Former US President George H.W. Bush Dead at 94

FILE PHOTO - Former US President George H.W. Bush arrives on the field to do the coin toss ahead of the start of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo
FILE PHOTO - Former US President George H.W. Bush arrives on the field to do the coin toss ahead of the start of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo
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Former US President George H.W. Bush Dead at 94

FILE PHOTO - Former US President George H.W. Bush arrives on the field to do the coin toss ahead of the start of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo
FILE PHOTO - Former US President George H.W. Bush arrives on the field to do the coin toss ahead of the start of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, US, February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo

Former US President George H.W. Bush died on Friday at the age of 94.

Bush, the 41st US president, who lived longer than any of his predecessors, died peacefully at his home in Houston, according to a source close to the family.

His death at 10:10 p.m. Central time (0410 GMT) was first announced in a brief statement issued by longtime spokesman Jim McGrath, who said funeral arrangements had yet to be scheduled.

He was the father of former President George W. Bush, who served two terms in the White House during the 2000s, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who unsuccessfully sought the 2016 Republican nomination for president.

"The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens," George W. Bush said in a statement.

The elder Bush, a Republican like his sons, also served as vice president for eight years during Ronald Reagan's two terms as president, before being elected to the White House himself.

He defeated former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, the Democratic nominee, in the 1988 presidential campaign, and lost his 1992 re-election bid to Democrat Bill Clinton.

Bush's death came seven months after that of his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, to whom he was married for 73 years.



Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian Forces Shot Down Shahed Drones in Middle Eastern Countries During Iran War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as he chairs a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, 09 April 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as he chairs a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, 09 April 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
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Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian Forces Shot Down Shahed Drones in Middle Eastern Countries During Iran War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as he chairs a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, 09 April 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as he chairs a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Uzhhorod, western Ukraine, 09 April 2026, amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)

Ukrainian military personnel shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy made his first public acknowledgment of the operations Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced interceptor drones proven in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

“This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached among Iran, the United States and Israel this week.

Zelenskyy did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defense systems. He previously said that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support from Ukraine, particularly air defense supplies.

But Zelenskyy said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and that Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defense remained in place.

Zelenskyy also said he had urged US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv, noting the offer came before a ceasefire in the Middle East.

“I told them: ‘Come to us, and then go to Moscow. Let’s hold a trilateral meeting in this format’.” he said. “They were receptive to this, but as we can see, they decided they cannot be far from their president right now."

He said it remained unclear whether the envoys would still visit Kyiv or whether talks would instead take place in a third country. On the substance of discussions, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is preparing proposals on security guarantees to present to the United States and expressed hope diplomacy would move forward.

The US-led talks have made no progress on key issues, and Washington’s attention has switched to the Middle East conflict while the Russian and Ukrainian armies remain locked in battle on the roughly 1,250-kilometer (800-mile) front line.

Separately, Zelenskyy said he expects Western allies to restore full sanctions on Russian oil, warning that any easing could allow Moscow to sustain its war effort and offload key energy assets. Russia has been profiting from a surge in global energy prices, brought on by damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf and Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for global oil supplies.


Former Iranian Foreign Minister Dies from Attack Wounds

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. (AFP file)
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. (AFP file)
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Former Iranian Foreign Minister Dies from Attack Wounds

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. (AFP file)
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. (AFP file)

A former Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, died Thursday from wounds suffered in US-Israel strikes on April 1, Iranian media reported.

Kharazi, 81, had been serving as the head of the Strategic Council for International Relations, which is part of the foreign ministry.

The veteran diplomat, "who was injured in a terrorist attack carried out by the American-Zionist enemy a few days ago, died a martyr tonight", the Mehr and ISNA agencies reported on Telegram.

His wife was killed in the strike on their home in Tehran, media reported.

Kharazi was Iran's envoy at the United Nations in New York and then became foreign minister from 1997 to 2005, under reformist president Mohammad Khatami.

Spiritual leader Ali Khamenei and a number of top military and political figures have been killed in strikes since the Middle East war started with US-Israeli attacks on February 28.


Trump Slams Right-Wing Commentators Who Oppose Iran War

US President Donald Trump attends the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 31, 2026.  (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump attends the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 31, 2026. (Reuters)
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Trump Slams Right-Wing Commentators Who Oppose Iran War

US President Donald Trump attends the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 31, 2026.  (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump attends the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 31, 2026. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday angrily lashed out at multiple well-known conservative commentators who have criticized his war against Iran, slamming his onetime allies as attention-seeking "NUT JOBS."

"They're stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!" Trump wrote in a nearly 500-word social media diatribe.

In the president's crosshairs were Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly -- two former Fox News hosts turned independent podcasters -- as well as Candace Owens and Alex Jones, also podcasters and prominent conspiracy theorists.

All four have vocally criticized Trump over the war, slamming him for abandoning his anti-war campaign promises and -- to varying degrees -- accusing him of bowing to pressure from Israel to launch the conflict.

Their criticism has highlighted a divide among Trump's supporters over the war, a potential major political risk for the Republican Party heading into the November midterm elections.

"They don't have what it takes, and they never did! They've all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren't even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they're NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some 'free' and cheap publicity," he complained.

While all four have been backers of the president's "Make America Great Again" movement, some have feuded with the president.

During Trump's first presidential campaign, Kelly -- then a Fox News host -- asked the billionaire businessman and reality TV star about disparaging remarks he had made against women.

Trump retorted with a joke about comedian Rosie O'Donnell, his longtime nemesis, and later prompted controversy by seeming to suggest that Kelly had asked the tough question because she was menstruating.

Trump referred to the saga on Thursday, saying Kelly "nastily asked me the now famous" question.

He also personally attacked the other three, slamming Carlson for not obtaining a college degree, saying he hoped French First Lady Brigitte Macron wins her defamation suit against Owens, and that Jones deserved to go bankrupt after losing his own suit over calling a mass school shooting a hoax.

Owens, 36, has accused France's first lady of being a man.

"Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it's not even close!" Trump wrote Thursday.

Owens snapped back with a short post on X.

"It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home," she said.

Jones, for his part, said on X that he has "made it very clear that I no longer support Trump and I'm very thankful to him for making it clear that I have nothing to do with him."

"The new Trump is a rotting husk of the old Trump," he added.