UK foreign ministry chief to leave after Mandelson vetting row

By Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill and Sam Tabahriti

Olly Robbins, senior civil servant and Europe adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May, arrives at the Cabinet Office, in London

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's top foreign ministry official will leave his post after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him, a source said on Thursday, following a row ‌over the security vetting of Peter Mandelson.

The disclosure of the vetting failure has intensified pressure on Starmer over his appointment of Mandelson, Britain's former ‌U.S. ambassador, who is under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and has led to renewed calls for the prime minister to resign.

Mandelson failed his security ​vetting before taking up the role, but the government said Starmer was unaware officials had overruled the recommendation.

"Neither the Prime Minister, nor any government minister, was aware that Peter Mandelson was granted developed vetting against the advice of UK Security Vetting until earlier this week," a government spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.

The decision was taken by officials in the foreign ministry, the spokesperson added.

Starmer has apologised for the appointment but defended his own actions, accusing Mandelson of creating a "litany of deceit" about ‌his Epstein ties and promising to release documents on ⁠how he was appointed.

A source familiar with the matter said on Thursday that Olly Robbins, the most senior official at the foreign ministry, would leave his post after Starmer and his boss Cooper lost confidence in him.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said in ⁠a separate statement that Starmer had "initiated a process to establish the facts" of the vetting process, adding that it "was working urgently to comply with that process."

MANDELSON FIRED IN SEPTEMBER

The Guardian newspaper had reported earlier on Thursday that the failed security check came after Mandelson's appointment had been announced. The government has previously pledged to overhaul the vetting process and "address ​weaknesses" ​in the system.

The report also said that officials were considering whether to withhold publication of ​the documents that would reveal Mandelson had not been given ‌security clearance.

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However, the government spokesperson said that once Starmer had been informed, he had instructed officials to establish why the clearance had been granted and to update parliament.

Mandelson has not commented publicly on allegations he leaked documents, and a lawyer for Mandelson did not provide a comment about the report.

Mandelson, 72, was fired from the most prestigious posting in Britain's diplomatic service in September, when the depth of his friendship with Epstein started to become clear.

His relationship with the convicted sex offender, who died in prison while awaiting trial in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, is at the centre of a British political scandal that has forced the ‌resignation of two senior government officials.

OPPOSITION PARTIES SAY STARMER MISLED PARLIAMENT

The opposition leader Kemi Badenoch ​accused Starmer of misleading parliament when he said three times in September that "full due process" had ​been followed.

If Starmer was found to have knowingly misled parliament, he ​would have broken the code that governs ministers' behaviour and would be expected to resign.

"Keir Starmer said in February that the ‌security services had given Mandelson 'clearance for the role,'" said Nigel Farage, ​leader of the populist Reform UK Party ​which is leading polls. "Now we discover that he has blatantly lied, the prime minister should resign."

Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office after Starmer's government passed on communications between the former ambassador and Epstein. He was later released on bail, pending further investigation.

Starmer ​faces further scrutiny as parliament is expected to release more ‌documents related to his vetting.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to resign in 2022 in part because of months of embarrassing ​headlines about illicit parties held in government buildings during the COVID pandemic and accusations he misled parliament.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew ​MacAskill and Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Alison Williams, Toby Chopra and Nick Zieminski)

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 19, 2026

UK foreign ministry chief to leave after Mandelson vetting row

By Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill and Sam Tabahriti Olly Robbins, senior civil servant and Europe adviser to ...

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With a handshake, Spain and Mexico put diplomatic tussle over their colonial past behind them

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With a few choice words and a handshake, Mexican PresidentClaudia Sheinbaumlaid to rest a diplomatic spat between her government and Spain over the Spanish colonial past during her visit to Barcelona on Saturday.

Spain Democracy Summit

“There is no diplomatic crisis, there never was one,” she said upon arrival at theIV Meeting in Defense of Democracy, a gathering of representatives of 15 countries concerned with the rise of illiberalism.

“The important thing is to recognize the efforts of the indigenous people of our land,” she said, moments before shaking hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Sheinbaum’s participation came after Spain’s King Felipe VIironed out a longstanding diplomatic disputewhen in March he publicly acknowledged the conquest of the Americas had led to the “abuse” of native peoples.

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The international tussle started in 2019, when Sheinbaum’s predecessor,Andrés Manuel López Obrador, demanded that Spain “publicly and officially” recognize the abuses committed during the conquest of Mexico in a letter sent to the Spanish king and Pope Francis.

Spain refused to do so, which souredrelationsbetween the two governments.

Relations hit their low point in 2024 when Sheinbaum did not invite Felipe to her inauguration over the palace’s refusal to issue a formal apology, a move that Sánchez called “unacceptable.” Spain subsequently refused to send a representative to Sheinbaum’s inauguration in a breach of tradition.

The unprecedented step toward reconciliation by Felipe was followed by the Mexican government inviting the Spanish monarch to attend a World Cup match this summer.

On Saturday, Sánchez did not mention the now-resolved diplomatic issue, while thanking Sheinbaum for offering to host the next edition of the pro-democracy summit next year.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 18, 2026

With a handshake, Spain and Mexico put diplomatic tussle over their colonial past behind them

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With a few choice words and a handshake, Mexican PresidentClaudia Sheinbaumlaid to rest a diplomatic spat betwe...

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Myanmar reduces ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence, her lawyer says

April 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar has reduced the sentence of imprisoned ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ‌her lawyer told Reuters on Friday.

Suu Kyi, 80, ‌was serving a 27-year sentence for a litany of offences her ​allies said were politically motivated to keep her at bay, ranging from incitement and corruption to election fraud and violating a state secrets law.

The sentence has ‌been cut by one-sixth, ⁠but it remains unclear whether the Nobel Peace Prize winner will be allowed to ⁠serve the rest of her sentence under house arrest, the lawyer said.

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Myanmar's new President Min Aung Hlaing ​has approved ​an amnesty for 4,335 ​prisoners, state television reported ‌on Friday, the third such move in the past six months. Amnesties typically take place in Myanmar each year to mark Independence Day in January and New Year in April.

A spokesperson for the military-backed government ‌did not immediately respond to ​a request for comment.

Min Aung ​Hlaing staged a military ​coup against a democratically elected government ‌led by Suu Kyi in ​2021, plunging the ​country into turmoil. He was elected president on April 3 in polls that were widely criticised ​by international ‌observers as neither free nor fair.

(Reporting by Reuters ​Staff; Writing by David Stanway; Editing by ​Muralikumar Anantharaman and Christian Schmollinger)

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 18, 2026

Myanmar reduces ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence, her lawyer says

April 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar has reduced the sentence of imprisoned ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ‌her lawyer told Reuters on Friday. ...

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Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Was Last Seen a Week Ago, Fla. Police Say She May Be 'in Danger'

Adriana Hernandez, 15, was last seen in Milton, Florida, on April 7 and may have traveled to Georgia, according to police

NEED TO KNOW

• Authorities upgraded her case to an Amber Alert "due to an ongoing investigation"

• The public is urged to contact law enforcement with any information about Adriana’s whereabouts

Police in Florida have issued an Amber Alert amid their search for a missing 15-year-old girl after receiving evidence that she “may be in danger.”

Adriana Hernandez has been missing since Tuesday, April 7, according to aFacebook postuploaded by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on Monday, April 13.

The Santa Rosa teen was last seen in the area of the 6400 block of Bruce Lane in Milton, Florida, and she “may have traveled to Georgia,” according to authorities.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said they were originally investigating Adriana’s case as a runaway child, but the department told thePensacola News Journalthat officers discovered evidence that she “may be in danger.”

Adriana is described as a “white-hispanic female, 15 years old, 5 feet 1 inch tall, 130 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes,” per the FDLE’s post, which adds that she may also have a "reddish-brown tint" to her hair.

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“Due to an ongoing investigation, this case has been upgraded to an AMBER alert,” the FDLE added.

AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, according to theDepartment of Justice. AMBER alerts are “issued for abducted children” that meet certain criteria.

“The AMBER Alert System began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children,” it stated.

Anyone with information about Adriana or her whereabouts is urged to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office at 850-983-1190 or 911.

The FDLE and Santa Rose County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by PEOPLE for further information, but did not immediately respond.

Read the original article onPeople

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Was Last Seen a Week Ago, Fla. Police Say She May Be 'in Danger'

Adriana Hernandez, 15, was last seen in Milton, Florida, on April 7 and may have traveled to Georgia, according to police NEED TO...

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Sydney Sweeney winks at past controversy in new jeans ad for American Eagle

Sydney Sweeney is partnering with American Eagle for a new ad campaign, "Syd for Short."

Key Points

• The team-up comes nearly a year after the Euphoria star sparked controversy with her for campaign, "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans."

• The ad was criticized for seemingly promoting eugenics by playing up the "jeans" and "genes" homophone.

Sydney Sweeneyhas moved on from "great" jeans to sun-lit shorts.

Aftercombatting controversyover her 2025 American Eagle ad campaign, theEuphoriastar has teamed up with the clothing company again on "Syd for Short," a summer campaign spotlighting the brand's shorts.

In the first promo, Sweeney sports a fitted pair of jean shorts and a denim jacket. Staring into the camera with her hands in her pocket, she asks, "What brand am I wearing?"

A montage of images sees Sweeney basking in the sunlight, frolicking on a beach and enjoying the blue skies of summer in her jeans shorts.

In an apparent wink to the outrage sparked by her initial blue jeans campaign, "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," Sweeney then grins at the camera, answering, "Yeah. That one."

In a statement shared withEntertainment Weekly, Sweeney highlighted the brand's partnership with the Crisis Text Hotline, which will receive 100% of the profits for two of AE's custom styles.

"There's something timeless about a great pair of jean shorts. They're simple, but they make you feel confident and put-together without trying too hard," said Sweeney. "Crisis Text Line, a cause so close to my heart, has been a part of this partnership from the beginning. I love knowing that when everyone wears these pieces, they are also a part of something meaningful, that directly helps people who need it."

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Last time around,  Sweeney's partnership with the brand garnered plenty of attention when it arrived in July 2025. The most criticized promo featured the actress reclining on a couch and fastening her jeans as she murmurs, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My genes are blue." Then a male narrator adds, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans."

The seemingly innocuous world-play of "good genes" vs. "good jeans" struck a discordant chord with many who saw the ad and criticized it for glorifying a racial idea. It was swiftly slammed on social media as several conservative public figures — includingMegyn Kelly,JD Vance, and even PresidentDonald Trump—voiced supportfor Sweeney,mocking othersover their disdainof the ad.

On the heels of the initial wave of criticism, American Eaglereleased a statement defending the adand stating, "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans, her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."

As for Sweeney, shedid not weigh infor several months,finally commenting on the controversyin a NovemberGQcover story.

"I did a jean ad," she said. "I mean, the reaction definitely was a surprise, but I love jeans. All I wear are jeans. I’m literally in jeans and a T-shirt every day of my life."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

WhenGQasked whether Sweeney wanted to address the "genetic superiority" criticism at the root of the controversy, she replied, "I think that when I have an issue that I want to speak about, people will hear."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

Sydney Sweeney winks at past controversy in new jeans ad for American Eagle

Sydney Sweeney is partnering with American Eagle for a new ad campaign, "Syd for Short." Key Points The ...

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Could more cattle cause record beef prices to drop? Ranchers say it's not that simple

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — It’s never been so expensive for Americans to buy a steak or hamburger, but cutting those costs requires ranchers like Stephanie Hatzenbuhler to raise more cattle — and that's not an easy ask.

Beef Prices Ranchers

For a host of reasons, Hatzenbuhler and other ranchers across the country are reluctant to grow the national herd — now its smallest in more than 75 years — and until they do so, demand will outweigh supply, and beef prices will likely remain high.

Adding cattle makes sense for some ranchers, but others are struggling to stay afloat with the cattle they have, Hatzenbuhler said.

“They’re good times, and they’re bad times,” she said. “It’s a combination of both.”

Why is the beef herd so small?

Hatzenbuhler will make her choices as cows give birth to about 700 calves this spring on her family's Diamond J Angus ranch on more than 2,000 wind-swept acres near Mandan, North Dakota. Does she opt to increase her herd, or does she offset the new arrivals by selling an equal number of cattle to be slaughtered?

The national herd size isn't the only factor that determines what beef costs at the grocery store. Still, the dwindling number of cattle is a key reason the average price of all uncooked ground beef in the U.S. was $6.86 per pound in March, 3 cents off the record high set in February, according tofederal statistics.That price in March is up nearly 48% from March 2021.

The U.S. cattle herd reached a high of 132 million head in 1975, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that figure has gradually fallen to 86 million this year.

Thanks to changes in cattle genetics and feeding techniques, ranchers now produce far more meat from each animal, so despite the much smaller herd, the country's beef production hit a record 28.4 billion pounds in 2022, said Tim Petry, a North Dakota State University livestock marketing specialist. About 26 billion pounds of beef are expected in 2026.

About 2.5 billion pounds of beef were exported to other countries in 2025, and the tight remaining supply, along with the high demand, has caused record prices.

Ranchers acknowledge the higher prices, but they face plenty of challenges weighing against growing herds, especially from drought.

Drought limits land for grazing

Dry conditions have persisted across much of cattle country, with about 63% of the U.S. cattle herd in drought areas,according to the USDA.Some areas have also seen giant wildfires that left no grass for grazing.

“You’ve got to have rain. You’ve got to have grass to keep cows on because they’re out on pastures for over half the year, and so that’s been the dilemma, is we had forced liquidation of cows,” Petry said.

This time of year, as calves arrive, ranchers decide whether to retain young cows called heifers and calves for breeding herds, and a big factor is pasture conditions, said Bernt Nelson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist.

Feed is the highest cost for ranchers, and due to drought in spots like Texas and Oklahoma, they have had to truck in supplies from elsewhere. Those extra costs make it hard to increase a herd.

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“When these pasture conditions deteriorate, and water becomes an issue, some of these states have to go as far as to haul hay, haul water from other regions of the country that have grass and easy access to water, and that adds a significant cost to operations,” Nelson said.

Even if ranchers opted to raise more cattle, it takes 15 to 24 months for a calf to mature before it can be slaughtered.

Role of meat processors in beef prices

Ranchers often blame the concentrated meat processing systems — primarily driven by four companies — for high beef prices, but the picture is complicated.

In a statement and market updates, the Meat Institute, a meat processors trade group, noted that retailers and food service companies, not packers, set prices for consumers. And the organization said livestock producers were “earning record profits” while packers were losing money.

The Meat Institute also argued that the concentration ratio hasn’t “changed appreciably” over the past 30 years.

“Rhetoric about beef industry concentration implies that consolidation in the beef packing sector is ongoing and that market power is becoming increasingly concentrated. That is not the case,” the group said.

John Robinson, a spokesman for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said he sees many reasons for high prices, and in some cases, meat processors are responsible, but that “it’s far more complicated than most people will give it credit for.”

A pest forces border closure

Another driver of high prices is the closure of theU.S.-Mexico borderto livestock imports to slow the spread of a flesh-eating parasite called theNew World screwworm.The closures that began in late 2024 have stopped about 1 million cattle from being hauled from Mexico into the U.S., said Warren Rusche, an extension feedlot specialist at South Dakota State University.

The border closure particularly affects cattle feedlots and ranchers who graze cattle in the southern plains.

President Donald Trump has called for increased beef imports from Argentina, but the country's expanded quota would be only a tiny percentage of U.S. beef production, Rusche said.

Are ranchers getting rich?

Hatzenbuhler, the North Dakota rancher, isn't getting rich, but for ranchers who own their land and equipment, she said it's a good time to raise cattle. It's not as good for people looking to break into the business, given the high cost of everything from equipment to fertilizer and the difficulty of finding workers.

“If you’re a young guy and want to get in, it’s probably not the time to do it, but if you’re kind of established and been doing this for a while, you’re doing good,” she said.

California rancher Mike Williams said he wouldn't discourage someone from getting into ranching but would caution them, “don't get too far upside down.”

“I would say that we're finally maybe getting a fair price,” Williams said. “I think people are starting to realize the value of beef, and they're finding that they're willing to pay maybe a little more than they have in the past for the quality of the product that they're getting."

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

Could more cattle cause record beef prices to drop? Ranchers say it's not that simple

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — It’s never been so expensive for Americans to buy a steak or hamburger, but cutting those costs requires ranchers l...

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John Stamos Is ‘Proud’ of How the Child Actors from “Full House” 'Turned Out'

John Stamos shared how "proud" he is of the former child stars from Full House

NEED TO KNOW

• Stamos said they all "turned out so well"

• The series' child stars included Jodie Sweetin, Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

John Stamoshas high praise for his former child costars fromFull House.

Stamos, 62, appeared alongside Jodie Sweetin onAccess Dailyon April 13. On Full House, Stamos played Uncle Jesse, who helpsthe late Bob Saget's Danny Tanner raise his three kids. Sweetin, 44, starred as the middle daughter, Stephanie.

During the conversation, which was about the importance of getting screened forcolon cancerand Exact Sciences' Cologuard test, Stamos turned to Sweetin and said, “Can I say how proud I am of her?” Then he gave her a big hug.

“All the kids on our show, you know, turned out so well, and they do such good stuff,” Stamos said. “They do such good work. They do a lot of charity work. I'm just proud of how you've turned out.”

Full Housealso starred Candace Cameron Bure as the eldest daughter D.J. Tanner. The youngest daughter, Michelle Tanner, was split between Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who were just nine months old when the series began filming. The show also featured appearances by Andrea Barber, who played the Tanners' somewhat annoying neighbor Kimmy Gibbler, and Scott Weinger, who played D.J.'s boyfriend Steve. During the series, Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky (Lori Loughlin) welcomed sons, Nicky and Alex Katsopolis, played primarily by Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit.

Full Houseoriginally aired on ABC from 1987 to 1995. The show returned for a sequel series,Fuller House, that ran on Netflix for five seasons, from 2016 to 2020. It reunited Cameron Bure, Sweetin, Barber and Weinger, who starred in the series. Blake and Dylan appeared on the show on a recurring basis, as did Stamos, Saget, Loughlin andDave Coulier, who played family friend Joey. Mary-Kate and Ashley did not return for the sequel series, having retired from acting. Instead, the pair chose to focus on their fashion line The Row, which launched in 2006.

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Since the series ended, Cameron Bure has starred in many Hallmark Channel original films before, in 2022, becoming chief content officer of Great American Media.

Sweetin became sober in 2008 after abusing drugs and alcohol for over a decade and hasbecome a public advocate for recovery from addiction. Shetold PEOPLE in 2020, "It's a story with a message of second chances and turning things around and being able to overcome some adversity."

Sweetin and Barber have hosted theFull House Rewindpodcast since 2023.

During an episode in 2025, the pair said that whileFull Housewas airing, they were oftenasked an uncomfortable question about Stamos. “It's like when people ask us in media interviews, ‘Did you ever have a crush on John Stamos?'  Like, that is a gross question. No!” Barber, 49, said. “They're like our older brothers. We do not think of them that way.”

Sweetin said that Stamos and Coulier were like “uncles” to her.

Read the original article onPeople

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 15, 2026

John Stamos Is ‘Proud’ of How the Child Actors from “Full House” 'Turned Out'

John Stamos shared how "proud" he is of the former child stars from Full House NEED TO KNOW Stamos said ...

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