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Officials say the advisories are layered on top of lingering impacts from an already wet March.

Europe Drafts Pie In The Sky Plan To Free Up Hormuz Without 'Belligerent' Parties

This is quite the ambitious headline revealing the latest 'plan' for Hormuz to come out of Europe, as it sits on the sidelines watching the US get potentially bogged down in the region following a month of heavy airstrikes on Iran: Europe drafts postwar plan to free up Strait of Hormuz without US, WSJ reports.

This is apparently a plan for after the main crisis is over, amid the strait still being blockaded (with the each warring side insisting it is they in control of the strategic chokepoint waterway). It seems the main idea is to eventually take the United States out of the equation, allowing only for the 'neutral' countries to free up and clean the Hormuz Strait.

Both the Iranians & Americans still step aside & tiny French warships will move in?

But the whole thing is very strange - on the one hand, it purports to keep one of the key belligerents, namely the United States, at bay - while on the other envisioning European/NATO military ships engaged in freedom navigation operations, including some mine-clearing.

For example, there is this line from the Journal report: "French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday the plan is for an international defensive mission that doesn't include the 'belligerent' parties, meaning the US, Israel and Iran. European diplomats familiar with the plan say European ships wouldn't be under American command."

According to a Newsquawk summary of the WSJ main highlights: 

—European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude the US.

—Some differences must still be worked: French diplomats think that any US involvement in the operation would make it less palatable to Tehran, while British officials worry that not including the Americans will anger Trump and limit the operation's scope.

—The plan has three broad aims:

1) put logistics in place to ensure the hundreds of ships currently stuck in the strait can leave.

2) Employ a major demining operation to clear the way for a far larger number of ships to use a broader part of the strait.

3) Removing Iranian mines in Hormuz is crucial to getting ships going again.

The reality is that this supposed plan brings things back full circle to problem #1... as it's not as if either Iran, or the United States, will simply shrug and cede control so that a European military coalition can step in and take over.

Which side will ever actually agree to this? The obvious answer, at least for the time being and foreseeable future is... nobody.

And then there's the question of what leverage or force will Europe employ to assert its military presence in the strait in order to keep all parties in line... some mere harsh language and strong words?

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 05:45

Trump is hoping the blockade will force Iran to accept America's terms ⁠for ending a war launched by the US and Israel on February 28, including opening up the Strait of Hormuz.

A Long Island mayor has refused to resign over an alleged homophobic comment he made on social media towards an animal rights activist and her dancing wife — despite pushback from his fellow board members. Tom Gardella, the mayor of Sag Harbor Village, sparked fury last month when he responded to Texas resident Rebecca Chavez’s...

The crashes followed a chaotic morning that saw six separate wrecks.

The suspect in a string of attacks in DeKalb County, Georgia, is a repeat offender and a naturalized US citizen from the UK, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Rolls-Royce 470-Megawatt Nuclear Reactors To Power 3 Million UK Homes For 60 Years

Authored by Mrigakshi Dixit via Interesting Engineering,

The UK’s new nuclear approval at Wylfa officially kicks off what the government calls a “golden age” for the nation’s energy sector.

Depiction of Rolls-Royce SMR site at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales.

On April 13, the government approved the development of three Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site on Anglesey, North Wales. 

This project, a partnership between Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear, aims to advance domestic, low-carbon energy technology.

The BBC reported that the three units have a total output capable of powering approximately 3 million homes for over 60 years.

If all goes to plan, the first “Made in Britain” SMRs could begin feeding the National Grid in the 2030s. 

“This is a critical milestone for Rolls-Royce SMR, for Rolls-Royce and for the UK as the Government looks to realize its ambition of a ‘golden age’ of new nuclear,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, on April 13.

Reviving Wylfa

Last November, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the coastline of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) would become the official home for three of the UK’s first small modular reactors.

Through a £2.5 billion partnership, the site is being transformed into a high-tech energy hub.

The original Wylfa power station, once Britain’s oldest nuclear plant, concluded 44 years of operations in 2015, having reached the end of its natural lifespan.

The site’s closure was driven by the aging infrastructure of the 1960s-era reactors and the 2008 cessation of the specific fuel production required to run them. 

Although initial replacement plans were abandoned in 2021, the site is now entering a new chapter following the 2024 proposals to revitalize the location as a modern energy hub.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe pressurized water reactor designed to provide reliable baseload power for at least 60 years. Each unit has a compact footprint of approximately 16 meters by 4 meters. 

According to a World Nuclear News report, the modular design allows 90% of the unit to be manufactured off-site. 

Moving the bulk of the work off-site limits local disruption and ensures a much faster, more predictable construction timeline.

Rolls-Royce SMR chief Chris Cholerton pointed to the project as a clear win for domestic innovation, proving the UK can build its own path to energy security.

UK’s energy independence

The push for energy independence has become a mantra for the UK government. By building locally, the UK aims to insulate itself from global price spikes while meeting its aggressive net-zero targets.

To further the UK’s nuclear ambitions, a £599 million commitment from the National Wealth Fund has been allocated to support the engineering and rollout of these reactors.

The project is a massive engine for employment. Officials estimate it will create 8,000 new jobs. While 3,000 of these roles will be rooted locally in Anglesey, another 5,000 will be spread across the national supply chain.

Industry leaders have hailed the decision as a “historic step” in Welsh industrial growth, positioning the site as the launchpad for Britain’s first fleet of small modular reactors. 

Wylfa has seen false starts before. A previous plan for a large-scale plant was scrapped in 2021, leaving the local community in limbo. While site work begins immediately, a final investment decision isn’t expected until the turn of the decade.

The goal is to clear all planning and regulatory hurdles so the reactors are operational during the 2030s. 

This timeline ensures that once the financial and legal frameworks are settled, the site can begin contributing to the energy grid within the next decade.

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 05:00

Her father was a corporate lawyer and her mother a social worker, 'as far from the entertainment business as you could be' the 54-year-old explained.

Her father was a corporate lawyer and her mother a social worker, 'as far from the entertainment business as you could be' the 54-year-old explained.

The move comes as French officials, including Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, publicly pushed back on the idea of West performing in the city, citing his history of antisemitic remarks.

The move comes as French officials, including Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, publicly pushed back on the idea of West performing in the city, citing his history of antisemitic remarks.

A controversial American YouTuber was sentenced to half a year in a South Korean labor prison for his nuisance behavior, including posting a video of himself crudely dancing on a statue honoring World War II sex slaves.

Twin Suicide Attacks Rock Algerian City Near Where Pope Is Visiting

Algeria has been hit by two terror attacks during Pope Leo XIV's visit, officials say - though at this point there doesn't appear to have been any direct effort at targeting the Pope or his accompanying officials.

Twin suicide attacks rocked a city outside Algeria's capital Monday, just as the American-born Pontiff began his historic visit to the country, AFP reports.

Pope Leo at the presidential palace in Algiers on Monday, via Vatican Media Handout/EPA

"There were two security incidents yesterday afternoon in Blida, incidents of a terrorist nature. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up and were killed," a source told AFP on Tuesday. The city in question is a little less than 30 miles southwest of Algiers.

But importantly, authorities have as yet found no link between the attacks and the pope's visit, which is taking place under tight security. Video reviewed by AFP showed two bodies lying in a street in Blida.

According to a regional news report, "In the videos, several people gathered around the bodies, while passers-by covered them with sheets in a light rain." The report continues, "The remains appeared severely mutilated, and the circumstances of their deaths could not be determined. Based on the images, the scene was located near several shops and a police station."

Another report out of North Africa says that Algerian authorities have remained curiously silent on the incident, perhaps trying to avoid disrupting the Pope's visit, or else on fears that the country will be seen as suffering serious security lapses:

Reports quoted eyewitnesses who said two individuals were wearing explosive belts and tried to target separate locations. Le Point said police officers opened fire on the two attackers before they could reach their targets.

Other reports said the first explosion targeted a security facility in Blida, with the fatal attack causing the deaths of two police officers. Reports also alleged that a second suicide bombing affected a food processing facility in the same province.

But again, little of this is actually confirmed by Algerian security officials. As for Leo, his visit has so far been unfolding without a hitch - but likely his security detail has been tightened and extra vigilant in light of the suicide bombings.

Pope Leo has landed in Algeria, birthplace of St. Augustine - the founder of his religious order. He told reporters on the plane this saint is an important 'bridge' in interreligious dialogue. "We must always seek bridges to build peace & reconciliation." (CNS 🎥/Lola Gomez) pic.twitter.com/SZPYDQ1QUl

— Catholic News Service (@CatholicNewsSvc) April 13, 2026

The Pope kicked off his 11-day tour in four African countries this week- which after Algeria will include Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. He has while in Algeria focused on promoting Christian-Muslim coexistence, and has visited ancient Christian sites tied to when the region was previously predominantly Christian during late antiquity, under the late part of the Roman Empire in the West.

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 04:15

Kirk Moore charged at 20-year-old Victor Lee Hawkins, who was armed with two semiautomatic handguns, in the lobby of Pauls Valley High School, video from last Tuesday’s shooting shows.

Anthony Volpe began a rehab assignment Tuesday and did so with an immediate test against a fellow big leaguer: Phillies ace Zack Wheeler.

Is The EU's €90 Billion Loan To Ukraine Meant To Buy Time For The Return Of Democrats

Authored by Andrew Korybko,

Orban’s “democratic ouster” is expected to remove Hungary’s procedural opposition to the EU’s planned €90 billion loan to Ukraine that’ll be financed by members raising common debt.

RT published a detailed article about this plan here last December, which was a compromise for financing this loan after the bloc failed to reach a consensus to either outright confiscate some of Russia’s frozen assets for giving to Ukraine or use at least some of them as collateral for a loan to it. Readers can learn more here and here.

If everything goes according to plan, and Bloomberg reported that the bloc plans to move swiftly after Hungary held everything up for several months already, then this move risks funding a forever war.

Hopes of a military breakthrough along the front or a diplomatic breakthrough in US-mediated talks have yet to materialize, so the pace of Russia’s on-the-ground advance remains glacial, thus meaning that it could take years to achieve Russia’s reported minimum goal of obtaining control over all of Donbass.

Funding two-thirds of the Ukrainian budget for the next two years per the EU’s goal would likely lead to another two-year round being agreed in order to encourage the US to continue its military aid.

Ever since last summer, the US no longer donates arms to Ukraine but instead sells them to NATO, which then transfers them there. 

Even if Trump suspends these sales, so long as the Ukrainian budget is financed and nothing major changes, then it might hold out long enough for him to change his mind again.

To be sure, Ukraine cannot fight forever since even Zelensky’s new Chief of Staff Kirill Budanov recently admitted that it faces “a huge, huge problem” after new Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov revealed that over 2 million Ukrainians are dodging the draft, which seriously complicates operations at the front.

There’s also always the chance that Putin will turn the special operation into a formal war in which he’d no longer care about civilian casualties in an attempt to decisively end the conflict on Russia’s terms.

There are two competing schools of thought about why he hasn’t yet done so.

One speculates that he doesn’t want to inadvertently risk an escalation with the US that could easily spiral into World War III...

...while the other is that he still truly considers Russians and Ukrainians to be one people like he explained at length in summer 2021’s magnum opus, ergo his reluctance to see their civilians suffer.

At any rate, the forever war scenario assumes that Putin won’t do this, which can’t be taken for granted.

Nevertheless, the EU operates under the assumption that he won’t do so, which explains why it plans to move swiftly to approve Ukraine’s €90 billion loan and still buys arms from the US for transfer to that country.

This not only perpetuates the risk that tensions spiral out of control but also perpetuates the EU’s energy insecurity amidst the ongoing crisis caused by the Third Gulf War since an end to the conflict could hypothetically result in the resumption of Russian energy exports to the EU to its citizens’ benefit.

The EU’s unstated goal is to perpetuate the conflict till at least 2029 in the hope that the Democrats will regain control of the White House and resume the US’ Biden-era Ukrainian policy.

Even though Europeans will economically suffer till then, not to mention more Russians and Ukrainians dying, the bloc is willing to pay these costs in pursuit of its ideologically driven goal of inflicting a strategic defeat upon Russia. Ultimately, however, the conflict might end up strategically defeating the EU instead.

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 03:30

"It infuriates me that she would take advantage of her community, of her family."

This reader asks Dear Abby how she should handle her son-and-law's worsening anxiety.

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The same jackpot amount will be available to players on both sides of the Atlantic with US payouts in dollars and those in the UK in pounds.