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Senate Democrats have moved to stall President Donald Trump's bid to install a new leader of the US Federal Reserve, condemning the move as 'absurd' given ongoing criminal investigations into the central bank's leadership.Democratic lawmakers on the Senate banking committee urged its Republican leadership to postpone the planned confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, the financial executive and former Fed governor Trump has nominated to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair.In a letter to banking committee chair Senator Tim Scott, the 11 Democrats called for a hearing currently scheduled for Tuesday to be delayed until investigations into Powell and Lisa Cook, a Fed governor, are closed.Powell is facing a criminal investigation into the renovations of the central bank's headquarters, which he dismissed as a 'pretext' tied to the Fed's refusal to bow to Trump's demands. The Trump administration also tried to fire Cook, an appointee of Joe Biden, for alleged mortgage fraud.The Democratic senators wrote in their letter to Scott: 'It would be absurd on its face to allow President Trump to handpick the next chair of the Federal Reserve as his Department of Justice actively pursues criminal investigations of not one, but two sitting members of the Federal Reserve board.'Warsh's nomination also faces hurdles from within the president's own party, with outgoing GOP senator Thom Tillis stating he would not support any nomination as long as there is an investigation into Powell.

Bayern Munich's thrilling 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday secured their spot in the Champions League semifinals, setting up a meeting with PSG. Harry Kane made another difficult finish look routine, scoring his 50th goal of the season. The game had it all, including controversy, with a post-match scuffle set off by Madrid players enraged by Eduardo Camavinga's dismissal. PSG's leading man, Ousmane Dembélé, may be finding form at the right time, reflecting a team that has finally achieved their goal of becoming European champions and having a Ballon D'Or winner at his peak. PSG eventually picked off Liverpool thanks to two late Dembélé goals, advancing to the semifinals. A summer of change in the elite coaching ranks approaches, with vacancies likely at Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs. Diego Simeone is likely to stay at Atlético Madrid, having completed the job against Barcelona. This is the fourth semi-final for Simeone, three of which have come at Barcelona's expense. Harry Kane deserves a mention for his display of supreme footballing intelligence, combining playmaker and finisher skills. English football misses him, but his time in Germany has made him a yet better player. Looking ahead, another blockbuster will follow when PSG travel to Bayern in the first leg of their semi-final. Vincent Kompany is banned from Bayern's bench after protesting against Madrid's third goal. A second successive semi-final for Arsenal, and a familiar opponent in Simeone's Atléti, promises to be an exciting matchup.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill publicly challenged FIFA after reports surfaced that round‑trip train tickets from New York’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium could exceed $100 for the 2026 World Cup. Current NJ Transit listings show a standard fare of $12.90 for the same route, but a recent The Athletic report suggests the price could jump dramatically, with no discounts for children, seniors or people with disabilities. NJ Transit told Fox 5 New York that the final fare has not yet been set, but a decision is expected within days. In a social‑media post, Governor Sherrill emphasized that the state inherited an agreement in which FIFA contributes $0 toward transportation, leaving New Jersey Transit with a projected $48 million bill to safely move an estimated 40,000 fans to each of the eight matches, including the final. "FIFA is making $11 billion off this World Cup and charging fans up to $10,000 for a single ticket for the final," Sherrill said. "I won’t let New Jersey commuters shoulder that cost. FIFA should pay for the rides, and if they don’t, I won’t let our residents be taken for a ride." Sherrill added that she would approve any fare increase if FIFA does not intervene, stating, "I will, if that’s what it takes, because I’m not putting it on the backs of New Jerseyans." On Wednesday, NJ Transit’s board unanimously passed a resolution empowering CEO Kris Kolluri to set World Cup rail fares at levels sufficient to "cover any and all costs" associated with transporting the projected fan volume. Kolluri confirmed that the fare structure will not be cross‑subsidized by regular commuters. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed Sherrill’s stance, noting that FIFA often offloads costs onto local municipalities and suggesting that a partnership could make the event more affordable for everyone. FIFA responded by highlighting the original 2018 Host City Agreements, which required free transportation for fans, and noting a 2023 amendment that shifted to a "cost‑to‑use" model. The organization also claimed it had advocated for federal funding to support host‑city mobility plans. Sherrill, a Democrat elected last year on a platform of affordability, has already redirected $5 million earmarked for a fan festival at Liberty State Park toward smaller watch parties across the state. Transportation pricing for this World Cup has become a broader discussion, with Massachusetts raising its Boston‑to‑Foxborough fare from $20 to $80, underscoring growing concerns over fan‑accessibility and cost burdens.

Channel 4's content chief, Ian Katz, has announced that he will be leaving the broadcaster after nearly nine years in the post. Katz is responsible for overseeing Channel 4's £650m annual programming budget and output. During his tenure, Katz has been instrumental in delivering hits such as Derry Girls and Big Boys, as well as It's A Sin and Dirty Business. He has also been a key member of the team that helped fend off the previous Conservative government's campaign to privatise the broadcaster. Katz's departure comes after the appointment of new chief executive Priya Dogra from Sky. Dogra has praised Katz, saying he has been an 'outstanding creative leader' for Channel 4. The departure of Katz leaves a management vacuum at the top of Channel 4, with two of the three most senior executive positions now effectively vacant. However, it also opens up an opportunity for one of the most influential positions in British broadcasting. Katz, who was paid £720,000, including a £238,000 bonus, according to Channel 4's latest accounts for 2024, has been a key figure in the UK broadcasting industry. His departure will be closely watched by industry insiders and fans of Channel 4 programming.

The UK economy demonstrated resilience with a 0.5% growth in February, surpassing the 0.1% forecast by economists. This growth was primarily fueled by a strong performance from the services sector and manufacturing, both of which posted 0.5% growth, and a recovery in construction output, which was up 1%.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the economy had been gaining momentum before the Iran war dashed hopes of recovery. The growth in the three months to February was 0.5%, up from 0.3% in the three months to January, indicating strengthening growth.Grant Fitzner, the ONS chief economist, noted that growth was driven by broad-based increases across services, with wholesaling, market research, hospitality, and publishing performing well. The recovery of Jaguar Land Rover from a cyber-attack also contributed to the improving three-monthly picture.However, economists have downgraded forecasts for UK growth in 2026 due to soaring oil and gas prices resulting from the Iran war. Business and consumer confidence have declined sharply, and investors believe interest rates may have to rise to restrain the inflationary impact of the war.Martin Beck, chief economist at WPI Strategy, warned that February's growth might be the calm before the storm, with the conflict in the Middle East likely to drag overall Q1 growth down. Suren Thiru, chief economist at the ICAEW, also predicted that March would see a decline in economic activity due to skyrocketing fuel prices and supply chain chaos.

When Capcom first unveiled Pragmata alongside the PlayStation 5 in 2020, the teaser promised high‑octane space action. Six years later, the game finally launched on April 17, 2026 at a retail price of £49.99, revealing a narrative that leans more toward emotional storytelling than pure spectacle.Set on a moon‑based research outpost operated by the fictional Delphi corporation, the story revolves around a cutting‑edge 3D‑printing material called Lunafilament. When the station loses power, Earth‑based engineer Hugh is dispatched to investigate, only to discover a silent, half‑printed landscape littered with abandoned tools and unfinished constructs.Gameplay hinges on a novel hacking mechanic. Hugh is accompanied by Diana, a 3D‑printed android designed to resemble a six‑year‑old girl, who can infiltrate enemy code in real time. Players trigger a side‑screen mini‑game that reveals robotic foes’ weak points, turning combat into a blend of reflex shooting and strategic code‑breaking reminiscent of classic handheld RPGs.Beyond the mechanics, the title’s emotional core emerges through the evolving bond between Hugh and Diana. Their interactions feel organic, with Diana sketching pictures, playing hide‑and‑seek, and gradually learning about humanity through Hugh’s stories. This father‑daughter dynamic avoids saccharine tropes, instead offering moments that genuinely resonate.Exploration rewards curiosity: the lunar base gives way to tropical jungles, sun‑kissed beaches, and a half‑printed recreation of New York City. An underground shelter functions as a hub for upgrades, training simulations, and further character development, echoing the atmospheric pacing of titles like Death Stranding.Visually, the game benefits from the direction of Cho Yonghee, known for the acclaimed Nier: Automata. Despite its ambitious art direction, Pragmata runs smoothly on both the high‑end PS5 Pro and the portable Switch 2, demonstrating impressive optimization across hardware tiers.In sum, Pragmata stands out as a beautifully crafted single‑player adventure that marries inventive combat with a surprisingly moving narrative. Its blend of sci‑fi aesthetics, heartfelt storytelling, and polished performance makes it a noteworthy addition to the current generation of console releases.

Bayern Munich pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in a thrilling Champions League quarterfinal match, securing their spot in the semifinals with a 6-4 aggregate score. The game saw late drama as Luis Diaz scored in the 89th minute and Michael Olise netted in stoppage time.The match was marked by controversy as Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga received a red card in the 86th minute for a foul on Harry Kane. This turning point allowed Bayern to capitalize and seal their win.Harry Kane expressed his elation post-match, feeling 'amazing' about the win and reaching the milestone of 50 goals this season. He attributed the success to the team's hard work and collaboration.In another quarterfinal action, Arsenal advanced to the semifinals after a nervous goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon, clinching a 1-0 aggregate victory. They will face Atletico Madrid in the next round.

Brazil's Federal Police have launched an investigation into Flavio Bolsonaro, a right-wing presidential candidate, for allegedly issuing defamatory statements against his election rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The probe was ordered by the Supreme Court's Justice Alexandre de Moraes and relates to posts Bolsonaro published in January.In the posts, Bolsonaro responded to the news of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's abduction by the US with insinuations linking Lula to crimes. He wrote that Lula will be exposed and predicted the collapse of the left-wing alliance known as the Sao Paulo Forum due to scandals including international drug and arms trafficking and money laundering.Brazil's penal code considers defamation a criminal offence, with prosecutors able to seek heightened penalties for defamation against presidents or heads of state. The Federal Police have 60 days to carry out their initial investigation.The development comes as Bolsonaro and Lula are in a neck-and-neck race for the presidency ahead of October's general election. A recent poll showed Lula slightly ahead in the first round with 37% of the vote compared to Bolsonaro's 32%, but Bolsonaro polls slightly ahead in a one-on-one contest.Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator for Rio de Janeiro and the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, entered the 2026 presidential race with his father's endorsement. He has suggested that seeking his father's freedom would be part of his campaign.

The report delves into Iran's concerted effort to reshape global perceptions by leveraging a blend of state‑run outlets, social‑media networks, and allied voices to contest the United States' long‑standing narrative advantage. It highlights Tehran's use of targeted messaging, strategic timing, and multilingual content to reach diverse audiences, aiming to undermine U.S. credibility while bolstering its own diplomatic posture. By examining recent campaigns and their reception, the piece underscores a growing propaganda rivalry that reflects broader geopolitical tensions between the two nations.