Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy at World Cup, says report

• US special envoy Zampolli hopes for Italy involvement

• Doubts remain over Iran’s participation

An envoy to the US President Donald Trump has asked Fifa to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/22/trump-envoy-seeks-to-replace-iran-with-italy-at-world-cup-says-report

Iran Says It Seized Two Ships Near the Strait of Hormuz #wanitaxigo

Prediction site Kalshi fines three US candidates who bet on own elections

Disclosures come after firm tightened rules on insider trading, including candidates betting on own campaigns

Before he announced his Senate candidacy, a political hopeful in Virginia did something not so unusual in this day and age: he logged on to a prediction market exchange and wagered money that he would run. Then he ran. Then he bet on that too.

The candidate and trader was Mark Moran, a former FBoy Island contestant who went viral recently for his campaign launch video. Investigators with Kalshi, the federally regulated prediction market exchange, found he placed two trades on their platform, the first in a market asking which individuals would seek public office in 2026, the second after he formally entered the race.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/22/kalshi-candidates-election-races

War Shock in Asia #wanitaxigo

Hot-air balloon carrying 13 people lands in California back yard: ‘out of a fairytale’

Pilot made emergency landing on small plot of grass at Temecula home amid low fuel and shifting winds

A balloon landed in a southern California back yard – a balloon with 13 people.

The enormous hot-air balloon, with a pilot and passengers in the basket, descended perfectly on Saturday on a small plot of grass at a home in Temecula. Hunter Perrin said he had no idea that he had visitors until a neighbor alerted him.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/21/california-hot-air-balloon-lands-13-people

Facing Hard-liners at Home and Bluster From Trump, Iran Sends Mixed Signals on Peace Talks #wanitaxigo

Tim Cook to step down as CEO of Apple: ‘the greatest privilege of my life’

Cook, who will assume the role of executive chair, will be succeeded by John Ternus as CEO on 1 September

Apple announced on Monday that it had named a replacement for Tim Cook as CEO, with head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding him on 1 September. Cook will stay at the company in the role of executive chair.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being,” Cook said in a press release.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/20/tim-cook-apple-ceo-replacement