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Fab 5 Freddy, born Fred Brathwaite, has penned a memoir that serves as an 'all-access pass' to the creative explosion of New York in the 1970s and 80s. The book, 'Everybody's Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing the Culture,' chronicles Brathwaite's journey from a young man in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, to becoming a pivotal figure in connecting Black art forms like graffiti and hip-hop with the predominantly white downtown art world.Brathwaite's story is intertwined with that of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, other street artists whose work has become iconic. The memoir also features appearances by Blondie, Andy Warhol, and the Clash, highlighting the era's cross-cultural pollination.The book offers a firsthand account of legendary venues like CBGB and Paradise Garage, where Brathwaite experienced the raw energy of punk and dance music. He recalls visiting CBGB as a 'Black secret agent on a mission' and describes Paradise Garage as a 'transformational experience.'While reading Brathwaite's story in 2026 is bittersweet, it also offers a hopeful message. New York, despite being in dire economic straits at the time, gave birth to magnificent cultural movements. For Fab 5 Freddy, rap and punk represented 'urban youth going against the grain, inventing their own culture, creating their own fun, responding to the world as it was.'The enduring legacy of this era is that subcultures can emerge and thrive even in challenging times, leaving a lasting impact on art, music, and culture. As Brathwaite puts it, 'everybody's fly' – a testament to the power of creative expression and community.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold budget request, seeking $1.5 trillion for military spending, a nearly 40% increase from the previous year. This ambitious proposal underscores the White House's priorities, emphasizing military strength and law enforcement.The budget request, while not legally binding, sets the stage for intense congressional negotiations. It includes a proposed $455 billion increase over fiscal year 2026, separate from an emergency request of $200 billion for the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.The plan involves significant shifts in funding, with $73 billion in cuts to domestic programs, including initiatives to counter climate change, boost renewable energy, and support equality and access in housing, education, and healthcare. Instead, funding would be redirected to projects such as Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system, critical minerals investment, US shipbuilding, and troop salary increases.Trump's proposal also emphasizes immigration enforcement, calling for continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support his mass deportation campaign. The request includes a 13% increase for the Department of Justice, focusing on violent crime.The budget plan faces challenges, including a potential deadlock in Congress over funding for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. The administration suggests passing the budget through a mechanism known as reconciliation, which could be achieved with a simple majority in Congress.The US military expenditure has steadily increased, reaching $997 billion in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The country consistently spends more on its military than the next nine countries combined, raising questions about priorities in defense and domestic spending.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed Army Chief of Staff General Randy A. George to step down with immediate effect, a move announced on X by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Thursday. The statement said George would "retire from his position" but offered no explanation, a notable omission given the ongoing US‑Israel war against Iran.The abrupt removal adds to a string of high‑profile dismissals that have occurred since Hegseth assumed office in January. CBS first reported the decision, citing a source who said Hegseth seeks a leader who will execute his and President Donald Trump's strategic vision for the Army.Appointed in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, the 61‑year‑old General George brought extensive combat experience from Iraq and Afghanistan. During his tenure he was praised for cutting redundancies and championing new technologies such as low‑cost missile‑interceptor drones and artificial‑intelligence‑driven targeting systems.According to The New York Times, the firing may be tied to a dispute over Hegseth’s decision to block the promotion of four officers from a list of 29. While most of the blocked officers were white men, the two remaining were Black and two were women, prompting senior officers to question whether racial or gender bias influenced the action. When General George sought a meeting with Hegseth to discuss the matter, the defense secretary reportedly refused.In addition to George, Hegseth dismissed two other senior officials on Thursday: General David M. Hodne, head of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command responsible for modernization efforts, and Major General William Green Jr., the Army’s chief of chaplains. The Pentagon has not formally confirmed these removals, though the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a tribute praising George’s decades of service.The personnel shake‑up unfolds against a broader backdrop in which US and Israeli officials have framed the Iran war as a religious undertaking. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation reported receiving complaints that senior commanders described the conflict as aiming to bring about “Armageddon” or the biblical “end times.”Earlier, in October, former Army Vice Chief of Staff General James J. Mingus retired a year ahead of schedule, with no reasons disclosed, adding to speculation about internal turbulence within the Pentagon.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Pam Bondi is being removed as Attorney General, ending a contentious 14‑month stint at the Justice Department. Bondi, who described her upcoming shift to the private sector as a "transition," will leave the post within the next month. In a rapid reshuffle, Trump elevated Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—who previously served as the former president’s criminal‑defense lawyer—to acting attorney general. The president also hinted that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin could become the permanent replacement, signaling a continued preference for close allies in key legal roles. Bondi’s ouster follows a series of high‑profile controversies. Most notably, her management of the Jeffrey Epstein files drew intense scrutiny. After promising full transparency, the Justice Department released heavily redacted documents that failed to satisfy public and congressional demands for a "client list" and other evidence. Critics, including victims’ attorney Gloria Allred, called her departure "long overdue" for mishandling the files. Beyond the Epstein saga, Bondi struggled to deliver the political prosecutions Trump expected. Efforts to pursue former FBI Director James Comey and other officials linked to investigations of the president stalled or collapsed, fueling Trump’s frustration that she was not "weaponising" the department aggressively enough against his perceived enemies. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and the state’s first female AG, built a reputation on tough‑on‑crime initiatives such as combating human trafficking and cracking down on "pill mills." However, her limited involvement in the original Epstein non‑prosecution deal and her heated exchange with a Democratic lawmaker—where she called him a "washed‑up loser"—further eroded confidence in her leadership. The White House confirmed that Bondi’s private‑sector role will be announced "in the near future," while Blanche issued a statement on X thanking Trump for the trust placed in him and pledging to "continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and keeping America safe." Congressional oversight intensifies as the House Oversight Committee had scheduled Bondi to appear before it on April 14 to answer questions about the Epstein documents. With her exit, committee chair James Comer said Republicans would deliberate whether to pursue the subpoena, while Democrats, led by Robert Garcia, insist she "will not escape accountability." Reactions span the political spectrum: Democrats such as Senator Elizabeth Warren denounced the DOJ under Bondi as a "cesspool of corruption," whereas Republican Senator Chuck Grassley praised her responsiveness to oversight and noted a decline in violent crime during her tenure. Republican Thomas Massie urged the next AG to release all Epstein files and pursue arrests. As the administration searches for a permanent attorney general, the choice between Blanche and Zeldin will signal how closely Trump intends to align the Justice Department with his political agenda moving forward.

Donald Trump has sparked a new low in UK-US relations by mocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claiming the UK leader is weak and indecisive. During an Easter lunch speech at the White House, Trump impersonated Starmer, saying the prime minister told him he needed to consult his team before deciding whether to send UK aircraft carriers to the Middle East.Trump stated, 'I asked [the] UK, who should be our best. In fact the king is coming over here in two weeks, he’s a nice guy, King Charles. But should be our best but they weren’t our best. I said: ‘You have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over?’' He then mimicked Starmer, saying, '“Ohhh, I’ll have to ask my team.”' Trump added, '“I said: ‘You’re the prime minister, you don’t have to.’”The US president also mocked Emmanuel Macron, saying the French president was “still recovering from the right to the jaw” and claimed that Macron’s wife, Brigitte, “treats him extremely badly”. These remarks were made at a lunch that was not open to the press but were released by the White House on a social media channel and later deleted.However, Whitehall sources disputed Trump’s claims, stating that he had never asked the UK for the vessels and Britain had not offered them. Despite the controversy, Starmer has remained firm in his stance on the war, saying he would stick to his position “whatever the pressure and the noise”. When asked about Trump’s comments, Starmer emphasized his focus on the British national interest and his determination not to be swayed by external pressure.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a space scientist and CEO of Science Innovation Ltd, says the one item she would take to the lunar surface is a hand‑sewn purple‑cloth alien crafted by her daughter during a GCSE textile project. The tiny creature, made on a loom, embodies her child's love and would serve as a reminder of family ties at the farthest point from Earth. Sheila Hancock, acclaimed actor and writer, would use the trip as a cultural boot‑camp. She plans to study the complete works of Shakespeare, the epic novel War and Peace, and the full symphonies of Mahler as interpreted by Claudio Abbado, hoping the immersion will "strengthen her weakening brain" and deepen her appreciation of human genius. Michael Akadiri, a stand‑up comedian and resident doctor, imagines a lighter itinerary: a stack of old birthday cards to revisit heartfelt messages, an old‑school notepad for real‑time reflections, and a handful of puff‑puff (Nigerian doughnuts) – a cheeky nod to his fitness‑obsessed friends. Michael Rosen, children’s author and broadcaster, would bring three nostalgic comforts: giant yellow Chilean raisins from W Martyn’s shop in Muswell Hill, an oval brown pebble from the alleyway of his teenage flat, and the “furry” blanket his wife gave him during his 2020 COVID‑19 ventilator stay, each item a tactile link to his past. Athena Kugblenu, writer and comedian, opts for practicality and humor. She would pack a pair of Crocs for comfort, the guidebook Contact by Carl Sagan as a potential alien‑communication manual, and a jar of shito sauce – a Ghanaian shrimp‑tomato condiment – to introduce extraterrestrials to Ghanaian flavor before they learn English profanity. Nels Abbey, writer and broadcaster, frames his selection as a morale‑boosting toolkit. He would carry excerpts from Gil Scott‑Heron’s "Whitey on the Moon" and stand‑up routines by Paul Mooney, using their cynical wit to cope with the psychological challenges of space travel. Collectively, the panel’s choices illustrate how personal history, artistic heritage and even culinary curiosity can anchor humanity during the most extraordinary voyages. Their whimsical yet heartfelt lists underscore the idea that, even beyond Earth, we remain tethered to the stories, flavors and objects that define us.

The arrival of spring brings a cherished Easter tradition for many – a pilgrimage to witness the breathtaking bloom of pasqueflowers in the Chiltern Hills. Every year, as the days lengthen and the landscape awakens, enthusiasts make their way to the sunny slopes of Church Hill, where approximately 60,000 of these delicate flowers emerge.The pasqueflower, named from the Middle English 'paschal' meaning 'of Easter', is a rare sight in today's landscape. Its felty flower buds, surrounded by plumes of white-haired bracts, push through the shallow soil, and the undersides of the petal-like sepals feel warm and soft to the touch. As the flowers unfurl, they reveal hosts of golden anthers, creating a stunning mosaic of green, white, and violet across the hillside.However, the pasqueflower's presence is a conservation success story. Once found in 130 locations in 1750, changes in grassland management and ploughing have reduced its numbers drastically, leaving only 18 sites, with five locations containing 99.3% of the country's remaining plants. Church Hill, now a local nature reserve and site of special scientific interest, holds over a third of the UK's pasqueflowers, a plant classified as 'vulnerable' on the Great Britain Red List.The sight of these flowers is not just a natural wonder but also a testament to conservation efforts. The hope is that this precious site will continue to protect Hertfordshire's county flower for generations to come, allowing sundry folk to enjoy the beauty of nature rather than commemorating the past.

The Guardian’s investigation has revealed that the company responsible for the unauthorised partial felling of a 500‑year‑old oak in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, was Ground Control, a maintenance business that reports a turnover of £190 million. The tree was cut down in September 2025 on behalf of Mitchells & Butler Retail (MBR), the owner of the Toby Carvery restaurant chain. MBR initially defended the action, claiming its contractor warned that the oak was diseased and posed a safety risk. However, a coalition of experts – including a Forest Commission investigator and ancient‑tree specialist Russell Miller – found the tree to be healthy with no imminent danger. Miller described the alleged “hazard” as an old, semi‑occluded wound that did not justify felling the entire tree. According to Dr. Ed Pyne of the Woodland Trust, the delay in identifying the contractor highlights a broader lack of transparency: "What evidence exists that the tree was dangerous? What qualifications did the operatives have?" He added that the justification for the removal remains unsubstantiated. Ground Control’s own documentation shows the work was assigned to its grounds‑maintenance team rather than its specialist arborists, a detail that fuels further criticism of MBR’s decision‑making process. Sources close to the firm say an internal review was conducted by a contracts manager, not a tree expert. Enfield Council, which owns the park, has launched legal action to evict Toby Carvery after MBR refused to apologise or offer compensation. The council also referred the incident to the police, but officers declined to investigate, deeming it a civil matter. Complicating the dispute, MBR is majority‑owned by investment group Enic, which holds strong financial ties to Tottenham Hotspur. The football club plans to develop a women’s training academy on 17 hectares adjacent to the park, a proposal opposed by the local campaign group Guardians of Whitewebbs. The group has secured a judicial review of the planning permission, set for June. In a statement last April, MBR asserted that its “specialist arboriculture contractors” deemed the split and dead wood a serious health‑and‑safety risk. A Toby Carvery spokesperson declined further comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The revelation of Ground Control’s involvement adds a new layer to the controversy, raising questions about corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship, and the adequacy of legal protections for historic trees in urban green spaces.

Alana King’s leg‑spin dismantled the West Indies in St Kitts, delivering a decisive 5 for 19 from 10 overs and guiding Australia to a commanding nine‑wicket win.The hosts were bowled out for just 136 runs in the third and final ODI, ending a bright start with a collapse that left them 78 for five. King’s spell, her second‑best ODI figures after a 7 for 18 at last year’s World Cup, was pivotal in restricting the Caribbean side.Australia chased the modest target in under 20 overs, thanks to an explosive innings from opener Phoebe Litchfield (68* off 56 balls) and a steady contribution by veteran Ellyse Perry (33* not out). The pair steered the tourists home with ease, sealing a 3‑0 series sweep.Speaking after the match, King highlighted the team’s discipline: “We were very clinical, we nailed our lengths, and we really owned that.” She praised the collective effort of the bowling unit for holding a “very destructive” West Indian side to just about 140 runs.West Indies won the toss and elected to bat, with opener Deandra Dottin (22) and captain Hayley Matthews (34) putting on a 38‑run opening partnership. However, King struck early, catching Matthews off a sliced drive, and soon after, Jannillea Glasgow fell for a duck, leaving the visitors reeling at 78 for five.Middle‑order contributions from Chinelle Henry (40* not out) and Realeanna Grimmond (20) added some resistance, but King completed her third ODI five‑wicket haul, dismissing Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack, while off‑spinner Ash Gardner chipped in with 2 for 29.Australia’s chase was swift; after reaching the target inside nine overs, the result was never in doubt. Perry accelerated the scoring alongside Litchfield, ensuring the tourists cruised to a sixth consecutive white‑ball win on the tour.With the ODI series wrapped up, Australia now turn their focus to the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup in England, scheduling three preparatory T20s against South Africa before the tournament.