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Intermittent fasting’s real benefit may come after you start eating again

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Intermittent fasting’s real benefit may come after you start eating again


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Research continues to uncover new details on how fasting may help extend life.

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications investigated how intermittent fasting can boost longevity in small worms often used in aging research.

Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas compared worms that were fed normally to those that underwent a 24-hour fast in early adulthood and were then re-fed for 24 hours, according to a press release.

POPULAR INTERMITTENT FASTING DIETS MAY NOT DELIVER THE HEALTH BENEFITS MANY EXPECT

The scientists measured a variety of factors, including stored fat, gene activity related to fat metabolism, and lifespan.

The results showed that the life-boosting benefit did not depend on the fasting itself, but on the body’s behavior after eating again.

Experts say sustainability is key when choosing a long-term weight-loss strategy. (iStock)

Study lead Peter Douglas, PhD, associate professor of molecular biology and a member of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine at UT Southwestern, suggested that these discoveries “shift the focus toward a neglected side of the metabolic coin – the re-feeding phase.”

“Our data suggest that the health-promoting effects of intermittent fasting are not merely a product of the fast itself, but are dependent on how the metabolic machinery recalibrates during the subsequent transition back to a fed state,” he said.

PEOPLE LOST WEIGHT WHILE EATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FOOD — HERE’S THE SECRET

“Our findings bridge a gap between lipid metabolism and aging research,” he added. “By targeting aging, the single greatest risk factor for human disease, we move beyond treating isolated conditions toward a preventive model of medicine that enhances quality of life for all individuals.”

Lauri Wright, director of nutrition programs at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, called this a “high-quality” study that adds an “important nuance to how we think about fasting and longevity.”

Man checking his watch while sitting at a breakfast table in a hotel.

Intermittent fasting typically involves limiting meals to an eight-hour daily window or fasting every other day. (iStock)

The benefits of the re-feeding phase after fasting were “especially interesting,” Wright, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

“The researchers showed that longevity was linked to the body’s ability to turn off fat breakdown after fasting, allowing cells to restore energy balance,” she reiterated.

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“From a scientific standpoint, that’s a meaningful shift, because it suggests fasting is not just about burning fat, but about metabolic flexibility.”

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Fasting may support longevity through triggering metabolic switching, enhancing cellular repair and stress resistance, and improving markers like insulin sensitivity, research shows.

Limitations and cautions

Although this study provides “important insight” on the power of re-feeding, Wright noted that the findings should be approached with caution, as the study was done in worms and cannot always be translated to humans.

“Additionally, it explains how a process might work in a controlled lab condition rather than real-world eating behaviors,” she added as a limitation. “Finally, the study is short-term and doesn’t give us the long-term translation on lifespan outcomes.”

A woman holding her sweatpants out to show weight loss

The review found intermittent fasting was barely more effective than doing nothing, according to the study authors. (iStock)

Wright cautioned that fasting is “not a magic solution for longevity, and how you eat overall matters more than when you eat.”

“I advise, first and foremost, to focus on diet quality, including a variety of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and minimally processed foods,” she said.

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For those who are considering fasting, it’s better to stick with a moderate plan — like a 12- to 14-hour overnight fast — rather than going to extremes, Wright said. After fasting, she recommends focusing on well-balanced meals.

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Several groups of people should be cautioned against fasting, according to Wright, including those with diabetes who are on insulin or hypoglycemic medications, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone with a history of eating disorders, and older adults at risk of malnutrition.

Anyone considering intermittent fasting should consult with a doctor before starting.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.



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4/18: Saturday Morning

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4/18: Saturday Morning



Violent tornadoes slammed the Midwest overnight, causing major damage in some areas. Meanwhile, questions remain over the Strait of Hormuz.



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The $400-a-month search for connection: Inside NYC’s luxury wellness club boom

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The 0-a-month search for connection: Inside NYC’s luxury wellness club boom


There is no concept of time here. I’m only vaguely aware of the 64 people around me, eyes squeezed shut as sweat beads on my skin. We are — all of us — inside the massive, 185-degree sauna at Othership — one of a growing number of New York “wellness clubs.” These members-only spaces are designed to improve physical and mental well-being and drive connections, or so they say. The group’s loud exhales get faster and deeper by the minute. I squint open an eye to see an impossibly muscular instructor wafting a towel aggressively, heaving avalanches of hot air over us.

The instructor asks us to dig deep and share something we’re grateful for. A poreless woman raises her hand to say she’s left a toxic job. The room breaks into applause. Another, her voice tight, says she’s trying to be more confident. Applause again. Behind me, a man says he’s grateful to be here, in a sauna full of strangers. More applause. This is “Guided Gratitude,” one of a slate of wellness classes where stressed New Yorkers are encouraged to bare their souls — at a price.

Marketed to young professionals via aesthetically pleasing Instagram adverts filled with buzzwords like “community”, “resetting your energy,” and “connection,” Othership is just one of the city’s new wellness clubs. A membership here costs up to $333 a month, depending on which branch you visit and how often you go. Stress-reducing amenities include large performance saunas, ice baths and a lounge with complimentary tea on offer. But are members actually finding connection — or simply paying a premium for the illusion of it? After Guided Gratitude, I expected a thrum of conversation as strangers lingered, buoyed by shared vulnerability. Instead, the room emptied quickly — towels gathered, eyes averted — and whatever intimacy had been conjured in the heat seemed to dissipate just as fast.

Othership has a futuristic common space for guests to socialize in before the classes begin (Ian Patterson)
Othership hosts nightly classes in its sauna for up to 70 people
Othership hosts nightly classes in its sauna for up to 70 people (Ian Patterson)

Not everyone’s experience was like mine, however. 28-year-old Glowbar executive Adam Farber visits Othership six times a week and credits the classes for making him a more patient person and helping him sleep through the night. He’s also made five like-minded friends along the way. “You’re not going because you want to drink and party. You’re going because you want to feel good and take care of yourself,” says Farber. “What’s different, compared to my other friendships, is that people at Othership all share the elective investment into wellness.”

Next on my list was Moss NYC, a five-story members-only club in midtown Manhattan that has its own bars and restaurants, as well as a two-floor wellness space (called Bedrock Aquatics & Athletics) for a handsome sum of $480 month and an initiation fee of $1,500. Similar to Othership, it promises “innovative group offerings” that “foster social connection.” I visited the gym, which put my local Planet Fitness to shame with its bespoke equipment and buttonback armchairs littered around. The massive space had a brown leather booth for workout breaks, floor-to-ceiling glass windows in front of an indoor pickleball court, and dumbbells with a wooden finish.

The hallways of Othership’s Flatiron location are bathed in dim, amber lighting, guiding guests toward a complimentary tea and water station
The hallways of Othership’s Flatiron location are bathed in dim, amber lighting, guiding guests toward a complimentary tea and water station (Ian Patterson)

In the women’s changing room, a fluffy bathrobe, towel and flip-flops were already waiting in my locker. On the other side of the room, a row of brown-framed mirrors set against a white marble counter offered a place for pampering. I perched on an ottoman and idly sifted through the neatly arranged samples of moisturizers, cleansers and eye creams — all from brands I’d never heard of.

I made my way to the bathhouse, home to a gleaming vitality pool, a marble hot tub and a steam room with a solid stone bench. But my excitement ebbed when I spotted a sign banning conversation — not exactly a hotbed for connection. Julie Wandzilak, Head of Physical Culture at Bedrock, argues that friendships usually form at the gym through repeated visits. “I think we create a really good environment, specifically on the gym floor, of curating some type of connection,” she says. “Whether that’s with a trainer out on the floor or one of our Pilates instructors introducing the people they’ve trained to one another.”

Moss NYC has a two-level wellness space with a massive gym and a pickleball court
Moss NYC has a two-level wellness space with a massive gym and a pickleball court (Nicole Franzen)

Last on my list was Lore Bathing Club in NoHo, a two-storey space featuring two saunas — one lined with cedar benches, the other lit with infrared panels — alongside a communal cold plunge. While still luxurious — there is no shortage of marble here — it has a cozier, more welcoming feel than the more in-your-face opulence of Othership and Moss. It’s also the cheapest of the three, with membership costing $225 a month.

I spoke to two members, 32-year-old Arjan Singh and 37-year-old Maggy Rogow, who both joined Lore in November and are pleased with the results they’ve seen in regard to making friends and feeling “well.” Singh says he joined because he developed a love of sauna and cold plunge; the social aspect is just a bonus. “It’s been more about reconnecting with people I already know — running into acquaintances I hadn’t seen in a while and catching up,” he tells me. “That’s been a really nice, organic part of the experience and has led us to grab a bite after.”

Bedrock Bathhouse features a marble bench beside its hot tub, accompanied by a sign enforcing a strict no-talking policy
Bedrock Bathhouse features a marble bench beside its hot tub, accompanied by a sign enforcing a strict no-talking policy (Nicole Franzen)

Similarly, Row says she relies on Lore to keep her seasonal affective disorder under control during the winter. Making friends has been an extra perk for Rogow, too. “Striking up conversations kind of comes naturally at Lore,” she says. “I get very socially anxious, but I don’t for some reason in that environment because everyone’s a little more vulnerable, such as by bathing suit and a towel. I think that just removes some of the social armor that I have up.”

You can see why wellness clubs like these are selling their businesses alongside the word “community” so often — America is grappling with a loneliness epidemic. Last year, the American Psychological Association found that more than six in 10 adults reported feeling lonely, while half or more said they felt isolated, left out, or like they lacked companionship often or some of the time.

Lore Bathing Club pairs minimalist design with a hushed, restorative atmosphere
Lore Bathing Club pairs minimalist design with a hushed, restorative atmosphere (Sean Davidson)

Wellness clubs like this aren’t an option for many of us financially — but they can be good remedies for those who can afford it, says Dr. MaryEllen Eller, a board-certified psychiatrist in Tennessee and the Regional Medical Director at Radial, a specialized mental healthcare provider. She applauds the clubs for providing an environment to facilitate connections with strangers who have something in common, but wants to remind people it’s a luxury. “This is not the only pathway to address loneliness or build relationships or community,” she says. “You can show up to a wellness club that offers everything and you can walk out having paid a lot of money and gained nothing from it.”

Eller recommends searching for meet-up groups on Instagram or Facebook, ones centred around a creative activity. “If you’re super into yoga, doing that once a month in the park could be a good way to meet some friends,” she says. “You want to find a community with which you have something in common. Something that you can be passionate about and look forward to doing.”

Members at Lore say they’ve made new friends in the wellness spaces and two saunas
Members at Lore say they’ve made new friends in the wellness spaces and two saunas (Sean Davidson)

Wellness clubs promise an escape from the everyday, but after my visits, they wouldn’t be my go-to for making friends — even if money were no object. I’ve always been fortunate enough to find it easy to meet people at a party or a bar, so why pay for the chance of connection here? In the saunas I visited, at least, it felt like people were turned inward, focused on their own well-being rather than engaging with anyone else.

These clubs exist at the tricky intersection of self-care and commodification, one that requires a healthy bit of skepticism when you’re considering parting ways with hundreds of dollars per month. While the physical benefits are undeniable — better sleep, stress relief and a break from city life — the promise of community feels less consistent. These clubs may provide one glossy, premium method for feeling better about the stresses of modern life, but no cure is guaranteed.



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Top 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential

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Top 5 residential hotspots in Nagpur for upscale living and long-term investment potential



Mandewada is a well-connected residential locality with growing demand, especially among families looking for accessibility and everyday comfort. The locality is well connected by public transport and is steadily becoming a top residential place.

These five localities show the different faces of Nagpur’s housing market. Civil Lines and Shankar Nagar stand out for premium living and established status. Wardha Road is one of the strongest growth corridors, driven by infrastructure and economic development. Koradi Road and Manewada offer a useful middle ground, combining livability with future appreciation potential. Together, they reflect why Nagpur is becoming more interesting for both end-users and investors.

All Image Credits: Canva



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Pope wraps up Cameroon visit with Mass as he looks ahead to Angola

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Pope wraps up Cameroon visit with Mass as he looks ahead to Angola


YAOUNDE, Cameroon — YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Pope Leo XIV called Saturday for “structures of solidarity” to help those on the margins as he wrapped up his visit to Cameroon and headed to Angola on the third leg of his four-nation African odyssey.

Leo celebrated Mass at the Yaounde Airport for thousands of people, including President Paul Biya — at 93 the world’s oldest leader. The jostling, joyful atmosphere underscored the joy the third pope to visit Cameroon has brought the former French colony, where around a third of the population is Catholic.

Some people who struggled to walk were brought to the Mass in wheelbarrows pushed by family members.

In his visit to Cameroon, Leo has sought to encourage especially young people to have hope despite senses of disillusionment, and he has demanded elites stop exploiting the land and its people for profit.

In his homily Saturday, delivered in French, Leo said the respect for human dignity was a cornerstone of every society.

“For this reason, every community has the obligation to create and sustain structures of solidarity and mutual aid in which, when faced with crises — be they social, political, medical or economic — everyone can give and receive assistance according to their own capacity and needs,” he said.

After the Mass, Leo was to fly to Luanda, the capital of the southwestern African nation, where he was to meet with President Joao Lourenco and deliver his first speech before Angolan government authorities.

Angola, a southern African country of around 38 million, gained independence from Portugal in 1975. But it still bears the scars of a devastating civil war that began straight after independence and raged on and off for 27 years before finally ending in 2002. More than half a million people are believed to have been killed.

The civil war was for years a Cold War proxy conflict, with the United States and apartheid South Africa backing one side and the Soviet Union and Cuba backing the other.

“I would like to hear a message of peace, a message of reconciliation,” said Luanda resident Sergio Jose. “I would also like to hear good political messages and I would also like to hear that the pope would also talk about the upcoming elections in Angola.”

Angola today is the fourth largest oil producer in Africa and among the world’s top 20 producers, according to the International Energy Agency. It’s also the world’s third biggest diamond producer and has significant deposits of gold and highly sought after critical minerals.

But despite its varied natural resources, the World Bank estimated in 2023 that more than 30% of the population lived on less than $2.15 a day.

In Cameroon, Leo had railed against the “chains of corruption” that were hindering development, as well as the “handful of tyrants” who were ravaging the Earth with war and exploitation. He’s expected to raise similar points in Angola.

Late former President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who led Angola for 38 years from 1979 to 2017, was accused of diverting billions of dollars of public money to his family, largely from the country’s oil revenue, as millions struggled in poverty.

After Lourenco took over as president, his administration estimated that at least $24 billion was stolen or misappropriated by dos Santos. Lourenco’s administration has vowed to crack down on corruption and has worked to recover funds allegedly stolen in the dos Santos era.

But critics note Angola still has deep problems with corruption and have questioned if Lourenco’s actions were more aimed at political rivals so as to consolidate his power.

Angola, on the southwest coast of Africa, was considered to be the epicenter of the transatlantic slave trade as a Portuguese colony. More than 5 million of the roughly 12.5 million enslaved Africans were sent across the ocean on ships departing from Angola, more than any other country, though not all them were Angolans.

The highlight of Leo’s visit to Angola is expected to be his visit Sunday to Muxima, south of Luanda. It’s a popular Catholic shrine in a country where around 58% of the population is Catholic.

The Church of Our Lady of Muxima was built by Portuguese colonizers at the end of the 16th century as part of a fortress complex and became a hub in the slave trade. It remains a reminder of the inextricable link hundreds of years ago between Catholicism and the exploitation of the African continent.

Leo, history’s first U.S.-born pope, has Black and white ancestors who included both enslaved people and slave owners, according to genealogical research. He is going to Muxima to pray the Rosary, in recognition of the site becoming a popular pilgrimage destination after believers reported an appearance by the Virgin Mary around 1833.

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Imray contributed from Cape Town, South Africa.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.



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Trump’s favorite field marshal: Who is Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir with deep intel ties

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Trump’s favorite field marshal: Who is Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir with deep intel ties


Mark Dubowitz says Trump holds ‘maximum leverage’ over Iran as ceasefire begins

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, analyzes President Trump’s firm Iran policy following a two-week ceasefire agreement. He highlights the regime’s weakened state after 15 months of Trump’s administration, making Iran’s 10-point peace plan with “ridiculous demands” unlikely to be accepted. Dubowitz discusses the choice facing Iran’s new regime.

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President Donald Trump publicly thanked what he called Pakistan’s “great prime minister and field marshal, two fantastic people!!!” in a Truth Social post Friday praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s military chief, Asim Munir.

Sharif quickly responded on X, “On behalf of the people of Pakistan, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and on my behalf, I express my deep and profound appreciation for your kind and gracious words.”

The public exchange capped a remarkable rise for Munir, who has become one of the few foreign officials trusted both by Trump and by Iran’s security establishment.

TRUMP AGREES TO 2-WEEK CEASEFIRE IF IRAN OPENS STRAIT OF HORMUZ

In this photo released by the Inter Services Public Relations, Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, center, Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, left, and Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar attend a guard of honor ceremony at the joint military command headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.  (Inter Services Public Relations via AP)

Munir recently became the first foreign military leader to visit Iran since the latest escalation between the United States and Iran, according to Pakistani and Iranian reports. Arriving in full military uniform, he was warmly greeted by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and held meetings with senior Iranian military officials.

Retired Pakistani Gen. Ahmed Saeed told Fox News Digital that Munir has for months served as an informal back channel between Washington and Tehran, Iran, as the Trump administration tries to negotiate an end to the conflict, Iran’s nuclear program and the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf.

Few foreign figures appear to have closer ties both to Trump and to Iran’s military hierarchy.

That has raised a striking question: How did the same man become close both to Trump and to some of Iran’s most powerful commanders?

Saeed, who said he has known Munir personally for years, told Fox News Digital that Munir began building ties with Iran while serving as Pakistan’s director general of military intelligence in 2016 and 2017.

“He has been interacting with the leadership. He has been interacting with the intelligence community. He has been interacting with the IRGC,” or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saeed said.

According to Saeed, Munir built ties not only with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but also with Iran’s regular army and intelligence apparatus. Saeed said Munir had longstanding contact with former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike in 2020, commander Hossein Salami, who was killed in an Israeli strike in June 2025, and other Iranian military figures.

JD VANCE SAYS THE BALL IS ‘IN IRAN’S COURT’ AFTER PAKISTAN PEACE TALKS STALL

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Pakistanâs Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir

Few foreign figures appear to have closer ties both to Trump and to Iran’s military hierarchy.  (Iranian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“He continues to be a figure internationally who has personal interactions, a personal equation in the intelligence community in Iran, in the military hierarchy in Iran, in the diplomatic corps of Iran and also on the side of the political leadership,” Saeed said.

That longstanding relationship appears to explain why Iran welcomed him so warmly, even as he remains in direct contact with Trump and his team.

Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Bill Roggio told Fox News Digital that, “Trump should not trust the Pakistanis. Pakistan was a perfidious ‘ally’ in Afghanistan, backing the Taliban while pretending to be our friends. Munir’s ties to the IRGC should be a massive red flag for the Trump admin.”

Munir’s relationship with Trump dates back to the India–Pakistan crisis of May 2025. Munir played a key role in helping de-escalate the confrontation, and afterward Pakistan formally nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, a move widely viewed by Pakistani analysts as encouraged by Munir.

US Vice President JD Vance (C) speaks with Army Chief and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (L)

Pakistan’s Asim Munir has become one of the few foreign officials trusted by both President Donald Trump and Iran’s security establishment, according to Pakistani analysts and officials. (Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Since then, Trump repeatedly has praised him. Trump has called Munir an “exceptional man,” a “great fighter” and “my favorite field marshal.” 

Pakistani officials and media reports say the two men now speak directly.

Pakistani analyst Raza Rumi told Fox News Digital that Munir’s appeal to Trump is not surprising.

“Trump has long shown a preference for strong, decisive leaders,” Rumi said. “Munir fits that mold as a centralized authority figure who can deliver outcomes.”

WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi greeted by Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir at Nur Khan airbase

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were greeted by Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir upon their arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. (Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AP)

Rumi described Munir as “a disciplined, institution-first leader with a strong emphasis on order, hierarchy and strategic clarity.”

“Unlike more publicly charismatic military figures, his style is relatively understated, shaped by intelligence work and operational experience rather than overt political signaling,” Rumi said.

Munir’s background helps explain both his style and his influence.

Munir studied at the Fuji School in Japan, the Command and Staff College in Quetta, the Malaysian Armed Forces College in Kuala Lumpur, and Pakistan’s National Defence University, where he earned an master of philosophy degree n public policy and strategic security management, according to Pakistan’s Geo News. Munir was the first army chief in Pakistan to receive the Sword of Honour, the military’s highest distinction for a cadet. The outlet also described him as an avid reader, traveler and sportsman.

Munir is also a Hafiz-e-Quran, meaning he has memorized the entire Quran by heart.

A former head of both Pakistan’s Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence agencies, Munir spent years overseeing Pakistan’s most sensitive regional relationships, including with Iran, Afghanistan and India.

TRUMP AGREES TO 2-WEEK CEASEFIRE IF IRAN OPENS STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Vice President JD Vance shaking hands with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad

Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on April 12, 2026, after talks on Iran. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Chief of Defence Forces Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir, and U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker look on as Vance prepares to board Air Force Two. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

In 2025, after the India-Pakistan crisis, he was elevated to field marshal, the first Pakistani officer to hold the rank since former military ruler Ayub Khan.

Pakistani officials say that later that year, he also was given the newly created title of chief of defense forces, further cementing his authority above the country’s military branches.

Munir rarely gives interviews, but his speeches offer clues to his worldview.

WHO ACTUALLY RUNS IRAN RIGHT NOW? THE KEY POWER PLAYERS AS TRUMP CLAIMS TALKS TO ‘TOP’ OFFICIAL

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Pakistanâs Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir

A former head of both Pakistan’s Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence agencies, Munir spent years overseeing Pakistan’s most sensitive regional relationships, including with Iran, Afghanistan and India. (Iranian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

At the Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad in November 2024, he warned that “absence of proper regulations for freedom of expression is leading to the deterioration of moral values in societies worldwide.”

The remark reflected a broader emphasis on order, discipline and centralized authority.

Rumi said Munir operates from “a transactional, state-centric worldview rather than an ideological one.”

Yet critics argue that his rise has come at a cost to Pakistan’s democracy.

After becoming army chief in 2022, Munir focused heavily on domestic politics, including what critics described as a crackdown on political opposition and an unprecedented concentration of military power, according to The Guardian, which reported that key negotiations with the United States and Iran have been coordinated not from Islamabad, Pakistan’s civilian capital, but from Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the military.

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A broken frame of Pakistan's field marshal and army chief, Asim Munir

A broken frame of Pakistan’s field marshal and army chief, Asim Munir, hangs on the wall after an attack at the Cadet College Wana, a military-linked school, in the South Waziristan district near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Nov. 13, 2025.  (Aamir Qureshi / AFP via Getty Images)

Critics say that reflects a broader reality: Pakistan’s foreign policy is increasingly being run by the army rather than the elected government.

Rumi said Munir’s rise reflects “the military increasingly eclipsing civilian leadership in Pakistan.”

As the current negotiations continue, much appears to rest on Munir. Saeed said that is because Munir has spent years building trust on both sides and is unlikely to stop now.

“Knowing our field marshal, and from my own personal knowledge of him, he is relentless. He would not give up,” Saeed said.

Efrat Lachter is a foreign correspondent for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to [email protected].



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Weekend predictions: Can Arsenal hold off Man City? Will Atlético win Copa del Rey?

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Weekend predictions: Can Arsenal hold off Man City? Will Atlético win Copa del Rey?


Every Friday, I pick for you the best or most exciting games not to be missed in the world of football each weekend. From derbies to top of the table clashes, relegation six-pointers to world class players facing each other or other interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

This week, we take you to England, Spain, France, Portugal and Germany for the Premier League title race, a cup final, a massive derby, a potential coronation, plus some big fights for championships and European places.

English Premier League, Matchday 33
Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. BST

The 2026 Premier League decider is here! On Sunday, at the Etihad Stadium, the two best teams in the country face each other on Matchday 33, and I believe the winner (if there is one) will go on to win the league title. It is huge! That’s what all the neutrals wanted, and we have it.

However, it will probably won’t be pretty. You can expect a physical affair, sprinkled with some technical genius from the likes of Rayan Cherki or Eberechi Eze. Arsenal can afford a draw, of course, and in that case would remain the favourite to lift the league trophy comes the end of the season. They have not been great lately, though, and will need to find their defensive solidity and solid structure again if they are to get the desired result.

The expected returns of Eze and Piero Hincapié to full fitness will help, while Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber could be back too. William Saliba, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães will naturally have a big part to play: they can’t give City too much space to exploit or afford them too much time on the ball because the Citizens have the momentum at the moment.

There’s no doubting City’s form: they beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final a month ago, and they just destroyed Liverpool and Chelsea in the FA Cup and in the Premier League respectively. In Cherki, they have the best player in the league right now, arguably, and Pep Guardiola will obviously fancy their chances massively this weekend.

The gap is six points between them and Arsenal, with City holding a game in hand and the Gunners boasting a slight edge in goal difference (+38 against +35). Guardiola outsmarted Arteta tactically in the League Cup final at Wembley with a 4-2-4 shape out of possession, and he’ll likely do the same on Sunday. Bournemouth also did it to great effect against Arsenal last weekend. Arteta and his Gunners will have to be better prepared and equipped this time to cope better with what City will throw at them.

MY PREDICTION: Man City 1-1 Arsenal. I would love a great attacking game with loads of goals and chances, and a performance from both teams that we will remember forever. But I don’t think it will happen! I think it will be a big fight — quite cagey, with more of the ball for City, but nothing to separate the two sides.

Spanish Copa del Rey final
Kickoff: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST (watch on ESPN+)

play

3:26

How Matarazzo sparked Real Sociedad’s rapid revival 

Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo explains what attracted him to the club, and how he took them from relegation battlers to Copa del Rey finalists in just a few months in charge.

In a way, Saturday’s cup final could be described as the “Antoine Griezmann derby.” Between his first club, the club of his teenage years where he became a professional player and his second club, the club where he became one of the best players in the world, it will be a very special evening for the Frenchman, especially only a few weeks before he leaves Spain for a new chapter with Orlando City and Major League Soccer!

This final could not be better for him. Both sides mean so much to him and while Atleti also still have an exciting Champions League semifinal ahead against Arsenal, the club’s entire focus right now is on this domestic final. The last time Atlético won the Spanish Cup was back in 2013 and since their last triumph, Real Sociedad won it in 2020 under Imanol Alguacil, with Sociedad boss Pellegrino Matarazzo wanting to bring another trophy parade to the streets of San Sebastián.

After two tight head-to-head meetings in LaLiga (a 1-1 draw in January, and a 3-2 Atleti win in March), you can expect another tense battle here. Atlético fought hard in midweek to advance in the Champions League at Barcelona‘s expense and will need to dig deep for another high-pressure game just days later. Matarazzo, Sociedad’s American manager, has done a great job since he arrived (just two losses in their last eight games, all competitions) and they can even dream of a Champions League qualification, sitting only four points behind Real Betis who are in fifth. They will approach this game as underdogs, but with confidence, and the energy they’re playing with at the moment could be key here if Atlético are still exhausted from their midweek adventures.

MY PREDICTION: Atlético Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad. It is hard to look past Atlético in this final, and I think Real Sociedad will give them a good game. They will be aggressive and well organised, and Atleti have already played 90 minutes of intense football this week; however, I expect Griezmann & Co. will find a way to win.

German Bundesliga, Matchday 30
Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. BST (watch on ESPN+)

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Klinsmann: Kane is the player Bayern need to win the Champions League

Jürgen Klinsmann is full of praise for Harry Kane’s leadership skills on the pitch as Bayern Munich progress to the UCL semifinals.

This could have been a very interesting encounter if Bayern still had something to play in the Bundesliga this season, but they don’t. If anything, this should be the game in which they’re crowned German champions again, retaining their title. They are currently 12 points clear of Borussia Dortmund in second with five games to go, so it should all be wrapped up on Sunday at the Allianz Arena.

Vincent Kompany and his team have been absurd in the league this season, losing only one game so far (to Augsburg, amazingly) while scoring 105 goals in 29 matches — a rate of 3.6 goals per game! They have been on another planet to their peers, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane being the two outstanding players in the league so far in terms of goals and assists: 31 and five for the Englishman, 12 and 18 for the Frenchman. Overall, Kompany built an absolute machine that nobody in Germany can consistently match.

However, Stuttgart will try and will give it a good go. They have been the third-best team in the league this season — credit to Sebastian Hoeness again for the great work he is doing there — and aren’t far from returning to the Champions League. They are currently third in the table, level on points with Leipzig in fourth, two clear of Leverkusen in fifth and three up on Hoffenheim in sixth. The race for a Top 4 finish will be very exciting because fifth place might not make it into the Champions league next season, but Stuttgart are in good shape at the moment.

MY PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 3-1 Stuttgart. Bayern won’t miss out on this opportunity to win the title at home in front of their fans. Stuttgart are a really good team and should cause problems, but overall, Olise and Kane will get the job done again.

Chelsea logoMan United logoA huge game in the top-five race
Chelsea vs. Manchester United

English Premier League, Matchday 33
Kickoff: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST

Neither side can really afford to miss out on the Champions League, but both teams are coming off bad games and need to turn things around. Chelsea lost heavily at home against Manchester City, while United were defeated at Old Trafford by Leeds, with Lisandro Martínez sent off. All of which makes this game on Saturday evening under the lights even more important.

The Blues are sixth in the table, four points behind Liverpool in fifth with just six games to go. They cannot afford to miss out on Champions League football next season, as it could have dramatic consequences on the club’s finances and on Liam Rosenior’s future. But to beat United, they will have to actually play to win and not set up not to lose like they did vs. City last Sunday! Against Guardiola & Co., Rosenior again got his tactics wrong and cannot afford that again this weekend.

In terms of personnel, Enzo Fernández should be back and will improve the team. He should have never been suspended by his own club, anyway! Chelsea have lost five games in a row with the exception of the victory against Port Vale in the FA Cup, which is a terrible run of form.

The Red Devils are in a better position, in third place and fully seven points clear of Chelsea. But a loss at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and the gap would only be four points, bringing back all the pressure and tension with so few games remaining. Michael Carrick and his players were poor against Leeds, and it was a big missed opportunity for them to more or less seal their Champions League place. The decision to leave Bryan Mbeumo on the bench from the start was a strange one, and Carrick will have to make the right decisions again on Saturday like he did at the start of his tenure, against City and Arsenal. Lately (West Ham, Bournemouth and Newcastle), it has not been good enough and United have only one of their last four league games.

MY PREDICTION: Chelsea 2-1 Man United. Chelsea have to win to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive, and I think they will. Enzo being back will make a difference, as will United being without Martinez in defense.

French Ligue 1, Matchday 30
Kickoff: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. BST

Fresh off their superb showing against Liverpool to book a Champions League semifinals spot, PSG are back in Ligue 1 to take a step towards yet another league title. They lead Lens by four points now, with a game in hand against Nantes scheduled next week, and they still have to travel to Lens on May 13. By then, they could have the title wrapped up, but they will have to be careful on Sunday night at the Parc des Princes.

PSG will be without Nuno Mendes and Désiré Doué, who both picked up injuries against Liverpool. It didn’t seem too serious for either of them, but Luis Enrique is unlike to risk them with games against Bayern Munich on the horizon. We can expect quite a rotation for this game not because PSG are taking it for granted, but because his key players need rest.

As for Lyon, they finally won last weekend after a run of nine winless matches! They still have a lot of injuries and tired players; Endrick came on against Lorient last weekend and made an impact, but the Brazilian star and the rest of the squad will have to dig deep if they’re to get a result in the capital. They need one, badly, as they’re in a big fight for a Top 4 finish and a Champions League spot for next season. They are fifth, just a point behind Marseille in fourth and two behind Lille in third, but Rennes and Monaco are also equally just a point and two respectively behind them! This is a huge game for the title race and the Champions League race.

MY PREDICTION: PSG 2-1 Lyon. Lyon would need to be at their best on Sunday to even get a draw, and I just don’t see it happening. PSG, even with a jumbled team, will be too strong.

Portuguese Primeira Liga, Matchday 30
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST

The title race in Portugal is one of the most exciting in Europe this season: Sporting are five points behind league leaders Porto, but with a game in hand, and they have a winning momentum. Their only league defeat was against Porto (who have also only been beaten once all season in the league) back in August! They are unbeaten since then domestically and even though they don’t have their destiny in their hands, they will keep going.

Sunday marks the biggest game of their season so far, one against their arch rivals and biggest enemy. Sporting drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture back in December and lost 1-0 in the Super Cup in July, so we’ll expect another tight affair between the two Lisbon sides. Jose Mourinho and Benfica are still unbeaten this season in the league too, which is a great achievement, but their nine draws — four more than Sporting, and five more than Porto — are costing them dearly. They are currently third, two points behind Sporting and seven behind Porto. They don’t feel they can win the league with this gap and just five games to go, but they would love to overtake Sporting into second — clinching the final Champions League place in Portugal — and put them under pressure before they even play their game in hand.

It has been such an eventful season for Mourinho and his players, between the heroics and controversy in the Champions League to playing catch up with Porto and Sporting since he took over from Bruno Lage in September. This is a tough game, as Rui Borges and his Sporting side have been really excellent lately. The crazy thing about this league season is that Benfica could finish it unbeaten and yet still not win the league; Porto, Sporting and Benfica have only lost two league games between them all campaign!

MY PREDICTION: Sporting CP 1-1 Benfica. I don’t think Benfica will lose this derby. As much as they have to win it, they will set up not to lose first and foremost. Sporting will have to be very creative to beat them, but I don’t think they’ll get it done.



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Video: Who Is the New Leader of Hungary?

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Video: Who Is the New Leader of Hungary?


new video loaded: Who Is the New Leader of Hungary?

Our reporter Andrew Higgins describes why Hungary’s voters chose Peter Magyar over Viktor Orban in a landslide, ending Orban’s 16 years in power.

By Andrew Higgins, Christina Thornell and Leila Medina

April 18, 2026



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Video The internet’s favorite monkey continues capturing hearts

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Video The internet’s favorite monkey continues capturing hearts


The internet’s favorite monkey continues capturing hearts

Punch the monkey’s fame is growing. Juju Chang traveled to the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan to see for herself why the world went bananas for the tiny macaque and his heartwarming backstory.

April 18, 2026



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Frank Lampard: Coventry boss’ resurgence ends Sky Blues’ Premier League exile

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Frank Lampard: Coventry boss’ resurgence ends Sky Blues’ Premier League exile


Topping the table with essentially the same squad highlights Lampard’s powers of recovery. It has allowed him to finally feel like a manager first, rather than player, for the first time when he has been speaking with staff.

To observers Lampard seems more comfortable in his skin at Coventry, not carrying the weight of expectation and his legend at Stamford Bridge, where he is Chelsea’s 211-goal record scorer.

His move to the Sky Blues has also been viewed as smart, being allowed to repair any possible scars from Everton and Chelsea away from the Premier League glare.

Some inside Coventry feel the club needed him, and Lampard needed the club, a statement which is hard to disagree with given the end result.

Forward Jack Rudoni is one who has flourished under Lampard, having joined Coventry from Huddersfield for £5m five months before the head coach arrived.

He has scored five goals in his past seven games and 15 of his 17 strikes for the Sky Blues have come under Lampard.

“People just see him as a gaffer because they don’t know him as a person but he’s more than just a gaffer,” he told BBC Sport. “He has a great relationship with everyone – he’s a good person as well.

“You can come to him with anything and he will sit there and talk to you and give you advice whether it’s football or not. There’s no-one better to learn from – he’s been brilliant with me on and off the pitch.

“He and I have a good relationship, and we talk closely. He’s always helping me with little bits and pieces, timing of runs, areas to get into, even down to shooting techniques and stuff we spoke about.

“He’s been brilliant, and it’s great to have someone of that quality that can guide me and give me tips, and I’m just happy it’s worked out for me on the pitch, which then kind of repays him working with me with the results.”

Now Lampard’s attention will turn to building a Coventry squad that is capable of competing in the Premier League, ensuring the Sky Blues’ return to the top flight for the first time in a quarter of a century is not short-lived.



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