Julian Casablancas, lead singer of the popular band The Strokes, made critical remarks about the role of Zionists in the United States during an appearance on comedian Kareem Rahma’s online talk show Subway Takes. The interview, recorded in the New York City subway and published on YouTube on Tuesday, featured Casablancas discussing various topics, including political issues. His comments have drawn attention and discussion across social media platforms.

Casablancas argued that American Zionists enjoy privileges similar to white beneficiaries but speak as if they are oppressed like African Americans during the era of slavery. Host Kareem Rahma agreed, calling the situation tragic and referencing the ongoing violence in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed. Rahma described the situation as horrific and said expressing such criticism should not be considered wrong.

The exchange has fueled online debate about privilege, oppression, and the framing of identity in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said a positive development could emerge by Friday regarding a second round of peace talks with Iran. According to The New York Post, citing Islamabad-based sources, the discussions might resume within 36 to 72 hours. When asked about potential progress, Trump responded via text message saying, “It’s possible! – President D.J.T.”

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency immediately rejected the claim, posting on social media that Trump was lying and that Iran had no plans to join talks on Friday. Earlier, Trump had extended the existing ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for negotiations, and the truce remained effective as no new clashes occurred.

Trump noted that the United States had not set a specific deadline for Iran’s next move and credited consultations with Pakistan’s leadership for this approach. He added that U.S. forces were instructed to maintain the blockade and uphold the ceasefire until Iran presented a unified proposal.

Meta has begun installing tracking software on computers used by its US-based employees to record mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes for use in training artificial intelligence models. Internal memos seen by Reuters indicate that the software will operate on selected work-related applications and websites, occasionally capturing screen snapshots to provide contextual information. The initiative is part of Meta’s broader effort to develop AI agents capable of autonomously performing workplace tasks.

According to the internal memo, the data collection aims to improve Meta’s AI systems in areas where they currently face challenges, such as navigating drop-down menus and using keyboard shortcuts. The memo encouraged employees to contribute to model improvement through their regular work activities. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the collected data would not be used for employee performance evaluation and would be protected by safeguards to ensure sensitive content remains secure.

Stone added that the project is designed to help Meta’s AI models learn from real examples of human computer use, supporting the company’s goal of building more capable digital assistants.

The Trump administration is reportedly discussing sending 1,100 Afghans who assisted US forces during the Afghanistan war to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to nonprofit group AfghanEvac cited by The Guardian. The New York Times first reported the plan, which comes after Donald Trump decided to halt opportunities for these Afghans to apply for resettlement in the United States. The group, stranded in Qatar for a year, includes interpreters, relatives of US military members, and more than 400 children.

The Afghans were evacuated to Qatar for their safety after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the US military withdrawal. Congo, however, is facing a severe displacement crisis, with the UN Refugee Agency reporting 8.2 million displaced people as of September 2025 and projecting the number could reach 9 million by year’s end. AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver said about 900 of the Afghans are eligible for US resettlement, while 200 are not.

A US State Department spokesperson told The Guardian that officials continue to work on voluntary resettlement options for Afghans living at Camp As-Sayliyah in Qatar, though there is currently no viable pathway for them to enter the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran for two more weeks without setting a new expiration date, following a high-level meeting at the White House on Tuesday afternoon. The decision came as Washington awaited a response from Tehran regarding proposed negotiation terms, but received none. Vice President JD Vance and other officials had been preparing to travel to Pakistan for talks, yet the lack of Iranian engagement left the administration uncertain about the next steps.

Officials cited internal divisions within Iran’s leadership as a key reason for the silence, particularly disagreements over uranium enrichment and stockpile management. Reports suggested that new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s unclear directives were contributing to the deadlock. Trump stated on Truth Social that Iranian officials were “deeply divided” but reaffirmed his preference for a diplomatic resolution over renewed military action.

Pakistani intermediaries had encouraged Trump to extend the truce, and U.S. officials indicated that talks could resume quickly if Iran showed readiness. However, advisers warned that the absence of a fixed deadline might allow Tehran to prolong negotiations indefinitely.

The United States military has used a significant portion of its key missile stockpiles during the recent war with Iran, according to a CNN report citing three individuals familiar with internal Pentagon assessments. The depletion raises concerns that the US could face ammunition shortages if new conflicts arise in the coming years. A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that at least 45 percent of precision strike missiles, half of THAAD interceptors, and about 50 percent of Patriot air defense missiles were expended during the seven-week conflict.

Sources familiar with the review said these figures align with classified Pentagon data. While the US still retains enough weapons to continue operations against Iran if the fragile ceasefire collapses, it reportedly lacks sufficient munitions to sustain a large-scale conflict with a peer power such as China. The report added that restoring stockpiles to prewar levels could take several years.

The analysis also indicated that around 30 percent of Tomahawk missiles, over 20 percent of long-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, and about 20 percent of SM-3 and SM-6 missiles were used, with replenishment expected to take four to five years.

U.S. President Donald Trump has continued a series of posts targeting Iran on his social media platform, Truth Social. In his latest message, he claimed that Iran is financially collapsing and eager to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump further alleged that the country is in a severe cash crisis, losing about 500 million dollars daily, and that its military and police are complaining about unpaid salaries.

According to the report, Trump provided no independently verifiable evidence to support his claims. The Iranian government has not issued any immediate response to his statements. The posts come amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with recent reports highlighting Iran’s seizure of ships in the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional instability.

The lack of official verification or response leaves uncertainty about the accuracy of Trump’s assertions, while the rhetoric underscores the continuing strain in U.S.-Iran relations.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly searching for a way to withdraw from the ongoing Iran war, which began on February 28. The conflict has proven extremely expensive, with the United States spending between $890 million and $1 billion daily, while Israel has spent $112 billion in total. Post-war reconstruction in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states is expected to cost hundreds of billions, with Saudi Arabia alone needing over $600 billion to restore its oil and gas infrastructure.

The United Arab Emirates has suffered severe damage to civilian and energy facilities from drone and missile strikes and has begun informal discussions with the U.S. about economic assistance. According to the Wall Street Journal, the UAE’s central bank chief recently sought a currency swap with the U.S. Federal Reserve after losing significant oil revenue due to Hormuz Strait disruptions. Meanwhile, Iran has demanded $2.7 trillion in war compensation from several Arab states.

The White House confirmed that Trump remains interested in financial burden-sharing similar to the 1991 Gulf War. However, rising costs and Gulf nations’ demands for U.S. aid could strain the American economy and weaken the dollar’s global position.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces are rearming during the ongoing ceasefire with Iran. CENTCOM stated that American troops remain prepared for any situation. The announcement was made during a press conference where CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper said the military is adjusting its strategies, methods, and operational procedures.

Standing beside US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Cooper emphasized that no other military in the world adapts as effectively as the US forces, and that this period of ceasefire is being used to enhance readiness. The remarks followed President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire period with Iran.

The statement reflects Washington’s intent to maintain military preparedness even amid a temporary halt in hostilities, signaling continued strategic caution in the region.

Nahida Sultana Brishti, a former student of the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering department at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), has been missing in the United States for five days. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of South Florida. According to her classmates, she went missing after going out with another student off campus, and both of their phones have since been switched off.

University and state police have begun a joint investigation, with the last phone signal traced inside the campus. The matter has been reported to the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Miami, which stated that the case is being treated seriously and that the FBI may be involved if necessary. Searches in nearby hospitals, airports, and detention centers have so far yielded no results.

Brishti’s family last spoke to her on April 16 and has since been unable to contact her. They have informed the police and the Bangladesh Embassy in the US and are seeking assistance for her safe return. Friends, classmates, and family members have appealed for information and expressed growing concern over her disappearance.

U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to extend the temporary relaxation of the Jones Act, a maritime law that restricts domestic shipping to American-flagged vessels, according to Axios. The decision aims to address the ongoing energy crisis caused by rising fuel prices linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Trump had initially eased the law’s requirements for 60 days starting March 18 to facilitate internal oil transport.

The 1920 Jones Act has long been criticized for increasing transportation costs due to the limited supply of U.S.-flagged ships. Supporters of the temporary waiver argue that it helps reduce logistical bottlenecks and stabilize energy prices. The Axios report noted that the earlier relaxation produced positive results, prompting Trump to consider extending the measure further.

If extended, the waiver could continue to ease domestic fuel transportation pressures and mitigate short-term energy cost spikes, though the report did not specify how long the new extension might last.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran while ordering American naval forces to maintain the blockade against the country. The announcement was made early Tuesday through a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump said the decision followed requests from Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged the U.S. to delay any attack until Tehran presents a coordinated proposal.

According to Trump’s statement, the ceasefire will remain in effect until Iran submits its proposal and negotiations are concluded. Meanwhile, the U.S. military will continue its blockade operations. The situation remains tense in the Persian Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route where U.S. and Iranian forces are positioned against each other.

Analysts cited in the report noted that the move opens new diplomatic opportunities while maintaining military pressure on Iran. The ongoing blockade continues to exert economic and strategic strain on Tehran despite the extended ceasefire.

The United States is considering a currency swap arrangement to help ease the dollar liquidity shortage in the oil-dependent economy of the United Arab Emirates. President Donald Trump confirmed the possibility in an interview with CNBC, saying the UAE’s central bank had requested the measure following economic disruptions linked to the Iran-US conflict. Trump expressed surprise at the request from such a wealthy ally but said he viewed it positively, emphasizing the UAE’s longstanding friendship with the United States.

The potential support reflects broader instability in Middle Eastern economies caused by ongoing regional conflicts. The move comes as diplomatic friction grows between the UAE and Iran after Emirati authorities arrested several Iranian nationals. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the arrests as baseless, urging the UAE to respect human rights and return to neighborly conduct.

The developments underscore the dual economic and diplomatic pressures facing Gulf states as they navigate the fallout from regional tensions and shifting alliances.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that American forces are fully prepared to launch military action against Iran if ongoing efforts fail to produce an agreement. In an interview with CNBC, Trump said the U.S. military could begin operations at any time and that the current ceasefire period had been used to stockpile weapons and ammunition.

Trump stated that the United States had taken advantage of the pause to strengthen its military readiness, emphasizing that the armed forces were eager and equipped for potential operations. He added that Iran might also have used the same period to prepare its own resources.

The remarks signal a renewed warning to Tehran that failure in negotiations could lead to military consequences, underscoring heightened tensions between the two nations.

US Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan has been postponed, according to reports published on April 22, 2026. The trip was intended for participation in a second round of peace talks involving Iran. However, the White House canceled the visit just hours before the ceasefire was set to expire, citing Tehran’s failure to respond to Washington’s negotiation proposal.

The New York Times reported that a US official confirmed the postponement, explaining that Iran did not meet the conditions set by the United States. The second phase of peace discussions had been scheduled to begin on Tuesday. CNN added that despite uncertainty surrounding the Pakistan trip, Vance attended several meetings at the White House on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the same report, Vance had been expected to depart for Islamabad in the morning, but officials convened to discuss next steps, leading to the suspension of his travel plans. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also seen arriving at the White House shortly afterward.