Queen Elizabeth II “hid behind a bush” to avoid meeting Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu during a state visit.
Appearing on Newsnight on Tuesday (31 March), royal expert David Dimbleby discussed the time the late Queen reportedly hid from one of the “most odious dictators” in 1978. The trip marked the first time a Communist head of state had made a state visit to the UK.
“ She did hide in the bushes to get away from him,” Dimbleby said, explaining that she dove behind the foliage of her Buckingham Palace gardens when she saw Ceausescu and his wife Elena walking through the grounds.
PARIS — The French counterterrorism prosecutor’s office said Wednesday four individuals are suspected of “terrorist criminal conspiracy” after police thwarted a bomb attack outside a Bank of America building in Paris in a case believed to have links to Iran.
Police arrested one of the suspects outside the bank in the early hours of Saturday morning in front of the building where they found a homemade bomb made up of a gasoline-filled container taped to a powerful firework. Forensic experts said the device contained 650 grams (about 23 ounces) of explosives, an unusually large quantity not previously encountered in France. They said it could have produced a large fireball and ignited a significant blaze.
Prosecutors requested the four suspects, including three minors, to be placed in detention pending trial as it formally opened a judicial investigation into the incident, which follows similar actions across Europe.
A propaganda video that circulated on social media on March 23, just before the planned attack, specifically mentioned the U.S. bank’s offices in Paris as a potential target. It was attributed to a pro-Iran group known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which translates as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right.
The planned attack was uncovered early on Saturday morning, when police officers conducting surveillance outside the bank spotted two individuals near the entrance. Officers arrested a 17-year-old suspect at the scene.
They later arrested two other 16-year old suspects and one adult previously convicted of drug trafficking. A fifth person was released without charge.
The three minors, who have no prior criminal records, have denied any terror-related intent, the prosecutor’s office said.
The judicial investigation was opened on preliminary charges of terrorist criminal conspiracy, building, possessing and transporting an explosive device and attempted destruction as part of an organized group and in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
Prosecutors said analysis of CCTV footage, the suspects’ digital media and mobile phone data, as well as their statements to the police showed the three minors were recruited by the adult last week to place and ignite the device at the specified address and film the scene in exchange for 500 to 1,000 euros (about $530 to $1,160).
The Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group claimed responsibility for other actions across Europe including in Belgium and the Netherlands and for an attack last week in London, where four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire.
Counterterrorism police in London announced three additional arrests Wednesday over the ambulance attack. Two men were previously bailed after being detained in the probe.
The prosecutor’s office said the foiled attack in Paris therefore appears “likely linked” to the group “although this has not yet been formally established at this stage of the proceedings.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said this week Iran’s intelligence services habitually use “proxies,” that is a series of subcontractors, to carry out actions abroad targeting U.S interests, Jewish community and Iranian opposition figures.
French authorities have stepped up security around key personalities and sites since the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28, including personal protection for some people from the Iranian opposition.
Wane had been in charge for a home World Cup in 2022 however England were knocked out in the semi-finals, losing to Samoa in golden-point extra time.
England won home series against Tonga and Samoa in the following two years but lost all three Ashes Tests to Australia on home soil last autumn.
After that series defeat, Wane said there was “no question” that he was the right person to lead his nation into the 2026 World Cup.
However, in a statement following his departure, Wane said: “It has been the honour of my life to coach England over the last six years, but after careful reflection I believe the time is right to step aside and allow the programme to move forward into its next chapter.”
England’s opening pool match at the World Cup is against Tonga in Perth on 17 October, with games against France and Papua New Guinea to follow.
Wane worked on a full-time basis but the Rugby Football League has said the role will be a part-time position and initially encapsulate just this year’s World Cup.
Neighbors of Kristi Noem and her husband, Bryon Noem, have reacted to reports that he cross-dresses. Speaking to The New York Times, neighbors in the couple’s South Dakota community reacted with disbelief and sympathy to the report.
The Daily Mail laid out the claims that Bryon Noem leads a double life, which includes wearing fake breasts and speaking to fetish models online, in a recent report. The outlet included photos they said were of the fomer Homeland Security (DHS) secretary’s husband wearing leggings and false breasts, sent in a messaging app.
Newsweek has not been able to verify the claims made by the Mail.
A representative for Kristi Noem told the New York Post that she is “devastated,” and that the family has been “blindsided.”
Why It Matters
The Mail said that they had published the report over potential national security concerns, citing experts who told the outlet that if a media organization could find the messages, hostile intelligence agencies could as well.
As DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem oversaw sensitive national security operations. Republican Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin has now been confirmed as her replacement.
Kristi Noem and Bryon Noem have been married since 1992, and they have three children.
What To Know
The New York Times spoke to neighbors of the Noems about the report.
Kevin Ruseink, a cattle rancher, told the outlet that the image “Must be A.I. [artificial intelligence]”
“I grew up playing ball with Bryon,” he told the outlet. “I’ve never known him to be part of stuff like that. I don’t believe that at all.”
Nancy Turbak, a former Democratic state senator, told the NYT, “I am sorry that Bryon is now the subject of so much attention himself, and for any embarrassment he’s experiencing.”
“He never asked for the public life in the first place, and I know him to be a kind and decent man. I wish he were not going through this,” she said.
Another neighbor, Brad Johnson, a conservationist and newspaper columnist, told the Times, “People know Bryon as the supportive husband who worked to maintain a normal family life as Kristi’s profile skyrocketed.”
“It shows the price of power and fame is very high. But, Kristi invited this type of coverage by her actions at the Department of Homeland Security,” Johnson said.
What People Are Saying
Kristi Noem’s representative said in a statement to the New York Post: “The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time.”
President Donald Trump told The Daily Mail: “They confirmed it? Wow, well, I feel badly for the family if that’s the case, that’s too bad. I haven’t seen anything. I don’t know anything about it. That’s too bad, but I just know nothing about it.”
George Steinbrenner, for better or worse, stepped in as the face of the New York Yankees franchise when he led a group with E. Michael Burke and others to buy the franchise from CBS in 1973. It would be the launching pad to return the Yankees to relevancy in the years to come.
However, Mike Vaccaro wrote in his new book, “The Bosses of the Bronx,” that the Steinbrenner group wasn’t thought to have been the favorite to buy the team. Vaccaro wrote that a Lehman Brothers-led contingent with former New York Giants catcher Herman Franks set to run the team.
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner signs autographs in the stands during a 1993 spring training game at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium.(USA TODAY Sports)
Franks had already been courting Willie Mays as the team’s potential manager, according to Vaccaro. Mays would have been the first African American manager if the deal had been made. He would have been a season ahead of Frank Robinson, who made his debut in the role on April 8, 1975.
There were also rumblings, according to Vaccaro, about the team possibly being courted to a new stadium in New Jersey that would have had a fresh look compared to the crumbling Yankee Stadium that was hoping for city funding to make integral repairs.
Stunningly enough, the Steinbrenner group bought the Yankees for just over $10 million when the Lehman Brothers’ group reportedly offered between $13.5 million and $14 million. It was the last time a baseball team was ever sold at a loss.
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner signs autographs before their game with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium on June 14, 1997.(USA TODAY Sports)
“This is the best buy in sports today. I think it’s a bargain,” Steinbrenner said at his introductory press conference, Vaccaro’s book recalled.
Steinbrenner made clear that the Yankees would stay in New York and not be swayed with a shiny new stadium in the Meadowlands where the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets would go on to play. Vaccaro wrote that Lehman Brothers “absolutely committed” to leaving the Bronx for Jersey, which turned out to be a “deal-breaker” for CBS.
The net purchase for the Yankees ended up being about $8.8 million as the deal included two parking garages that CBS bought back for $1.2 million after the deal was closed.
Yankees manager Joe Torre (left) and owner George Steinbrenner talk before the start of the third game of the World Series at Shea Stadium in New York on Oct. 24, 2000.(Eileen Blass/USA TODAY/USA TODAY NETWORK)
The United States men’s national team slumped to a 2-0 loss against Portugal in a friendly at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday.
After a competitive start to the match for both sides, the visitors eventually took the lead in the 37th minute when Francisco Trincão slotted a shot past American goalkeeper Matt Freese. In response, the U.S. continued its attacking pressure but ultimately failed to capitalize on any of their opportunities by the midway break.
After halftime, Portugal doubled their lead. In the 59th minute, João Félix hit a perfectly timed ball from outside of the box that made it 2-0 in their favor. Portugal grew in confidence after several substitutions in the second half, and despite not finding the back of the net again, their efforts were enough to secure the 2-0 scoreline by the final whistle.
U.S coach Mauricio Pochettino and his roster will now begin final preparations for this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. Pochettino is expected to announce the roster for his squad for the tournament in May.
Mauricio Pochettino, 5 — Glass half full: The U.S. was dynamic after making six changes from its previous XI and created a number of chances in the final third. Glass half empty: The decision to start Christian Pulisic as a striker proved to be the incorrect one, and amid his poor performance, the team wasn’t as efficient as it needed to be in the attack.
There were brief moments of magic for the USMNT that had an exciting start to the friendly, but it’s also strange timing for Pochettino to experiment in the last game before he selects his World Cup roster.
Player ratings (0-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)
GK Matt Freese, 6 — There was little he could do to halt Portugal’s two goals, but he allowed those shots to go in nonetheless. An early save from a Bruno Fernandes attempt, and denying a powerful shot from Nuno Mendes in the second half, will go down in his highlight reel.
DF Antonee Robinson, 6 — Not bad defensively, looked dangerous going forward, and also launched a thunderous shot from distance. He wasn’t as involved as he was in his previous game, but he still highlighted why he’s a starter for the U.S.
DF Auston Trusty, 5 — First time playing alongside Chris Richards in the heart of defense, and it initially showed. His positioning was suspect in the early stages, and he could have done better with the first Portugal goal, but he did notably make defensive improvements by the second half.
DF Chris Richards, 6 — After the captain made an early mistake with a mistimed pass, he quickly stepped up with a strong presence in the backline. It wasn’t a perfect 90-plus minutes, but his interventions helped keep the opponents to just two goals.
DF Alex Freeman, 7 — The youngest member of the XI might have just solidified a place in the starting roster. Freeman made great runs forward, provided eye-catching tackles and dribbled the ball with ease in the final third.
MF Sebastian Berhalter, 5 — A decent all-around game for the midfielder, who struggled to keep pace with Portugal at times. A shot from distance highlighted his early confidence, as did some lofted passes forward.
MF Aidan Morris, 4 — Morris left space open for Portugal to create their first goal and notably jogged back when he could have stopped Trincao. His tackles and distributions looked better as the game went along, but the error was a major one for the USMNT.
AM Timothy Weah, 5 — Weah was occasionally involved in the pressing of the opponent, but it was clear that more was expected of the winger, who needed to be proactive. Won just one of his five duels.
AM Malik Tillman, 7 — A promising evening for the young player. He was highly active with his key passes, chance creation and clever movement with the ball. The energetic starter was arguably the best American on the field.
AM Weston McKennie, 5 — Connected well with the front line and won a crucial foul in a dangerous area. At times he went quiet in the first 45 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to drop his stock as a key figure for the USMNT.
FW Christian Pulisic, 3 — Highlighted by his frustration that led to an unnecessary yellow card, it was an off night for the attacker, who had questionable decision-making playing as a striker. Despite the fact that it wasn’t his natural position, he failed to take advantage of his chances.
Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
FW Patrick Agyemang, 7 — A better focal point in the striker position than Pulisic. Helped win the ball back and dished out a couple of eye-catching passes in the final third.
DF Max Arfsten, 5 — His passing could have been better on the left flank, and it’s difficult to say he’s a better option over Robinson at left back.
MF Tanner Tessmann, 5 — Not bad going forward with the ball, though more was expected of him defensively.
DF Joe Scally, 4 — Didn’t make much of an impact in his limited time on the pitch.
FW Folarin Balogun, 5 — Like Scally, he didn’t have much time to make his stamp on the match, but he did provide a couple of good passes and runs.
We’ve all had that moment where a ghost from our digital past comes back to haunt us—usually an old Facebook post or a cringey photo we thought was long buried. But for Prince Harry, that “ghost” just walked into London’s High Court on March 31, 2026, and it brought receipts.As the Duke of Sussex continues his high-stakes legal war against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)—the publishers of the Daily Mail—a batch of decade-old text messages has turned a serious courtroom drama into something that feels more like a leaked episode of The Crown.While Harry has built his modern identity on being the chief antagonist of the British tabloids, these newly revealed messages from 2011 and 2012 paint a much more “human” (and slightly awkward) picture of a young Prince who was once quite cozy with the very industry he now seeks to dismantle.
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The “Mr. Mischief” era: When Prince Harry met reporter Charlotte Griffiths
The courtroom sat in stunned silence as lawyers for the Mail on Sunday read out a series of flirty, informal exchanges between Harry and reporter Charlotte Griffiths. The messages date back to a time when Harry was 27, serving as an Army pilot, and seemingly very happy to play the “Tabloid Tango.”The connection reportedly started on Facebook, where the two became digital “friends” in 2011. After a wild countryside weekend in June with mutual pals—including his close friend Arthur Landon—Harry sent the first text, as per a report by Radar:Harry: “It’s H… X.”Charlotte: “Hello, Mr. Mischief… Did you beat Arthur down the motorway?! What a fun weekend of naughtiness… Smooches, CG String. Xxx.”Harry: “Best weekend ever… Never laughed so much!”He even went as far as to vent to her about his “day job,” complaining about having to perform “polite chat with strangers for charity.” It’s the kind of banter you’d expect from any young guy in his twenties, but in the context of a massive lawsuit, it’s a legal landmine.
“Sugar” and “Movie Snuggles”: The Flirtation Intensifies
As 2011 lead into 2012, the messages didn’t stop. They escalated. Harry was caught using nicknames like “Sugar” and “H-Bomb,” and at one point, he lamented missing out on their “movie snuggles.” This isn’t just about a Prince having a crush; it’s about the credibility of his testimony. In January of this year, Harry testified under oath that he had met Griffiths exactly once and cut ties the moment he realized she worked for the press. The logs presented on March 31 suggest otherwise—showing a relationship that spanned months of voluntary, playful communication.
Why This Matters for the Case
Harry’s lawsuit hinges on the claim that the Daily Mail used “unlawful information gathering” (hacking, tapping, and private investigators) to spy on him. ANL’s defense is essentially using these texts to say: “Why would we need to hack him? He was texting our reporters willingly.”If Harry was voluntarily sharing his “mischief” and his weekend plans with a journalist, it makes it much harder for his legal team to argue that the media was “snooping” behind his back. It suggests that, at least for a period in his youth, Harry wasn’t a victim of the media—he was a participant in the social circle that fueled it.
The Irony of the “Selective Memory”
The irony here is thick. The 41-year-old Harry of 2026—the father of two, the California resident, the man who calls the press a “monster”—is being confronted by the 27-year-old “Party Prince” who was signing off texts with kisses to a gossip columnist.It humanizes him, sure, but it also complicates his narrative. It shows that the line between “friend” and “foe” in the royal-media ecosystem is incredibly thin. It’s easy to hate the tabloids when they’re writing about your marriage, but it’s a different story when you’re a young bachelor looking for someone to “snuggle” with on a movie night.
What’s Next?
Final arguments wrapped up on March 31, and Judge Matthew Nicklin is expected to deliver a ruling later this year. Whether Harry wins or loses the legal battle, he may have already lost a bit of the “moral high ground” in the court of public opinion.The reveal of the “Sugar” texts doesn’t prove that hacking never happened, but it does suggest that Harry’s memories of his relationship with the press might be a bit… selective. In his fight for privacy, his own past “mischief” might be the thing that ultimately trips him up.
Sam Peate, from the NHS Humber Health Partnership, which has hospitals in Grimsby and Scunthorpe that will be affected by the strike, said: “Unfortunately, it is unavoidable that some patients will have their appointments and procedures postponed as a result of the action.”
