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A Miami‑based U.S. District Judge, Darrin Gayles, dismissed former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its proprietor Rupert Murdoch. The case centered on a July 2025 article that linked Trump to a birthday greeting allegedly sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Judge Gayles concluded that Trump, as a public figure, did not satisfy the stringent “actual malice” threshold required in defamation actions. To prevail, a plaintiff must prove that the media outlet knowingly published false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.In his written opinion, Gayles noted that WSJ reporters had reached out to Trump for comment before publishing the story and included his denial, thereby giving readers a balanced view. He wrote, "This complaint comes nowhere close to the actual‑malice standard—quite the opposite."The judge granted Trump permission to file an amended complaint, setting a deadline of April 27 for any revisions.Trump’s original filing labeled the alleged birthday note to Epstein as a “fake” and sought damages for perceived harm to his reputation. The newspaper’s parent company, News Corp’s Dow Jones & Company, defended the article’s accuracy, emphasizing its adherence to journalistic standards.The dismissal adds to a series of legal setbacks for the former president as he attempts to curb reporting on his connections to Epstein. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he intends to re‑file the suit within the court‑ordered timeframe.A Dow Jones spokesperson welcomed the decision, stating, "We are pleased with the judge’s decision to dismiss this complaint and stand behind the reliability, rigor, and accuracy of The Wall Street Journal’s reporting."

A French court has convicted cement giant Lafarge of financing terrorism through its Syrian subsidiary, fining the company €1.12 million ($1.32m) and confiscating €30 million ($35.1m) worth of its assets. The court also sentenced former CEO Bruno Lafont to six years in jail.The Paris court ruled that Lafarge had paid protection money directly to ISIL (ISIS) and other armed groups, breaching European sanctions to operate in northern Syria during the country's civil war in 2013-2014. The company paid a total of €5.59 million ($6.55m) to armed groups in Syria, including to ISIL and the al-Nusra Front.The court found that Lafarge's payments helped to strengthen groups that carried out deadly attacks in Syria and beyond. The company's former deputy managing director, Christian Herrault, was sentenced to five years in jail, while other former employees received fines and sentences ranging from one to seven years.The case marks the first time a company has been tried in France for financing terrorism. Lafarge, now part of Swiss building materials conglomerate Holcim, acknowledged paying nearly €13 million ($15.2m) to middlemen to keep its Syrian cement factory running during the war. The company claimed it bore no responsibility for the money winding up in the hands of armed groups.In a separate case in the United States, Lafarge admitted to paying $6m to ISIL and the al-Nusra Front to allow employees, customers, and suppliers to pass through checkpoints. The company paid $778m in forfeiture and fines as part of a plea agreement.

The Iranian judiciary announced on Monday that the assets of Zahra Ghanbari, captain of Iran’s women’s national football team, have been released following a court decision. The assets had been frozen earlier after she was listed among alleged “traitors” for seeking asylum in Australia.According to the state‑run Mizan news agency, the release came after Ghanbari submitted a “declaration of innocence” and demonstrated a change in behaviour, prompting officials to lift the seizure.Ghanbari was part of a group of six players and one staff member who fled to Australia in March, after the team’s refusal to sing Iran’s national anthem during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup sparked a media backlash. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had publicly offered asylum to the entire delegation, warning they could face reprisals on return.Within weeks, five of the athletes, including Ghanbari, abandoned their asylum applications and returned to Iran. They were greeted with a hero’s welcome at a ceremony in central Tehran on March 19, and the court subsequently moved to restore their frozen assets.The asset release follows a broader crackdown that began after the outbreak of the US‑Israel war on Iran on February 28, during which more than 2,000 Iranians were reported killed. Iranian state media published a list of individuals deemed “traitors,” leading to the freezing of their property and bank accounts.In interviews with Al Jazeera, two of the returning players described the intense pressure they faced, noting that any misstep could have severe personal and professional consequences. “Every decision felt like a life‑or‑death choice for my family and my career,” said Mona Hamoudi, one of the athletes.Human‑rights groups have repeatedly warned that Iranian authorities use tactics such as asset seizure, family intimidation, and legal threats to deter athletes from defecting or speaking out. The case of Ghanbari underscores how sports can become a flashpoint for broader geopolitical tensions.Only two members of the original squad remain in Australia, where they have continued training with Brisbane Roar, while the rest of the team prepares for upcoming domestic competitions under heightened scrutiny.

Jannik Sinner overcame Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets (7‑6(5), 6‑3) to capture the Monte Carlo Masters, marking his first clay‑court Masters title and restoring his position as the ATP world number one.The win represents Sinner’s fourth consecutive Masters 1000 triumph—following victories in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami—and his eighth Masters crown overall. By doing so, he joins Novak Djokovic as the only player to combine the “Sunshine Double” (Indian Wells and Miami) with a Monte Carlo title in the same season, a feat first achieved in 2015.Speaking after the match, Sinner praised the high level of play from both competitors and noted the challenging, windy conditions that persisted throughout the tournament. “Winning this trophy on clay means a lot, but the ranking is secondary,” he said, emphasizing his focus on performance over points.Alcaraz, the defending champion, acknowledged Sinner’s composure in crucial moments, admitting he missed several key opportunities. “It’s impressive what you are achieving right now… only one man in the Open Era has done the Sunshine Double and then Monte Carlo, and you are the second,” Alcaraz remarked, highlighting the rarity of Sinner’s accomplishment.The final was a showcase of the burgeoning “Sincaraz” rivalry, with both players trading early breaks before Sinner rallied from a 5‑6 deficit in the first set tiebreak. After securing the opening set, he dominated the second, serving flawlessly to close out the match.Beyond the personal milestone, Sinner’s victory reshapes the ATP hierarchy, ending Alcaraz’s reign at the top and reinforcing the Italian’s status as a dominant force on multiple surfaces. Analysts predict his momentum will influence the upcoming Grand Slam calendar, especially the French Open, where his clay‑court confidence will be a decisive factor.

Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of the Truth Social platform, has formally withdrawn its defamation claim against The Guardian and two additional defendants. The suit had challenged a March 2023 Guardian report alleging that federal prosecutors were investigating $8 million in payments received by TMTG from entities with connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The dismissal was filed in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Sarasota County, Florida, on Friday. By withdrawing without prejudice, TMTG retains the option to re‑file the case at a future date. The Guardian’s original article said New York prosecutors opened a criminal inquiry into money wired to TMTG via the Caribbean by two parties that appeared to be partially controlled by an associate of a Putin ally. At the time, TMTG was preparing for a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC) that would have created a company valued at roughly $1.3 billion. Feeling vulnerable to accusations of receiving funds from a potentially hostile source, TMTG sued for libel, asserting that the Guardian’s statements were false and defamatory. In November, Judge Hunter W. Carroll dismissed the case against Guardian News and Media Ltd., Penske Media Corporation (owner of Variety), and former TMTG founder‑turned‑whistleblower Will Wilkerson, citing a failure to prove actual malice. Carroll, appointed by former Florida Governor Rick Scott, allowed TMTG to file an amended complaint, which the company did in January. A hearing was scheduled for the following Tuesday, but TMTG’s sudden withdrawal halted the proceedings. No reason was provided for the abrupt change. The Guardian has been contacted for comment. In April 2024, a lawyer for Trump sent The Guardian a letter calling its reporting “false” and a “hoax,” insisting that litigation would continue until the outlet retracted the story. Despite the legal tussle, there is no evidence that TMTG or its executives knowingly concealed the origin of the loans. No criminal charges have been brought against the company. Guardian News and Media responded, welcoming the voluntary dismissal and emphasizing that its reporting was based on meticulous fact‑checking, credible sources, and thorough documentation, while characterizing TMTG’s claims as meritless. The dismissal marks a rare retreat for Trump’s legal team, which has pursued an increasingly aggressive strategy against media outlets during his second presidential term, securing several high‑profile settlements with broadcasters such as ABC and CBS. Trump is currently pursuing a $15 billion defamation suit against The New York Times and a $10 billion claim against the BBC, alleging editorial manipulation of his speeches. Both cases have been described by the defendants as groundless and potentially chilling to press freedom. The Guardian’s investigation focused on two emergency loans TMTG received in December 2021 and February 2022, when the company faced a financial crisis after its merger with DWAC was delayed by SEC and FINRA investigations. Wire‑transfer records traced a $2 million payment through Paxum Bank, a Dominica‑registered institution, and a subsequent $6 million payment involving the ES Family Trust, whose trustee also served as a Paxum director. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York examined Paxum Bank’s ownership, identifying a link to Anton Postolnikov, a relative of Aleksandr Smirnov, an associate of Putin.

A French court has fined Lafarge, a French cement maker, more than €1m (£870,000) and sentenced its former boss, Bruno Lafont, to six years in prison for paying protection money to Islamic State and other terror groups to maintain its business in war-torn Syria from 2013 to 2014.The ruling follows a 2022 case in the United States in which Lafarge pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to US-designated “terrorist” organisations and agreed to pay a $778m fine (£580m). This was the first time a company had faced the charge.The Paris court found that Lafarge, which is now part of the Swiss conglomerate Holcim, paid nearly €5.6m via its subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS) to terror groups and intermediaries to keep its plant operating in northern Syria.The company’s former chief executive, Bruno Lafont, was sentenced to six years in prison for financing terrorism, which a judge ordered him to start serving immediately. Lafont’s lawyer said he would appeal.The presiding judge, Isabelle Prevost-Desprez, said: “This method of financing terrorist organisations, and primarily IS, was essential in enabling the terrorist organisation to gain control of Syria’s natural resources, allowing it to finance terrorist acts within the region and those planned abroad, particularly in Europe.”Lafarge established a “genuine commercial partnership with IS”, she said, which added to the “extreme gravity of the offences”.Lafarge had finished building a $680m factory in Jalabiya in 2010, just before Syria’s civil war erupted in March the following year amid opposition to the brutal repression of anti-government protests by the then president, Bashar al-Assad.While other multinational companies left Syria in 2012, Lafarge evacuated only its expatriate employees and left its Syrian staff in place until September 2014, when IS seized control of the factory.In 2013 and 2014, LCS paid intermediaries to access raw materials from the Islamic State organisation and other groups and to allow free movement for the company’s trucks and employees. It paid groups including Islamic State and Syria’s then al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra.

World champion boxer Terence Crawford was found guilty of careless driving on Monday and ordered to pay a $75 fine stemming from a traffic stop last year that led to a gunpoint incident. The incident occurred on September 28, hours after Crawford's hometown of Omaha held a parade to celebrate his unanimous-decision victory over Canelo Álvarez in a super middleweight championship fight.Crawford was stopped by police after officers observed his vehicle driving recklessly. During the stop, Crawford's head of security informed an officer that he was carrying a legal firearm, and seconds later, another officer spotted a gun on the floorboard. With guns drawn, officers ordered everyone out of the vehicle. Crawford claimed he had leaned over to tell the officer that he also had a legal firearm, but the officer didn't hear him. Police confirmed that all occupants of the vehicle were legally permitted to carry firearms.The traffic stop led to an internal investigation by the Omaha police chief into the officers' actions, which was found to have been lawful. In addition to the $75 fine, Crawford was ordered to pay $49 in court costs. This incident comes after Crawford announced his retirement in December with a 42-0 record and 31 knockouts, making him the first male boxer to capture three unified division titles.

Mid Wales Opera's OpenStages productions are undertaken with a missionary zeal, nurturing both local communities and up-and-coming singing talent. Their recent staging of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, realized remarkably over a single intensive week of work, is a testament to this commitment.The opera, tailored by Purcell for the ladies of Josias Priest's boarding school in Chelsea in 1689, features a motley crew of amateurs forming a chorus portraying Carthaginian courtiers, followers of a witches' coven, and sailors. The young cast, some already launched on singing careers, delivered polished performances under the care of conductor Jonathan Lyness, particularly in their recitatives.Director Richard Studer's simple yet effective set design, featuring a central high pavilion on a raised dais against a cathedral backdrop, elegantly framed the action. The chorus, dressed in black with pale golden patches on their cheekbones, contrasted with the titular pair, Queen Dido and Aeneas, in standout white with elaborate golden facial adornments.Kathy Macaulay's portrayal of Dido conveyed vulnerability from the outset, while Alaw Grug Evans' expressive performance as Belinda added depth to the narrative. The production's inexorable progress towards Dido's final aria, When I am lain in earth, brought the tragedy full circle, underscored by the MWO string ensemble's lamenting mood.

History’s Greatest Fails pairs author Elizabeth Day with historian Dan Jones to explore celebrated historical missteps. After a witty reunion anecdote about their Cambridge days, the duo tackles the myth of Richard III’s villainy and promises a future episode on Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, dubbed the "Ross and Rachel of early modern history."Strangely follows presenters Poppy Damon and Luke Jones as they plunge into off‑beat news stories, such as the macabre tale of a surgeon who amputated his own legs and the obscure origin of Neil Hopper’s "eunuch‑maker" moniker. The show balances factual depth with a tongue‑in‑cheek tone.Passenger Seat is a slow‑burn true‑crime podcast produced by Pennsylvania writer Tom Joudrey. The inaugural season recounts the 2012 kidnapping of Jennifer Hurst in Ohio, unraveling the puzzling motive behind the crime and the surprising gratitude she later expressed in court.Big Bro With Kid Cudi marks rapper Kid Cudi’s entry into the "celebrity podcast industrial complex". His first interview features Kylie Jenner, who drops the usual Kardashian PR veneer to discuss family dynamics, her upcoming acting role in the film The Moment, and a brief nod to Timothée Chalamet.Northern News reunites comedian Amy Gledhill with Ian Smith to spotlight odd and delightful headlines from the north of England that often slip under the radar. Regular contributors such as Stevie Martin, Alison Spittle and Phil Wang add extra comic flair.