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At Cheltenham, the noise comes first. The “Cheltenham roar” will roll off Cleeve Hill at lunchtime, the familiar signal that four of National Hunt racing’s biggest days are under way. What will matter after the echo fades is how many throats are behind it — and what those numbers say about a festival recalibrating after a boom-and-bust attendance cycle. In 2022, the Cheltenham Festival drew a record 280,000 fans through Prestbury Park. Organizers responded with a daily cap of 68,500 the following year as the course brimmed…

Iran vowed to continue missile attacks and ruled out negotiations with the United States on Tuesday, minutes after President Donald Trump predicted the war would be “over very soon,” underscoring a widening gulf in messages as strikes rippled across the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed to oil tankers. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told PBS News the country is prepared to sustain its campaign “as long as necessary” and that talks with Washington are “no longer on the agenda.” Iran’s…

UAE says consulate attacked by drone amid fraught Middle East security climate The United Arab Emirates said one of its consulates was targeted by a drone, an incident the government described as a serious breach of diplomatic protections as authorities worked to assess the impact and circumstances. Initial information released by the UAE did not specify the consulate’s location, the extent of any damage, or whether there were casualties. The government indicated that relevant authorities were investigating and coordinating…

Somalia: Jubaland president meets U.S. military officials to bolster war on Al-Shabaab KISMAYO, Somalia — Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam on Monday hosted Maj. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr., the commander of Special Operations Command Africa, for talks in Kismayo aimed at deepening joint efforts against al-Shabaab and reinforcing security operations across southern Somalia. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening strategic partnerships, accelerating coordinated counterterrorism operations and sustaining…

Australia has granted asylum to five players from Iran’s women’s national team after fears they would face persecution if forced to return home, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Sunday. “They are welcome to stay in Australia, and they are safe here, and should feel at home here,” Burke told reporters. He later posted on social media: “Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iranian Women’s Soccer team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, to be safe and have a home here.” The move follows a turbulent…

Nigeria to Host Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, Building on Past Success The Federal Republic of Nigeria has officially signed the hosting agreement for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027), taking over the baton from Algeria, which successfully hosted the fourth edition that recorded an impressive US$49.94 billion in trade and investment deals. The agreement signing ceremony took place in Lagos, the designated 'host city', highlighting Nigeria's commitment to enhancing intra-African trade. This event was…

GLASGOW, Scotland — Glasgow Central, Scotland’s biggest train station, remained closed Monday after a major fire tore through a neighboring 19th-century building off Union Street, causing a partial dome collapse and leaving only the facade of the corner property at Gordon Street and Union Street standing. No injuries have been reported, but officials said the closure is likely to continue until Wednesday, disrupting thousands of journeys in and out of the city center. The blaze broke out Sunday night in a building adjacent…

ISTANBUL — Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, went on trial Monday in a sweeping corruption case that opposition leaders and rights groups call a politically motivated effort to block his path to the presidency. The hearing in Silivri, on the outskirts of Istanbul, was suspended after roughly 15 minutes amid chaos and procedural disputes. Arrested on March 19 last year — the day he was named the presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) — Imamoglu has been held ever since. He is…

G7 weighs release of strategic oil reserves as IEA signals no immediate action G7 finance ministers are expected to discuss a possible coordinated release of strategic oil reserves as the war in the Middle East rattles energy markets, a French government source said today. The International Energy Agency, which coordinates emergency actions among major importers, said there is “plenty of oil in the market” and no collective action is planned for now, even as it keeps “all options” open. The debate comes as U.S. benchmark…

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday signed a revised federal constitution into law, replacing the 2012 provisional charter and setting five-year terms for federal institutions in a move billed as a milestone for state-building but denounced by opposition figures as an overreach. The signing at the Presidential Palace capped a contentious review that culminated last week when both chambers of the Federal Parliament approved the overhaul in a joint session. The new document completes a long-stalled…