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USC tops with JuJu Watkins return

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USC tops with JuJu Watkins return

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The 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament concluded in Phoenix, with UCLA defeating South Carolina to win the national championship. The Bruins have six seniors and will be revamping their roster for next season.

There is still a lot that needs to be resolved in women’s college basketball before we can truly know who will be the best team next season. Several transfers available in the portal this week (from Audi Crooks to Kymora Johnson) could dramatically change the team’s outlook. Some openings in the coaching carousel also need to be addressed.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate or project.

Without any actual data to be released, USA TODAY Sports projects USC to be the No. 1 overall seed in the 2027 Women’s NCAA Tournament. The reason is simple. Because JuJu Watkins is back and will be teaming up with a stellar lineup that includes Jazzy Davidson, Kennedy Smith, and Saniyah Hall.

UW will also look to earn a top seed as long as Sarah Strong is around, Michigan returns a star-studded trio of sophomores, and South Carolina is also inevitable.

As we look ahead to the 2027 NCAA Tournament, it’s important to remember that the number of at-large bids will drop by one. That’s because the Pac-12 has been reborn with former members Washington and Oregon, Mountain West refugees, Texas and Gonzaga. Therefore, there are 32 automatic bids determined by the conference champion and 36 at-large bids.

Here’s a pretty early look at what the 2027 Women’s NCAA Tournament standings will look like.

vegas 1

Los Angeles, California

  • 1 U.S.C.
  • 16 University of California, Irvine / Loyola Marymount
  • 8 Baylor
  • 9 Tennessee

Norman, Oklahoma

  • 5 Ohio State University
  • 12 Green Bay
  • 4 Oklahoma
  • 13 Arkansas

Iowa City, Iowa

  • 6BYU
  • 11 Virginia Tech / Florida
  • 3 iowa
  • 14 Montana

Austin, Texas

  • 7 University of California Los Angeles
  • 10 rice
  • 2 texas
  • 15 Central Arkansas

philadelphia 2

Storrs, Connecticut

  • 1 Yukon
  • 16 Eastern Shore, Maryland
  • 8 washington
  • 9 Colombia

Raleigh, North Carolina

  • 5 Maryland
  • 12 Davidson
  • 4 NC state
  • 13 Vermont

Nashville, Tennessee

  • 6 Nebraska
  • 11 UCF/USF
  • 3 Vanderbilt
  • 14 Eastern Kentucky

Durham, North Carolina

  • 7 Gonzaga
  • 10 Texas A&M
  • 2 duke
  • 15 Navy

las vegas 3

Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • 1 Michigan
  • 16 Southern Indiana
  • 8 Syracuse
  • 9 Oklahoma

Fort Worth, Texas

chapel hill, north carolina

  • 6 Arizona
  • 11 Oregon
  • 3 North Carolina
  • 14 Campbell

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • 7 Minnesota
  • 10 Clemson
  • 2LSU
  • 15 McNeese

philadelphia 4

columbia south carolina

  • 1 South Carolina
  • 16 ETSU / Alabama A&M
  • 8 Villanova
  • 9 virginia

South Bend, Indiana

  • 5 Kentucky
  • 12 North Dakota
  • 4 Notre Dame Cathedral
  • 13 Ball condition

Morgantown, West Virginia

  • 6 Michigan State
  • 11 Belmont
  • 3 West Virginia
  • 14 Radford

Louisville, Kentucky

  • 7 Colorado
  • 10 Fairfield
  • 2 Louisville
  • 15 Farley Dickinson

Last 4 ins: Florida, USF, UCF, Virginia Tech

First 4 out: Seton Hall, Indiana, Mississippi, California

Pakistan and China broker fragile Iran ceasefire

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Pakistan and China broker fragile Iran ceasefire

Pakistan is involved in a conflict with Afghanistan. and China, the United States’ biggest global rival. It emerged as an unlikely but effective mediator. Their role is not a simple one.

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A group of rebellious actors rallied, and three of them spoke from the geopolitical cliff edge at the 11th hour.

A peacebuilding nation is fighting another nation to end a war on its borders. The second is a world power with no military presence in the Middle East, which views economic influence over the United States as a strategic priority.

April 7 began with President Donald Trump widely criticized for threatening to destroy “the entire civilization” of Iran unless it agreed to end the war started by Israel and the United States. The deal ended when Iran, Israel, and the United States agreed to a two-week cease-fire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In the background are two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are embroiled in conflict. And China, the United States’ biggest global rival, has emerged as an unlikely but effective intermediary. The first round of US-Iran negotiations aimed at fleshing out a 10-point peace plan is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on April 10.

From the rainy fire to a ceasefire. How did President Trump change course on the Iran war?

So how do we explain Pakistan and China’s contribution to securing a temporary and fragile peace?

It’s never simple.

Pakistan and China: unlikely peace mediators?

For weeks, Chinese authorities have been pressuring Pakistan to resolve the issue with Afghanistan first before acting as a mediator with Iran. Both sides accuse each other of harboring militants for terrorist attacks. China has also called on Pakistan to show restraint in Afghanistan, but it is unclear whether this call has been heeded.

As far as China is concerned, it is in no hurry to end the Iran war, said Joyce Karam, an analyst at Al-Monitor, a news and opinion website focused on the Middle East. “Why? Beijing is watching the United States sink deeper into the Iranian battlefield, pouring billions of dollars into it, drawing down its forces, and pursuing a decisive victory that will never come. This is a geopolitical windfall for China, weakening American control without China firing a shot.”

Still, other currents may be at work.

Pope Leo XIV: President Trump’s threats to Iran are ‘unacceptable’ and calls for peace

Pakistan’s former national security adviser Moeed Yusuf said in an interview that Pakistan and Iran have long-standing ties rooted in common culture, history and religion. Tehran was the first capital to formally recognize Pakistan after its creation in 1947, and Islamabad subsequently retaliated by supporting Iran’s new Islamic government after the 1979 revolution. The two neighboring countries are connected by a border stretching more than 500 miles along the southeastern tip of Iran, and unrest in either country could easily spread to the other. Pakistan also has the second largest Shia Muslim population in the world after Iran. It also serves as a diplomatic intermediary for certain Iranian interests in Washington, where Iran does not have a formal embassy.

“Pakistan was in a unique position, albeit coincidentally,” Yusuf said.

“Pakistan is the only country that happens to have a direct lineal relationship with the president of the United States, who happens to be the most important actor at the moment. It is the country that has had the best relations with China, and as we all know, we needed China to get flexibility from Iran. Pakistan was also the only country that had very good relations with all the Gulf states.”

Pride may also have been a factor.

“Pakistan has scored its biggest diplomatic victory in years,” South Asia expert Michael Kugelman said in a social media post. “It also defied many skeptics and naysayers who did not believe it was capable of accomplishing such a complex and high-stakes feat. But most importantly, it helped avert a potential catastrophe in Iran.”

Cases of Chinese intervention

For China, the calculation to end the war and engage in efforts to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz served China’s interests on a number of fronts, said Robert Mugar, co-founder of Canada-based geopolitical risk and security consultancy SecDev Group and Brazil-based think tank Igarape Institute.

Muga said the war posed a direct threat to China’s energy security demands.

war in Iran. How President Trump has threatened and delayed an attack on Iran

Muga said China is heavily involved in the stability of the Gulf and is highly exposed to the Strait of Hormuz. It is also highly dependent on Iranian crude oil. He said that by the end of 2025, about 13% of China’s offshore oil imports will come from Iran, accounting for about 80% of Iranian oil exports. He said a prolonged disruption to shipping would raise import costs, weighing on economic growth and increasing pressure on an already fragile economy.

“Iran is a strategic partner. China doesn’t need Iran to win. China needs Iran to survive, stay estranged from the West, and remain commercially dependent on China. A weakened but functioning Iran is still a useful partner. A broken Iran, or an Iran pushed back toward accommodation with Washington, is not.”

Muga added that Pakistan’s role is more visible and real. As of late March, Islamabad was already facilitating indirect contacts. By the time the ceasefire was announced, Pakistan had advanced to the front lines. President Trump publicly linked his recent “pause” to his conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Live updates of the war. President Trump announces a ceasefire with Iran. Will peace last?

China’s role was different.

“Although not the main broker for the ceasefire, China helped create the conditions for imagining and ultimately selling it. Pakistan provided a practical route, and China provided political weight and strategic support,” he said.

A former senior Chinese official agreed with that assessment.

“It is in China’s interest to see this war subside,” Wang Huiyao, a former senior adviser to the Chinese government, said in a telephone interview from Beijing. Mr. Wang is currently the director of the Center on China and Globalization, a think tank based in Beijing. He said he believed China and other major U.N. Security Council members would ultimately need to provide “peace guarantees” to ensure the ceasefire was maintained and lead to a more durable peace. He said the situation would “probably” be under control by the time Trump visits China in May.

If you mailed your return, the tax payment deadline is not April 15th. Maybe this week.

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If you mailed your return, the tax payment deadline is not April 15th. Maybe this week.

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Unless you are a paper filer, the deadline to pay your taxes is April 15th.

Changes at the U.S. Postal Service could mean the deadline for mailing tax returns could be as early as April 9, tax experts say.

In January, the USPS announced that changes to its shipping operations meant that some mail items might not arrive the same day they were dropped off at processing facilities. Because mail is automatically postmarked at the processing facility, the postmark date does not necessarily correspond to the date the mail carrier collects the customer’s mail or drops it at a retail store.

If it’s not postmarked on or before April 15, the IRS will consider your tax return and payment late. Late returns can result in IRS penalties and interest on the amount you owe.

How much is the IRS penalty?

The IRS penalizes people who owe money for late filing of tax returns. Calculated from the due date and includes:

  • Submission failure: 5% of the taxes due each month, or part of the month, can be filed up to 25% late. If your return is more than 60 days late, you will also be subject to a minimum late filing penalty. The minimum penalty is the lesser of $525 or 100% of the unpaid tax for the current year.
  • Payment default: 0.5% of unpaid taxes will be added for each month or part of a month from the filing deadline until taxes are paid in full, up to a maximum of 25%. If taxes remain unpaid 10 days after the IRS issues a Notice of Intent to Seize Assets, the penalty increases to 1%.
  • interest: Unpaid taxes will be charged at interest rate determined quarterly by the federal short-term interest rate plus 3%. Daily interest increases. In the first three months of this year, the rate was 7%.

How many taxpayers could be affected?

The IRS said it processed more than 165 million individual income tax returns last year. Approximately 94% were submitted electronically, and 6% (approximately 11 million) were submitted on paper.

However, not everyone will be penalized for late returns. Taxpayers who do not owe taxes or owe a refund generally do not have to pay penalties or interest.

A tax calculator that promises big refunds? The IRS says be careful.

How can I avoid return delays?

To avoid potential filing delays caused by USPS changes, H&R Block tax experts suggest:

  • Please mail your return at least 3 to 5 business days before the April 15 deadline to ensure it arrives on time.
  • Stand in line at your local post office and have your return postmarked by hand. The USPS states that “manual postmarks will be applied free of charge.”
  • File your tax return electronically by April 15th. According to Taxpayer Advocate, an independent organization within the IRS that serves taxpayers, “e-filing is the safest, fastest, and most accurate way to file your tax return.”
  • If you are at risk of missing the deadline, please request an extension. The extension must be filed by April 15th, so you have until October 15th to file your taxes. However, it is important to note that an extension is a file extension, not a pay extension. If you believe you owe taxes, you must do so by April 15 or you will be assessed a penalty on the unpaid amount.

Medora Lee is USA TODAY’s money, markets and personal finance reporter. Please contact us at mjlee@usatoday.com. Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

Daily Briefing’s latest information on Iran and Georgia

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Daily Briefing’s latest information on Iran and Georgia

Welcome to the daily briefing. Start with the following headings.

nicole farato Here’s the news you need to know Wednesday, from President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire with Iran to Republicans’ narrow victory in Georgia. Plus: Zendaya and her ‘Euphoria’ classmates are back.

President Trump’s deadline for Iran has passed. Instead, a ceasefire was established.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday night that he had reached a two-week ceasefire with Iran, after the United States threatened to destroy Iran’s energy and transportation infrastructure and wipe out “an entire civilization.”

what happened: The suspension came less than two hours before the 8 p.m. ET deadline set by President Trump. The president said the deal is conditional on Iran allowing crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport much of the world’s oil.

Politics: Some Republican lawmakers reprimanded President Trump ahead of the ceasefire announcement. That sparked a wave of lawmakers calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove President Trump.

Why are waterways so important? Approximately 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies pass through this narrow strait.

More news you need to know right now

tv set

feel a sense of euphoria

Zendaya wowed the stars on the red carpet for HBO’s “Euphoria.” Season 3 debuted with a gala premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on April 7, 2026.

masters 2026

Today may be the best day in golf.

The Masters Par 3 Contest will tee off at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday as part of preparations for the 2026 Masters. Before the green jacket competition officially begins, this wholesome event features the wives and children of the world’s best golfers as caddies in the ropes.

before you go

Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.

Wall Street futures rise on relief from US-Iran ceasefire

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Wall Street futures rise on relief from US-Iran ceasefire

Johan M. Cherian and Purvi Agarwal
|Reuters

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April 8 (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday as investors breathed a sigh of relief after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire and oil prices fell on hopes of resuming energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came less than two hours before US President Donald Trump’s deadline and was a reversal from previous warnings that Iran would destroy “an entire civilization” if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that normally handles about a fifth of the world’s oil trade.

Global assets rose sharply, with stock indexes in Asia and Europe rising 4% to 5%, but oil prices fell 16% to nearly $90 a barrel. The dollar, which has attracted attention as a safe-haven asset over the past month, has fallen 1% against the Japanese yen JPY=.

“Sustaining gains will need to be supported by concrete progress in negotiations. The fundamental question of whether Iran will permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz and whether a lasting agreement can be reached remains unresolved,” said Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro.

more: President Trump announces ceasefire between US and Iran after attack threat: Latest information

“If two weeks pass without a deal, we can expect a sharp and inexorable reversal of this relief rally.”

The ceasefire brought immediate relief to investors after weeks of conflicting signals from Trump and Iran dragged the conflict into two months.

As of 4:05 a.m. ET, the Dow E Mini YMcv1 was up 1,045 points (2.23%), the S&P 500 E Mini EScv1 was up 162.25 points (2.44%), and the Nasdaq 100 E Mini NQcv1 was up 771.25 points (3.16%).

more: Gas prices are unlikely to fall quickly even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens

Futures tracking the interest rate-sensitive Russell 2000 index RTYcv1 rose 3.6%, while the CBOE volatility index .VIX fell 5.01 points to 20.77, its lowest in more than two weeks.

U.S. energy stocks fell in premarket trading, tracking global oil prices. Shares of Exxon Mobil XOM.N fell 6.2%, Chevron CVX.N 5.4% and Occidental Petroleum OXY.N 7.8%.

Stocks related to the travel and leisure sector rose slightly. Shares of American Airlines AAL.N and Delta Air Lines DAL.N rose 7.3% and 6.8%, respectively, while cruise lines Carnival CCL.N and Norwegian Cruise Line NCHL.N rose 9.4% and 8.1%, respectively.

more: From a hail of gunfire to a ceasefire: How did President Trump change course on the Iran war?

Big banks also rose before the bell, with JPMorgan Chase & Co JPM.N , Bank of America BAC.N and Wells Fargo WFC.N each rising more than 2%.

Beyond immediate relief, global investors remain focused on seeing whether a ceasefire leads to a broader solution before making big bets.

Still, concerns persisted that prolonged conflict and rising energy costs could weigh on economic growth and complicate the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy trajectory. In March, the benchmark S&P 500 .SPX posted its biggest monthly decline in a year.

Treasury yields fell on Wednesday, while interest rate futures show investors see a 56% chance of a 25 basis point cut by the end of 2026, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Before the war broke out, traders were betting on at least two 25 basis point rate cuts this year.

Later in the day, investors will parse comments from Fed policymakers Mary Daley and Christopher Waller, as well as minutes from the central bank’s March 17-18 meeting.

(Reporting by Johan M. Cherian and Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aitch and Shelly Jacob Phillips)

Matthew Perry’s stepmother explains family’s ‘irreparable’ pain

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Matthew Perry’s stepmother explains family’s ‘irreparable’ pain

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Matthew Perry’s stepmother has explained how the family is suffering “irreparable” pain from the “Friends” actor’s 2023 death.

The day before the sentencing of Jasveen Sangha, the so-called “queen of ketamine,” who pleaded guilty in a U.S. Department of Justice criminal case related to Perry’s death, prosecutors submitted a victim impact statement by Debbie Perry. The application, obtained by USA TODAY, was filed April 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Debbie Perry, who is married to Matthew Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, wrote: “The pain you have caused to hundreds or even thousands of people is irreparable. There is no joy to be found and no light in the window.” “They’re not coming back. That thought comes to us every day.”

She said she “cannot escape” these feelings and blamed the sangha.

“You caused this,” Debbie Perry said. “You, who were good at business and good enough to make money, chose a path that only hurt people. How sad for you. How can you find joy? Have you ever found joy? How sad for all of us. We will miss him.”

At the end of her poetic letter, Debbie Perry asked the court to impose the maximum prison sentence so that Sangha “cannot harm other families like ours.”

Matthew Perry’s family says: Mother says she had a ‘premonition’ before actor’s overdose

In a sentencing memo filed March 25 and obtained by USA TODAY, Sangha’s attorney wrote that Sangha “accepted responsibility for serious criminal conduct. She does not downplay the seriousness of that conduct or the consequences of the charges in this case.” They called for “the imposition of a prison sentence followed by conditions of appropriate supervised release.”

Matthew Perry, 54, was found unresponsive and face down in the “heated end” of his swimming pool on October 28, according to an autopsy. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to USA TODAY that firefighters responded to Matthew Perry’s Southern California home at 4:07 p.m. and found an “adult male unconscious in a separate hot tub.”

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later ruled Perry’s death an accident, attributing the cause to “the acute effects of ketamine.” Contributing factors were drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine is an “opioid-like drug used to treat opioid addiction and acute and chronic pain,” according to a 29-page autopsy report obtained by USA TODAY.

What happened to the people charged in Matthew Perry’s death?

Sangha was one of five people charged in Matthew Perry’s death. According to her plea agreement signed Aug. 14, she agreed to plead guilty to five charges. three counts of distribution of ketamine; One count of distribution of ketamine causing death or serious bodily injury.

Each defendant entered a guilty plea. Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Dr. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to distribute the dissociative anesthetic ketamine and was sentenced to eight months of home confinement. Film producer Eric Fleming and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa have not yet been sentenced.

Fleming admitted to distributing Sangha’s ketamine that killed Perry, pleading guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Iwamasa agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Sangha’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 in Los Angeles.

‘Charlie’s Angels’ stars reunite, but Farrah Fawcett still feels lonely

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‘Charlie’s Angels’ stars reunite, but Farrah Fawcett still feels lonely

Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic TV show.

LOS ANGELES — Three original “Charlie’s Angels” stars, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd, reunited on Monday, April 6, for PaleyFest, the 50th anniversary of the classic series that dominated television from 1976 to 1981.

But one major angel was missing from the Dolby Theater stage. It’s Farrah Fawcett. Farrah Fawcett quit her role as Jill Munroe on the 1977 ABC hit after just one season and died in 2009 at the age of 62.

Rudd, 74, recalled to USA TODAY on the red carpet that he wore a shirt that read “Farrah Fawcett Minor” on his first day on set as Chris Munro, replacing the late superstar (who was performing under his married name of Major Fawcett at the time).

“We knew there was no one to replace Farrah,” Rudd said. “I made a joke of myself. I didn’t know if people would accept me. And everyone said, ‘That’s what Farrah would do.'”

Cheryl Ladd Talks about fighting ‘aggressive’ breast cancer

Rudd said on stage that she flatly rejected three requests from creator and famous producer Aaron Spelling to appear on the show. But then Spelling proposed to Ladd the idea of ​​playing Fawcett’s character’s sister.

“He said, ‘If you’re Farrah’s sister, you’re part of the family,'” Rudd recalled. “And I said, ‘I’m in!'”

“She stepped right in and didn’t miss a beat,” said Jackson, 77, who played Sabrina Duncan.

Smith, 80, who played Kelly Garrett for all five seasons, admitted she was disappointed to see Fawcett leave. The two remained devoted friends.

“I was sad and confused, yeah, and I knew there were a lot of people in her ear,” Smith said, referring euphemistically to the career advice Fawcett was receiving at the time.

“She will be in our memories,” Smith added, to applause from the audience. “She’s here.”

The stars recalled Fawcett’s great moments, including filming an episode in frigid Taos, New Mexico, where everyone was freezing. Jackson and Smith recalled that Fawcett disappeared and was found drinking vodka to keep warm in a small room with a gas stove and burners on full blast.

The show, hosted by TV reporter George Pennacchio, also paid tribute to other cast members who had passed away, including John Forsyth (who died in 2010 at the age of 92), best known as the voice of Charlie the Leader, and David Doyle (who died in 1997 at the age of 67), who played Charlie’s trusted assistant John Bosley.

Smith quits ‘Bond Girl’; Jackson quits ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’

Women sacrificed their careers for promises and contracts with Charlie’s Angels. Jackson was scheduled to star in the 1979 drama Kramer vs. Kramer, but ultimately declined the role due to scheduling conflicts.

“They rescheduled the movie probably four times,” Jackson said, adding that in the end, Spelling didn’t comply. The “Kramer” part is famously played by Meryl Streep. Jackson said she quit Charlie’s Angels after the third season in 1979 so as not to miss out on other meaningful projects. (Shortly thereafter, she appeared in The Scarecrow and Mrs. King, about a divorced housewife who becomes a secret agent.)

Smith turned down the opportunity to appear as a “Bond Girl” in an unspecified James Bond film, citing television contracts.

“Things happen for a reason,” Smith says. “As it should be, it will be.”

Smith also recalled being attached to an early version of the film 9 1/2 Weeks starring John Travolta. The role was ultimately given to Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. She was also in the running for a role in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, but was not considered.

“I didn’t understand it, and my husband regrets it,” Smith said with a laugh. “But sometimes when you read a script, it doesn’t necessarily apply to you.”

‘Charlie’s Angels’ ‘influenced’

All three actresses emphasized that appearing in the groundbreaking Charlie’s Angels was the best move they had made in their careers. As the theater’s enthusiastic crowds attested, it led to opportunities and stardom that continue 50 years later.

“I knew this show was going to be different, special, and unique,” Smith said. “Rather than being rescued from danger, three women are chasing danger. Our show was the first of its kind. It gave women permission to be independent, break out of the mold, and not be defined by men.”

“I think we made an impact,” Jackson said.

In addition to the PaleyFest event, the Paley Center will celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Charlie’s Angels” with a gala in New York City on May 14th.

“It was a real honor to be a part of the show,” said Rudd, who was used to being stopped by fans on the street. “I felt so loved. There was no way I was in a bad mood. Hearing those words always cheered me up.”

Mega Millions jackpot reaches $100 million ahead of April 7 drawing

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Mega Millions jackpot reaches 0 million ahead of April 7 drawing

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The Mega Millions jackpot continues to rise ahead of Tuesday’s April drawing, now reaching $100 million, or $44.7 million when calculated as a cash lump sum.

The drawing comes just one day after Powerball produced its third jackpot winner of 2026 after a lucky player in Delaware matched all five numbers in addition to the Powerball in the Monday, April 6 drawing and won the $231 million grand prize, according to the Powerball website.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest Mega Millions paintings.

What are the winning Mega Millions numbers for April 7, 2026?

The winning numbers for Tuesday, April 7th’s Mega Millions drawing are: 5, 15, 22, 33 and 37. mega ball is 2.

more: Powerball player wins $231 million jackpot. See where the winning ticket was sold

When is the next Mega Millions drawing?

The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, April 10th at 11:00 PM ET.

Top 10 Mega Millions Jackpots

  • $1.602 billion as of August 8, 2023 (Florida)
  • $1.537 billion as of October 23, 2018 (South Carolina)
  • $1.348 billion as of January 1, 2023 (Maine)
  • $1.337 billion as of July 29, 2022 (Illinois)
  • $1,269 million as of December 27, 2024 (California)
  • $1,128 million as of March 26, 2024 (New Jersey)
  • $1.05 billion as of January 22, 2021 (Michigan)
  • $983 million as of November 14, 2025 (Georgia)
  • September 10, 2024, $810 million (Texas)
  • $656 million as of March 30, 2012 (Illinois, Kansas, Maryland)

more: Which states have the most lottery winners? What you need to know.

What is Mega Millions?

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tickets cost $5 and players choose five numbers from 1 to 70 (white balls) and one number from 1 to 24 (gold mega ball), or Quick Pick/Easy Pick, which randomly generates a number.

To win the jackpot, your ticket must match all six numbers. If multiple players hit the jackpot, the winnings will be split.

How to play Mega Millions

Tickets can be purchased at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. Some states also allow online purchases.

Players select five white balls (1-70) and one mega ball (1-24). If you don’t want to choose the numbers yourself, you can choose Quick Pick, which lets the computer choose the numbers at random.

Mega Millions tickets have built-in multipliers that increase prizes other than the jackpot.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

Shot fired at Indianapolis politician’s home after data center vote

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Shot fired at Indianapolis politician’s home after data center vote

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INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis City Council member says more than a dozen shots were fired into his home on April 6, less than a week after he publicly supported a data center project that has been embroiled in controversy for the past six months.

A spokesperson for Indianapolis City-County Councilman Ron Gibson told the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, that Gibson woke up around 12:45 a.m. local time on April 6 to a series of gunshots fired inside his home. A total of 13 shots were fired into the residence.

A handwritten note was also left under the doormat that read, “No data centers allowed,” the spokesperson said. No injuries were reported, but Gibson’s 8-year-old son was home at the time.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that shortly after 9 a.m. on April 6, officers were called to Gibson’s residence for a report of shots fired at a residence. Police said they are investigating the incident as an isolated incident and are being assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“We understand that there can be strong opinions and disagreements in public services, but violence is never the answer, especially when it puts families at risk,” Gibson said in a statement.

Indianapolis City Council members share support for data center proposal

The incident comes less than a week after Gibson endorsed a proposed data center in his district. On April 1, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission voted 6-2 to approve a rezoning petition that would allow Los Angeles-based startup Metroblox to build a data center.

Metrobloks plans to spend $500 million to build two large buildings to house its large-scale servers on a 14-acre site on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The campus will be approximately 168,000 square feet and will include 36 generators. Utility company AES Indiana will supply power to the 75-megawatt center, and Metroblox agrees to pay for 100% of the required fiber and energy infrastructure upgrades.

Gibson spoke in support of the project at the public hearing, saying the site has been abandoned for years and has contributed little to economic development in the neighborhood. At the next full meeting of the Indianapolis City-County Council, the council is expected to certify approval of a zoning change for Metroblox to build the data center.

“This site has been underutilized for years, and today’s action is an important step toward returning it to productive use in a way that benefits both the surrounding area and our city,” Gibson said in an April 1 statement. “As a district councilor, I have no intention of withdrawing this petition even if it is presented to the full council.”

Data centers emerge as “villains”: Rising electricity costs put data centers on the ballot in 2026

Local authorities condemn incident at Indianapolis City Council member’s home

Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis said the council condemned the violent act against Gibson and asked anyone with information to come forward to authorities. As of April 7, police have not announced any suspects.

“The entire Indianapolis City-County Council is deeply disturbed and distressed by the violence that targeted the home of our colleague, Councilman Ron Gibson. The reported shooting and the threatening messages left demonstrate an alarming and unacceptable escalation,” Lewis said in a statement.

“Disagreement is a natural and necessary part of civil life. But violence, threats and intimidation are not forms of dialogue. They are an attack on our shared commitment to democracy, civil discourse and community security,” she added.

After the incident, the city council held its regular meeting on the night of April 6th as usual. After the rally, Gibson condemned the violence and said he would continue to come to work every day to represent the interests of his constituents.

Gibson also said he doesn’t regret speaking out in support of the project, saying it will be an economic development boon for the neighborhood and the city.

Data centers face community opposition across the US

Data centers have emerged as a pressing issue for communities across the United States. Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google each recently abandoned plans to build multibillion-dollar data centers over community objections.

In Indianapolis, neighborhood groups have formed to organize information campaigns and protests against data centers. Many nearby residents argue that locating the data center there would not help the community and pose environmental and health risks to the predominantly Black neighborhood, which has struggled to attract investment to the area.

According to a 2025 report by the University of Michigan’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, data centers do not bring well-paying technology jobs or raise utility costs in nearby communities. Technology hubs filled with computer servers that power our digital world also require large amounts of energy and water to operate.

By 2025, data centers will account for more than 4% of total electricity consumption in the United States. This demand is expected to reach more than 12% by 2028. Data centers in North America will also use nearly 1 trillion liters of water in 2025, roughly equivalent to the annual demand of New York City, according to data from market research firm Mordor Intelligence.

Contributor: Caitlin Looby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reuters

When is the last day to file taxes? What you need to know

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When is the last day to file taxes? What you need to know

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The clock is ticking toward the April 15 U.S. tax deadline, and millions of taxpayers think it’s too late to save. But that’s not the case. Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association of the Self-Employed, says there are still strategies you can use to reduce the amount you pay, even in the final days before filing your return.

Recent tax reforms and deduction adjustments are opening up new savings opportunities in 2025, according to experts cited by groups such as the National Association of Self-Employed Workers. He warns that the important thing is to know where to focus and act by the deadline.

What documents do I need to file taxes in the US?

The first step to avoid mishaps is to gather all the necessary documents before you start filing.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), this includes your Social Security number, a W-2 form if you work as an employee, a 1099 form if you are self-employed, and records of your income, investments, and deductions.

It’s also important to have evidence of expenses on hand that may generate tax benefits, such as medical expenses, donations, and education expenses. Organizing these documents not only streamlines the process, but also reduces the risk of errors that can lead to audits and refund delays.

What tax changes should I know about this year?

This year, there will be important adjustments that can directly impact your returns. The most notable increase in the standard deduction is $15,750 for single taxpayers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly.

Additionally, the state and local tax (SALT) deduction limit would increase to $40,000, which could particularly benefit people living in high-tax states.

This change could lead more taxpayers to itemize deductions rather than the standard deduction.

How can I save on taxes before April 15th?

One of the most effective ways to reduce your taxable income is to make contributions to a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or traditional IRA, by April 15th. For 2025, the 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500, but IRAs allow up to $7,000, with additional contributions allowed for people age 50 and older. These contributions can directly reduce your tax liability.

Another important tool is a Health Savings Account (HSA), which is available to those enrolled in high-deductible health plans.

According to San Francisco CPA Richard Pong, these accounts have a triple tax benefit. That means you can reduce your taxes today, grow your money tax-free, and withdraw it tax-free for qualified medical expenses. The 2025 cap is $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families.

How can I avoid mistakes and fraud when filing my taxes?

One of the most common mistakes is not checking that the name and Social Security number match exactly with official records. People often forget that additional income or digital documents don’t arrive in the mail, which can lead to problems with the IRS.

Fraud also increases during this period. The IRS will not contact taxpayers through text messages, social media, or surprise phone calls.

And just like if the creator promises an unusually large refund without a clear explanation, that can be a red flag.

Contributed by: USA TODAY

Boris Q’va is a Spanish national trends news reporter for Connect/USA TODAY Network. You can follow him on X as @ByBorisQva or write to him at BBalsindesUrquiola@gannett.com.

Some Republicans opposed escalating the Iran war. let’s see what they said

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Some Republicans opposed escalating the Iran war. let’s see what they said

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President Donald Trump’s escalation of rhetoric ahead of a self-imposed deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz drew condemnation from some Republican lawmakers ahead of the ceasefire announcement on April 7.

In a post on Easter Truth Social, President Trump threatened that the United States would attack civilian infrastructure if Iran did not open up critical corridors for oil and petrochemical shipments that Iran had closed in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The president began by saying in his post that April 7th is “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, bringing it all together,” with a deadline of 8 p.m. ET and adding, “Open the (expletive) Channel you crazy bastards, or you’ll live in hell – just watch! Praise be to Allah.” In a post on the morning of April 7, President Trump said, “The entire civilization will perish tonight.”

However, about 90 minutes before the deadline, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would “stop bombing and attacking Iran for two weeks.”

International law experts and aid groups say the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges could constitute a war crime. Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard said in a statement that the April 7 post “conceives a potential threat of genocide” and “brazenly cuts into the core provisions of international humanitarian law, with potentially devastating consequences for more than 90 million people.”

Criticism from within President Trump’s own party continued to divide the MAGA movement over the war. Conservative critics say the war contradicts the anti-interventionist “America First” promise that returned President Trump to the White House.

Polls show that the Iran war is widely unpopular, but many Republicans support President Trump’s way of handling the conflict. A CNN poll released last week found that only 33% of Americans approve of President Trump’s handling of Iran, compared to 73% of Republicans.

Republicans who oppose the possibility of an escalation of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran include:

latest: President Trump announces ceasefire with Iran after threatening to damage ‘civilization’

marjorie taylor green

Former MAGA figure and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said Trump’s Easter post “doesn’t make America great again and this is evil.”

In response to the April 7 Truth social post, Greene called for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

tucker carlson

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said on the April 6 episode of “The Tucker Carlson Show” that President Trump’s Easter threat against Iranian civilian infrastructure was a “war crime” and a “moral crime.”

Carlson said the destruction of the power plant would lead to the deaths of civilians: “Infants in incubators will die, people in hospitals will die,” he said. He also took issue with President Trump’s use of language, accusing him of “tweeting the F-word on Easter morning” and “ridiculing Iran’s religion.”

The former Fox News host has criticized the Iran war from the beginning, with President Trump telling the New York Post in an April 7 interview that “Tucker has a low IQ and has no idea what’s going on.”

the. ron johnson

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, expressed concern about Iranian attacks on bridges and power plants.

“I hope and pray…this is a real uproar,” Johnson said on April 6 on the John Solomon Report podcast. “I don’t want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I don’t want to see that.”

the. lisa markowski

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in an April 7 X post that President Trump’s “civilization dies tonight” post is “an affront to the ideals our country has sought to protect and promote.”

“All involved, especially the president and Iranian leaders, must quell the unprecedented saber insurrection before it is too late,” Murkowski wrote.

Congressman Nathaniel Moran

“I do not support the destruction of ‘entire civilizations,'” Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran said in an April 7 post on X. “I have supported the President’s decisions on the Iran conflict because they were consistent with the authorities and the ultimate goal of protecting national security interests.”

Rep. Kevin Kiley

California Congressman Kevin Kiley said in an April 7 post on the X Show that “America will not destroy civilization.”

What will happen next in Iran?

President Trump’s ceasefire announcement capped a whirlwind day dominated by his threat to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran unless Iran reopens the strait. The incident rattled world leaders, roiled global financial and energy markets, and drew widespread condemnation, including from United Nations leaders and Pope Leo.

Pakistan has been acting as an intermediary between the US and Iran for several weeks. In an April 7 statement announcing the ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran acted “in response to a brotherly request” from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, told USA TODAY in a written statement that the ceasefire was the result of “coordinated leadership” and came from “persistent and patient diplomacy.” More diplomacy was needed, he said.

Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security described the deal as a victory over the United States and claimed that President Trump had accepted Iran’s terms to end hostilities.

“The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military have gotten Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue,” White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said in a statement to USA TODAY.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security said in a statement that negotiations will begin on April 10, but that Iran does not trust the United States.

The newspaper reported that the council said the ceasefire “does not mean the end of the war” and that the country would accept an end to the war once the details of the plan were “finalized in negotiations”.

Contributed by: Reuters

How President Trump has threatened and delayed attacks on Iran.

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How President Trump has threatened and delayed attacks on Iran.

President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 7, about 90 minutes before the 8 p.m. deadline to destroy Iran’s energy and transportation systems if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“We agree to a two-week moratorium on bombing and attacks on Iran,” President Trump said in a statement on social media.

The ceasefire announcement marks the fourth time since the war began on February 28 that President Trump has delayed the deadline he set for Iran.

The April 7 agreement was announced nearly 11 hours after President Trump escalated his threats against Iran to include annihilation. “An entire civilization will perish tonight and we will never get it back. I don’t want it to happen, but it probably will,” Trump posted at 8:06 a.m. EDT.

How President Trump Threatened and Postponed, Iran attack

  • March 21st: President Trump gives to Iran 48 hours It has demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and said Iran’s power grid will be attacked if the regime fails to comply.

If you can’t see the graphic, click here to reload the page.

  • March 23rd: President Trump postpones threatened attack 5 days left Until March 28th.

  • March 26th: President Trump extends the postponement until April 6th. 10 days left.

  • April 4th: President Trump on social media says Iran is 48 hours (until April 6) before “all hell reigns.”

  • April 5th: On Easter Sunday, President Trump posted an expletive-laced threat: “Tuesday is Power Plant Day and Bridge Day rolled into one in Iran.” Tuesday is April 7th.

President Trump said the April 7 cease-fire agreement hinged on Iran allowing crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport much of the world’s oil.

“This will be a two-sided ceasefire! The reason for it is because we have already met and exceeded all our military goals and are much closer to a final agreement for long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East,” Trump wrote.

A White House official told USA TODAY that Israel would also join the ceasefire if Iran opened the strait. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that the country would abide by the ceasefire “if attacks on Iran are stopped.”

Contributors Michael Loria, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Christopher Cann, Francesca Chambers, Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY

SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. Reuters

Mountain Dew’s dirty soda “Dirty Mountain Dew” is now available in stores

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Mountain Dew’s dirty soda “Dirty Mountain Dew” is now available in stores

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Mountain Dew has officially joined the dirty soda trend.

The newest Mountain Dew beverage, Dirty Mountain Dew, is now in stores along with Dirty Mountain Dew Zero Sugar. Both are available in single 20-ounce bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Dirty soda drinks, made by adding small amounts of coffee creamer or flavored syrup to carbonated soda, have become a popular alternative beverage, especially among Gen Z consumers.

Dirty Mountain Dew mashes up the soft drink’s “iconic citrus flavor with a smooth, creamy flavor finish,” the brand said in a news release.

“Mountain Dew has always led the way in what’s next in flavor, and Dirty Soda is exactly that moment,” Michael Smith, vice president of marketing for PepsiCo Beverages Inc., said in a statement. “Dirty Mountain Dew is a bold and refreshing take on our iconic citrus flavor in a whole new way. The bold, creamy, ready-to-drink experience is exactly what Dew fans have been waiting for.”

Best free advertising ever?: Watch a jar of Nutella float through the Artemis II spaceship.

How to get Dirty Mountain Dew for free from DoorDash

Starting April 29th, for a limited time in select markets, you can add Dirty Mountain Dew to your DashMart cart as a free item. This giveaway is available while supplies last (one per person). This deal is available in the following markets: Detroit. Kansas City; Las Vegas; Salt Lake City; San Diego; Chattanooga, Tennessee. Huntsville, Alabama. Toledo, Ohio. Sarasota, Florida. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fresno, California. and Tampa, Florida.

Dirty Mountain Dew follows parent company Pepsi’s launch of Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream flavor in January 2025.

Competitors are also embracing the dirty soda trend. Keurig Dr. Pepper said it plans to release Dr. Pepper Creamy Coconut in April and A&W Root Beer Float in July.

Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

How did President Trump change course on the Iran war?

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How did President Trump change course on the Iran war?

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President Donald Trump has threatened an attack on Iran that would wipe out “an entire civilization.” But as the deadline for the ultimatum approached, he tried a different ploy.

He announced a two-week ceasefire.

President Trump announced late Tuesday, April 7, that he would halt impending attacks on Iran for two weeks to allow time for peace negotiations in the U.S. and Israel’s war with Middle Eastern countries.

“We are doing so because we have already met and exceeded all of our military goals and are very close to reaching a final agreement for long-term peace with Iran and peace in the Middle East,” Trump said in a statement on social media.

President Trump made the announcement just two hours before an 8 p.m. deadline on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for oil and petrochemical shipments. He threatened to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure unless the strait was reopened, warning that an attack would “death the entire civilization.”

It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire would take effect. Israeli media reported that it would begin once Iran reopens the strait. It also reported that Israel expects Iranian attacks to continue for some time.

Live updates: President Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire in Iran after threatening to damage ‘civilization’

How did we get here?

The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, following weeks of military buildup and failed diplomatic efforts to avert war. More than 3,000 people were killed in the conflict.

Pakistan has been acting as a mediator between the United States and Iran for several weeks, presenting a 10-point peace proposal that calls for, among other things, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that Iran had accepted the terms of a temporary ceasefire “in response to a brotherly request” from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, told USA TODAY in a written statement that the ceasefire was the result of “coordinated leadership” and came from “persistent and patient diplomacy.” But more diplomacy was needed, he said.

Why did the US accept the ceasefire?

The cease-fire announcement ended a whirlwind day that began when President Trump threatened in a social media post to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran unless it reopened the strait.

President Trump’s rhetoric has rattled world leaders, roiled global financial and energy markets, and drawn widespread condemnation, including from members of Congress, the United Nations Secretary-General and Pope Leo.

Another factor was the fact that the average price of gasoline in the United States exceeded $4 per gallon, a concern for American voters and consumers.

A temporary cease-fire would accomplish one of President Trump’s objectives of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and buy him more time to find a way out of a war that polls show is deeply unpopular with the American public.

If Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz, Israel will also join the ceasefire, a White House official told USA TODAY. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that the country would abide by the ceasefire “if attacks on Iran are stopped.”

“President Trump and our strong military have convinced Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations continue,” White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Why did Iran accept the temporary ceasefire?

Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security described the deal as a victory over the United States and claimed that President Trump had accepted Iran’s terms for ending hostilities.

The deal also meant Iran could avoid destroying infrastructure and potentially further bloodshed if President Trump carried out his threat of further attacks.

what happens now

Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif announced in a post on X that a delegation from the United States and Iran has been invited to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Friday, April 10, to continue negotiations on a 10-point peace plan to end the conflict.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security said in a statement that negotiations will begin on Friday, but that Iran does not trust the United States.

The newspaper reported that the council said the temporary ceasefire “does not mean an end to the war” and that the country would accept an end to the war once the details of the plan were “finalized in negotiations”.

Levitt said in a statement that the proposed peace plan “is a viable basis for negotiations and negotiations will continue.”

Contributed by: Reuters

Krispy Kreme unveils ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ donut pack

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Krispy Kreme unveils ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ donut pack

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Krispy Kreme is celebrating the return of the hit family comedy ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ with some great new items fans can get their hands on this weekend.

The donut chain announced on April 7 a new “Malcolm in the Middle” mix pack that includes 10 original glazed donuts, surrounded by 10 original glazed donuts and 10 sprinkle donut dots, and, of course, “in the middle.” The Specialty Mix Pack comes in a special wrapped box inspired by the show.

The specialty pack will be available at participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide from April 10th to 12th.

How can I watch “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair”?

The four-episode revival, titled “Malcolm in the Middle: Life Isn’t Fair,” follows a grown-up Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) who is separated from his dysfunctional family (parents Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and five siblings) and sees his carefully arranged life fall apart. His girlfriend Tristan (Kiana Madeira) and daughter Leah (Keeley Kirsten) are exposed for the first time to his chaotic family.

What triggered this disaster? Lois and Hal’s 40th anniversary party.

Many of the original cast members from the 2000-2006 Fox show return for the revival, with the exception of two family cast changes. And as the series unfolds, there are some special cameos in store for longtime fans.

All episodes of the show will premiere on Friday, April 10 on Hulu on Hulu and Disney+ for Bundle subscribers in the United States.

Cast of “Malcolm in the Middle”

  • bryan cranston as hull
  • Justin Barfield as a lease
  • frankie munis as malcom
  • christopher masterson as francis
  • Jane Kaczmarek as lois
  • Caleb Ellsworth Clark and dewey
  • emmy coligado Piama
  • Vaughan Murray as kelly
  • Kiana Madeira as tristan
  • Keeley Kirsten as rear

Contributor: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.

Lindsey Vonn recovers with comfy Punch the Monkey stuffed animal

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Lindsey Vonn recovers with comfy Punch the Monkey stuffed animal

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Count Lindsey Vonn is one of Punch the Monkey’s many fans.

Someone sent Bon a stuffed orange orangutan that resembled Punch’s beloved companion when he was hospitalized after a horrific downhill accident at the Olympics. Punch was abandoned after birth, and zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo gave the monkey a stuffed animal to comfort him.

An image of Punch dragging a stuffed animal with him has gone viral and is loved by people all over the world.

Full interview: Lindsey Vonn on rehab, talks about possibility of return after crash

“Some of my friends don’t know what a punch is, but I mean, everyone should know what a punch is,” Vonn told USA TODAY Sports on April 7. “Punch is the cutest”

Vonn spoke to USA TODAY Sports as part of Invivyd’s “Antibodies for Every Body” campaign.

The overwhelming support she received after the accident was a bright spot for Bon, who spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in Treviso, Italy, and Colorado. Vonn suffered a compound fracture in her left leg in the accident, as well as a tibial plateau fracture and a fracture in her right ankle.

She has undergone five surgeries to date, including a fasciotomy to save her leg after developing compartment syndrome.

While friends sent books and face masks, Vonn also received gifts from fans around the world. In addition to cards and flowers, she also received a giant stuffed teddy bear, a stuffed eagle and a stuffed shark while in Italy.

Vonn said she held the shark on the way to surgery and said it was still in bed.

“I felt so isolated from everything, but I think everyone’s support really made me feel better,” Vonn said. “I felt support like I’ve never felt before. As athletes, you get injured all the time, but 24 hours later no one remembers. ‘This is your ACL. Okay, see you in eight months.’

“But this was different and I was really grateful,” Vonn said. “Those messages really, really helped me through a lot of hard times, especially when I was in the hospital far from home.”

As for Punch, Vonn has been following him since she returned to the United States and was happy to hear that he might have a girlfriend.

“It’s always a bright spot,” Bon joked. “If Punch can (find love), so can I.”

McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunter” rare card is being resold at a high price

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McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunter” rare card is being resold at a high price

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The competition for rare cards included in McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunter” meals extends beyond the restaurant and beyond the price of the meal itself, with certain rare cards exceeding $100.

Fans of the Netflix animated film who want to collect all the cards included in Hunter/X Meal and Saja Boys Breakfast Meal (available for a limited time) can now find the cards on resale sites. On eBay, you can spend $120 on an ultra-rare card featuring the characters Rumi and Juni holding hands. There are also rare Rumi holographic cards that sell for over $75. A four-card set of lesser rarities is also available for $40.

Elsewhere on the Whatnot site, where pop culture collectibles are sold through auctions and live shopping shows, you can find Hands cards for $65.

The resale activity prompted online fans to start a separate chat thread on social media platform Reddit to avoid high prices. “I got something from Rumi and Jinwoo. Is that okay? Can I sell it and retire? 🤞,” one person posted on Reddit.

Food warning updates: Public health warning for frozen Dino chicken nuggets rescinded

McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunter” Meal – What’s Included?

Starting March 31st, McDonald’s began offering two menus themed around “KPop Demon Hunter,” featuring the Korean pop girl group “Huntr/X,” which fights demons through music, and the boy band “Saja Boys,” made up of demons. Each meal comes with a collectible pack that includes an art photocard featuring either Huntr/X or Saja Boys and a Derpy the Tiger access card with a QR code to unlock exclusive content via the McDonald’s app. According to a McDonald’s news release, it’s a “special look at the group that won the fight for their fans.”

The ingredients included in the meal are:

  • Hunter/X’s Meal: Order 10 Ramyeon McShaker fries with chicken McNuggets, medium soft drink, and a soy, garlic, sesame, and spice flavor inspired by Rumi, Mila, and Zoe’s go-to noodle snack. Sprinkle the seasoning in a Mac shaker bag, add the fries, and shake to distribute the seasoning over the fries. It also comes with two types of sauce: sweet hunter sauce and tangy demon sauce.
  • Saja Boys breakfast meals: Sausage McMuffin with egg is topped with spicy saja sauce. It also comes with hash browns and a small soft drink.

How many McDonald’s “KPop Demon Hunter” cards are there?

There are a total of 13 cards in McDonald’s KPop Demon Hunters collaboration. A full set of cards is selling for $250 on eBay.

Cards with the characters Rumi and Jinwoo holding hands are considered “chase cards.” This is a term that refers to the rarest or most valuable card in a set. This card may be found when purchasing Huntr/X Meal or Saja Boys Breakfast Meal.

This is the only card that shows rarity with a heart symbol, and McDonald’s senior marketing director Guillaume Huin described it in a post on X as one of the co-promotion’s “rarest” cards.

What is the rarity of the meal cards in “KPop Demon Hunter”?

Other cards you can get with meals in “KPop Demon Hunters” are:

In addition to the Rumi and Jinu cards, there are five other cards available from The Hunter/X Meal (listed with rarity).

  • Rumi holofoil in white costume (3 diamonds, rare)
  • Hunter/X (2 diamonds, uncommon)
  • Rumi (1 diamond, common)
  • Mira (1 diamond, common)
  • Zoe (1 diamond, common)

In addition to Rumi and Jinwoo, there are 7 Saja Boys breakfast cards

  • Jinu Demon Holofoil (3 diamonds, rare)
  • Saja Boys (2 Diamonds, Uncommon)
  • Jinu (1 diamond, common)
  • Abby (1 diamond, common)
  • Baby (1 diamond, common)
  • Mystery (1 diamond, common)
  • Romance (1 diamond, common)

So far, the demand for the cards has not led to the situation the Japanese fast-food chain faced last year, when McDonald’s canceled its collaboration with Pokémon, after demand for the special Pikachu card led to long lines at restaurants and massive amounts of food waste as buyers threw away uneaten meals.

Contributors: Amaris Encinas, Jordan Green, Jonathan Limehouse.

Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.

Trump and Republicans narrowly win in race for MTG’s former GA seat

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Trump and Republicans narrowly win in race for MTG’s former GA seat

Democrats narrowly missed in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, but a predicted “blue wave” undermined previous MAGA-fueled victories in the region.

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  • Republican Clay Fuller defeated Democrat Sean Harris in Georgia’s special congressional election.
  • Despite the Republican victory, Democrats narrowed the gap established by Donald Trump and Greene last time.
  • The race was seen as a test of the strength of the MAGA movement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Republican Clay Fuller defeated Democrat Sean Harris in Georgia’s special election for Congress on April 7, but the growing blue wave eroded the wide 2024 Republican lead in the district built by President Donald Trump and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Less than 90 minutes after polls closed, the Associated Press and NBC News called the race.

The battle to replace Greene, who resigned in January due to a falling out with President Trump, has been widely watched as signs of cracks in the “Make America Great Again” movement and the extent to which the Democratic Party’s political tide will grow in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Fuller, a former prosecutor, was backed by President Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and other Republican leaders celebrated the victory, adding needed members to their narrow House majority.

“In Congress, Mr. Clay will be a strong ally of President Trump, helping House Republicans grow the economy, secure the border, and keep Americans safe,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, RN.C., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement.

Secession from the Republican Party in the Red Light District

Mr. Fuller won decisively in most of the 10 counties in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, which stretches across northwest Georgia from the Atlanta suburbs to the Tennessee border.

Fuller’s lead hovered around 16 points after 92% of the votes were counted. This is a 21-point difference from the Republican Party compared to the previous presidential election in 2024, when Trump won by about 37 percentage points.

No Democrat has ever received more than 40% of the vote in the district.

Harris, a 60-year-old cattle farmer and former Army brigadier general, opposed the Iran war, calling it a “war of choice” by the president and requiring more oversight from Congress.

“This was not the result we wanted, but the message is clear: the people here are ready for leadership that puts them first,” Harris said in a post to X shortly after the results.

Nationally, Democrats focused more on the close margin than on the final result in the district, which stretches from the Atlanta suburbs to the Appalachian Mountains across the Tennessee border and is one of the most MAGA-friendly regions in the country.

For example, in deep red Chattooga County, which borders Alabama, Mr. Fuller won by about 40 points, according to preliminary figures. That’s less than Ms. Greene, who beat Ms. Harris by about 52 points two years ago.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the race to support Harris’ vulnerable campaign, said that while the Democratic candidate narrowly missed, she generated excitement in a district that until recently was unthinkable.

Buttigieg, who is rumored to be a 2028 presidential candidate, said in an April 7 post on the “If we continue to work hard, we will see incredible results in November.”

Exclusive Audio – Melissa Gilbert slams Busfield accusations

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Exclusive Audio – Melissa Gilbert slams Busfield accusations

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  • Actor Timothy Busfield was indicted in February 2026 on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child.
  • Mr Busfield and his wife Melissa Gilbert denied the charges during a police interview, calling them “cruel” and “disgusting”.
  • The charges stem from allegations that he abused twin boys on the set of the Fox drama “Cleaning Women.”

When Melissa Gilbert appeared on “Good Morning America” ​​on April 6 for her first interview about the child molestation charges against her husband, Timothy Busfield, she was calm and concerned.

But in a November 2025 police interview with Busfield, obtained exclusively by USA TODAY, Gilbert joined in and sounded angry.

She called the accusations “cruel, vengeful and disgusting.”

Busfield was charged with child molestation on January 9, and was arrested shortly thereafter for allegedly abusing twin boys, ages 7 and 8, on the set of Fox’s Cleaning Women.

The crime thriller, shot mostly in an Albuquerque studio, is about a Filipino surgeon who comes to the United States to treat his son and ends up working as a scavenger for the mob. Busfield worked as a director and producer on this series.

A New Mexico grand jury indicted Bassfield on February 6 on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child. A trial date is set for May 2027.

Melissa Gilbert gives her first interview She shares traumatic experience for her family about Timothy Busfield’s accusations

On Nov. 3, 2025, when Albuquerque Police Detective Marvin Brown called Busfield to question him about allegations of child sexual abuse, Gilbert joined him on the call.

“You’re here with my wife Melissa Gilbert and I,” Busfield tells him.

Brown read Basfield his Miranda rights.

In a 35-minute phone interview recorded by Brown’s lapel camera, Busfield told detectives that he was never alone with the twin child actors and that his goal was to create a fun and playful atmosphere on set.

He called the abuse accusations “ridiculous.”

“It’s ridiculous that I would behave inappropriately with young boys,” Busfield said in a video obtained by USA TODAY from the New Mexico Second Judicial District Court based on a public records request.

Busfield, 68, is best known for his roles on “The West Wing” and “Thirty Something.” He denies the charges. In court, his lawyer said the boys’ parents were so dependent on their salaries (about $2 million for three seasons) that they fabricated the abuse and manipulated the children into lying.

“It’s cruel, it’s vindictive, it’s disgusting. And in my opinion, it doesn’t help the kids. It only hurts them,” Gilbert told police.

Gilbert said Busfield’s demeanor on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” was friendly and put the children at ease. As a child, Gilbert played the title role of Laura Ingalls on the television show Little House on the Prairie, which aired from 1974 to 1983.

“It’s really important that children feel safe with the people they’re working with, so the general practice is to be as friendly as possible so that they trust you and open up on screen,” she told police. “I was always impressed by the way Tim was so comfortable with the children.”

Gilbert and Busfield hosted cast parties at their homes with the boys and their parents, and attended family gatherings at other cast and staff homes.

“My sweet boys. They are boys,” she said. “They’re cute and fun, little boys. I mean, I’ve shopped for them for Christmas. I know them.”

“They’re good kids,” Busfield added. “They’re good kids.”

Ms Busfield and Ms Gilbert blamed the boys’ parents for the alleged abuse.

Busfield told police she was never alone with the children at the scene of the shooting. Teachers and parents were always present.

“Probably legally…it’s Warner Bros.’ safety protocol, establishing a precedent that you’re never left alone (with children),” he said.

Mr Busfield said he encouraged a “playful environment”.

“Whether it was tickling the kids or telling them they did a great job, it was like a coach. I treated them like a coach. That was my job. This was great, that was great, everything was positive,” he told police.

When asked if he tickled or hugged the children on set, he answered: “I don’t remember tickling children overtly, but it’s not unusual for me.”

“What is your protocol when touching, picking up, handling children?” Brown asked him.

“It’s not allowed at all. There’s no protocol. I mean, I’m around people all the time. It would be in front of their parents. There’s never a weird moment about it. I don’t remember picking up those boys,” Busfield said. “It’s disgusting. I’ve never done anything sexual or weird with them. It’s just disgusting.”

Busfield said a law firm hired by Warner Bros. Television Studios investigated anonymous tips left on the actors union hotline and found no abuse. None of the incidents were serious enough to call the police.

He said he had heard that the boys’ families had threatened to file a civil lawsuit. “This is the first time we’ve ever heard of someone going to the police. It was always shocking to us because when kids feel like they’re in trouble, the first thing they do is go to the police,” he said.

Gilbert feared that if the family filed a civil lawsuit, she and Busfield would have to tell their seven children about the allegations.

No civil suit has been filed. The boys’ parents did not return calls from USA TODAY.

Gilbert’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY.

Ms Gilbert said the past seven months had been “hell” for her family. “This is horrifying and sickening.”

Laura Trujillo is a national columnist focused on health and wellness. She is the author of “Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter’s Search for Truth and Renewal” and can be reached at ltrujillo@usatoday.com.

Burger King begins hiring 60,000 new employees

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Burger King begins hiring 60,000 new employees

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Burger King is expanding its workforce by hiring about 60,000 new employees this year.

Burger King began a nationwide hiring campaign on April 2 to hire up to 60,000 new employees from entry-level to management positions to its approximately 6,500 U.S. restaurants, according to a news release.

A news release said the search followed “a series of brand milestones that have repositioned Burger King restaurants as destinations for both guests and employees.”

“To maintain this momentum, we need great people who are passionate, hard-working and genuinely friendly,” Burger King President Tom Curtis said in a statement. “A warm welcome goes a long way, and our team members who bring that energy every day are at the heart of what makes the Burger King experience so special.”

USA TODAY reached out to Burger King for details on the annual number of in-store employees, but as of April 7th, the company had not received a response.

How much is Burger King’s hourly wage?

As of March 30, the average hourly wage for Burger King team members in the U.S. is $13.76, according to Indeed. According to the job site, team members in Boston earn the highest hourly wage at $16.91, while team members in Columbus, Ohio, come in second at $14.87.

The average hourly wage for Burger King managers in the U.S. was $16.38 as of February 27, according to Indeed. The job site said the cities with the highest salaries for Burger King managers were Chicago ($121,727 per year), Los Angeles ($120,269 per year) and Atlanta ($116,386 per year).

Fast food: “KPop Demon Hunter” meals arrive at McDonald’s. What’s inside?

Burger King recently revamped its Whopper.

Notably, the burger chain revamped its iconic Whopper earlier this year, offering a “higher-quality, better-tasting bun” and “better-tasting mayonnaise,” all in a “box that allows you to serve it to your guests right out of the kitchen.”

The change, the first for Whopper in a decade, comes after Curtis asked customers in February for feedback about their experience at the chain.

How to apply to Burger King

A list of available positions nationwide can be found on the Burger King website (careers.bk.com).

Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

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