Ukraine Fires U.S. Long-Range Missiles, Spain PM Considers Quitting, Moulin Rouge Sails Fall Off

💡 SPOTLIGHT

Iran-Israel: Why it's not over yet

Israel's recent strike on central Iran was a warning shot for Tehran, tempered by a desire to close the recent spate of tit-for-tat attacks and by pressure from the U.S. Yet this may have only ended round one of the Iran-Israeli showdown, writes Hamed Mohammadi in Persian-language media Kayhan-London.

Only Iranian officials know exactly the extent of damage caused by the Israeli airstrike near the central Iranian city of Isfahan on April 19. Yet the strike — in response to Iran's drone and missile attacks on April 14 — seems to have done very little damage, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling it "lame" on X, formerly Twitter. Any reports on the impact have broadly been based on speculations or estimates using satellite pictures or informal sources.

The Israeli strike was so controlled that Iran's army chief could claim it was the work of mini-drones or micro-projectiles that had failed to cause any damage. But experience has shown that Tehran's initial reaction to such incidents is always to downplay their seriousness.

If the strike had been destructive, regime propaganda would have minimized its scope and significance — although, in that case, the damage and the regime's own rattled nerves would be harder to conceal.

So far, Tehran seems satisfied with the 350 drones and missiles it launched toward Israel, as observers and Iran itself were expecting a far harsher response.

The Israeli strike, its modalities, technology, tactics and chosen targets are military matters that have an impact on broader developments. Indeed, the question of using drones or fighter jets is not only tactical but also political. [...]

— Read the full article by Hamed Mohammadi for Kayhan-London, translated into English by Worldcrunch.

🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

Like many Spanish newspapers, Madrid-based La Razón dedicates its front page to the possible resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The shock announcement came after a court opened an investigation into his wife Begona Gomez “for the alleged offense of influence peddling and corruption” following a complaint from an anti-corruption pressure group whose leader is linked to the far right. In a letter to the citizens posted on X/Twitter, Sánchez says he needs to “stop and think” in order to decide whether he “should continue to head the government or give up this great honor,” adding he would announce his decision on Monday.
 

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• Ukraine has begun using longer range ballistic U.S. missiles. The weapons were sent as part of a previous U.S. support package and arrived this month. They were not announced publicly to maintain Ukraine’s “operational security,” officials said. The missiles have been used at least once to hit Russian targets in occupied Crimea. More American weaponry is expected to be sent soon to Ukraine as part of the U.S.’s new economic and military support package. Read more about the U.S.’s $61 billion “bet on Ukraine”, with this piece translated from French by Worldcrunch.

• Russia vetoes UN vote on stopping arms race in outer space. The draft resolution was put forward by the U.S. and Japan and aimed to reaffirm a principle that was set out in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty by calling on “all States to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.” The U.S. has warned that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon, but Russia said it was “firmly committed” to the existing treaty.

• Pro-Palestine demonstrations spread across U.S. colleges. Student protesters at schools including Columbia University in New York, Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley doubled down early Thursday on protests in support of Palestine, with demonstrations and encampments. On Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson was heckled in a tense visit to Columbia, where he said if protests weren’t contained, this would be “an appropriate time for the National Guard.” Colleges have already turned to the police for support, with arrests being made at the University of Texas, the University of Southern California and Ohio State University. Read more about anti-Israel protests worldwide with this piece translated from Arabic by Worldcrunch.

• U.S. Supreme Court to hear Trump's immunity plea. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during his time in office. The case before the Supreme Court pertains to charges that Trump conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Lower courts have already rejected Trump’s claims that he is immune from criminal prosecution as he was president at the time. Any ruling of immunity would not affect the current hush money trial in New York, which concerns charges from before he was president.

• Thousands to commemorate Carnation Revolution as Portugal’s democracy turns 50. The “Carnation Revolution” toppled the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and ushered in democracy in Portugal. Thousands are expected to take to the streets to celebrate the 50th anniversary today. The revolution, which was almost bloodless, was conducted by a group of junior army officers who wanted democracy and to end long-running wars against independence movements in African colonies.

• Venice launches pilot day-tripper entry fee. The program, which begins today, will charge day-trippers a 5 euro ($5.35) fee in an aim to tackle mass tourism and to make the city more livable. The test phase will last across several days in April, May, June and July, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, said, “We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents.”

• Companies in Bengaluru in India offer incentives to voters. The southern Indian city is often in the news for its low voter turnout, which has led hotels, taxi services and restaurants to announce initiatives to encourage people to cast their vote. These include free beer or food, discounted taxi rides and free health check-ups. At some food outlets, customers will have to show ink-stained fingers as proof they’ve voted. The city will vote on Friday in round two of India’s seven stage election. Current Prime Minister Modi is hoping for a third term in power, read more on Worldcrunch.

📰 STORY OF THE DAY

#CaviarTok: How Instagram and TikTok are reinventing caviar

Long the preserve of the elite, caviar is now attracting a wider audience, boosted by its ubiquitous presence on social networks. This new visibility fascinates as much as it questions big names in the sector and Michelin-starred chefs, writes Laurent-David Samama in French daily Les Echos.

📱 While it continues to be acclaimed by the finest chefs, caviar has conquered a completely different terrain: the virtual world and social media. Just open Instagram and TikTok. At first sight, these were counterintuitive new spaces for sturgeons, belugas and their cousins. But that was without the ability of a few influencers to advertise caviar, and especially its luxury dimension, to their followers.

▶️ Take Danielle Zaslavsky. A self proclaimed “caviar connoisseur,” she posts cleverly orchestrated clips of her tastings in between videos of her daily looks and make-up sessions. The result: almost 10 million views from the very first one posted online. “For most people, caviar is unfamiliar or very intimidating,” Zaslavsky says, “Lots of people think it’s extremely expensive, and have been taught to only eat it on special occasions. I’m trying to educate my followers, to make caviar more universal and to show that there are very affordable entry prices.”

🍽️ More than truffle, lobster or foie gras, caviar has become a tool for “upgrading” a dish or a menu, for breaking the sound barrier and, above all, for inflating the bill. “Today, the temptation is to use caviar just for the sake of it, for the luxury. But when you put caviar on a dish, you have to feel it. Otherwise it’s just an artifice," says the young Michelin-starred chef Omar Dhiab.

➡️ Read more on Worldcrunch.com

📹 THIS HAPPENED VIDEO — TODAY IN HISTORY, IN ONE ICONIC PHOTO

➡️ Watch the video: THIS HAPPENED

#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS

10.31 million units

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. announced record high global vehicle sales for the fiscal year 2023. Its parent-only global vehicle sales grew 7.3 % from the previous year to 10,309,457 units, exceeding 10 million units for the first time. An increase explained by the robust demand for hybrid vehicles, in Japan, Europe and North America, as well as the easing of the semiconductor shortage caused by the COVID-19 crisis, which caused the company's production and sales to slow down for several years.

📣 VERBATIM

“We have an obligation for our people — indeed, an obligation to the world — to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly.”

— Currently on a diplomatic trip to China, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an appeasement between the country and the United States, after years of growing tensions. During a first stop in Shanghai, he met with the local leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Chen Jining, with whom he shared President Bident's commitment to “direct and sustained” dialogue between the world's two largest economies. No meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is yet on the agenda. For more, we offer this opinion piece by France Inter’s Pierre Haski: Why China's Silence On Geopolitics May Be A Sign Of Trouble To Come.

📸 PHOTO DU JOUR

Parisians and tourists alike bitterly discovered a partially destroyed Moulin Rouge front on Thursday morning. The sails of the iconic cabaret's windmill fell overnight, taking a few letters with them. No one was hurt in the incident. The cause of the collapse is still unclear. — Photo: Instagram/chadi_r

👉MORE FROM WORLDCRUNCH  

• Russia-Ukraine: How The Swiss Peace Summit Could Trigger Bonafide Negotiations — VAZHNYYE ISTORII/IMPORTANT STORIES

• End Of Impunity? The Meaning Of U.S. Sanctions Of An Israeli Army Unit — FRANCE INTER

• Prequels, Sequels And Spinoffs — Why We Don't Let Stories End Anymore— LA STAMPA

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