Tourist charged with damaging historic Florentine fountain in pre-wedding prank Police catch woman, 28, climbing colossal 16th-century statue of Neptune to touch its genitals as a dare A tourist has been charged after allegedly climbing a colossal marble statue in Florence to touch its genitals for a pre-wedding prank. Experts said the woman caused thousands of euros of damage to the Neptune fountain in Piazza della Signoria. Continue reading...

Tourist charged with damaging historic Florentine fountain in pre-wedding prank

Real estate agent who cut over 140 trees in King County park boasts of views in sale listing The agent who removed public trees last year now cites the “once-in-a-lifetime” mountain views from the property, court records show.

Seattle realtor who cut 140 decades-old trees boasts of 'once-in-a-lifetime' views in listing, reports Conrad Swanson
@seattletimes-rss.bsky.social www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

The special relationship is now an abusive marriage It's time to face the truth about Britain and the US

'The special relationship is now an abusive marriage': Excellent by @yasminalibhaibrown.bsky.social @theipaper.com
inews.co.uk/opinion/spec...

'I was surprised it didn't come sooner, b/c anyone who says anything not approved of should expect it': Nikita Khrushchev's granddaughter speak to Iona Cleave about being on Putin's list of enemies @telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

Are World Cup Tickets Worth the Price Tag? “It just doesn’t feel like this World Cup has the idea of making sure the fans have a good time at its center.” Soccer fans and host-city politicians are furious about FIFA’s new ticketing system.

'It's like they're trying to out every dollar':
@johncassidysays.bsky.social on dynamic pricing for World Cup amid capitalism with no controls @newyorker.com
www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...

Podcasters, presidents, and psychedelics: How Joe Rogan got Trump into ibogaine Billionaire Peter Thiel also stands to benefit from the executive order signed on Saturday.

'Rogan isn’t the only prominent figure pushing psychedelics': @hurwitz.bsky.social on how America's most popular podcaster got Trump into Ibogaine @motherjones.com
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

A home for herons amid the houses of Bainbridge Island Great blue herons are caring for their eggs and delighting neighbors on Bainbridge Island, where a land trust bought a small piece of land just for them.

'Megan Rohrssen speaks for the blue herons of Winslow': Great piece on battle for seabirds on Seattle's Bainbridge Island
@seattletimes-rss.bsky.social @nickdeshais.bsky.social
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

'I’m struck by the juxtaposition of the interconnected world MLK recognised and that we inhabit today': Greg Ripley on being good neighbour in Minneapolis Image: Fibonacci Blue. Via @wikicommons.bsky.social gregoryripley.substack.com/p/on-neighbo...

Is Starbucks breaking up with Seattle? Starbucks' big new office in Nashville, Tenn., and its interest in a Bellevue office last year, have revived questions about the future of one of Seattle's most Seattle brands.

Do read: 'Is Starbucks breaking up with Seattle?'
@pauledroberts.bsky.social @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social
www.seattletimes.com/business/sta...

Is Starbucks breaking up with Seattle? Starbucks' big new office in Nashville, Tenn., and its interest in a Bellevue office last year, have revived questions about the future of one of Seattle's most Seattle brands.

Do read: 'Is Starbucks breaking up with Seattle?'
@pauledroberts.bsky.social @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social
www.seattletimes.com/business/sta...

Trump backs Braun to unseat WA’s Gluesenkamp Perez in US House race • Washington State Standard Republican John Braun on Tuesday snagged President Donald Trump’s backing in his bid to unseat Washington U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Trump backs John Braun to take on WA’s 3's Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in one of nation's tightest congressional races, reports @dospueblos.bsky.social @washingtonstatestandard.com washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/14/t...

Inside the UK's drone capital leading the fight against Putin Swindon – the town that built the Spitfire – has already attracted several cutting-edge defence firms and could soon be home to a huge drone testing and training site

'UK city that built Spitfire set to produce drones for Ukraine's war with Russia': @cahalmilmo.bsky.social paid a visit @theipaper.com

Why Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between US and Iran Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between Iran and the United States, hosting talks in Islamabad this week.

A challenge for Pakistan as peace maker - it still does not officially recognise the state of Israel @apnews.com
apnews.com/article/paki...

Trump's popularity is in freefall. But these Maga fans are staying loyal Despite growing divisions in the US President’s base amid the Iran war, his staunchest supporters still have faith

Trump’s popularity is in freefall. But these Maga fans are staying loyal': Great to have this in
@theipaper.com inews.co.uk/news/world/t...

US military whistleblower Chelsea Manning arrested at Iran war protest Hundreds taken into custody ahead of US Senate vote on blocking arms sales to Israel

'I understand the cruelties of war are not inevitable': Chelsea Manning arrested at Iran war protest @telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026...

Forest Service axes most research stations as severe fire season builds in Pacific Northwest The U.S. Forest Service is shutting down research stations around the country, including centers in Portland, Seattle, and Wenatchee, Washington.

Forest Service axes research stations as severe fire season threatens Pacific Northwest, reports @kuow.org @heyjohnryan.bsky.social www.kuow.org/stories/fore...

After failure of US-Iran talks, where has Pakistan been left, asks
@kathygannon.bsky.social
kathygannon.substack.com/p/they-came-...

What international law says about Trump's threats to bomb Iran's bridges and power plants For perspective on President Trump’s talk about bombing Iran’s bridges and power plants and whether that's legal under international law, Geoff Bennett spoke with retired Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Van...

'He's both threatening war crime & engaging in war crime through the rhetoric itself': Ex-military lawyer Rachel VanLandingham on Trump's threat to attack all Iranian infrastructure @newshour.bsky.social www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

Worth reading: 'What are Trump’s options for when his Iran deadline expires' @telegraph.co.uk @paulnuki.bsky.social
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez - Craig Murray As I was leaving the University of the Communes in Tocuyito, after a joyful and uplifting visit, an earnest young Professor came up to me and pulled me aside. Very quietly, he asked me what was going ...

'Almost everything you' re told in the West about Venezuela is untrue': Very often worth reading @craigmurrayorg.bsky.social
to get different take on events www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/202...

Rubio: Birthright citizenship makes US exceptional Sen. Marco Rubio, a presidential hopeful, sat down with CNBC's John Harwood to talk about his views on citizenship among other topics.

Rubio, who was born in Miami to Cuban migrants, secured citizenship via 14th Amendment. He now support Trump's plan to limit it, but once argued it made the US 'exceptional'
@cnbc.com www.cnbc.com/2015/08/20/r...

Trump adores the monarchy. It could unlock a vital opportunity Washington insiders believe King Charles may be key to rescuing the UK-US special relationship

'Trump adores the monarchy. It could unlock a vital opportunity': Great to see this in @theipaper.com
inews.co.uk/news/world/t...

There's always too little news about people being bombed by West, so much credit to @coraengelbrecht.bsky.social
for highlighting experiences of at least some Iranians podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... Image: Marjan Yazdi @NewYorker

UN human rights chief calls on US to conclude probe into Iran school strike The strike - which killed at least 168 people, mostly children - "evoked a visceral horror", Volker Türk said.

UN human rights chief calls on US to conclude probe into Iran school strike, reports Tom Bennett @bbcnewsi.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Israel using white phosphorus to scorch earth in south Lebanon, researcher says Human Rights Watch and others say they have documented use of weapon in civilian areas, which some argue is illegal

Israel using white phosphorus to scorch earth in south Lebanon, researchers say': Via @hrw.org
Damien Gayle & @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

UK ‘runs out’ of warships - leaving Germany to take over key Nato mission The failure to provide a military presence in the Atlantic will reignite criticism over the decline of British defence capabilities

UK ‘runs out’ of warships – leaving Germany to take over key Nato mission, reveals @richardvaughan.bsky.social @theipaper.com
inews.co.uk/news/politic...

A Mar-a-Lago flip: Dems win Trump's hometown Florida House district Tuesday's results add more tallies to a trend of Democrats flipping Republican-held seats in state legislatures across the country over the past 14 months.

Trump - who claims he opposes mail-in ballots - used one, as did Melania Trump & Barron - in Mar-a-Lago district vote that Republicans lost to Democrats. Via @politico.com &
@fineout.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

A Mar-a-Lago flip: Dems win Trump's hometown Florida House district Tuesday's results add more tallies to a trend of Democrats flipping Republican-held seats in state legislatures across the country over the past 14 months.

Trump - who claims he opposes mail-in ballots - used one, as did Melania Trump & Barron - in Mar-a-Lago district vote that Republicans lost to Democrats. Via @politico.com & @fineout.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Pakistan Negotiating An End to Iran War? Kind of Makes Sense America has never met a Pakistani General it didn't like or worked with whether Gen Zia during the 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan or Gen Musharraf after the 9/11 attacks on America

'Since its inception Pakistan has navigated complicated, complex neighbourhood, rife with border disputes, religious & economic rivalries': Kathy Gannon on why Islamabad makes sense as venue for US-Iran talks. Image: Anja Niedringhaus
kathygannon.substack.com/p/pakistan-n...

Danish veterans turn their back on ‘bully’ Trump, reports
@jameserothwell.bsky.social @telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...