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The Italian comedy-drama Diamanti is set in a costume atelier in 1970s Rome and features a predominantly female ensemble. While it may be light on comedy, the drama is decidedly on the melo end of the scale, making it a sumptuously soapy dramedy. The film's strength lies in its luscious-looking period costumes, which specialize in 18th-century silhouettes and 1970s prints.Director Ferzan Özpetek brings his love and sincerity to the film, which is inspired by his visits to costume studios around Rome in the 80s. The story follows sisters Alberta (Luisa Ranieri) and Gabriella (Jasmine Trinca) as they run a studio staffed by dozens of seamstresses. The film's framing device features Özpetek himself gathering his cast for a read-through, where one character describes the female assemblage as a “vaginodromo”.The film explores various subplots, including girl-on-girl tension among the staff, a battered wife urged to defy her husband, and a political protestor with a gift for passementerie and decoupage. The costumes designed by Stefano Ciammitti convince throughout, and the film's 135-minute runtime feels breathless, never draggy.Diamanti is set to release in UK and Irish cinemas from 17 April. With its stacked cast and Özpetek's direction, this film is sure to delight fans of period dramas and costume films.

Ukraine and Germany have agreed on a strategic defence partnership that will enhance cooperation in drone production and bolster Kyiv's air defences. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the deal at a news conference in Berlin.The partnership will grant Germany access to Ukraine's advanced drone technology, developed during its conflict with Russia, in exchange for additional military support from Germany. This cooperation will cover various types of drones, missiles, software, and modern defence systems.In a joint declaration, the two countries stated they will strengthen cooperation in the air defence field. Germany will support Ukraine's drone industry and establish drone co-production ventures. The German defence ministry has agreed to fund contracts for several hundred Patriot missiles from the United States, which Ukraine urgently needs to counter nightly Russian drone and missile attacks.Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov expressed gratitude to his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, for the package, which he valued at four billion euros ($4.7 billion). This funding will provide a massive boost for Ukraine's air defence, protecting its cities and critical infrastructure.Ukraine currently has the production capacity to manufacture twice as much military equipment as it is deploying but lacks the necessary funding. President Zelenskyy emphasized that financial constraints hinder Ukraine's ability to scale up production.German Chancellor Merz noted that the deal is mutually beneficial, citing Ukraine's battle-tested military as a valuable asset for European security. The agreement also includes the exchange of digital combat data for developing new weapons systems.The announcement comes as hopes rise that the European Union may soon provide Ukraine with a 90-billion-euro ($105bn) loan, which was blocked by Hungary last month. With the recent election of Peter Magyar in Hungary, who is expected to reverse this stance, Ukraine's financial prospects are improving.The urgency of Ukraine's need for additional arms was highlighted by a missile attack on the city of Dnipro, which killed four people and injured at least 21. Russian troops have also captured territory in the Dnipropetrovsk region and launched attacks in the city of Kherson.

In a demonstration of dissent, anti-war protesters in New York were arrested while advocating for an end to weapon sales to Israel. The protests highlight ongoing concerns over international arms deals and their implications for global conflict dynamics.The arrests took place in New York, a city often at the center of various social and political movements. The protesters were urging for a halt in weapon sales to Israel, reflecting broader debates on international relations and military aid.

Dianna Russini, a prominent NFL reporter for The Athletic, has resigned from her position amid an investigation into photos of her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. The images, published by The New York Post, show Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury hotel in Sedona, Arizona, and have sparked speculation about their relationship.Russini maintained that her interactions with Vrabel were platonic and taken out of context. She expressed frustration with the media frenzy surrounding the photos, stating that it was 'unmoored from the facts' and had caused significant damage to her career.In a letter to The Athletic's executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, Russini said she had covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout her career. She chose to resign before her contract expired on June 30, rather than allowing the situation to continue and potentially harm her reputation further.The Athletic initially defended Russini, with Ginsberg stating that the images lacked context and depicted public interactions among multiple people. However, the outlet expanded its review after additional reporting raised questions about Russini's coverage of Vrabel and the nature of their relationship.Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including SportsCenter anchor, NFL analyst, and insider. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots.

A recent study has confirmed what many people can already feel: summers are getting longer, and the trend is particularly pronounced in Sydney. The research, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that summer conditions are arriving earlier, lasting longer, and feeling more intense due to human-induced global heating.The study, conducted by PhD candidate Ted Scott from the University of British Columbia, analyzed data from 10 global cities and found that the length of summer is increasing on average by six days every decade. However, in Sydney, Australia, the summer period is growing at a rate of about 15 days every decade.In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the summer length is increasing by nine days every decade, while Toronto in Canada is adding a little over eight days to its summer every decade. Paris and Reykjavik are adding 7.2 days to their summer periods.The research also found that the shift from one season to another is becoming more abrupt, with summer-like conditions arriving more suddenly rather than gradually warming up. Sydney's summer period has grown from 65 days in the 1960s to 125-130 days in recent years, with the summer starting almost a full month earlier on November 27 and ending on March 28.The study's findings have significant implications for various aspects of life, including school terms, sporting seasons, and crop planting. The researchers emphasize that the trend is driven by human-induced global heating and that reducing fossil fuel usage is crucial to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Rena Effendi, a photojournalist, embarks on a poignant journey in the documentary 'Searching for Satyrus', seeking the elusive butterfly named after her father, Rustam Effendi, a lepidopterist. Her father spent seven years hunting the Satyrus effendi, a rare and endangered species found in the Caucasus mountains.Effendi's quest is intertwined with her exploration of her father's complex legacy. He was a man of many marriages – Effendi humorously notes he lasted longer in his pursuit of the butterfly than in any of his four marriages. This personal history is set against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, where the butterfly's habitat lies.The documentary features Effendi's interactions with lepidopterists, including Dmitrii V Morgun, who describes the unique characteristics of various butterfly species. The Satyrus is portrayed as melancholic and brooding, mirroring the complex emotions Effendi experiences as she uncovers her father's past.The film is set to release in UK cinemas on April 19, 2026, offering audiences a thoughtful exploration of family, legacy, and conservation.

The United States military has begun a mine clearance operation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas supplies, in response to Iran's alleged laying of sea mines. The operation, led by guided missile destroyers USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, aims to establish a 'safe pathway' for the free flow of global commerce.Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently released a map of the Strait of Hormuz showing a safe route for ships to follow through the strait, directing vessels farther north towards the Iranian coast and away from the traditional route closer to the coast of Oman. The IRGC stated that all vessels must use the new map for navigation due to 'the likelihood of the presence of various types of anti-ship mines in the main traffic zone.'The stakes are high, with one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies having been shipped through the Strait of Hormuz before the war. Even a single mine can compel operators to assume a wider threat, effectively invalidating insurance and shutting down their use of the waterway.Iran's stockpile is estimated to number 2,000 to 6,000 mines, a significant portion of which are produced domestically. These mines generally fall into three categories: contact mines, bottom (influence) mines, and 'smart' and rocket mines.The US Navy is facing a 'mine gap,' with experts calling for institutional neglect that led to the retirement of dedicated mine countermeasures (MCM) assets. The current US strategy relies on small combat ships built for coastal operations and fitted with MCM mission modules, but only one of these vessels, the USS Canberra, is currently available in the region.

Lake Erie, a vital source of freshwater for millions of people, has faced significant pollution challenges for decades. In the 1960s, the lakes and rivers around Cleveland were so polluted that they frequently caught on fire. While water quality has improved since then, the lake still struggles with poor water quality due to chemical runoff and pollution. The 2025 State of the Great Lakes report found that Lake Erie ranks poorly for pollution caused by chemical runoff and is consistently one of the top five most polluted lakes in the US. Over 5.5 billion gallons of freshwater are drawn from the lake daily to meet industrial and consumer needs, highlighting the importance of addressing these pollution issues. In response, the Cleveland Water Alliance, a non-profit organization, is working with over 300 companies, research institutions, and government agencies to develop clean water solutions for Lake Erie. The alliance has deployed hundreds of sensor buoys across the western section of the lake to observe and detect various water-related factors, including E. coli, algal blooms, and turbidity levels. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have incubated research for a pilot program technology that can capture 90% of microplastics down to 50 microns in washing machines, preventing these materials from entering the lake. Other projects are recording solar radiation, dissolved oxygen levels, and water and air temperatures. Korean companies have also come to the area to test electrochemical water treatment methods in Lake Erie's water. The alliance's efforts aim to position Lake Erie as an open-air research facility, driving innovation and solutions to address the lake's pollution challenges. Despite these efforts, environmentalists say the challenges to cleaning up the lake are huge. A 40% reduction in phosphorus is needed to minimize blooms, with about 90% of phosphorus entering the western Lake Erie basin coming from agricultural runoff. The manure problem is also a growing concern, with the increasing number of livestock operations in the area contributing to pollution. The Cleveland Water Alliance's initiatives, such as the development of a system for making commercial-grade sodium hypochlorite on site, aim to promote technologies for wintertime monitoring of aquatic life activity and behavioral changes as well as levels of water turbidity. By leveraging data and innovation, stakeholders hope to improve the lake's water quality and mitigate the impacts of pollution.

Rory McIlroy has revealed that weeks of preparation at 'home course' Augusta National played a crucial role in his successful Masters defence. The Northern Irish golfer spent considerable time at Augusta in the lead-up to the Masters, rather than participating in PGA Tour events, despite struggling with a back injury.McIlroy's preparation involved simulating a tournament by playing with a single ball, a strategy inspired by advice from golf legend Jack Nicklaus. This approach allowed him to feel comfortable with the course and make informed decisions about his shots.After securing his sixth major win, McIlroy expressed his satisfaction with his preparation, stating, “I joked last week that this place feels like my home course”. He emphasized the importance of getting to know the course and being prepared for various situations.McIlroy's victory joins an exclusive group of golfers who have retained the Green Jacket, including Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. With this win, McIlroy believes he can focus on playing his game and increasing his chances of winning more majors.The article also mentions Scottie Scheffler's comments on the course conditions, particularly on Friday afternoon when McIlroy birdied six out of Augusta's closing seven holes. Scheffler suggested that the firmness of the course was not equal on Thursday and Friday, but acknowledged that the weather and wind conditions also played a role.