Sanfic, Malaga, Lima, Rio, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Morelia, Havana and Bogota, launched Iberfest at FICG, which Bogota’s Andres Bayona says will optimize communication among the festivals, hopefully leading to the sharing of costs, equipment and material whenever possible.

“This breaks an urban myth that says festivals compete with each other. It’s true that we all want the best programming, but for some time now we’ve learned that collaboration and the meeting of shared intentions always allow us to go further in achieving our goals. Unity makes strength,” said Malaga’s Juan Antonio Vigar.

Iberfest Launches

©FICG / Ana Cristina Rodrígue

Chile Brings Out the Big Guns

Chile’s joyous presence as the Country of Honor at FICG meant panels, tributes, masterclasses and fiestas galore. Leading the contingent of nearly 100 delegates were filmmakers Pablo Larrain, Sebastian Lelio and Maite Alberdi, as well as the newly appointed Daniel Laguna, executive secretary of Chile’s Audiovisual Development Fund. Talks to revitalize Mexican-Chile co-production also took place. Among the festival highlights was a Masterclass featuring Fabula’s Pablo and Juan de Dios Larrain, moderated by Netflix’s Francisco Ramos, VP of Latin American Content.

“I Was Told: ‘Ballet Fans Don’t Like Horror and Horror Fans Don’t Like Ballet,’” Said Darren Aronofsky About “Black Swan”

Darren Aronofsky regaled a massive audience at his Masterclass with anecdotes – and some advice – about the struggles behind the making of his lauded pics “The Wrestler,” “The Whale” and “Black Swan,” among others. It took him 10 years to cast “The Whale” he said, finally plucking Brendan Fraser from relative inactivity to play the life-changing role that won him an Oscar. Despite his outsized success with “The Wrestler,” getting his next pic “Black Swan” funded was a huge challenge. “A film executive told me ‘Ballet fans don’t like horror and horror fans don’t like ballet.’” It went on to garner Natalie Portman an Oscar aside from four other nominations. He capped the hour-long session by directing one of the most exuberant images to come out of the festival, jumping alongside moderator Gonzalo Lira with the audience in the background.

Darren Aronofsky and moderator Gonzalo Lira toast the end of the Masterclass Credit: Diego Gasca

Film Incentives in Mexico, Portugal, and Spain

A panel on film incentives in Spain, Mexico and Portugal brought together industry leaders to break down funding opportunities and co-production pathways. Speakers highlighted Portugal’s mix of national funds and rebates, Spain’s support across every stage of filmmaking – with a focus on emerging female directors—and Mexico’s new incentives program, offering up to a 30% tax credit to boost local production and attract global investment. Filma Jalisco’s cash rebate also stood out as a tool to draw foreign shoots. The takeaway was clear: these incentives aren’t just financial—they’re gateways to international collaboration, with co-production framed as a creative engine for telling culturally resonant stories across borders.

LATAM Screenings Unveiled

Addressing the ever-thorny issue of theatrical distribution in Latin America, a new regional theatrical release initiative for Latin American cinema, was unveiled at the fest. Spearheaded by producer and distributor Guillermo Blanco, the plan is to operate a coordinated release circuit across the region with four films rolling out consecutively, one per week, in each country, following a touring model across Latin America. According to Blanco, “the same four titles will move from one territory to the next, replicating their theatrical release in each market, with a standard two-week run per film.” Heist thriller by Mexico’s Pancho Rodríguez, “Abracadáver,” will kick off LATAM Screenings. The pic screened during the opening weekend of FICG, capped by a posthumous tribute to the director who passed last November 2025.

FICG 2026 Winners:

Mezcal Award

Best Mexican Feature Film: “Querida Fátima,” Lorena Gutiérrez, Su Kim, Jesús Quintana Vega, Rodrigo Reyes and Dawn Valadez
Best Direction: “Querida Fátima,” Lorena Gutiérrez Rangel, Su Kim, Jesús Quintana Vega, Rodrigo Reyes and Dawn Valadez
Best Cinematography: Diego Tenorio for “City of the Dead” (“Ciudad de muertos”)
Best Performance: Oustin de León for “I Am Mario” (“Soy Mario”)

Audience Award: “Querida Fátima” by Lorena Gutiérrez Rangel, Su Kim, Jesús Quintana Vega, Rodrigo Reyes and Dawn Valadez

Youth Jury Award: “La misma sangre,” Ángel Ricardo Linares Colmenares

Ibero-American Fiction Feature Film
Best Ibero-American Fiction Film: “Red Hangar,” (“Hangar rojo”)

Special Mention: “Nunkui,” Verenice Benítez

Best Debut Feature: “Barrio triste,” Stillz

Best Cinematography:”Red Hangar”
Best Direction: Juan Pablo Sallato for “Red Hangar”
Best Screenplay: Luis Emilio Guzmán for “Red Hangar”

Best Performance: Ex aequo Nicolás Zárate for “Red Hangar” and María Magdalena Sanizo for “The Condor Daughter”

Ibero-American Documentary Feature Film
Best Ibero-American Documentary: “Scarlet Girls” (“Niñas escarlata”), Paula Cury

Special Mention: “Flowers for Antonio” (“Flores para Antonio”), Elena Molina and Isaki Lacuesta

Best Direction: “Scarlet Girls” (“Niñas escarlata”), Paula Cury
Best Cinematography: “The Fabulous Time Machine” (“A fabulosa máquina do tempo”) Eliza Capai (Brazil)

Maguey Award
Best Film: “Feito pipa,” Allan Everton
Honorable Mention: “Our Body is a Star that Expands” (“Nuestro cuerpo es una estrella que se expande”) Semillites Hernández Velasco, Tania Hernández Velasco
Jury Maguey Award: “I Am Mario” (“Soy Mario”), Sharon Kleinberg
Best Performance: Yuri Gomes and Teca Pereira for “Feito pipa”

International Animated Feature Film
Best Animated Feature: “Coração das trevas,” Rogério Nunes

Made in Jalisco
Best Jaliscan Feature Film: “El círculo de los mentirosos,” Nancy Cruz Orozco
Best Jaliscan Short Film: “Mi lugar favorito,” Alejandro Hidrogo Arechiga, Luis Zamarroni, Mariana Salazar and Sergio Campestre

Socio-Environmental Film Award
Best Socio-Environmental Film: “Black Water,” Natxo Leuza

Genre Cinema
Best Film: “Alpha,” Julia Ducournau

Special Mentions: “Motherwitch,” Minos Papas; “Hablando con extraños,” Adrián García Bogliano

Ibero-American Short Film
Best Short Film: “Tres,” Juan Ignacio Ceballos
Honorable Mention: “Replikka,” Piratá Waurá and Heloisa Passos

Rigo Mora Award
Best Animated Short Film: “Una vez en un Cuerpo,” María Cristina Pérez González

Honorable Mention: “El fantasma de la quinta,” James A. Castillo

FEISAL
Best Film: “Oca,” Karla Badillo

FIPRESCI
Best Film: “Aquí se escucha el silencio,” Gabriela Pena and Picho García

April 26, 2026
Litecoin says its 13-block reorg was not a ‘zero-day, but GitHub commit history shows otherwise

A 13-block chain reorganization on late Friday and Saturday rewound roughly 32 minutes of network activity after attackers used a vulnerability in its Mimblewimble Extension Block (MWEB) protocol.

The bug had enabled a denial-of-service attack against major mining pools, allowing the invalid MWEB transactions to slip through nodes that had not updated, before the network’s longest valid chain corrected them.

Litecoin Core v0.21.5.4 released! All users are advised to upgrade. This release contains important security updates. https://t.co/6vtrhdXi4c

— Litecoin (@litecoin) April 25, 2026

The Foundation said in Asian morning hours on Sunday the bug was fully patched and the network is operating normally.

However, prominent researchers say the litecoin-project GitHub repository tells a different story. Security researcher bbsz, who works with the SEAL911 emergency response group for crypto exploits, posted the patch timeline pulled from the public commit log.

Now that stuff has been made public on the Litecoin GitHub, we have a better sense of timeline and what happened.

In the age of Mythos, this timeline simply doesn’t fly.

The post-mortem says one zero-day caused a DoS that let an invalid MWEB tx slip through. The git log on… https://t.co/zMMrheQLPP pic.twitter.com/O3DtdwV0rF

— bbsz (@blackbigswan) April 26, 2026

The consensus vulnerability that allowed the invalid MWEB peg-out was privately patched between March 19 and March 26, roughly four weeks before the attack. A separate denial-of-service vulnerability was patched on the morning of April 25.

Both fixes were rolled into release 0.21.5.4 the same afternoon, after the attack had already begun.

“The post-mortem says one zero-day caused a DoS that let an invalid MWEB transaction slip through,” bbsz wrote. “The git log tells a slightly different story.”

A zero-day refers to a vulnerability unknown to defenders at the time of an attack.

Litecoin’s commit history shows the consensus vulnerability was known and patched privately a month before the exploit, but the fix had not been broadcast publicly or required to all mining pools.

That created a window where some miners ran the patched code while others ran the still-vulnerable version, and the attackers appear to have known which was which.

Alex Shevchenko, CTO of NEAR Foundation’s Aurora project, raised parallel concerns in a thread.

Blockchain data showed the attacker pre-funded a wallet 38 hours before the exploit through a Binance withdrawal, with the destination address already configured to swap $LTC into ETH on a decentralized exchange.

The denial-of-service attack and the MWEB bug were separate components, Shevchenko argued, with the DoS designed to take patched mining nodes offline so the unpatched ones would form the chain that included the invalid transactions.

The fact that the network automatically handled the 13-block reorganization once the DoS stopped suggests enough hashrate was running updated code to eventually overpower the attack, but only after the unpatched fork had run for 32 minutes.

A hit on Litecoin shows how attacks on various networks differ in how code maintainers and developers react to exploits. Newer chains with smaller, more centralized validator sets coordinate upgrades through chat groups and can push patches network-wide in hours.

Older proof-of-work networks like Litecoin and bitcoin rely on independent mining pools choosing when to upgrade, which works for non-urgent changes but creates a window of vulnerability when a security patch needs to reach everyone before an attacker exploits the gap.

The Litecoin Foundation has not publicly addressed the GitHub timeline as of Sunday morning.

The amount of $LTC pegged out during the invalid block window and the value of any swaps completed before the reorganization reversed them have not been disclosed.

April 26, 2026
World reacts to shooting at White House correspondents’ dinner

The United States is taking stock of a shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington, DC, where President Donald Trump was rushed from the scene.

A gunman charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom for the annual media gala on Saturday night, before being taken down by US Secret Service agents as shots were fired.

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CBS News reported the alleged attacker told authorities he was targeting officials in the Trump administration.

Here’s how leaders in the US and around the world are responding to the news:

United States:

Figures across the political aisle condemned the attack at the event, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and many other senior government officials, along with hundreds of journalists and celebrities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended the event with his wife Kelly, said both were “praying for our country tonight”.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said: “The violence and chaos in America must end.”

Washington, DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser, said she is “so very thankful to members of law enforcement who did their jobs … and made sure all guests were safe”. She said there was no immediate reason to believe anyone apart from the gunman was involved in the attack.

Weijia Jiang, the senior White House correspondent at CBS News and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, who was sitting next to Trump as the incident unfolded, emphasised the public service role of journalism, saying “when there is an emergency, we run to the crisis, not away from it”.

“On a night when we are thinking about the freedoms in the First Amendment, we must also think about how fragile they are,” she said. “Thank God everybody is safe, and thank you for coming together tonight. We’ll do this again.”

United Kingdom:

Britain’s Ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, said some British embassy officials were at the event and expressed appreciation for “the swift and professional response of the US Secret Service”.

“We are thankful that the President and all those in attendance were unharmed & our best wishes are with the injured officer,” he wrote on social media.

Australia

Prime Minister Antony Albanese also applauded the US Secret Service and other law enforcement “for their swift action”.

“I am pleased to hear the President and the First Lady, along with all attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, are safe,” he said.

Canada:

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is “relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe”.

“Political violence has no place in any democracy, and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event,” said Carney.

Mexico:

President Claudia Sheinbaum also expressed relief that Trump and his wife were safe. “We send them our respect,” she wrote on X. “Violence must never be the way”.

Israel:

Officials quickly conveyed solidarity with leaders in the US and condemned the attack.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States and Trump”. He said he condemns “in the strongest possible terms the shooting incident”. “Zero tolerance for political violence,” Sa’ar added.

President Isaac Herzog also expressed relief that the US law enforcement officer shot during the attack “is safe and on the path of recovery”.

“From the Holy Land, we pray for the safety and security of the United States of America and its leaders after this heinous attack,” Herzog said.

Pakistan:

Pakistani leaders, who have emerged as key mediators between the US and Iran during the war, issued strong statements of condemnation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply shocked by the disturbing shooting incident” and relieved that attendees are safe. He said his “thoughts and prayers” are with Trump, and I wish him continued safety and well-being.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed relief that Trump, his wife Melania and the vice president are safe.

“We strongly condemn all forms of violence, which is enemy of diplomacy and intolerable in any civilised society. Our best wishes go out to [the president] and the American people,” said Dar.

India:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed relief that Trump, his wife and the vice president are safe. “I extend my best wishes for their continued safety and well-being. Violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally condemned,” said Modi.

Venezuela:

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power after the US kidnapped and imprisoned Nicolas Maduro in January, said “we strongly condemn the attempted attack against President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump”.

“We extend our best wishes to them and to all attendees of the Correspondent’s Dinner,” she said. “Violence is never an option for those who uphold the values of peace.”

April 26, 2026
Aljamain Sterling calls for featherweight title shot after UFC 116 win

Published On 26 Apr 2026

After nearly two full slow-paced rounds, former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling recorded a decision win over Youssef Zalal in the UFC Vegas 116 main event.

Sterling found an opening with less than a minute left in the second round and secured a 49-45, 49-45, 49-45 unanimous decision across 25 minutes in the fight on Saturday. He had several submission attempts, including a fourth-round rear-naked choke opportunity in the closing minutes.

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The American fighter, who has a 26-5 mixed martial arts (MMA) and 18-5 UFC record, was comfortable in all areas against his former training partner, but his objective for the rest of his career is simple: the UFC featherweight title currently held by Alexander Volkanovski.

“Volkanovski, you know I’m coming,” Sterling said after his win, calling for a title shot.

Zalal, with an 18-6-1 MMA and 8-4-1 UFC record, was classy in defeat.

“I’ve come back before, and I’ll come back again,” Zalal said, crediting Sterling’s efforts.

Sterling snapped Zalal’s eight-fight unbeaten streak, predicting that with a bit more five-round experience, the Moroccan competitor will find himself fighting for a championship.

The co-main event saw UFC women’s bantamweight contender Joselyne Edwards of Panama move a step closer to a title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Norma Dumont, sweeping the scorecards 29-28, 29-28, 30-27.

Edwards (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) had little trouble with Dumont (13-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), extending her win streak to five. Dumont fell just short of a four-year unbeaten run, having won her previous six outings before taking her first loss since May 7, 2022.

In the lightweight division, Rafa Garcia of Mexico halted Alexander Hernandez’s four-fight winning streak, earning a unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Garcia (19-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has won three in a row, keeping the fight on the feet, taking Hernandez’s best punches while giving back his own at a much higher rate. Hernandez (18-9 MMA, 10-8 UFC) had not lost since April 6, 2024.

Bantamweight Davey Grant of England earned a unanimous decision against UFC debutant Adrian Luna Martinetti, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, in an entertaining all-around affair. Grant (18-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) has won five of his last seven fights, while Luna Martinetti (17-2 MMA), who hails from Ecuador, has not lost since September 20, 2017.

At bantamweight, Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos squeaked out a split-decision win against Montel Jackson, taking two of the three judges’ scorecards, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Barcelos (22-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) extended his winning streak to five, dating back to February 24, 2024. On the other side, Jackson (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has lost back-to-back fights since his six-fight winning streak, which spanned March 2021 until last October.

Heavyweight Ryan Spann delivered a blitzing right hand to send Brazilian Marcus Buchecha to the canvas, finishing the fight by knockout at 2:10 of the second round to open the UFC Vegas 116 six-fight main card with what became the only finish. Spann (24-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) has won back-to-back fights and three of his last four. Buchecha (5-3-1 MMA, 0-2-1 UFC), a seasoned grappler, remains winless in the promotion.

April 26, 2026
3 things to watch in Lakers-Rockets Game 4

LeBron James forces OT, where the Lakers ultimately prevail to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Rockets.

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Just get one. For any team down 3-0 in a series, winning Game 4 is the goal.

Everyone knows the statistic: No team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in the NBA playoffs. The overall record in a series for teams trailing 3-0 is 0-159.

Down 3-0 to the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in a first-round Western Conference playoff series and their season on the line, the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets don’t need a reminder of the steep climb they face.

Can the Rockets force a Game 5?

There were enough positives despite a late Game 3 collapse for the Rockets to draw from as they try to extend the series.

Here are three things to watch in Game 4 on Sunday (9:30 ET, NBC/Peacock):

1. What is Kevin Durant’s availability for Game 4?

Rockets star Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a bruised right knee sustained in a practice and missed Game 3 with a sprained left ankle sustained in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

He is listed as questionable on the official injury report and likely will be a game-time decision.

“He’s getting treatment still around the clock,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “I think there’s some soreness and (he’s) pushed a lot of swelling out, but it’ll be a matter of if he can go. We’ll try it out I’m sure tomorrow morning and before the game, and we’ll know his status then.”

Even hobbled, the Rockets can use Durant’s skillset.

2. Slowing LeBron James

LeBron James turns in a vintage performance with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in a pivotal Game 3 win over the Rockets.

The Lakers are playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves – the team’s top two scorers – and the Rockets haven’t found a way to limit 41-year-old LeBron James.

James is averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 2.0 steals and shooting 47.4% from the field and 43.8% on 3-pointers. He has orchestrated a masterful Lakers performance that has allowed Luke Kennard to average 21.3 points; Marcus Smart, 20.3 points; and Rui Hachimura, 16.3 points.

It’s too easy for James, who is relishing the moment and throwing lobs to his son, Bronny James, forcing turnovers and making clutch 3-pointers with the game on the line.

The Rockets need to find a way to mitigate his production.

3. Limiting mistakes, better shooting for the Rockets

The Rockets featured a starting lineup with five players 24 years old or younger in Game 3. They have a talented, young team, and that leads to mistakes which were on display late in Game 3 when the Lakers overcame a 101-95 deficit in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Turnovers, fouls and shooting (just 28.7% on 3-pointers in the series) have hurt the Rockets.

But there are positives they can apply to Game 4. The Rockets controlled much of the second half, and Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson each scored at least 24 points. Sengun had 33 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals; Thompson posted 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks; Smith added 24 points and six rebounds.

That’s the kind of production that can lead to a victory. Reducing ill-timed turnovers and improved shooting will put Houston in position to extend the series. Each game has been decided by nine points or fewer, and Game 3 went to overtime.

The Rockets have been close but haven’t been able to finish.

* * *

Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

April 26, 2026
4 takeaways: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominates Thunder-Suns Game 3 & OKC nears sweep

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Phoenix Suns, 121-109, to take a 3-0 series lead.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are one one of the most dominant, two-year runs in NBA history, and the dominance continued with a 121-109 victory in Game 3 of their first round series with the Phoenix Suns on Saturday afternoon.

The Thunder were without Jalen Williams, who suffered a hamstring strain three days earlier. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t need much help.

The reigning MVP scored a career-playoff-high 42 points, shooting an amazing 15-for-18 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free throw line, adding eight assists. The Thunder continue to score efficiently against what was a top-10 defense in the regular season, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance was just the seventh 40-point playoff game in NBA history where the player had a true shooting percentage over 90%.

Playing at home for the first time, the Suns led by nine points late in the first quarter. But the Thunder closed the period on an 18-4 run and were in control most of the way after that.

Here are some notes, numbers and film as the champs improved to 11-0 in first-round games over the last three years:

1. Gilgeous-Alexander is too much from mid-range

Even when he won the Kia MVP award last season, Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t as good of a mid-range shooter as he was this year, when he shot an incredible 197-for-359 (54.9%) between the paint and the 3-point line. That was the fourth-best mark for a player with at least 300 mid-range attempts in the 29 seasons for which we have shot-location data; the only three better ones are held by Kevin Durant.

On Saturday, Gilgeous-Alexander was 6-for-7 from mid-range, and his best work was done over the last six minutes of the second quarter, when the Thunder took full control of Game 3.

Collin Gillespie has been Gilgeous-Alexander’s primary defender for most of this series, but he was getting the business. So the Suns actually assigned starting center Oso Ighodaro to the MVP for a stretch late in the second.

Gilgeous-Alexander proceeded to target Devin Booker in the pick-and-roll, getting to his mid-range pull-up:

On the next possession, he rejected a screen, beat Ighodaro off the dribble, and drew a foul on Booker. Then, attacking Booker again, he got an open 3 for Jaylin Williams.

Grayson Allen made his series debut on Saturday and was not spared. Gilgeous-Alexander attacked him to generate a layup for Alex Caruso and to get to another mid-range pull-up:

Finally, the Suns sent a double-team at Gilgeous-Alexander in the middle of the floor. The result was an open corner 3 for Caruso.

Again, the Suns ranked ninth defensively, and the Thunder have scored at least 120 points per 100 possessions in all three games of this series. Overall, they’ve scored 10.9 per 100 more than Phoenix allowed in the regular season.

2. Thunder handle the pressure

The biggest strength of the Suns’ defense was forcing turnovers. They ranked third in opponent turnover rate, forcing 16.5 per 100 possessions, having seen the biggest jump (by a wide margin) from last season.

But now they’re facing the team that has committed the fewest turnovers per 100 possessions in each of the last two seasons. And the Thunder have been even better at taking care of the ball in this series.

Over the three games, the champs have committed just 8.9 turnovers per 100 possessions, what would be tied for the third-lowest rate for any team in any playoff series in the 30 years for which we have play-by-play data. They’ve taken their opponents’ biggest strength and turned it into a major weakness.

According to tracking data, the Suns rank fourth in these playoffs in average pick-up distance, so they’re applying pressure. But it’s not working on the Thunder, who had just two live-ball turnovers in Game 3 on Saturday.

Shooting is the most important thing in this game, but you there are other ways to boost your efficiency and the Thunder have done it by taking care of the ball.

3. Best bench in basketball

It was a little bit of a surprise that Ajay Mitchell started in place of Jalen Williams on Saturday, given that Cason Wallace started 42 more games than Mitchell (58-16) in the regular season. Mitchell was the Thunder’s second leading scorer (15 points) in Game 3, but shot just 5-for-20, forcing some tough shots along the way.

The Thunder’s new starting lineup had played just 37 total minutes (over seven games) together in the regular season and was outscored by four points on Saturday. But the champs outscored the Suns by 16 points with at least one reserve on the floor.

Even without Williams to run the second-unit offense, the Thunder outscored the Suns by two points (20-18) in Gilgeous-Alexander’s 10 minutes on the bench. The shooting wasn’t great (8-for-22, including 1-for-7 from 3-point range), but they didn’t commit any turnovers when the MVP sat.

They used the same five-man unit (Mitchell, Wallace, Jared McCain, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein) for those entire 10 minutes. Mitchell scored seven of his 15 points and McCain scored all of his seven in those no-SGA minutes, with a couple of SGA-esque buckets included.

The Thunder have had the league’s No. 1 bench in each of the last two seasons, and though their versatility is a little compromised with the absence of Williams, they’re never dependent on the success of any particular lineup. Still, it will be interesting to see if Mitchell remains the starter going forward.

4. Booker still can’t get going

Dillon Brooks (33 points) and Jalen Green (26) were again the Suns’ leading scorers on Saturday, and that’s by the Thunder’s design. The league’s No. 1 defense has made Devin Booker its No. 1 priority, making sure he plays in a crowd and has a hard time finding open shots.

For this entire series, Booker’s best looks at the basket have come in transition or after offensive rebounds.

When he’s used a ball-screen, he hasn’t seen any kind of advantage for himself:

The Suns have bee able to leverage the attention on Booker to get good shots for his teammates. Early in the third quarter on Saturday, there was no weak-side help on an Ighodaro roll to the rim, because Dort stayed attached to Booker in the corner:

But the Suns haven’t been able to find enough of those kinds of openings to keep up with the Thunder. And at 20.3 points per game, this is the lowest-scoring playoff series of Booker’s career. His true shooting percentage of 55.1% would be his third worst mark of the 10 series that he’s played in.

The Suns first chance to avoid a sweep is Game 4 on Monday (9:30 ET, Peacock).

* * *

John Schuhmann has covered the NBA for more than 20 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.

April 26, 2026
Iran war: What’s happening on day 58 as Tehran-Washington talks stall?
US President Donald Trump calls off a planned trip to Pakistan by his envoys, in the latest setback to efforts to end the war with Iran.

Published On 26 Apr 2026
Prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough in the US-Israeli war with Iran appear to have dimmed, with negotiations to end the two-month conflict stalled as both Tehran and Washington show little sign of easing their positions.

US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to Islamabad by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, dealing blows to peace prospects, while Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, left Pakistan at the weekend. There, he presented mediators with a potential framework for ending the conflict.

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The US president has said that Washington has received a new peace proposal from Tehran, but it has already been rejected.

The conflict has already pushed energy prices to multi-year highs, stoked inflation and darkened global growth prospects.

Here is what we know on day 58 of the conflict:

In Iran
- Araghchi left for Oman, saying he would return to Pakistan again on Sunday before heading to Russia, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.
- According to a statement posted on X by US Central Command (CENTCOM), US forces intercepted a sanctioned ship linked to Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
- The ship, identified as the Sevan, was part of a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, the US military said.
- Iran executed a man convicted of being a member of the armed group Jaish al-Adl and carrying out attacks on Iranian security forces, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
War diplomacy
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by phone that Tehran would not enter “imposed negotiations” under threats or blockade, an Iranian government statement said.
- Pezeshkian said the United States should first remove “operational obstacles”, including its blockade on Iranian ports, before negotiators can lay any groundwork to resolve the conflict.
- Iran’s IRNA news agency is reporting that Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, “discussed and exchanged views on issues related to diplomacy and ceasefire, as well as the latest regional developments”.
- Araghchi also had a call with Turkiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, but the agency did not provide further details.
In the US
- Trump told reporters in Florida that he scrapped the envoys’ visit because the talks involved too much travel and expense to consider an inadequate offer from the Iranians. After the diplomatic trip was called off, Iran “offered a lot, but not enough”, Trump said.
- On Truth Social, he wrote that there was “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Iran’s leadership.
- “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them,” he posted. “Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!”
- Trump said that the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner on Saturday was unrelated to the Iran war. “It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, I really don’t think so, based on what we know,” Trump told reporters.
In Lebanon
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, his office said, further testing the three-week ceasefire.
- Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health’s emergency operations centre said two Israeli raids on a truck and a motorcycle in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif in Nabatieh district killed four people, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.
- Also in southern Lebanon, Israeli soldiers reportedly blew up buildings in the city of Bint Jbeil.
April 26, 2026
Washington shooting: Is Trump safe? What we know so far

Donald Trump has been rushed out of the White House correspondents’ dinner at a hotel in Washington, DC, after a gunman fired shots and tried to breach security.

The US President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and cabinet members were unharmed following the shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel.

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A security service agent was hit – but protected by a bulletproof vest. Trump said he was in ‘great shape’.

The White House says the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California, is in custody. Trump said he was heavily armed and appeared to be acting alone.

The White House correspondents’ dinner will be rescheduled in 30 days.

Here’s what to know about the shooting and the suspect.

What happened to Trump?

The president was hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association ‌dinner at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday night.

The dinner is an annual tradition, where journalists who cover the White House celebrate the First Amendment and raise money for journalism scholarships, together with the president and other US leaders.

But the gala event was interrupted by the sudden sound of gunfire, and Secret Service agents rushed the president out.

A man armed with a shotgun had fired at a Secret Service agent, an FBI official told the Reuters news agency. The agent was hit, but in an area ⁠covered by protective gear and was unharmed, the official said.

Reporting from Washington DC, Al Jazeera’s Chris Sheridan said everyone was eating and socialising, and suddenly, shots were heard.

“I thought it sounded like it came from behind where we were sitting, but it was quite loud. It was an echo. Quite a loud boom of at least five shots, which resonated throughout the ballroom just outside where we were,” he said.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher noted the very unusual night at the White House.

“We don’t often get the president stepping from an assassination attempt, which is what it appears like on the face of it now, into the briefing room to give the media an update, with everyone in their finest clothes,” he reported from Washington DC.

The Hilton hotel is no stranger to assassination attempts and has also been nicknamed the Reagan hotel – after John Hinckley Jr’s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan there in 1981. That event is perhaps what the hotel is most famous for, and not the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Al Jazeera’s Fisher said that Trump seemed quite taken aback by the news.

“He himself initially had thought a tray had been dropped, or it was gunfire, and the Secret Service agent spirited him out of the hall along with the first lady and other members of the Cabinet,” he said.

He noted that Trump had made it clear that he wanted to continue the event, but the Secret Service wouldn’t allow it.

Is Trump safe?

All US federal officials, including Trump, have been declared safe.

About an hour after Trump was rushed from the event, he posted on Truth Social that a “shooter had been apprehended.”

“Quite an evening in DC, Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job,” Trump added.

Trump said he had been asked to leave the dinner and said it will be rescheduled.

“The First Lady, plus the Vice President, and all Cabinet members, are in perfect condition,” he said. “I have spoken with all the representatives in charge of the event, and we will be rescheduling within 30 days”.

Addressing reporters in the US shortly after, Trump lauded the bravery of the Secret Service agent who he said “was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job”.

“I just spoke to the officer, and he’s doing great. He’s in great shape. He is in very high spirits, and we told him we love him and respect him,” he said.

Who is the suspected gunman?

The New York Times and CBS News identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen.

Reporting from Washington DC, Al Jazeera’s Richard Gaisford said authorities have not released the name of the suspect in custody, but various news reports have identified him.

“It appears this was gleaned from the information he gave when he checked into the Washington Hilton before this event. He had a room at the hotel and is being named as Cole Tomas Allen from a place called Torrance in California. He is 31 years old,” he said.

“We saw that video of him rushing that police line, in effect to try and get into the ballroom, where, of course, Donald Trump was sat close to his wife, Melania, and other members of the cabinet and all of the members of the press who were gathered for the White House Correspondents Dinner there,” he added.

Gaisford noted that in some of the pictures, the gunman is almost half-naked because he’d been stripped by police to ensure he wasn’t carrying any form of explosive device.

Trump described him as a “sick” man.

“The man has been captured. They go into his apartment. I guess he lives in California, and he’s a sick person. A very sick person. And we don’t want things like this to happen,” the US president told US media.

He added that the events were traumatic for the first lady and that the response from the law enforcement agencies was “really incredible”.

“We’re going to reschedule. We’re gonna do it again. We’re not gonna let anybody take over our society. We’re not gonna cancel things out.”

Todd Blanche, acting attorney general, told US journalists that the investigation “is ongoing”.

“I expect you will see charges filed shortly. The charges should be self-evident, given the conduct, but as you’ll hear, there will be multiple charges surrounding the shooting, the possession of firearms, and anything else that we can get on this guy,” Blanche said.

How many Trump assassination attempts?

Trump has faced numerous assassination attempts and death threats throughout his years as president and candidate.

The closest call came in July 2024, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman got onto a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to then-candidate Trump as he spoke on stage. A bystander was killed, and Trump’s ear was wounded in the attack. Agents shot dead the suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, at the scene.

A few months later, in September, an armed man hid near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida with the intent to kill him, according to officials. Prosecutors said Ryan Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks, before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as he played golf. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh before he was able to open fire on Trump, and he was soon arrested nearby. Routh was found guilty last year of attempting to kill the president and was sentenced to life in prison in February.

Also, in February, a 21-year-old man, Austin Tucker Martin, was shot dead after entering Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with a shotgun, but the President was not there.

April 26, 2026